I know, I know! You probably weren’t expecting THIS show to stir my soul. But read on . . .
Several years ago there was an amazing television show that was popular here in America. It was called How to Look Good Naked. The host was Carson Kressley, a quirky and compassionate man whose main quest was to change women’s perceptions about their bodies.
In the first show, he was working with a 32-year-old woman named Layla, who was 30 pounds overweight and struggling with self-esteem. She put on a bathing suit and then stood with Carson in front of several full-length mirrors. He asked her to tell him what she saw. Predictably enough, she talked about the flaws: her arms were flabby; she hated her thighs; her legs were too short. Can you relate?
Then Carson told her what he saw. He described her beautiful skin, her luscious cleavage, how her curves were in just the right places.
He stood behind her with his hands on her shoulders and invited her to see herself the way he saw her. “Here’s Layla,” he said, looking into the mirror with her. “Is she perfect? No. Is she beautiful? Yes.”
It was a lesson not only for Layla, but for the millions of women watching.
Repeat after me: Am I perfect? Certainly not! Am I beautiful anyway, in spite of my imperfections? Certainly yes!
Time for Reflection
Stand in front of a full-length mirror and make note of what you see. If you’re like Layla, you’ll probably list your imperfections first. That’s okay.
Then pause. Invite your own version of Carson Kressley to stand beside you at the mirror. This can be either a real person or an imaginary one. It doesn’t matter, as long as it is someone who looks at you nonjudgmentally and with genuine kindness.
Allow this being to describe the beautiful parts of you that he/she sees.
Affirm to yourself (many times throughout your days) I don’t have to be perfect to be beautiful.
NOTE: This essay is from my second book of essays, Into the Heart of SoulCollage®.