The feelings of inadequacy that we all harbor are not innate but taught to us by a media-obsessed society that manipulates our emotions so we spend more money on our appearance. Think about what the world would be like if everyone practiced self-love freely and fearlessly. Would there still be diet pills and plastic surgery? Victoria's Secret fashion shows that put a size limit on beauty? Magazines telling you how to be more attractive, healthy, and happy? Of course not, because then the beauty industry--a staple of the American economy--would be virtually nonexistent. The beauty industry wants you to feel insecure because they profit from every moment that you decide you're not skinny enough, your face isn't pretty enough, your hair isn't shiny enough, or your teeth aren't straight enough. In fact, they encourage it. Every day, millions of us look into the mirror with heavy hearts and self-hatred--running through mental lists of everything we want to change about ourselves--simply because our society is more concerned with money than human well-being. It's time we all did something completely radical and started loving ourselves, unconditionally, all of the time.

You need to start loving yourself because you deserve it.

You are an irreplaceable human masterpiece with infinite positive attributes, and you owe it to yourself to be proud of everything that you are. Every scar, whether it is physical or emotional, commemorates something that you were strong enough to overcome. You have surmounted too many obstacles to not celebrate yourself and love every part of you that has grown along the way.

You need to start loving yourself because you have so much to offer.

You were brought to this world to make an incredibly unique contribution that no one else can. Why focus on the lumps on your thighs when you have the potential to change humanity? Let the world know your name, because not one person on the planet is exactly like you. You can do anything you set your mind to, but you need to find the confidence within you to make it happen. Believe in yourself.

You need to start loving yourself because your worth is not determined by your appearance.

Dear society, here's a newsflash: people actually have life inside the body that you're so obsessed with criticizing; maybe we should set standards for the content of our hearts than for the clarity of our skin. It's easy to feel upset went we aren't happy with the way we look, but physical image is such a small fraction of everything that we are. Your identity is not the shape of your body or the style of your hair. You are so much more than the superficial qualities that society praises; don't ever stoop to equating the incomparable magnificence within you to what you see in the mirror.

You need to start loving yourself because being told you're inadequate is not a good enough reason to be brought down

It is natural and sometimes essential to be aware of how others perceive you; it is something we all experience as a part of our daily lives. Emphasizing peer evaluation becomes a problem, however, when we base our self-image on the negative things that friends, family, and even strangers say about us. You are too strong to be conquered by people who don't even respect you enough to accept you. Do yourself a favor and let go of the people in your life who make you feel anything less than extraordinary for embracing your true self.

You need to start loving yourself because it is not a privilege, it is a basic human right.

Don't let the media and modern society strip you of your freedom to celebrate who you are without fear, regret, or shame. We are all called to embrace the qualities that make us special because each individual is created differently. Being able to accept everything that you are is not something you should have to earn, it is what you deserve.