the secret to flawless beauty

I have recently discovered the secret to flawless beauty. This secret is worth more than the long-coveted Krabby Patty formula. It is worth more Van Gogh paintings, because it brings true, inner happiness. In fact, it is worth so much that I'm surprised I beat Indiana Jones to it. I just have to watch my back for any large boulders hurtling towards me.

As I touched on in any earlier post, perfectionism is a big goal in today's society. Commercials and billboards everywhere advertise laser-hair removal, makeup, plastic surgery, etc. All things that can get you one step closer to that Hollywood perfection. We have celebrity role-models who seem so flawless on the outside, but in reality, the pictures have been touched up with Photoshop among other things.

However, I realized that even in the church, perfectionism is a big thing to strive for. This perfectionism is a little different though, but often times it has the same effect. We are all living on this earth, trying to become more like Christ, who is perfect. Often times, we think we have to have this perfect family and perfect relationship with others, or else we will be judged or frowned upon by other members.

Did you know that in Utah, the percentage of women getting plastic surgery is the highest than in any other state? I read that recently, and if you'd like to read more about it, click here. Girls have so much pressure to just look the best, because they feel like if they don't, it can have a huge effect on finding a spouse and what not. It is what leads to things like bulimia and anorexia.

Now, I love Pinterest. In fact, I find it incredibly addicting. It's like a girl's Kryptonite.  We just have to pin everything. We want everything. And all the pictures on there ... the models look perfect! The makeup tips, how to expertly draw on eyeliner, the lush, golden, highlighted curls. Oh, but wait! We can't forget the amazing clothes that cost a ton of money but look absolutely fabulous on those models.

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Last year I was sucked into the Pinterest world, and it is hard for me to admit that. All I wanted was to change it up a bit. It was right before freshman year, so I thought ... might as well. It got so bad that it snowballed into the YouTube beauty guru world. I watched lots and lots of videos, whether it was makeup, hair, fashion, etc. And so did a lot of my friends, in fact, they still do. And the videos are fun to watch. It's like it attacks the part in a girl's mind that just loves crafty things, but never actually gets around to doing the craft itself.

Well, you probably get the point by now.

I, however, did not look like those models on the pictures. And the mirror liked to rub that fact in my face. As did all the girls on Instagram who seemed to look flawless, yet put on pounds of makeup everyday. And it bugged me. I kinda felt like a failure, which I know sounds dumb, but I did. Studies in fact, show that throughout the teenage years, a girl's self-confidence plummets. Thanks, media, I appreciate it.

What I didn't realize, however, was that true self-confidence didn't come from perfect hair or long, curled eyelashes. It came from understanding your divine nature and what exactly having the Light of Christ meant. It came from the gospel.

This article found here nails it. I especially love this quote.

I'm not saying wearing makeup is bad. In fact, I like it. I think it's the artist in me, but I really enjoy eye shadow. It kinda makes me feel like I'm painting [weird, I know, but hey, that's how I roll]. I'm just saying that it isn't the only important thing. Sure, makeup can be a confidence-booster. It makes me feel pretty, and if it makes you feel pretty, then go for it. But it shouldn't be the main focus, like last year when all I could do was watch YouTube videos on it. It's unhealthy and can be really degrading on the way you feel about yourself. Flawless beauty comes from accepting your flaws. No one is perfect. I mean, Beyonce is referred to as a queen by millions of people. And you know what? The acceptance of her flaws made her flawless.

I'm so thankful for the lessons I've had recently that have allowed me to understand more fully not only my worth, but who I am. 

President Ezra Taft Benson once said, "If we love God, do His will, and fear His judgement more than men's, we will have self-esteem." It is like a recipe for unlimited self-confidence. All we have to do is give God the ingredients, and He will make it happen. Fearing God doesn't mean being scared, it means RESPECTING Him. He loves us.

Work off of your strengths, not your weaknesses. Acknowledge your talents! We are all blessed with so many. Some we have discovered, and some we have yet to discover. 

We are all of great worth. President Gordon B. Hinckley once said, "You are creatures of divinity, limitless is your potential, magnificent is your future, IF you take control of it. You are daughters of God." Our happiness is our choice. We can change our inner mindset, and it will change outer things. I truly believe this. 

I'd just like to end with a few quotes at the bottom that I find extremely powerful. 

And that, my dear friends, is the secret to flawless beauty. But don't lock it away and hide it from others. Everyone deserves to be happy. And that Light of Christ that shines from our eyes ... THAT is inner beauty radiating from inside. 

Share it. 

"Happy girls are the prettiest." - Audrey Hepburn

Handout from Sugar Doodle

"You can't live your life worrying that the world is staring at you. When you let people's opinions make you self-conscious, you give away your power. The key to feeling [confident] is to always listen to your inner self ... [the real you]." - Elder Jeffrey R. Holland

"Young women, choose your clothing the way you would choose your friends ... in both cases choose that which improves you and would give you confidence standing in the presence of God." - Elder Jeffrey R. Holland

"Every young woman is a child of destiny and every adult woman a powerful force for good." - Elder Jeffrey R. Holland

"She said the loveliest women she had known had a glow of health, a warm personality, a love of learning, stability of character, and integrity. If we may add the sweet and gentle Spirit of the Lord carried by such a woman, then this describes the loveliness of women in any age or time, every element of which is emphasized in and attainable through the blessings of the gospel of Jesus Christ." - Elder Jeffrey R. Holland

"Young women, look into the mirror of eternity. Remember who you are! See yourself as our Heavenly Father sees you. You are elect. You are of noble birth. Don't compromise your divine inheritance. You were born to be a queen. Live so you are worth to enter the temple and their receive "all that [the] Father hath." Develop deep beauty. There is no more beautiful sight than a young woman who glows with the light of the Spirit, who is confident and courageous because she is virtuous." - Sister Elaine S. Dalton

I don't know about you, but I want to be like the young women they are describing.

just five more words

I have a really close friend that is struggling with depression at the moment, and I can tell how hard it has been for them. Living in this world today, perfectionism is constantly expressed as a necessity for everyone, and if you're not perfect, then are you really worth much? This is the mindset that a lot of people have come to have, including my friend. 

Sometimes I wish I could just grab them by the shoulders and shake them, saying, "YOU. ARE. WORTH. SO. MUCH. MORE. THAN. YOU. REALIZE." But that wouldn't exactly do much good now, would it?

Anyways, I recently found out about an experience my friend had. A few months ago, they were really upset one night. Something had caused them to snap inside and feel angry and utterly useless, and they were headed for their room to cut. However, something told my friend to text me "goodnight Eden." 

Now, when I got this text, I wasn't too caught off guard. This was a pretty routine thing, because my friend always needed someone to tell them goodnight. Usually, I ended up being that person. Anyways, as I was typing my response back, my fingers hovered over the electronic keyboard after I typed, 'goodnight." In my head, I got the prompting to add something unusual. Just five extra words: "thanks for talking to me." 

I didn't give it much of a second thought after sending it, but little did I know that my words had a bigger impact than I could have ever imagined. Those five words stopped my friend in their tracks, and hit them "so profoundly and in such a way" that they actually refrained from cutting themselves that night. Someone (me) was actually grateful that they had taken the time to talk to them. 

Finding that out today hit me hard. God knew what my friend needed to hear. I was only the deliverer, and thankfully I had listened to that small voice telling me to add just five. more. words. 

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I'm so thankful for that experience. Sometimes actions may seem so small and insignificant when we do them, but that's because we don't truly know everything that is going on in someone's life during every single moment. I really needed to learn that lesson.