Why are you so incredibly critical of yourself?
As a makeup artist that has literally touched thousands of faces, I’ve become more and more amazed over the years how many women seem to truly hate something about themselves.
I’m certainly not exempt from this. It’s something I have to work at every day, but I can’t tell you how many people I’ve worked on that have had nothing but negative things to say about their face, their skin, how they look in pictures, their weight, even their color of eyes.
Where do we draw the line on this madness?
Every woman I’ve touched is beautiful. Few of them seem to feel as beautiful as they truly are.
It reminds me of those Dove commercials that came out a while back:
I guarantee you that the way you think you look is nothing like what people see you as. Self-confidence, to me, is one of the most amazing things that a woman can possess. Few things are sexier than a confident woman.
Did you know that when you smile, you look more attractive? So smile a lot. Laugh a lot. Be silly.
Don’t take life so hard.
And don’t take yourself so seriously and constantly beat yourself up over things you can’t control.
Everyone has a story to tell. Like most people, I went through that awkward phase in high school. I had horrific acne – so bad that I cut bangs to hide my forehead and all but refused to have my picture taken – and never truly appreciated anything I had to offer in my earlier years.
I grew up, went through many struggles, and I have now finally accepted and Love who I am. I don’t feel skinny, but I know I’m in the best shape of my life. I absolutely love having my picture taken now, even if I still take bad ones. My teeth could be whiter, but I still love my smile. I am confident in my skin for the first time ever. I’ve embraced my imperfections, and I’ve never been happier.
Having a strong support system is one of the most important things a person can have. Your relationships are the keys to incorporating your imperfections into your improved sense of self. Strong ones will build you up, be there for you in the good and bad times, and love you no matter what. I know I wouldn’t have finally accepted my imperfect self if it weren’t for the support of my family, friends, and most of all, my husband.
It makes me so sad to know that women will continue to be this way and some may never feel the true joy of being happy in their skin. But if nothing else, I hope this gives you a chance to reflect on yourself and the person you would like to be. Life is too short to not love who you are on the inside and out.
Share this if you want to share the love. We all need some support and every one of us is beautiful.
