Shallow Hal...Oh Holy Cow !!

Self-confidence is a much abused phrase to use nowadays.

Magazines, TV, Books and even the internet boast about ways and tips to raise up your personal self-esteem and better your image and outlook.

Many lecture on wearing the correct clothes, color combination, makeup, hair; some talk about building a perfect body, eating well and exercising right; the rest mention crafting the perfect career and widening your social circles...blah blah blah...the list goes on.

It's only recently that we realise true self-confidence comes from within. It's not the exterior that counts, but how you feel about yourself and being comfortable in your own skin that matters.

That's why you see many labels and brands marketing their products nowadays with real women and people who undergo realistic life encounters. Gone are the days of perfect long-legged creatures, hunky adonis and fairytale stories that plastic surgeons with needles, scapels and botox fillers do not exist.

I watched Shallow Hal last midnight and was greatly amused but touched at the same time by Jack Black's love for Gywneth Paltrow. At the end of the show, Black's character decided to forgo Paltrow's oversized image but focus on her kind inner beauty.

Many people would show disbelief that such stories are unreal, and that our primitive reaction to beautiful things and beings hold true.

I'm sorry to burst your bubble, but a similar Shallow Hal incident did happen to me.

I remembered when I was in my teens, I developed an amazing feeling for this person who didn't have a great bod, smothering looks, wonderful skin, etc. But rather, this person was quite ordinary, plain looking. What I saw was the sweet kind heart for people around and the unfortunate. I was very blessed to be able to go out with this person for a good two years and I thank God for this enriching experience and also that I don't judge a person by how he or she looks on the outside.

The inside is what really matters. Trust me.

So people, quick ditch the mentality that wearing the latest high end fashion or owning loads of materialistic gains contribute to a fab self-confidence. In actual fact, wearing a simple t-shirt and jeans can be very sexy and attractive when you have a simple, kind loving heart for yourself and the people in your life.

Go, gear up now, Self-Confidence!

Stanley