Healing your skin is a journey, not a victory! What does that mean? This means that life is everchanging, growth is perpetual, and that skin is simply one thing that exists on our quest for health and self-improvement. Similarly, attainment is much different than learning and enjoyment.
As you heal your skin, you can use the process to get to know yourself, learn what’s important, and how to turn health goals into an extension of self-care and self-love. But, to do this, our mindset has to be self-compassionate. So, here are 3 ways to see your skin journey as a process rather than a victory.
Address your cognitive dissonance.
Certainly, plenty of us believe that it’s what’s inside that matters most. However, when we look in the mirror and see our acne, we might judge ourselves. We might place a tremendous amount of emphasis on our physical appearance even though we believe in the importance of one’s character. This is known as cognitive dissonance.
When we experience cognitive dissonance, we seek to quell these feelings of discomfort by rationalizing, overexplaining, or avoiding new information. In some ways, acne positivity can serve as a means to quell these feelings of discomfort.
So, while acne positivity asserts that you are beautiful no matter what, acne neutrality encourages a healthy detachment from beauty standards in general. At times, acne positivity seeks to reconcile the tension between the idea of acne and beauty. But, is there truly anything to reconcile?
If we believe that it’s what is inside that matters most, this should be the lens through which we view acne. Of course, this is easier said than done, and yes, it's natural to desire aesthetic desirability. But, as we navigate the anarchy of beauty standards, it’s important to refocus on our values, to know what we believe, and who we are in order to remain grounded and self-loving.
Question your abjection.
In simple terms, abjection can be described as feeling repelled by the self, even though that thing is not necessarily the self. For instance, think of the skin-positive phrase, “You are not your acne.” While this may feel affirming, it also implies that acne, even though it’s a natural part of the skin, is not something you’d want to associate yourself with.
Why? Of course, acne or anything on the body does not define you. On the other hand, it’s important to address if we are feeling repelled enough by something natural to say, “This is not me.” No, this is not always the mentality behind someone saying this phrase, but as we repeat affirmations to ourselves, it’s important to understand where they’re coming from and what they mean to us.
Remember your self-determination.
Self-determination is the idea that you have the right to choose how you want to live your life and the decisions you want to make regarding your health and happiness. For instance, is totally clear skin something you truly want, or do you feel compelled to achieve this based on what society and the media has told you? This is one way that creating your own skincare routine and finding what especially works for you can be helpful.
Finding your own skincare routine can serve as a practice of valuing your own individuality rather than subscribing to what the media says will work for you. In all aspects, finding what works for you is one of the most valuable pieces of knowledge you can possess.
Remember that you are an individual with your own journey, and the tools you need may not be the same as another person, and this is totally okay and normal! And ultimately, you can choose what beauty means to you and how much aesthetics matter to you.
Cover photo cred: Freepik