Jealousy and insecurity appear to be natural to the female population especially since body image and self-esteem issues are on the rise. What do you do when you can't shake feelings of jealousy and insecurity about yourself? It's beautiful that you're seeking God's wisdom on this topic. Let's see what the Bible says about jealousy and insecurity. Before we dive in, I want to invite you to take our free courses. We'll take a deep dive to address the roots of these issues so that you gain victory in Jesus. What is Insecurity? According to the Oxford Dictionary, insecurity is uncertainty or anxiety about oneself and lacking confidence. A second definition says it's the state of being open to danger or threatened. When you're feeling insecure, you're unsure about yourself and experiencing feelings of self-doubt. Different things cause us to feel insecure like lack of career, physical attributes, or negative circumstances. Insecurity creates feelings of fear and causes you to feel threatened by those who have what you think you do not. For example, you feel insecure if you notice your significant other looking at another woman, you may feel insecure when applying for a higher position at your job, and you might feel threatened by women who appear smarter and better-looking than you. What does the Bible say About Insecurity? In the Bible, insecurity has its roots in the spirit of fear. You're afraid that you're lacking something you need in your life. "For God did not give us a spirit of timidity or cowardice or fear, but [He has given us a spirit] of power and of love and of sound judgment and personal discipline [abilities that result in a calm, well-balanced mind, and self-control]." - 2 Timothy 1:7 AMP The synonyms for insecurity are both timidity and fear. These emotions do not come from God's Holy Spirit, fear is a spirit that should be cast off. God's spirit gives us the boldness to be ourselves and the ability to love others. When you feel insecure and threatened by people, you cannot love them properly because insecurity can carry jealousy. What is Jealousy? Jealousy can be righteous or unrighteous. Righteous jealousy is when you experience feelings of possessiveness like when your significant other steps outside of the relationship or someone takes something that belongs to you. God's name is even called Jealous because He demands what is rightfully and uniquely His (Exodus 34:14) -- you and your devotion. However, unrighteous jealousy is when you're angry that someone has something you want or if you think it's better than yours. If left unchecked, it turns into envy which is more sinister. Envy hates the person because of what they possess and wants to take it away from them. What does the Bible say About Jealousy? James 3:16 says, "For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice." When insecurity leads to jealousy, it causes disorder in relationships and causes you to compete with people. This is unloving and unspiritual and of the flesh. The Bible also says that this is why prayers aren't answered due to the motives being selfish. (James 4:1-10) If you ask for what other people have, the motive is only to fulfill your selfish desires for beauty, wealth, or whatever it is you think you're lacking. How to Overcome Jealousy and Insecurity When you struggle with insecurity and jealousy, it comes from a place of lack. I recommend starting with repentance and working on renewing your mind. Begin identifying what it is you think you're missing and why. Once you identify those things and why you believe they are missing, weigh them against the truth in God's word. The Bible says in 2 Corinthians 10:5 to take every thought captive and make it obey Christ. To do this, ask your thoughts questions like this: Am I really lacking beauty and physical attributes or is it my social media diet feeding me lies? Because God's word says, "I am altogether beautiful and there is no flaw in me." - (Song of Solomon 4:7) Is she better than me? Because God's word says, "We are created equal and Christ is our Superior." (Hebrews 1) This is the daily practice of renewing our minds and becoming more like Jesus. Make a daily habit of doing this with every thought that does not align with God's word. Conclusion I know you believe you're lacking something but the Bible says you aren't. "Those who trust in the Lord will lack no good thing." - Psalm 34:10. When we place our trust in man or the worldly status of our day, we will believe we lack a lot. There is always something new to keep up with, but those who trust in God will have peace and satisfaction. Take a deeper dive into insecurity, fear, and jealousy by signing up for both of our courses. You will receive more strategies about how to take thoughts captive and homework to help you gain more clarity and self-awareness of these issues.

They say comparison is the thief of joy, and honestly, it is a plague to the female population. It appears while you're scrolling online on social media, or while doing some shopping at the mall. Maybe you whisper to yourself, "Just be thankful for everything I have. God is always good", but you still find yourself wondering why everyone else's life (or body) is better than yours. Here's how you can overcome comparison in 5 steps that you can skip to now. Repent Limit the trigger Be honest with yourself Practice thankfulness Study scripture Bonus: Sign up for our free course for your breakthrough from comparison What Does the Bible Say About Comparing Yourself to Others? Let's look at scripture from the Apostle Paul in 2 Corinthians 10. In this chapter, Paul is addressing some believers who were attacking his apostleship and boasting about themselves. "Of course, we wouldn’t dare to put ourselves in the same class or compare ourselves with those who rate themselves so highly. They compare themselves to one another and make up their own standards to measure themselves by, and then they judge themselves by their own standards. What self-delusion!" - 2 Corinthians 10:12 TPT Why would The Passion Translation say that comparing ourselves is self-delusion? Comparing in Greek is sugkrino, which means to "identify with or judge something together". It also means to contrast or resemble, a comparative evaluation. When you compare yourself to another person, you are identifying with them and judging yourself against them. It's like putting two images together and doing a checklist of what's different or similar. It sounds like a silly thing to do, doesn't it? That's what we are doing in our minds, we are judging ourselves based on what others have which is very unwise. Everyone is in a different season of life, so to compare your season to what God is doing in someone else's life is delusional. You are failing to realize and make peace with God's Sovereignty. If you were supposed to have it the same way that someone else does, then surely He would have made it so. Another scripture reads, "Don't compare yourself with others. Just look at your own work to see if you have done anything to be proud of. You must each accept the responsibilities that are yours." - Galatians 6:4 ERV. The Bible tells us to focus on our own work so that we can be proud of what we've accomplished. We should never base our contentment and satisfaction on "keeping up with the Kardashians". What Is the Standard? Think about it this way, when you're comparing yourself to someone, you are making them the standard of what your life should be like. The Bible tells us that holiness is the standard and that we should imitate Christ. When we make other people the standard, we are making them superior and this leads to idolatry. This is when you choose to obey something or someone other than God. The measure you're using to compare yourself is sinful and isn't rooted in God. The only person we are called to imitate is Jesus Christ. If we're going to measure ourselves by someone, then put your life and Jesus' life next to each other and compare how holy you're becoming since being a follower of Christ. Everything else is folly and sinking sand. 5 Simple Steps to Stop Comparing Yourself Self-discipline is painful, but it will produce righteous fruit in your life. What makes these steps simple is that overcoming comparison is not as hard as it seems to be. It just takes consistency and honest self-evaluation. Repent for comparing yourself and for coveting what others have. The first step for Believers to get victory over anything is to repent for doing it wrong and work on changing the direction. Ask God to forgive you for your lack of contentment, for your lust for things people have, jealousy and envy, for being unloving, for unthankfulness, for all the things that lead to comparing ourselves to someone. Repent for having a selfish and carnal view of your life and others. Limit the trigger to compare yourself. In Biblical terms, remove the source of temptation. What causes you to fall into comparison? Remove that thing or limit your exposure either forever or for a season for soul work. This could mean taking a break from social media, stopping celebrity television, or restricting your cousin or friend's posts that you often compare yourself to. The Bible says, "Lay aside every weight and the sin that so easily entangles us..." - Hebrews 12:1. Whatever is driving your thoughts of comparison, lay it aside. Come back to the reality of your own life. Romans 12:3 calls this "be honest in your evaluation of yourselves" and Galatians 6:4, "focus on your own work". One way to focus on the present is to write a thankfulness list of 10 or more items and situations you can thank God for. Be honest about where you are in life and release the fantasy or measurement that you have in mind. Being sincere and repentant is the path to healing and deliverance from your current state of mind. Practice thankfulness, as previously mentioned. Psychology studies have proven that thankfulness gives you a boost in mental wellness and happiness. When we are thankful for what God is doing in our lives, we leave little room for discontentment. Building a habit of gratitude can help with the temptation to complain and compare. Along with your thankfulness list, study the scriptures about contentment, thankfulness, and jealousy so that your brain begins to process what is true and discard the lies. Philippians 4:8 tells us to focus on what is true and the positive things in our lives. Don't focus on what you see as "lacking" and "missing", but focus on what is true, lovely, and good about your situation. The word of God is powerful and pulls down strongholds, so if comparison seems strong in your mindset, it just hasn't heard the word of God yet! I pray this helps you start the process of overcoming comparison. 87% of women compare themselves to images online, so you are not alone in your struggles. If you'd like to take a deeper dive into the heart condition of comparison and experience a breakthrough, sign up for our free Stop Comparing Yourself Course.

When I was a teenager, music had a big impact on how I saw myself. When I fell in love with Jesus, I changed what I listened to. I spent a few years curating a Spotify playlist of positive Christian music about body image and self-esteem. As young Christian women facing the pressures and unrealistic beauty standards of today's world, it's easy to feel overwhelmed. But in this chaos, music can be a powerful source of encouragement, reminding us of our true worth and beauty in Christ. So, here is the exact playlist that helped me gain confidence in who I am in Christ. Save it to your Spotify and check out my top 5 faves from the playlist below. Check out this carefully chosen list of Christian songs that focus on body image, inspiring us to love and accept ourselves just as we are. 1. "Find Your Way" by KB Kicking off our list is the timeless anthem "Find Your Way" by KB. This song was #1 on the playlist for so long. KB tells it like it is to a young prom queen on a man's arm who truly doesn't value her. Yeah, she's beautiful and she's popular but she's very insecure. You're going to love this one. 2. "Tell Me I'm Pretty" by Brynn Elliot In this song, Brynn gains the courage many girls need when she says, "Don't need nobody else to tell me I'm pretty". It's a chill pop song that will help you realize that you don't need to hear another compliment to feel worthy. 3. "Gold" by Britt Nicole Britt Nicole's "Gold" is a fun pop song that celebrates how special and valuable each of us is. The lyrics remind us that our worth and beauty go beyond what’s on the surface. It's a joyful anthem that tells us we're all precious treasures in God's eyes. 4. "More Beautiful You" by Jonny Diaz "More Beautiful You" by Jonny Diaz is a touching song that reminds us real beauty comes from within. It challenges the harmful messages of perfectionism and encourages us to embrace our unique selves, flaws and all, as a reflection of God's love and creativity. 5. "Tailored (ft. Beckah Shae)" by Tony Tillman Tony Tillman and Beckah Shae come together in this encouraging upbeat mix to remind you that you are tailor-made. You were custom-designed by God's hand, and there is nothing wrong with the shape of your body parts. Conclusion In a world full of unrealistic beauty standards, these Christian songs provide a refreshing take on body image, self-worth, and true beauty. Their inspiring lyrics and uplifting melodies offer hope and encouragement for young Christian women trying to embrace their true beauty and worth in God's eyes. So, whenever you're struggling with negative body image or self-doubt, crank up the volume, let these songs lift you, and remember—you are fearfully and wonderfully made, just as you are. We would love for you to drop a comment of the song you liked the most! We are always looking to add more music to the Spotify playlist, you can contribute by sharing a song you think should be listed.

I shared a YouTube video titled, "Self-Confidence Is Not a Requirement for God to Use You", and the truth is, it isn't a requirement. In our human nature, we often think that our potential and success are only up to us. We think that we can only go as far as our confidence will allow. But there's good news, self-confidence was never a command to do good things. However, many women ask the question, "How do I boost my self-confidence as a Christian? Is it okay to have self-confidence?" I think the underlying question is, how do I believe in myself and be bold in my walk with Christ? Believing in Yourself Believing in yourself is not a bad thing as a Christian, however, it takes on a new meaning when Christ is Lord. The Bible tells us that we no longer live for ourselves, we live for Christ. "My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me." - Galatians 2:20 The part I'd like to point out is, "So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God". We are called to place no confidence in the flesh (Phil. 3:3), however, we live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God. The reason that you can believe in yourself is because you believe in Jesus and what He did for you. When you placed your faith in Jesus, He gave you the power to become a daughter of God. And this grants you access to every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places. (Ephesians 1:3-6). You are lacking nothing when Christ has provided everything you need to accomplish His will. If you believe this, then you can have confidence in who you are and in everything you do. Remember The Cross Ultimately, when you're struggling to believe in yourself, you should remember the cross! Remember how much Jesus loved you that He went to the cross to defeat your enemies. Remember that you have access to God through Christ. Remember that He has given you gifts to accomplish His purpose. Remember that you have His Holy Spirit to counsel you. Remember Phil. 4:13, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." Speak the Word of God If you're into affirmations, I highly recommend using the word of God to declare your confidence in Christ. Battles are not won by your own willpower and human wisdom but by the spiritual weapons of warfare. Ephesians 6:17 tells us that we are to use the sword of the spirit, which is the word of God. When you're tempted with self-doubt and fear, that is when you do as Christ did in the wilderness, remind your enemy that "It is written..." "It is written that I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. It is written that I live my life trusting in Christ. It is written that God says fear not for He is with me." Believing in yourself as a Christian begins with Christ. We are not confident in the "self" and all of our human strength and accomplishments; rather the "self" is confident in Christ's strength and what He accomplished on the cross. If this helped you, share it with your girlfriends on social media by clicking the share button below. And if you struggle with insecurities, take our Bold and Beautiful Course to help you become the confident woman God desires you to be.

What comes to your mind when you think about sin? Is it the usual blatant sin of homosexuality, lust, murder, or lying? The interactions we have with our neighbors often reveal how sinful our hearts really are. There are many sins that we commit that seem super easy to point out, but what about the ones that are lodged deep in the soul of a person and cause us to harbor hatred towards others and ourselves? I think many women are in the guise of self-hatred today. I'm sure there are many things that go unnoticed about us like having a competitive attitude, jealousy, and coveting. What is Emulation? We probably never think about competition and covetousness as being hatred, we are too focused on creating self-care and self-love regimens. But lodged deep in the heart of any person can reside self-loathing and hateful patterns, many I believe most women suffer from. Galatians 5:19 - 20 is a well-known passage for listing the sins that prevent us from inheriting the Kingdom of God; drunkenness, sexual immorality, divisions, factions, sorcery, hostility, strife, sensuality, idolatry, rage, disputes, revelries, jealousy, and envy... Let's camp out here at jealousy and envy. The King James Version of this verse mentions jealousy and envy as emulations. Emulation is when we try to imitate someone to be like them, an ambition to be similar or exceed their achievements, stemming from a lust to be like them, or a lust to be better, which comes from jealousy. It's an ambitious or envious rivalry. Examples of Emulation Unfortunately, we might be used to seeing the female race compete and rival each other whether that be in looks, achievements, or relationships. Reality television creates this narrative between women, they especially love to pitch friends against each other and sell it to us as entertainment. I believe emulation is subconsciously dominant in many women. We are all born into sin, so at a young age, we covet what another kid has. We perceive that someone is prettier than us and we hate her. It's the human nature of pride that causes us to feel attacked when we lose our sense of control. When we are no longer "that girl", we must kill the one who is so that we can have our throne back. Every human being is sitting on a throne we've erected and it is pride. Everyone longs to be "it"; that thing or person that others covet or envy. It builds our fantasy kingdom and alters our reality that others are beneath us and we are everything they wish they could be. We see girls and women today trying so hard to be something they aren't. Many of us follow celebrities so closely that we imagine ourselves in their shoes and try to imitate their looks and character. I saw a comment on social media about a young lady who said she followed Beyonce so closely that she became obsessed and wanted to be her. Imagine how many young women today are abandoning who God created them to be to become someone they obsessively admire! But maybe this isn't your fight, maybe you have a cousin or sister whom you're jealous of. Maybe she was always praised for doing everything right and perfectly, at least in your eyes, and your life hasn't been so great. So you live in secret competition with her. God is not pleased! In fact, one of the 10 Commandments states in Exodus 20:17, "do not covet your neighbor's house", or anything that belongs to her. In other words, do not desire what someone else has. Everybody has a different lot in life and it will never look identical to the next person. Each person is responsible for what they do with their time on earth and we only waste more of our time with comparisons. How to Overcome Emulations God is not pleased because this is vanity. This behavior only distracts us from becoming holy like Christ and it is unloving! Paul instructs us to "be imitators of Christ" in Ephesians 5:1-2. There is no one we should desire to be more like other than Jesus Christ, He is the One who makes us right with God and gives us peace on earth. Becoming like other people or better only makes us feel good about ourselves for a short while. The Bible tells us to "think of others as better than ourselves" rather than trying to become better than them. "Do nothing out of selfish ambition or empty pride, but in humility consider others more important than yourselves." - Philippians 2:3 Everyone is fighting for a throne in this life and it's easy to lose sight of Who is already on the throne and that's Jesus, sitting on the right hand of God. Why is it always about Him? Because He's perfect and already paid a price for our icky sins that we couldn't pay. No one else on earth has done what He did, so it becomes idolatrous for us to desire other people who are just as faulty as we are. I think it's important to understand where emulations may have developed in your life. Ask yourself these questions: Why do I feel the need to compete with other people? Did something happen in my past that made me feel inferior and broken? What don't I like about myself that causes me to deeply admire others? What do I hate about my situation that causes me to be jealous or want what someone else has? Then I want you to ask yourself: What are 10 things I like about myself? What am I thankful for? What is God calling me to do with my life? What can I ask God for instead of taking it from someone else? What would I accomplish if I had what they had? How would that make me feel? Have You Tried Asking God Instead of Hating Others? The Bible says in James 4:2-3 that we have not because we don't ask, and when we do ask, it's for our own selfishness. God won't give us things because our hearts are not in the right place. Some of us are asking for things because it will inflate our pride, make us feel like we're better than that person, or give us a reason to boast to our "haters". These are not what the blessings of God are for! Our focus should be on God's Kingdom, which means we are doing what He desires for us to do and behaving how His children should. What sums up the entirety of the law? Loving God with all of us and loving our neighbors as ourselves. Matthew 22:36-40. When we are focused on loving God with every fiber of our being, we live for Him alone and we ask according to His will. And in the same way, when we are learning to love our neighbors as ourselves, we treat them right and see them from the proper perspective. Rather than competing and being jealous, we can celebrate our uniqueness and respect them as being created in the likeness of God. And lastly, contentment is a virtue! God is pleased when we are content with what He's given us and content with who we are becoming. "When we desire to emulate the wicked or harbor jealousy, we cannot live in love & humility as God commands." Do you want help getting freedom from jealousy and competition? Sign up for a free coaching session to get biblical advice and prayer!

Within the last few years, there has been a lot of focus on self. Self-love, self-care, selfies, not that there is anything wrong with exploring these areas. But I think as people turn inwardly, they are seeking refuge from the hurt and pain others have caused them. Some, like me, are realizing that our standards were too low and that we've never placed much value on who we are as we do for others. What is self-worth? And how do you measure it? By definition, self-worth is another term for self-esteem. It is a sense of one's own value as a human being. Some measure their value on their accomplishments, academics, relationships, and financial status. Others measure their worth by the opinions and ideas of what others think of them. In fact, studies show that 87% of women compare themselves to images online. This proves that majority of us are measuring our value in some unhealthy ways. In whatever way we choose to measure our worth, I think most of the time it isn't stable enough to help us see ourselves properly. After all, we live in a world that is unstable and always changing. Tomorrow you could lose your job and just like that your financial status has to start over. Your significant other could break up with you and leave you with a broken heart and lost plans. The opinions you value could say that they don't like you anymore and you're not attractive. If you've measured your worth and built your self-esteem on these things, essentially you can lose it all in a moment. But does that mean you lose yourself and that you're no longer important? Never. Your self-worth and esteem should never be determined by the response of others nor should they be based on the way the world turns. Both are extremely unstable and the Bible calls it sinking sand. I don't know if you believe in a higher power, but your worth and value were already determined by God Himself. Jesus says that building your values on Him is like a solid foundation, not sinking sand. This is what God said when He created everything in Genesis, "God looked at everything He had made and said that it was good. And He validated it completely." What does this mean? It means that everything and every person He made is excellent to Him and we are already validated. Validate means to affirm the worth of a person, their opinions, and their feelings. The God of this universe has already approved of you and says you are His and made you the crown of His creation. So as you're thinking about your worth and if you're valuable or not, think about the One who made you. I believe the most important and missing piece to determining your worth is to find out why God put you here. Every human being has dignity and great value to God, but it's up to us how we respond to this truth. To help you understand that solid foundation that Jesus mentioned, I put together a free 5-part course called In His Image that will help you understand God's plan for your life, how He has called you to rule and reign with Him, and what it means for your body to be a temple. This course will give you a boost in your self-worth and hopefully help you see others in a healthier way, too. P.S. Thanks for reading! If you found this helpful, share it to your Facebook friends.

Self-esteem and body image issues are becoming a serious epidemic. I think it has always been swept under the rug for most, but with increased social media usage, it's all coming to the surface. Living with these issues is hell enough for women, but to log in to social media and be triggered constantly--that's an amplified problem many are not ready to face. But how do you know if you have low self-esteem or just a moment of self-consciousness? Most of us will have a day or two when we feel self-conscience or extremely aware of our flaws, however, it becomes a serious issue when a person consistently lives in this state. Below are seven symptoms of low self-esteem that are red flags that you may need a mental health counselor or a coach. You lack confidence in yourself. You live your life unassertive and unsure about what you want out of life. You also don't have the confidence to do the things you want to do because of fear. You're often indecisive about small and large decisions. A person living with low self-esteem might be afraid to make choices for themselves. Oftentimes, they just go with what everyone else wants or suggests. You lack boundaries. You don't have clear, direct boundaries when engaging with others, and people tend to walk over you and control you. You're a people-pleaser. Because you lack boundaries, you please others when they want something from you. You don't see yourself as important so you bow to the throne of others' desires instead of your own. For teens, this could mean giving in to peer pressure to engage in negative activities. You overdress or underdress to hide flaws. Not only do you lack confidence in yourself as a person, but it also shows on the outside. You wear clothes that are too big or baggy, or maybe you wear provocative clothes because you think others will pay more attention to you. You often ask others for their opinions of you and what you should do. Because you don't trust yourself or God, you often look for others to guide you. And their absence and disapproval of you cause you to feel extremely alone and rejected. You look for fulfillment in relationships or careers. People who suffer from low self-esteem may seek outside fulfillment in romantic relationships, friendships, and even their work. They may seem codependent on these relationships to sustain their personal happiness. This list could be a lot longer but if any number of these symptoms are something you currently deal with, do you consistently have these habits or just in certain situations? An effective way to determine if you're living with low self-esteem is to ask those who are close to you if you exhibit a few or all of these traits on a regular basis. Jesus desires to see your freedom from low self-esteem. It's not His will that you live in persistent bondage to feelings and beliefs of unworthiness when He formed you as the crown of His creation. You can't be the person He created you to be if you're held back in fear of who you are and how great He is to you. I encourage you to seek a mental health counselor if you believe low self-esteem is causing you to live in depression, overwhelming sadness, and thoughts that you're not important. If you're in recovery from low self-esteem and you'd like support in reaching your goals and staying free, set up a free coaching call with me to review where you currently stand and where you see yourself in the future and how our partnership can help you reach those goals. Thanks for reading! Click one of the links below to share it with your audience if you deem it helpful information.

Artificial intelligence is the talk of the town in the tech world right now. And not just for tech businesses, but AI is a tool that can transform any industry-- including beauty. There has been recent talk about how AI, or artificial intelligence, has an impact on body image and how it generates "perfect beauty". I also recently shared on my TikTok how filters and augmented reality can add to the negative effects that social media has had on body image and self-esteem. A study done by The Bulimia Project revealed what AI thinks the perfect body is based on social media data. (1) The results are typical and stereotypical, and I'd say it's in alignment with what most people think is the "perfect body". The perfect body is the one we will receive when we go home to the Lord. No one is going to be perfect on this planet, but still, there are millions who aim for this unattainable goal. The results of the AI images came from tools like DALL-E, Midjourney, and Stable Diffusion which generated unreal body types and even discriminated on what perfect beauty is. For instance, most of the images showed a blonde-haired girl and a perfectly muscular white man. Aside from these images, when prompted to generate images of "perfect female bodies", the AI results were of slim and trim women, not taking into account any curvier body types. It's also worth noting that most of the AI-generated images had more sex appeal than just generating regular images. I think that says a lot about the constant information that we put out and the results we're getting back. Because of the carelessness of sexualizing bodies and glorifying one body type, the results are poor mental health in GenZ and Millennial generations, as well as our own technology showing us what we value most. What can be done about this? Thankfully, the Supreme Court is now working on ways to incorporate safer internet usage for our youth, but rather than trusting our government to help, here's what we can do in our personal lives: Limit social media usage - logging out for longer periods of time will boost your peace of mind and productivity Remove harmful content from your entertainment diet Change what you listen to, your music can have a huge effect on your self-image Remember, you're created in the image of God and He has already accepted you as you are. There are a lot of voices telling you who you should be, but our God is the one who is stable and will never change His mind about you. He is the one we should put our trust in and our hope. Thanks for reading! For more practical tips to boost your self-esteem and focus, download our free guide and get access to tools that can help!

First, let me say that I think you're amazing for wanting to help your teen, friend, or student. You obviously recognize that something is seriously bothering them and you're seeking a way to help them overcome their battles. Teens are not alone in their body image struggles. In fact, 73% of teenage girls struggle with body image, and 69% of teen boys. Why do you think that number is so high? Well, everyone has access to a smartphone right in their pockets. And unfortunately, our teens spend the most time on social media. These things aren't bad, however, the content is a main factor in their self-perception. Social media and its algorithms are based on a "numbers game". Humans tend to see numbers as a measure of success or worthiness, and whoever has the most engagement, is most popular on these platforms. That may not always be the reason someone struggles with body image but the data proves that it is a top contribution. Another is bullying, criticism, and low self-esteem. Regardless of its source, body image issues are affecting a lot of people. How can we help them all? We can't ban phones and social media. We can't stop advertisement companies from using stereotypical imagery and we can't stop artists from making misogynistic music. But here's what you can do to help a teenager with body image issues: 1. Find out the source of the body shame & limit the trigger. Ask your teen what is causing them to feel shameful and depressed about their looks. Once you can identify its source, work together to limit the exposure. This may look like taking frequent breaks from social media, setting a curfew, confiscating the smartphone completely, addressing a bully, getting rid of magazine subscriptions, and being less critical of them, etc. This is because it will provide some relief from the negative feelings associated with the trigger and make it easier to address the root cause. Have you ever tried explaining something while you're angry or in pain? It's harder to think and create solutions when emotions are high. So take a rest from the source of pain. 2. Replace the source with healthier options. I want you to think about your environment like you think about food. If your food is making you sick, then you eliminate what's causing it and replace it with healthier options. Your mental health is equally important. Replace the negative music with positive and encouraging songs (this helped me a lot when I started healing), find cleaner shows to watch, and follow social accounts that make you a better person & not just a better-looking person. A shopping spree could also bring some fun to the elimination & replacement process. This can help your teen learn how to take control of their choices. If they can learn that negative choices will lead to negative habits, then this teaches them that positive choices will lead to positive habits. Teaching your teen cause and effect in their personal lives can go a long way into adulthood. You can start by asking them, "How do you want to feel right now?" And help them navigate which options will bring the desired result. 3. Work with a counselor or body image coach to address the mindset, emotions, and habits contributing to body shame. Some things aren't easy to break and could require additional support. A healthy support system can help with accountability and address deeper issues that you may not notice. Many teens develop depression and debilitating anxiety along the way and need professional help to overcome this. I work with teens and young women from ages 13 - 25 years who are struggling to overcome body image and low self-worth. We spend around six months together alone or with a parent to identify the root of the issue, navigate negative thoughts, and implement healthier habits. There is also progress work in between sessions so that as the coach, I can identify poor thought patterns and understand my client's point of view. Sign up for a free consultation with your parent if you're under 18 or alone if you're over 18. Helping a teenager with body image issues can be challenging and can create feelings of hopelessness. You're not alone. These three tips can start your teen on a path to healing and recovery from body image and low self-esteem, and provide strategies to continue navigating the social landscape. Let's talk about it! I'd love to help you begin. Sign up here. References: 73% of teen girls struggle with body image, 69% of teen boys - EverydayHealth Social media content affects self-perception - Modest Movement

You are not alone in your struggles with self-esteem. One thing you should know is that God is for you and not against you. Below are eight bible verses about self-esteem to help renew your mind. 1. ‭‭Genesis 1:31 AMP "God saw everything He had made, and behold, it was very good and He validated it completely. And there was evening and there was morning, a sixth day." If you need validation then this scripture is for you. You were already validated before God even formed you in your mother's womb. When someone is validated, they are approved, accepted, and recognized as worthy. You are accepted and recognized as worthy by God. 2. Luke 12:6-7 AMP "Are not five sparrows sold for two copper coins? Yet not one of them has [ever] been forgotten in the presence of God. Indeed the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not be afraid; you are far more valuable than many sparrows." Why did Jesus tell us not to be afraid in this verse? Sometimes our struggle with self-esteem comes from fear of what people have done or fear of what they will do to hurt us. Jesus is saying do not fear them, you are not forgotten. Fear God instead, because He watches over you very carefully. 3. Galatians 1:10 AMP ‭‭"Am I now trying to win the favor and approval of men, or of God? Or am I seeking to please someone? If I were still trying to be popular with men, I would not be a bond-servant of Christ." Does your struggle with low self-esteem cause you to be a "people-pleaser"? I know this all too well. Because I didn’t value myself, I gave in to the wants and needs of others. This affected my relationship with God and caused me to compromise the truth. We can't be faithful servants of God while also being slaves to what everyone else wants. 4. Proverbs 29:25 MSG "The fear of human opinion disables; trusting in God protects you from that." Many times low self-esteem originates from the fear of what people think. Maybe someone made mean comments about you, you were bullied, or your parents were too critical, this can cause you to fear opinions. But fearing God will protect you from that. When you respect God as Holy and obey Him, you will learn that He is ultimately the only one you should answer to. This holy fear of God will keep you from placing people on pedestals they weren't meant for. 5. Jeremiah 29:11 ERV "I say this because I know the plans that I have for you.” This message is from the Lord. “I have good plans for you. I don’t plan to hurt you. I plan to give you hope and a good future." If your low self-esteem is associated with not knowing what your life plans are then this is for you. God doesn't have plans of disaster for you, but to give you a good future according to His will for your life. 6. Joshua 1:9 ERV "Remember, I commanded you to be strong and brave. Don’t be afraid, because the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” Low self-esteem can cause you to live in a constant state of fear and worry. God tells you to be strong and brave because He is with you. And there's good news, you don't have to be strong or confident all by yourself, God is calling you to trust Him and rely on His strength. I did a video on this recently, I hope it encourages you more. 7. 1 John 3:1 ERV "The Father has loved us so much! This shows how much he loved us: We are called children of God. And we really are his children. But the people in the world don’t understand that we are God’s children, because they have not known him." If you never felt like you belonged, you do! You are a child of God, and you may feel rejected because people who don't know God don't know that you belong to Him. It's okay to feel like an outsider, that just means you're an insider in God's Kingdom. 8. Romans 12:3 ERV "Don’t think that you are better than you really are. You must see yourself just as you are. Decide what you are by the faith God has given each of us." This scripture addresses issues with pride. When you're struggling with self-esteem, it's easy to pretend like you're better than you seem. God wants us to be real and humble about the struggles we face. Don't get into a habit of pretending like you're better than people, instead, be humble and seek God for healing. If you'd like freedom from feelings of low self-worth and self-esteem, set up a free consultation with me. We're going to do a few exercises to figure out how deep your issues are and how I can help you heal.

I don't think many realize how vital our content is, whether you consume a lot of television or social media, the content matters. Compared to long ago, there are many channels that we can be entertained by today. We've got Full HD television, music in surround sound, multiple social networks, digital magazines, and ebooks... plenty of stuff to laugh at and be distracted with! However, I think music tops them all. Music is that piece of entertainment that goes beyond enjoyment. Music is more than instruments sounding together, it's a psychological outlet for most people. It's a rhythmic soundwave that ministers to our subconscious. It's scientifically proven to alter moods and emotions. If music has the power to alter how we feel, then that means it has the power to influence our thoughts and behaviors. Many of us have read or even quoted the scripture, Proverbs 23:7, "as a man thinks in his heart so is he". And it's parallel, "Guard your heart above all else, for from it flows the issues (springs) of life." - Proverbs 4:23. The Good News Translation says, "Guard your thoughts, for they determine the course of your life." Have you seen these scriptures in action? Let's take an assessment, say you listen to a romantic R&B song, and suddenly you feel in love. Or maybe you listen to a melancholy track from Billie Elish and now you feel somber or withdrawn (at least that's how she makes me feel sometimes). Ever notice those times when you're sad and lonely, you might gravitate towards sad songs? Or... let's take it in a different direction. Maybe it's not music, say you watch something on tv or hear a funny phrase and you form habits based on what you've seen and heard. Think about those times the media influenced how you thought and what you did. Idk why, but music and media content have always been a passionate matter to me. Even before salvation, I oftentimes would wonder why the rappers were so rude and vulgar towards women. But, I'd keep right on listening because the beat was hitting so well. How ignorant! Just because it sounds good doesn't mean I should listen to it. For years, I've dealt with insecurity and damaged self-esteem because of what I heard. Not only was I taunted in school and at home for how skinny I was, but the music also told me that a man wouldn't want me unless I was thick. I needed a huge butt to be loved for real. Because I bought the lie the devil sold me, I struggled to believe that I was worth looking at. I would try to wear clothes that made me look bigger and fuller. This is a real example of how thoughts become things. And how do thoughts form? By outside influences and channels that infiltrate our thought patterns. In order for me to change my behavior and become confident, I had to start with my thoughts. I had to see what was influencing them. What was the root? Was it the misogynistic lyrics that I loved to hear? Or was it the constant taunting that I was too skinny and needed to gain weight? I'd say both. Both were channels in my life that needed to be changed. I can't control what other people say about me, but I can control what I believe about myself and what I will accept. Around the third year of my salvation, I got heavier into Christian Hip-Hop and Contemporary Christian Music. That's why I decided to start a personal Spotify playlist in 2016. I spent hours working at a desk job and we were allowed to listen to music. So I would just binge Christian artists that I hadn't heard and any song that made me feel confident as a woman, I added it to my playlist. This made me excited to get to work lol. The music really started to minister to me and helped me see that I was so precious to God. I didn't have to look a certain way to feel loved, I was deeply loved already before I even had a frame. (Jeremiah 1:5; Psalm 139:15) This was such a great experience for me that I had an idea, I couldn't keep this transformation private. I changed the name of my playlist to Modest Music because I figured someday I'd be able to share this with a group of women. I have some great songs by artists like KB, Mali Music, Priscilla Renea, even Beyonce for the BeeHive fans. I am pleased to be able to release this playlist and I pray it blesses you to be confident, bold, and beautiful as you already are in God's eyes. See below for how to submit music! Are You An Artist or A Fan Who Wants To Submit A Song? My plans for this playlist are to have some female and male Christian Artists come and share their stories and inspiration for music with us. Their music should be heard and there are so many women who wish they could be bold and confident. But it must start with changing our habits and choices! Click here to share with us!

At some point in our lives, we all deal with negative impacts on our self-esteem. Personally, I can say I've been dealing with this on and off throughout my life. There are seasons (even days) when it's high or when it's extremely low. If we could rate the importance of having healthy self-esteem, I'd give it a ten. Self-esteem by definition is confidence in one's own worth and abilities; self-respect (self-regard). A religious person might say to think anything about "self" is wrong. But I'd beg to differ, Jesus said the second greatest commandment is to, "love our neighbors as ourselves." (Matthew 22:39) That means I need to love myself enough to love someone else, and loving myself means I need to have healthy self-esteem. So let's dive into 3 tips to boost our self-esteem when we're feeling low. Always start with God's words about you. God's word will always be a foundation for you to build your life on, including your self-esteem. He is the Maker of Heaven, Earth, and all that dwells within them. His very word created everything and will stand when everything is gone. I say this because when you have God's words on your mind and in your heart, all other lies and dispositions about yourself won't stand a chance. God says that you are: "fearfully and wonderfully made" - Ps. 139: 13-14 "precious in His eyes and honored" - Isaiah 43: 4 "created in His image" - Genesis 1: 27 When you believe and live God's truth, the truth will set you free from the lies of the enemy and others who do not see you as God does. 2. Build on God's truth with personal affirmations. Now that there's a stable foundation, you can start forming affirmations about yourself. I always have an issue keeping up with affirmations, so I would write a few out on sticky notes and post them on my bathroom mirror. I'll share a few with you to help you create your own: "I am a beautiful young lady & I'm fully known & loved by God." "God created me and said I was good." "I am accepted by The Lord, & He calls me His own." "I am called for such a time as this." 3. Work on physical improvements. Some people would say mixing the physical body with the spiritual isn't a biblical strategy. But how can that be true if God made both? The Bible is filled with wisdom about taking care of our health. That's why I've included working on physical improvements as a way to boost your self-esteem. There's a saying, "If you don't like something, change it!" This is a biblically inspired theme, we are always growing and becoming. Yes, our bodies are wasting away, but it would be ignorant to ignore it. If you don't like having short hair, grow your hair out. If you're self-conscious about your skin, work to improve it. If you want a flatter stomach, start a workout routine and eat the right foods. This isn't rocket science and neither is it unbiblical to take care of yourself. Take care of your body while you have it, and don't try to be what you're not. I say this because there is a spirit of covetousness that causes many women to drastically alter their appearance with too much makeup or unnecessary plastic surgery hoping to achieve an image that is worshipped. Don't allow the spirit of covetousness to cause you to spend thousands on a surgery that could hurt in the long run. In closing, I hope you lay the proper foundation for building your self-esteem and pray that these tips will help you. Trying to achieve a healthy self-image without God is a contradiction because you were made in His image. Jesus says that without the proper foundation, we are building a house on quicksand. You can't build self-esteem on compliments or acceptance from others, that's quicksand and people's opinions change in a minute. But God never changes, His truth is timeless and perfect for helping you become all He's called you to be. Liked this post? Share it on social media. Learn about God's plan for you. Subscribe to our Youtube for more topics Don't miss an update, join our circle at the subscription form below!