APPRECIATE YOURSELF

Most young girls are just not satisfied with their looks. You are worried, unnecessarily concerned and agitated about your hair, your body shape, your complexion, the size of your breasts, your nose, and so on. According to Dr. James P. Comer, “Body image is part of self image. It can affect a person’s self confidence and what he does and does not do in life.” Therefore, it is sensible to be concerned about your appearance; however, it is senseless if you are so self conscious that you keep feeling bad about yourself, to the extent of withdrawing from others.

When you really think about it, you sometimes feel sad about yourself because you wish you were somebody else and not necessarily because you are unattractive or inadequate. You are even sadder when you are not getting as much attention as others are getting or when someone says something negative about your looks. The media compound the problem constantly brainwashing you into believing that happiness and fame come from having the ‘figure 8’ body shape, flawless skin and long hair. Those celebrities you see on television screens, magazine covers and bill boards (those ladies that give you the inferiority complex and make you feel less than human), they have the help of make-up artists, beauty experts, stylists, lights and camera. If you have the rare opportunity of seeing some of them without make-up, you will be so shocked at how ordinary they look. Meanwhile, the advertisers are making money by making you feel incomplete so you can buy their product. No one but you should decide what make you attractive.

Accept yourself. You are whole. Nothing is missing in you. Let your self esteem and confidence soar. Nobody has everything, so stop feeling bad about yourself. You do not have to be everything people think you should be. Use the ability you have to be the best you can be. Stop trying to please everybody. That is an exercise in futility; you can never please everybody. You will only keep struggling and striving and getting frustrated.