Making Peace with your Image

Glance at a flower and it will amaze you with its beauty. Take a deep look at the details of each pedal, the leaves and it’s stem and you may not be as impressed. I mean really, what is this?

Flowers wilt; they fall over or break, and very often they have many deformities. No flower is perfect, yet only a fool would dare to criticize the details of that which was presented to them for sheer pleasure. I’m not saying that no one rejects the bouquet of flowers given them (Actually, I’ve personally witnessed an ungrateful critique insult the generosity of their flower-giver’s heart.). I am saying that those who are critical of beauty are foolish.

Sorry.

I know that’s you, isn’t it? Be honest, aren’t you critical of beauty–at least your own? I know I am–and I wrote the book on Confident Beauty! The Beauty Battle is something we all face; It is also something we can win! The sweet victory is not found in the surgeon’s office or in the salon. You cannot purchase your weapons at a cosmetic counter or clothing store. The only way to  fight this battle is by changing your perspective.

You are your own worst critic

The secret to finding victory is not to become perfect, but to learn to step back and only glance at your own beauty. (After all, this is how you look at other people, right?) Stop critiquing ever detail of your own reflection (like others do in their own mirror, but seldom do of your image). So what if your nose is crocked! Don’t stare at it or focus on it. It’s only when you make a big deal of your imperfections that others even notice it. (Or when you become so prideful that they feel the need to “put you in your place” but that’s a blog for another day)

Most of the time, people just glance at you and recognize that YOU ARE BEAUTIFUL.. Imperfect, maybe, but that has very little to do with beauty.

Beauty captivates the heart and arrests the spirit.

I recently spent some time in Southern California, where the Bird of Paradise were blooming everywhere. Each day, as I walked to the conference center, I passed dozens of areas were these beautiful plants dominated the landscape. It cracked me up how many “Wow! What is that?!” type of remarks I heard from people (obviously tourists like me!) also walking by these unusual flowers.

If you’ve followed me at all, you know I use the Bird of Paradise to represent the Exotic Beauty, who very often thinks her tall, skinny figure is too “unusual” to be beautiful. You don’t have to be a Dramatic to feel this way about your image. It may be your short, heavy figure that you criticize. It could be a certain facial feature, a skin condition or the coloring or your hair, skin, or eyes…. It could be anything that holds you back from being confident about your beauty, but the truth is:

“Unusual beauty” is that much more intriguing 

Take a moment and think of the most amazing resort you have ever experienced. How many beautiful flowers or majestic trees have captured your heart in awe?

Consider the various landscapes of the many cultures and climates in this world.

Beauty.

Does it have to be perfect?

If a flower is missing a pedal, does it loose its beauty? If a tree leans drastically, or branches off irregularly, is it less majestic? No! In the same way, your imperfections, quirks and battle scars really only accentuate your authentic beauty and prove your individual  strength.

To take my FREE quiz and learn your Image Identity, click here.

Maybe it’s time we each made peace with what we have and who we are.

 Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature? “So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? “Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.   -Matthew 6: 27-34

*****

As an author and speaker, my passion is in helping women and girls overcome confidence conflicts, especially those involving rejection, betrayal and loss. After 30 years in the beauty industry as both a cosmetologist and an image consultant, I love to use my profession, along with my experiences and training as a Biblical life-coach to help others struggling. If you want to make difference, too, would you become  part of this movement and connect with me on Facebook, Twitter,  Pinterest, Linked In, Goodreads  or consider having me speak at your next event. Visit https://catrinawelch.com for more information.