I know that clean hair, clean face, regular showers and deodorant, a clean hair cut, well groomed face (with or without facial hair), a body that is kept in shape by regular activity and good eating habits, will do more to bring out our beauty than anything we put on our body, or how much we show it off.
Monday, April 19, 2010
Beauty
After this last General Conference, I was talking to Michelle on the topic of beauty. And especially what we would teach our children about it. Instead of beauty being dependent on what we put on our body, our body itself is beautiful. Not in what we show off, but intrinsically. And even more than make up, or flattering clothes, as we keep out bodies fit and active, clean and organized, we shall be comely. God has made each and every one of us, and God doesn't make mistakes. Just think of Mahana. What a difference was made in simply cleaning up, taking care of her self made. It also definitely helps that someone else saw her beauty too. Another important part of raising up children with a healthy self image.
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(from Jason, who was reading over my shoulder) - Yay! Did he say anything about smiling? Because that helps a lot.
ReplyDelete(now from Neoma) - While it is true that what we put on our body isn't as important as how we take care of our body, There is more to beauty than good grooming and health. Real beauty is intrinsic. You used the example of Mahana. We see her as beautiful at the end of the movie after she cleans up, improves her confidence and smiles, but she only became that outward beauty because Johnny Lingo saw her beauty underneath the matted hair and downcast eyes. He didn't see potential. He saw beauty. As coming from someone who struggled through some mean ugly ducking years, I know how much it means to have someone see your beauty when you can't see it yourself in the mirror. It was only after I had a firm sense of worth that I gained confidence and chose to take care of myself and became more aesthetically pleasing.
Your efforts at outward appearance reflect how you are feeling about yourself. (Why try to look good if people just think you are ugly anyway?) This can also be exteded toward other areas of self image. If I think I am smart, or good at a subject or task, I am likely to try harder at it. I will also expect others to see me as I do, and they will.
ReplyDeleteFacial expressions not only reflect our mood, they can create it. There are documented studies on this. I think one of Malcolm Gladwell's books mentions it (Blink?) It is also true that people will mirror the facial expressions of those they are in contact with, so seek out those who express the image you wish to have for yourself.