Inner Beauty

She’s beautiful because she has long curly hair and light skinned. He’s handsome because he’s tall and has an athletic body. On the other hand a woman is far from gorgeous because of her curvaceous body and dark skin. Or a man is hideous with his four eyes and red hair. We all face a time in our lives where we are judged by our hair color, skin color, or our body size which all make up our outer beauty. Today we live in a condemnatory society where we focus on the outside appearance of people. For instance in the media, women are recognized for their physical appearance-their face, their body, their smile, their hair, and their projection. The same happens with men, it’s all about looks. Let’s take a minute to think. Should we really be concerned about our outer beauty that will change overtime, or should we focus on our inner beauty which matters the most? “Outer beauty attracts, but inner beauty captivates.”- Kate Angell. What exactly does that quote mean? Firstly let’s explore the real meaning of the two kinds of beauty mentioned. What exactly is inner beauty? It is the purest expression of beauty that the soul has to offer.

While Outer beauty can be used to gain instant and temporary gratification in the physical sense, Inner beauty is “Spiritual Magic” which enables the person who possesses it to enjoy permanent contentment. Inner beauty can be described or compared to a warm glow that radiates from a burning coal that burns deep within the person who possesses it. It has the wonderful ability of making an average person have a strong presence. Persons who possess Inner beauty have positive and innovative personalities. They are well-read and have a wide variety of interests. In other words they have a sincere interest in life. When we encounter someone who possesses Inner beauty, time seems to stand still as we gaze in wonder at this special person who is standing before us. Just as Outer beauty can be manufactured from without, Inner beauty can be created from within. The big difference between the two is that while Outer beauty is temporary and fleeting, Inner beauty is permanent and radiant.

John 7:24 says ‘Do not judge by appearances, but judge with right judgment”. Inner beauty is inside each of us. We are all beautiful in God’s eyes as we are created in his image. God does not create rubbish. He loves us unconditionally. God says “ Come as you are”, because how we appear physically will not get us into the kingdom of heaven, the beauty of our souls will. We should keep in mind our purpose on this earth which is to serve God and focus on improving ourselves spiritually not physically. In addition to this, outer beauty is viewed as one’s physical appearance or external features. Although each one of us is entitled to look and feel as attractive as we choose, it is important to understand that Outer Beauty, by itself, is only one miniature aspect of our lives. If we rely upon Outer Beauty alone when we present ourselves to others, this amounts to nothing more than creating a false and temporary illusion of who we truly are. As stated in the topic “Outward Beauty is transient”, which simply means that it is not lasting.

When the body begins to age, the appearance alters. The skin begins to wrinkle, the once black or brunette hair turns into grey and you are not the same as you used to be in your younger days. In other words it is not wise to rely on beauty that is not lasting but to work on beauty from within that matters the most. However, it is vital to present yourself in a respectable and attractive manner because first impressions are indeed lasting. Consequently, it is imperative to remember that we are beautiful in all aspects, but what matters most is what we have to offer inwardly. When approaching others the first thing that captures their attention may be our outer beauty but what draws them in more is our inner beauty and personality. Hence inner beauty has the power of making our outer beauty even more captivating. Remember this, a pretty face does not matter but a pretty soul, mind and heart does.