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Comparison Trap

Hello, Everyone! My name is Jill and I'm Jaime's youngest daughter. I am thrilled to have the opportunity to be writing posts for Joy To Spare from time to time and, in particular, to write this post about an issue that's very close to my heart: body image.

I'm a freshman in high school, so believe me when I say I know what it's like to have body image issues. In today's world, there is so much pressure to look perfect. If you're not physically perfect, you don't fit in and if you don't fit in you don't belong. I hate that this is the case. I hate when women feel they have to be perfect to feel like they have a place to belong.

I get it. I know there is a lot of pressure from the outside world in the form of advertisements, magazines, social media, etc. But let's be honest.  While yes, society puts pressure on us, at the end of the day no one really cares if we're thick or thin, tall or short, blonde or brunette. Most of the pressure put on us to look a certain way comes from the inside, not the outside.

I wish we didn't care so much, but sadly we do. I pray that one day women all over the world would feel truly comfortable in their own skin. If you were hoping this blog would be a "how to" complete with a workout plan or a meal calendar, I'm sorry to disappoint you. This blog is meant to serve as a bit of wake-up call with a heaping side of encouragement.

Let's get right into it by allowing me to ask you some questions: Why do you feel the need to compare yourself to someone else? Why do you put yourself down if you're not "skinny enough" or "curvy enough?" So what? So what if you don't look like someone else? Considering you were uniquely made by God, this shouldn't come as a big shock.

Let me ask another question: What if instead of attacking ourselves we embraced ourselves? I do not weigh 100 pounds. Maybe you do, maybe you don't. Either way, it's okay. I still like you and I love me. But you should love you. As women, we really need to support each other. We have to stop letting our first instinct be to get caught in the comparison trap. We must fight the urge to put others down because they don't measure up to our artificial standards. Ladies, let's come together, embrace our uniqueness and celebrate the uniqueness of others.

I want everyone to try an exercise tomorrow or, heck, even today when you're done reading this blog. Look in the mirror and pick one thing you absolutely love about yourself and say it out loud three times. " I love my ____________." But don't just say it, mean it. Start your day loving yourself right as you are right now. When we start with loving ourselves, it is easier to go out and love others.
Now, I know there's a lot of you out there thinking "There's nothing I love about myself." Well, honey, that's a load of crap. You've got brains, heart, a great personality. Whatever it is you've got, something in you is perfect, beautiful, worthy, and deserving of your admiration and love.

Ladies, I need you to stop putting yourselves down and saying 'I'm too chubby" or "I'm too skinny." Girls, let's stop putting ourselves down because we don't all look like Jenifer Lopez. You may not consider yourself perfect, but there is someone who knows you're perfect because He made you that way: God.

I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.  Psalm 139:14

God has never made a mistake. Ever. Trust me, He didn't start with you. God certainly didn't make you and think, "I'm going to make her, but I won't find her beautiful."  If He loved you anymore the world would explode! God made you just the way He wanted, just the way He intended. You are exactly who you're meant ob be and guess what? You're wonderful.

Comparison is an act of violence against the self. 

~ Iyanla Vanzant

Girls, I love you. Please, love yourself.
- XOXO Jill

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