The Beauty of Self Esteem

Hollywood can showcase its dewiest starlets, fashion magazines can parade their stable of underweight models, your mother can criticize your hairstyle, cosmetic companies can display their latest colors specially designed for complexions different to yours. Some random guy on the street may inform you he'd like your breasts better if they were a different size. When it comes down to it, however, you are the only person who can make others see you as beautiful. No, this doesn't require magic, spell-casting, or mind control; it takes self-esteem.Humans not only perceive, but are also influenced by, each other's feelings.

If people sense your self-hatred, there's a good chance they'll see you the way you subconsciously tell them to see you. In other words, you've got to believe you are attractive before other people will believe it. Throughout history, there have been beauties who could have been deemed too unusual, too plain, too ugly, too something, to be beautiful. Yet these smart ladies have ignored what society says is beautiful. They realize that to stand apart they must celebrate their own unique looks. We react to their self-comfort and are as comfortable with their beauty as they are.Learning to appreciate yourselfInstead of worrying about what you look like, realize that your looks are only a small portion of what makes you unique.

Take your mind off this small component and focus on your other characteristics, such as your spirituality, your generosity, your career, and your relationships with others. Always be aware that your body and face were created first and foremost to be functional.Next time you compare yourself to a cover model, bring yourself back to reality with this tidbit: the average fashion model in 1968 weighed 8 percent less than the average woman; a model today weighs 23 percent less.Celebrate your eyes, nose, mouth, and ears by bird-watching, smelling roses, enjoying a terrific meal, going to the symphony. Learning to appreciate your body and face for what they can do ­instead of how they look - helps boost your self-esteem.

If you are comfortable and relaxed about the way you look, you will have a natural radiance and elegance about you.Be happy being youCelebrate the looks you were born with and play to your strong points. This may mean ignoring current fashion and wearing something that makes you feel good, whether that something be purple eye shadow that makes your green eyes shine like jade or an outdated hairstyle that plays up your bold profile.When you are confronted with a media image of unrealistic beauty, ask yourself what it is about the image that is unnatural. You could write to or phone the television station or magazine responsible and let them know your thoughts. If your self-esteem is low, try reading confidence-boosting books, associating with positive people, or even visiting a therapist for professional help.Don't dwell on airbrushed images of underweight models. Eleanor Roosevelt knew waht she was talking about when she said no one (or no thing) can make us feel inferior without our permission.

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