MY PRIMARY TARGET AUDIENCE IS ME LOH #301

I learnt very early in life that pleasing people is a very difficult task. The moment you start living your life based on other people's opinions, you unknowingly hand them the responsibility of determining how you feel about yourself.

And honestly, that's exhausting.

Because people are different. What one person considers beautiful, another person might not even notice. What one person loves about your appearance, someone else might criticize. If you wake up every morning trying to satisfy everyone, you may spend your entire life trying to meet standards that keep changing.

That is why, from a relatively young age, I decided that when it comes to my appearance, my primary target audience would be me.

I want to look good because I want to feel good.

The dresses I wear, the way I style myself, my beauty routines, and all those little things I do to take care of my appearance are primarily for one person "myself."

I want to look into the mirror and genuinely like the woman looking back at me.

I want to put on an outfit and feel comfortable in it.

I want to take care of myself because I deserve to enjoy the person I see in the mirror, not because I'm waiting for someone else to approve of her.

Of course, compliments are lovely. Who doesn't enjoy being told, "You look beautiful today?"

I'll gladly take the compliment!

But I've learnt not to depend on it.

If someone notices and compliments me, that's a bonus.

If nobody says anything, I still know I looked good to myself.

And I think that's an important distinction.

There is nothing wrong with wanting to look your best. There is also nothing wrong with enjoying compliments or appreciating when people notice your effort. The problem, in my opinion, begins when their reaction becomes the reason behind everything you do.

Because what happens when you don't receive that reaction?

Do you suddenly feel less beautiful?

Do you question the outfit you loved five minutes ago?

Do you start wondering whether something is wrong with you?

I don't want to live like that.

I've realized that the most peaceful way to take care of yourself is to do it from a place of self-satisfaction rather than constant validation.

I don't dress for the woman standing beside me.

I don't do my beauty routine because someone might notice.

I don't try to look good simply because I want people to approve of me.

I do these things because I like feeling good about myself.

So yes, I put effort into looking my best.

But my primary reason isn't to impress other people.

It's to make sure that when I look into the mirror, I can smile at the lady looking back at me.

My primary target audience is me.

And honestly, I think that's one audience worth impressing. ❤️

_{ALL IMAGES ARE OF MYSELF FROM MY PERSONAL GALLERY}