Inward Vs. Outward Beauty

Everyone has probably heard i said many many times in their life... "Don't judge a book by it's cover"

But sadly...in today's society, whether we want to admit it or not, our first impressions of a person are usually based purely on looks.

Face the facts looks are the first thing we notice about someone. We typically see someone before we hear the words that come out from between their lips.

Is that wrong? In it's self, no. It's when we judge someone solely on appearance and fail to give them a second chance, or learn anything else about them.


But there are two different types of beauty. Inward beauty and outward beauty.

Outward beauty (as defined by Hollywood) is easy to spot.
We are bombarded by it on a daily basis (Magazine covers, television, movies, clothing ads, ext.) It is shoved down our throats that to be considered beautiful you have to have to be a size 2, you have to have a flawless complexion, your hair has to be perfectly styled, and your nails need to always be manicured.

We all have our typical stereotypes

• People who get good grades are nerds
• Fat people have no self-control
• Skinny girls are stuck up and look obsessed 
• Hot guys are jerks
• People who wear revealing clothes are desperate
• People covered in ink are thugs

And my all time favorite....

• Blondes are dumb! (And for those or you who are reading this that don't know me, I am in fact a natural blond and proud of it!)

Let me set the record straight, I am not saying I agree with these stereotypes.... As a matter of fact, these above stereotypes sicken me! The fact that someone can look at me or anyone else and make these types of assumptions with out knowing any thing about them, their personality, or their background is appalling!

Bleed Red is an amazing song that describes the similarities among all men (and women :p)
Wow, basically what I get from that is no matter how different we may look on the outside...inside we all faces struggles, we all have fear and regrets, we all get lost and we all fall down. All humans have a interconnection with each other because we are all made by the same creator whether you believe that or not.
Which bring we to the second type of beauty, Inward.

I believe inward beauty is more important in the long run than outward because "beauty captures the eye, but personality captures the heart." Beauty is only skin deep. As we age our skin wrinkles, things begin to sag, and you will no longer be able to wear those 6 inch spike heals (hate to break it to ya sweetie!)...but our personality never fades ~~ It's who we really are!

There is so much more to a person that what meets the eye. Look a their likes....their dislikes...their beliefs...their hobbies...the way they speak to people...look at those things to decide whether or not to start a relationship/friendship with someone. 

And make up can't cover up an ugly personality. If my face ain't that pretty...I can fix that ;)

What it all boils down to is >>>

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. What may be considered ugly to one person may be irresistible to another. Opinions...everyone has one, but the only one that matters is God's, and He thinks we are drop dead gorgeous! He looks at our heart, not our faces. He formed us in the womb to be exactly who we were meant to be. He sculpted us and designed us perfectly to execute HIS will and to bring glory to HIS name. So who are we to question ourselves? (Mercy Me has an amazing song out called Beautiful, give it a listen!)

And let's face it, the people on TV do NOT look like that in their "all natural" state! (it's not like it's a big secret or anything, but it takes major airbrushing, surgery, make up, and Photoshop to make them look the way they do!)

Random though speaking of TV... Just the other day I saw a man stand up on National television and and ask his wife for a divorce because she reach 200 pounds after having their first child and she couldn't get it all off. He said he wanted her and the baby to "hit the road because he was done with them and couldn't be seen with a 'fat woman'" even after the woman told him she had gastric bypass to help her lose the weight, he still refused to stay with her,  How shallow is that??

So...
Is it wrong to want to look nice? No
Is it wrong to want to get in shape? No
Is it wrong to wear make-up No
Is it wrong to judge people based entirely on their appearance without knowing a thing about them? YES

Honesty time,

When I look at myself in the mirror...I am definitely not happy with what I see.
There are a MANY areas that could use A LOT of touching up. I am extremely self-conscious and my esteem is at an all time low.
But when I look at myself in the mirror of God's Word... I see a strong and beautiful woman trying her best to please her Father.
I see a woman who know what she believes and who isn't afraid to say it.

And I'd much rather be beautiful to my God than to the random guy in the mall!

Western women have been controlled by ideals and stereotypes as much as by material constraints.

Judgment is Content Without Context

Don't judge a book by its cover

You are perfect just the way you are

Don't change yourself so someone else will like you. Stay true & you'll find someone who likes you for you.

For the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart.

Beauty captures the eyes, but personality captures the heart

Beauty is only skin deep

I can wipe off half your "beauty" with a tissue

Fake hair, fake nails, fake boobs, fake tan, and women wonder why they can't find a real man. 

Live...Laugh...Love
Until Next Time,
Racheal <3