These Powerful Before And After Pictures Prove That “Perfection Is Overrated”

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#ICYMI Ashlie Molstad sent waves through the internet this week when she posted these honest photos online (below). Before and after images are a constant in our news feed but these images are causing a different kind of stir. These two pictures taken minutes apart show the “same girl, different angles” have been liked over 130,000 times with over 41,000 shares alone in the past four days.

The 31-year-old started “if I’m going to show you the posed, put together, professional sides of me, I’m gonna make damn sure you see the not so flattering sides too.” In the first picture Ashlie is standing up with her hands behind her head – the typical ‘fitspo’ picture. In the second she is sitting down showing off her glowing smile and her toned stomach – stomach rolls and all showing a very different, refreshingly ‘normal’ side.

Same girl. Different angles. . . If I'm going to show you the posed, put together, professional sides of me, I'm gonna make damn sure you see the not so flattering sides too. Because, contrary to what society has taught us to think, our worth isn't measured by how many belly rolls we have, or how many dimples on our booty, or how much jiggle hangs out on our arms. . . Loving ourselves exactly as we are is hard. Because we've been told for years that we're not good enough until we {insert any of the thousands of ideas of perfection that have been fed to us over the years}. But I call BS. I say that the real magic happens when we embrace who we are, at every angle and size. . . This doesn't mean I don't also struggle with embracing this body I was given, but it does mean that I understand working on loving me is the most important job I will ever have. . . Our bodies aren't broken. The message society is trying to tell us {by airbrushing everything, erasing dimples and rolls and fluff} is. . . So even though its really hard, lets remember we are worthy and beautiful and special and ALIVE. Go on and love yourself today, because THAT shit is whats inspiring. . . #StopFixingBodies #StartFixingTheWorld

Ashlie’s honest confession is inspiring women to stop obsessing over perfection and love themselves for who they are.

“This doesn’t mean I don’t also struggle with embracing this body I was given, but it does mean that I understand working on loving me is the most important job I will ever have,” she explained. “So even though it’s really hard, let’s remember we are worthy and beautiful and special and ALIVE. Go on and love yourself today, because THAT shit is what’s inspiring.”

It is possible to be a work in progress and love yourself all at the same time. . . Working today on loving myself right where I'm at while still working towards getting better. . . Don't wait for "someday" to be happy. Start right now. If you're struggling where you're at right now because you just can't seem to find the motivation to get fit and healthy, at least recognize that it doesn't make you a shitty person... It makes you human. Get back up, dust yourself off, adjust your crown, and keep kicking ass like the queen you are. 👑

This inspirational post is the kind of reality check all women need, to embrace their flaws and be confident in who they are inside and out.

As Ashlie points out, “the real magic happens when we embrace who we are, at every angle and size.”

If you still look cute at the end of your workout, you didn't work hard enough. Clearly I worked my ass off today! 👊🏻