The “I Am Beautiful” Project

Okay, for all you ladies out there … raise your hand if you truly believe in your heart of hearts that you are beautiful.  Yep, that’s what I thought!  Me neither!  I’m sure that I’m like many of you in that I am constantly being critical of myself.  In fact I think I’ve always been in a battle with myself to accept my appearance and even appreciate it.  Joel’s forever telling me that I’m beautiful and I’m forever questioning his sanity in this matter.

Anyway, yesterday I was listening to a radio program about women who struggle with eating disorders.  At one point during the program, the expert starting talking about the message that we get about our appearances and how many girls actually get their messages about physical beauty from their mothers.  She talked about the fact that if we, as mothers, are constantly criticizing our own personal appearance our daughters are going to get the message that every imperfection matters and that they need to strive for physical perfection.  That woke me up.  Actually it made me feel very sad.

I have a nine year old daughter who is without a doubt beautiful and I would hate to think that her perception of her own beauty would be somehow marred because I’m discounting my own beauty by putting myself down or complaining about all of my perceived imperfections.

Then this morning I was visiting various blogs that I enjoy and found that one woman from a photography blog that I like was hosting an "I am beautiful" project.  Her challenge to her readers was to take a self-portrait with a sign that reads, “I am beautiful” and then share it.

Before I go on, you should know that I really dislike having my picture taken, especially alone.  I don’t necessarily mind posing with Joel or the kids, but even if I do, I rarely like to share any pictures that have me in them.  So, the thought of taking a self-portrait was extremely scary for me.  And sharing it here is even scarier.  But for the sake of moving forward and experiencing some freedom and hopefully encouraging someone else, here it is…

When I look at this picture, I immediately want to point all of my flaws.  In fact, I’ve learned enough about photo editing that I seriously considered photoshopping out all of my imperfections.  But I didn’t.  That would defeat the purpose after all and would portray an image of someone that is just not me.  The picture above is the real me … imperfections and all.

But you know what?  Even with those imperfections, I am beautiful.  And so are you.

I want to close by sharing some quotes from one of my all-time favorite books, Captivating by John & Stasi Eldredge …

Every woman has a beauty to unveil.  Every woman.  Because she bears the image of God.  She doesn’t have to conjure it, go get it from a salon, have plastic surgery or breast implants.  No, beauty is an essence that is given to every woman at her creation. (p.42)

The only things standing in the way of our beauty are our doubts and fears, and the hiding and striving we fall to as a result. (p.132)

A woman of true beauty offers others the grace to be and the room to become. (p.135)

A woman who is unveiling her beauty is inviting others to life.  She risks being vulnerable:  exposing her true heart and inviting others to share theirs. (p.137)