On my spiritual voyage I have learned something about what is beautiful in life and what is not. One of the most beautiful things we can possess is love. Love is immeasurable, and somewhat undefinable, because it is not a feeling, emotion, or act. It mostly resembles respect, patience, and humbleness. Whereas, some of the most ugliest things we can possess are fear, envy, deceit, and greed. These things make us loose focus on our life's mission.
Most of the time we focus on our outer appearance, trying to find the perfect outfit, accessories, and makeup. Instead of dealing with the real issues in our lives that cause us insecurity. While being aesthetically pleasing has its place in this physical realm, it should not define who we are as a human beings.
When I was growing up, beauty and looks were center stage for my family. Unfortunately for me, because I was a late bloomer. I was always insecure, whether it was my height, my weight, or my body shape. Hearing so often how you didn't measure up to people's ideas of what is beautiful is detrimental to your self-esteem. Now, age 30, I am just learning how to love my long and lean physique, my plump nose, and my small breasts. (It also helps that my husband loves it ha ha). We learn to hurt each other with our words when it comes to looks, because we are all insecure.
Here are some things I have tried to help me deal with my own insecurities:
1. Fall in love with yourself. Take yourself out on a date. Whether it be to dinner, movie, or just to a bookstore to read a book.
2. Compliment yourself often. What is your greatest physical feature? Play it up, look in the mirror and acknowledge it. Be grateful. God gave each of us something beautiful!
3. Make yourself a new persona, a fictional character in your mind that exhibits all the characteristics you would like to have. Fantasize about this new persona, and practice becoming them.
4. Spend a few minutes each day being quiet, listen and enjoy. Meditation has remarkable benefits one of them being giving us a sense of peace.
5. Learn to admire others' beauty as their own and appreciate them for the aspect of God they are.
6. Tell yourself everyday that there is no one like you and you were crafted by the Master Craftsman, so that makes you pretty awesome!
7. Realize that you are spirit. Okay, I know this one may seem a little weird, but with daily meditation this fact becomes evident. You are much more than this physical body, so with that, learn to explore it and create with it!
May we all learn to love the beautiful and varied masks we wear and the temple we dwell in. May we all learn to love each other as we love ourselves, for then can the world truly become a better place.
