Ruth Sanderson

As children we quickly pick up messages about our image, whether we fit in with society’s definition of normal or it’s definition of desirable or successful or like-able.  As adults we get to add the am I too young, too old, passed it, conundrum to the list.  Dove have come up with some very clever video’s showing what we’re exposed to on a daily basis at a more unconscious level.  Their self esteem fund is aimed at girls, but I would say that boys too are increasingly exposed to messages of a similar nature.

Wouldn’t it be great if we could be shown how to learn to love the skin we’re in, rather than wanting to change it and learn to love others for who they are.  It certainly beats the self image that’s says we’re not good enough.

I recently found some photo’s of me when I was a teenager, a time when I certainly didn’t think I was good enough, and would have described myself as ugly.  Now the reaction to the photo’s included some laughter at the hairstyles that were fashionable then (it was the 80’s).  However I also realised how pretty I was and that’s it’s the invisible glasses we wear that determine how we view things.  In my case I’d been wearing the all my friends are beautiful, pretty or fanciable and I’m the ugly ‘orrid ones.  No idea when those invisible glasses broke, but thank goodness they did.  Who knows what I’d have succumbed to, or how many years I’d have lost not being able to appreciate myself, quirks and all.

Dove’s self esteem fund has lots more information.

Here’s one of their video’s