Self- Esteem Help :)

Okay y'all young calorie counters like myself. I'm 17 btw. haha :)

The media really puts pressure on teens to look a certain way and to act a certain way. They show pictures of emaciated models and label them pretty, well honestly, even those models don't look that "Perfect" in real life as the media also retouches their pictures. So, what does this mean for us teens? PERFECTION is NOT real. Say that. "I do NOT have to feel like I must obtain, strive for, seek, and/or need "PERFECTION"!!! <--sorry i'm very passionate about this as a recovering ED and depression victim. 

So, I want to help you from whatever situation you are in in life. Whatever obstacle it may be, just remember that is one microscopic speck in the ENTIRETY of your life. 

Now please know how amazing, different, incredible each one of us are!! Take the time to think of your talents, and qualities you like in yourself especially when you're feeling in the dumps. Trust me, I've had quite a lot of those times in my life. Actually, there are probably more sad times than happy in my life but that's why one should count the blessings they are given. 

So, here's where you can respond. :P I kinda wrote a lot but I'm very enthusiastic hehe. List the things you like about yourself. Come on, just do it, brag a little. 

Okay, I'll start. I love my posture, hair, height (at times), athletic, acting and singing abilities, my outgoingness, my smile and teeth, kindness, attitude on life, musical abilities, my pride, my individuality, my personal beliefs and politics, and my hands and feet. :p

Try it. Afterwords, you'll feel great. Trust me. 

Acceptable bragging?

okay.

I love my teeth and my smile, my artistic abilities as well as my guitar hero skills.  I lvoe my athletic legs and what they do for me, I love how powerful they feel when I'm skiing or running.  I love my friends, my sense of humor, my individuality, and my freckles.

Yeah, you were right, I'm feeling pretty good right now

I'm fifteen and I love being young and having energy to do what makes me feel good. Jogging, for instance. I can't imagine not being able to go outside and just run. I'm thankful for that.

I'm a talented novelist (anybody else do NaNoWriMo? I finished at 50,225 words at midnight on November 30th! along with my sister), singer, pianist, and cheerer-upper of my friends and family.

By the way, musicallyfit848-- it's AMAZING that you can put up a post like this while recovering from depression and an eating disorder. I have a friend who was anorexic and severely depressed, and though she has wonderful parents and friends who tried very hard to support her, she allowed her life to go down the tubes. I feel very bad that things happened the way they did and of course I have sympathy for her, but I just wish she had been able to get back to the point of being happy with herself, the way you obviously are. Great job. Keep it up. :) 

Hey, flightotc-- have you ever heard the song "freckles" by Natasha Bedingfield? What you said reminded me of it. Really cute song. Actually, this whole post kind of relates to it.

This is a really great idea, and you're totally right about the media!

I like my dimple (singular lol) and my smile.

I'm so glad you said that song! I just downloaded it :) Also, lessons learned by Carrie Underwood is another one. And thank you, I'm trying and just want to share my story in hopes to help someone else. :)

I always feel weird reading about teens comparing themselves to models, film stars, etc... Honestly, I don't care about them at all. Which is strange considering I love looking at runway shows and fashion editorials! (For the art. I really don't give a rat's ass about the models.) I suppose I have a different kind of self-esteem issue. I do not strive to be perfect because I know I could never achieve it.

To make this reply more relevant:
I like my music taste and honesty. :]

I like this topic =)

I love my runners' legs, which are like a mile long =). I love my smile. I love all the dirty refrences I make, haha. I love having energy so I can do what I like. I love my ability to write A+ English papers in my advanced class. I love my huge appitite =). I love my brown eyes. I love being a young fourteen year old girl with the most stellar friends in the world =). I love being me =D

I'm bringing this up from the dead forums, thanks a bunch musicallyfit!

;

i honour my values, intellegence, passion for children and biochemistry, my FLUTE, even the sound of my voice - who i am, i really appreciate my boyfriend, all those emotions that are stored in my i-pod, being able to become a part of music, world of warcfraft - XD, SOCIALIZING! ED recovery, the CHOICE to manage my own diet, free-will, my teachers, school, my caring nature and charity work (omg i love that group of disabled people, they are wicked awesome fun), the opportunity for my senior years and a career, my friends, something physical? how about my legs-butt-back! i LOVE my potential future - how bright it will be :D

Wow this is an excellent post! It was really sweet of you to introduce this and motivate us like this =]

Physically, I like my fair complexion, my short height (sometimes), my relatively flat stomach, and my small feet. As for other aspects of my life, I like my optimism and cheerfulness, my passion for learning and reading, and the fact that I was able to recognize and overcome anorexia on my own.

<3

Great topic!!

I love my grades, my voice, my height, my friends, my parents, my self and being 14, my cell phone, my ability to compose my own music, hopeing to be a doctor, and I love my room. lol dont have as much things as other people do though :(

This is such a good exercise! I love reading other people's responses...but when it comes to myself I always have such a tough time thinking of anything that I like or love. Self-hate is a huge obstacle for me. But I'm forcing myself now to do this!

1. I have pretty eyes. They're big, black, and sparkly.
2. I can be a tender, caring, and affectionate person when I open up. I am good at comforting people, even though I come from a very cold family. I'm proud of myself for refusing to repeat the same behavior!
3. I am really good at foreign languages, especially foreign language literature. I have been the best student in every foreign language class I have taken since 9th grade, and I am entering my junior year of college!
4. I'm not high maintenance. Even though I'm a teen girl, I own very little "stuff" (clothes, shoes, accessories, gadgets, decorations, etc.) Sure, I wish I had certain things, but in general, I can do with a LOT less than most other people I know.
5. I can't think of any more, but my boyfriend says I'm special and not to forget it. So there's that

There, I finally did it. Took me half an hour and 2 bouts of tears, but I LOVE ME FOR ME!

nice thread!

i love my eyelashes

i love my stomach, sometimes lol

i love my long legs

i love the colour of my skin (its tanned right now!)

i love how people think i'm funny, and i love how i make people laugh

i love how i'm pretty smart (most of the time)

i love how i know how to manage my money

:)