Dear readers,

On social media and various media channels, we come across new body and appearance trends every day:

• the trend towards extreme thinness
• the trend towards excessive muscle mass
• trends for thicker lips, narrower waists, wider hips – and much more

What all these trends have in common is that they set a supposedly ideal image: They set a supposed ideal image in the world – and many people feel pressurised to conform to this ideal.

They starve themselves, eat one-sidedly, have injections, operations, pumping and tightening.

But why all this? Just to fit in? To be ‘trendy’?

Transient ideals – lasting consequences

These beauty ideals are often short-lived – they change with algorithms, celebrities and seasonal colours.

What remains, however, are often the dark sides:

Disturbed body perceptions, eating disorders, mental scars, insecurities and a lasting feeling of not being good enough.

Time for a new perspective

It is therefore more important than ever to critically scrutinise such trends.

We should realise that many role models on social media show a filtered reality – often staged, retouched or simply unattainable.

What really counts

There are values that don’t need likes. Values that don’t fade – and that make us much stronger in the long term:

🤝 Respect

💛 Genuine friendships

😂 Laughing together

🌱 Self-love

These qualities are what make us who we are. They bring depth, connection and joie de vivre – far removed from superficial ideals.

Conclusion

Let’s broaden our horizons – away from fleeting trends and towards what really does us good.

Because true strength does not begin in front of the mirror, but within.

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