Loving Your Looks
I surely do know it is very important we value and see our bodies and appearance for more than what they look like. Absolutely. It is an incredible thing that our bodies carry us around from day to day, pump blood to our heart, fuel our brain and allow us to do a myriad of amazing things that contribute to us living our lives. One of the most powerful positive body image tips I know of is to always value our bodies in this way and remember they are so much more than what they look like.
BUT! If we can learn to appreciate our bodies for what they do AND how they look – we’ve potentially got a winning combination for positive body image and self esteem. Weight loss companies and deceptive beauty advertising is, put frankly, designed to make us feel bad about our bodies, faces, hair and indeed, our entire self and the way we look. Its aim is to make us feel inferior and down about ourselves so we will buy that product or go on that diet in the hope we can ‘fix’ ourselves. That ‘fix’ of course will never come from a tube of cream, or at the very least, only be a temporary boost to our self esteem. Lasting change about how we feel about ourselves and our appearance can only come from within.
So…I want to start a little tidal wave here at Beautiful You. I want you to tell me at least two things you love about your body, appearance, looks – the outer you that the world gets to see. I appreciate that for some of us (maybe even you) this is not an easy thing to do. All those messages we see every day telling us we are not ok can be very powerful. But I’m here to tell you that they are not as powerful as you are. Not even close. Your thinking, heart, intellect and positivity can outstrip all those messages if you harness your personal power and choose to think beautiful thoughts about your body and the way you look.
To get the ball rolling I think it only fair I tell you two things I love about the way I look. Fair’s fair! Firstly – I love my smile. It’s a killer and with dimples to boot. Still amazes me that a dentist tried to convince my Mum when I was a pre-teen that I truly, ruly, absolutely needed braces. She had the good sense to know that was absolutely ridiculous for someone who had pretty near perfect, even, straight teeth. It has inspired me to look after them well ever since (she said there would be trouble if I didn’t!) and smile as often as I could. Love my smile.
Ok, here goes. I love my skin – it is almost flawless (to me) and my smile. I think my smile can light up a room, especially since I look so serious all the time!
I loved reading your two things! I think a big part of having a poor body image is thinking about one's body as a separate entity, an object that is somehow apart from oneself and therefore malleable, open for manipulation. But your body is a part of you. Expressing love for your body is expressing love yourself!
Two things I love. First, my legs! All of the women in my family are petite and short. I am tall, and my legs are long; they are uniquely me. They have carried me through medical school and two marathons. They are muscular and strong no matter my weight, and I really do love them.
I also love my eyes. They are green, and I like to think they convey my sincerity and warmth. In the past, when I was complimented for my eyes, I felt offended, thinking sarcastically, "thanks! I worked really hard for them." But I've grown to appreciate their honesty and brightness.
What a lovely article. So refreshing to read something that inspires us to recognise the beauty within ourself; as opposed to modern culture and media that generates a comparison to distorted images.
The two things I love most about my looks are: my beautiful soft and glowing skin; and the curvy womanly shape of my body. Ahhhh… what a joy it is to be female!
Love your beautiful smile Julie, and I can't wait to read your next articles.
baublesb – I hope the next room you walk into it will be with a smile!
Anonymous – "Expressing love for your body is expressing love for yourself" Love, love that. Thankyou.
Samantha – Indeed it is a joy to be a woman. Promise to keep the posts coming as regular as I can!
For the first time in my life I'm liking my legs. I've thought they were fat since I was 12 years old, hence an eating disorder for most of my life. I've always had heavy muscular thighs and calves and thick ankles. I've finally hit acceptance and I've finally found a good work out program that is working for my legs.
It is now official that I'm loving my boobs!! Hitting the start of menopause and finally I'm getting a chest!! I went bra shopping yesterday and for the first time I was able to buy something sexy and really pretty!! Just 4 years ago I was flat chested and now I'm a 36C!! Who knew??!! Form fitted tops here I come!!
Next stop, bathing suit shopping!!
My two favourite things are firstly my eyes – Ive always had glasses since grade 4 so once I got contacts when I was 18 – I always notice them so much more and they are so beautiful!
My second favourite thing is I'm finally a 12B – after years of being quite skinny. I have really enjoyed the fact that as I'm growing older my body is turning into more of an hour glass figure and I'm loving it!
Thanks for starting this Julie! I will share it with my VenusVision readers and encourage them to chime in!
I like my hair. It has a nice texture and color, and despite a few grays here and there, I've resisted coloring it over the last few years.
And not that I share them with the rest of the world to see, I love my small but perky (even after nursing two kids) breasts. I used to wish they were bigger, but now, at 37 years old, I'm absolutely thrilled with them exactly as they are.
Christine – Legs AND boobs! That's what I like to hear.
Loveena – I've had the privelege of seeing your eyes up close and they are, in a word, amazing.
Michelle – Thanks for sharing on Venus Vision. Such a great community!
I also enjoyed reading this post. In a world that is dominated by messages telling me to eat less and exercise more, it's nice to pause and be reassured that I don't need to do those things to really be beautiful. If I had to choose two things that I love about my body it would be my stomach and my collarbone. I am also a pear shape but have always had a dainty upper body, which I often take for granted.
I love my hands. They're soft and plump and strong and gentle.
I love my lips. They're full and even.
I love my feet. They're shaped nice and have gorgeous tattoos on them.
I love my boobs. My milkshake bring all the boys to the yard!
1. My smile: I always have loved my dimples when I smile, and I'm even learning to love the crinkly wrinkly lines around my eyes when I smile too.
2. My legs: even though I was called "chicken legs" as a girl (skinny & knobby knees), and now have ugly scars from skin cancer, veins from babies and lots of freckles all over them, they are strong and long and look hot on the very rare occasions I wear a skirt/high heels combo
great idea for a post Julie! how often we sit around and talk about what we hate about ourselves. How wonderful it would be if we talked about what we like!!
Lovely post Julie.
I love a lot of things about the way I look, and I've worked hard to feel that way. I love my pink lips and my bright blue eyes, my pale skin, my brown hair that's never been dyed. I love my slender wrists and fingers, and my curvy shape.
When I stopped focusing on the parts of my body I didn't like (thick legs, wide feet, large teeth, etc.) and focused on the part I do like, the less-than-perfect ones started to look better. Now I've learned to love those parts too.
Anonymous – Nice to hear of someone loving their collarbone!
Sleepy Dumpling – Tattooed feet. Hot!
Elizabeth – Your legs sound pretty amazing to me. Brava to them and you.
McKella – Focusing on the positive is so powerful. Well done to you.
I love my eyes – they're big and dark and framed with dark lashes – and I love playing them up and making them look dramatic with kohl or other eye makeup.
I also love my nails – they grow quickly and generally look nice with a minimum amount of attention from me.
Wow – I just found this blog and I love it! So inspiring.
My two things would be my smile, and my arms.
i am sometimes (ok, most of the time) critical of not being muscular enough or toned enough but 1. i love my LONG legs.
2. i love my smile. and i love every moment where i get to use it
~ steph
Gorgeous lady I love your smile too!
What do I love about me?…I love my smile too and the little beauty spot sitting perfectly under my bottom lip
I also love my boobs – they're fabulous!
Hmm why wait for a man – might marry myself!
I do!
x
I love my skin and I love my boobs!
Starfirenz – Will totally admit to being very jealous about your beautiful nails. I have to work super hard to keep mine looking great.
Michelle – Welcome to Beautiful You – arms, smile and all.
Anonymous – Good for you for taking time out from being critical of your body and sharing. Please try to keep at it!
Faye – May I also add for your good self your beautiful blonde hair. Very luscious.
Anonymous – Yay for you!
This has been a really hard post for me to write, and I've been sitting here over a few nights wondering how I'll reply to this.
I love:
1.My eyes – they sparkle
2. My feet – because they are little and cute and serve me well!
My friend Levie likes:
1. My hair colour
2. She's having difficulty coming up with another
My friend Steph says:
1. My hair – because when I feel really flat I think "my hair still has life!"
2. My hands and fingernails – because they are elegant and allow me to do lots of things!
Ella – Well done to you for sharing. I so appreciate how challenging it can be.
i really loved this article =) my best friend and i look incredibly similar in the obvious ways, and unbelievably different in all the little ways. we're about the same height, about the same size, same hair color, similar skin tones. but i cant help envying her long legs and curls, while she's jealous of my feminine build and thick straight hair. this article reminded me that we're both pretty awesome…
so, i like:
1) my build. i've got big hips and thick thighs, but its just so womanly. i used to think my boobs were too small, until a woman fitting me for a bra said she was jealous. turns out theyre plenty big,but just perkier than most =)
2) my hair. its so thick and pretty wild for straight hair, but so easy to manage. i just blow dry it upside down and run a brush through. thats a luxury few girls get
Julie I love your blog ! You help me out a great deal ! I used to be a skinny teen but then I got thyroid disease and I became quite heavy ! Now with the treatment it's all coming off, I refuse to diet
)
The funny thing is, that my weight gain boosted my self esteem . I realized I have a choice : I hate myself to death or live and love myself. And I chose to love myself, so thank God for that
Anyway, the 2 things I really love about myself are
1. My face
2. My body
That's pretty much it
Anonymous – Your hair sounds amazing!
Sabysab – What a wonderful choice you have made for yourself. It's one that will see you continue to have great self esteem which you absolutely deserve.
The two things that I love about me…
Physically I love my lips. They are big and voluotuous and they look kissable. I have had comparisons to Angelina Jolie, which is a compliment as she is striking. The second thing is moreso a skill. I love my voice. I never had vocal training but I have made some cry when I when I belted out a ballad. I worked hard for it since I was a child. Always trying harder and harder to hit the notes of the ledgendary divas such as Mariah Carey and Whitney Houston. I dont ever compare myself to them, I am me… and when I am on that stage, I am a queen.
Amazing how I forget these beuutiful things about me when I am surrounded by the noise of people out there trying to better themselves rather than apreciate them as they are in this very moment. We are all diffrent shades of beautiful.
‘The noise of people.’ Stephanie – I think so many people can relate to that intensely. Thank you for sharing so eloquently what you love about your looks. I have a hankering to hear you sing!