“In a world that profits off your self-doubt, to love yourself is a rebellious act.” –Bliss n Eso
The media landscape is filled with artificial perfection. People you see on TV and in movies. Airbrushed photos on magazine covers. Carefully curated social media profiles.
All there make you feel inadequate. Most of it there because it benefits advertisers and the companies whose products they sell.
Ironically, the same advertisers who try to keep your self-esteem low so they can sell you gym memberships, cosmetics, and diet plans are also selling fast food, beer, and addictive digital entertainment. If they succeed, they can keep you unhealthy, but make you feel bad enough about being unhealthy to buy self-improvement products. They sell both the poison and the antidote.
They want you to live beyond your means, to buy the luxuries you see on TV and social media with your credit cards. They make money from the purchases. They make money from the interest on your debt. And your debt ensures that you’ll be desperate to work for them.
Forgive me if this sounds conspiratorial. “They” aren’t a nefarious group of people who meet in secret. They’re just corporations, banks, and advertisers all pursuing self-interest. There’s no conspiracy; this is just the logical outcome of our economic system.
Also forgive me if this sounds anti-capitalist. I’m not against capitalism. When coupled with thoughtful regulation, it’s the best economic system we know of. I’m merely saying that you, as an individual participating in capitalism, need to be mindful. You shouldn’t believe the myths advertisers sell you. You shouldn’t blindly follow the crowd. You shouldn’t sacrifice your freedom and well-being to keep up with the Joneses.
Instead, you should exercise your power of choice, spending your time and money in ways that align with your values. You should remember that your self-worth isn’t determined by what you own or how you look. And the best way to cultivate self-love is through self-care.
So be a rebel.
Love yourself.
Chris Loper has been writing about self-improvement and helping busy adults with habit formation since 2017.
He also writes an education blog for parents and students for Northwest Educational Services.
Along with Greg Smith, Chris is the cocreator of Parenting for Academic Success, a series of transformative classes that create empowered parents, confident students, and harmonious families.
His most recent endeavor combines his academic and habit-formation expertise to help students thrive in college. Visit SmartCollegeHabits.com to learn more.
In 2021, Chris published a humorous memoir titled Wood Floats and Other Brilliant Observations, a book that blends crazy stories with practical life lessons.
He lives in Issaquah, WA where he is the owner of South Cove Tutoring.