Switched-On Magazine

Issue 82: Love Your Flaws

SWITCHED-ON POLL
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How do you feel about flaws?
Flaws are made to be fixed. 18%
Flaws are no big deal. 0%
Flaws make us unique. 31%
Flaws make me uncomfortable. 50%
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Accepting Your Flaws

By Ruben, a college freshman
Is there something about your physical appearance that does not quite match the standard of beauty? If you said yes, then you are human. If you said no, you must be a Photoshopped picture in a magazine. No one in the entire history of the world has been close to being perfection. No matter what, everyone is a little off from the idealized image of true beauty. This is because we are human, and therefore imperfect, different. An even truer reality is that no one thinks that they themselves are perfect. Everyone has some problem with the way they look no matter how small or irrelevant it may seem to the rest of us. These small variations in appearances and the paranoia over them lead us to dislike parts of ourselves. We call the imperfections on our bodies flaws.
 
Flaws have such a negative definition and only bring hurtful feelings for most people. What can be done about flaws and the role they play in our lives? Flaws can influence the activities we take part in, the people we talk to, and what we wear. The truth is that the evilness we generate towards flaws can hold us back immensely. The worst part is that we create most of the bad feelings that come from flaws. Society can play a part in creating an environment where differences are penalized; however, the extent in which they affect daily life can be adjusted depending on attitude. Flaws are only a negative thing when seen as one. Different is never bad especially when it comes to people. The time for hating flaws is over; it is now time to embrace them. It is time for people to start loving their flaws.

Uniqueness is the actual word for the small differences that cause so much anxiety. Loving those small quirks and variations are nothing to stress. Throw away those feelings of insecurity and start appreciating who you are. A positive self-image can entirely change one's perspective on life and create a completely new experience. Flaws on human beings are natural, fun, amazing, special, and beautiful. Focusing on the negative has never been productive so why would it be any different when it comes to our bodies. Feeling insecure of yourself is normal, but hating your flaws is not. Inner beauty is always stressed as what really matters, but feeling beautiful on the outside is just as important. This does not mean that you should seek validation from the world, but instead to love your originality. The lesson is not to flaunt and completely embrace flaws, but to see them as natural and to be comfortable with one's body. That artificially created and idolized image of perfection is a lie, but those marks and scars are not. Let the world fall in love with that imaginary vision of perfection, and you can just love everything else for what it really is. Perfection is a lie so celebrate those flaws because they may not always be pretty to everyone else, but at least they are honest.
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