What is Personal Beauty? The Dictionary defines Beauty as ” a combination of qualities that pleases the aesthetic senses.” We all, however, have our own different ideas of what is considered Beautiful. I had a very interesting conversation recently about Personal Beauty; what makes someone beautiful? Is it how we look; our characteristics; our personality? Is it dictated by our external features or internal ones? I believe that at the end of the conversation the consensus was that Personal Beauty is more than skin deep.
The Beauty industry is a billion dollar one. Lots of research goes into products to make us look more beautiful on the outside, but can we really find true beauty in these products? We can dress up and beautify this body and change our outward appearance. We can add or subtract from this body of ours to get the look we want, but at the end of the day, I believe that personal beauty; what makes us truly beautiful, is what comes from the inside; that part of us that we may be able to fake for a while, but it won’t be long before the real you emerges.
I am sure we have all experienced a person who looks beautiful on the outside and once that person opens their mouth to speak, your perception of their personal beauty changed, or just being around the person causes you to change your mind about them. Nothing physically has changed about the person, but they have dropped several notches on the beauty bar in your eyes. The contrary also rings true. How often have you seen someone who in your eyes is not physically attractive; you probably would not give them a second look, but when they open their mouth to speak, and you get a glimpse of the heart of the person, your perception of them changes. It’s like someone sprinkled pixie dust and the person just magically changed before your eye. They now become, someone you want to be around once you got a glimpse of their Personal beauty.
So then, what are we referring to when we talk about Personal Beauty or inner beauty? This speaks to the spirit or soul of the person. That part of us that impacts our attitude, drive; affects our energy; how we treat others and ourselves. One of the persons in the conversation I had recently, mentioned that there is beauty in all of us, if we take the time to unearth it. We sometimes have to clear away the rubble, the façade; break down the walls, to get to that spark of beauty within the person. She gave a story of a client of hers who physically, by society’s standards, would not be described as handsome or having much personal beauty. Also he initially displayed an attitude that did not change her perception of him for the better. However, after relating to this person for a while, he later went on to become one of her best clients. Not just because of the business he brought her, but he was such a beautiful soul. She concluded that we all have Personal Beauty within us, but for some, it is buried a lot deeper than for others.
This is something that many of us can relate to; be it a difficult client, child, stepchild, neighbor, boss, you name it. If my friend is correct and we all have beauty within us it begs the question, why is it so easily recognizable in some people, and not in others? Is it up to those in whom it is not readily seen, to unveil their beauty to us or is it up to us to take the time to unearth it? In keeping with the Theme of this website “Shaping a Better me,” You are the architect of your life; therefore, we are each responsible for your life. A part of shaping a better you, is to recognize the baggage you carry; the walls you have built, and take steps to remove them to unveil the Personal beauty within you. In doing so, there is no doubt that there will be changes in your attitude, drive, energy and how you treat others and yourself. I dare say, this may very well impact our physical beauty. In the interim, as we each work on ourselves, we would be wise to exercise patience, discernment and great communication skills, to clear away the rubble and help break down the walls, to get to the beauty buried deep within the other person. Imagine what a better world we would have if we could all see and experience the Personal beauty that there is, in others.
