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Everyone has their own personal struggles with spirituality, and today's society makes the struggle ever more difficult. Whichever religion a person practices, those views most likely do not align with the cultural beliefs of modern society. In today's society, sexual intercourse is heavily promoted and normalized. This leads to young children having a pornography addiction or young girls becoming pregnant more frequently. This all stems from the pressures and expectations that society places on individuals as seen or heard in different forms of media. Before we dive any further into this topic, I would like to point out that it is your body and therefore your choice how you use it. Nobody can tell you what you can or cannot do with your body. We all walk through society with different beliefs and values. However, everyone has the power to choose how they want to live.
There is a never ending battle between generational and religious beliefs. In this newfound generation, the media has a greater influence on the mass compared to one's religion. Personally, it is difficult trying to adapt to this new generation but still trying to maintain your faith. Many people are exposed to sexual intercourse and pornography in their adolscence. Society has normalized sexual activities at a young age, and this has shifted society away from godliness. Also, many popular songs pertain to foreplay and sexual intercourse,. therefore, the media and society are putting pressure on young adults to engage in these activities because it has become normalized. The act of waiting till marriage or celibacy has become foreign topics in today’s society. People in this generation pick and choose which verses from religious text are best equipped for their life or lifestyle. In turn, they make excuses for their behavior. Even I am responsible for having my liberal views but still believing in the Bible. To play devil’s advocate, some people see pornography as a way of empowerment, but this can easily turn into an unhealthy addiction., This is similar to how lyrical artists write derogatory and sexual lyrics that many people listen to and live by. During my personal path to righteousness, I have strayed away from my faith numerous times. However, you can never go too far to where you are not forgiven. Personally, I have seen the emphasis on sex since a very young age. It has reached the point where I am not able to look at common household items such as a hair brush normally. This society has over-sexualized everyone and everything; it has even over-sexualized me. Women possess certain assets that are both praised and ridiculed. After hitting puberty, I began to “fill out” and this caught the attention of many men. There are now certain outfits that I cannot wear without drawing too much attention to myself. This leads to catcalling and other sorts of behavior. In my opinion, it all starts from pornography. Individuals in pornography are not seen as actual people but objects. Therefore, men have treated me like an object that can be objectified. I never saw certain items such as bananas or water bottles to be perceived as “dirty”. However, this culture normalizes sticking items up their vaginal canal that does not belong there, and I did not know where I fit in with this new generation. Even though I have already lost my virginity, I know I can still live a life of purity. I will attempt to do things in the manner I see fit and be abstinent until marriage. It is important that I always inform anyone that I plan to date about my journey and continue my journey to righteousness with them. I think my past of being over-sexualized and being coerced into sexual activities has made me cautious of who is receiving my body. Your body is a temple and it should be cherished as one. If you are having sexual intercourse with multiple people, then it is believed that they are taking a part of you every time. I am a person who believes in soul ties and that is why I find waiting for the right person highly important. Having sexual intercourse with someone is a very spiritual experience because you are essentially creating a bond with this person. People casually sleep around but do not understand the demons that their partners could possess. Now that person wonders why they are depressed or longing for that person due to their intimate connection. Society has projected that sexual activities are only physical and not spiritual but this is far from the truth. Yes, some people do consider sexual intercourse a very binding and intimate interaction. However, I am speaking directly to those who participated in sexual activities without knowing the demons that other people are fighting. Sexual activities are both spiritual and emotional. This is something I had to figure out as I hated myself after sexual activities because minutes to hours of pleasure only leaves you disappointed in the end with yourself. At least, that is how it was for me. I believe God made sex pleasureable between two marriaged individuals because of this emotional and spiritual aspect. This is because you are your most vulnerable when in these situations. Like many people should not be trusted to guard your heart, they should not be trusted with your soul as well. It is difficult when you wish to revert from sin but you are constantly surrounded by it and living in it. Many people revert back into their old ways due to the fear of being judged by their peers or conforming to societal norms. We were not meant to be like everyone else and mirror their actions. We need to follow our own paths and make our own choices not because of what is surrounding us but because of what we believe in. Walking down a more religious path is difficult and many will not understand it. However, you just have to walk by faith and not by societal norms. My advice for maintaining your spirituality while constantly being surrounded by sin on explore pages is to practice the following steps below:
At the end of the day, it is still your body and your choice. What you believe might not be what I believe and that is okay. We all have our own specific religious beliefs and traditions. I only care about the sins that condemn me and not other people. The different perspectives are what makes our opinions stand out! Always take the road that is less traveled by Xoxo -Gabby
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Have you ever experienced complications when it came to concealing your acne with makeup? For some, makeup is a means of expression as well as artistry. Some people utilize makeup to cover up blemishes. Blemishes are a natural phenomenon and many teenagers experience breakouts throughout their adolescence.
However, superficial blemishes can impede an individual’s seemingly flawless makeup. Attempting to conceal redness and or acne is a daunting task, but it is not impossible. Simple foundation and concealer shall not hide the bumps on your face. For acne prone skin, you are required to use alternative tactics or products for a natural full coverage look. Acne prone skin can be hard to manage and can deeply affect an individual. Acne can have an immense effect on an individual’s self esteem. Acne affects a person's capability to show their bare face in public. Also, it leads them to using makeup as a “crutch” to essentially feel more beautiful. This may lead to covering up the flaws with makeup; I was one of those people because I strived to use any tip or product to cover up my acne. When attending my educational institution, my makeup concealed all aspects of my face except for my blemishes. I was not able to achieve a natural looking makeup routine due to the amount of products I wore. Some people may contemplate whether adding more products to your face helps to improve the overall coverage. In theory, this would aid in covering one's blemishes. However, more products on a person's face would forge a “caked” appearance. I began to experience hardship when I came to my acne at the age of 11 then, I started applying makeup to my face around the age of 12. In my earlier years, my face appeared “caked”; when sweating, my appearance replicated melting wax. As I grew older, I have encountered numerous modern ways to manoeuvre around my acne. However, with the adequate techniques and products, anyone can conceal those pesky bumps. I personally have incorporated many new tactics and products into my everyday makeup routine. Doing so, I have accomplished a full coverage look with a minimal amount of makeup. I have learned to follow makeup routines that work best for my skin. Everyone has a different skin type and texture; what works for some might not work for you. I encountered some degree of difficulty attempting to conceal my bumps, which made me less confident in myself. Before applying anything to your face, you must first understand your skin and body. During winter months, my skin is dry, which gives the acne a more scab-like appearance. In turn, I would intensify my moisturizing and priming routine prior to applying foundation. This is just one example of the many discoveries I have assembled over the years. Just below are steps that aided me in achieving a full coverage look with a minimal amount of makeup on my acne prone skin. Also, product suggestions are incorporated in the steps for a more descriptive step by step process.
These are just a few tips and products that I have incorporated into my makeup routine. Compared to my previous years, my makeup is now flawless and natural. Due to these techniques and products I was able to conceal my blemishes yet still be able to have a natural appearance. As I stated before, utilize the tips that work best for you and your skin. Everyone’s skin and even acne behaves in a different manner. Find what works best for you. What worked for me might not work for you. However, life is all about trial and error. If I never tried new products and tricks, my makeup would still visually appear as a melting candle. Remember that experiencing acne breakouts is completely normal and you do not have to use makeup in order to feel beautiful. However, if you merely enjoy the artistry of makeup then, these steps will guide you. This is certainly a makeup routine that will last. You will just have to bake and wait. Stay patient and see everything through till the end! xoxo - Gabby Most people have found something about their bodies that they detest; whether that be stretch marks, cellulite, or even freckles. The social media era that we live in has allowed for the media to alter our perception of people's bodies. The media has allowed for normal bodies to be seen as unattractive. Whether that be tall or short, even big or small. The media picks apart women’s body’s as if they were on display at the Louvre. The media displays this ideal body type on magazines, television programs, and billboards.
At a young age, girls are being taught to aspire to reach unattainable beauty standards which are highly unrealistic. Women are drastically impacted to the point of developing body dysmorphia or eating disorders. I have had my fair share of criticism in the past due to my weight. I transitioned from being “skinny” to putting on a healthy amount of weight. I did not look like the girls depicted on the television; I had an underrepresented body type. This made me feel self-conscious about my weight because no one shaped like me was being represented in the media. I guess “thin was in” and I seemed to be the only one who didn’t receive the memo. I was bigger than the other girls on my sports teams and in my classes -I thought nobody would notice but trust me, they did. They constantly reminded me how different I was. It took some time but I finally gained self-confidence and so can you. I learned to love the skin that I was in. Nobody can make you love yourself or the body that you have. Even if I do not look like the women depicted in the media, I am still beautiful and nobody can tell me otherwise. Beauty is not defined by any number on a scale or loose skin. Beauty is defined by how you carry yourself. Below are a few techniques you can use in order to boost your self confidence:
These are just a few things that helped me. Everyone’s journey to self confidence is different. The media has been the defining factor of beauty standards for a very long time - too long, perhaps. I think it is time that we start our own beauty standards by there being no strict definition of a woman's beauty; being yourself is beautiful enough. Differences in appearance is what makes us beautiful. Be you by being different. Stay positive and stay true to yourself.
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Teenagers With Experience is an online organisation created to provide teenagers worldwide with an online platform to share their own experiences to be able to help, inform and educate others on a variety of different topics. We aim to provide a safe space to all young people. You can contact us via email, social media or our contact form.
Please note that the content on this website is created by teenagers. While we strive to provide accurate and helpful information, it is important to remember that we are not professional experts. If you are experiencing a crisis or need professional advice, please reach out to a qualified mental health professional or a helpline. |