The world is made up of beautiful people. But over time, this beauty can get corrupted by the harsh realities of life and the selfishness of others. This then leaves hollow shells of previously strong and confident individuals, only to be replaced by the growing insecurities gnawing at what’s left.
It’s challenging to feel safe and content in a society that’s too hung up on the conventional standards of beauty. This is because the lack of appropriate representation in the media allows the thinking that only certain appearances are acceptable in public, even when every person is beautiful in their own way.
For a generation that’s seemingly progressing at an unprecedented rate into the future, the society that people are living with can be pretty backward. Technological innovations and scientific discoveries are being made almost every day, but ordinary people aren’t allowed to get their noses done without someone batting an eye.
This kind of mentality about standards of beauty that society has ingrained in everyone has to be unlearned, if not for societal progress, then just for their own well-being. Letting these unhealthy thoughts linger can only dampen their confidence and self-esteem, which is hard to regain.
But it’s not impossible. Unlearning the negative things you were taught growing up will take time, but it’s worth the effort. It will help you rebuild the confidence and self-esteem that you may have lost, which can make you more comfortable in your own skin. And here are three ways to do it:
Always Do What’s Best for You
So many people think that they must change themselves to fit in, or they will be outcasts for showing even a tinge of their own personality. And in some situations, that could very well be the case. But instead of changing parts of yourself to fit in, you can remove yourself from that situation.
You don’t have to wear make-up or get rhinoplasty if you don’t want to, especially not if it’s only to make other people like you more. Don’t allow yourself to be forced into something you’re uncomfortable with just for the sake of gaining other people’s respect because you don’t deserve that.
However, if you feel like undergoing a cosmetic procedure will help you become more confident, then, by all means, go ahead. Just make sure that you’re doing it for your sake and not for anyone else’s. So, if you permanently want to have your brows done, you can get an eyebrow tattoo at a reasonable cost.
And if you want to have a higher nose bridge, then schedule that rhinoplasty. Don’t worry about what other people will say about your choices because ultimately, it’s your life. You need to ensure that you’re always doing what’s best for you, even if it’s not the best for other people.
Learn to Express Your Individuality
Another way to regain your confidence and self-esteem is by allowing yourself to express your individuality. This could be in the form of changing the color of your plain, black hair into a loud, vibrant color. You could also get a new haircut that’s unlike anything you’ve ever tried before.
You could use fashion to your advantage in expressing your personality. After all, a person’s style, or lack thereof, speaks volumes about their individuality. This is the perfect occasion to try out new clothing styles that you never did before because you don’t think it would look good on you or for fear of other people’s opinions.
Change Your Unhealthy Mindset
You need to start caring less about what other people think and more about your own. Taking every snarky comment or snide remark that others make about you to heart will negatively affect your mental health. So, for your own sanity and well-being, stop thinking about other people’s opinions.
Once you remove the burden of limiting yourself for the sake of other people, you’ll find that it will be easier for you to breathe and be yourself in public. Doing so will give you the freedom to be who you are with no inhibitions or apprehensions; it’s just your best self, living your best life because you deserve to.
And it will all start when you change the unhealthy mindset that you must conform to the conventional standards of beauty set by society. What matters is that you’re comfortable in your own skin and that you’re doing what you think will make you happy. People who aren’t supportive of your choices won’t fit into that equation.
It’s difficult to believe that you’re beautiful and that you deserve to receive the good things in life when you’ve been conditioned to think otherwise. Unlearning those is a process, one that’s long and winding but worth taking. So, pat yourself on the back for choosing to work on yourself. The first step is always the hardest, after all.