Thank you all so much for the feedback on my last post. I was quite nervous telling the world that I don’t mind the way that I look. You wouldn't believe the amount of times I wanted to go back and just delete the entire post... Or write a new one promising that I do, in fact, think that I am unattractive.
It’s odd, isn’t it? I am quite sure I have posted that I like who I am a few times on this blog and not batted an eyelid. But to say something positive about your looks, particularly to others, is terrifying. And I DID get some negative feedback about it too. Though I have previously posted that I am awkward looking/strange looking/ugly, and I certainly have not gotten negative feedback for that.
One person brought up a good point. When someone says that they think that they’re beautiful, we automatically assume that they think that they’re more beautiful than us. We go around constantly telling ourselves how horrible looking we are, and when someone doesn’t share our self-loathing, we assume that it is because they think that they are better than we are. Otherwise how else can they be comfortable with themselves? But when someone says that they are nice, funny, witty, or brave, we have no problem with it. Because we all either believe that we too are nice/funny/brave people, or don't mind that we're not.
But everything in our society seems to be becoming more and more focused on looks. And so that is what we’re placing so much importance on, when it honestly shouldn’t be the big deal that it is.
When I look around at all of people I know, both male and female, they’re all beautiful in their own way. Maybe they don’t fit the Hollywood stereotype, but they are just as beautiful. And what is so wrong with them being able to see it? I would be so happy if they did. If they stopped taking one certain look as something to aim for, and becoming unhappy with themselves if they don’t quite reach it.
I wasn’t, in my last post, saying that we should go around constantly talking about how gorgeous we are. But we also shouldn’t be talking negatively about ourselves either; that too should be just as socially unacceptable. But in the right context, like I believe it was in my post, we shouldn’t be ashamed of saying it. We shouldn’t be made to feel bad for not hating the way that we look.
Obviously, we are all going to have good and bad days. Days where we get dressed up and feel like a princess/prince, and days where we look in the mirror and wish that we hadn’t. But overall, wouldn’t it be wonderful if we all liked ourselves? If we were all quite happy with what we looked like, like most are already happy with the kind of person they are (again, good and bad days, but overall).
I hope, during the next week, that you tell the world that you’re beautiful; whether it’s at home by yourself, to a close friend or partner, in a blog post, or shouted from the top of a tall building. And I want you to believe it. And to feel no shame for that.
Comments
And yet I see beauty all around me, in old eyes, little kids smiles, my cat waiting for me to scratch his tummy.
I will have to keep reminding myself I'm beautiful or maybe just being part of a beautiful day.
It's definitely one of those things where people don't want to come across as being boastful or arrogant and it's easier to just put yourself down then go against the grain. I think that is especially true in Australian culture.
so why we always have to apologize if we think that we are great, even if we have or don't have "symmetrical face"
I feel beautiful!:)
And beauty comes in so many forms, shapes, sizes, characteristics, etc.
All that aside, you just have to feel sorry for people who take the time to leave negative feedback on other people's blogs. So sad.
And you, my blog friend, are beautiful in so many ways.
xox
I would like to say thankyou for voting on my challenge, and I found it funny and surprising what you said about Frankenstein. I would love to know what it was that you enjoyed so much about it! Like, what did you like?
Thankyou and take care.
Because, really, what's perfection? Is it what we see in the magazines? Or is it what we see in the mirror? Do we want to subject ourselves to the Hollywoody opinion that perfection is bronze skin, flat tummies, and so on and so forth? Are we less attractive when we decide to not subject to that, for whatever reason? I think not, certainly not. And most men would agree, too. It's women who are so critical of themselves and others.
Ah well, I'm digressing, but anyway, I think you are right.
I definitely try to see the beauty in people when I walk down the street. it's such a better and more positive way to walk around then being all "Wow, he is WAY more attractive than that girl"
Everyone is beautiful in his or her own way.
http://www.glamkittenslitterbox.com/
Twitter: @GlamKitten88
xo
L
You're right, society has conditioned us to look for the negatives but we should look at the positives. Plus, for me, being a good person always outweighed the physical appearance.
this is something that I am battling with all my might at the moment. I have struggled with self-image for as long as I can remember. no matter how much weight I lose, no matter how my other physical and personal attributes shine, I never feel satisfied.
I don't want to be that girl.
I am trying, and I say trying with every shred of honesty that I can muster, to quell that voice inside my head that says "ugh" when I see my thighs. I'm not even going to notice my thighs; the size of my thighs is unimportant. (it seems so obvious to say, doesn't it?!)
thank you for solidifiying the knowledge that appearance does not matter - health, kindness and happiness matter.
“You will be pretty intelligent, pretty creative, pretty amazing. But you, will never be merely ‘pretty’.”"
But then, it also reminds me of "David Foster Wallace on Life and Work".
I'm sorry I'm just a giant source of links these days, haha.