by Kim Everett

Created on: May 22, 2008

Contrary to what the media and the cosmetics industry would have us believe, we are so much more than our appearance. It is impossible to watch television, surf the Internet, or thumb through a magazine without being bombarded with reminders of our physical flaws and how to correct them. The cosmetics industry spends millions of dollars every year telling us how to get rid of wrinkles, age spots, under eye circles, and blemishes. All we have to do is buy their very expensive products, use them for four to six weeks, and voila, we'll look ten years younger! It would be laughable if it weren't so sad.

The ads do not encourage us, as they should, to look for things that we like about our appearance. Maybe we have long eyelashes, beautifully shaped lips, shiny hair, or lovely bright eyes, but unfortunately, we are encouraged only to look for the worst. They never say that we should be grateful for the things that are beautiful. And yes, there is beauty in all of us. The ads certainly never urge us to look for the beauty inside because the cosmetics industry's financial well-being hinges on us only looking at the outside and trying to correct everything that isn't perfect.

In addition, we are usually encouraged to pay more attention to the way we look than to the way we feel. The ad copy for weight loss programs, for example, teaches us that the best reason to lose those extra pounds is that bikini season is coming. In reality, of course, losing weight is important for many more reasons than bikini season, with better health topping the list.

What we should be thinking about is feeling good about ourselves just as we are because the better we feel about who we are, the better we treat ourselves. In turn, we begin to make healthier decisions. We often don't understand the relationship between the way we look and the way we feel. But the truth is that when we feel good and begin to love and accept ourselves the way we are now, not wait until we lose ten pounds or get a makeover, we automatically become more attractive. We smile more, our eyes sparkle, and we exude confidence.

It is empowering to walk into a room knowing that we look our best. And our best is what we should aspire to, not some magazine publisher's idea of what makes a person beautiful. Beauty comes in many different sizes, shapes, and colors, and it has nothing to do with height, weight, expensive clothing, or ridiculously priced cosmetics.

Certainly there is nothing wrong with wanting to improve ourselves, but the joy comes in accepting in loving ourselves exactly as we are today, at this very moment.

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