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Self-Acceptance and Beauty

  • How to Use your Most Sparkling Asset: your Eyes

    Eyes are the mirrors to the soul. It’s been said many times and still holds true.

    We glean so much information from a person simply based on eye contact. And most of it is unconscious. We simply know that when we look at another, it speaks a million messages about trust, connection, empathy..and then there’s attraction–something that simply can’t be faked.

    But did you know there are ways to use those sparkling orbs in your head for greater effect? That’s right. You can work those eyes of yours if you want to send a message of love:

    Suggests communication expert Leil Lowndes:

    Sticky Eyes

    “Pretend your eyes are glued to your conversation partner’s with sticky warm taffy,” Lowndes advises. Even after they’ve finished speaking, don’t break eye contact. “When you must look away, do it ever so slowly, reluctantly, stretching the gooey taffy until the tiny string finally breaks.”

    Remember, we help the beauty on the outside, but you’re responsible for the beauty inside!

  • Polishing up your Inner Bling

    It’s mid-winter. For many, it can be a difficult time. It’s easy to feel listless, sleepy and just plain uninspired.

    And that’s not always a bad thing. When we allow ourselves the time to recuperate, regenerate and regroup, we can approach life much more fully.

    With that said, there’s a balance to be struck. Even in the darkest winter, you can find ways to renew that internal shine inside.

    Brighten up your inner shine and add some light to the darkest days of winter with these tried and true methods:

    1. Get moving. Nothing renews that inner bling like some physical activity. Even a 10-minute walk is enough to get blood flowing and increase overall energy. Of course, it is more difficult in the winter. That’s why its best to get it out of the way, first thing in the am. (Your body and mind will thank you.)

    2. Help others. When we give of ourselves, we naturally shine with love..and its a beautiful thing. Who in your life could stand a little help today? A phonecall, a handwritten note, a well thought-out email–all simple gestures that help others shine as well as yourself.

    3. Meditate. Isn’t it crazy that we live our lives without rarely experiencing true presence? Remember, remember remember: your life is now. Worrying about the future or dwelling on the past does nothing but fracture your spirit and sense of self. So take 5 and breathe. Clear your mind. Remember what its like to simply live in the moment. After those 5 minutes, take a look in the mirror. You’ll see the shine.

    Nothing groundbreaking here. It’s all been said before. But there’s a reason…because these “personal shine” methods work!

     

     

     

     

  • Making the Best of What God Gave You

    We live in a world that keeps us in constant state of focusing on our negatives. And for good reason: when we feel “less than”, we tend to spend money on fixes, whether its a fad diet or new make-up or the latest fashion.

    But when we take a second to realize that the marketing world thrives off of our insecurities, we stand a chance of breaking free and looking at ourselves from a whole new perspective, based on reality, not Photoshop!

    So take a moment today to focus on your positive physical attributes. (No matter how much of a perfectionist you are, you can undoubtedly come up with a few aspects about you that make you proud!) Come up with three. Maybe its your pronounced cheekbones or your pale blue eyes. Or your latest funky hairstyle or your pretty, tapered hands. Maybe its your smile or the way you walk.

    Now here’s the hard part: extend that self-pride to other parts of yourself. Imagine embracing your non-washboard abs or the laugh wrinkles around your eyes. Envision celebrating a scar well-earned or decidedly imperfect teeth.

    Life is short. And we’re all imperfect. But guess what? It’s in that imperfection that beauty lies, if we let it.

    Today, remember…

     

  • The Beauty of Imperfection

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    It sounds good in theory, right? But how many of us practice it? Most of us struggle with our inner perfectionist every day. And often, that annoying little demon wins, whispering in our ears:

    I’m too fat.

    I’m too old.

    I’m not pretty enough.

    I’m not funny enough.

    I’m not smart enough.

    I’m not rich/successful enough.

     

    The list goes on and on. Perfectionism is not only dangerous for our health but it keeps us striving for the impossible. And is that really the way we want to spend our lives?

    So the next time you hear those voices inside your head, try the following experiment:

    Think of someone you love. Then think of their imperfections. List them all in detail.

    Now ask yourself: do you hold those imperfections against that loved person? Probably not. Instead, you may find that you actually like those little imperfect details. You probably couldn’t stand to know that he or she might have that same inner demon doing a number on them, right?

    Remember the acceptance you easily give others you love the next time you notice that seemingly “massive” flaw of yours. What you accept and embrace in others should be the same treatment you freely give yourself.

    You deserve to be as beautifully imperfect as the next person.

  • Studies Prove that Self-care Makes us the Most Attractive

    Many of us struggle with feeling “good enough” in the looks department. Those insecurities form a hole inside of us that we can spend a lifetime (and a lot of money) trying to fill. But interestingly, beauty is much more accessible than we’re lead to believe by the media and marketing powers that be.

    Take a look at this interesting study found in Psychology Today:

    Mehrabian and Blum began their research with a simple idea – they wondered what physical features were most attractive to the opposite sex. More particularly, they wanted to discover the relative importance of stable features (e.g. body type and height) versus changeable features (e.g. grooming and clothing) in physical attractiveness. In essence, they wondered what combinations really made someone “attractive”.

    To answer that question, they presented 117 male and female university students with pictures of 76 partners of the opposite sex, varying in different physical features. They had the students rate the attractiveness of the people pictured and also measured their emotional responses. Then, through statistical analysis, the researchers figured out who was attractive – and why.

    Their shocking finding was that, by far, the most attractive features fell under the category of “self care”. These features were changeable aspects like good grooming, neat hair, nice fitting and quality clothing, good posture, and healthy weight. Essentially, the most attractive features about a person (male or female) is that they put forth some effort to shower, groom, select some nice cloths, stand up straight, and manage their diet a bit. No plastic surgery, major gym time, or extensive overhauling required.

    Did you read that? No extensive rehaul needed! So the next time you’re doing a number on yourself, remember the basics (like grooming, exercise) go a long way…and it’s way easier than trying to be perfect!

     

  • How to Start your Week Feeling Beautiful

    Monday is a notoriously tricky day when it comes to self-confidence. Generally we’re lacking in energy and focus. We don’t hit the ground running but crawl out of bed, grab some coffee and hope for the best.

    Most of us dislike the daunting task of dealing with our lives again after a weekend off.

    But there’s still a way to feel good about yourself even if you would prefer to crawl under the covers and wait it out until Tuesday.

    1. Go easy on yourself. Productivity is not at its peak on Mondays. If we allow ourselves to ease into the week instead of putting undo pressure on ourselves, we discover productivity on a more subtle level. Allow yourself more time to get to work, for instance. If you have five things on your to-do list, see if one or two can wait until Tuesday. Don’t feel like you have to get it all done; simply and gently touch in on the week ahead.

    2. Take some time for your spirit. Most of us roll out of bed and mindlessly begin the week. But if we take a few minutes to meditate, pray or journal, we find ourselves feeling more balanced and in-tune. Does meditation elude you? Then simply listen to a relaxing song or stare out the window, trying not to fixate on one thought. Breathe deeply and exhale out any stale energy.

    3. Wear something comfortable and pretty. Most of us have a few articles of clothing that we simply enjoy wearing. Like a colorful silk scarf. Or a piece of jewelry that makes us feel safe and loved. Whatever you have in your fashion arsenal, wear it. This outside-in approach helps us ease into the week comfortably and stylishly.

    So find your own pace at the beginning of the week. Don’t impose too much. Think “ease into it” instead of “take care of it all.”

     

     

     

  • Quick, Easy (and Free) Ways to Feel Prettier

     

    Most of us know firsthand the power of genuine self-esteem. It’s that sweet, intoxicating feeling that we radiate, regardless of what we wear and how we look on the outside. We often search for beauty elsewhere when we secretly know the real answer.

    Here are three fast and free ways to feel pretty, not found in any department store:

    1. Stand up straight and proud. Think of the prettiest woman in the world. Every hair in place, make-up perfect and the sexiest outfit imaginable. Now imagine her slouching, as if she had the weight of the world was on her. Not so beautiful anymore, right? While the days of standing straight in a military style are gone, gently pulling your shoulders back and keeping your head high are and enough to send that powerful and pretty message of self-pride.

    2. Drink a cup of gratitude. Sure, you’ve heard it before. Write a gratitude list and all will magically fall into place. While that may or not be the case, being in a state of gratitude for all that you’ve been given softens the rough edges and makes you appear pretty to the world…simply because you’re mirror the prettiness that surrounds you every day.

    3. Clean your thoughts. Most of us have thoughts whirring about in our head every moment of the waking day. We’ve forgotten how to be present. Or worse, our thoughts are laden with worry and anxiety, making us feel like there’s a constant grey cloud above our heads (how pretty is that?).

    Take some moments to hit the reset button. Breathe deeply and be present, even if its for a few moment. This type of clarity and presence can be seen in our physical being. A clean and open mind radiates beauty that others can clearly see.

    Not feeling particularly pretty? That’s okay too. Beauty ultimately comes from self-acceptance. So if you’re having one of those off days, allow yourself to be there. Tomorrow offers up all sorts of beautiful possibilities.

     

    Image credit: Only Good Pictures

  • Take a Day off of Looking Good

    Don’t wear our jewelry. (You won’t hear us say that often!) Don’t wear any jewelry for a day. Ditch the make-up too. Wear only the clothes that make you feel comfortable and relaxed.

    Dare to be bare.

    Dare to be your age with pride and no self-consciousness.

    It is in this act of uncovering that we remind ourselves of who we truly are.

    Our self-esteem doesn’t stand a chance if its based only on exteriors. By stripping down, we remind ourselves of our true being and can begin to embrace the core of who we are once again. Feel the simple freedom of being alright as is.

     

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  • 10 Easy Prettiness Pointers

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    Do you feel pretty today? No, you don’t have to feel drop-dead gorgeous. Or even beautiful. You just have to feel good enough about yourself that it radiates throughout your being.

    We all know of women who have that “certain something” and almost always, it isn’t just about her looks looks. It’s the way feels in her own skin.

    Confidence. Comfortability. Warmth.

     

    Here are few easy ways to naturally feel pretty:

    1.Smile. As the quote goes, “I’ve never seen a smiling face that was not beautiful.”

    2. Be there for someone who needs you even if there’s nothing in it for you—give without expectations.

    3. Make a sacrifice for someone you love.

    4. Admit a mistake, even if it’s hard to say you’re wrong, and work to make amends.

    5.Share your struggles, putting your ego aside, to make someone else feel less alone.

    6. Create something that helps people. A song, a blog, a support group, a non-profit—anything that inspires.

    7.Help a child feel good about him or herself.

    8. Tell someone what you appreciate about them, even if you feel vulnerable.

    9. Forgive someone without needing to hear the words, “I’m sorry.”

    10.Create positive energy around you by thinking positive thoughts and acting with positive intentions.

    Read more at Tiny Buddha.

  • The Magic of 140 Roses

     

    This heartwarming video reminds us of the power of a generous gesture. Today may we all attempt to lift the weight off of anther’s shoulders and add beauty to the world whenever we can.

    After nearly two years, a heartwarming video that shows a woman selling flowers in the New York City subway for $1 each is finally getting the attention it deserves.

    A man inquiring about the roses figures out that the woman has 140 flowers. “So I’ll give you $140,” the man says, adding: “But you gotta do me a favor, you have to give them out.”

    “Don’t sell any of them, give them all away,” the unknown man says. The woman starts to cry, but the man insists, “Today is a happy day.”

    After the woman promises to give the flowers away and the two briefly shake hands, the man walks away. The woman can barely contain her tears.

    “Free roses! Help me out, guys,” the woman says as fellow commuters laugh.

    The video was originally posted to a YouTube account in 2013, but it started receiving attention after it was posted to Reddit.

    Source: Mashable

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