It’s happening—again. Swimsuit season is here. Our favorite
stores have been overtaken by spandex, and it seems everyone is talking about
scoring a bikini-ready body. It’s hard not to fall victim to the hype and
mind-numbing stress that can come with worrying about what we wear and how we
look in the less-clothed months of the summer. Instead of falling prey to the
season of self-criticism, I am going to look (and be!) fabulous in my swimsuit this
year. Before I reveal my secret, let me remind you that beauty is truly found
in the eye of the beholder. It is completely subjective… to you and to others.
Consider, for instance, Dove’s new beauty campaign which
asserts that only 4 percent of women around the world think they are beautiful!
I think we can all agree that more than 4 percent of women out there are
beautiful. Problem is, far too few of us think we are one of those beautiful
women! For Dove’s social experiment, women described themselves to an
FBI-trained sketch artist who then drew portraits based on their
self-descriptions. Then, the artist sketched the same women, this time based on
someone else’s description of the person. The differences are staggering and show
just how differently we see ourselves than the rest of the world does. Contrary
to conventional opinion, the world doesn’t judge us near as harshly as we judge
ourselves! Aside from that, if we deem
ourselves as beautiful, then we are exactly that!
If we drop our gaze below the neck, our perceptions are even
more varied. Just look at this vintage weight gain advertisement! Two beautiful women, dressed in matching
bathing suits, and the curvy figure is the one to aspire to. The ad is actually
selling a weight-gain supplement to the skinny girl who looks a lot like
today’s prepubescent models.
We can all probably agree that everyone has a different
opinion as to what is beautiful—and where exactly each of us falls on the
pendulum. That said, how can we possibly be beautiful all of the time, no
matter who is looking at us, and especially in a swimsuit? I’ll tell you the
answer: by being confident with ourselves! The ability to love ourselves as we
are is without a doubt the most attractive quality around. It’s magnetic.
Everyone is drawn to self-confidence, to people who are comfortable in their
own skin and live life like they own it.
Self-confidence is the key to enjoying life, and not letting
anything hold us back. No matter our points of criticism, negative self-talk
holds us back and squelches our self-empowerment. It might seem insignificant
at the time, but covering up with a beach towel while your family hits the
waves just deprives yourself of joy. You miss out on experiences, on memories,
on the moments that shape who you are. Don’t miss any part of life because you
think you aren’t beautiful!
As women in the prime of perimenopause and menopause, we
have experienced so much and learned even more about ourselves. Let’s show the
next generation how to love themselves and always know they are beautiful
inside and out. The most impactful way to teach is, for sure, by example. This
summer, when you would normally yield to negative self-talk, realize your
self-truth and know you are beautiful!
Reaching out is IN! Suffering in silence is
OUT!
Let’s hang
out! The first Monday of
every month, Ellen is hosting her Menopause Mondays Google Hangouts: Where
the Sisterhood helps the Sisterhood. For June, she is switching things up
with a morning event at 8:30am PST/11:30am EST that will include Dr. Josh
Trutt, a menopause and healthy aging expert from PhysioAge Medical Group in New
York City. Send your questions in here! Then grab a
coffee (instead of a cocktail!) and get ready to ask Ellen and Dr. Trutt your
menopause questions at this free online event! Sign up here.
Is it hot in here or is it just you? Get
discounts on great menopause
products, courtesy of EllenDolgen.com. Available
now: cooling clothes, a sleek and discrete chargeable fan, a “Hot Flash Havoc”
documentary, and a natural menopause relief formula. Enter promo code “ellend” to save serious cash!
Click Here to see what
Ellen Dolgen is giving away this month.
More important
women's health information on EllenDolgen.com:
Menopause Mondays: How to Age Gracefully Through
Menopause
Menopause Mondays: Fight Menopausal Weight Gain
Menopause Mondays: Women’s Fertility and the
Biological Clock
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