The topic of self-confidence, self-esteem and self-love are imperative not only in the context of TRWLA but also in each and every individual’s daily life. I, as a young woman, am one of the fortunate people on this planet in that I have an inherent appreciation of myself and am able to harness the power that is found in knowing your self-worth in order to truly call myself a ‘self-lover.’ Of course I have at times fallen victim to various insecurities and failures, as would be expected considering the kind of society in which we live, however, I have always been able to overcome these moments of self-doubt because of the prevailing self-love that I have been blessed with.
For many others, though, the insecurities and failures, no matter how significant or insignificant, outweigh their self-love and cause tragedies such as self-loathing and even depression. Having a sister who suffers from depression has broadened my consciousness of this world and the people who occupy it profoundly. The way she retracts herself from the rest of the world and genuinely does not see the immeasurable beauty that lies within her, is probably one of the most heart-wrenching things I have ever had to witness. I cannot even begin to imagine a world where I am not comfortable in my own skin, where my mind is flooded with questions like “am I smart enough?”, “am I pretty enough?” or even just “am I enough?”
Depression and low self-esteem is certainly not anything to be ashamed of. Studies have shown that more than 17 million people in South Africa suffer from depression. This means that NO ONE IS ALONE. People suffering from depression need to be told and reassured that this is not an abnormality or a cry for attention, but rather a failure on the part of society as a whole to endorse and promote self-love for every variation of human kind. As a person not suffering from depression I certainly had a lot to learn and understand. At first I would become angry at my sister and wonder why she could not just be happy and see herself as we all saw her. I then began to understand that this negative self-image she had of herself was not a voluntary choice but rather a result of a combination of the following occurrences: bullying, body-shaming, unrealistic societal standards and a lack of understanding, especially within the younger generation.
I believe that as a woman in today’s world, it is extremely easy to become predisposed to self-hate and to fall victim to depression. However, the fact that we are women is also where our power lies. As women we have the inherent instinct to show empathy, love, compassion and kindness towards others, especially other women, and these instincts should not be ignored. As women we need to encourage, support, uplift and love one another, rather than constantly judging and belittling each other. Although depression is not a quick-fix, creating a sisterhood of self-lovers would be an immense first step towards creating a generation of women who find strength not only within themselves, but also as a collective in one another.
5 August 2017
- Caitlin Petzer, Klaradyn
For many others, though, the insecurities and failures, no matter how significant or insignificant, outweigh their self-love and cause tragedies such as self-loathing and even depression. Having a sister who suffers from depression has broadened my consciousness of this world and the people who occupy it profoundly. The way she retracts herself from the rest of the world and genuinely does not see the immeasurable beauty that lies within her, is probably one of the most heart-wrenching things I have ever had to witness. I cannot even begin to imagine a world where I am not comfortable in my own skin, where my mind is flooded with questions like “am I smart enough?”, “am I pretty enough?” or even just “am I enough?”
Depression and low self-esteem is certainly not anything to be ashamed of. Studies have shown that more than 17 million people in South Africa suffer from depression. This means that NO ONE IS ALONE. People suffering from depression need to be told and reassured that this is not an abnormality or a cry for attention, but rather a failure on the part of society as a whole to endorse and promote self-love for every variation of human kind. As a person not suffering from depression I certainly had a lot to learn and understand. At first I would become angry at my sister and wonder why she could not just be happy and see herself as we all saw her. I then began to understand that this negative self-image she had of herself was not a voluntary choice but rather a result of a combination of the following occurrences: bullying, body-shaming, unrealistic societal standards and a lack of understanding, especially within the younger generation.
I believe that as a woman in today’s world, it is extremely easy to become predisposed to self-hate and to fall victim to depression. However, the fact that we are women is also where our power lies. As women we have the inherent instinct to show empathy, love, compassion and kindness towards others, especially other women, and these instincts should not be ignored. As women we need to encourage, support, uplift and love one another, rather than constantly judging and belittling each other. Although depression is not a quick-fix, creating a sisterhood of self-lovers would be an immense first step towards creating a generation of women who find strength not only within themselves, but also as a collective in one another.
5 August 2017
- Caitlin Petzer, Klaradyn
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