What are you worth?
What are you worth? This question has been on my mind quite a bit the past few weeks and I have kind of come to a head about it here recently. This post is going to be directed at the ladies, but I want the guys to read it, too. I think it is important.
Think about the question again: What are you worth? This question came about while I was contemplating where I find my worth and I came to realize something (something I think we all need to hear). As women, we are worth so much more than our bodies. Let me say it again with slight clarification: Your worth as a woman is not based on how physically attractive other people find you.
About a week or so ago, I was out and saw a music video of some up and coming heartthrob, I can't remember his name. He was singing about how this girl's body was all he could think about and how he loved when she shook her booty. While he was singing he had about four girls, very scantily clad, dancing with everything they had, trying their best to impress him and get his attention. They were giving him these ultra-seductive looks and he was treating them like they were just his playthings. At first I was just plain angry that someone would objectify women in that way. Like really, what was the deal? Then I just felt really sad. How little must those girls care for themselves? And the people watching, too. Do they all believe that they are only good and valued for their body? And unfortunately, this is not an uncommon image. We see it in movies and music and on TV, magazines, too. Everywhere.
I started thinking about how often times I feel like that's the only thing that makes me valuable. If you are honest with yourself, you would probably admit the same. Truly. How often do we put back an outfit because it makes us look a little chubbier than we would like? How often do we buy a pair of jeans a size tighter to make sure our butts look big? Or buy a push-up bra to make it look like we have more than we do? And all for what? Just so people will look at us and think we have nice bodies? So we can compare ourselves with that girl whose body we wish we had? Seriously? After admitting this to myself, I felt ashamed. I have worn things to get someone's attention or a compliment. I have so longed for a guy to think I was hot or for a girl to be jealous of my legs or something. Silly, right? But I know my worth is found in more than what other people think of me, but more often than not, I forget, tending instead to focus on that.
After I was able to move past the fact that I willingly submit my own body to be objectified, I started thinking about what I want to be valued for. Well, for one, I want to be valued for my mind. I love reading good books and talking about them. I love learning new things and usually pick them up pretty quickly. Two, I'm pretty funny. At least when I don't try too hard. Three, I'm creative. I am always working on some crafty project from Pinterest or a new painting. I am also a writer and I'm constantly thinking up new ideas. Four, I love finding new ways to give to other people. There is just something about using your resources to help someone in need. These are a few big parts of who I am and I want to be valued for those parts of me, not for how hot someone thinks I am.
I'm not saying there is anything wrong with taking special care of your appearance and your body. I think it is healthy, even. I just don't think it is healthy to become obsessive about it, wanting your worth and value to come from how other people rate your appearance (for lack of a better term). You deserve to be valued and loved for more than your body. Don't let yourself be objectified by other people or yourself for that matter.
No matter what we want to be valued for, ultimately and most importantly, our value and our worth comes from Jesus Christ. He tells us who we are and we can thus walk in confidence, knowing that He calls us beloved and beautiful daughters, made in the image of the Almighty. We are intelligent and gifted and lovely just the way we are.
Think about the original question now. What are you worth? What do you want to be valued for? More than just your body?
Think about the question again: What are you worth? This question came about while I was contemplating where I find my worth and I came to realize something (something I think we all need to hear). As women, we are worth so much more than our bodies. Let me say it again with slight clarification: Your worth as a woman is not based on how physically attractive other people find you.
About a week or so ago, I was out and saw a music video of some up and coming heartthrob, I can't remember his name. He was singing about how this girl's body was all he could think about and how he loved when she shook her booty. While he was singing he had about four girls, very scantily clad, dancing with everything they had, trying their best to impress him and get his attention. They were giving him these ultra-seductive looks and he was treating them like they were just his playthings. At first I was just plain angry that someone would objectify women in that way. Like really, what was the deal? Then I just felt really sad. How little must those girls care for themselves? And the people watching, too. Do they all believe that they are only good and valued for their body? And unfortunately, this is not an uncommon image. We see it in movies and music and on TV, magazines, too. Everywhere.
I started thinking about how often times I feel like that's the only thing that makes me valuable. If you are honest with yourself, you would probably admit the same. Truly. How often do we put back an outfit because it makes us look a little chubbier than we would like? How often do we buy a pair of jeans a size tighter to make sure our butts look big? Or buy a push-up bra to make it look like we have more than we do? And all for what? Just so people will look at us and think we have nice bodies? So we can compare ourselves with that girl whose body we wish we had? Seriously? After admitting this to myself, I felt ashamed. I have worn things to get someone's attention or a compliment. I have so longed for a guy to think I was hot or for a girl to be jealous of my legs or something. Silly, right? But I know my worth is found in more than what other people think of me, but more often than not, I forget, tending instead to focus on that.
After I was able to move past the fact that I willingly submit my own body to be objectified, I started thinking about what I want to be valued for. Well, for one, I want to be valued for my mind. I love reading good books and talking about them. I love learning new things and usually pick them up pretty quickly. Two, I'm pretty funny. At least when I don't try too hard. Three, I'm creative. I am always working on some crafty project from Pinterest or a new painting. I am also a writer and I'm constantly thinking up new ideas. Four, I love finding new ways to give to other people. There is just something about using your resources to help someone in need. These are a few big parts of who I am and I want to be valued for those parts of me, not for how hot someone thinks I am.
I'm not saying there is anything wrong with taking special care of your appearance and your body. I think it is healthy, even. I just don't think it is healthy to become obsessive about it, wanting your worth and value to come from how other people rate your appearance (for lack of a better term). You deserve to be valued and loved for more than your body. Don't let yourself be objectified by other people or yourself for that matter.
No matter what we want to be valued for, ultimately and most importantly, our value and our worth comes from Jesus Christ. He tells us who we are and we can thus walk in confidence, knowing that He calls us beloved and beautiful daughters, made in the image of the Almighty. We are intelligent and gifted and lovely just the way we are.
Think about the original question now. What are you worth? What do you want to be valued for? More than just your body?
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