YOU Are Beautiful!

Everyone has different standards of beauty and it's time that you realize you do NOT have to live up to anyone's standards but your own. 

What does beauty look like to you?  You've each just pictured different clothing and hairstyles, faces with makeup, faces without makeup, different sizes and heights;  different colors and tones.  The truth is, these are all examples of beauty. 

When I was younger, society persuaded me to believe that there was only one way to be beautiful and that I wasn't doing it.  I was constantly tearing myself down because I didn't look like the girls on tv and in the magazines.  Even when I tried to look like them, I wasn't satisfied. I realized I was imitating the same thing as almost everyone else and that was ruining my individuality.  I had to take a step back and evaluate my self-worth. In the process, I've learned that I'm worth more than society's beauty expectations.  I stopped degrading my appearance and began to compliment myself.  I saw that God created me exactly the way I was meant to be; beautiful. 

It's disappointing to know that low beauty confidence can be considered a relatable topic for many girls and women.  It is even more terrifying to know that it can start at a very young age, so today I encourage you to change this.  Let's set positive examples of the beauty, esteem, and unity of females. 

First, put down the magazines, turn off the televisions, and go stand in front of a mirror.  The person staring back at you is the definition of beauty.  She doesn't have to look like the girl on page twelve or the model on Project Runway. She is gorgeous and she is you!!!  

Second, makeup does NOT create your beauty.  If you're standing in front of your mirror with a painted and made up face, wipe it off.  The clean face that you entered this world with is your purest beauty. However, there is absolutely nothing wrong with wearing makeup.  Makeup accessorizes your beauty; it doesn't create it.  I particularly struggled with this because everyone around me wore makeup. I never made an effort to wear it and I was wrongfully shamed.  So as I grew to love myself, I stayed away from the makeup. I fell in love with my natural face. Now, I do wear makeup, however I wear it as an accessory. I do not use it to hide my God given beauty and I recommend that you try it too!  Don't worry about what other people will say because they didn't sculpt your individuality.  You are beautiful.
 
Third, compliment yourself on a daily basis. Don't rely on other people to tell you what they think of your appearance. You have to motivate and admire yourself because people will not always be there to say something nice.  Once you love and appreciate yourself, you will see the world in a new way. You will want to help those struggling with loving their appearance, and you will have the strength to help.  

Fourth, there are different sizes, colors, and heights on this earth for a reason. If not, we would have all been created to look exactly the same.  There is no aspect better than the other and none of the factors are perfect.  You have to accept that beauty is limitless!  Understanding the latter will give you less things to worry about.  

Finally, someone is always watching and listening for your help to turn them in the right direction.  To the mother, your teenaged daughter is watching and listening. To the teenaged daughter, your  younger sister is watching and listening. To the younger sister, your baby sister is watching and learning.  YOU are even learning from yourself, so be careful of what you say and how you treat yourself.  Don't shame your appearance or try to be someone else because the females around you are learning and forming habits.  Be grateful for your natural appearance and compliment yourself, so those that are watching will do the same.  Do not humiliate your own beauty or other's beauty with your words. Be the example. Be the role model.  We have to prepare the future female generations for greatness.  Be kind and compliment other women and girls. Teach the young girls that beauty is cultivated from the inside through self-love, gratitude, kindness, and respect.  

The woman in the magazine and on the tv screen is beautiful and so is the woman who gets out of bed and stands in the mirror.  There is no set rule to be beautiful. Just be you and love you.  Let's make the term 'low confidence' difficult to relate to. Plant positivity, encouragement, and light into your own life and the lives of others.  

Sending out positive vibes, I challenge you to accept and express your individuality, compliment yourself daily (hourly if needed), and encourage other females of all ages that they are valuable and absolutely gorgeous!  Have an amazing week!  Much love to you all!  Stay beautiful!


By Kaci Hollingsworth