Last week while in Paris a journalist called me an ‘idealist’. While some might call me that, I like to think of myself as a realist. I see evidence everywhere of a new world in which we embrace each others differences, honour our humanity and learn to live peacefully with ourselves.
Learning our value is a personal journey that we all make. It is how we get to know our value as human beings. Yet no one teaches us that the strength of our beauty comes from accepting our differences and the differences of others.
One thing I know for sure is that ugliness is not genetic. It has very little to do with the human body, and far more to do with human behaviour. Ugliness is not one big thing. It is a million little things that breeds a fear that you are not good enough. It is this fear can make us do many ‘ugly’ things to ourselves and others. So be warned.
Ugly knows no boundaries. It can eat into the goodness of your life and make you do things that you have never imagined. It shows no mercy and will go for your weakest spot. While it begins in your mind, if you ignore it, it can take over and control your body.
One moment you are feeling self assured, happy and peaceful. The next minute it disguises itself as self doubt and self criticism. Before you can do anything it, it throws you off balance and invades your body like an army taking over a foreign land.
Acceptance is poorly armed against ugly. It is pushed out quickly. As you become anxious, enthusiasm is lost and you start to waver.
Ugly sits silently while you stand in a pool of utter confusion trying to understand why you feel the way you do. Your confusion turns to suspicion and you no longer trust who you are or what you see.
Ugly soon becomes self loathing. Your heart pounds, your breath shortens. Every part of you feels like it is about to fall to pieces and you feel you are drowning in ugly and nothing can really save you. It will shake the foundation you built your life on.
Ugly is one of life’s greatest enemies and should never be treated with complacency. It wears many faces and will tell you many things.
You must stand up and fight against it because it is treacherous. If you don’t, 'Ugly' becomes your world.
In your darkest hours never give in to it. Confront and conquer it, for it has no real power. It does not exist in your body, it is not real. It is only a fear that exists in your mind.
At the very heart of all our wounds lies a profound affirmation of love that gives us reason to believe in life and ourselves.
BE BEAUTIFUL BE FREE
Gregory Landsman
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My Definition of REAL BEAUTY is…
B alance in life unfolds from the inside out
E nthusiasm lies within the way you think and feel about yourself and life
A cceptance is the path to making peace with yourself and others
U nderstanding who we are gives us clarity and wisdom
T rust attunes your heart and mind to know what you want
Y ou possess BEAUTY and all that it takes to create the life and love you deserve
‘Beauty is about feeling more, healing more, living more and loving more’
