Bodies
We live in a world of flaws.
Ironically, we place a high value on beauty and perfection.
We live in a world of flaws.
Ironically, we place a high value on beauty and perfection. Every day, we are bombarded with advertisements featuring perfectly symmetrical and beautiful faces and bodies trying to sell to us. These ads woo us with the promise that if we get what "they" have, we can be as attractive as they are, too. Not only that, we also respond to the subconscious message that the beautiful are happier, richer, nicer, and more popular than the rest of us. While one aspect of beauty is symmetry, another important aspect is uniqueness. Our flaws are not simply unwelcome nuisances, they are integral parts of our lives. Each of us has our own combination of flaws and struggles that make us who we are.
They make us unique, special, and beautiful.
Flaws come in many flavours.
One of them is in physical form. One of the negative side effects of a culture saturated with images of beautiful people is that it highlights the ways that "we" are not like "them." My nose is not as straight, my jaw is not as strong, my teeth are not as white, my eyes are too small, my skin is too dark.
This list of "flaws" can go on forever, and so can the insecurities that come from them. Some of us may have unusual physical features or scars that we experience as flaws.
Know that your beauty comes not only from your physical appearance, but also from loving and embracing your physical uniqueness. Here is another thing to keep in mind: Having a physical feature that is not celebrated by society is not a flaw.
It is you.
It is me. It is beautiful.
There is a stigma attached to not being perfect. We're surrounded by perfection all the time. Society exalts the beauty of celebrities and model-perfect media images. We’re told in a not-so-subtle manner that perfection of face and form is the desired holy grail. There's something seriously wrong with anyone who doesn't strive for outward breathtaking beauty we are told, and somewhere deep in our souls we believe it.
Flaws and it's flavours
So when I said flaws come in many flavours, physical were not the only ones. Many times, being conscious about one's physical appearance triggers anxiety resulting in emotional scars.
Our world is not perfect. Sometimes we bump into its imperfection in dramatic ways that can cause emotional scars. All it takes is one traumatic incident to change our lives forever. A person dealing with emotional scars may find it hard to trust, love, or feel safe. There may be a tendency to hide these scars, but healing often comes when we are able to expose them gently to the light. Some of the deepest human connections and bonds happen when we allow others into our most vulnerable spaces.
This is beauty.
However, there is one more thing...
Character Flaws
These are the personality flaws that can be as harmless as shyness or as hurtful as habitual lying. To be clear, there is not much beauty to be found in lying, cheating, or exhibiting arrogant behaviour. When we see others engaging in such acts, our knee-jerk reaction is to be judgmental. But if we are honest with ourselves, we know that we too have the potential to do similar things under the right circumstances. We may even be able to recall a time in our lives when we fell victim to our own similar flaws. Here is where the beauty lies. It is in the acknowledgement that we can identify, at least in part, with another's struggle. That in sharing our own struggles, we can strengthen another to help them manage or even overcome destructive behaviour that come from their flaws. This beauty expresses the reality that we are all limited and that we need each other.
