Discovering the Self-Esteem Within to Withstand
Glamour magazines should all carry a bold message on their front cover: WARNING IMAGES ARE NOT REAL AND MAY CAUSE PERMANENT SELF ESTEEM ISSUES. This of course will never happen because such magazines rely on their loyal readership. The truth is that beauty and teen magazines employ the finest of artists adept in the subtle art of airbrushing images to resemble perfection. It is not a secret that this shady business occurs. The real mystery is how many girls still allow their eyes to dictate reality and truth.
REASONS NOT TO BELIEVE WHAT YOU SEE
A Staff of Beauty experts:
Any person represented in a magazine (any magazine) has spent hours in a chair being suitably pampered and polished. It would be a breeze to look your most incredible if you had your own posse of professionals whose paid job was to make it happen.
Models are a Rare Breed:
Consider the women in the magazines. Most models in the industry are 98% thinner than the average woman. It is their job to be as thin as humanly possible. Forget that second helping of dessert or any helping for that matter. The life of a model is extreme and when their glory days are over they typically join the rest of the population and live at a healthier weight. After all you can’t say no to chocolate forever.
No one is Perfect:
Four out of five women claim to be unhappy with their bodies. And another comparison survey of 53 models revealed that even the paid to be glamorous ones struggle with self-esteem. Whether it is crooked teeth or a wiggly bum everyone has something they deem imperfect; even supermodels, hence the airbrushing.
Take the ten/ten challenge
It’s time to embrace who you are and all you have to offer. Take the time to look yourself over in a mirror for at least 10 minutes. When the time is up write down 10 things you liked about yourself. Check the list everyday and add to when inspired.
Keep Things in Perspective
Only 7% of girls have a chance of being as slim as a catwalk model and only 1% as thin as a supermodel. Still, 69% of girls say magazines influence their perspective of what the perfect body looks like. Do yourself a favour and put away the magazines and look to the mirror to formulate your opinion of an ideal body.

I find myself thinking one thing only to say another. Or saying something and doing the opposite. Does anyone live an authentic life or is everyone cardboard? Have you ever looked in the mirror and wondered who stared back at you? Am I the only one who feels like a stranger in her own body? Is it possible? How lonely.

I want to say I love you when the thought enters my head. I want to tell that girl how much better she would look if she cut her hair. I don’t like my mom’s eyeshadow. I think I want to be famous. I don’t want to shop with mroe than one friend at a time and I like going to the movies by myself. I am a shell of thoughts and feelings with no core to anchor me. Where is truth? What happened to authenticity?

I know the secret. I’ve met people who live out thier lives with genuine feeling. They have a decided heart and live each moment with the knowledge their destiny is assured. How wonderful, yet it seems so unattainable. If you fear the criticism of others your life will reflect your insecurities.

My purpose lay before me. A becon in my shuttered life. Will I dare step out and claim my confidence? Perhaps if I repeat this mantra:

To avoid the criticism of others, be nothing and do nothing.