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Everyday we are bombarded with images of perfect beauty, from glamour magazines to the news media to the self promotions of Hollywood. Its drilled into our heads that to be considered important and valuable we have to change this and tuck that, enhance this and minimize that. Now, don't get me wrong here, I am a big proponent of improving where improving is beneficial. Whether it be our minds, bodies or souls, if it enhances our relationship to our"SELVES" in anyway then SELF-improvement is ALWAYS a good thing. But, when it comes down to changing ourselves to fit some out of this world unrealistic and often misguided standard, we do ourselves the diservice of falling into the trap of self deception. We deceive ourselves into thinking that if only my waist is smaller or I had a bigger cup size or if I had less dimples on my backside then I would have more value as a person. If only I looked more like Angelina Jolie or Kim Cardasian then I would be more loved and admired.When we begin to measure our worth by how we are received rather how we perceive ourselves then we start giving our power to others. And once we start this downward spiral then we become THE snowball. Giving away our own power to others in this way is akin to picking up a smoking habit or a drinking problem. Not only is allowing ourselves to be disempowered in this way, like these nasty habits, a covert conspiracy with own inner demons but soon it also soon becomes THE definition of SELF. In this sense, the disempowered Self becomes like a leaf on the wind. It has no control of where its going and no understanding of where it wants to go. We lose our ability to see ourselves for the immense beings we really are and begin to diminish our direct link to our own innate power. But, there is a silver lining here. There is a great lesson here that we can sift through and learn from. There is always a choice. And, only we can make the choice for ourselves that says, "ok, no more." We can choose to turn away from this trap and get back to ourselves. Self Love is really a funny thing. It can be quite elusive like the love interest that plays hard to get and still it is always right there waiting for us to embrace it. It's a process of facing demons, letting go of our baggage, taking the time to really get to know ourselves (good and bad), and embracing and celebrating who we are. It can be a terrifying journey but well worth it. It IS the Love we have for ourselves that is reliable and like a best friend always something we can fall back on during even the hardest times. A strong self-image is what sets the empowered individual apart from all else. A strong self-image creates an amazingly high level of self-esteem which in turn creates the sense of profound self-confidence in an individual. And here's the kicker. Making the decision to turn away from allowing others to dictate how you see and feel about yourself is the hardest step. Once you've realized that this is indeed an issue in your life and choose and commit to this decision, then you've already won half the battle. Most never get to this point and continue, almost mindlessly, to stay on the roller coaster ride that constantly dictates their thoughts, feelings and actions. The ability to know yourself and to live from the power that is everyone's birthright is the greatest gift we are given from the time of conception. We all are so much more than our physical bodies. I know you've probably heard this before and actally that statement has become so mainstream that some might roll their eyes at seeing it now. But its become such a catch phrase because its so true. We all have a power inside of us that could fuel a city for months. Now, think about this. How "powerful" that statement is. It just takes a willingness and even just the smallest amount of courage to tap into it and use it to fuel our Love for our "Selves". Until Next Time,
AudreyLynn |
