Beautiful You
For those who find it easier to self-inflict emotional abuse
Than to search to see their striking beauty, worth, and use
It's really time for you to make the choice
Set free your heart, your soul, your stifled voice
It's true that it is tough
But...
You CAN admit that you are far more than enough
...
There are times in our lives where we all seem to find
It’s hard to displace that loud Judge in our mind
“You aren’t this. You’re not that. You’re too thin. Far too fat.”
We just lay down and take it – it’s the shoe, we’re the mat
We let the Judge take us over, tear us down, rip us out
We become a pushover to our own voice’s shout
To acknowledge is great but just opens the gate
You want to live your own life, not just simply narrate
We must do more than see the problems that exist in ourselves
And not pack them away like we would books inside shelves
If we leave things off there: see what’s wrong, say a prayer
Well, then, to our dear selves we would be most unfair
If you’ve come to the point where you’ve just given up
It’s now time for you and your mind’s Judge to break up
Yes, it’s hard, it is sad, there are more tears to be had
But, by God, when you’ve done it, your soul will be glad
When those thoughts creep on in telling you what they may:
“Not attractive, not successful, not worth loving.” YOU pay.
You lose chances, you lose friendships, you lose out on what could be
If you’d find a way to say, with your heart, “I love me.”
How strange that those three words can oft be harder than, “I love you.”
We think it odd, immodest, cocky, ill-thought, indeed, taboo
To show ourselves the same kind warmth we offer others freely
Giving some nice words to your own self won’t upset the world…really.
It is easier, at times, to note the things we don’t possess
Than appreciate those things we have. At least, that is, unless…
With outside reinforcement, comments, praise, congratulations,
We are able to have momentary, passing celebrations
Yet…
With all the nodding heads who may grant you a compliment or two
The only true approval that matters comes from you
So, searching for it elsewhere will not bring you any peace
Indeed, you won’t find that until those inner Judges cease
Well, how can you begin to make the moves you need to make
When your Judge has spent years weaving through your mind just like a snake
It’s nothing that will happen overnight; of that, I’m sure
It’s something that will take a bit of time and patience to procure
Self-deprecation, self-effacement, self-deconstruction, self, self, me
Perhaps our constant inward view impedes our chance to see
If we can change our focus, change our habits, change our mind
Then, certainly some harmony, some peace, we’re sure to find
When you see yourself start slipping into a more toxic place
When you notice that it’s hard to look, with grace, at your own face
When you start to feel alone within a friendly crowd
When you can’t find words to say and your mind’s thoughts all sound too loud
When you wish you could go back in time or simply jump ahead
When you wake up wishing you could just stay wrapped inside your bed
When your life lacks all the color that you find inside your dreams
When doubt, despair, fear, rage, and hurt seem to be common themes
When you wish you could control the world and hate the fact you can’t
When you don’t want to say anything because it might turn into a dark rant
When you can’t look in your own eyes and see what’s there to see
When you feel it’s only you who’s somehow stripped of all life’s beauty
Take a breath, two breaths, just close your eyes and breathe
Try your best (as that’s enough) to dig down underneath
Dig down into yourself, just breathe and let it be, let it weigh
Let all the truths you think you know about yourself give way
You’ve made a definition about who you are and, now,
You’ve let that definition define you, confine you, somehow
You’ve given up on standing up for the you you know you are
You’ve forgotten who you’re letting down, letting go, letting scar
Please, do not forget yourself, don’t let you fade away
It is not embedded in your code: “Yourself, you must betray”
Please do try to see yourself, to see, to hear, to know
Try your best to understand why your, "crutch," is feeling low
What makes you scared of feeling hot, of flying high, of standing tall?
What is so fearsome in the thought of confidently holding it all?
All of your quirks, gifts, messy mistakes, brilliant ways, lies, truths, your heart
You can make, "owning your everything ,"into a deepened art
Yes, you can look into your eyes and see what lies inside
You can boldy stand up tall instead of crouch and hide
You can learn to love yourself; I promise that is true
You can see you're beautiful, yes you, beautiful you