The thing about beauty to me is that I will never attain MY concept of beauty. I am far too imperfect. My features are too big, my body too jiggly – I could go on. Ironically, I see beauty in everything and everyone around me, but myself.
So what is beauty?
Beauty – noun, plural beauties. 1. The quality present in a thing or person that gives intense pleasure or deep satisfaction to the mind, whether arising from sensory manifestations (as shape, color, sound, etc.), a meaningful design or pattern, or something else (as a personality in which high spiritual qualities are manifest).
I grew up in a family that has vanity issues. We all have it. My older sister was/is very beautiful. She also suffers from bi-polar disease and borderline personality disorder. Throughout our developing years she often told me how ugly I was, pointing out my nappy hair; big nose; big lips; oh and my arms were too long for the rest of my body. I bought into it and in doing so, continued to feed my vanity.
How many years have I spent dieting, buying special makeup and hair products that guaranteed to make me look like the supermodel in the ad? Hello! I am not a supermodel! My daughter once asked me why I don’t have any pictures of myself in my 20’s and I honestly told her that up until a few years ago, I hated taking pictures. There was one picture of me that I did like and it was a picture of my arm. My favorite picture of myself was a picture of my arm…
I have often rebelled against such vanity in an Ecclesiastical sort of way, only to be drawn back in by the latest beauty fads on the market. It is apparent in just about every form of media that I am not the only one.
“I am very dark, but lovely, O daughters of Jerusalem, like the tents of Kedar, like the curtains of Solomon.” – Song of Solomon 1:5
I feel that as a society, we are finally getting the true concept of beauty. It is not always blonde and blue-eyed. Sometimes it is short, red-haired with freckles. Sometimes it is 170 lbs. worth of beauty. But it is always love when it is looked upon with love.
So what is spiritual beauty?
I guess spiritual beauty, just as in physical beauty is seen in the eye of the beholder. Only, let that beholder be yourself today. What are your spiritual beauty ideals? Here are a few of mine:
- Grace and Courage under fire.
- Kindness
- Joyfulness
- Gratitude
- A person who takes care of her spiritual, mental and physical health.
- Women who empower each other and lift each other up.
- Love and respect for ALL of God’s creation.
- Passion for a cause.
- Love of family and of God.
Beauty in the Moment
It is often recommended that we focus on the moment. So while we are doing something as basic as rinsing those vegetables in the colander while preparing our meals, let us pay attention to all the senses surrounding this activity. Let us take a moment to acknowledge the love we are putting into this meal. In this love and nurturing of ourselves and others, we will know our true spiritual beauty. Because beauty is simple as it is stunning…it all depends on the moment.
Walking in Beauty: Closing Prayer from the Navajo Way Blessing Ceremony
In beauty I walk
With beauty before me I walk
With beauty behind me I walk
With beauty above me I walk
With beauty around me I walk
It has become beauty again
Hózhóogo naasháa doo Shitsijí’ hózhóogo naasháa doo Shikéédéé hózhóogo naasháa doo Shideigi hózhóogo naasháa doo T’áá altso shinaagóó hózhóogo naasháa doo Hózhó náhásdlíí’ Hózhó náhásdlíí’ Hózhó náhásdlíí’ Hózhó náhásdlíí’
Today I will walk out, today everything negative will leave me
I will be as I was before, I will have a cool breeze over my body.
I will have a light body, I will be happy forever, nothing will hinder me.
I walk with beauty before me. I walk with beauty behind me.
I walk with beauty below me. I walk with beauty above me.
I walk with beauty around me. My words will be beautiful.
In beauty all day long may I walk.
Through the returning seasons, may I walk.
On the trail marked with pollen may I walk.
With dew about my feet, may I walk.
With beauty before me may I walk.
With beauty behind me may I walk.
With beauty below me may I walk.
With beauty above me may I walk.
With beauty all around me may I walk.
In old age wandering on a trail of beauty, lively, may I walk.
In old age wandering on a trail of beauty, living again, may I walk.
My words will be beautiful…
Stay Blissful My Friends! – E
If you liked this, check out: https://livingelysian.com/2016/11/06/let-go-keep-going-or-start-over/
Living Elysian 
I absolutely love this post. Great job.
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Thank you much. It is truly from my heart. Much love and peace to you today. – E
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