Self-Acceptance

Photography: Kendra Blair
Hair: Danielle June "Madame Pompadour"
Makeup: Charlotte Paul
Jacket: Kim Kardashian for Bebe Similar Similar
Faux Leather Leggings: Spanx

Boots: YSL Tribute Platform Bootie 

Handbag: YSL Medium Loulou 

Lace Tank: Similar

Hello! How are you doing today? I had some old photos that I never posted from my fall photo shoot, so I thought I would post them anyway.  I usually work full-time and have to do blog photos on the weekends.  How do you organize your photo shoots?  

It's been no secret that things have been pretty tough for me lately.  I have been through a lot!  As perfect as we make our blog photos look online and on Instagram, we all know that this is probably the only place that our version of perfection exists.  Holding onto this unrealistic ideal can be painful in real life. Comparison and competition amongst us can be challenging and can lead to an unhealthy mindset about our bodies and ourselves.  After dealing with an eating disorder for almost 15 years and overcoming it, I now believe that I can be my own best self not in comparison to anyone else.  I also believe that God created us in his perfect image without making a mistake. 

What do you believe?  

For a long time I thought that I wasn't "pretty enough" "smart enough" "skinny enough" or "good enough" to deserve love and happiness.  It was an awful way to live. 

Have you ever felt this way? 

Thankfully, someone close to me had a stern yet caring intervention talk with me about going to rehab and getting help to heal from my destructive eating habits.  I had to leave work for two months, but it was the most important two months of my life.  It changed me in ways I could never have imagined and I truly feel that I owe my life to that center.  

In case you wanted to know where I healed, it was located in Long Beach, CA at a center called Shoreline on 2nd street in Belmont Shore.  So, in case you ever wonder why I love Long Beach so much, it is not only because the people in the community are exceptionally friendly, but mainly because it was the city that housed the center where I healed.  Shoreline is equipped with the most knowledgeable caring therapists and staff that helped save my life.  I'm definitely not the same person I was then that I am now, and I am truly grateful for that experience.  

I also wanted to share with you that I learned radical-self acceptance is...

• Letting go of what other people think.
• The belief that one self has value.
• Acceptance of personal flaws, weaknesses, or mistakes.
• The belief in your ability to overcome challenges.
• Realizing what we can and cannot control.
• Accepting what is right now without judging.

Let me know how you enjoyed this post in the comments below and I hope you have a wonderful week!

With Love,

Joanna