Love the skin (and the body) you’re in! It may be a new year but you don’t have to go searching for an all new you….maybe just a new self-perception. 

Though there are countless books, discussions and articles even, self-love seems to be the hardest thing to master. It may help, however, to take a practical approach and to be patient and gentle with yourself.

Frankly speaking we don’t live in Utopia. People can be cruel even without trying to be, but someone else’s perception of you should not stop you from being yourself and from loving yourself. So what if you’ve got a few more pounds than someone else? A strong breeze won’t blow you over. So what if you’re a little on the straight-as-an-arrow or not so curvy side? It’s no big deal, find clothes that complement your figure well.

In the January issue for Ocean’s Drive magazine

Pretty Little Liars star Ashley Benson revealed that she’d recently been turned down for an acting role because she was ”too fat”. And we all remember the bout of harsh criticism Selena Gomez endured toward the end of 2015 for gaining a few pounds. Both women (and countless other celebrities) that are often idolised as the epitome of beauty, deal with their own critics as well. And if anything, that ought to show how ridiculous modern beauty standards often are, and that everyone is a ‘little too something’ or ‘not enough something’ – it’s not just you.

That said, it’s important that in this world of waist trainers and diet pills we remind ourselves that we need not be subjected to someone else’s idea of beauty. 

If you want to lose or gain weight, or otherwise alter your appearance, go ahead. Just be sure to do so in a healthy way and for the right reasons – your own reasons. 

Ideas about what makes someone else beautiful are completely subjective. And you need not feel subjected to them.