If you are a woman with a Facebook account, chances are you have been nominated by a lovely friend to post a picture of yourself without any make up on. If you haven't been tagged in one of these photos yet, chances are you have at least seen them and wondered if your turn was coming next and if you would actually comply or not. It's just a little Facebook trend, right?
I saw these pictures pop up all over my news feed and knew that sooner or later, someone would ask to see my smiling face all bare and naked. The trend is slowing down a bit now, and there's all sorts of comments about it ranging from, "You are so naturally beautiful! Thank you for sharing." to "No way am I showing that to the world!" to "What's the big deal? It's just make up. Girls wear too much of it anyway!" The whole thing is really quite fascinating, and obviously speaks to a greater meaning than just showing off our freckly noses and bed head.
What is that greater meaning, exactly?
Oh yes, body image and showing natural beauty and feeling confident about who we are as women are all huge parts of this. But there's something else that has really intrigued me about these gorgeous, brave, and encouraging women. It's the vulnerability.
Many guys seem quite confused by the novelty us women have placed on these photos. Some think it's strange to put so much importance on bare faces, and some think the make up discussion in general is just dumb pointless. If you are a man that falls into this category, I would strongly encourage you to talk to a woman who actually found this to be a challenge. You may gain some insight to the female psyche and get to the heart of it all.
Sure, it won't be difficult for every girl. Maybe you hardly wear make up on a regular basis, so what's the difference? But maybe you're like the girl in the very first picture I saw in this trend who is ashamed of her bare skin because of scars and past shame. Maybe you never leave the house without make up on because you feel like you don't "look like yourself" without it. Maybe you don't want people you aren't even close to but keep around on Facebook anyway to see "the real you". I am guilty of all of the above.
As women, we know that we want to break free of all that nonsense, and it's liberating when we do something that brings us closer to that freedom; like post an unedited version of ourselves on social media. It feels good to be so vulnerable and, in turn, have people affirm our value and beauty.
Can we all do a little more of that in real life? Social media can be an excellent platform for encouragement and positive movements, and I fully support (most of) them. But nothing compares to opening yourself up to another human being and exposing the deep places of your heart. Letting people see you for who you really are because you are confident in that. Taking off the guards of having it all together and telling it like it is. Maybe even more than just with those close to you. I'm not saying spill your guts to every acquaintance you have (I would potentially be guilty of this), but be less concerned with what those people think of your life and how you're living it.
And the flip side: be someone who encourages and constantly pours out.
Hand out as many compliments in a day as you would like to receive.
Really listen when people open up to you.
Give positive affirmation to their emotions and validate their thoughts.
Be generous with your words.
Tell people how you really feel about them.
This side is probably more liberating than the one of being vulnerable. Just make sure you're filling yourself up as you pour out. Go to Jesus for that. He's the expert on that one ;)
So as you look at pictures of beautiful women you call friends, affirm their beauty and love on them. Validate their bravery and freedom. Not just for their make up-less face; but for being vulnerable.
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