Don’t Fall for the World by Eilyn

Social media and high school force standards upon us which seem out of reach. Especially as a teenager, achieving these standards can be our sole purpose to fit in with society and not be cast aside as an outsider. 

Attempting to meet these standards can affect your state of mind . . . 

So here are some key reminders: 

Beauty Standards are Unachieveable 

 It became a never ending cycle—a cycle that I dreaded—getting up early every morning just to change myself to fit these worldly standards: wake up, sit at my mirror, and pick out all my imperfections. Douse myself in makeup, iron my hair flat, and throw on an outfit that would make me blend in with the rest of the world.

Scrolling on TikTok, I would compare myself to the girls that popped up on my “For You” page. They seemed flawless. But in reality everyone has flaws. 

Social media creates standards a normal human cannot measure up to, using filters to hide our natural imperfections. 

Dr. Vashi, director of the Boston University Cosmetic and Laser Center at Boston Medical Center, expresses that “[Their] results represent a potentially changing weight ideal of beauty that is moving farther away from the characteristics of the average American woman.” 

Once again, our society has set these expectations on body image and beauty that are out of reach for the typical teenage girl. 

You are human; you can’t be flawless. All humans have imperfections and that is why these unrealistic beauty standards are unattainable. 

They go beyond the limits of how we have been wired. 

No matter how much you try to meet these unrealistic standards, you can’t. It’s futile; they’re constantly changing.

I can still remember when I asked my mom to buy me the UGG Slippers during winter one year. They were completely out of stock. When you stepped outside everyone had them on. They were THE shoes at the time and I was only able to get them months later. By that time though, nobody seemed to love them as much. Their popularity died down and the new next thing came about: UGG Minis. 

It didn’t matter how quickly I tried to buy the trendiest thing to fit with all the other girls at the time—they had already moved on to the next thing. 

It’s not just materialistic items that lose their popularity though; preferred body types also constantly change as they’ve been doing for decades. 

According to the UK Mental Health Foundation, “Just over one in five adults (22%) and 40% of teenagers said images on social media . . . typically pertaining to beauty standards . . . caused them to worry about their body image.”  

These idealistic body types promoted on social media have resulted in many stressing over their own bodies. This stress just seems to grow as perfect body types continue to change, and people continue to be unhappy with themselves. 

Though many influencers and celebrities promote unrealistic standards in beauty, Alicia Keys is a prime example of one who promotes natural beauty. The American songwriter and pianist, started a no makeup movement back in 2016, explaining that “[She] was taking on these tremendously oppressive beauty standards that [she] thought somehow applied to [her] in regards to being perfect, and [she] obviously rebelled against that.”

Alicia Keys is one of those celebrities who reminds us that these standards push us to be unrealistic in attempts to fulfill perfection. 

The ideal body type continues to morph and as new celebrities come to the face of social media, we are brought with new expectations—changing expectations that once again are unattainable. 

You were not made to be perfect. And neither was I.

I’ve been carefully fashioned by a God who makes all creations beautiful. 

I can never be perfect, but isn’t it enough knowing I was made by a perfect God?

This truth is one that I try to remind myself of often. Now of course, this idea can vary if you don’t believe in God. But one thing still stands true: you were not made to be perfect. 

Everyone has a purpose, but that purpose is not to be perfect.

Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. Romans 12:2

The Bible reminds us that we aren’t called to this world to be like everyone else. We are each special, unique, and intricately designed. 

We aren’t meant to be the same and you are not obligated to change yourself. 

Whether this verse is of any meaning to you, take this from it: peace is not fulfilled through conformity, but through purpose.

In my past three years of high school I have taken this from all my real-world experiences: perfection is not defined; validation is not fulfilling. 

As humans we continue to want, so instead of wanting validation from others, find validation in yourself and from what you do. 

As a teenager, the pressure to conform to others is undeniable. It continues to taunt you, no matter how hard you try to not give in. And you probably will fall for the world, but the most important thing is being able to get back up after that fall. Don’t fall for it over and over again; at some point you may no longer be able to get up . . . or even recognize yourself. 

Speaking from experience, these unrealistic standards of beauty and physical appearance that we are expected to conform to are unachievable. So, don’t dig a never-ending hole that you can’t escape, and learn to love yourself as you were made. Remember, you were created in the image of God. That itself is a reason to remember . . . You were not made for this world, so do not fall for it.