7. Accept Yourself
“I like my hair! I like my haircuts! I like my pajamas!” These are the words not of a particularly exuberant motivational speaker, but an adorable 4-year-old girl named Jessica in a YouTube video called Jessica’s ‘Daily Affirmation. “I can do anything good! Yeah! Yeah! Yeah!” shouts Jessica, in front of her bathroom mirror. We could all use some of this cheerful, unselfconscious self-affirmation. I’ve never heard a child complain about having curly hair versus straight, or shoulders that are too big or small, or legs that are too chubby or too skinny. But I’ve heard all of my friends say these things (and more) about themselves—and unfortunately, children are quick to pick up on it and turn the same critical eye upon themselves. Imagine, if you possibly can, going a day without grimacing at the sight of your upper arms in the mirror, or obsessing over your cellulite, or wishing your feet were just a tad smaller. Imagine how liberating it would be not to worry about your pores, or the cost of that lotion that’s guaranteed to minimize under-eye circles. For one thing, you’d accomplish so much more in this new role as a woman who doesn’t care that her feet are a size eleven (who wears kitten heels, anyway?). And for another, you might just inspire that same self-confidence in your growing child, who might any day fall victim to this insidious kind of discontent with his or her self. And that’s reason enough right there.
