After recently discovering an article addressing the topic of "Self-Esteem," I found myself identifying with the stories and personal lives of 5 very different women. The article's subtitle reads...
"Five women tell about the fresh, strange, liberating moment when they saw themselves in a new light."
After reading the article, it got me thinking about how I perceive myself and how that self-view, being a positive or negative one, can reflect how others may perceive me. I have struggled with my own self-esteem as a teenager, and admittedly, I still struggle with it now as an adult.
I was teased for the way I look and would constantly hear mean comments about how I look so young, or for being so short and little. I didn't pay too much attention to it growing up, especially since we all hate looking younger when we're young. I stand a little over 5 feet tall and my height and size were usually the punchline for constant jokes and teasing.
It has been a real journey for me to be on this authentic path of self-love. Instead of self-loathing and feeling depressed, I simply choose to be kind to myself. Think about the way we speak to small children. We speak to them with love and encouraging words. Why isn't our own self-talk filled with the same love and encouragement? I know I am my own worst critic. I find myself being so harsh on myself, and sometimes hating my own body.
I now embrace my stature and am certainly more comfortable and confident in my own skin! I am not "model" tall, with super long legs and a rail-thin figure. I don't have Pantene-perfect hair. I am short, and I am proud to say I have a shapely body. I do have wide hips, big legs, messy hair, and blemishes. Needless to say, I am a beautiful mess who is perfectly flawed.
Whenever I feel any feelings of self-doubt, I think of the following quote from Shakespeare's play, A Midsummer's Night Dream...
All Photos by: Berlynn Photography
Desert Wanderer Tassel Kimono (Sunset) by Spell & the Gypsy Collective
White Crop Tee, Similar available from Free People
Dark Denim Shorts by AEO
Dreamer Belt by lovestrength (Coming Soon)
Platform Sandals by Steve Madden, Similar here
Click below if you are interested in reading the original article,
Thanks for reading...keep shining!
~Michelle xo
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