I saw the ad for Dove that you mention, and found it awesome. I’d also like to mention that it hasn’t been televised here in Australia yet (strange but true).

While industries aim to shift products (fashion, beauty, etc), people do tend to gravitate toward people who respect and love them for who they are as people who can appreciate the world, including its flaws.

You’re absolutely correct to say that self esteem comes from a person’s own perception of themselves. Sometimes it’s easier said (depending on what time of the month for me, lol, joking), but most times I think, like you say, the positive self comments, kick start other processes (chemical reactions, peptides, serotonin in particular) in the human brain that do actually make a person feel good.

I remember close to ten years ago, I had a hell of a time still trying to exercise my way to some sort of ideal two years after I had my son, and it didn’t make a difference. On the contrary, the men in my life found my obsession with calories, tedious, not to mention my ‘gym’ conversations about my workouts, and need to exercise back then. But women did as well, not just men.

At some point we need to take in on ourselves. I’m glad when you look in the mirror, you like who you are. I do too (most days).