My number one inspiration (correction: obsession) has always been the beautiful and timeless, Jennifer Aniston. Although she is amazingly gorgeous with a body to die for, my love for her has always been way more than skin deep. My obsession with Jen started way back when Friends was still on the air, but my true love for her began about three years ago.
The media makes celebrities look like gods and make us normal folk feel small, insignificant, and discouraged. It’s common for a young woman to become obsessed with certain celebrities; comparing her life and body to theirs, feeling less than them in every single way. To be honest, this is something I’ve always struggled with myself.
However, if you become aware of the fact that the media (the internet, magazines, films, etc.) are often portraying these people only in their best light or even anartificial light, then I believe it’s okay to be inspired by these talented, beautiful people. It’s the comparison to yourself and the belief that these celebrities are perfect that needs to stop. These are people, just like us, with flaws, imperfections, and insecurities.
From Rachel, to Jen.
The fall of 2013 was a very rough time for me. I just moved from a city I adored to a city I didn’t care for. I was missing my friends and the ocean. I had just started a masters degree that I lacked passion for, and my live-in boyfriend was working many evenings a week. So, after coming home from a part-time job that made me miserable, I would sit alone and dwell on my unhappiness. It was not the healthiest of situations; besides the fact that I was overweight and unhealthy, I was stuck and extremely unhappy.
I became obsessed with looking up pictures of celebrities and watching interviews on YouTube. Like many other young women, I was fooled into believing these women were perfect. They are beautiful, wealthy, talented, well-loved. They have the best lives. I was envious. I compared everything about my body and life to that of these women.
Jennifer Aniston was always at the top of my list. She is incredibly beautiful and funny and, man, did I want to be just like her. I became fixated on her and her life. Constantly reading everything I could about her. Watching every interview she had ever done. Studying pictures of her. I was obsessed. And yes, it probably sounds very unhealthy.
But there was something different about my obsession this time; the obsession began to evolve into inspiration and forced me to take a good, hard look inside of myself. Jen lives her life in a way that truly made me want to better myself. I began to realize that instead of inspiring me to want to be more like her, she was inspiring me to become the best version of myself.
How To Better Yourself – The Aniston Way
The more I read about her, the more I respected her. There was a time when she was not happy in her life, not happy with herself, and so she took the steps necessary to become the person she was always meant to be. She cleansed her life. She began doing yoga, eatingclean, and loving herself. She began to take care of herself and make her well-being her number one priority. She took control of her life and her happiness. This inspired me. If she could just wake up one day and decide to not feel that way anymore, then so could I.
And that’s how it began. I purchased the DVD and book by Jen’s yoga instructor (Yogalosophy by Mandy Ingber), and I took a serious interest in yoga. I read as much as I could about the practice, and incorporated it into my everyday life. I changed my diet completely and I spent time nurturing myself. I incorporated self-care into every aspect of my life in a way that I never had before. I became very devoted to changing my life and living a wholesome, healthy existence.
All along the way, I continuously turned to Jennifer for inspiration and encouragement. Even today, I love looking at pictures of her and watching her speak in interviews. Not to compare my body to hers, but to admire her strength and her beauty and to be reminded that it is all a choice. You can choose to live a healthy life. You can choose to become the person you want to be. You have complete control over your happiness.
The Five Things I’ve Learnt From Jennifer:
If you are looking to make the same kinds of changes in your life to become the best version of YOU, read below for five of the most important things you can learn from Jennifer Aniston:
She lives a healthy, wholesome life: There is no doubt that Jennifer lives a healthy lifestyle. She is full of fitness and meal inspiration. Drink plenty of water, eat foods that are healthy and natural, control your portions, move your body whenever you can, do yoga and indulge every once in a while. She lives by an “everything in moderation” motto, and I believe that is great advice to follow regarding diet, exercise, and pretty much everything else in life.
She spends time loving and nurturing herself: It is clear that Jen takes care of herself. She spends time on her hair, her skin, her body, and her mind, and she tries to do these things in the most natural way. She meditates daily, and she rewards herself with things that make her soul happy. It is so important to take time for yourself and to nurture your relationship with YOU.
She is a genuine, authentic soul: One thing that always stood out to me about Jennifer is the way she makes people believe that they could be her friend. She is genuinely kind, and I believe it shows in everything she does. Jen lives her life for everyone around her, while still finding time to care for herself. She gives, gives, gives, and she inspires me to give to the people around me as well. At the same time, she is authentic and true to the things that matter most to her, inspiring all of us along the way.
She is a hard worker: Jen is someone who seems to always be working, whether she is filming a new movie, producing, working on endorsements, doing photo shoots, co-founding companies, etc. She is a true inspiration, living proof that working hard and never giving up will take you far. You have to work for what you want. If you want to be successful, you have to work for it. Jennifer didn’t just stumble upon this success; she earned it.
She has her own sense of style: And not just in the way she dresses, though that is a source for inspiration in itself. The way she carries herself and the way she treats other people is what I mean by her style. She is the type of person that makes everyone she speaks to feel beautiful and special. She is kind-hearted and would do anything for the people she loves. I believe that we should all live that way. We should all carry ourselves in a way that radiates kindness and love. In my opinion, her warm smile will always be her most fashionable accessory.
Inspiration is everywhere. So, who are you inspired by? Find someone who will inspire you to make those changes in your life that will transform you into the person that you are meant to be. I will forever be indebted to Jennifer Aniston for making me see that there is beauty in everyone, even me, and that it just takes a little self-care and dedication to bring it out.
