Chances are you've seen the meme: "You have the same amount of hours in the day as Beyoncé." The quote is available on everything from coffee mugs to t-shirts to bumper stickers. The point of this motivational saying? If Queen Bey can do anything, so can you. People are always aspiring to be more like the "Irreplaceable" singer, but almost unrealistically so. Sure, it's nice to admire the pop star, but loving yourself is key. Tying into this idea, Beyoncé shared the secret to self-love in her cover interview with Elle U.K. She told the magazine,
It’s really about changing the conversation. It’s not about perfection. It’s about purpose. We have to care about our bodies and what we put in them. Women have to take the time to focus on our mental health—take time for self, for the spiritual, without feeling guilty or selfish. The world will see you the way you see you, and treat you the way you treat yourself.
This is relevant for multiple reasons. As much as you may want to be Bey, it's far more powerful to love the person you are. It's not like you'll one day wake up and magically transform into the former Destiny's Child star. Even if you admire the 34-year-old, she's not perfect; nobody is. I love that she acknowledges this by contrasting the phrases "perfection" and purpose." In doing so, she shuts down unrealistic expectations and prevents people from aspiring toward an unattainable goal.
Another highlight of this quote is that Beyoncé emphasizes the importance of mental health and being in a solid place emotionally. She's completely right that it's not selfish to focus on self-care. In a hyper-competitive society, it's easy to get caught up in thinking you're too big, too small, too shy, too outspoken, or whatever label may eat away at you. But at the end of the day, all you can be is yourself.
As Beyoncé's "Formation" lyrics say, "I dream it, I work hard, I grind 'til I own it." She's spreading a message of being confident and going after what she wants. She also talks about how she slays, but the rest of us slay too. It's all about owning who you are and shifting that mindset. Instead of getting caught up in comparisons or criticism, the lyrics serve as a reminder that being yourself is enough. She conveys this with one powerful line: "Always stay gracious, best revenge is your paper."
Between those lyrics and this recent Elle U.K. interview, Beyoncé is conveying the importance of self-confidence and owning who you are as a person. You may not be the same as everybody else, but if anything, that's even better. Instead of aspiring to become Bey, maybe just aim to reach her level of self-assurance — her advice about caring for your body and mind is the perfect first step in doing so.
And just in case you need some extra motivation, look no further than Bey's own "**Flawless" anthem.
