When asked what you love about yourself, what comes to mind?

Do you struggle to find the words? Maybe you dig through the social groups you align with at school, such as athlete, nerd, gamer, or cool kid, wondering which identity suits you best.

Maybe while considering what you love about yourself, you get distracted by the possessions you believe are a part of who you are. You may ruminate over the way you dress, the style you carefully keep, and the belongings that contribute to your social status, such as your phone or your social media presence.

It is easy to focus on the parts of yourself you have so desperately tried to change over the years. But I believe the best parts are the pieces of you that you often tried to hide.

When asked what you love about yourself consider thinking along these lines:

Love your failures. Those cringe moments that pain your memory may seem worth avoiding. However, they are also responsible for your wisdom and maturity. Like an update for your phone or computer, things cannot run smoothly if they don’t make time for improvements.

Love your features. From the gap in between your front teeth to the freckles on your nose, no one has been crafted like you. Furthermore, nothing is more beautiful than a person who feels beautiful in his or her own skin. Advertisements and influencers may try to sell you glamour in a bottle, but confidence is free and a hundred times more effective.

Love your spirit. Your spirit is the voice within you that repels fear. It is authentic and real without fear of judgment. It is who you are when you are unafraid to shine. Honor it, and it will light your next steps, keeping you in alignment with your truth.

Love your talents. Allow yourself the freedom to cultivate your gifts. You don’t have to be captain of a sports team to bring value to this world. Whether it is science, art, or music lean in to the strength of your skills.

Love your scars. They are a reminder that when times get tough, you are strong enough to overcome them. They are a badge of bravery and an ingredient of grit. Sometimes we feel broken, but scars remind us that we are capable of putting ourselves back together.

Love your dreams. The world will try to tell you that dreams are for suckers. Don’t believe them for a second. Dreams are oxygen for the soul and the life support of hope. They keep you striving for a better version of yourself.

Love your shortcomings. It may seem counterproductive to love the parts of you that struggle, but that is where the magic lies. When we acknowledge the areas where we feel weakest, we give light to the courage required to become a more complete person. What you identify can become rectified.

Love your faith. Faith is trust. It is an unwavering peace that we always have at our disposal. It can never be lost, only forgotten. So remember that there is nothing in this world you cannot face. Every moment prepares you for the next. You are equipped. You have everything you need to be the person you want to be.

There are so many pieces to the human puzzle. You may be tempted to turn your gaze to the superficial values of this world. But in the quiet of the night, in the depths of your prayers, love the best parts of yourself. The parts that make you a gift to this world that cannot be replicated.