10 Ways To Feel Beautiful From The Inside Out

With the burgeoning of the beauty, fitness and cosmetic surgery industries, women now have plenty of opportunities to take control of their appearances.

There isn’t anything inherently wrong with having a desire to look good and enhancing our appearances. The problem arises when we attach our self-worth to how much attention we receive from others based on our physical appearance.

To avoid this mindset, we need to redefine what it means to be a beautiful woman.

To make this new perspective on beauty easier to understand, I’ve created a fictional persona of a woman, called a True Beauty (TB) who exemplifies the new standards of modern-day beauty.

These are the ten characteristics that define a True Beauty:

1. A True Beauty is not defined by her size or body type. For the longest time women have felt pressured to conform to a specific body type, shape, or size to be considered attractive. A True Beauty does not obsess about changing the things about her body that cannot be changed. She channels that energy toward becoming healthy and giving her body the care and nourishment it needs.

2. A True Beauty develops her intellect and personality. A True Beauty knows that her character plays an integral role in the persona she projects into the world. This influences her to give priority to enriching herself through constant self-development, learning and education.

3. A True Beauty is proud of her ethnic heritage. A True Beauty draws on modern values of cultural diversity and isn’t ashamed or self-conscious of any of her pronounced ethnically defined features, such as her skin color, hair texture, the size and shape of her nose, or the color of her eyes. Whether it’s her freckles, large luscious lips, eye fold, or curly long hair—she accepts all of it and is proud to represent her unique heritage.

4. A True Beauty is driven by her aspirations, hopes, and purpose. A True Beauty lives with a strong sense of purpose in her life. She does not allow herself to simply go through the motions and live aimlessly without a sense of who she is and what she wants to accomplish in the world. She has clarity about her goals and a compelling vision for her life.

5. A True Beauty is not intimidated by the aging process. Many women struggle with the process of aging because they fear their physical beauty will fade away. True Beauty, on the other hand, accepts the inevitability of the aging process with a sense of peace. She doesn’t resist or fight it and, because of this attitude, she ages gracefully.

6. A True Beauty wants to make a difference in the lives of others. A True Beauty is always looking for opportunities to add to the lives of people in a positive way. She may wish to touch the lives of the people within her own family, community, country, or even the world.

7. A True Beauty is understated. A True Beauty is not needy for other people’s validation. She is self-assured because she’s already convinced of her value as a woman. She does not feel the need to be loud or overbearing in her communication, mannerisms, or fashion sense. Her beauty is understated, honest, and genuine.

8. A True Beauty practices self-love. A True Beauty makes her self-care regime a top priority. She protects her emotional health by building healthy boundaries in relationships and friendships and never allowing other people to mistreat or disrespect her. She speaks to herself with love and kindness and does not beat herself up for making mistakes.

9. A True Beauty demonstrates compassion. A True Beauty exudes empathy, kindness, and shows concern for others. She’s not afraid to express her natural feminine and nurturing traits. She is inherently curious about those she meets and takes a sincere interest in their lives.

10. A True Beauty defines her own standards of beauty and lives by them. A True Beauty is not concerned about the general consensus of what is considered to be attractive and unattractive, or what’s trendy and not so trendy. She sets her own standards of beauty and defines her own unique style.

By adopting the beliefs and values of a True Beauty, you’ll find yourself getting increasingly more in touch with the true essence of who you are. You will be able to acknowledge your gifts and allow your inner light to shine into the world.

About the Author:

Seline Shenoy is an Author, Podcast Host and Coach on a mission to inspire others to live fully and authentically + coax them to chase their biggest dreams (yes, even those scary one’s!). She is the founder and writer of the blog, The Dream Catcher (www.TheDreamCatch.com)