hey i struggle with that same thing. u hit the nail on the head.

Thanks so much. This really means a lot.

It took me a while to be comfortable with my looks. I was really insecure in middle school. I've always been on the tubby side, and I was growing to accept other things about myself I realized I'd always have. Things that were much more important than my physical appearance.

Once I grew to embrace those parts of me, I learned to be comfortable with my appearance. I embrace my curves, my pointed chin, my freckles (which used to disgust me), and my stubby fingers. I realized I'm not going to crack mirrors or break cameras, and I certainly won't be having to wear a paper bag on my head.

My display picture is a bit wonky, and during those years I would have never felt comfortable with putting that up. But I have enough confidence now to know that everyone isn't going to think I look ridiculous just because I have a funny pose in my picture.

I think it's a learning process. But you have to accept yourself before others will.

I agree with bittersunday. I doubt I'll ever be fully comfortable with the way I look. But, seeing how I am with myself. I try extra hard to not judge anyone by their looks. (Don't judge a book by it's cover) sort of thing.

By doing that. I feel much better about myself. At least if I'm not physically attractive and hit that 10! with one glance from a guy .. I'll get points for being beautiful on the INSIDE. Yeah, they won't see it at a glance but, those who only judge by glance .. don't deserve to even get to know me. If they're willing to give me a chance, I'm glad to give them a chance.

Ooh. I'm not a very attractive girl myself, and about your friend that you were talking about back there, the conceited one? To tell you the truth, I would have slapped her across the face if she or anyone had said that at all, to me or to anyone else. But that's just my instinct talking ><. I say that because a lot of people have said that to me in the past, especially my family, which consists of blunt and straightforward people.

Yes, outward beauty counts. Yes, inner beauty counts. So what do we do?

You said, that you have "overbite, huge glasses, and hairy legs". Well, what about you is beautiful? You may have hairy legs, but your feet may be perfectly proportioned. You may have huge glasses, but your eyes may be as deep as a vat of chocolate (sorry, I'm really hungry XD). Once I realized that I needed to notice what about me was beautiful, I started to pay a little more attention to those aspects.

For example, I still have my baby fat, which makes my cheeks look chubby. Also, I can't smile and when I try to, I look disgusted. Not disgusting, but disgusted. My chubby cheeks make my jaw look lower and wider and enhance my double chin. To make things worse, I have insane acne and overly tanned skin from hours of outdoor play (when I was younger). But my hair is free-flowing, healthy, and tamed. It almost never tangles. It shines in the light. So what did I do? Well, first of all, I didn't dye it or use spray. I took very good care of it and let it flow freely like it should instead of confining it as I used to.

I suggest that you do the same.

"Consider how the lilies grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these." (Luke 12:27)

Great post, I can relate! It's sad because society makes outer appearance seem like it is so important and we begin to lose confidence in ourselves although we all have different unique talents that we should embrace. It took me a while to get comfortable with myself but it took a lot of prayer & finding out who I am. I aimed for healthy confidence and learning to love what I disliked about myself. It is so true that we have to become best friends to ourselves because self-loathing just doesn't take you anywhere. I agree completely with captain_jaq! 

I have a different perspective on all this now that I am ... *a-hem* older. I observe, coach, counsel and mentor young people, and I actually think the "beautiful people" have a harder time in cultivating the things that really matter in life. It is too easy for them to fall back on how they look, so in some ways, their personalities and character are stunted. Yes, some things come easy to them, but it warps them by causing them to put so much value on the outside.  So much attention is payed to them that they also have this attitude of "entitlement" which I find very disturbing. I am not saying that every "beautiful" (by the world's standards) person is shallow and spoiled, but there does seem to be a trend. ~~ I think God wants us to be content with who we are, and who He made us to be. He desires that we cultivate and make use of everything He has given us. Secure in His love and approval, we shouldn't have to compete with the world's standards of what is beautiful. Life is not fair, and it never will be, but it is those people who live with grace and rest easy in the "skin" they have been given who find real contentment in life.  Beauty is fleeting, and it is so sad to  see the desperation of people my age who are trying so hard to hang on to it. Age has a way of evening things out. Gravity happens. That's when I feel sorriest for the "beautiful" who spend millions every year trying to hold on to what is no longer there. That's when those who have spent their lives cultivating kindness, joy, wisdom and inner strength shine more and more.

I feel very comfortable about how i look. I actually think i look a lot better than before, when i was a teenager, i was about 2 sizes bigger, was hairy and i wore my long hair in a boring way, used to wear horrible hand-me down clothes (we couldnt afford better ones), so no wonder nobody looked at me LOL. Then i grew older, and when i could afford to buy clothes that i really liked, i started to dress fashionably, had a hair cut, started to wear make up, bought an epilator, started going to the gym and toned up and became a lot slimmer.... I think you can do a lot for yourself to look your best.

When i feel insecure about my looks, i try to analyse why i started to feel like that. The reason can be just a bad day when i am looking to throw a pity party about something. Or it might be a deeper reason and i may have to work on my self esteem. I must confess, that buying new outfits or changing hairstyle/make up can also help me a lot to feel more confident about my looks. I know some ppl say it is very materialistic, but i dont think i overdo it and for me it usually works.

I think we would deceive ourselves if we said everybody was created beautiful by God. I have seen very ugly and very beautiful people. No matter how beautiful we are to God, people do judge us based on our appearance, it is fact. I have always believed that if you judge somebody only from the outside, you are very superficial.

A beautiful spirit does do wonders for our outward appearance.  My best friend does not fit the world's defintion of a stunning beauty.  She has a less than perfect complexion, and she can't get her hair to do what she wants, but you have never met a more beautiful woman.  She's beautiful because she is so loving and so full of the Lord's joy.  In the 6 years I've known Grace, (her name defines her) I've never heard her speak negatively of anyone, and rarely seen her stop smiling.  She was having horrindous morning sickness and could harldy take care of herself, and still she greated me with a smile and said, "God is good for giving me this baby." She did not complain, just thanked God.

I've kinda struggled with my appearance until the last couple of years.  I was always the giant among my friends... I'm not fat by any means, but my friends were all in size 2's and I was a healthy size 10.  (Stupid Swedish blood ...lol.)  I also never did more than a messy ponytail and very sparse (poorly done) make-up.  I feel so much better about myself when I try to look my best.  My grandmother always said to put your best foot forward.  So, I started wearing clothes that were figure flattering, I learned how to apply my make up properly, and I started fixing my hair.  I don't spend more than thirty minutes getting ready everyday, but just looking presentable helps my confidence level tremendously.  I suggest doing the same.  Wear clothes that flatter you and that you feel confident in.  Have a haircut that accentuates your face shape.  Learn to apply make-up that inhances your best features... not covers your flaws, less is best.  God created us with these bodies; we should show Him repsect by caring for them, not hiding them behind frumpy clothes, or putting them on obscene display either.  Be grateful for what God made for you. 

Never forget to let your inner beauty shine through to your outer beauty.  The prettiest girl in the world will be called ugly if she is rude and unkind.

wonderful entry!!