by Suzanne Anderssen, Brisbane
After reading the Women in Livingness Blog Getting Caught in an Outer Beauty by Sheri Gompelman, I realised I wanted to share my experiences on how I have come to realise that beauty is more than skin deep.
I too have been caught in thinking that being beautiful was about what I looked like, many times.
One particular occasion was at the end of a course celebration, where I had spent 5 days feeling my connection to me – feeling lovely, feeling like I looked lovely as a by-product of first feeling me, and indeed I did.
But in the final hours, preparing for and attending the dance celebration where we all dressed up, with hair, makeup, gorgeous clothes and whatever we chose for ourselves, I lost it.
I became focused on the ‘look’ I was going for. I knew my focus moved from how lovely I felt inside, to what I created on the outer. I put effort into my makeup, I took a long time to do my hair and to choose my outfit, but all the while feeling more and more anxious and nervous about me, the event and wondering if anyone would notice. There was no loveliness to how I was feeling inside at all.
The dance passed miserably, I felt disconnected from everybody, I didn’t feel like dancing and I felt like no one wanted to be with me or talk with me. I felt like a loser! I wandered around in a bit of a daze wishing it would be time to go home.
What could have been an awesome and joyful time in celebration of the week rediscovering the amazing me with some wonderful new friends, now felt empty and sad.
The next day I knew where I had gone wrong and the immediate difference I felt with that realisation was amazing. Back came my loveliness and connection.
Making the cover more important than the book itself was a recipe for disaster.
No appearance can ever feel as wonderful as what feeling the depths of me can feel. And when I do feel that beautiful connection to myself the outer is guaranteed as it is – but a mere reflection of this beauty.
Inspired by Natalie Benhayon, who is an inspiration and true guiding light on the subject of true beauty.