Distorted#Self Image

Do you struggle with who you are, how you see yourself and what value you attach to yourself? Have you labeled yourself based on the comparison effect of what your parents did or did not do, friends opinions, trends or reality shows?

The comparison effect simply means the ability to compare yourself to others based on body size, academic qualifications, clothes, family, and status. According to Coker.C, 2013; “By adolescence, studies show that young people are receiving an estimated 5,260 attractiveness messages per year from network television commercials alone.”

Television has become the standard measure of beauty for girls who compare themselves to Beyonce, Kardashians and they strive to be them. This is the bed rock of a poor self image, bitterness, anger and frustration when you they realize they can`t measure up to what the media dictates.

I have a friend whose father was the first man she fell in love with, he affirmed her, protected her, he was the center of her world and he made her believe she could be anything she wanted to be. She learnt at an early age to see value, worth and dignity  through the eyes of her father. Parents are the bed rock for esteem building for children to climb through each stage of life.

There are three forms of parenting-Single parenting where one parent raises his or her children, Absentee parenting where both parents are alive but never actively involved in their children`s lives. They don`t have time to bond with their children, affirm them and hear their worries and straighten out their information. The children grow up knowing their parents are too busy for them and are unwanted.

Poor parenting involves use of abusive language, severe punishment and negligence towards children. These abusive words damage the image of children especially girls who look for a man to tell them their worth. The boys grow up very insecure and feel inadequate.

Parents need to be actively involved in their children`s lives, affirm them, teach, listen and share with them information as they negate what is not right according to the word of truth.

The bible says in Psalm 139:14“ I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.’’ (NKJV)

God created each one of us fearfully, wonderfully and compassionately; we are all beautiful in spite of how big or small we think we are.

Affirm yourself in the truth of the word of God not what the Kardashians say or do. What God says about you is constant unlike the trends and reality shows which are here today and gone tomorrow.

Don`t be like one who looks at herself in the mirror and when she leaves, she forgets how she looks like because of trends, TV, comparison but rather constantly remember you are God`s master piece-HE IS PLEASED WITH YOU NOW AND ALWAYS.