Are You Beautiful?

Okay, I'm not going to lie... This blog post is actually a copy of a paper that I am going to be turning in to my English Professor for an upcoming assignment, but I think it's something that needs to be heard! So enjoy :) 

The word "beauty" is one of the most overly used, misunderstood, and poorly defined words in today’s vocabulary. Too often do people take the word “beauty” out of context and twist it into something it is not. While some beautiful things are indeed pleasing to the eye, not all beautiful things have a breathtaking appearance to consider it “beautiful.” For instance, a baby’s laughter is considered beautiful, yet it has no appearance to give it that beauty. 

So why is it that society has convinced women that to be beautiful they must catch the attention of every male they pass and contain no flaw in their appearances? The standards of beauty are so unrealistic that women constantly find flaws within themselves; cracks on their mirror, something that makes them feel unbeautiful. On the other hand, many Christians try to convince women that the outward appearance is of no value and that a woman’s inner self alone is what makes her beautiful. A woman must find a balance between the two opposite views to define her beauty, but where does that definition lie between the two parameters? When women define beauty in its proper meaning they are able to finally face society in their own bodies with confidence and consider themselves beautiful.

Are your lips full? Does your forehead rise high above your broad face? Do you have a narrow jawline and small chin? Is your complexion clear and smooth? Do your brows arch? Are your teeth pearly white? Can you fit in clothes under a size four? Are your legs long and lean? If you were able to answer yes to the previous questions, consider yourself beautiful; “beautiful,” according to the latest edition of People’s magazine and today’s society that is. Today’s society portrays the “ideal female” all throughout the media, leaving women in our society trying to meet artificial and unrealistic standards of beauty. Not every woman can squeeze into a size two, strut her long legs across the runway, and dazzle everyone with her smile, but does that make her any less beautiful? No, it does not; we were blessed with a beautiful Creator who ensures us of our beauty, each day, regardless of our physical appearance.

When women understand that their Creator was first beautiful, and that in turn all things because of Him are also beautiful, they realize their beauty as well. Christ was, is, and forever will be the standard for beauty regardless of society’s changing views throughout time. Each woman was made in the image of Christ, and to deny that she is beautiful would be to deny His beauty. The realization of the fact that a woman is already beautiful simply because her Creator is beautiful is what gives a woman confidence to face society in her own body. It does not matter what her body type, skin color, or hair length is; she knows she is beautiful because of her Heavenly Father.

However, a woman’s physical appearance does not solely define her beauty. A woman’s beauty is also defined by her inner self. When a woman has a positive outlook on life, has a gentle and quiet spirit, and is ultimately a genuine woman of The Lord, she also contains great beauty. When it comes down to it, inner beauty is simply a reflection of Christ in the lives of women, and each day as they strive to look more like Him that beauty is made public. Society may not find those attributes to be beautiful according to their terms, but Christ and His followers do.

Too often women neglect their inner beauty when they focus solely on their outer beauty or even vice versa. Though inner and outer beauties are opposites, they need to meet in perfect harmony to help define a woman’s true beauty. A woman should not neglect her physical appearance to focus completely on her relationship with Christ, while at the same time a woman should not neglect her inner beauty to spend more time in front of the mirror. A balance must be found to create a true definition of beauty.

Women must grow in Christ on a daily basis, and maintain a healthy relationship with Him. By walking daily with The Lord, a woman’s inner self is transformed, made clean, and ultimately made beautiful. Her spirit is made gentle, patient, and joyful, and the reflection of Christ in her life shines with an adorning beauty. Women must also maintain their physical appearance. That is not to say a woman must spend hours on end in front of the mirror or in the gym to meet society’s expectations, but she should make herself presentable to the public, which makes her beautiful. When women are able to find that balance in their lives of both inner and outer beauty, they ultimately define beauty in its true meaning.

In the end, all women are considered beautiful.  Beauty cannot be given a concrete definition for all women because it shifts between each individual. The beauty of a woman is ultimately defined by her best possible self, both inwardly and outwardly.