A totally wonderful young lady of 18, with whom I have the great honour – and pleasure – to be working with, wrote this and read it to me in our session last week. She is so inspiring that I asked her permission if I could share her words with you. Go girl!

Start with telling yourself that you are beautiful and worthy!

“I’ve always wanted to do this but never really had enough balls.

I’ve always been very insecure about my weight; always thinking I’m fat and bigger then everyone else; wanting to look my best for the camera – spending even hours getting the right angle and lighting just for a photo, and for appreciation from people online.

When you actually sit down and think about it, it’s really sad!

Why am I wasting my time trying to feel good about my self through a screen and people that I don’t even know, when I can do it alone?

Funnily enough, I am writing a play about social media and the obsession with likes and the ‘perfect body image’.

It’s not okay for me to feel like I have to look a certain way to be accepted.

Yes it’s hard – feeling like you are the biggest one out of all of your friends does get you down.

But, I’ve come to realise that there is more to life than what you look like on instagram!

And it isn’t the end of the world having a bit of cellulite on your arms, thighs or dare I even say – your stomach.

If people are going to judge you because you aren’t a size 6 then they can simply fuck off.

People in this social media world, as well as me (because this is  a constant work in progress), need to learn to love their own individual and unique bodies – may that be your curves, your big bum or those moles on your right shoulder – all your flaws and all the things you hate about your self – BECAUSE THAT IS WHAT MAKES YOU, YOU!

I can squat, run and do as many sit ups as I like but I will never be a tiny girl that can wear bra-lets on a night out or someone with a thigh gap.

You need to work with what you have got and stop comparing yourself to everyone around you.

Yes it’s much easier said than done but if you start with telling yourself that you are beautiful and worthy (even if you can’t fit in to a size 6 skirt), then at least it is a starting point!

Writing this, I don’t believe everything I have written, but deep down, I know it’s true.

It all starts in the mind.

Try looking in the mirror tomorrow morning – first thing – and shout out loud ‘I’m fucking amazing’ and see how you feel!

Yes, you might feel like a complete idiot, but I promise you, the more you stick at it the more you will genuinely believe it.

Whatever starts in the mind becomes reality!”

EM, Age 18