Karla’s Korner

To the Beautiful You

On Being Beautiful…..

Sophia Loren once said “Beauty is how you feel inside, and it reflects in your eyes. It is not something physical”

In today’s society it seems that beauty, or the idea of beauty is everywhere. The most beautiful people show up in advertisements for everything from hair care products to antacids. It’s as if one’s physical beauty is their most important asset. As someone who has struggled with self-acceptance my entire life, I have never felt beautiful; until now.

As I sat down to write this week I flipped on the television for background noise and within a few minutes there were three commercials for various weight loss products all promising success and beautiful results. There are the standard programs that involve spending a sizeable amount of money on prepared food that quite often tastes like the packing peanuts it came shipped in and then there’s the pills, shakes and quick fix gadgets that if you order right now you can get two for the price of one. No matter what product was advertised it seemed that the message was the same; use their product and the weight will fall off and miraculously you will be able to wear a bikini by spring. I used to be one of those people who bought into some of those quick fix gimmicks. Did they work? Yes, I lost some weight but it was never permanent. Every time I stopped taking or using the quick fix product I would gain the weight back; often times gaining more than I had lost. And I never felt beautiful.

Today, as I write this I am wearing black sweat pants, gray t-shirt, my hair is damp from my workout at the gym, my make-up is gone and I am in desperate need of a shower; and I feel beautiful. On the outside I am what some would consider a hot mess but because of my physical and emotional transformation I know that I am beautiful inside and out. When I made the decision to improve my health one of the first significant changes I noticed was that I had removed the mask; without realizing what I had done I had un-fluffed my hair and stopped using as much make-up. I was allowing myself to be more visible. The real me was coming out and I liked it.

So what does it mean to be beautiful? My dictionary tells me that beauty is defined as “pleasing personal appearance: personal physical attractiveness, especially with regard to the use of cosmetics and other methods of enhancing it” However, my heart tells me that being beautiful comes from within. Somewhere deep within our soul lies a pure beauty that if we allow it to shine through will outweigh cosmetic beauty. According to my husband, David, “beauty is a moving target. It is not a goal. It’s ever changing. The playing field is level; it’s a matter of where you are on the field and what beauty means to you.” Beauty, I believe is a combination of many elements such as attitude, confidence, compassion, kindness, sense of humor and gentle spirit. Physical beauty is merely an outer shell, a cover over what lies within our souls. Wanting more perspective on the subject I asked my friend Mike to tell me his thoughts on beauty. His first answer was that beauty was personal. As our discussion continued he shared with me that true beauty is about make-up; the best kind, because a kind spirit, love, compassion, humor, and attitude are in fact the “make up” the will make anyone beautiful. Often times as women, we seek and search for just the right make up to help us look great. The most important make up can’t be bought. You have it or you don’t. And if you don’t have it, it would be far better to search the world for it rather than a better foundation or blush.” How ironic that my best beauty advice came from two men in my life rather than women. Their concepts are open, honest and sincere; they are beautiful.

So to the beautiful you here are some thoughts to think about:

What is it that makes you feel beautiful? Do you have a spouse or partner that loves you unconditionally and encourages you to be the best you can be? Is it the way a child snuggles in your lap after you’ve been gone away all day? Is it the way you feel after you’ve stepped off of the treadmill knowing that you’ve taken time to take care of your physical self? Whatever it is that makes you feel beautiful, it’s important that you know you are. My faith tells me that I am beautifully made by my Creator and that for me is the cornerstone of my existence.

Embrace the beauty that rests within your soul. Take time to nurture your mind, body and spirit and you will find your true beauty. My husband, almost asleep, raised his head from his pillow and said “you know physical beauty doesn’t make you pretty.” To be beautiful you must be able to feel it within yourself, project it through your heart, and express it with your words, actions and works.”

For me, I realize the beauty I possess must not be kept to myself, but shared; spread like fluffy dandelion seeds blowing in the wind. Famed artist, poet and author Khalil Gibran once said “Beauty is not in the face; beauty is a light in the heart”. To the Beautiful You, I encourage to let your light shine…

Peace,
Karla

I am proud to introduce a new column to Madame Deals! I think we all need a touch point a place we can go to be inspired. Karla is my children’s teacher, a good friend, and a person with a heart of gold. I hope that her words will inspire you to do more. We are only as good as the people we surround ourselves with. It is important to listen with your heart and proceed with your eyes open. Enjoy!

Like To the Beautiful You? Read more:

• Beautifully Flawed
• Removing the Mask
• Madame Deals I am Beautiful Campaign

Read more Karla’s Korner , also please visit Karla’s Lifetime Moms page and read her articles.

Check out Karla’s 24 Day Advocare Challenge weight loss updates!

What do you think of Karla’s To the Beautiful You article today? Share your opinions below.