I feel so ugly!

Colorful life stories color my career life. For the past 12 years, I’ve heard countless reasons on why women want to be beautiful and sexy.

Once, a client with a pretty face and Prada purse came to see me and said: “I really don’t need a dietitian. I know everything about being healthy. I read a lot.” I replied, “I understand. Please tell me why you’re here.” Then she burst into tears leaving me mortified. I grabbed a pack of tissues and just let her cry. Then she looked up and said: “I feel so ugly!”

I know how it feels to be ugly. I had horrendous acne breakout I practically had to wear a wide brimmed hat to cover my face. I had fungal infection on my toe I didn’t wear open toed shoes or flip flops until it got better. I felt like my acne and toes were the only things people see in me!

Beauty...  a gift... an aspiration... an obsession... a burden.

Movies, magazines and the media had given us unrealistic standards on beauty. Reed-thin bodies, flawless skin, fashionable women, the list just goes on and on. Society and culture put so much importance on outward appearance. The pressure to keep up with these unrealistic standards of beauty is on. 

I have nothing against being fashionable, sexy and beautiful because I love to dress up, I make an effort to stay within a healthy weight range and I don’t look like a an ogress either.

Being beautiful is not an option for women. Every woman must learn how to take care of her appearance.  We need to be good stewards of God’s gift - our bodies. Think about it this way. Putting on sunblock is essential unless you want to end up looking like a prune or having leather-like skin. Being pleasant to look at will show how God blessed you with things that will enhance your beauty. So go ahead and apply make up by all means. Just don’t think less of yourself if you happen not to have all these trimmings. I believe you ladies get my point.

“I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.” - Psalm 139:14

If beauty is a gift from God, then why does it cause frustration, depression and discontentment?

Since beauty was created by God, let’s see how God defines beauty.

But the LORD said to Samuel, "Don't judge by his appearance or height, for I have rejected him. The LORD doesn't see things the way you see them. People judge by outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart." - 2 Samuel 16:7

A woman’s beauty radiates from within. Her inner beauty. When we focus so much on outward beauty, there in lies the problem of breeding discontentment and frustration  in our hearts which lead to low self-esteem or worse, self-hatred.

Ask yourself these questions...

• Do I spend most of my time obsessing about my body?
• Am I satisfied with the results of my quest to pursue beauty?
• How am I dealing with these desires and unrealistic expectations?
• Am I focusing more on what I don’t have or what I have?
• What is the purpose of my life?

When you achieve a sexy body and your skin is already “shining, shimmering, splendid!” you will definitely find yourself wanting to have a new hairstyle, whiter teeth, slimmer arms and many more. 

The sooner you accept that inner beauty is more important than outward beauty, the sooner you will have joy in your hearts and appreciate what God has blessed you with. A woman with a joyful heart and a pleasant attitude will look beautiful inside out but an impeccably dressed woman with unbecoming attitude will look like a.... oh never mind.... HAG! :)