Early on, I bought into the lie that my worth and value were based on my physical appearance. Whether positive or negative, everything seemed to revolve around how I looked. The world’s idea of beauty and the never-ending battle with comparison left me feeling insecure and “not good enough.” These thoughts and feelings became ingrained, impacting my relationships and the way I navigated the world.

I had allowed the influence of others to define me when they never had the authority to do so in the first place.

Since birth, our identity has been shaped by personal experiences and external influences, which have determined our sense of value and worth. We’ve been conditioned to believe that others’ opinions—and our own thoughts and feelings about ourselves—are the ultimate truth.

But here’s the truth: They’re not.

Maybe you don’t struggle with your appearance, but perhaps you struggle with:

• Perfectionism: No matter how much you do, it never feels like enough.
• Comparison: Measuring your life, progress, or relationships against others.
• Insecurity and Self-Consciousness: That loud inner critic always points out your flaws.

Ultimately, all of this leaves you feeling defeated—insecure, hard on yourself, guilty, and disqualified for not meeting expectations or measuring up.

So, now what?

It’s time to break free from these worldly narratives and realize that no one has the authority to define you, except the One who created you.

How do we break free?

We take a step back and identify where our thoughts and feelings about ourselves originated.

We deepen our relationship with our Creator, getting to know who He is, and who we are according to Him.

We learn to navigate the tension between what the world says about us and what God says about us.