Isn’t it funny how you can listen to something time and time again but not really hear it? This was the case for me with the incredible ‘Scars To Your Beautiful’ by Alessia Cara. I cannot even tell you how many times I had listened to this song without actually listening to it and it wasn’t until one day recently I happened to stumble across the video clip for it and it forced me to take it in and hear the message it was delivering. Quite honestly, I was blown away and had tears streaming down my face watching it. Chances are you’ve heard the song but I wanted to share both the lyrics and the clip with you below incase, like me, you have been hearing this song without actually hearing it…
Not only is Alessia an incredibly talented singer, but these lyrics – and the message behind them – by golly miss molly, I am blown away at how empowering it is.
We already have so much pressure in life, why do we insist on placing more on ourselves? To look, feel, act, be, do things a certain way when, in truth, we’re perfect just as we are. There is no definition of normal, definitely none of perfect and no exact meaning of what ‘beautiful’ is and we should be embracing that because gosh damn we are all freaking beautiful. We just need to see that ourselves. We need to stop fighting that battle with the girl in the mirror because we all know there are so many other battles we have to fight when life throws us a curveball, and they should be where we’re expending our energy…not fighting a war with ourselves. I know it’s hard, it’s so freaking hard to look in the mirror sometimes and think you’re beautiful, it’s so easy to spot the flaws, pick apart the things that we hate. I know, because it’s something I struggle with. It’s something that I have to work at and practice constantly. It’s a daily conversation with myself I have to have and honestly, some days it takes longer than others to get the message through. But, and please stay with me here, why don’t we just try and see the beauty that stares back at us when we’re in front of the mirror. Why don’t we stop the self-doubt, the negative self-talk, the picking-a-part. Why don’t we rebel against what society tells us we ‘should’ think, see or feel. Why don’t we realize that it infact hasn’t been working, so let’s try a new approach. Why don’t we look at that girl in the mirror and tell her she’s beautiful. Let’s remind her how amazing and wonderful she is…because she is.
Not only do we need to be kind to ourselves when it comes to beauty and body image but we need to be kind to each other. Less criticism, less judgment, less ostracizing. Remember that everyone is fighting their own battles, everyone is their own worst critic and sticks and stones sometimes really hurt. It’s hard enough trying to ‘fit in’ to the mold we think we’re meant to fit into, but it’s even harder when others are reinforcing that and hurting you with their words or actions. No one person has the right to make someone else feel inferior or judge whether or not they fit into their perception of beauty. How wonderful would it be to live in a world where we are each others mirrors, to point out the beauty in others, to remind one another of our light. Doesn’t that sound amazing? It starts with me, and it starts with you. Let’s encourage ourselves to be kind to the girl in the mirror and cultivate more self love.
The fact of the matter is, you’re allowed to love yourself. Embrace you, you are wonderful, you are beautiful, you are enough…just the way you are. The scars, imperfections and flaws you see…it’s what makes you YOU, we all have them and we all see them on ourselves but it’s about time we let go of the pressure to be perfect (because there’s no such thing) and just embrace all that we are that makes us beautiful. And you want to know the best bit? Beauty comes from within, it’s what’s on the inside that counts. And your beauty, beautiful girl, shines so bright. You don’t have to be anything other than who and what you already are.
This video is incredibly powerful and empowering, I don’t think you can watch it and not be moved, not be reminded of your worth and not feel the need to be kind…not just to yourself, but to others.
The lyrics and video are posted below.
I’d love to hear your thoughts, what does the message behind this song mean to you?
Share in the comments below.
LYRICS // SCARS TO YOUR BEAUTIFUL
She just wants to be beautiful
She goes unnoticed, she knows no limits,
She craves attention, she praises an image,
She prays to be sculpted by the sculptor
Oh she don’t see the light that’s shining
Deeper than the eyes can find it
Maybe we have made her blind
So she tries to cover up her pain, and cut her woes away
‘Cause covergirls don’t cry after their face is made
But there’s a hope that’s waiting for you in the dark
You should know you’re beautiful just the way you are
And you don’t have to change a thing
The world could change its heart
No scars to your beautiful, we’re stars and we’re beautiful
Oh-oh, oh-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh
And you don’t have to change a thing
The world could change its heart
No scars to your beautiful, we’re stars and we’re beautiful
She has dreams to be an envy, so she’s starving
You know, “Covergirls eat nothing.”
She says, “Beauty is pain and there’s beauty in everything.”
“What’s a little bit of hunger?”
“I can go a little while longer,” she fades away
She don’t see her perfect, she don’t understand she’s worth it
Or that beauty goes deeper than the surface
Ah oh, ah ah oh,
So to all the girls that’s hurting
Let me be your mirror, help you see a little bit clearer
The light that shines within
There’s a hope that’s waiting for you in the dark
You should know you’re beautiful just the way you are
And you don’t have to change a thing
The world could change its heart
No scars to your beautiful, we’re stars and we’re beautiful
Oh-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh-oh
And you don’t have to change a thing
The world could change its heart
No scars to your beautiful, we’re stars and we’re beautiful
No better you than the you that you are
(no better you than the you that you are)
No better life than the life we’re living
(no better life than the life we’re living)
No better time for your shine, you’re a star
(no better time for your shine, you’re a star)
Oh, you’re beautiful, oh, you’re beautiful
There’s a hope that’s waiting for you in the dark
You should know you’re beautiful just the way you are
And you don’t have to change a thing
The world could change its heart
No scars to your beautiful, we’re stars and we’re beautiful
Whoa-oh-oh-oh, whoa-oh-oh-oh, whoa-oh-oh-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh-oh
And you don’t have to change a thing
The world could change its heart
No scars to your beautiful, we’re stars and we’re beautiful
** Image credit via alessiacara.com