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If you're familiar with social media at all, you know that the items listed above are different names for filters. If not, I promise that you have used most of them before. And probably more than once.

Filtering a picture is so simple and they are super easy to use, so why wouldn't I tweak it before I tweet it?

When I take a selfie or even a group picture, my eyes automatically lock on my flaws. My hair looks nappy. My double chin is showing. And those eyebrows are most definitely not on fleek. Why do we do this? Why must we constantly beat ourselves up over what's wrong? Because that's human nature. We naturally want to be the best version of ourselves. Thus, when we slip, gain weight, or live in a way we know isn't the most popular, we simply filter it out.

No makeup? Filter. You look too big? Filter. Aunt Bertha smothering you again and you look terrified? Fil to the ter. Just an all around ugly face? Filter. That. Crap. Out!

Filters can be used to fix a number of problems, but they also create one major one. Most of the time, we use filters not just to alter others' perspectives of our pictures, but to alter their perspectives of our very lives.

When we do this, when we constantly seek approval from the hundreds of people on our newsfeed, when we constantly filter out our real lives, we begin to become the very thing we portray ourselves as; counterfeit. While all of our family and friends think our lives are 100x prettier than they actually are, we could feel 100% ugly at our very core.

I am NOT saying that I am anti-filter or anti-selfie. I use filters often and will more than likely continue to do so.

What I AM saying is this: When I become completely immersed in my filters, they, in return, begin to filter me. It almost sounds silly, doesn't it? But hang with me; when I become so obsessed and my thoughts completely consumed with what others think of me, I lose sight of what I think of me; or who "me" even is.

Yes, filters are cool, but often times we forget that the person underneath them is too.

What I challenge this generation (and myself) to do is this: forget the filter and hang up the hashtag. When we begin to truly accept ourselves for what and who we are, then, and only then, can we truly begin to live.

‭‭“She is more precious than jewels, and nothing you desire can compare with her.” Proverbs‬ ‭3:15‬ ‭

You see, your creator already says you're precious. You are absolutely loved, absolutely adored, and absolutely precious. With #nofilter.