Hey guys! I want to share with you all where my inspiration came from and what this “revolution” is all about.
As you know, the idea for REVLY stemmed from my own personal struggle with the way I value myself and perceive my body. I grew up in Southern California and basically lived in a bikini. I would always find myself comparing my body to other girls at the beach and never felt good enough. I’d start tearing myself apart inside saying things like, “Why does my spine have a curve in it?” “Why are my hips wider than hers?” “Why don’t I have visible abs?” Fad diets, cleanses and trying to lose weight in unhealthy ways still left me unhappy with myself. “Five more pounds and then I will be pretty enough,” I used to repeat to myself over and over. I would lie in bed at night and go over everything I ate that day, pinching my stomach and hating myself for it. I despised the person I saw in the mirror and would pick apart every one of my flaws. And to what end?
Finally, with the help of my awesome friends, I have realized that my body does not define my self-worth. I have so much more to offer than looking “good” in a bathing suit at some dumb pool party. And what does “good” mean anyway? We are so caught up with the comparison game and trying to measure up to some impossible standard instead of just focusing on how to love ourselves.
I have now realized that I should be grateful for the amazing things my body allows me to do, not hate it because my tummy rolls when I sit down.
I am not saying that once I got over these body issues I started eating like crap and let my body go to hell; that is not what we are celebrating here. Quite the opposite, actually. I’m not saying that some bodies are better than others, what I am saying is that everyone has a certain standard for themselves. Don’t torture yourself because you think that you have to be something you are not.
Once I stopped fixating on how many calories I was taking in and started working out more and eating a balanced diet, magical things began to happen. I wasn’t obsessed with dropping a certain number of pounds in a short period of time. I had a complete life style shift. I started focusing on being the best version of myself every single day.
I feel my best after I get my sweat on and eat a healthy balanced diet. I don’t feel good when I eat poorly and don’t exercise regularly because I know my body deserves better. The rest took care of itself. I am the most confident I have ever been since my lifestyle change. Of course, I still treat myself when I want and continue to enjoy life. When I started putting less emphasis on how I look and more on how I feel, my entire outlook shifted.
The full turn around with my confidence happened when I began making a conscious effort to stop comparing myself to other girls. Lauryn, Sydney, and I aren’t trying to be an attainable image for anybody, instead we just want to make it clear that we are just like you and battle to love ourselves every single day. We are all different and have something so uniquely special about each of us and that is what we want to celebrate. REVLY is a celebration of confident women who are rocking what they got and are relentless in the pursuit of being the best versions of themselves. The only attainable goal for you is to be the best you. Challenge yourself every day.
My goal with REVLY is to simply inspire people. I am trying to create a brand with a message that inspires people to be the best they can be. Yes, this is about body positivity but the main point is to change the conversation, to stop judging and comparing ourselves. You are you, so be the best damn version of you that you can possibly be.
Let’s redirect our energy. Instead of focusing on models and other people that you assume have it all, focus that energy on improving yourself in a positive way. We can all be a better friend, better daughter, better partner and a better person.
So, I leave you with this: be the rock star you know that you are. Stand up for yourself. Feel confident in your own skin. Rock what you freaking got. Get inspired by the powerful women around you. Be relentless. Be fierce and I beg you, please stop comparing yourself to other girls you see on social media.
I want the REVLY blog to be a resource for you. Read our stories. Know that you are not alone in your struggle to accept yourself. I love the quote, “you were born to be real, not to be perfect.” Wake up! Nobody is perfect. Even these girls you are creeping on IG. We are done with the comparison game. I am not trying to change the way you look, I just want to change the way you feel about yourself.
So, welcome to the revolution.
All my love,
Jordan
2 comments
You are an extraordinary young lady am so proud of you. There are millions of girls/woman who will be inspired by your testimony. I am inspired!
Jordan, I am so proud of you! I have known you for many years and have always been in awe of the amazing girl that you have always been! It is surprising to me that you haven’t always felt as fantastic as you are and it is even more amazing that you are now inspiring others to live a healthy life full of self acceptance! I always knew you would do wonderful things for those who have the privilege of knowing you and I am honored to have been part of your life! Keep working toward making your important message a reality for girls and women everywhere!