Author: C. Kays
Editors: J. Hollendonner, S. Woien
4 minute read…

 

“Anything in any way beautiful derives its beauty from itself and asks nothing beyond itself. Praise is no part of it, for nothing is made worse or better by praise.” – Marcus Aurelius

Our society is deeply invested in beauty. We are constantly bombarded with advertisements for anti-ageing serums, pills that will wash away all that winter weight, and the newest makeup to cover up all the imperfections of your face. Online, our feeds and stories are flooded with people who look like Aphrodite and Apollo themselves, begging for your worship and attention, as they try to sell you a myriad of things that, too, will make you beautiful. However, all of this is an illusion. True beauty is not homogenous and much less superficial.

Seeing Past the Illusions

With technology being at the center of our world and  growing in capability, it has altered our sense of what beauty is. We see people online and on our televisions that appear to be almost perfect. Their skin is immaculate, their bodies are perfectly toned and sculpted, but more often than not it is all a facade. Photoshop, camera filters, cosmetic surgery, and makeup conceal and reshape so much of what the human body is capable of and has therefore changed what our minds think of as the standard.

If we try to keep up with these impossible beauty standards and continue to shape our lives around them, we are setting ourselves up for unhappiness and low self worth. By doing this we are not focusing on what is important. Instead of feeding into this vicious cycle, we should focus on the real world, not this illusion of the world that we are shown through the media. This is not to say however that you cannot wear makeup or change your appearance to fit your own desires. The issue lies in when we are constantly trying to change ourselves for the approval of other people. Grounding ourselves in what is real is what is important.

“If your choices are beautiful, so too will you be beautiful” – Epictetus

The Privilege of Humanity

The foundation of all healthy relationships is not based on physical appearances, but on who we are as people. The choices we make on how we behave, speak, and think are all things that truly cement a deep connection. If we are short tempered, foolish, and pessimistic, that is the visage we will embody and put out into the world. This of course alters the world around us and the relationships we create. If we establish connections with people that have negative personality traits, it will only create a cycle of negativity, and hinder personal growth.

The natural world may emphasize outward appearances, however it is truly from a mating stand point. If an animal has a deformity, it could alert the other members of that species to its less than desirable genetics. Humans, however, have evolved past this. We have advanced to the point where we do not need to be so concerned with genetics to ensure our species’ survival. Humans are at the stage of development where we can put intelligence, humor, and emotional characteristics above all this. In a way we are so privileged to not have to worry about genetics, that we are almost blind to this gift.

The standard of beauty within our society is a drug and we are all addicts. We are constantly chasing that high of validation by others, so much so, that we are ignoring what truly matters. Once we get clarity and see the world for what it really is, we are free to better our minds, bodies, and souls. Empathy, intelligence, and wisdom are the true marks of beauty that will better the world.


Challenge: This week I want you to sit down and list 5 things about yourself that are beautiful. Don’t focus on your physical appearance, but more on your personality. Maybe you are funny and always get people to laugh around you to lift up their spirits, or maybe you are kind and always willing to lend a hand to someone in need of help. Then on days when you aren’t feeling your most beautiful, look back on what you have written and remember all you have to offer to this world.

 

Photo Credits (From Top to Bottom): “Sleeping Beauty” by Jennie Harbour, “Apollo” by Beau Williamson