Beauty and the Mind

"Wrinkles should merely indicate where the smiles have been." -Mark Twain.

Although a beautiful truth, this quote is a vision not easily embraced by our society today. Wrinkles and fat are seen as adorable on a newborn baby or even a shar-pei puppy. However,  the mind begins to interpret things differently as we grow and the signs of aging become evident. It is no longer "cute" to have visible lines and wrinkles on our forehead, and excess fat on our legs, for example. Our perceptions of what is "beautiful" changes drastically in our minds because the world has taught us and defined beauty for us instead of allowing us to define it for ourselves.

Loving thoughts about the body are rare in a society of men and women with a distorted, negative self-image. It is no longer about the health of our bodies, but rather extreme expectations we have brought upon ourselves as to what we "should" look like and what beauty has come to be in our minds.

I do believe a healthy mind and body go hand in hand. However, when taken to an extreme can be toxic. Body image obsessions often lead to anorexia and bulimia. Both devastating on not only the body, but the mind as well. What we need is to shift our perceptions.

"Perception is a mirror not a fact. And what I look on is my state of mind, reflected outward."   -A Course In Miracles. 

For as long as I can remember I have struggled with body image. Trying to live up to what I created in my mind and what I thought I needed to be or had to look like. An endless battle for what I believed was perfection, but what is perfect in reality? Why have I fought so hard to change what God created and deemed perfect to begin with. Awakening the inner voice and thoughts in my head is what I believe to be the path to lasting peace, love, and acceptance of who I am and what my purpose here is. Everything happens for a reason. I think maybe the reason I've gone through such trials is so that I am able to help others and through that see the true beauty in myself and be ok with the reflection I see in the mirror each day.