When our friends or someone in our community speaks down upon themselves or picks themselves apart, we get fired up. We get angry and can’t help but ask “Why?” How could they think so poorly of themselves when, from where we’re standing, they are absolute babes?
Don’t get me wrong—if one of them came home with 99ml of lip filler instead of the usual 0.5ml, we’d be the first to roast her. But when it comes to body image and how they see themselves, it doesn’t sit right with us. It physically upsets us that they feel this way about themselves, especially when we think (AKA. know) they’re perfect just as they are.
It’s like the unconditional love mothers have for their daughters. You know the drill: you wake up looking like you’ve been hit by a bus, hair a mess, eyes half-closed, and your mum greets you with, “Good morning, gorgeous!”
Despite how you feel, she sees you as beautiful, and she lets you know it.
I think that’s how we feel about everyone around us. No matter what, we want them to see themselves the way we see them—amazing, strong, worthy of love, and perfect in their own unique way.
Celebrating Our Differences
What’s even more powerful is how different every single one of our members are. They represent every shape, size, colour, and personality you could imagine. And yet, there’s never a moment where we think, “I wish you were more like this.”
Quite the opposite really—what I love most about them are the traits that make them THEM. Their strength, kindness, supportiveness and uniqueness—that’s what makes them incredible.
Does this sound like you? Quite protective of how you view your loved ones? Then try and answer this question with A REAL ANSWER.
The big question – if I can look at my friends and love them just the way they are, why am I SO critical of myself?
We LOVE the golden rule. Treat yourself like you treat your best friend.
Think about this: imagine saying the hurtful things we think about our bodies out loud to our best friends. Would we ever say that to them? Of course not. We would never say anything so cruel to someone we love. So why do we say those things to ourselves? It’s time to hold ourselves accountable.
We are all mighty fine just the way we are.