If there is one thing I’ve learned, it is that it seems to be basic human nature to isolate oneself further than necessary. In reality, a lot of the experiences we go through are completely shared and not as unique as we like to tell ourselves they are. Yes, everyone has their own story and many people have intersecting circumstances that make living their lives more difficult than others, but the lessons we learn and the anxieties we face that surround our bodies are way more similar than we allow ourselves to see. When it comes to body consciousness, every single person can relate to some aspect of self-pressure and dysmorphia. Whether we want to change something completely, improve something, or function differently, we all overcomplicate our realities as a result of comparing ourselves to other people.
I have always hated that voice in my head. The one that makes a horrible comment to me when I am passing the mirror to step into the shower. The one that keeps me awake at night after I’ve indulged too much out with friends. That voice that tells me that I should keep my cover-up on right until I am about to jump in the pool because, if I don’t, my friends will judge me and talk about my body behind my back. You know the voice that tells you that you aren’t good enough and that everybody out there has it way better than you. It tells you to be ashamed. Frankly, my voice tells me I should hate myself.
As I’ve gotten older, I have tried my hardest to shut that voice down. I have come to terms with the fact that nobody judges me the way I judge myself. Confidence has to come from within and, truthfully, I have coached myself into believing these things. I have started to love myself way more since I made the decision to stop the pity party.
I believe that you have two choices when it comes to body image issues: you either wallow in self pity and misery or you actively choose to take care of yourself and love yourself and shine from the inside out. People notice happy people, people notice confident people. What is that really cheesy quote everywhere? Love yourself or nobody will? There is power in that.
My inspiration behind the Show Us Your Worst campaign came from my own struggle. I quickly realized that the more that I put myself out there and was honest with my own insecurities and struggles, the more receptive others were to face their own. If we face our inner demons together then we can work on breaking them down and moving forward.
When we are naked is when we are at our most vulnerable, raw selves. Standing in a room full of people and stripping down is the scariest thing I’ve ever done. Writing your biggest insecurity and putting it fully on display for a photograph is horrifying. And at the same time it was so unbelievably powerful and healing. After the photoshoot shut down, the three of us sat on the floor crying as we watched the support pour in. The countless messages thanking us for starting this conversation were far too overwhelming for three girls that just believed in their passion project.
Even though I truly am my biggest fan, I am also my worst enemy. I will tell you how much I love me and then go home and stand in front of the mirror picking myself apart. I don’t believe that you can ever truly stop this side from coming out, but I do know the more I focus on taking care of all of me, mind and body, the more I love who I am.
This campaign was an active effort to get a conversation going. We want to put our insecurities on display and then toss them aside. Let's move forward together and make the decision every day to stop the self-hate and instead turn every negative thought into growing, productive changes that better us. I think we should make an active effort to better ourselves in order to keep ourselves happy. You should never stop learning, never stop growing, never stop shining.
The thing with Revly is that we aren’t advocating for anything other than living your healthiest best life. We advocate working out and taking care of yourself and enjoying life while still practicing moderation and indulging when it feels right. Our swimsuits aren’t designed a certain way that are going to change your appearance in the mirror like the way putting on a set of Spanx will. What we focus on, is changing mentalities and accepting yourself. Every box you open from us will be filled with our own energy of love, confidence and acceptance.
So what did I teach you today? You need to love the hell out of yourself. Take care of yourself. Embrace your uniqueness and don’t let anyone tell you how you should look. Don’t ever let anyone tell you how you should feel. Listen to yourself. Throw away the inner demons. Stop letting such minor parts of you dictate your entire life. How the hell are you supposed to enjoy the cookie if you are just thinking about how its going to sit on your lower stomach later? How can you give it your all in the exercise class if you are looking around the room comparing your body to the other people around you? Slow down. Find the beauty in everything. Wake up every damn day telling yourself one thing you are proud of. Progress, grow, shine.