Soul Beauty vs Surface Beauty

Is a tree only beautiful in the spring? And is the moon only lovely when it’s full?

When it comes to nature we have such an easy time appreciating seasons and cycles but when it comes to ourselves and our human bodies there tends to be the most unrealistic expectations and conditions.

Has anyone ever told you that your beauty cannot be increased or decreased? 

That’s because soul beauty doesn’t just live on the surface.. It isn’t dependent on what we’re looking at but rather in how we choose to see ourselves and the world around us.

The beauty of the soul doesn’t fluctuate when our weight or mood changes… It doesn’t decrease as age increases, either.

This kind of beauty doesn’t need to be chased and it shouldn’t be exhausting or painful when there is actually a whole other side to it that can be replenishing, healing, and unlimited. It can’t be washed off or fade away. It’s not a kind of beauty that’s based on schedules and appearances because it flows through a deep reservoir from within the soul.

Soul Beauty is something that’s equally distributed yet unevenly seen and to see it and ourselves more clearly, we need to soften our eyes and hearts simultaneously.

Soul Beauty isn’t just something we achieve and have to keep up with. It’s a birthright to being human.

The goal of the soul isn’t to “look” pretty or perfect but rather to “live” presently which is living intentionally and authentically.

I used to be so full of judgement towards myself and others. I truly thought beauty required so much effort and lived on the surface… Until God opened my eyes to see and appreciate the natural design of creation.

My mind was blown.

The stripes, spots, textures, lines, and differences between and on us all literally created an ecosystem of living beauty I never want to interfere with again… but instead just appreciate, support, and celebrate.

I’ve asked hundreds of people what makes them feel most beautiful and everyone’s idea of beauty is different… it’s not all glam. It’s while dancing and others feel it when they are in nature. For some it’s connected to a memory. For others it’s when they’re with family. Everyone’s idea of beauty is different but society’s is strict.

You don’t have to adopt the external standards… You can choose something deeper within and break beauty out of the box, too.

As for me, I feel most beautiful when covered in botanicals.. I also feel beautiful while laughing or after a good cry.

When do you feel most beautiful?

Is it listening to new music or while doing something you love?
Is it when your hair is short, long, light, or dark?

In cozy lounge wear or in a particular color?

You can’t answer this question wrong.

That’s the good news here: it’s all beautiful. We are all beautiful.

My prayer for anyone’s eyes hitting this is that your awareness of beauty increases daily.

That you begin to notice it while on walks and while waking up, before any effort goes in.

That you feel it with your hair up or down and in sickness and in health.

Because each day you’re here, alive, and breathing is gift of beauty itself.

Everything else is just extra.

So if you want to wear the jewelry, wear it.

If you want to honor a feeling of going full on glam, do it.

If you feel led to embrace your bare face and go makeup free for a while, cheers.

And if you aren’t sure but are somewhere in-between it all, welcome to being human.

The next time you feel or think yourself or another as “unpretty”.. Look deeper. Look with love into the parts of yourself and others that you think are flawed.. I promise there is something gorgeous on the other side of judgment.

Brittany Withrow