Images and Insecurity

How everybody views themselves fascinates me. It is an extremely rare moment when you find someone who is 100% pleased with the way they look. 

We all have our insecurities and for some reason, we are convinced that everyone else notices them and is staring at them all them time, judging. Maybe they are, maybe they aren’t, but is that any reason to stop us from going out into the world?

I think sometimes, people are afraid to even try to accept their flaws and insecurities. They get so hung up on them and let them consume their lives. 

Now, there’s a difference between accepting your flaws and submitting to them. Accepting your flaws is just accepting that they are part of you and loving that they are what makes them who you are. Submitting to them is sort like of letting them control you. You wish you could change them, but accept defeat and live your life in mourning, loathing yourself every time you see those defects.

Sometimes these things you hate about yourself are not even “flaws” at all. You might hate the way your nose is shaped, your legs are too long, you have too many freckles, you’re too short, you wish you had thicker hair, or something. All of these things make up who you are.

You would be surprised how often people do not even notice any of these things when they look at us. Even the most beautiful people in the world have their insecurities. I believe it is just because we have to look at ourselves everyday and we notice every single thing, so we notice the faults. We should not do that. Look for the good instead!

For example, me. Here’s a picture of me without makeup:

Now a list of my insecurities: gaunt face, red nose, yellowish teeth, funky-shaped shoulders, white skin, thin and stringy hair, thin eyebrows, and dry eyelids.

Were any of you struck by any of that while looking at that picture right off the bat? (I hope not.)

It’s taken years, but I have slowly gained confidence in my own self image. I mean, clearly I still have those insecurities, but I am able to look in the mirror and think to myself, “Yes. You look good. You are awesome!”. And that is how it started, just by thinking. 

Don't look in the mirror and automatically think, “Ugh, I look horrible. What is wrong with me?”. You have to force yourself to think, “Yes, I look good today. I am awesome!” even if you don’t believe it. Just force yourself to think it. Look for all the things you like about the way you look. Your hair, your eyes, the way you stand, your smile, I don’t know. But look for them all and then think, “I look good today.” Do not put yourself down. 

Do that every time you look in the mirror or at a picture of yourself. Do not look for the bad qualities, but look for the good and absolutely do not think you look bad, even if you really do. Say it out loud if it helps.

Eventually, you will start to believe it. I promise. It will not just happen overnight. It took me years to build up my confidence. But now I can look in the mirror and think, “Yes, I like the way I look.” (Most of the time. I do have bad days. But I think it anyways!)

There’s a difference between self-confidence and being stuck up. Thinking you look good is not being conceited. You’re just boosting your self-esteem. It only crosses the line into pride when you begin flaunting it around to other people, asking for praise, thinking you look better than other people, etc.

Here’s what I say: You are stuck in your body until you die so you might as well get used to it. Love this blessing you have been given! Don’t insult this beautiful artwork God has created for you.

Watch this awesome video! Please!