Blessed to be Broken

I’ve said it before and I’ll no doubt keep saying it; comparison kills contentment. It always keeps the focus on what you don’t have. One of the worst daily comparisons is the version of you, you wish you were.

Comparison is not the same as having goals. Comparison is the epitome of “I can’t get no satisfaction”.

There’s a picture of a rhino on a treadmill with a poster of a majestic unicorn as its motivation. So cute, but so unrealistic. For one, a unicorn isn’t real. A rhinoceros can never be a unicorn. It was created to be a rhinoceros. It has purpose as the rhinoceros.

Whatever body style you were given is good. Acceptance starts there. Any other definition you accept or allow society to label you as, will keep you stressed out, worried, and no doubt depressed. All of those are tactics from the enemy to keep you down.

How many years has your body been your idol? How many years have you hated and beat yourself up over a body that was made for abilty but has been given over to vanity? How many years have you cried over something your not?

Your body is good. Your body has purpose. It was created to help others. Healthy doesn’t just come in a size zero. Healthy doesn’t come from a number on a scale. Healthy starts with acceptance. The rest will follow when you know you’re already good.

Question. What version of your body have you ever accepted? The adolescent you? The high school you? The young adult you? The adult you? The older you? The menopausal you? Do you compare you to you? The now you, with the then you? The now you, with the you, you aren’t?

I see it everyday on social media. The side by side photo’s meant to “motivate” you. What true good do those photo’s actually do? Seriously, what goes through your mind when you see those?

Not one single person is built the same. Not for the lack of airbrushing, photoshop, and a bazillion filtered photos, to make you think otherwise. Vanity. Did you know it’s a sin?

On the flip side, neglect isn’t good either. Taking care of you, goes beyond your size. By the way, I dare say you’ll never be happy with your outer appearance as long as your mindset is set on vanity. Vanity as your compass makes a poor tour guide.

It’s almost summer. You don’t need a “summer” body to enjoy the season. That’s another label we’ve bought into. You wanna wear shorts and a tank top? Wear them if you’re comfortable in that style.

Go swimming. Go hiking. Who cares how long it takes as long as you enjoy it. Try something new. Don’t place so much worth on what you perceive others think that you stop living your life to the full.

The person staring back at you from the mirror can be your best friend instead of your enemy. It begins and ends with you. I guarantee nobody thinks about you more than you do. Make sure you’re building yourself up instead of tearing yourself down. What anybody else thinks, is about them, not about you.

Don’t let summer or better yet, another day pass you by while fretting who might be impressed with how you look. Your looks will most assuredly change. And if looks are the total basis for a relationship with yourself or with anyone else, then it will be one of the most shallow relationships you’ll ever have.

I pray today you see your body as good. As Ray Steven’s sang, “Everything is beautiful, in its own way”. That includes you. The only one who excludes you, is you.

Friend, you don’t need anyone’s permission to live your life. Be your own true friend. You never know what brave step you take will help another do the same. Be the sunshine to your soul and let it sing!