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    Of course, some questions or requests for help strike a chord, and I feel compelled to answer personally. Here is one such request for advice about building self-esteem from an InnerGoddess member:
    
    Hi Anita, I'm new to your site, but I love it already. The reason I'm writing to you is I need some help, guidance, suggestions, whatever ... to help me learn to accept and love myself. I suffer from depression and a very low self-esteem. I want to be able to look in the mirror and be proud of the woman who looks back. I'm a daughter, older sister, wife and now a mother myself. I don't want to pass on my insecurities and low self-esteem to my baby girl, but can't find a way to be happy with me. My husband is a wonderful man fully supportive of me. He hates to see me cry and have such a negative self-image. As a fellow woman, a fellow sister of the world, I'm reaching out to you for help.
    
    Dear Goddess,
    
    I once ran a poll on my site to find out who my visitors think is the most beautiful woman in the world. More than 500 women voted, with choices ranging from Madonna, Lucy Liu to Sophia Loren and others.
    
    In a decisive victory, 62 percent of the women voted that "the most beautiful woman in the world is ... in the mirror!" (You can read the story on my website to find out more.)
    
    Now, as any girl who has read gossip magazines knows, it can be really awful to look at the skinny Size Zero swanettes in their swanky clothes and flash cars - it can make a girl feel a little inadequate and frumpy in comparison.
    
    But when I looked a little closer at the subliminal message that women must be skinny, rich and shallow to be successful, this is what I found.
    
    Paris Hilton freaked out about the prison-issue beauty products - a bar of soap. If she were in touch with her inner goddess, she'd know that eight glasses of water each day is generally enough to nourish her skin, organs, mind and attitude. Water fills out your wrinkles (or "laugh lines," as modern goddesses call them) and makes your skin glow.
    
    Victoria Beckham, Nicole Richie and others are reportedly losing their hair. If they were in touch with their inner goddess, they'd know to eat a beautiful variety of fruit, vegetables, whole grains, nuts, seeds and protein every day to nurture their bodies, keep them alert, strengthen their bones and nails and give their hair a healthy shine.
    
    Sharon Stone exercises so much, there is an obsession-related syndrome named after her. If she were in touch with her inner goddess, she'd be happy with only 30 minutes of moderate exercise every day to keep her blood flowing, her metabolism firing, her immune system strong and her fitness level up.
    
    The paparazzi love focusing on Pamela Anderson's breasts, Posh Beckham's Size Zero wardrobe and Nicole Richie's anorexia. If any of these girls were in touch with her inner goddess, she'd understand that it takes more than big knockers and boyish hips to be sexy. She'd understand that every crease tells a story, every curve is defining, and that with age comes wisdom. And most importantly, artists and men LOVE curves in women!
    
    I have gone into a lot more detail in my soon-to-be-published empowerment story for women, "The Girl Who Was Beautiful on the Inside (and Therefore Beautiful on the Outside)," but in the meantime, I can offer you this piece of advice:
    
    Your secret weapon in fighting negative self-image messages is your attitude. Understand that your body is a temple, a pleasure and a treasure. Be proud of your tummy that is feminine and round, walk tall like the warrior queen that you are, and wear your clothes as if you're the world's greatest glamour puss (which, as we know, you are).
    

End

You can read more of Anita's columns at ReligionAndSpirituality.com

Or, Reconnect With Your Inner Goddess at Anita's site.

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