“Oh my God! There’s a 60% off sale at the big store nearby…Now I can finally buy clothes from there and feel pretty and confident!”

This was something that I heard from one of my peers. The question that bothered me a lot after hearing this was, ‘Is it essential to wear stylish jeans and T-shirts or carry a branded handbag to feel pretty and secure? Is confidence hidden in those accessories and makeup, or does it sprout from within yourself?’

Think of a time you wore something, like a skirt or a dress. You wore it, and you just felt elegant. What was it that instilled in you the essence of greatness? Was it the relief of being complimented by your peers or was it the comfort beneath the fabric that made you feel great?

Real beauty is when you wear a smile on your face, and you are confident about the way you are, irrespective of how you look or the way you dress up. What people today don’t realise is that there is no one way to look beautiful. So, what if you have curly hair or your colour is darker than the rest of the crowd, or you do not maintain a size zero?

You need to realise that every feature of yours was carved by God himself; it was carved into perfection, and God neither errs nor commits mistakes. Find happiness in how you look and not by leafing through a magazine filled with photoshopped photographs of models. Let your inner beauty sparkle from within your heart, and your happiness dazzle from within your eyes; after all, eyes are the windows to your soul. The way you are happy and confident about how you look and feel about yourself naturally mesmerises everyone around you because you are confident about yourself. No one has the power to ruin your esteem except you. You don’t have to wear tons of makeup to look enchanting or have a perfect hourglass body. It’s absolutely okay to eat what you like and wear what you please…. after all; it’s your life…you must lead it in its completeness. The happiness you feel every day and the comfort of following your heart and not the tips of a fashion magazine makes you unique from others.

Let go of your insecurities. Let go of the pain. You need to realise that you are limitless. You set your standards for people, don’t let them do it for you. The only one holding yourself back is you. You are perfect. You have the potential to reach infinite. Smile, love, laugh and don’t forget to live. Don’t let your insecurities destroy you and rule you. Live every moment to the fullest!