Becoming Beautiful

I like myself.  I really do.  This simple statement is a big deal. You see, for years, more likely decades, I didn’t like myself.  I felt lacking in some way, the proverbial not enough syndrome.  I considered myself okay looking, a bit chubby, and somewhat deficient in know-how on most of life’s subjects.  In other words, I was normal.  I have come to realize most people feel insufficient or less than in some way.  I have met incredibly beautiful women who thought they needed serious improvement, whether it be in their looks, their abilities, or their smarts. I have met many men who are so talented yet self-deprecating, which frequently shows up through humor.  From where I am today, I must ask, why?  Why can’t we celebrate our unique beauty?  We are all beautiful in ways that are all our own, yet most of us can’t see it. Here is why I think so many of us can’t believe in our own beauty. If we cannot feel beautiful on the inside, our outward perceptions of beauty become warped. From my understanding and experience, I believe inner joy has a direct impact on outer beauty. This concept doesn’t have anything to do with makeup or clothing choices. It has everything to do with loving ourselves and appreciating how wonderful we really are.  My current understanding is not something I came up with overnight. In fact, it took decades to finally realize I am solely in charge of how I think of myself and what I consider to be beautiful. I feel inner happiness is greatly hampered by misguided or limiting beliefs we tend to develop at an early age.  These limiting beliefs can form without our knowledge because of the meaning we give early experiences.  I grew up believing I was invisible or not noteworthy because I was the third child of a disintegrating marriage. Mind you, I didn’t walk around yelling, “Hey, you, notice me!”  Instead, I struggled with a sense of self-worth for much of my adult life.  That was but one of the stories I subconsciously told myself.   I have a friend who consistently feels she is a burden to others because her mother used to start statements about what she wished she could do by saying, “If I didn’t have children … ”   Each of us has stories that have affected us in negative ways.  By bringing light to our subconscious-limiting stories, we can make new choices and open our worlds in wonderful ways.  I am writing my story because it took me years to understand I was not only in charge of but responsible for the stories I tell myself. Once I got that, I began to recognize just how limiting my stories were.  I also realized these stories and beliefs made my life much harder than it needed to be.  Perhaps through my story you will come to recognize your own limiting beliefs and discover your power to change them. Maybe my story of transformation will inspire you to start your journey of self-discovery.  Feel free to use my story and the questions it inspires to help shorten your personal journey toward happiness. We are meant to live fulfilling and joyful lives.  I know that now.  I wish I had known it when I was younger!  …….. What does it mean to be happy?  What does it look like to be beautiful?  Both questions could fill a warehouse with books.  If you consider some of the things we say, maybe there is an answer there.  Have you ever heard that brides and pregnant women are always beautiful?  Why? Because they are usually happy. How we feel about our looks and what others think are completely subjective. However, no matter what we physically look like, if we are fundamentally happy, we glow.  Our spirit shines through, and it is magical.  Our inner joy gives us a vitality, and that brightness cannot be denied.  The big question is how do we get there? How do we uncover our natural light for all the world to enjoy? That is an individual journey as unique as you are. Telling my story could help you start to uncover some of the limiting beliefs and negative stories you may have that contribute to   dampening your light and rob you of your joy.  The good news is once you see them, you can change them.    ……. My life is composed of the ordinary interspersed with the extraordinary.  I am no different than you.  I am not an Olympic athlete or a pop star.  While I don’t lack for much, I wouldn’t call myself wealthy. In no way can I say I am even remotely famous.  Nope, I am just me.  I am, however, passionate about helping people find their happy places.  I believe our world can become extraordinary if people like you and I can get happy.  What I know for sure is that happiness and beauty are interlinked and absolutely possible for everyone!