I think it’s easy to get caught up in social media and celebrities when it comes to how we think we should look. And it’s completely understandable that this happens sometimes because most of us are on the internet a lot. We’re scrolling different apps seeing beautiful people with perfect poses and lighting, reading articles about celebrities and their insane wellness routines, and seeing ads with plastic surgery before and after photos all the time. It is so easy to compare ourselves to others and get down about the way that we see ourselves, but we shouldn’t beat ourselves up for not being able to reach unrealistic standards.

We may feel like we are not beautiful enough or like our bodies aren’t what they should be, but we shouldn’t have to feel that way. For one, a lot of celebrities edit their photos, so that’s not even what they look like. Even the people that we think are the most beautiful still get horrible comments about their appearance. Some people just love to put others down and make people feel terrible for no reason. And two, we are all human and no human is exactly the same. We are allowed to have flaws and differences and love them all the same. It’s what makes us stand out from everyone else. No one wants a world where everyone looks alike. What makes the world beautiful is the diversity of people in it.

What is a “beauty standard” anyway? Who is in charge of what’s beautiful or not? The correct answer is NO ONE! No one person can say what the standard of what is attractive or not because not everything and everyone is the same type of beautiful or will find the same things beautiful. I saw a quote once that said, “Just because you don’t look like someone that you think is attractive, doesn’t mean you aren’t attractive. Flowers are pretty, but so are Christmas lights and they look nothing alike.” I wish I knew who to give the credit to for that quote because it is spot on. Everyone is their own kind of beautiful. You don’t need to look like whichever celebrity everyone is drooling over right now to be considered beautiful. What makes someone unattractive is a nasty, hateful personality, not their body.

I completely understand that it’s hard to not cave under societal pressures. I have my own struggles with it as well. I have sat in front of the mirror and picked myself apart, making a list of all the things I would change on more than one occasion. And I still have days like that, but we have to remember to take a step back. Get away from mirrors if you have to and try to distract yourself with something else because picking yourself apart piece by piece is not good for anyone’s mental health. If you’re having a day like that, try to do something that makes you feel good and helps you get into a better mental space.

One of my big insecurities has always been my chest. I’ve wanted breast implants for as long as I can remember. I’ve always said I only wanted them for me because they would make me feel more confident. Then I started questioning if it was really just for me or if I wanted them because that’s what I thought other people would find desirable. Yes, I would feel more confident with them, but why am I not confident without them, with just myself naturally? It is so hard sometimes, but we have to stop looking to others for how we think we need to look. We never need to try to fit into other people’s boxes of what they call beauty. Other people’s opinions do not matter.

I know that beauty standards have evolved over the years, but not nearly enough. While more body types are occasionally showcased in modeling now, people still get shamed for not fitting into the standards of what others find attractive. Some people don’t even realize they are doing it, but everyone should try to be a little more mindful of the things that they say to people. There is literally no reason at all to comment on someone’s body, especially if they didn’t even ask for your input. It’s rude, it’s unnecessary, and it could be very triggering for someone that already has body image issues.

I just want us to be able to OWN OUR BODIES! They are ours and they are beautiful! Forget what the media and critics say. Ignore the societal standards! You are perfect no matter your shape or size. You are gorgeous and don’t let anyone tell you differently!

I feel that we all need to try to be a bit kinder to ourselves and our bodies. It’s the only one we have, and we need to be thankful for it and for all that it does for us. It keeps us going and functioning. It’s easy to get caught up in society’s standards of what our bodies should look like, but here’s the thing: There is no one way a body should look. Bodies come in all shapes and sizes, and they are perfect exactly the way they are. I know that it’s much easier to say we should love our bodies and be proud of them than it is to actually do it. It’s completely normal to have bad body image days. We all have those sometimes, and I think it’s important to acknowledge that and do whatever we have to do on those days to try to help ourselves feel better or at least distract ourselves from the negative thoughts.

1. 

   Thank you so much!! 🙂

2. 

   Congratulations Summer! From Ireland

3. 

   Loved this! I’m going to read more of your entries.

4. 

   Thank you for your articles. I find them very helpful. Could you help me with something?

5. 

   Girl you write! ❤️