I hate myself is a thought that floats across many people's minds. It's probably not the only one either. Are you ashamed of yourself? Do you not like your body? Do you not like your character? Do you wish you were more like your friends or the people you see on TV or social media? If the answer to any of these questions is yes, then you are not alone.
It is a common theme these days to hate the way your body looks or hate your personality. We have so many people that are on the front page of the news that look amazing and seem like they have it all together. People are more wealthy than you, better looking, more successful, have a better family, etc. These people are the top of the top, the best of the best. They are on TV because they are above average. The people that choose the actors and stars are after money and those that are better looking seem to bring in more views/money. It makes sense, but is unhealthy for the rest of society.
The problem with this method of choosing and displaying the best of the best to the world is it makes the rest of us think they are the standard. If we don't look, act, or are as successful as them we feel like failures. This is simply not true. You are only a failure if you tell yourself you are. You are only ugly if you tell yourself you are. You are the standard to how you want to live your life. Don't look at your friends or family and want to be like them. Be yourself and grow into who you are meant to be.
Do you know that everyone in the world has a unique voice? Not one voice is the same. The same goes for fingerprints. No two people are the same. We are all different and unique from one another in personality as well. Everyone on this planet is different and unique. This is actually quite an amazing thing. You are a special person that isn't like anyone else in the world!
Do you know how intricate and delicate this world is? We are constantly spinning and orbiting around this burning ball of gas called the sun that is 10,000 to 27,000 degrees Fahrenheit. We spin and orbit day after day and year after year, all without catching on fire and burning us to ash. Meanwhile, the plants and trees around us are growing and using the sun for fuel and producing the oxygen we need in order to breath. Every cell in our body is alive and functioning through a highly complex method that happens day after day to keep us alive so we can breathe this oxygen. Everything on this Earth is complex and wonderful, including you, your body, and your personality.
Have you ever heard the saying fearfully and wonderfully made? This is a quote out of the Bible. The author is describing how God made him and is found in Psalm 139:13-14.
For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made...
This was originally written in Hebrew, so fearfully doesn't actually mean how it sounds. Fearfully actually means with great reverence, heart-felt interest, and with respect. Wonderfully means to distinguish, separate, and marvel. Both of these words are meant to describe that you are made with such amazing care and thought by the creator of the universe. You are created special by God. You are fearfully and wonderfully made.
You may be thinking, well I hate myself because I am ugly, fat, shameful, etc. These thoughts are not healthy and are not productive in your life. God made every person different. He is the potter and you are the clay.
Romans 9:20-21 says that "... The thing molded will not say to the molder, “Why did you make me like this,” will it? Or does the potter not have a right over the clay, to make from the same lump one object for honorable use, and another for common use?
You may wish you were created like those models you see on TV, but God has already created them, so He doesn't need another one. He thought about you before you were even born and decided that He needed you in this world, then you were born.
God gave most of us arms, legs, and a functioning brain. Since that is the case He expects us to use them. He gives us the freedom to use them how we want. We can use them to sit, overeat, and play video games all the time or we can watch what we eat, exercise, and study subjects to make us smarter for business or create things. We all have the choice. He also gave us self-discipline to be able to accomplish what we want (2 Timothy 1:7).
If you don't like your body, you can exercise and change it to a certain point. If you don't like your character, you can study and practice discipline to change it into what you want it to be. If you don't like your job, you can study and learn something new. God created a unique you. You may be taller, shorter, have a longer nose, but that's not just okay, it's awesome! You be you, not the negative things you hear people say or the lies and unnatural things you hear inside your head.
Learn to love yourself because you are who you are. God thought of you and wanted you to be born and has a purpose for you with the body and mind that you have. You were fearfully and wonderfully made. Don't shame yourself or take yourself out of this world. You have so many opportunities to become great and make a lasting impact in this world.
Remember, our emotions, thoughts, and feelings come and go, but we only have one life. You may feel sad today, but imagine what you could be like 1 year from now! Do a little every day. Small progress brings long-term amazing results. Learn to love yourself. I hate myself should not be in your vocabulary. I love myself should be the new norm.
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