Today I had an amazing experience in the fitting room while trying on dresses for my friends wedding this coming Saturday. For the first time in my life, I tried on several dresses and didn't criticize my body.
Typically when trying on dresses, I say in my head things like, "if only your hips were smaller you could fit in this dress" or "your stomach looks fat in this" or "why are my legs so stocky" etc etc.
Girls, relate?
Today my head voice said instead, "nah, that's not the right style for you" and "this dress just isn't cut right for your figure" and gasp... "you look totally cute in this, it just needs to be cut differently!"
This may not sound like a big difference, but it is! I've spent hours and days searching for the right dress that covers up all the right places and that "doesn't make me look fat" (insert unwelcome yet influential negative head voice)
But today, I was confident in my body. Why?
Well...I have no idea! But I will think about it.
I'm not currently in the best shape of my life and my weight is a bit higher than I'd like. I'm still fit, healthy, and strong, don't get me wrong, but there are so many factors that can mess with your self image, especially when it comes to buying and wearing clothes that are outside your comfort zone (I wear gym clothes, not dresses everyday!)
The only 3 theories I have are this:
1. I'm 31. Is that why? Does getting older (not that I'm old!) really affect your self image to where you care less about being body perfect?
The only comparison I have to this shaving your legs. Girls, remember when you first started shaving your legs and for about 10-15 years after, you wouldn't dare wear shorts or capris or a skirt without shaving your legs that day? Once you get to a certain point/age/personal comfort level, you don't care as much and you'll go to the gym without perfectly shaved legs! (and you still survive)
2. I've worked on my self image for years. Reading books, listening to motivational audios, and pursuing a dream that's bigger than how my butt looks in my jeans truly helps me to be more comfortable with who I am and how God made me.
3. Seeing it: Today I watched a short vid that I saw on yahoo's home page about photoshop transformations with celebrities, actors, etc. It really hit me, that no one has the absolute perfect body, skin, etc. The crazy thing is, I think some of these chicks looked better before they were "transformed!"
This may be the reason I was confident in the dressing room today, from watching one video... a 1:37 minute video that someone put time and effort into, but that helped me (after a lifetime of personal criticism) realize that no one is perfect, no matter what the pictures say.
I watched this video this morning at about 7:30 am and it's now 5:22 pm, so obviously I was affected by it. Something about it, made me more accepting of the small bags under my eyes (when I get up close in the mirror), the little crease in my love handle area, or the shape the God blessed me with.
If you struggle with what you see in the mirror--
1) know you're not the only one--in fact, I bet we could recruit millions who feel the same way, but
2) know you are lovely, and beautiful and important and that what you have to contribute to this world is not dependent on how cute your toosh is, how flat your stomach is, how perfectly balanced your skin is, how thick, curly, straight your hair is.
3) your curves or non curves are perfect and someone is gonna like them!
We are all made unique and we all have something different to contribute to this world.
One of the biggest things that holds us girls especially back, is being comfortable in our own skin, our own body, to make an impact.
I don't care what you look like, how much you weigh, what your education is, how much you have or haven't done toward your dream...You are important. You have value. There is something in you that the world needs. Don't waste it by being consumed with your own beauty self image. This holds a lot of us girls back, and it shouldn't. We become attractive by our passions, by that look in your eye of the pursuit, the look of resilience, the look of "I'm on a mission, don't mess with me." Yes. This is more attractive than what you think is a perfect figure.
Girls, the world needs you to step up and do what you are called too! Look in the mirror and see a strong, successful, warrior chick who can change the world.
:-)
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