A More Beautiful You...

I'm 41 years old.  I'm Confident.  I've made peace with my choices.  I like my life.  But.  I'm human and a woman.  It's hard to live up to the standard of beauty our culture demands.  The standard is slightly different now as a woman in my 40's than it was for me as a 20 year old.  But the standard is still there.  You must look Young...Hip...Cute.

Enter Facebook.

Facebook is Good in so many ways and Bad in so many others.

I've been on Facebook for a few years now.  It's been fun connecting with grade school friends, high school friends and former co-workers.  I've chatted and shared photos with folks who I thought I would never see again.  All Good things.  Really Good.

Now to the Bad.  Facebook can be a time waster to the extreme.  It can also cut little notches into your self esteem.  A large majority of my Facebook friends are people I knew more than 15 years ago and haven't seen many of them for at least that amount of time.  I will sometimes open up a profile and start looking at their photos and realize they don't look any different than they did...say...20 years ago.

But...I do! 

20 years have gone by...2 kids...a few extra pounds.  Okay...more than a few extra pounds.  I look different.

Me in 1987 - Prom Night

Me - August 2010

On more than a few occasions after reconnecting with a former friend or co-worker I've had to remind myself of my own worth.  My own beauty.  Not in a self-centered way, but in a way to remind myself that I'm not going back to that young girl that I once was.  That is OK!  I like myself now.  I like being 41.  I'm proud of my accomplishments and the person that I've become.

What I know is that comparisons are a waste of my time.  My purpose in this life is bigger than small thinking like comparing my looks, social status and bank account to other people

When these negative thoughts start creeping in and trying to crowd out the more positive and productive thoughts I have a checklist of questions I ask myself.

Is it True?  ...Is what I'm thinking true or am I second guessing myself?

Is it Noble?...Is this thought dignified?  Is it something I should be thinking about myself as a child of God?

It it Lovely?...Is this thought gracious or is it a critical thought?

And finally a scripture that I carry with me in my index card binder (more on this important tool later)

Philippians 4:8

"Finally brothers, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy - think these things." 

If you struggle with this issue like I have.  Be encouraged.  You are not alone.

And...

There Could Never Be A More Beautiful You.

Chorus of 

A More Beautiful You by Jonny Diaz

There could never be a more beautiful you
Don't buy the lies disguises and hoops they make you jump through
You were made to fill a purpose that only you could do
So there could never be a more beautiful you