“You’re not good enough, you don’t measure up.”

“If only you could be like her.”

Those phrases often haunt me, thoughts that used to replay in my head, over and over again. I used to stand in front of my mirror bothered by the reflection I saw. I was plagued with insecurity, which became a monster and consumed my heart. My sensitivity quickly turned to anxiety, worrying about every aspect of myself and who I was. I defined my worth by acceptance, attention from guys, and looking pretty in the mirror. But every time I was left with unfulfillment.

Our generation has quickly become defined by the perceptions of others. For women especially, we are daily bombarded by the world’s standard of beauty. Television screens are covered with images and videos of women that we long to be. Too easily, we buy into these standards that society sets for us. We’re told to be like them, told to not stand out. Song lyrics plaster our minds, telling us that our value is defined by having an attractive figure. Store windows are covered with posters of models that we’re supposed to look like, whose physical characteristics, in reality, are highly modified. Along with that, social media has trained us to have a competitive nature. It has taught us to desire the most likes, making us believe that we will find acceptance through that. As women, we are taught from a very young age that our worth is solely rooted in our physical appearance, rather than our talents and potential as human beings. We base our confidence on the number of likes we get on Instagram, as well as the amount on the scale, instead of seeing our beautiful souls being made and created for a specific purpose.

Have confidence, precious one, when the weight of the world is upon your shoulders. When you are plagued with insecurity and doubt, have confidence. When you feel like you could never measure up, remember the One that created you. When you feel judged or ridiculed, remember your value, remember your worth, and most importantly where it comes from. The problem lies within what we believe. We hold to these lies that say we’re not good enough, smart enough, pretty enough and that we don’t measure up. Often, those lies come from ourselves and they are the ones that damage most.

So quickly as women, we buy into the world’s shallow and harmful ideas of beauty. We ignore and miss our true value, precious and dearly loved, not based on our appearances, but by what we do and how we live. I am fully convinced that God made us to be compassionate givers of the love, love that we have received by being His daughters.

Don’t you know you are so much more than ordinary?

Since when did our worth start coming from the clothes we wear, or the things we do? When did we start changing our values and our personalities to impress others?

It’s time we start recognizing our worth, our worth as women. We need to start embracing the gifts and talents that God gave us. Let’s stop caring so much about world’s opinions of us and let go of the insults and judgments that are thrown our way daily. It’s time to realize that the Creator of the universe intricately formed every single part of you, and He did so perfectly. Have confidence, knowing that your worth is not defined by the world’s standards. Let’s embrace our faults, knowing that we’re allowed to be different and allowed to make mistakes, because often times the most beautiful life comes from mishaps and second chances. We need to start living uniquely and stop comparing ourselves to others. As a generation we are here to change the world. It’s time to change the standard of beauty for the sake of every person on this planet.

That being said, we cannot do it alone. It’s nearly impossible to conquer insecurity without the encouragement of others. Through people that have touched my heart and soul in incredible ways, I’ve learned that there are women who understand the true meaning of living a beautiful life with confidence. By their wisdom and God’s grace I’ve been able to conquer insecurity, combating the world’s lies by embracing beauty for what it truly is.

Beauty is sacrifice. It is choosing to love others unconditionally by being willing to do anything and everything for another person. Beauty is encouragement, coming along side the ones we cherish by choosing to protect, pray and love them. Beauty is learning to live with grace by extending it to others. Living with beauty is looking in the mirror and loving yourself, knowing that someone created you. Someone created your laugh, your smile, placed every hair on your head, created your body shape and personality. Beauty is looking for the good in others, by pushing past their faults and pointing out their strengths. It is making everyone feel genuinely valued, showing them their true worth. Beauty is confidence, knowing and believing that you were given gifts, and talents for a specific purpose. Beauty is knowing that you have potential, that you matter and that your value is of infinite worth.

So, live with confidence when the road is rough. Live with your quirks and flaws, knowing that the world’s standards do not define you. The way you use your gifts and what your heart and life reflect is of true value, and that is beauty. Embrace who you are and who God made you to be, by living an extraordinarily beautiful life.