How many times have we found ourselves on Facebook, scrolling through the newsfeed without processing almost any information, instantly forgetting every picture from our friends’ time abroad or from their family events?
Now, ask yourselves – how many times have we been stuck on one specific photo, posted by someone we may barely get along with, memorizing every flawless detail of a sun-kissed body posing in front of the ocean?
I don’t even have to ask how many of us try out every filter before posting a picture on Instagram, adjusting everything from brightness to saturation until it deviates almost entirely from the original.
Sure, these filters are fun to use in the moment, but what are we taking from them? Instead of being confident in the way we look naturally, we increasingly rely on these modifications to feel good about ourselves and, soon, we feel bare and ashamed without these masks to hide behind in our non-digital lives.
Our obsession with perfection is very real, and it’s hurting us. The problem is not only our goal to look “ideal”, but mainly the unrealistic implications that we as people have made this word suggest.
We’ve all heard the phrase “don’t judge a book by its cover,” and, while we may honestly not be able to change the human tendency to judge based on appearance, we should adapt our definition and standard of beauty before it’s completely out of reach.
Furthermore, girls are not only judging each other based on how they look, but also on how they eat and live in general. We are becoming obsessed with the idea of a “perfect body,” and confusing it with a malnourished one to such an extent that many athletes are exercising too much and eating too little, setting a goal to be skinny rather than fit.
So what should we do about all of this? I’m not suggesting a ban on social media, or the reintroduction of unhealthy habits and diets. However, we need to modify our standards and appreciate our abilities to look real.
Instead of criticizing ourselves for a less than “airbrushed” complexion, we should learn to value the natural patterns of our skin and treasure the truth in our most natural selves.
Instead of agonizing over our diets and hating ourselves for our not-so-healthy cravings, we should learn to balance our lifestyles and allow ourselves to indulge when it’s worth it.
Instead of hiding behind excessive makeup, starry-eyed photo filters and airtight spanx, we should learn how to be feel comfortable as our true selves and appreciate when we see others doing the same.
So don’t be afraid to look in the mirror and notice something you like instead of looking for something that’s wrong.
Don’t be afraid to upload an unfiltered picture instead of carefully selecting the ones you edited the most.
Don’t be afraid to unwrap that chocolate you keep stashed away, and maybe go for a walk the next day instead of feeling loads of regret.
Looking good can help us feel good. Being healthy is important. But it’s all about balance. Remember – it’s okay to laugh at your quirks, forgive your hungry moments, and love every aspect that makes you truly you.
Because, no matter what we can do to enhance our image through social media, makeup, or fad diets, there’s no better “look” than the ones we can create from our true selves.