this is how it goes.

every woman that has ever been has said to themselves at one point in time or another that they must change in order to be beautiful. it's a fact. it's what keeps the earth on its axis.
i bring this up why you may ask?
because, i am the most insecure person i know.
i like to give off that "hey whatever, like i care what you think" vibe. but vibes are easy to fake.
and so is confidence.

my beautiful, amazing sister recommended a book to me called simply If You Eat at the Refrigerator, Pull up a Chair.
this book is meant to be about how dieting doesn't work. apparently that's a fourth law of physics. every diet has an equal and opposite binge. (which i believe. but if a diet works for you and you are fabulous at it then heck! more power to ya!)
what this book taught me that i never thought before was i am a jerk. a complete and utter jerk. oh no, i'm nice to people i meet on the street, and i always try my best to be there for the people who need me, but i am the biggest jerk ever to myself.

girls i want you to do this for me. please recall the last things you said to yourself whilst looking in the mirror. was it something like "hey there gorgeous, you must be lost. you are way too good to even grace this earth with your presence. fly right up to heaven you angel." i'm gonna bet it wasn't. and i'm also gonna bet it went more like this; "oh my! get thee hence satan! you ugly, gross swamp witch what have you done with the body and face i wanted!?"

now pause. rewind what you said to yourself. and think. would you EVER even consider saying that to ANYONE ELSE? and would you take it if someone else said that to you? i wouldn't. i'd bust a cap on up in here. so why do we take it from ourselves? because if we think it must be true? lying to yourself is one of the easist things to do. and if you don't think you are GORGEOUS then you are a liar.

the mere fact that we are woman, and a creation of our Heavenly Father means that we are beautiful. completely. can you judge which of Monet's paintings was the most beautiful? the most accomplished? and if you say one, will everyone else agree on that same one? beauty, art, these things have always been in the eye of the beholder. you are a master piece that God made. and just because you, or someone else does not see the beauty in that piece of work, does not mean it isn't there. compare a piece of modern art to a classic piece. both are beautiful, and it isn't fair to compare them because they don't seem anything alike. same concept for comparing yourselves with others. when you compare yourselves with others you only see their strengths, matched up against your weaknesses. how fair is that? that is not an accurate comparison.

these things have been floating around in my mind. and as i've pondered them i've made myself some promises. first i printed this out. and promised to abide. then i decided that every morning, as i looked in the mirror and was about to tell myself how ugly, fat, and worthless i am i would instead say to that little voice, "shut it. i am NOT listening to you. i am a beautiful daughter of God whose worth is above the price of rubies. (proverbs 31:10) and i will shine today."

now i've been on my soap box for a good hour, it's time to get off and do some homework. but please remeber, you are beautiful. no matter what. as you come to this realization (not that it's something you realize and the next day you are like, "oh hey i have no insecurities or issues". not at all. it will take time.) but as you come to the realization of who you truely are you will begin to shine. you will radiate that truth and beauty. so go forth you beautiful people, and let your light so shine.

www.operationbeautiful.com