Vanity Vs. Self Love

Being vain and loving yourself are two completely different things. Recently, I have used the word “vain” far more than I would’ve liked. I’ve heard it used in regards to a girl wearing “too much” makeup and even about a guy who claims to spend more than a few hours at the gym every day. My question: Why? Why is that vain if a woman decides to use more makeup than the woman next to her? Why is it vain if a man makes the decision to go to the gym? I don’t understand it, and I’m not about to try.

I love the new changes that have been occurring in regards to self-love and acceptance in our generation. In a society that was plagued with unrealistic body and beauty standards, change was needed, and I’m so glad I got to witness it. Natural beauty is being welcomed with open arms, and it’s about freaking time.

This epidemic of self-love is not vanity, and I think people need to realize this. The beauty of this generation is that there is a feeling of acceptance. Whatever you decide to look like, natural, face-full of makeup, whatever, that’s OK. As long as you feel beautiful and confident, go for it.

The difference between loving yourself and vanity is purely based on the fact that loving yourself makes you a stronger person. You come to a point of acceptance of yourself, being content with which you have decided to be, whatever it is. Vanity is an overwhelming obsession with ourselves. Vanity does not give one confidence or security. In fact, one could argue that being vain is the result of a lack of confidence and security.