Your Appearance is the Least Interesting Thing About You

The first time I heard the phrase “Your appearance is the least interesting thing about you,” I was taken aback. At the time, I was obsessed with how my body looked and labored away doing whatever it took to attain my aesthetic aspirations. I prided myself in my looks, and hearing someone say that my hard work was in vain was like a punch in the gut.

Now, after mending the way that I view my body, I’ve come to resonate with that saying. One thing that helped me was thinking about the people that I love. When I think of my friends, the first things that come to mind are how they always know how to make me laugh or inspire me to reach my goals. Quite frankly, their attractiveness is the last thing that I think of. Contrary to what social media and big companies are trying to tell you, you are capable of being loved no matter how you look. However, as we all know, accepting this isn’t possible if you don’t accept yourself.

It’s a bit ironic how I was introduced to this phrase on Tiktok, an app known for favoring those who fit the beauty standard. In this digital age, it’s hard not to feel like your worth lies within your appearance. After all, if a stranger only sees an Instagram post or Tiktok of you, your looks are the sole thing they perceive. Spending time offline, doing things that provide fulfillment, has helped me tremendously. It’s re-centered my thought process and has shown me that people see me as a person, not a number on the scale.

Instead of placing my worth in my outward appearance, I found confidence in my identity. Your identity consists of your beliefs, hobbies, passions, aspirations, and thousands of more things. I now find pride in my work ethic, my taste in books, and the people I’ve formed relationships with. My appearance varies daily; however, my qualities are not as fleeting.

Looks matter because they can be an outlet for self-expression and make you who you are. Even so, they do not determine your worth.