Self-Harm, Lizzie Velasquez and Defining Yourself

What defines you?

Stop for a minute and ask yourself that question. What makes you who you are? Is it your funky personality or your genuine laugh? Is it your passion for art or athletics or academics? Is it your unique imagination?

One thing is for sure, it isn’t self-harm.

Lizzie Velasquez has quickly become not only a recognized face, but also a recognized motivational speaker just in the last few months. She has as an extremely rare condition where she cannot gain weight and due to this disease, she has also become blind in one eye. A few years ago, a classmate in her high school put a YouTube clip up calling her the ‘World’s Ugliest Woman’. The comments on this video were absolutely disgusting. The things that were said would make many struggling self-harmers turn towards a sharp object.

Instead, Lizzie decided to use those insults and threats as ammunition towards making herself a stronger, better person.

One Heck of a Role Model

After seeing this video, I felt empowered and motivated. When Lizzie began listing the statements that were said about the YouTube video, I almost cried. Actually, I did start to cry. I thought back to when I was in high school and how if those things were said about me, I would not have done what she did. Sadly, like many self-harmers, I would have taken the negative comments and turned them into a scar or a burn or a bruise.

After watching Lizzie talk about her coping skills and the strength she has found within herself, I know it is more than possible for everyone struggling with self-harm to move forward in a safe, smart way. It is possible to take negative thoughts and twist them into something positive. It is possible to take what bully’s have said and use those words as motivation.

Instead of turning towards self-harm or suicide, Lizzie went to college and began writing books about her experiences. She got those books published and found ways to become a motivational speaker. She used the negative comments of others and turned them into the strength she needed to move forward successfully.

Watch this video, listen to her words and think about your self-harm. Ask yourself, “Is it worth the marks?” “Is it worth the pain?” Realize that other people are struggling and you too can find ways to move forward. Lizzie did it and so can you.

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