For the longest time, I've always had trouble accepting the way my body looked. Every day, I’m surrounded by the latest news about other people’s weight - who’s gained and who’s lost. Then I started looking at my own body, thinking that I needed to look a certain way. That the number that I read on the scale and the measuring tape actually meant something. That the fact of whether or not I had defined collarbones or an ab line or back dimples really mattered. It reached a point where I believed that once I achieved those things, then I will finally view myself as what society says is “beautiful.” I wanted so bad for people to look at me and say, “Wow, she looks great,” instead of, “Hey, has she gained weight?" I tried to stick with the diet trends, watched more exercise videos, and continuously looked up websites that talked about weight loss. And whenever I failed to make progress, I felt so disappointed. I put so much effort into trying so hard to get the body image I wanted. I looked into the mirror, sucking my stomach in, only to let it out again and see that the dream of having a tiny waist was so far fetched.
Then I started thinking that I will never be “beautiful.”
I came across this video, and there is no doubt in my mind that the next two and a half minutes of my life had completely shifted my perspective about beauty and what it actually means to be beautiful and what we, as women (AND ALSO men), should weigh ourselves as:
Our weight is not determined by the mass of our bones, muscles, or fat. Only we have the power to convince our own selves what we are worth and what we weigh. It starts with us.
It starts with our confidence. Our strength. Our empowerment. And our willingness to confide in, strengthen, and empower others.
I’ve learned so much about myself through this period of body-insecurity and although I still find myself working out, getting more active, and eating clean, I know that I do these things not because I hate my body, but because I absolutely love my body.
Everyone deserves to watch this video, and whether or not you benefit from it or see the potential in it, I feel that those who do not believe they are beautiful should at least know this: Beauty is not defined by a number on a scale. It is not defined by what is advertised in our society. And it is especially not defined by what is seen in the mirror, except that glowing radiant smile that says, “I am beautiful, no matter what."
