I hate having my picture taken. Loathe.
I’ve never been photogenic, and I’m very uncomfortable in front of the camera.
I’m over critical of myself, and pictures just seem to bring out that annoying voice in my head that says, “You’re not pretty.”
But, I am pretty, damn it.
I’m no supermodel.
I do not have a perfect body.
or skin.
or teeth.
or hair.
or wardrobe.
But, I am me.
My eyes tell a story. My story.
There is no one like me.
That is beautiful.
“I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.”~Psalm 139:14
The world tells us we need to look a certain way in order to be beautiful.
I disagree.
(I began writing this post last night. After a photo shoot with my family and a few shots of just me for the blog, I realized how much time I wasted yesterday worrying about my appearance. I was pretty sickened with the realization that I’m well into my thirties and still carry around the insecurities of a teenage girl. I left off at the words “I disagree” above. I stopped there, because I wasn’t sure where I would take the rest of the post. I just knew I disagreed!)
Then, this morning I sat down to do a social studies lesson with my first grader. We’re on the last chapter in the book. Hallelujah! It’s an “all about me” sort of unit. I’m not surprised that God spoke to me right out of the pages of the book.
“Is there anyone on Earth just like you?
No, you are special.
No one looks just like you.
No one thinks just like you.
No one acts just like you.
God made you different from everyone else.
You are an individual.”
~Heritage Studies 1 BJU Press
Exactly!
How will I teach my children to love themselves just the way they are, if I cannot not do that for myself?
The hours leading up to that shoot were filled with self doubt, self loathing, and self. self. self.
Yuck.
You see, when we think poorly of ourselves, we’re just being selfish.
The key word in the phrase “low self esteem” isn’t LOW it’s SELF.
When we choose to hate the things God has given us that make us unique, we strip him of the praise he’s due for creating us.
Not only did He create me, but he blessed me with a healthy body and mind. A healthy body and mind that’s not to be wasted on the worries of this world. They are to be used for His purposes for me.
I am created beautiful and perfect in every way. His way. Not the world’s.
You and I were created in God’s image and likeness. Who are we to hate anything about that?
I’m tired of trying to be someone I’m not.
I’m me.
I’m tired of wasting energy on worrying about my weight, my appearance, or my wardrobe.
It’s exhausting.
It’s selfish.
It’s shallow.
And that’s not me.
Because I am beautiful.
Inside and out.
Today I will start acting like.
Today when I looked in the mirror this is what I told myself…
Inspired to write by Just.Be.Enough.
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Such an important message for each of us to carry with us every day. You ARE pretty. I’m so glad that you are able to see that.
Aramelle {One Wheeler’s World} recently posted..{NIAW ~ Don’t Ignore…The Need to Heal} Whiskers
Twitter: themommymess
says:
Thank you! It is a reminder I’m going to try to hang onto!
Adrienne recently posted..You are pretty.
Twitter: thedosetweets
says:
What a FANTASTIC post! I LOVE IT!!!!
:):) You are so 100% right!!! I was having a conversation with a girlfriend this morning along this same thought line, and we were saying how sad it makes us that women do not value ourselves more when it comes to our beauty, both inside and out. Well done.
thedoseofreality recently posted..Open Letter to Jessica Simpson
Twitter: themommymess
says:
thank you, my friend! We all need to love ourselves from the inside out. When we do, I think we will begin to see something other than our reflections.
Adrienne recently posted..You are pretty.
Yes. You are pretty. Because God doesn’t make ugly. My mom used to ask me, “what if i told you something you made was super ugly?” And I said I would cry. Then she said, “how do you think God feels when you say YOU’RE ugly? He made you.”
Katie recently posted..those are designer bags under my eyes
Twitter: themommymess
says:
Oh, wow. That’s so perfect! Right about now I wish I had a plug in to tweet comments! She’s right. you’re mom is pretty smart! Thanks for the kind words.
Adrienne recently posted..You are pretty.
Adrienne, it really wouldn’t matter what you looked like on the outside. Your heart is so pretty it is sparkling up here in MD! Smile and feel comfortable in front of the camera because you ARE pretty…inside and out!! So happy to be back online and feeling better. Can’t wait to catch up!
Kristen recently posted..The Innocence Of A Child…
Twitter: themommymess
says:
This is the sweetest comment ever, Kristen! Thank you. I’m glad you’re feeling better!!
Adrienne recently posted..You are pretty.
I feel like I was told for so long things like it was good I was smart that I took that to heart to mean that I was ugly. And then there’s the fact that if you are confident in yourself, people take that as being arrogant. Ugh.
You are pretty. Gorgeous. xo
Shell recently posted..Being a Girl
Twitter: themommymess
says:
We can’t win can we? Thank you for your sweet words. And YOU are pretty, too!
You should take all those other compliments as confirmation you are the total package!
Adrienne recently posted..You are pretty.
I struggle with this daily. I need to let go of the insecurities and accept that I am not ugly. I’m beautiful, inside and out, just as you are.
Kimberly recently posted..Haunting Nightmares
Twitter: themommymess
says:
Yes you are Kimberly! Ya know, the strange this is, I keep thinking I have let go of insecurities, and then God says, “Nope, not yet. We still need to work on this.” Even though I have grown in some areas, this has not been one of them. Until today!!
Adrienne recently posted..You are pretty.
I nominated you for the Libster award. Check it out http://uniquelyen.blogspot.com/2012/04/libster-blog-award-nominations.html
I love that we are starting to change our inner dialogue…and as a result, we’ll change the way our children look at themselves. Even Hollywood is starting to come around (to some degree)…baby steps, loving, self-accepting baby steps!
Kimberly recently posted..When I Look in the Mirror, I see…
Twitter: themommymess
says:
Teaching my kids to love themselves and value their potential is so much more important than my own self pity!!
Dude, you ARE pretty. Beautiful. Fantabulous. It all starts from the inside. As Khalil Gibran said, “Beauty is not in the face, beauty is a light in the heart.”
Alison@Mama Wants This recently posted..This Is About Blogging Again…. and Thank You
Twitter: themommymess
says:
I LOL when I read your comment. It’s like I can hear your voice saying “dude!”. Although, that would be impossible, since I’ve never heard your voice, but it’s my version of what it might sound like. LOL!! But, you’re that friend that slaps me upside the head and says “shut up!”
That is a beautiful quote! It’s true. Beauty comes from within. I know I’m beautiful. I do. I just wish that I would remember that everyday, and stop listening to the lie.
Maybe you should leave those beautiful words on your mirror for a while! I struggle with that too … especially because weight is such a battle for me! I came to a point where I realized that I am exerting pride anytime I persist in claiming truth in a belief that is contrary to God’s Word. HE says we are beautiful, chosen, princesses! Who are we to claim He is wrong?
Beth Zimmerman recently posted..Small Town America
Twitter: themommymess
says:
Exactly! It think He knows better than we do!
What a great message!
Twitter: themommymess
says:
Thanks!
Well said!
Erin recently posted..The Planning Desk
Twitter: themommymess
says:
Thank you, Erin.
What an important message to remember and to live for our children. If they see self-acceptance modeled, they are so much more likely to get closer to that elusive idea themselves.
(And a cute way to remind yourself!)
angela recently posted..Reflections and Distractions
Twitter: themommymess
says:
Yes, I have to remind myself that my actions are being watched. They need to see me love myself.
This is a wonderful message that I need to keep reminding myself. I want my daughters to believe that they are beautiful inside and out. I tell them that as often as I can.
Jenny recently posted..Be Enough Me: The Woman in the Mirror
Twitter: themommymess
says:
Ya know, I thought about my boys yesterday when I was writing this. They hear the comments I make about myself. I think I would be more mindful of that if I had girls. But, that’s wrong. I’m teaching them too! They need to learn from me to love themselves. I need to work on this.
I love this, and I really needed to hear this message today. Thank you.
Kristin @littlemamajama recently posted..Be Enough Me: Looking in the Mirror
Thanks for reading my blog about scars. I hope I didn’t make you think that I was saying you should reveal your scars…definitely not my intent.
Anyways, one of my scars is the constant lies I have told myself about being unworthy, not pretty, etc. All lies. Not feeling good enough. So I chose to replace those lies with God’s truth just as you said. YOU, Adrienne to me are physically beautiful, but also the way you encourage others in your blog and how you talk about your family…the way you encourage me…all of those make you beautiful. Yes, because of who we are in Christ…that makes us VERY pretty. THANK YOU for the reminder in your message…SO good to hear.
Dionne recently posted..Sometimes you gotta interpret the poetry: Everybody has scars
an important message, and im grateful for the look you allowed your readers into your perspective.
Wow! First, I don’t know how I missed this! Second, you might be soul sister. I could have written this. In the last six months, I have really struggled with this. I cannot get to a place where I like the way I look. You have inspired me to wake up tomorrow and think differently. “When we choose to hate the things God has given us that make us unique, we strip him of the praise he’s due for creating us.” I need to remember this…put it on a notecard or write it on a poster. Third, I have only known you a short while but in that time, you are one of the most beautiful people I have known. I love that you have a picture up without your sunglasses because the world can really see how pretty you are.
AnnMarie recently posted..It’s Finally Here!! Guest Post Day!!
Twitter: themommymess
says:
Are you the one that told me to put up a no sunglasses picture? Somebody did. Thank you for the kind words! I’m really happy that you took that quote away from the post. It’s true. We should love ourselves more.
First of all, this is a lot like me! I hate having my picture taken too and I have insecurities as well. Very critical of myself. And secondly….you are so pretty. I have seen some of your pics and you are! thirdly, this was a great post. and a good message found here and in all the comments so far.
robin recently posted..Spending a day with the Fatboy
Twitter: themommymess
says:
Thank you, Robin!
Adrienne, I have to OMG!
We’d be sharing your post on our FB page, if you’d like to check it out. https://www.facebook.com/enreachinglives
I have always thought of myself as okay-looking, not bad looking. But never – pretty. Thank you for this post, I am pretty from today onwards
jamie recently posted..You Are Special
Twitter: themommymess
says:
Thank you so much for sharing my post! It’s so funny how we were on the same page!