At 23, I often find myself looking back through old high school and early college photos and thinking “Thank the Lord I have grown more attractive.” Like many others, I have had self-confidence issues my whole life. I sit in front of the mirror and I pick apart every little flaw that I can possibly find and obsess over it wishing that it was different. We have all made these wishes. “I wish I had a smaller nose.” “I wish I had a more pronounced chin.” “I wish that my forehead wasn't so big.” The list goes on and on.

I did something the other day that really surprised me though. I was having a great day both physically and emotionally, basically radiating from the core. I looked in the mirror and thought “I look beautiful today.” Many close people in my life often tell me that I am a pretty or beautiful girl. The thing is though, when these words come from my mom, my boyfriend, or my best friend I choose not to really believe it because I feel that they have to say it.

I think that sometimes we are afraid to think that we are beautiful. We are afraid that having this mindset makes us conceited or self-absorbed. I have always thought this, but have recently come to the peaceful conclusion that it in no way means this. It is okay for you to know that you look beautiful and to own it. As long as you are not letting your physical appearance define you and you allow your external beauty to be a true reflection of the internal beauty then you truly are on your way to great things and certainly not self-absorbed even in the slightest. When you think that you are beautiful in this way you are doing what we all should be doing to begin with: loving yourself. You deserve to love yourself and to see the true beauty that you are.

Even if you don’t think that you are beautiful trust me when I say that you absolutely are and I hope that you come to realize the amazing qualities that you possess. We as a society need to stop looking in the mirror and bitterly focusing on what we don’t like, but instead focusing on the things that we do. We need to turn our wishes into praises. “My nose is the bee’s knees of noses.” "My chin is beautifully shaped.” “My forehead is freaking awesome.” “I am beautiful.” Just don’t forget to praise the beautiful things within as well: a great sense of humor, a kind soul, a positive attitude, etc. Everyone has flaws and just remember that your flaws are what make you who you are and what makes you beautiful in your own way. So start taking the time to truly love yourself inside and out and remember that it’s okay to think that you are beautiful.

Let’s start the movement. Share this article and post something that you find beautiful and love about yourself, both inside and out. Nominate others and let your beauty shine through and inspire them to do the same.