Take a Stand Against the World and be.YOU.tiful!!

I was inspired to write this post when I saw an incredible song and video by Colbie Caillat called "Try".  Go here to check it out!  It's amazing!

I love music, especially music that empowers us to be true to ourselves and happy with who we are.  That's why I am just so impressed with singer/songwriters who are speaking out against the pressures of the world on girls and women to be other than what they really are.  Being in the limelight that they are in and in the career that they are in, heaven knows there must be tons of pressure to epitomize what is "beautiful" as defined by the world.  I'm sure they have had to take a stand in their own way to even get these songs recorded and released.  And as hard as it may be to get these songs out there, they tend to be the most popular songs because girls and women everywhere are seeking for and yearning for validation that they are good enough, that they are beautiful enough, that they are acceptable enough.  So props to you Colbie Caillat for speaking up and speaking out against the philosophy of the world!  Against all the pressures to put on tons of make-up, get fake lashes, get permanent make-up, change our hair color, increase the size of our breasts, decrease the size of our waists, get rid of cellulite, be tan, be skinny, wear only designer clothes, wear revealing clothes, be sexy, and on and on.  It really is sad because when we hear it all of the time, we then start believing that in order to be ok or pretty we have to meet those qualifications.  It's a lie my friends!  Please see it for what it is!  It is Satan trying to drag us all down and stop us from making a difference.  He wants to stop us because he knows how powerful we really are!  He also knows that not only will we never meet all the expectations of the world, but we'll never find joy doing it.  Finding joy does not come by matching up to the standards of the world.  If we are constantly trying to be what the world says is "in", we will constantly fall short.  The world's standards will forever be changing because Satan directs the ways of the world.  He wants us all confused, discouraged, depressed and miserable.  He wants us to always feel less than and not good enough, therefore his ways will always be changing so that we will ceaselessly compare ourselves to others.  He is always trying to convince us that we need to change something about ourselves in order to be ok because he knows by doing that we will become increasingly more miserable.  The ways of the world are the ways of despair.

On the other hand, God's ways are unchanging.  His law and His truth is the same always and forever.  When we listen to God, not only do we find truth, but we find joy and we gain power.  Joy comes by liking ourselves and being true to who God created us to be.  I love that line in Colbie Caillat's song where she asks, "Do you like you?"  That is the question!  That is what your happiness begins with!  Approval from the world does not bring joy.  Only approval from God and yourself!  Do you like yourself?  When you can accept who God created you to be, you will find joy.  When you believe you are enough just because you're you, you will find happiness.  When you are true to you, you will be powerful!!!

So stand up and stand against the ways of the world!  Speak up for the worth and value of girls and women who are beautiful, unique, and invaluable simply because they exist!  Stand against the world by being true to you!  Be an example to the young women around you, to your friends, to your daughters, to your neighbors' and friends' daughters, to your nieces, to your sisters.  Be a bright light in this dark world that says, "Be you and be happy!"

Here is my list of other empowering, girl power songs by pop singer/songwriters who have spoken out against the philosophy of the world to "fit in", or fall in I should say.  Because that's what happens when we succumb to the pressures of the world, we fall.

Props to these singer/songwriters for using their talents to proclaim "Just be your beautiful, real you!"  And please make a comment on my post and let me know of other songs you have found that speak out for the worth, beauty and value of girls and women.  I want to know them all!!!

"Perfect" by Pink (Please disregard the bad word in the song title.  Get the clean version.  It's
              nowhere in that version.)
"Firework" by Katy Perry
"Roar" by Katy Perry
"Brave" by Sarah Bareilles
"King of Anything" by Sarah Bareilles
"Unwritten" by Natasha Bedingfield
"Pretty Hurts" by Beyonce
"Skyscraper" by Demi Lovato
"Who Says" by Selena Gomez
"Let it Go" by Idina Menzel (Frozen)
"Dig a Little Deeper" by Jenifer Lewis (Princess and the Frog)
"Video" by India Arie
"Beautiful Flower" by India Arie
"I Am Not My Hair" by India Arie
"I Choose" by India Arie
"There's Hope" by India Arie
"Who You Are" by Jessie J
"Price Tag" by Jessie J
"Happy" by Leona Lewis
"Wings" by Little Mix
"I'm Coming Out" by Diana Ross
"I Will Survive" by Gloria Gaynor
"Defying Gravity" from the play Wicked
"Beautiful for Me" by Mercy River

Use this music to empower, uplift, motivate and inspire you on your down days.  Remember you are beautiful simply because you are you!  The only qualification you need is to exist!
So go . . .

be.YOU.tiful!!