I AM BEAUTIFUL Link Up

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In case you missed last Tuesday’s post, click here for details on today’s link up.

If you’re like me, you don’t take compliments easily and graciously. I am not gracious when accepting compliments, especially from my husband and that is something that I am working on. I have a hard time believing what the person is saying is true. I question their motives and wonder if it’s sincere. Yes I know that I have a problem. It stems from being a teenager and being incessantly teased. I understand that now I’m an adult and I shouldn’t let it get to me or affect how I see myself, but I do. It’s something that I am working on very hard to change. I wish I could see myself the way my husband and son do.

After reading this article, “When your mother says she’s fat“, I’ve made a conscious effort to always thank my son when he compliments me and to never criticize how I look in front of him. To him, I’m his beautiful Mama and in his eyes, I have no flaws. He just sees me as his Mama.

So ladies, repeat after me:

I AM BEAUTIFUL!
I AM BEAUTIFUL!!

I AM BEAUTIFUL!!!

I AM BEAUTIFUL!!!!

I AM BEAUTIFUL!!!!!

I AM BEAUTIFUL!!!!!!

BECAUSE, GUESS WHAT???? YOU ARE BEAUTIFUL!!!!!!!!!!

Many of you wrote such sweet, supportive and kind comments. Many of you also wrote “if I’m brave enough!”. If you have children, and even if you don’t, you have to be brave enough to show the world that beauty is found in all shapes, sizes, colours, ages, wrinkles, grey hair, stretch marks, cellulite and all. Our so called “flaws” are what makes us individuals, unique. If we all looked the same, then this world would be a mighty dull place. One of the women in the video, Photoshopping real women into cover models says: “Once you take away your imperfections, there’s not much left of who you really are!!” So true.

So many women are getting plastic surgery to look like what society is telling us you should look like, instead of embracing our true self. This brings me to a discussion that Deepak Chopra and Oprah were having on her show Super Soul Sunday. He discussed that there is a fundamental difference between self-esteem and self-image. We forget ourselves and we start identifying with our self-image. Deepak describes our real self ”as being beneath no one, immune to criticism and is fearless.” What a powerful definition!!!! What empowering words!!!! He says that he teaches this to young children and he is amazed at the twinkle in their eyes, once they make that connection. I only wish someone would have told me this when I was growing up!!!!!

Deepak continues to say “that we shouldn’t confuse self with image. Self-image is what other people think of you. Self is what you think of you.” I, like many others, confuse the way I see myself with how other people see me. I think we all do this to some extent and the sad thing is that we then start believing in what other people are thinking of us. We start to focus on the negatives, instead of believing in ourselves and how we see ourselves; the positives!!!!!

What Deepak Chopra said resounded with me so much and it couldn’t have come at a better time. It is exactly what we need to be teaching our children and we need to start practicing it, so that our children will then do it as well. All we tend to focus on is the negative even though there are positives. For instances when you are getting feedback and they say a bunch of positive things and then they use the word “BUT“, you forget everything they said before it and you only focus on the negative. I love how Deepak describes our self as being “beneath no one, fearless and immune to criticism”. This is something that has hit a strong cord within me and it’s something that I want to start adopting. I no longer want to be held hostage to all the negative thoughts I have. It’s about time we all realized that our self is worth it, that we can do anything, and that we don’t need to listen to the negative chit chat!!!!

This leads me to the purpose of my link up. It’s to show the world how beautiful we really are and that we don’t need to be airbrushed and photoshopped to be beautiful. We are all beautiful just the way we are. We just need to see it and believe it.

So here is my picture without any makeup and my hair not done to motivate and to inspire you to join my link up.

Vodka Infused Lemonade

I hope you join me in my “I AM BEAUTIFUL LINK UP”. It will run for 1 week until Tuesday March 11.

 

vodkainfusedlemonade.com


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29 thoughts on “I AM BEAUTIFUL Link Up”

  1. Inge

    This is such an empowering post, Agi, thanks again for putting together the link up and encouraging us all to participate. I think what’s helped me the most is realizing that I am not solely what I see in the mirror. Your discussion about “self” is so on point for me.

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  2. Pingback: take the mask off - i am beautiful »

  4. Rachel G

    Yes!! Like you said, it would be a very boring place if we all looked alike! I actually did this challenge once before, about a year ago, so I hope you don’t mind if I link up that one to your new link-up, because I really support this idea! Natural beauty and differences are a good thing-so last year I challenged myself to appear on the blog with no makeup at and just my natural curls. (The blue and purple hair is obviously not natural, but it doesn’t go away just for a photo-op! Oh well!) Thanks for this. You speak truth.

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  6. Happiness at Mid Life

    Love this post Agi! I was watching some Oscar after party highlights and they were talking to D-listers and I swear they all looked the same with the scary I can’t move my forehead and my lips are super inflated look. I had to switch the channel because they were all so scary to look at.

    We need to celebrate individuality and that we are beautiful at every stage in our life.

    Alice
    http://www.happinessatmidlife.com

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    1. admin Post author

      I know. Why do women think they need plastic surgery to look better and younger. It’s so sad!!!!!

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  8. Gina (@OntheDailyX)

    Such a beautifully written post. I love the inspiring words from Deepak and each of your interpretations. So true about how we forget all the positives that were said before a BUT. I truly admire your courage and wise words here. Thanks for being inspiring! -Gina
    On the Daily Express

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  10. ADA

    Hi Agi.I just found out today about this link up since I hadn’t been caught up with your post for a whole week (but now I am). Though I was not prepared with a post today, I am snapping a picture or two first thing in the morning tomorrow to show you, the blogging world and anyone who reads my blog, my face untouched. Though, I rarely put much makeup on as it is. Thank you for coming up with this, so encouraging, beautiful, sublime and unique. What you wrote today too was very powerful and positive. It made a big impact on me as a reader and I will know google search more about Deepak Chopra.

    Thanks again about this awesome link up. It is great to see your awesome style and cute/chic outfits when you post them, but it is truly posts like these - when you write from the heart - that I love the most.

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    1. admin Post author

      Thank you so much Ada. I really appreciate your support. I’m glad that people have responded positively to my post. I am writing from the heart. Looking forward to seeing your pictures :)

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  11. Salma

    Great post Agi! Such an important subject, especially as we try and teach our children about loving them selves, self-esteem and confidence, we have to be their first example.

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  14. Cous Cous and Cork Wedges

    You all look so amazing & indeed beautiful! Well done Agi for encouraging women to be free & happy! <3 Ax

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I would love to hear from you.