It's unfortunate. But it's inevitable. We try to cover it up. We try to rationalize it. We try to ignore it. Movements, such as Dove, try to combat it, but really the change comes from within yourself. Self image. What does it really mean? While the superficial label is loving your body no matter what size dress you wear, it goes far beyond that; however, let's discuss that aspect first.
Models hang from the walls of stores peering out the windows of the stores, grabbing our gaze if only just for a second. Their empty eyes, and probably empty stomachs, seem to taunt us as with the societal pressures of appearance. Cosmetic stores constantly trying to sell you a product that will make you a "better," "prettier," "more acceptable" you, and we buy it. We buy lots of it. A study showed that an average woman, note singular, will spend approximately $15,000 dollars on makeup in her lifetime. I'm not condemning makeup, it's a great enhancer that can highlight our innate beauty, but we cake it on in hopes of transforming ourselves into something we're really not. Something someone will want. Something someone will desire.
In fact, as I was at one of these cosmetic stores I found this "slimming" cream; curious as to what exactly it was, I read the back label, and it said apply to "problem areas" but for best results must be used in joint with exercise and healthy eating. I was astonished. What were they actually selling you? A pretty tub of lotion with a label inspiring hope to finally meet the pressure felt from those empty eyes I discussed earlier. It was a quick way to make some money off those with insecurities.
The targets of this image propaganda are not only women, but these advertisements also direct themselves to a male audience. Although the effects may be different between men and women, they are not much different. Hating your body, although in different ways, is still hating your body. While women may feel pressure to be skinnier, men are pressured to be toned, defined, emotionless, and even the bad guys at times. To be bad is to be good nowadays, but to God the definition of good hasn't changed.
Furthermore, what are these companies selling us? Sex? Popularity? Success? Acceptance? I refuse to believe corporations intentionally are promoting products that cause us to hate ourselves because that is a choice WE make. I do, however, believe that these businesses thrive off of our weakness, the thing we all crave for: social acceptance. So they sell us the next big thing that will get us what we want in order to make a quick buck. Well I applaud companies such as Dove, and recently Always, that are sticking it to the big corporations. The more we show the media that we have confidence in ourselves, the more we show them we are strong, the more we show them we love ourselves-- the less power they will have to make us hate ourselves. No matter what size you are whether you are a size 8 or a size 16 or a size 2, you should never feel less than anyone or anything merely because of flashy images on a screen.
Like a puzzle, no two pieces are the same yet they all fit and connect together perfectly. Each piece looks different but serves a purpose. Similarly, God created us all differently; he doesn't have one mold and he doesn't love one mold more than the other. We are all his children and he loves us with an unconditional love we cannot begin to comprehend, but that doesn't mean it isn't there. As His beautiful creations that were paid with a high price through His Son's Atonement, don't forget your worth. Don't forget to love yourself.
Moreover, self image isn't just how we view ourselves on the outside, it's how we view our character. Whether we are important, whether we are a good person, whether we are funny, smart, athletic, the list is endless. I think this battle of our self esteem is less acknowledged. In this tumultuous time of confusion and misdirection, it's easy for us to lose sight of ourselves. We'll often doubt our capabilities and disbelieve when we find someone who loves things about us we hated. We're insecure of the worth of the gifts and talents God blessed each one of us with, hide things about us that aren't status quo, and become chameleons adjusting ourselves to match the tone of each group we encounter just to avoid causing a ripple. But movement is life. The more ripples there are, the more we begin to accept ourselves for WHO we are, the more we live. The more we will actually live.
Don't become distracted by the billboards. Don't be distracted by the smoke and mirrors disguised as glitz and glam. Instead share your confidence with others, lift others self esteem, and love yourself.
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