A little self-motivation for your day.

Being Confident

I don't know if any of you are familiar with Sprinkle of Glitter on Youtube, but she's a fabulous UK blogger/youtuber with a really down to earth and witty personality. When I want a laugh, I like to watch Louise's videos.

I really liked this video Lousie uploaded last week and I've been meaning to share it as I think it sends a really positive message to us all regarding our own self image. The video is titled 'Being Body Confident'.

We already know that no one is perfect, right? And that whatever the media sees as perfect, unique or beautiful isn't necessarily true, nor is it all realistic.

So regardless that we know no one out there is perfect, so many of us strive and exhaust ourselves over trying to reach our own personal ideal of what "perfection" is.

I've gone through being bullied growing up, being judged and being criticized for the way I look when I was older (even now) and although the way I present myself is important to me (I was raised in a house where looking put together/presentable on a daily basis was valued as a reflection of my family) but I also feel that through the years of people picking on the way I look, it has affected the way I see myself and has caused me to be absorbed in my looks over the years. Although I'm still not 100% happy with the way I look, I have really grown over the past few years. With the losses we go though in life, as well as the changes, growth, gains, etc it really starts to put some things in a better perspective.

I don't really want to go there, but with the loss of my Dad, I look at life much differently. A more positive perspective.

I'm not 100% happy with the way I look. For one, I'm not happy with my body because I've gained weight and can't fit into 95% of my wardrobe. Fall/Winter are my favorite seasons of the year because I love the fashion. Do you know how many cute things I purchased after the holidays last year that I couldn't wait to wear for the following (this) year? And I can't wear any of it. I could very well do something about it, but I haven't. And I'm stuck feeling like I have to avoid going to certain places because people are going to think "damn, she gained weight."

Although it's something I'm still learning, but I always try to remind myself that I'm dwelling too much on things that aren't important and I'm not only what you see on the outside. I have a lot to offer on the inside! Realistically, no one is probably talking about me (or any of us) and if they are, who really cares? We aren't the number we see on the scale, or the brands we are wearing and our friends and loved ones love us for US!

Like Louise says in her video, she's not conceited or she doesn't love the way she looks, but she doesn't hate herself either and isn't going to beat herself down for it. She's content and accepting of what she looks like and the with person she is.

If you think about it, What's the point of being so hard on yourself? There is none! Why do we do this to ourselves? Not only is media perfection unrealistic, but self perfection is unrealistic too. Example número dos: I've had stretch marks on my hips since I was probably 12 years old and they aren't going anywhere. You think I like them? Heck to the no. But I've come to accept them. I'm going to have them all my life, so I better start accepting the things I can't change instead of driving myself every day I look at them. Even for the things we can change, we should still be accepting - accepting something you don't necessarily want doesn't make you a failure. Being accepting is so much better than being non-accepting!

I feel like I'm all over the place in this post and that none of my thoughts are organized, but the bottom line is that.. you're a good person. We're all decent people, right? I think I have a pretty likable personality, I think I'm funny sometimes, I'm very caring for the people around me, I'm dependable and ... I'm pretty talented. I feel very weird complimenting myself, but why should I be ashamed? None of us should. We should take pride in what we are good at.

I firmly believe that love conquers everything, and the more you love and give love to others, the happier your life will be. I'm not referring to only your loved ones. Love everyone. Kindness is love. When you beat yourself down every day to hold the ideal of what you want to look like and what you want others to see, and what you want to accomplish in life, you lose hold of what really matters in life. When you get old, and when you die, you aren't going with your good looks. You leave behind what you brought to others. And I don't know about you, but I'd rather be remembered for something other than having an even tan.

I love the online beauty community. I love it for so many reasons. It's a place where I fit in and I can talk about some of my passions and where I can kick my feet back and be myself. I love fashion, but I might not own all of the latest trends. I love photography, but my lighting might suck half of the time and my camera might not be the best. I love writing, but I might not be the best writer and I rarely ever proofread. I love beauty and makeup, but that doesn't mean my makeup is always done perfectly. You never know, you might run into me at the mall and I might look like a hot mess (hopefully not.. lol). Regardless, I'm doing things that I enjoy, love and feel good about.

At the end of the day, I don't care if my hair isn't perfect, if my nail polish is chipped or if my mascara has been on for two days (guilty! But only if it looks decent.. haha!) None of that changes the person I am.

Just remember, if you're kind and courteous to others, and if you're sensitive to others feelings, don't forget to be sensitive to your own too. Stop being so hard on yourself! Because you're worth it! We all are! We don't have to try loving ourselves right away.. let's try being content with ourselves first.

Anyways, check out that video. I hope you get something out of it.

Talk to you tomorrow about makeup again my beautiful friends!