There were definitely times growing up that I thought I wanted to be someone else. Even now, this is something that I tend to struggle with from time to time. I think, even if it’s just once in your life, everyone can relate to this on a certain level. And it’s not that I want to sound ungrateful, for I have family and friends that I will cherish forever for their incomparable love and support throughout my life. But let’s face it, life has a tendency to seem unfair. There are persons out there who you may perceive to be better than you are. There may be persons who you believe look better than you do. What I’ve told myself is this, you can be whoever you want to be but you should always strive to be the ‘best-you’ you can be.

However, sometimes I do find myself thinking, “How can I be the ‘best-me’ when I don’t even know who I am?” It is in these moments, the ones where it seems as though my steps were being guided by a broken compass, that I try to remember that I can turn to the One who will guide my footsteps in the right direction. He will lead you on the path to becoming the person you were meant to be.

Also, I know this sounds so cliché but it is cliché for a reason. Real beauty is skin deep. We should pay attention to the outside but what is more important is what’s on the inside. The tree of real beauty can bring forth branches of happiness, compassion, kindness and the list goes on but it all starts from the root of self-acceptance. At the end of the day you’ll come to realize that there’s no need for you to try to look like or be like anyone else because being you is all you need.

Remember, we are all beautiful in our own unique way. After all, God created us in His own image. We are said to be beautifully and wonderfully made. So, if you want to show others what true beauty is you won’t have to do much, you don’t have to be anyone else, just be yourself.

“Don’t you ever wish you were someone else, you were meant to be the way you are exactly. Don’t you ever say you don’t like the way you are, when you learn to love yourself, you’re better off by far. And I hope you always stay the same, ‘cause there’s nothing ‘bout you I would change.” – Joey McIntyre