Hey y’all! I am curious about some things, maybe you can give me your thoughts. It might not be a popular post but I think it’s necessary one. At the beginning of this year as we all are bombarded by beauty and diet culture messages, lose weight, feel great. New year, new you, etc What are your thoughts about people pushing these messages? All these celebrities pushing their ideas, their plans, their products, it worked for me it will work for you…..right??? Let me start with saying I have been there, done that, bought the t-shirt, wore it proudly and loudly….100 of them prolly 🤣🙈 So I totally get it. No judgement at all. Just a conversation.
Let’s start with the famous Cindy Crawford. I’m not picking on her by any means but she pushes her Meaningful beauty line and says that’s why she looks so young. They say “she looks like she did in her twenties.” Then you say to yourself, why don’t I look like that? Wow!! Look at her! She. Looks. Fabulous! If it works for her maybe, just maybe it will work for me! So….if I buy her products I can look like her and have flawless skin too?” Friend, she owns 50% of Meaningful Beauty, she is making bank!! Millions! You don’t think that could be part of why she wants to “share her secret” with you????
Mmmm, I think so.
Maybe the products are good, I don’t know I’ve never tried them but when you say “THIS PRODUCT” is how I have kept my youthful look but you’ve also had Botox, plastic surgery, nips and tucks, etc. not to mention the best chefs, drs, and care money can buy. Which is it? The products or the Botox/surgery/peels, etc? Let’s be real, those also played a role in how her skin and body looks and why it’s so youthful. I’m all about some good skin care, there’s absolutely nothing wrong with taking care of yourself it’s the messages we receive and how we internalize those messages.
Those of us regular folks don’t have that kinda money to do all that “extra stuff” but we are sold a bill of goods, a lie, that this product will change your life. The ONLY thing that will change your life is JESUS. But we fall for it hook line and sinker. I would argue that you too can have flawless skin if you were a millionaire and did Botox, plastic surgery, and all the nips and tucks, and the bests doctors. Please hear me, I’m not knocking her or judging her in anyway at all, I’m sure she is a great person. The problem I have is pushing this product or other products like it and preying on women, vulnerable women saying you can look like me if you use my product too. But can you REALLY, if you use that product??? I’ll be the first to say I have bought into more skin care, weight loss, exercise equipment, creams and potions than I care to admit🙈 But when you say a product can do this to you too and you are also making money on it AND yes you may use it but you have done all these extra things to embellish your looks and making false claims. I’m just saying we should take note. Again, I’m quite certain that the average woman can’t go and fork out alllllll the money these celebrities fork out to look the way they do and then claim “use this product and you’ll be beautiful and happy like me” 🙄🙄 I use to fall for this stuff as well, not near as much today. But I have been know to google a breaking new cream that will help with skin tightening and smoothness, lol.
For so long I never felt good enough, pretty enough, smart enough, and the messages we get from the world can confirm that if we aren’t grounded in the One who created us. Friend, God says something different. He tells us we are His masterpiece. We were created in his image. We are chosen, holy, and set apart for His glory. Thats the truth! That’s what we should meditate on daily.
What about Dolly Parten? Yea, I’m going there lol. We didn’t watch the Dallas Cowboys halftime show but she was ALLLLLL the buzz, so of course I went to check it out. First, let me say I love Dolly, her singing, her personality, and her heart. But the comments about her were like “I wish I looked like that at her age.” “She works hard to look like that” Yes, she looked great there’s no denying but I guess my point is is that it’s not natural for a 77 year old to look like a 25 year old and it’s not aging gracefully like some said. She jokingly admits about how much surgery she’s had and how’s she’s spent so much money to keep herself looking “good.” For her to look like that she does allllll the things, Botox, enhancement surgeries, tucks, creams and potions, etc. Again, the average woman CANNOT afford that but we look at others who do and think less of ourselves and work harder to become “better.” Thats on us. We’ve gotta become so grounded in the love of Jesus to combat these lies. Renewing our mind is crucial. So often we look to images we can’t attain and then heap shame and guilt on ourselves when we fail to meet that standard. We tell ourselves we are not enough because today’s culture says so😐 we need to look like X or weigh a certain amount or you are less than. We shouldn’t be looking to the world or other people as our standard. You were made in the image of God. You are His image bearer. Hear me, I’m not judging any of these ladies I’m simply saying oftentimes we look to celebrities and other people to try and reach a certain standard that most often is not attainable or not attainable without a lot of money but that doesn’t make you less than or not enough. God has a plan and purpose for you and it has NOTHING to do with what you look like or what you weigh. You are no less usable by God if you don’t look like Cindy, Dolly, Page, or Oprah. Your color, shape, size, weight, doesn’t determine this either. Thats the TRUTH!! 💣💯
I don’t know if you watch Criminal Minds but Paget Brewster decided to stop dying her hair, this is what she tweeted:
I like my grey hair. I have felt pressure to dye it, pretend to be 35 again, no thanks. We all have huge issues to address, I know. This is one small battle. But I think all of us have sided personal battles. Let’s start by being kind to each other, even when we disagree. Please.
Comments were flying, talking about how much she had aged. Why? Because she doesn’t want to dye her hair anymore? How is that wrong? I personally loved her gray hair! But today’s culture likes to pick on people and call out “flaws” they see. I use that term loosely because I don’t see this as a flaws but others do. She is deciding to be mature and truly age gracefully. I think that’s beautiful.
Then we have Oprah, who has struggles with her weight for a good portion of her life. Up and down, up and down, up and down. I can relate to that all to well and maybe you can too. I think in part that makes her more human and relatable to us. Oprah has done a lot of great things but she is know well for her involvement with WeightWatchers and claims it as her saving grace. My words not hers. She is one of WeightWatchers biggest shareholders. She for sure is making bank!! Don’t kid yourself. Millions upon millions. Weight watchers recently came out and apologized “We got it wrong”: WeightWatchers CEO embraces “life saving” weight loss drugs. Some people need more help. Now they have added these weight loss drugs like Wegovy and Ozempic to their toolkit. They say “It’s not will power alone.” This scream’s prioritizing profits over health to me. What about you? They are in it for the money. Follow the money friend.
Oprah lost a bunch of weight recently from the shot not by using WeightWatchers but claims WW is the way. If that true then why take the shot? The problem with these quick weight loss things is they are not sustainable. You may lose the weight but will you maintain it? 80% of people will gain it right back and then some. 80%! Yes, 80% friend. This is why healing your relationship with food and your body are so important. That is what leads to lasting freedom.
I guess my point to all this is sweet one is your value and worth is in Christ. Not in diet culture. Not in what the world dems acceptable. Not is having flawless skin. Not having the perfect body. Perfect life, etc.
How misguided was I when I put all my hope in the things of the world only to be let down again and again. Maybe you find yourself there today, you are in good company. What I look like, how I dress, the car I drive, the house I live in, or the job I have…none of that matters or has eternal purpose. Having perfect skin, no cellulite, weighing a certain number has no bearing on how God can use you friend.
YOU ARE SO VALUABLE!
Just. The. Way. You. Are.
When your value does not come from Christ, then you will care far too much about how people see you. You will be afraid to be vulnerable. Your image of yourself will become clouded. Hear me when I say YOU are loved and you were to die for. Christ made that clear on the cross. When you truly understand that and are living in this powerful truth, there is nothing that someone can say that will cause you to forget that.
Having a relationship with MY JESUS is what matters. That is what’s life changing and as I walk this out and I feel like I can’t do it anymore or take anymore I cry out to Him one more time, and one more time, and one more time. He’s there waiting to pick me up, and sweet friend He’s there waiting for you. You have access to the King, lean into it. Call out to Him in your time of need.
You don’t need have to become someone new this year to have an amazing life. Be who God created you to be. Thats what other people need, not a clone of you.
Don’t shoot the messenger lol, I hope I was able to encourage you a little and show you to the One who can love and change you from the inside out. He loves you with an everlasting love. Ask him to help you be all he created you to be and then walk in it!
God bless you and big hugs,
Nicole💗
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