You Gotta Tip on the Tightrope

Do you know what it is like to be entirely happy with yourself? To look in the mirror and just be satisfied? How often can you really answer yes to those questions? There is always something about our appearance we are trying to change. If we are happy with our weight, our hair is too bland. If our skin is blemish free, we still could be more muscular. And unfortunately it does not end with appearance. Our mentality is also affected. It is a circular trap that ultimately has no lasting benefit to us: mentally, psychically, or emotionally.

I believe in constantly progressing and striving to be better people. But I think many times we get lost in determining for whom we are actually improving: ourselves or the world's scrutinizing eye. It is frustrating to me how efficient society is at telling us who to be. It is frightening how easily we fall into society's trap. Society not only tells us what is beautiful, but also what is normal. Media and education paints a picture of what is acceptable and anything outside that realm is either weird, wrong or unhealthy. And while some of those things actually may be wrong or unhealthy, why on earth should that allow us to ignore these issues, or treat them as insignificant, or stigmatize them to the point that the silence seems the only way to cope?

I challenge you to take notice of every time you put yourself down or silence yourself from revealing an "unattractive" or "abnormal" quality. Not only appearances, but also emotional, intellectual, and any other less than desired quality in yourself. 1) Do not be afraid to share with people things that you, the other person, or society may find uncomfortable, abnormal, wrong and/or unhealthy. If talking about something helps you in some way, then rely on someone you trust. Yeah, it may be uncomfortable at first, but most new situations are. 2) I am not going to rattle off some 6th grade bullshit about "for every put-down you give, you need to give two put-ups. But get to know your put-downs. What topic do they mostly focus? Where do they stem from? Are they warranted? Sometimes it is just helpful to think about how we think.

Tightrope- Janelle Monae