Believe me, I love to sport soft rosy cheeks, nude shimmery eye shadows, sexy high heels, freshly painted nails, and gorgeous (or gawgeous as I like to say) lipstick! ♥ However, those enhancements are no match for dressing ourselves in dependable faith, bold confidence, and a self-affirming attitude.

Why choose to get lost in the feelings of inadequacy, fear, and negativity? Release yourself from the vicious cycle of comparing; you will always come in last place. We hold on we need inside of us. Our choice is whether ignore it and continue to search for what could easily be found. Or, do we use dig deep inside ourselves, ask the scary questions, and use the amazing gifts we are each blessed with?

Song of Solomon 4:7

You are altogether beautiful, my love; there is no flaw in you.

2 Corinthians 4:16

So, we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day.

1 Peter 3:3-4

Do not let your adorning be external—the braiding of hair and the putting on of gold jewelry, or the clothing you wear—but let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God’s sight is very precious.

Today on the Tyra Banks show, I couldn’t help but stare, with my mouth wide open in disbelief (a sight to see, let me tell you!). There were gorgeous girls who were only 11 making statements about hating their cheeks because they were too “chubby.” Being embarrassed of their skin color, the texture of their hair, calling themselves disgusting, ugly, and one little girl compared herself to a monster. REALLY, are you kidding me?

Young, beautiful girls are asking for Botox, skin lightening, and hair treatments. Girls and boys not eating hoping the “problem areas” will slim down or bashing themselves with brutal comments day in and day out. Enough is enough. I want to scoop them all up and put them in a bubble to protect them from the warped importance that is place on outer appearance.

Then a woman came on and expresses how dissatisfied she is with herself. She has spent thousands and thousands of dollars to become “happy with her appearance” and yet she is still finding more things “wrong with her.” Tyra asked if she was happy with how she looked now after she has gotten the things fixed that she was comfortable with. Her answer was no but she “thinks” if she got the things “wrong” with her fixed then she would be. WRONG! WRONG! WRONG!

Yes, I understand this mentality. I get it. I was a there. I thought these very same things as I was flipping through magazines when I was 13. I even made phone calls (from the ads in the back) asking how old I had to be for certain surgeries or to order pills to “enhance” my beauty. Man, I am glad the age limit was 18. However, I was angry at the time and continued searching for that special fix.

I hated to wear shorts. I didn’t want to look in the mirror. Comments felt like lies and made me uncomfortable. I was afraid of my reflection in the mirror. I didn’t want to be hugged…I didn’t like me.

I found that no amount of crunches, miles walked, number on the scale, or brand of clothing made me happy with myself. No nip/tuck, crude self-talk I told myself or self destruction made me feel beautiful. Yet, I continued to walk that fine line. I gamble with my life like it was game of Yahtzee.

It wasn’t until I realized that I was searching for something I had within me; priceless beauty. No one gets to fill my place in this world. No one has the laugh I have (amazing by the way), or gets to be called “pretty peanut” by their niece Zoey.

I wouldn’t trade my life today (which is always in progress) for a day of the darkness I felt not even a year.

❀Today, I get to dress myself with confidence and vivacity. I get to embrace my reflection (I even dance in front of the mirror…shh) rather than scrutinize it. I allow myself to laugh often and smile altruistically. I get to relish in the beauty of the day.❀

ღ My eyes of Hope conquer the darkness of my deep seated fears. My hope unlocks doors that were once sealed shut. Hope renews my vision and momentum. It fills my spirit with happiness, gratitude, and guides me with a never-ending light of love.

We may not be able to change each and every person but we can set strong examples in front of others and be healthy role models to ourselves…What can you do today to be kinder to yourself and show others what true beauty is?

Don't you dare, for one more second, surround yourself with people who are not aware of the greatness that you are!