You may have seen the Dove Real Beauty Sketches circulating on facebook and twitter this week. Granted, I'll keep buying my soap from LUSH (its made more naturally and sourced ethically), but this campaign struck a chord with me and with so many others.
It's brilliant because Dove flips marketing on its head. Instead of telling us that we are not enough, that we need their product to feel somehow more complete, they show us that we each have a natural beauty and intrinsic worth. It exposes that we are often our own worst critics, and suggests we should extend the same truth and grace to ourselves that we extend to others.
For me, this video was so compelling because it goes beyond beauty. I think it struck a chord with so many women because we are not only hypercritical of our outward appearance, which we relate to our worth all too much, but also of larger issues of our value.
Maybe I shouldn't speak for all women, but speaking for myself, this message rings so true. I've been realizing recently that I hold myself to an impossible standard in my work and personal life. There are times I feel like I'm succeeding, but most of the time, I can't meet my self-imposed standards. Between career, marriage, friendships, a hyperactive puppy, trying to invest in my health through exercise and eating well, and blogging, it often feels like something is dropping. And with that comes a lot of negative self talk. I'm a failure. I'm a bad wife. A horrible friend. I hate my lack of self control. I wish I could change my body type. and on and on. I tell myself things I would never project onto other people. Wherever this comes from, it is not rooted in truth.
Its a process, but I'm working on re-writing my internal narrative, trying to see myself as others see me, and meditating on gratefulness instead of fixating on imperfections.
And this is a good place to start. Imperfections are what make life interesting, and you are more than you think you are. I am more than I give myself credit for.
