In today's post, I really wanted to talk about a topic that I feel is extremely important in today's world with social media. This topic is something that I have (and still do) struggle with and that I am sure a lot of you reading this struggle with, too. And that is comparison. Now, I think a little bit of comparison in certain situations is totally harmless. For example, comparing your favorite films and television shows with your best friend is obviously completely normal. However, when we start comparing things like our bodies, our choices, and our lives to others (especially those on social media), things can start taking a turn for the worse.
When we compare ourselves to other people, it is basically the same thing as comparing an apple to a zucchini. This is because an apple is a fruit and a zucchini is a vegetable (in case you didn't know this already...jokes!). But what I mean by this is that comparing an apple to a zucchini is meaningless because they are so extremely different. And the same goes for you and the popular girl at school or the girl with hundreds of thousands of Instagram followers.
That girl you follow on Instagram with her seemingly perfect body, hair, makeup, boyfriend and life is only showing you a snapshot of time. That picture took literally half a second to take and does not fully reflect her life or daily situation. She most likely doesn't walk around with her makeup and hair done to perfection and her and her boyfriend have probably had as many arguments in the past year as you do fingers on your hand. And that girl showing off her washboard abs does not walk around with those all 24 hours of the day. She is most definitely flexing in the best lighting possible to make her abs look like that.
My point here is that when you begin to compare yourself with the people you see on social media or really anywhere, you begin to feel more crap about yourself. You start to believe that just because you don't have a bangin' body or perfect eyebrows that you are any less of a person. You start to believe that because they look like what society deems "perfect" (newsflash, this does not exist!) and you don't that people will care about you less and love you less.
But I promise you that they won't. And do you want to know why? Because you are not her (or him). You are you. You were not put on this Earth to look and act like someone you are not. You were not put on this Earth for the sole reason to have a perfect body, makeup, and life. The next time you scroll through your Instagram feed, tap through Snapchat Stories, or watch YouTube videos and you come across someone you wish you looked like, I want you to stop yourself. Instead of comparing yourself to that person and wishing that you could look or be like them, I want you to look in the mirror and name ten things you love about yourself or your life. Instead of comparing, contrast. Say, "While she has a nice body, I have a pretty damn good sense of humor." Or, "While she has a really hot Instagram boyfriend, I have an amazing group of supportive friends." Do you see the difference? Rather than putting yourself down because of your differences, make an effort to appreciate the differences. Stop putting yourself down. Stop critiquing every little minuscule imperfection. No one is perfect, no matter how much they make it seem. Perfect is boring. Be quirky. Be weird. Be yourself. And for goodness sake, love yourself no matter what you look like.
Thanks for reading and I hope this post inspired you to start loving yourself for who you truly are.
Much love,
Gabriella xx
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