I have been wondering lately, why as women we are so hard and critical of yourselves? Why are we always comparing ourselves to others and finding ourselves lacking in some area? Why can’t we just love ourselves for who we are with all our flaws? Why do we listen to the inner voice that tells us that we are not as skinny, as quick witted, as good of a housekeeper or as smart as the next woman? In our own ways, we have so much to give to each other, our families and our friends.
I think sometimes this concept of accepting ourselves comes with age. I know that as a teenager and well into my 20’s and 30’s, I struggled with being able to accept myself for who I am. I was always trying to compete with someone…a friend, my sister, the neighbor, my sister in laws. I hated my curvy body and my DDD breasts. I wanted to be that friend that didn’t have any breasts and was a size 5. As I started into my 40’s, things started to change for me. I started to realize that I was not doing myself any favors by being critical of myself. I needed to start loving myself for who I was….flaws, DDD breasts and everything. I needed to realize that I have qualities that make me who I am and that I don’t need to be ashamed of those qualities. I don’t need to be as quick witted as my friend or garden as well as the neighbor It wasn’t easy for me and I still struggle at times. There are days that I compare myself to others and then I just need to give myself a quick kick in the seat of my pants and remind myself that I am okay. There is a quote that I ran across a few years ago by Marjorie Pay Hinckley that has really helped me.
“We women have a lot to learn about simplifying our lives. We have to decide what is important and then move along at a pace that is comfortable for us. We have to develop the maturity to stop trying to prove something. We have to learn to be content with what we are.”
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