Perception is an interesting thing and a powerful mind-bending tool. The media knows this, and the media utilizes this to shape the minds of anyone they can influence. I mean, they have all the tools- TV shows, movies, magazines, etc.
It strikes me hard when I really give thought to how we allow the media to mold our minds and make our decisions for us.
"Image is everything."
This is partially true, but not in the way you might think.
It's really hard for a lot of teen girls and teen guys to feel good about their image. There is judgment coming from every kind of source stemming from other people- judgment that says they're not thin enough, they're not toned enough, they're not talented enough, they're not stylish enough, simply pushing the impression of "You're not good enough" down their throats.
The way we view the world influences the way we view ourselves.
"Image is everything."
If you want to find flaws, you will always succeed.
If you want to see the silver lining to make the best of a bad situation, you only need to try.
There's a fatal flaw many fall prey to: Comparing yourself to others.
This is very easy to do, and very hard to stop doing. Comparing yourself to anyone else is a huge mistake.
If we were meant to be compared to each other, to see who could be the best, we would all be the exact same ... But we aren't.
You aren't me and I am not you. So why should we waste our time comparing ourselves when there is nothing but discouragement to be found?
If you found that you had better hair than I do, then that would be discouraging to me.
If I thought I had better taste in music, that would be discouraging to you.
My point is, there IS no point when it comes to comparing two very different people.
Body image is a huge maker or breaker these days.
Once again, I say, WE ARE NOT THE SAME.
You could take five 16 year old girls that all weighed exactly the same and stand them all next to each other, and they would all have very different body shapes. One might be a bit broader in the shoulders. One might not have the curves that the girl next to her has. One might be shorter, so she carries her weight differently than the super tall girl on her left.
Whether you're a guy or a girl, teen or adult, you shouldn't be trying to have the same body as that model or body builder whose picture you saw.
If you want to improve yourself, there is absolutely nothing wrong with that. Just don't try to be like someone else. Try to be the best you that you could hope to be!
If you like that shirt that girl said was ugly, who cares what she thinks? Wear it if you want to. It is YOUR choice.
If you love your haircut, OWN it, even if some guy thinks it makes you look "different".
Do what makes YOU happy. We waste far too much time holding the opinion of the world around us highly.
At no point in time will you make everyone happy.
At no point in time will every single person agree with you.
At no point in time should you have to change yourself for anyone else's approval.
You are the only you there will ever be, and that is a wonderful gift. Don't throw that away over some measly opinion that doesn't matter in the end.
So just keep on being you!
The way you look at life, the world, and yourself, is important. Be positive. Life is too short to be negative.
"Image is everything."
... Not so much. But, you deserve to see yourself as pretty freakin' awesome as you really are!
I encourage you to not let negative thoughts about yourself get the better of you. I know they're not easy to ignore. I have them all the time. It's the mental equivalent of drinking poison- it kills your spirit slowly.
You are you and that is beautiful.
No one else will ever have your eyes and the mind to match.
Your thoughts are your own, and, yes, maybe others have had similar thoughts, but no one has thought the same way as you have.
You have so much to offer the world, whether you recognize it or not, and you don't have to have a perfect body, or perfect face, or perfect hair to prove it.
Who defines perfect anyway?
Who defines normal?
Can't think of an answer? Well, the media world sure tries to be that answer. Don't let them.
Be your own kind of weird! Unless, you'd rather be your own kind of normal ... That's your business :P
Don't let anyone make you feel like you're not good enough. You are MORE than enough.
I'll leave you with this: Just be you.
If you don't listen to me, listen to the illustrious Dr. Suess.
It strikes me hard when I really give thought to how we allow the media to mold our minds and make our decisions for us.
"Image is everything."
This is partially true, but not in the way you might think.
It's really hard for a lot of teen girls and teen guys to feel good about their image. There is judgment coming from every kind of source stemming from other people- judgment that says they're not thin enough, they're not toned enough, they're not talented enough, they're not stylish enough, simply pushing the impression of "You're not good enough" down their throats.
The way we view the world influences the way we view ourselves.
"Image is everything."
If you want to find flaws, you will always succeed.
If you want to see the silver lining to make the best of a bad situation, you only need to try.
There's a fatal flaw many fall prey to: Comparing yourself to others.
This is very easy to do, and very hard to stop doing. Comparing yourself to anyone else is a huge mistake.
If we were meant to be compared to each other, to see who could be the best, we would all be the exact same ... But we aren't.
You aren't me and I am not you. So why should we waste our time comparing ourselves when there is nothing but discouragement to be found?
If you found that you had better hair than I do, then that would be discouraging to me.
If I thought I had better taste in music, that would be discouraging to you.
My point is, there IS no point when it comes to comparing two very different people.
Body image is a huge maker or breaker these days.
Once again, I say, WE ARE NOT THE SAME.
You could take five 16 year old girls that all weighed exactly the same and stand them all next to each other, and they would all have very different body shapes. One might be a bit broader in the shoulders. One might not have the curves that the girl next to her has. One might be shorter, so she carries her weight differently than the super tall girl on her left.
Whether you're a guy or a girl, teen or adult, you shouldn't be trying to have the same body as that model or body builder whose picture you saw.
If you want to improve yourself, there is absolutely nothing wrong with that. Just don't try to be like someone else. Try to be the best you that you could hope to be!
If you like that shirt that girl said was ugly, who cares what she thinks? Wear it if you want to. It is YOUR choice.
If you love your haircut, OWN it, even if some guy thinks it makes you look "different".
Do what makes YOU happy. We waste far too much time holding the opinion of the world around us highly.
At no point in time will you make everyone happy.
At no point in time will every single person agree with you.
At no point in time should you have to change yourself for anyone else's approval.
You are the only you there will ever be, and that is a wonderful gift. Don't throw that away over some measly opinion that doesn't matter in the end.
So just keep on being you!
The way you look at life, the world, and yourself, is important. Be positive. Life is too short to be negative.
"Image is everything."
... Not so much. But, you deserve to see yourself as pretty freakin' awesome as you really are!
I encourage you to not let negative thoughts about yourself get the better of you. I know they're not easy to ignore. I have them all the time. It's the mental equivalent of drinking poison- it kills your spirit slowly.
You are you and that is beautiful.
No one else will ever have your eyes and the mind to match.
Your thoughts are your own, and, yes, maybe others have had similar thoughts, but no one has thought the same way as you have.
You have so much to offer the world, whether you recognize it or not, and you don't have to have a perfect body, or perfect face, or perfect hair to prove it.
Who defines perfect anyway?
Who defines normal?
Can't think of an answer? Well, the media world sure tries to be that answer. Don't let them.
Be your own kind of weird! Unless, you'd rather be your own kind of normal ... That's your business :P
Don't let anyone make you feel like you're not good enough. You are MORE than enough.
I'll leave you with this: Just be you.
If you don't listen to me, listen to the illustrious Dr. Suess.
"Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind."
~ Dr. Suess.
