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Some friends of mine recently bought a bulldog. Her lower lip is deformed such that her lower teeth protrude into her cheek on one side. Her tongue permanently shows. She has more wrinkles than an octogenarian prune, she’s fat – and she’s gorgeous.

Everybody immediately falls in love with her.

Of course, dogs don’t seem to have issues of self esteem and I’ve no doubt she will never consider comparing herself with other breeds, let alone other bulldogs. She is just herself and she’s absolutely adorable.

We seem to be the only species to judge each other – and ourselves – based on the way we look. We could learn a lot from that bulldog.

Other people will form an opinion about you – regardless of whether you’re super-beautiful or not. That’s their business. It’s not only beauty that’s in the eye of the beholder; it’s everything.

I once was walking along a deserted beach in winter with a friend I had at the time. I remarked how much I was enjoying the peace and solitude. His unexpected reply was that the empty beach reminded him how of lonely times – and he couldn’t wait to get home to his large family.

It is we who give things meaning and we who judge things according to our own inner, cultural and learned standards.

If you don’t like your own looks, (and most of us judge our appearance pretty harshly), it’s because you’re judging yourself against standards you imagine others will have about you.

I think Dr. Wayne Dyer put it best in one of his lectures when he commented, “Your opinion of me is none of my business.”

Reflect on that – and remember that the bulldog is loveable because she’s totally at peace with who and what she is from the inside.

If you have issues with your self esteem, click here to read more about “The Esteem Engine” program.

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