Social media has created a fairly controversial topic: are pictures with only yourself in them a model of narcissism?
To be completely real, this bothers me because I was recently called out as being full of myself. I had taken a few pictures downtown with one of my friends and I really liked the way a few of them turned out so I posted one on Instagram and someone decided to tell me that I was “attractive, but full of yourself.” Honestly, it didn’t bother me at first.
And then I got home and the questions started racing through my head.
“Am I full of myself?”
“Does posting a picture of myself make me conceited?”
“Should I not be posting selfies on MY Instagram?”
And it was right then that I had to stop myself.
First of all, this person had said this to me anonymously which of course was eating me up. I didn’t understand why someone felt the need to somewhat attack me for something as silly as a picture - and they couldn't even say it to my face!
Here’s the thing: there is a HUGE difference between being narcissistic and being self-confident, and you won’t find the difference in a selfie.
Someone that is full of themselves (aka narcissistic) thinks they are above others, that they are without flaw, and they receive compliments without care. In fact, compliments are EXPECTED to these people.
Self-confidence is the complete opposite of that. Self-confidence is a beautiful thing.
Self-confidence is being able to wake up in the morning and be happy with the way you look even though your hair is a mess and your breath smells like you ate seven onions the night before. Self-confidence is being comfortable with going out without any makeup on your face and dressed in just a t-shirt and jeans. But - self-confidence is also being able to put on your best outfit and a full face of makeup and pose for a picture. Don't ever think that because you put on makeup that you are automatically deemed self-absorbed.
Self-confidence is found in your heart. You know that you are beautiful (because God designed you perfectly) but you know that the girl sitting beside you at Chick-fil-A is just as beautiful! Fun fact: there can be more than just one beautiful person in the world. There is not a competition in the real world to see who has the best walk or best figure or best hair. You don’t try to compete or compare. You just accept the fact that you are the way you are - and that is SO WONDERFUL!
So, no. Posting a selfie with the right intentions does not make you self-absorbed, or conceited, or narcissistic, or full of yourself. It means you like the picture and there is nothing wrong with that. It’s TOTALLY cool to be confident in yourself. Don’t let anyone else tell you otherwise.
