We live in a society that promotes self-confidence, worth, and ownership of who we are as people – this is a wonderful thing.
But we still have a long way to go.
We talk all day long about how our significance should be based upon who we are and what we do, not what we look like. But somehow, we still manage to ostracize those who we consider to be “subpar” in the looks department.
You can try and point the finger and accuse those around you of doing this, but let’s be honest…we all do it.
I do it.
In an article from the Huffington Post on sitcom star Mindy Kaling, Kaling stated,”I always get asked, ‘Where do you get your confidence?’ I think people are well meaning, but it’s pretty insulting. Because what it means to me is, ‘You, Mindy Kaling, have all the trappings of a very marginalized person. You’re not skinny, you’re not white, you’re a woman. Why on earth would you feel like you’re worth anything?”
Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/09/26/mindy-kaling-body-image-parade_n_3991509.html
I found this quote sad… and also very convicting.
The mouth of society delivers both praise and condemnation.
My mouth delivers both praise and condemnation.
“She is so gorgeous; I wonder what attracted her to that guy.”
“He isn’t very good looking at all, but he has a great personality.”
Sometimes we do it without even noticing.
But us not realizing what we say to people doesn’t make our words hurt any less.
Why is it that we directly correlate looks with power, success, and intelligence?
Why is it that we only want to “hang out” with the beautiful people?
Does their external beauty make them any more powerful, successful, or intelligent?
No.
Challenge yourself this week to look beneath the surface; I know I’m going to.