We’ve all been there…looking in the mirror feeling less than or wanting to change something about ourselves, envying others who seem to have it all; the perfect wardrobe, hair, and radiance. We want to be the MOST beautiful, and the MOST perfect version of ourselves. In our search to be this flawless person, sometimes I think we get lost in the superficial aspects of the word beauty. We focus on our weight, clothes, faces and how to be pretty when we should be looking within ourselves. Personally, I am on a mission to redefine beauty and want to share that journey with all of you. Instead of writing a novel on all the things I do wrong, I decided to focus on a few things that I find incredibly beautiful in myself and in others. When I had this self-reflection, I started to notice that things I have written about in the past like confidence, healthy body image, and a positive outlook are all things that reflect and encourage beauty. If you’re reading this feeling like you aren’t good enough, I am here to tell you that you are. Here are a few ways that have helped me redefine beauty and encourage in me a strong confidence even on days when I feel the most vulnerable to insecurity.
Appreciate a beautiful laugh:
One of my friends has the most amazing, heartfelt laugh that genuinely lights up a room. It’s the kind of laughter that makes others laugh along, even if they have no idea what they are chuckling at. How beautiful is that? She has the power to influence a whole crowd of people without a smidge of effort. That to me is beauty redefined.
Find value in your flaws:
You know the scene in “Mean Girls” where they stand in front of a mirror and point out all of their individual flaws, encouraging one another to bully themselves? Who said that was ok for women to do? IT’S NOT! Like I said before, we strive for perfection, but it doesn’t exist. If you’re looking for an answer on how to feel beautiful, this is definitely not it! From the wrinkle in your forehead to the extra weight in your arms, God made you the exact way he wanted you. If its good enough for him, then it’s definitely good enough for me! Let’s be better at embracing our individual characteristics and stop seeing them as bad things. Ultimately everything about you is beautiful and this is beauty redefined.
Acknowledge your insecurities:
I think this is the real struggle to feeling beautiful. Once we acknowledge the things that we have become insecure about, we can begin to combat those negative feelings. Things that once cause us to feel uncomfortable can begin to lose power over us, and we can regain our confidence!
Be less judgmental:
Sometimes I think gossip culture and social pressure have created an inner dialogue that is so judgmental. Fashion critics, red carpet shows, and tabloids are all so negative and aim to tell women what they could have done better. Can’t we just take a moment to step back and see things without judgment? I am going to challenge you to change your lens to see all the beauty in someone first, instead of resorting to judgment right away.
Give genuine compliments:
Let’s build each other up! Spread compliments around all the time, and give your friends the tools they need to feel confident and beautiful! We all know how great it can be to hear genuine praise about ourselves, and I don’t think we get to hear it enough. This is a great way to know how to help someone with low self-esteem, from your significant other to your besties. You’re worthy, beautiful, and full of amazing personality! Ya, I’m talking to you! This is the way we can all achieve beauty redefined in a proactive way.
Take back the power of yourself:
It’s time we start considering our body as a vessel for our own dreams and goals, and stop letting people have so much control over what they think is perfect. There is no right way to live your life, just like there is no right diet, exercise or weight for everyone. We are all allowed to live with whatever body we want, and if you are living well and feeling happy, then you should not care what anyone else thinks.
Praise yourself:
Take time to reflect on all the things you like about yourself a few times a day. This is the most wonderful confidence building exercise. I don’t mean this in a narcissistic way, but more in a confidence boosting way. Once we start praising our accomplishments and what we find beautiful about ourselves we can stop relying on outside validation. This can really lead to less insecurity and overall a more positive self image.
I think the message of beauty redefined is just to focus less on superficial things, and more on the substance of life. We’re all going to get old, struggle with weight, eat too much unhealthy food, and spend days feeling insecure…but that’s ok as long as we know that ultimately we are worthy of happiness and genuinely believe that we are innately beautiful. So let’s refocus our approach to beauty. Say goodbye to negative pressure and hello to self-praise! It’s a great time to start your journey to redefining beauty, and I hope you will take these steps with me. It’s not going to be easy, but it will definitely be worth it. It starts with you, ladies! Just like I always say at the end of my posts, it’s all about being beYOUtiful isn’t it? Good luck, and keep me posted in the comments on your journey to becoming confidently beautiful and achieving beauty redefined. Let me know what you think is the most beautiful feature of your friends, family, or yourself! Your comments are always real confidence boosters for me! As always and especially today,
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