I believe true beauty is sacred. First and foremost, true beauty comes from how we love and care for ourselves. It’s unapologetic. It’s not about making up for some sort of lack or deficiency on the surface because you aren’t already good enough or pretty enough, or skinny enough, or young enough… you get the point. :) True beauty is about really accepting, owning, enhancing and loving who you are from the inside out!Sure, there is an aspect of preserving our beauty topically with the right skincare routine using natural, healing, safe and effective products. However, nothing can replace or make up for the beautiful beings we become when we are really loving and caring for ourselves.What I am speaking about here is raw, true, sacred beauty.True beauty is more about self-love and self-care than anything else. This is about taking care of our bodies and souls so that we can shine from the inside out and bring our gifts to the world. It’s about letting source run through us.Have you noticed someone who is highly spiritual has a special kind of glow? They radiate more. They are more beautiful in an unexplainable kind of way. There is a glow that you can only get when you are connected to who you really are and to your source energy. To me, this is true beauty. This is our personal beauty blueprint, and it is sacred.How can you be more present and access all of the beauty that you are? It’s easy when things are going your way, no one is triggering you and life is smooth sailing. But what about when things aren’t going so great?The key lies in having tools to bring you back “home” when you deviate from this knowledge. This is the work!How we take care of ourselves sets the tone for how we feel and ultimately how we look. How can we take good care of ourselves so that we can radiate from the inside out? This is the question and the practice. Ask yourself, what can I do right now to feel good? Whatever helps you come back to the self is what you need.As women, it's easy to take care of everyone else first. We forget to take care of ourselves and prioritize our own needs. It's important, however, to give yourself permission to put you and your own needs first, even if that means disappointing other people. This is about filling up your own cup so you can shine as bright as you intend to and spread the love.Here are 3 key tips for connecting and reconnecting with yourself to keep you “growing and glowing” from the inside out, because beauty is an inside job.
1. Do more of what brings you joy. Do more of what you love.
For me, it's dancing and walks in nature. These are my centering tools. My moving meditation if you will. When we are feeling good, we are in alignment and source is running through us. This is because joy and love look good on everyone.
2. Make meditation a daily practice.
It can be easier than you think. It doesn’t have to be a big deal or something else to do. Set aside time daily to breathe even just for a few connected breaths every morning. I like to get up early in the morning to make this happen. It's easier for me to go inside when the city (and my daughter) is still sleeping. It’s about getting ahead of the momentum. Trust me, it’s worth it.
3. Prioritize self-care
This is your reset button. It's important to have moments when you check-in with yourself to see what you need in the moment to come back to balance, source, joy and love. For me, it's taking baths with Epsom salts. Sipping coffee in the sun. Getting massages and facials at least once a month. Workouts are also an essential part of this self-care piece. Moving our bodies helps us release stress and also energizes and invigorates us.Sure we are going to slip up.We are going to be challenged. It's about coming back to your center over and over because true beauty starts on the inside. Be gentle with yourself and you can be more gentle with others.Don't get it twisted, this is not a replacement for taking really good care of your skin and body on the outside :) That is still essential. It's just that you can’t have one without the other. They definitely feed each other. When we feel good, we look good and when we look good we feel good. When you are tapped in, and source energy is running through you, you have access to a wealth of infinite wisdom and love. This is the way we have more love to share with the world.When we are filling up our own cup, we can approach life from a place of abundance and give back. This is how we can access our patience and compassion for others. It is about being fully present in your body so that you can radiate in a way that only you can. It is about your connection to our higher self/source/universe/ god/whatever you want to call it. It's about rising and shining and now is the time!