Hey Affirmed Women Community!

One thing that I always struggled with was the insecurity of my body image. Since elementary school, I disliked the way I looked. I never felt that I was pretty or matched up to the standards of what a boy was looking for in a girl. I remember in fifth grade, the entire class got weighed. When my turn came up, the scale said 50.0 lbs. and I remember getting laughed at because I was way smaller than everyone else and that, is the moment that insecurity started to grow.

In Junior High School, I remember coming home one day and I was sitting on the floor beside my bed. I took my house keys and began to self-harm because of the size of my body. I didn’t feel beautiful and I struggled to love myself. What was silent insecurity to others, was something that was so loud to me. In high school, I remember wearing leggings under my jeans so that I could look a bit bigger than the size I actually was. I thought that if I looked bigger, I would feel more comfortable in my skin and love myself for the way I was.

Throughout my years, people would tell me that I was so beautiful but, I was never able to see it for myself. At the same time, people always asked me “do I eat” or “where does the food go” and I let those things get to me.

In college, I really wanted a change and I was tired of weighing only 97 pounds. I came across this syrup that helped you gain weight. All that I would have to do was eat which, was not a problem for me. I took this syrup on two separate occasions. One was before I gave my life to Christ and, the second was after I gave my life to Christ. On the first occasion, I gained 16 pounds and I was finally able to say that I loved my body but, was it truly self-love if I only loved it under the terms of gaining the weight that I craved to have?

Between the 1st and 2nd times, I began to lose a lot of the weight I had gained. At this time, I was starting to feel less confident in my body again. So, I decided to take it a 2nd time. By this time, I had already given my life to Christ and started my women empowerment brand for insecurities, I A.M. also known as I Affirm Me. The 2nd time that I tried taking the syrup, I automatically felt convicted by the Holy Spirit and knew that this time around, I really had to learn to love my body for the way God created it to be and overcome my insecurity for good. I had to see myself the way God saw me, and I had to choose self-love over self-hate. I had to understand that God made no mistake when He created me the way He did. This was all a part of His plan for this to be a part of my testimony.

It took a lot of reading the word, praying, and breaking down every wall that I was used to, and allowing God to heal and change me, for me to overcome this insecurity but, I can finally say that I have overcome it. If it was not for God changing my mind and his conviction, I would not be the woman I am today.

No matter how small I may feel, I am confident in knowing that God chose me to be this way. I wanted to share this with you all because I know sometimes it may feel like you are going to deal with certain insecurities for the rest of your life because it has been happening for so long but, I want to encourage you that YOU have the power to change your life around. If you keep God in the center He will restore you, He will heal you, and He will love you in ways that you never thought were possible.

If you are struggling with the insecurity of body image know that...

YOU ARE BEAUTIFUL, YOU ARE MADE IN GOD'S IMAGE, YOU ARE WORTH FAR MORE THAN RUBIES, YOU ARE ONE OF A KIND, YOU ARE LOVED, YOU ARE CHOSEN, YOU ARE PERFECT THE WAY YOU ARE.

I know that it may not feel like it all the time but, know that this is how God sees you, and if God sees you that way then it has to be true! Be encouraged and I am confident that with every insecurity you are facing, you will be able to overcome.

Continue to Affirm yourself and look to God!

About the Author

My name is Brianna Maguet. I was born and raised in Brooklyn, NY, and am 24 years old, currently engaged, and I am the youngest of three and the only girl. I am the founder of I Affirm Me, a women empowerment and sisterhood community where we help young girls and women overcome their insecurities. I love God, I love food, and I love any type of crime show.

Connect with Brianna (I A.M. (I Affirm Me)

Instagram and Facebook @ia.m._

TikTok @iaffirmme

Website: https://www.iamiaffirmme.com/