Live Original

     "See that girl with the flat tummy and Kylie Jenner lips over there? Wow, GOALS!" Our generation throws around the word goals way too much. Stomach goals. Relationship goals. Hair goals. Goals goals goals. We've basically redefined the word from quality dreams we hope to achieve to shallow desires based off of others we see. How did our goals switch from holding a good job and living a happy life to having smaller thighs and bigger lips? Why should that even be goals in the first place?

     Goals in life are great to have. They keep you working towards success and help you progress. But I have to think that past a certain point, goals can do more harm than good. And that point is exactly when your goals become "hair goals" and "#relationshipgoals." The problem with these goals is that you are comparing yourself to someone. Someone smarter. Prettier. Stronger. You see these traits in someone else that you yourself lack. Comparison is such a confidence killer because you're right, there always will be someone smarter, prettier, and stronger. You will never reach the ideas of perfection in your head if those ideas are based off of other people. Setting goals based off of others is just setting yourself up for disappointment, because you'll never be that person. No matter how hard you try, you can't be someone else. Kylie Jenner has big lips. Can you imagine if EVERYONE walked around like that? Weird, right? Don't try to shoot for someone else's standards of perfection because you were made to be YOU. If God wanted there to be a billion Beyonce's, he would have made that many. But he didn't. He made you to be you.

     We all have insecurities. The blonde hair you like so much on so-and-so may be the very thing she's insecure about. If you chase this idea of perfection based off of others, you'll never be content. One thing will lead you to the next, because while trying so hard to be another person, you aren't staying true to yourself. You can never be content trying to be someone else if God made you to be you. You are special and you are set apart. YOU. That's right, you. Insecurities and all. You are made special by a perfect God who cherishes all of you, even your imperfections.

     Be the best you you can be. Live original. You have something unique that sets you apart from everyone else, but you'll never find it if you're too busy being somebody else. Embrace your flaws. Don't be afraid to be yourself. Stop undervaluing who you are and overvaluing who you're not. You are beautiful because God made you.

     You were born an original. Don't die a copy!