Some people base too much of their self-esteem on how they look. They’ll go to great lengths to preserve how good they think they look.
But props aren’t the real beauty. Props are just accessories.
Beauty should be more than meeting some subjective, media-defined, Kardashians- prototyped notion of what’s attractive. Ultimately, the verb “make up” suggests compensating for something missing or deficient.
Arguably beauty is admittedly a worthy aspiration. There is no virtue at all in eschewing good looks or those perceived to have them. Indeed, western philosophy usually considers beauty among the absolute human values—along with goodness, gentleness, self-control, truth, and justice.
However, you shouldn’t just don’t let attitudes about looks and sexual desirability overtake all other features of your self-esteem.
Feeling your very best—your most beautiful—doesn’t necessarily have to do with the way you look. Beauty is about finding what makes you happy, comfortable, and confident: wearing a specific set of clothes, going for a run, spending time with people you love, getting a good night’s sleep, and walking through warm sand—all these can make you feel good about yourself. They can give you a slight glow that shows.
Idea for Impact: Beauty is the highest expression of our physical selves. Let your beauty radiate from the inside out.
Base your self-esteem upon your inner, not outer, qualities. Define yourself in ways other than how you look. Zero in on what’s good about your abilities, skills, empathy, cheerfulness, personality, relationships, and perspective on the world. Even small shifts in your outlook can improve your overall self-esteem.
What does it take for you to become a more attractive version of yourself? Figure it out, and try to get more of it (whatever it is!) into your life.
No point in being pretty on the outside when you’re ugly on the inside.