I feel loved when I am confident. My confidence mostly lies in my body. I love myself when I feel confident. And when I love myself, I feel like loving and exploring others. No one else can create the feeling of contentment in me — only I can.
When I feel confident in my body, I become the artist within me — the one who wants to see and experience beauty in everything. I paint, ink, and pierce myself, giving my love a whole new identity. My mind embraces life in a way that contrasts sharply with societal norms. So, when I am confident in my body, I explore the real me through the uniqueness within me, regardless of what society says or does.
”What does my body consciousness have to do with being fully myself?
Zero Hour
It all stems from the body shaming I experienced when I was young. That shame made me body-conscious, and those messages became deeply cemented in my brain. As I grew up, my failures — in society’s eyes — became mapped onto my body. I began to see my body as the enemy. Although I later realised that my body is my strength and that the blame lies with the perpetrators, not me, it’s not easy to erase distorted beliefs that were ingrained for so long.
For me, it’s taking time and effort to return to where I truly belong and to embrace my differences. But I’m proud of myself for being capable of that. I love my body and its beauty. It is my refuge and my canvas. I celebrate it in my own way. And I will look beautiful for myself.
Many people can relate to this experience. Body shaming is a commonly accepted reality in India. Whether it’s your skin, face, height, weight, or anything else that’s scrutinised — the pain feels the same.
What’s surprising is that these standards are not part of our cultural legacy, but remnants of colonial rule. The British imposed their beauty ideals here to justify their dominance and control. They left India over seventy years ago — but we are still clinging to the hangover. Who do we blame now? Are we not self-aware enough to question and reject social stigmas like rigid beauty standards?
When we look around the world, we see that toxic beauty norms are being challenged and condemned globally. Our problem is that we are still waiting to be enlightened.
I’m glad to see that change is beginning in the younger generations. But it’s up to us to make space for those changes. Are we mature enough to take on that responsibility?
If you have children, be ready to take responsibility for every word that you — or society — shoot at them. You may not be able to control everything, but you can be a buffer for your child so they can live freely, fully, and joyfully. Let’s make the world a little more livable for everyone.
