Alicia shares an epiphany about her own role in perpetuating false beauty standards — and what she did about it.
– KEYS SOULCARE
“More time would pass before I realized how our society’s oppressive standard of female beauty had left deep claw marks in me. It’s hard not to begin doubting yourself just a little when, with the stroke of an airbrush, someone slims down your thighs or shaves off half your booty. And if I’m doubting myself, imagine what that does for the young people forced to digest these images of so-called beauty. We live in a culture where there’s seldom space for imperfection, for celebrating our perfectly imperfect bodies.” — Alicia Keys, from her best-selling book, More Myself
A powerful thing happens once we shift from just recognizing negative patterns to owning our power to change them. Alicia’s decision to start loving her “real” beauty was only possible after she redefined what beauty meant to her.
Which brings us to what it means to you, and every one of us.
It’s no secret that we’re on a mission to level up our body, mind, spirit, and soul to love ourselves more fully. And, just like there’s no single way to make ourselves feel beautiful, there are infinite ways to embody beauty, too.
We’re lucky to live in a world where not a single one of us shows up in the exact same way. Instead of trying to conform to a false standard, we can own our quirks, differences, and expressions to put our best selves forward. And that’s a beautiful realization, don’t you think?
How does your definition of beauty reflect how you see yourself or others?
Related Stories
