The world around us proclaims what’s beautiful.
We are inundated with images of air-brushed bodies and smiles flashing perfect teeth. We observe Hollywood showcasing stars wearing the latest trends, driving the coolest cars, living in the most stunning houses.
The world tells us beauty is a certain size, a certain hair color, and a certain face shape. It taunts us in order to be successful, happy, rich, etc., we need to embrace what the world considers beautiful. And when we do, life will be perfect. Right?
Wrong.
According to these standards, I’m far from beautiful, and I stand no chance in being successful, happy, rich, and etc. And, if I strive for the world’s beauty (which by the way, might be different next season), I will always come up short.
It’s a good day to stop this madness. It’s a good day to abandon this belief. It is a good day to decide for yourself what’s beautiful.
Don’t let the world decide what is beautiful.
You have your own style, your own tastes, your own groove. Embrace your beautiful self. You don’t have to fit into a mold and look a certain way. Allow you to be you.
You like short hair rather than long? Embrace it. You enjoy wearing flats rather than heels? Go for it. You prefer a makeup-free face? Super. Be who you are.
Be comfortable in your own skin.
When we strive to be something we’re not, we are far from comfortable. Today, let’s stop the struggle. Let’s glace in a different direction and embrace for ourselves the beauty in which God has already blessed us and in what He delights.
What matters is not your outer appearance—the styling of your hair, the jewelry you wear, the cut of your clothes—but your inner disposition. Cultivate inner beauty, the gentle, gracious kind that God delights in. 1 Peter 3:3-4 MSG
What’s on the inside matters more than what’s on the outside. Let’s spend more our time cultivating the beauty within.
I praise you because you made me in an amazing and wonderful way. What you have done is wonderful. I know this very well. Psalm 139:14 NCV
You are beautiful already, just the way you are.
So, friend, don’t let the world decide what is beautiful. Smile at the beauty looking back in the mirror. Embrace your own style. Cultivate the beauty within you. Allow God to shine through you.
Empower you to be you.
Now it’s your turn. What do you say is beautiful? How do you define beauty? What is one thing you can do to embrace your own style today? How can you cultivate the beauty within you?
Blessings!
Julie
Linking this post with God-sized Dreams, and with friends Holly, Kelly and Anita and Carol.
Such great reminders to be all God wants us to be. My years of trying to be someone else have passed, thank God. I am comfortable in my own skin, not whip around with every wind of change. In my younger years I yearned to be someone else. I am totally an extrovert Martha and wanted to be a Mary, tried but only found frustration every way I turned. When I began to ask God to make me the best Martha for His kingdom peace begin to come as I walked in the shoes God had given me. These shoes are country, quick to laugh, lover of people, southern fried anything, got a temper that always needs a touch from the Lord to rein in. And of course i married just the opposite so there is a lot of asking God to keep a watch on my mouth. Keeping my opinion to myself has been hard but worthwhile when I practice it. Love this post, I give this advice to all the younger women I work with. I tell them what ever life brings them will be handled better when handled from how God made them. Going to file this one for future use. Thank you.
I praise God the years of trying to be someone else have passed for you! So many of us either have struggled with that or are still. It’s hard to stop when you’re in the middle of all that junk, isn’t it? It blesses me to be reminded of who God made us to be… like ourselves and not someone else. That’s such a gift! I thank you for coming over and sharing these uplifting words so many of us could benefit from. May God bless you as you encourage others in Him.
Julie, One of the things that makes you so beautiful is your encouragement. So often, reading your words lifts my spirit. Thank you friend for your positive heart and willingness to share it.
Hi Kim! I’ve been thinking of you lately, and praying all is well. Thank you for your words of love and encouragement. Your words and your online friendship always seem to shine into my life at the perfect time. I thank God for you today. Bless you, sweet friend!
Amen, Julie! If we let the world decide we will never make it because it’s always changing as you said. But in Christ we are already beautiful and we need to embrace the woman He’s made us to be, with all our imperfections! Thanks for an inspiring post!
Blessings to you! I’m your neighbor at #InspireMeMonday.
Gayl, you are so right. In Christ we are already beautiful. Amen to that. Thanks for inspiring us with your words here, friend. Hugs to you!
I believe you! I tell my children they’re beautiful and I tell my students they’re wonderful and I truly believe it. But me? I’m not so grace-filled!
I agree, Carol. I agree. May we continue to tell this to ourselves. Eventually it’ll become a part of us. Bless you, Carol!
Be your own kind of beautiful.
Amen! Love these words. Thanks for stopping over!