Life After Puberty
What's Happening to My Body?
Body Image/Self Image
In a world where movies, music videos and teen magazines try to dictate what's "attractive", it's easy for someone to beat themselves up over the way they look. This isn't just a "teen" problem, and it doesn't just stop there; human beings are obsessed with the way we look. Everywhere you turn someone is trying to sell you how you should look, what you should do, or the kind of person you should be. But let's face it, we're not all Halle Berrys or Brad Pitts. In fact, none of us are. So should all of us go through our lives feeling bad about ourselves? Is it really worth it?
The consequences of not "measuring up" leads to a negative self image, where you don't like yourself inside or outside. Some people get so caught up with these "standards" that they may even develop eating disorders and starve themselves. Some of them may even die - just to look a certain way on the outside. They throw away their entire life, just because they believe they have to look a certain way to be happy.
You've probably heard the old saying, "It's what's on the inside that counts" about a thousand times in you life. It may be hard to see it now, but as you get older, you'll find this rings more and more true. The truth is, no matter how old you are, there are always going to be people who only see what's on the outside. But as you get older, you'll find that things like personality, confidence, intelligence, a sense of humour or having a good heart will start to define what is "beautiful", not just the way a person looks on the outside. In fact, most people would agree that one of the most attractive qualities you can find in a person is that they are happy with their lives and happy with themselves. Others are attractive simply because they don't buy into what everyone else thinks is attractive. In a way it's almost funny - people who spend all of their energy trying to be what other people think is "attractive" rarely are attractive, while people who don't try at all can often achieve it effortlessly.
What's important is that you don't need diet pills, hours at the gym or maxed-out credit cards to feel good! Your appearance should still be important to you, but don't let it define you or control how you feel. Instead, think of your body and the clothes you wear as a canvas to show people who you really are. Focus on developing your own personal style, instead of just trying to look "perfect". In the end, who wants to look just like everyone else anyway? Be yourself and be unique. That's what's really attractive.
Last Modified: September 5, 2006
