5 Truths About the Best Kind of Beauty

I repeated the phrase to myself again and again. Think on things that are noble, pure, and true. Beautiful things I’d told myself as I tried and failed to will myself to think positively. Noble, pure, and true I reminded myself as the blinking LED light slowly but surely diminished my attention span. Positive. Noble. True. I whispered as though something magical was about to happen, but the pull of social media proved strong as the blinking blue light beckoned my focus. Not quite capable of 100% resistance, I checked the notification bar.

Instagram was waiting, seemingly where the best kind of beauty resides. As if the blinking LED light gave me permission to move forward, I clicked the notification, diving headfirst into the picturesque social media site known for beautiful things. Surely I’d find things there that were positive, noble, and true, but before I could, it started happening.

You know what I’m talking about—the subtle and silent compulsion to compare. It wasn’t intentional, of course, but I just couldn’t seem to help but notice how beautiful everyone was and how accomplished their lives seemed. But the three words lingered in my mind, slowly returning me to my senses. Were my thoughts positive and pure or puffed up with envy? Were they noble? And most importantly, were they true? I set the phone down as a small, still, voice inside my heart urged me to try again. So I did.

I started with two simple thoughts I’d always known to be true: Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and it is so much more than flawless skin. So I picked up my phone and tried again.

Here are five more thoughts I found; I promise they are all positive, noble, pure, and true, the best kind of beauty.

1. “There is nothing more rare, nor more beautiful, than a woman being unapologetically herself; comfortable in her perfect imperfection.” – Steve Maraboli

The first thing to remember about beauty is that it resides in you because you, lady, are valuable. Highly prized; carefully created. Imperfect yes, but made in the image of perfection. The more you know this and own this, the more radiant you become.

2. “Take care of your inner, spiritual beauty. That will reflect in your face.” – Dolores de Rio

Whether we realize it or not, we are most beautiful when our souls are whole. When they’ve been forgiven and are willing to forgive. When they’ve been restored and re-energized, rejuvenated, and redeemed. This is the best glow, better than any brightening serum or foundation. It’s long-lasting and enduring. It’s an eternal glow that will be with us in this life as well as the next. It is the surest foundation.

I started with two simple thoughts I’d always known to be true: beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and it is so much more than flawless skin.

3. “Beauty in a person is never how they appear; it is how they act.” – Catherine Pulsifer

Kindness, compassion, and a sincere concern for others and the world around us are some of the most beautiful attributes of a woman. The best makeup in the world cannot mask poor conduct.

4. “Cheerfulness and contentment are great beautifiers, and are famous preservers of good looks.” – Charles Dickens

There’s just something so beautiful about a woman who is grateful for life’s blessings even when things aren’t going her way. Her smile exudes hope, her eyes are bright with faith, and she walks with a grace rooted in trust. She refuses to allow impatience, envy, and anger to add wrinkles to her face.

5. “We delight in the beauty of the butterfly, but rarely admit the changes it has gone through to achieve that beauty.” – Maya Angelou

This one, dear friends, is my favorite. Society doesn’t admit this out loud often, but true, lasting beauty is a process. It requires growth, change, adaptation, and molding. It’s a product of obedience and the love child of grit and grace. So don’t resist the process of change no matter how “un-beautiful” it may seem and feel. It’s shaping you, adding depth to you, and creating another layer of beauty that will shine from the inside out.

I sat the phone down, musing over all I had read, and once again, the words lingered in my mind. Noble. Pure. True. Yes, I needed to think about these things, but more importantly, I needed to be these things because a woman that lives out these qualities in her everyday life is so much more than a positive example. She is beautiful. Inside and out. Monday through Sunday.

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Still struggling with beauty? You’ll enjoy this episode of our podcast: What’s Stopping You From Loving Yourself? How to Grow Self-Love – 120