{ you are beautiful }

The other day I was in a conversation with some of my closest friends at hair school and they began to ask me how I got so good at being positive about myself. They wanted to know how I was able to not pick myself apart in the mirror each day, or compare myself to every girl my eyes came across. At first I just sort of laughed and probably said something sarcastic, but they pressed further and honestly wanted to know. They told me they couldn't even imagine how it would feel to not care or think about how everyone saw them. I know how they feel because I used to be there too. I think most girls have been and a lot still are.
I didn't have an easy answer for my friends then, and I'm not sure I still do, but overall I'd say for me it takes practice, gratitude, and acknowledging who i am.

It takes practice to be kind to yourself. You have power over your words and if you control your words you can begin to control your thoughts. It is as simple as not saying critical things about yourself. Really it is possible. When you want to say something negative about yourself just stop and find something positive to say instead. This is one that takes continual practice.

Gratitude is key to loving all of yourself. It will stop you from being your worst critic. When you realize just how fortunate you are to have the body,abilities,and health that you have, you would feel silly to complain about such trivial things like as a few extra dimples in your behind.

The biggest and most powerful thing is recognizing that you are a child of God. He created you. He loves you perfectly. He sees you as a beautiful daughter with so many talents and wonderful attributes. To waste energy on unrealistic expectations and harsh comparisons wouldn't make him proud, it would make him sad. He wants to see you happy. Start to see yourself for who you really are, and what you are capable of doing, and forget everything else.

I am definitely not perfect at this, and I don't claim to be. But I am around so many beautiful people each day that just don't see it. They beat themselves up over the tiniest details. I've heard them say they hate parts of their bodies I didn't even know I had. It just makes me sad to see such beautiful women waste so much energy worrying about these trivial things.
So let's all just stop the madness and love ourselves completely.
We are all beautiful.