Self-Degradation: The act of degrading one's self, or the state of being so degraded.
My blogger friend Elise posted some thought provoking questions on her blog. With her 'Who the Hell is That' moment I can definintely identify with! I don't know who and how we have been brainwashed into thinking we aren't good enough, but I know it must stop!!
BUT IT IS HARD! When all around us we are constantly attacked by images and statements telling us how to look, how to feel and how to live our lives.
'Buy this, take this, feel this way'
I guess this would be akin to an addict and how they cope with life day to day, and avoiding the downfall of giving in to the affliction - pain, suffering and disease. We have to deal with loving ourselves on a day to day basis, or we will fail!
One way I am coping with 'Self-Degradation' is to have the outlook that we are all beautiful pieces of art. Yes art!!
While some art is openly beautiful, as in the Venus de Milo and the Birth of Venus - other art is beautiful in translation. When we say "she/he is beautiful" the term beautiful is descriptive of your attitude towards that individual. So can beauty be defined? No. For if I believe something to be beautiful you may not necessarily have the same opinion. Would this then be where our confusion lies? As we don't need to please everyone, but only ourselves!!
Beauty: the quality or aggregate of qualities in a person or thing that gives pleasure to the senses or pleasurably exalts the mind or spirit .
'Beauty is in the eye of the beholder' - but are you not the beholder? Don't you have the power to say what 'is' and 'is not' beautiful! When you degrade yourself you are taking away your power. Your power to see the beauty that truely is you. You dare to look deep inside and know you are beautiful and unique. Become empowered and fight those feelings of self doubt and self bashing. Realize the beauty of the world and how you are connected. Stop poisoning yourself with feelings of pain, you have the power!
Amen, sister.
ReplyDeleteIt's worth remembering that all those images are completely unattainable because they are FAKE. So are the stories convincing women that having a beautiful tidy home, two kids to get to school every day, a full-time job, yoga lessons and early-morning runs, and time to cook and be a sex goddess is somehow attainable. It's all marketing... and all drivel. If you don't realize this, it will drive you batty.
Kira,
ReplyDeleteI thank you for this it means so very much to have a friend who is encouraging and caring enough to speak in love and compassion to me. I have printed this and it is tacked up on my inspiration board that sits in front of my desk. It is a great way to bring me into focus reading it daily.
with ~Heart~
elise