"Why can't I look like her?" It's a question that every girl or woman has asked at least once in a life time. As small girls our parents tells us that we're the prettiest things in the world but as we grow older and encounter other girls, our thinking seems to change. We begin to feel unsatisfied with our appearance and constantly dwell on the things we lack. This, ladies, is where all girls go wrong.
Society has taught young girls that your value lies in your physical appearance. That you are only as good as you are pretty. That you must meet a certain standard of beauty in order to be considered desirable or likable. And it doesn't help that there are certain symbols and representations of these standards such as supermodels, actresses and pop-stars. We look at these women as say : "Wow, look at her. She's gorgeous. But look at me. I'm plain, too fat, too many freckles. I'm just not good enough. Why can't I look like her?"
The biggest mistake we make as girls is comparing ourselves to others, We're constantly looking at the next girl and beating ourselves us because we lack something that she has. Every time we do this we're killing a little bit of our self esteem. One comparison at a time.
Comparisons are very easy to make and we are taught to make them at young ages. It's very easy to point out what we don't have. But we have to remember that if we always compare ourselves to others, we'll never feel good enough. Everyone is different. Everyone is beautiful in their own way. So what if you don't look like the girls on the front cover of Seventeen Magazine? So what if you're not as tall as that runway model? So what if you have a few extra curves? You are you. A one of a kind. An original. You're prefect in your own way.
I know it might be hard. We all do it. I'm not totally satisfied with my physical appearance. I make comparisons every now and then and I drop a self loathing comment almost every day. But you know what? It takes time to become comfortable in your own skin and it's usually something that doesn't happen during the time that were girls or young women. Being happy with who you are won't happen over night. It's a process but it will happen eventually.
You don't have to live up to the standard of beauty the world's created. Make your own.
