Living Beauty

Who is the happy Warrior?  Who is he That every man in arms should wish to be? – It is the generous Spirit, who, when brought Among the tasks of real life, hath wrought Upon the plan that pleased his boyish thought: Whose high endeavours are an inward light That makes the path before him always bright; Who, with a natural instinct to perform, is diligent to learn; What knowledge can perform, is diligent to learn; Abides by this resolve, and stops not there, But makes his moral being his prime care; Who, doomed to go in company with Pain, And Fear, and Bloodshed, miserable train! Turns his necessity to glorious gain….  – William Wordsworth

How do you view beauty?  Humans in our current society tend to think of beauty in people as something superficial.  Something we create with make-up tutorials, really good hair, thousands of squats or bench presses and push-up jeans.  The Merriam-Webster dictionary describes beauty as “A beautiful person or thing” to “A brilliant, extreme, or egregious example or instance”, but the most appropriate for what Wordsworth and Byron are describing seem to me to be:” A particularly graceful, ornamental, or excellent quality” and “The quality or aggregate (combination) of qualities in a person or thing that gives pleasure to the senses or pleasurably exalts the mind or spirit”.  

Just thinking about that last definition feels beautiful to me.  The quality or qualities in a person that give pleasure to the senses or pleasurably exalts the mind or spirit.  This is what Byron and Wordsworth are describing as ideals.  Yes, the woman Byron describes is clearly physically pleasing, but he suggests that it is the goodness and innocence within (all below) that creates this beauty.  

I believe we can and should create beauty in every aspect of our lives, from how we feel about our physical selves and – how we treat ourselves with love and compassion – to the sacredness of the spaces we live in.  But how often do we think to bring beauty not just into how we look but  into who we are?  What if instead of focusing so much on our exterior appearance, we put our focus on our beauty being intrinsic  (to belong naturally; an essential aspect of our nature)? 

 In the poem above, Byron describes an ideal beauty. “She walks in beauty, like the night, of cloudless climes and starry skies…” It gives me goosebumps and just feels beautiful, but what I love best about this poem is how he goes on to explain that it is her inner beauty that creates the truth in her outer beauty:

“Where thoughts serenely sweet express, how pure, how dear their dwelling place…the smiles that win, the tints that glow, But tell of days in goodness spent, A mind at peace with all below, A heart whose love is innocent!” 

But tell of days in goodness spent, a mind at peace with all below… Byron refers to how the goodness of her nature is a large part of what makes this beauty so memorable.  Yes, Byron.  Real Beauty isn’t something we create with make-up tutorials, thousands of squats or bench presses, perfect hair and push-up jeans.  Real beauty begins with a mind at peace and a heart that is innocent, and it is just as easy – and more lasting – to create as the hours we spend each day tending to the exterior aspect of our beings.  Real beauty lights us from within and gives us that “glow” more than any makeup primer could.

For us, creating this intrinsic beauty requires starting from within, learning to love who we are, and moving outward rather than trying to live up to a standard of superficial beauty that just isn’t sustainable.  What if we, as a people, nurtured and developed our own intrinsic value – the generosity of our spirits, the kindness of our hearts and the grace we can extend to others while also creating a life that looks and feels beautiful on the outside?

From there, we can learn to share these aspects of our beauty with those around us, perhaps starting a trend – where does she get her glow? – even more instagram-worthy than the latest lip-puffing trend. 

Here are a few ways to begin tapping into the beauty of spirit: 

• Love yourself. Truly.  You can be the loving parent to yourself that you never had.  Give yourself good – hugs included.  Self-care is so important, and something as simple as a long hot bath or preparing yourself a meal that you want can go a long way in creating an environment of love for yourself.  
• Remind yourself of your radiance, your capability, and your Divinity.  Really.  Take a good long look in the mirror and tell yourself that you are amazing.  Because you are.  Make it your mantra. We have a culture that teaches 
• Breathe deeply.  Breathing lowers cortisol and blood pressure, increases immunity, increases oxygen to the brain and bloodstream, and keeps our skin connected to our inner world and helps us to center, 
• Meditate – Tune into the deepest part of yourself and you will find your most beautiful self – I promise. 
• Pray – Whether you are praying to God, Source, Universal intelligence or the divine within, prayer works – and also reminds us of the goodness of our essential nature. 
• Move.  Dance, run, walk, practice martial arts or whatever feels right to you.  Moving not only creates better health but also takes us out of our minds and into our bodies and spirit. 
• Take accountability for every aspect of your life.  Stop blaming others and forgive all who you believe have wronged you.  It’s impossible to move forward when our past binds us.  #letthatshitgo.  Stop the shame, yourself included.  In fact, stop the shame to yourself most of all.  We treat others in the way we feel within.  If we are constantly judging or shaming ourselves, that behavior will become our outer reality, as well.  
• Nourish yourself.  Eat well.  Give your body good nutrition and take time to savor your meals. 

• Create a sacred space for yourself.  Someplace that feels beautiful and where you can feel who you are, a retreat from those hard things we all must experience sometimes.  A place where we can transform this contrast, this “necessity to glorious gain”, as Wordsworth speaks of in his poem.  
• Bring beauty into every aspect of your life.  How would you dress if you were completely authentic – ignoring what others were wearing to create a look that was your own?  How do you feel in your home?  Do you surround yourself with things that feel beautiful?  What kind of art do you love? 

Thrift and consignment stores are a good place to look if you are designing on a budget, but start by looking online and in magazines for styles that speak to you personally. Once you have crystallized the look you are going for, pick up a piece or two of art, furniture, or other home decor as you are able.  A few items that reflect who you are can go a long way towards creating a space that you love to spend time in and feels wonderful and welcoming for others, as well.  I love color and fill my home with vibrant art, lots of books, plants and of course, treasures from my family, but I also appreciate homes that have a zen-like quality in simplicity and refinement.  Whatever speaks to you personally will reflect your inner beauty to others.

You are a beautiful, amazing being, and absolutely deserve to feel that down to your bones, in every aspect of who you are.  

Much love!❤️

• Terah