wellness

Love, Gen: I See the Beauty in You

Whether I know it or not, I’m always struggling with my definition of beauty— from aging, to perfectionism, to fat-shaming myself, to holding my cards close to my chest about getting my period every month to how often I indulge in “beauty” maintenance. In thinking about how I’d tackle this month’s theme, I realized that beauty doesn’t need to be a source of conflict. It doesn’t need to be our own personal examples or reasons as to why we’re not “right,” or “perfect,” or “enough.” For me, beauty can be both a blessing and a curse; it can be both a source of nurture and a severely loaded topic.

In light of our cultural firestorm, it feels like a particularly poignant time to explore beauty— and what it means today. I like to call this the “new beauty,” where our focus is placed on nurturing ourselves first from the inside out, and not the other way around.

Our passion for beauty isn’t for the male gaze or the female gaze or, really, for anyone’s gaze. It’s for us — how we use it, how we enjoy it, and, by all means, how it empowers us.

So, for the month of June, we are hereby creating a new space with an updated dialogue not just about what beauty looks like, but how it feels.

This month embraces the utterly necessary celebration of being comfortable in your own skin — imperfections and all. No one is suggesting that I won’t be sharing some of my coveted beauty products, or my favorite sheet masks, too (after all, I’m still a mom of 3). But changing the way we think about beauty starts with changing the way we talk about beauty.

Language and inner self-dialogue is a game changer in this department. Catch yourself next time and consider what would happen if you just said, “I feel perfect today.” Think about how radiant you’d feel, how energetically you’d move about the world, and watch everyone around you begin to get on your wavelength. No matter how you feel, be messy, and complicated, and show up anyways – knowing that this side of you is equally beautiful and worthy.

Beauty isn’t just about how you look.  It’s not about a great blow out or an awesome lipstick (though they have their reserved space in this department). I find it’s about the things that resonate with you and make you feel your best.  It’s the grin on your oldest child’s face when he finally nails his free throw, or the feeling (in my case) of the grass under your feet and sun on your face. It’s that feeling of inner peace and strength. Beauty should be all about inclusiveness, and celebrating the aspects that make us all feel unique.

Feeling beautiful means something different to everyone. I feel the most beautiful when I’m strong (which is why I like to share a new workout vlog with you from time to time). After I’ve finished a workout and the endorphins are rushing, I feel completely refreshed. My heart is pumping, my head is clear, and even though I might be sweaty and my hair might be in the messiest ponytail, I feel beautiful. I know I’ve done something good for myself and can take on whatever the day throws my way.

For others, it might be when you’re dolled up in your favorite dress and heels for a night out, or when a stranger pays you an unexpected compliment. Or you could feel your most beautiful when you’re in sweats on the couch, watching a movie with your significant other.

So I’m curious: What makes YOU feel beautiful? Please leave a note in the comments. I’m going to take your responses and put together a special post with them. And, if you’re feeling compelled, make a video with what makes you feel beautiful on Instagram and tag me @nowandgen. I’m so excited to see what you have to say!

 

 
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57 Comments

  • Megan Cobb

    I feel beautiful when I finally accomplish a goal weather it be something as simple as putting on something other than sweatpants for the first time in a week or finishing a project!

  • Shay

    I sometimes feel my best when I have makeup on a new pair of heels, or sometimes I feel beautiful with makeup no where in sight and a shirt I’ve worn a million times. But I feel absolutely gorgeous when I’m happy, when I have no cares and I’m genuinely in a good place. I feel that you’re beautiful all the time but you look stunning when you’re radiating happiness ?? you’re so powerful Gen

  • Axelle Dehaumont

    I never felt beautiful. And for the first time in 33-something years, you made me question why. And I am afraid of looking at the answer.
    I have been surrounded, from late childhood on with two notions that have been messing up with my perception of my own self : the standard of beauty from magazines and movies and whatnot, and peer pressure about being overweight and having to diet at all costs and failing to and therefore, not being able to be called beautiful or pretty or even cute. It made me transparent. And I developed that transparency. I just considered that none of the maintenance other women did were for me, as if it would make me ridiculous to even try.
    Things have changed a little after I got really sick last year and my body have changed because of it. I lost a fourth of my weight, I am down 6 to 8 dress sizes, but, surprisingly, my relationship with my own image is still mostly a struggle. A few weeks ago I bought a dress, the first one I bought in forever and I had a shock while trying it on : it was cute. I was cute. I looked like a woman, and not some strange, gender less entity buried into clothes that fits but that I never chose. But then, after I bought it, and tried it on different occasions, I noticed that sometimes I think I look stunning and sometimes I think nothing has changed and I am still that older me. So, I think that in my case, it comes from within. If I am happy, if I do things I love, it shows on my face and I like what I see. And I find myself…Well, decent. But if I am dealing with anxiety or being pushed by situations that are scary, then it shows too.
    Although, I have to say that I have a wonderful green concealer and the perfect foundation for my skin color and that me, the make up allergic, wears them often because, to my greatest surprise, having a good make up boosts my confidence. I am still working on why it does, though, because I am afraid it is a societal norm of what women should look like that I am inflicting on myself. But it works.
    I love how you are facing your own insecurities in order to start a real, honest conversation. And I think I am going to have one with myself too, because I need it. Thank you for that.

  • Jen

    I feel beautiful when I feel confident.
    For me there is no make up or clothe that can make you feel what you dont feel for yourself.
    After turninn 33 I realized that noone ( outside from my family) ever “bullied” me for weight of sink color ( Im from the caribean yet ” i dont look like one”) and its because I learn that you have to love yourself first, so everybody saw me as the confident an social person I am and thats how they treated me.
    I feel beautiful everyday ❤.

    Ps. I love your blog! You talk about real themes that noone ever do. Keep it up!
    ❤????

  • Kati

    Thank you for this powerful post and to answer your question, I feel the most powerful when I’m adventurous and try new things

  • Inga

    For me it’s that moment when my husband looks at me and tells me that he loves me. Even after 10 years of dating and 1 year of marriage he makes me feel like the most beautiful woman in the room because he can see my beauty within even when I can’t.

  • Michigan Ervin

    I struggle with confidence and believing I’m beautiful. Your posts help me so much. I feel beautiful when I’m hiking and enjoying time outside with my family or with my pets. I’m still searching for my self confidence and see that I am enough, and that I’m beautiful no matter what. I’ll get there! Thank you, Gen, for your amazing blogs!

  • Michigan Ervin

    I feel beautiful when I’m hiking with my family and pets. I’ve always struggled with my self confidence and realizing I’m beautiful no matter what. Your appearance doesn’t define your beauty, your weight doesn’t either. I’m trying to better myself in this department. Your blogs have been so inspiring, and I hope to build myself up and realize that I am enough. Thank you, Gen, for sharing your thoughts with us.❤️

  • Lara

    When someone’s genuinely smiling or laughing because I said or did something to lift their spirits–that ‘s when I feel the most beautiful. In that moment, my own smile is at its grandest. The warmth of my heart is reflected in my eyes. That version of myself–that’s the one I want to share with the world.

  • Carly

    I so glad that you’ll be tackling this this month! I was just talking to some of my friends today about when I feel beautiful and how I can more because my self esteem has been down lately. I’ve recently gone through some photo’s from several years ago and realized how pretty I look in them. It made me feel better knowing that I’m my own worst critic and what we think attracts attention and judgment often doesn’t. I remember when those pictures were taken I really didn’t want to be on camera because I was worried about my flaws and looking bad but now when I’m looking at the photos I’ve realized what I was so worried about at the time I can hardly see now. Recently I’ve noticed I feel the most beautiful when I have Oxytocin and Endorphin rushes and I can say it feels nice becoming more cofindent with myself. Can’t wait to here more about what you have to say about learning to feel beautiful!

  • Ellie K

    Beautiful? Well that’s probably a difficult question but I feel the most confident when I look in the mirror after a hard day, and tell myself that I’m strong and capable of so much. It’s hard but nothing else allows my confidence to be strengthened or my self astern to grow other than myself telling me that I’m worth a lot.

  • Lena

    Just like you I think beauty means something different to everyone and personally, I feel most beautiful when I gained knowledge, sitting on my desk browsing through books about things I’m interested in and learning something I haven’t known before. A messy bun, a cup of coffee, something to snack and books, that’s beauty.

  • Kaitlyn

    I love reading your blog and your posts on Instagram. You’re a part of the inspiration that prompted me to start my own blog. Part of my blog is about my feelings towards myself and my beauty or how I define beauty is something I’ve always struggled with. I love what you wrote, “I realized that beauty doesn’t need to be a source of conflict. It doesn’t need to be our own personal examples or reasons as to why we’re not “right,” or “perfect,” or “enough.” This really resonates with me! I’ve recently started to see myself and accept myself as having beauty not only on the inside but on the outside as well. You made me feel better about myself, knowing you too have some of the same struggles and that women everywhere can benefit from this message. Thank you so much for this month’s theme and I look forward to reading more!

  • Panka

    Thank you for sharing this! I do too struggle defining beauty when it comes to myself.
    Your question really made me think…
    But I as a dancer I see myself strong, powerful and beautiful when I look into the mirror while I dance or I watch back videos from performances. I might be sweaty and exhausted, but I do what I love and it feels so good.
    Sometimes it is hard to see myself beautiful in other situations, because in everyday life when I look in the mirror or I see a picture of myself all I see are my flaws and how awful do I look.
    But who will see the beauty in you if you don’t see it? So I’m trying to overcome this feeling and it makes me happy when I succeed (even if it’s for just one day).
    I can’t wait to see what more do you say about this topic.

  • NEFELI

    Great theme for this month (which happens to be my birth month)! For me beauty can be found in the little things that make up our day: a smile, a hug, a walk in nature, a kind word or two, the look on your dog’s eyes, even an eccentric fashion choice you see on the street that makes you smile and think “this is a bold choice, but also authentic- I like it”. Beauty is the product of love and everything that springs from love in its purest and most sincere fills the world with goodness. All these may seem unoriginal, but it’s what I believe and try to live up to; this correlation between beauty, love and life, it’s one of those things that make us who we are. Those little things…

  • Jam

    I feel beautiful when I have time to myself, when I dedicate that time to take care of myself, and only that. I feel beautiful when I’m completely in peace, without worries of my busy, stressful life. So, when I have time to myself, to take care of my skin, to workout, to paint my nails, to hang out with friends, that’s where I’m feeling the most beautiful.

  • Laura

    To be honest when I first read the title of you blog I instinctively thought “well I like my eyes and stuff …” but after I read it, you made me understand that beauty isn’t just appearance, it is a feeling. It is the feeling I get when I’m with a friend who really knows me or when I’m home alone dancing freely to my favorite songs with full volume. Even writing about it makes me smile. Thank you for inspiring me to think about beauty in another way that I used to.

  • Laura

    To be honest when I first read the title of you blog I instinctively thought “well I like my eyes and stuff …” but after I read it, you made me understand that beauty isn’t just appearance, it is a feeling. It is the feeling I get when I’m with a friend who really knows me or when I’m home alone dancing freely to my favorite songs with full volume. Even writing about it makes me smile. Thank you for inspiring me to think about beauty in another way that I used to.

  • Laura

    To be honest when I first read the title of this blog post, I instinctively thoungt “well I like my eyes and stuff…” but after I read it, you made me understand that beauty isn´t just appearance, it is a feeling. It is the feeling I get when I´m with a friend who really knows me or when I´m home alone dancing freely to my favourite songs with full volume. Even writing about it makes me smile. Thank you for inspiring me to think about beauty in another way that I used to.

  • Courtney

    I feel most beautiful when I’ve met/accomplished all the things I am most grateful for in my day. Meaning … meeting my amazing husband’s needs (not just sexually) because he always helps and meets my needs where he can, so we continue to grow and blossom in our marriage. When I have felt the feeling of “I was a good mom today” and gave me 100% to my beautiful kids, not only just for them but for me. When I’ve spent time with my wonderful animals because unfortunately they get the least of my attention day to day. And when I’ve devoted time to me by working out and taking care of my body, eating the way I want to eat by providing healthy options, taking care of my skin with different daily regimens that help me feel good, putting on a cute outfit that represents me, and relaxing/meditating/praying/journaling to cleanse my mind of the negative. I feel when I focus on spending my time on the things I am most grateful for I feel so complete and beautiful.

  • Jordy

    I feel most beautiful when I feel confident. Which may be cliche to say, but I feel that confidence in different ways. I can’t limit myself to say I feel confident, thus beautiful, when I’m dolled up, because sometimes that’s just not true. It’s such a mental thing. I think I have to start my day off in a great mental state and making myself feel good internally. It’s so easy for us to pick ourselves apart (Why doesn’t my skin look perfect? Why won’t my hair lay the way I want it to? Why do I feel less than *insert whomever*?).

    Building your confidence up or just giving yourself a pep talk, makes everything else more fun, enjoyable and personally, makes me feel beautiful. It’s why sometimes I can go make-up free, throw on some leggings and walk out the door feeling 100% wonderful. It can also go a complete 180 and drive me to want to throw on something more put-together and still feel equally great. You have to focus on making yourself feel good and tell yourself you’re beautiful… and then have fun with all the other things.

  • Kelly

    I feel most beautiful when I am in old clothes, covered in paint or dirt or sawdust or all three! Whether I am refurbishing one of my children’s dressers, helping my husband build our chicken coop (that turned out perfect BTW! ?) or taking care of the plants in my garden, I feel beautiful, peaceful and capable when I am working with my hands and creating things and environments that I love! ❤️

  • Kelly

    I feel most beautiful when I am in old clothes covered in paint, dirt, sawdust or all three. Whether I am refurbishing one of my children’s dressers, helping my husband construct our chicken coop or tending the plants in my gardens I love to work with my hands to create things and environments that I love! I feel beautiful in these instances not because of the way I look (which is usually raggedy, sweaty and completely filthy) but because in these instances I feel strong, creative and capable.

  • Saule

    To be honest, I don’t know what makes me feel beautiful, I’m not sure how it feels.
    When everything just clicks into place? When I’m working on my art? When I’m feeling confident?
    Beautiful… I guess I’ll feel beautiful when I’ll finally fix my health, both physical and mental.

  • Nicole

    I feel beautiful when I am nuturing others. When I am dancing and when I am outside.

  • Heather

    I feel the most beautiful when I am dancing. I didn’t start dancing until I was 41. I am now 52 and I get the privilege to help teach 5 year olds ballet, jazz and tap. When my body moves gracefully to choreographed music, I feel free. At that moment, I don’t care how I look to anyone else. I feel comfortable in my body and enjoy expressing my emotions through dance.

  • Celine

    Amazing post Gen! This really inspired me so much I wrote about beauty on my Instagram page! (If you want to check it out search for @caelum.girl on instagram)
    I feel beautiful and strong when putting on my uniform for my work as voluntary paramedic or when I find a new matte lipstick at a Store.

  • Celine

    Awesome post Gen! I feel the most beautiful when I feel like I have a purpose. Like putting on my paramedic uniform (which is my freetime activity) for a medical service or when I go to work at a restaurant and my boss and guests praise me for my good work. It’s small things but they really make me smile! Also I feel beautiful when I take my time doing make-up and put on my favourite lipstick.
    By the way, your words inspired me so much, I made my own post about how I view beauty over at my Instagram @caelum.girl
    Much love to you!

  • Charlie B.

    What makes me feel beautiful:
    Beauty has nothing to do with how you look or what body you have.
    The beauty is in you, your style, your character, your personallity, the way you speak or move.
    I feel beautiful when I am with my friends or just be the person I am.
    Everyone feel pretty in their own way. It does not matter that all others only look at your outer, because YOU know that every human is beautiful , no matter what they look like, you just have to look at the soul of a human, only there you can see how pretty a human really is.
    If you are reading this then always remember: YOU ARE BEAUTIFUL JUST THE WAY YOU ARE! ❤❤
    @nowandgen helped me to notice that, and she’ll help you too

    I said once to my friend ‘
    Beauty is not just a pretty face, a beautiful body or even a cute voice. Beauty is from your mind, your soul, and most importantly your personality. But most people do not seagull to notice. “

  • Charlie

    What makes me feel beautiful:
    Beauty has nothing to do with how you look or what body you have.
    The beauty is in you, your style, your character, your personallity, the way you speak or move.
    I feel beautiful when I am with my friends or just be the person I am.
    Everyone feel pretty in their own way. It does not matter that all others only look at your outer, because YOU know that every human is beautiful , no matter what they look like, you just have to look at the soul of a human, only there you can see how pretty a human really is.
    If you are reading this then always remember: YOU ARE BEAUTIFUL JUST THE WAY YOU ARE! ❤❤
    @nowandgen helped me to notice that, and she’ll help you too

    I said once to my friend ‘
    Beauty is not just a pretty face, a beautiful body or even a cute voice. Beauty is from your mind, your soul, and most importantly your personality. But most people do not seagull to notice. “

  • Diamond

    I feel most beatiful when I get up and take a shower, put on a little make-up (for myself) and I feel good. On the down days, the tired days, (I work and have a 5 and 4 year old.) Rarely do I get time to myself but that’s okay because when I feel most beautiful is when I’m around my kids. They make me happy, fufulled and that makes me feel beautiful.

  • Naina

    I feel beautiful when I sing. I feel so free and it’s both energizing and therapeutic. I can really be myself when I sing, and I’m able to get lost in the music. I could sit down at a piano for hours and just play and sing and I feel beautiful doing it.

  • D

    Hi Gen. I’m not sure if you read through all of the comments yourself or if those who help with the site do, but I hope you get a chance to read mine. First, I wanted to say that I feel beautiful when I am accepted. I’m bisexual, and being made to feel like less of a human being for being “different” has made me feel ugly before. But I have found friends and strangers that realize that we are all just people and who we are doesn’t make us less than. I found beauty in the support you and Jared have for the LGBTQ+ community, whether it be in Austin or globally. I have seen and heard the support now and again, and it has meant the world to me. Finding allies who love, accept, support and fight for us makes me feel beautiful because it reminds me that there are people out there who get it, and me. I want to thank you for that, and part of me secretly hopes you and Jared might post something for Pride Month, but if not, that’s okay.

    What makes this next part hard is having to acknowledge that while I have seen the support you and Jared have for people like me, it’s hard to ignore that you have both befriended and followed someone who has made me and so many others feel ugly simply for being part of the LGBTQ+ community. Someone who has publicly spoken out against gay marriage, who feels that being Christian means condemning gay rights (as well as pro-choice and women’s rights). I understand that you seem to have met Candace Cameron Bure through a mutual friend while you and Jared were in California. On the surface, she seems like a very kind person, and I know she has a new book all about spreading kindness. I want to give you and Jared the benefit of the doubt that perhaps you are unaware of the statements she has made in the past since it was three years ago when she first made her feelings publicly known on television. She is anti-gay marriage, though, and doesn’t think we should be allowed the same rights as other people. She has tried to say she’s not homophobic because she has “close gay friends” but that’s like when a white person tries to say they’re not racist because they have black friends after making a racist comment. I know full well that you and Jared (and I think Jensen and Danneel) are very open and welcoming to people and I love that about you guys. But Jared has said before that it’s based on if people are kind, and Candace Cameron Bure has not been kind to people like me. She does not make me feel beautiful or accepted. And when I saw that you and Jared followed her on Instagram, I cried for two days straight because I felt ugly again. I’m not trying to make you or Jared feel bad because I’m not even sure if you’re aware of the comments she has made before and I know (or hope) that you don’t agree with them. I just felt that it was important to at least be open and honest with you how it makes me and others in my community feel who do know about the things she has said, her actions, and the anti-LGBTQ+ people she continues to openly support now. She and some of her friends and some of the people she supports make me feel ugly, and I hate having that tied to you or Jared at all. It’s been a painful weekend and I haven’t felt sure how to address my feelings, but I thought that at least writing this would help. To be clear, I know I’m a stranger. In the long run, I mean nothing to you or Jared’s lives. I’m a random voice on a screen and I don’t even know if you’ll ever get the chance to read this or if my comment will be deleted before you get the chance to. I would never tell you who to unfollow or who to not be friends with; I would never dream of controlling another person’s life or choices. My goal was to share my knowledge of who this woman is in case you didn’t know the full story. She does well to hide her personal opinions on controversial matters on her social media, but if you research, you will uncover the truth of what she thinks about people like me, or at the very least, her thoughts about my rights as a human being. Again, I don’t expect anything from either you or Jared. I love you guys and everything you have done. This has been a hard time trying to figure out whether or not I should unfollow, but I am comfortable with giving you both the benefit of the doubt that you are unaware of where Bure stands or the statements she has made against the LGBTQ+ community in the past. From what I’ve seen, it looks like a lot of people — even some within my community — are not aware of it, either. Some only know that she is DJ Tanner from Full House, and that’s it.

    Anyway, I’m not sure you’ll ever see this, but I just wanted to share in hopes of spreading awareness and hopefully helping myself to feel beautiful again. My trust wavered for a minute there, but today I again do trust that you and Jared do support and accept people like me. Knowledge is power. I wish you and Jared and your family nothing but love and hope you all enjoy the rest of hiatus together.

  • Jean Sorrell

    ” Beautiful ” is so very subjective. I have Bi-Polar Disease, and was always an emotional ove eater. At thirty years all of that crying,eating,drinking, etc, caught up with me, and i gained a lot of weight. I eventually married a very verbally abusive man, i know now because i didn’t feel that i deserved. This will speak to your Husbands’ campaigns to reach people with mental illness and let them know that they are enough. I never felt that i was enough, but for two years i was given the gift of the best therapist i have ever known. I was never abel to say , ” I am acceptable “, literally, i could not say this. After working hard to say this, i found myself feeling like an acceptable, beautiful, smart, and damn fine woman. I truly cannot tell you how hard the work was to get to this place, and i cannot tell you how good it feels to be abel to look into the mirror and say, ” I am not B-Polar, i have B-Polar, and i NOT defective because of it! I AM BEAUTIFUL IN SPITE of it! Loving myself was a journey that took some time, but was so well worth it. Thank You for the topic. Love Ya’

  • Maya

    I feel beautiful when I dance.

  • Maya

    I feel beautiful when I dance

  • Teri Y Diggs

    Gen – My feeling of “beautiful” is probably the opposite of many women. I feel beautiful when I’m not wearing any makeup, when my hair is pulled back in a messy ponytail, and I’m wearing my favorite jeans, Converse, and rocker t-shirt. I prefer to be natural and comfortable. 🙂

  • Jesse

    I feel most beautiful when I feel strong: after a workout, standing up for what I believe in, accepting my flaws by not wearing makeup, or solving a problem. Even though I don’t always feel comfortable or beautiful at the moment, it reminds me later that ‘I did that, so I can do this.’
    When I’m not wearing makeup, it makes me feel proud of myself for being confident. I like makeup just as much as anyone else, but I always try to be careful not to look or act like any one except exactly who I am, because I’ve always wanted people to accept me, not my portrayal of a perfect me.

  • Kelly Brown

    I feel most beautiful when I am in old clothes covered in paint, dirt, sawdust or all three. Whether I am refurbishing one of my children’s dressers, helping my husband build our chicken coop or tending to the plants in my gardens, as long as I am working with my hands to create things and environments that I enjoy. I feel beautiful in these instances because the work makes me feel strong, peaceful and capable.

  • MaryAnn

    I have struggled a life time with this topic, I have never concidered myself physically beautiful or attractive, average at best maybe a little plain, someone who would go unnoticed in a crowd and maybe that in and of itself is what makes me beautiful. When the question is asked “What makes you feel beauitful?” I’m speechless because I’m fighting this internal battle with myself daily. It’s so hard to not compare yourself to others and only focus on ones flaws instead of looking for what makes you uniquely beautiful. So what makes me feel beautiful… loving my children makes me feel beautiful, being kind and loving even when it’s hard makes me feel beautiful, Giving to others no matter how small, makes me feel beautiful. I may not feel beautiful or attrative physically but I know in my heart that I have a beautiful Soul, and that makes me feel amazingly beautiful. I must admit that I also have dedicated this new year to me, which was hard to do being a mother of six and always putting the kids 1st and before me. They will always be my main focus, but after reading a lot of inspiring blogs I realized that it’s okay to take time for “ME” to invest in myself and that’s just what I’m doing! Little by little I’m starting to find that person looking back at me in the mirror beautiful. Thank you, I love reading your blogs and they get me thinking and my mind turning in a good way.

  • Pamela

    What a concept, what makes me feel beautiful? That’s a loaded question right there, Gen. I have struggled my whole life to feel like I am enough, so it took me a very long time to even feel pretty, sometimes I’m not so sure about beautiful. I think society puts so many restrictions that we all question ourselves. If I really had to think about it, I’d probably have to say I feel most beautiful when I am blissfully and unabashedly happy. Unfortunately that is not very often, but those times it is, they are usually with family or my husband, having talked or remembering something that makes me laugh to the point of tears. When you gulp that last deep breath and wipe that last tear, and you are happily content, THAT is when I feel most beautiful…

  • Alesia

    At 58 years old I feel the most beautiful when my hair gets dyed. I don’t have much Gray, but I still feel better when it’s all covered up. I also feel beautiful when I look at my daughter’s, and someone says we all look alike because I think they’re absolutely beautiful. I also feel beautiful, when someone says you smell nice, or I have a lot of energy and I clean, with the stereo blasting Bob Seger, or Cher. ?. I feel beautiful because being a woman is awesome.

  • Holly

    What makes me feel beautiful is when my little girl at 6 years old looked at me and said mom you are beautiful and I love you that makes me feel beautiful it doesn’t matter to me what’s on the outside it matters whats on the inside and how you carry yourself as a person and the type of heart you have is What Makes You Beautiful. Looking into my kids eyes and seeing how they grown and how beautiful they have become inside and out makes me feel beautiful

  • Tonja

    I feel most beautiful when I am at the sea, because of the feeling of the salt on my skin and my wavy hair. I have no worries. I don’t even care how I look, it’s the feeling that matters. And because of all these feelings that come from the surroundings I also feel better, more beautiful on the inside.

  • Kait

    I was actually just talking about this to some of my girl friends. They had said that they feel beautiful when they are dressed up and feel confident. I was different. I told them that I feel beautiful when someone is honest with me and opens up to me. Relationships, whether familial, friendly, intimate or whatever they may be, are a major part of our lives and in today’s world, it’s sad that almost anyone has someone in their life that they feel is one sided or you struggle to maintain that relationship with that person. There’s a feeling when someone comes to you with any problem, big or small, world changing or merely simple, that makes you feel confident. It makes you think “Yeah. I am someone that wants people to know they can talk to me about anything and vice versa.” Our basic nature is to have relationships to help improve our lives (even the cavemen formed packs). Having a good friend, a family member, co-worker or whoever that you can have open and honest communication with is truly a beautiful thing.

  • Tiana

    I feel beautiful after a good night sleep and waking up refreshed on a day off, when all I “need” is a tip of undereye concealer (from the balm) and blackest black mascara. But it’s funny when you said feeling beautiful after a workout. I feel so awesome after an hour of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu even though that’s probably when I look the worst! LOL
    Lovely blog. Xoxo

  • Dia

    First thanks for your question,it’s a really interesting topic.
    I feel beautiful when i have hapiness, and peacefullness in my soul. There is nothing in this world what makes me feel more beautiful when I can watch my favourite movie, with my family,or by myself while having a cup of tea,. Or, when i can watch,and smell the rain, in my terrace,while reading a book. And i don’t have to wear makeup, to prove i am beautiful,and i don’t have to smile always to prove i am happy, because when im in my happy place i feel both of them in my heart.
    I also feel beautiful when i did something what no one expect from me. When they are look at me,and i can feel they’re proud of me. When i can show i have colourful sides,and i can be strong in heart if i have to,or if i want to. When i can inspire others with only a few words.
    I never did my hair,and i never paint my nails for others. I do them because these things makes me happy. But i feel comfident because of my friends,and my family too. They always says something nice to me, or they’re praise my dress,my hair,and it gives confidence for me. I love that i don’t have to be perfect while they around me. They teach me i can make mistakes,i can be complicated, and it’s ok if sometimes i am not look the best, because that’s life, and even in my worst days, they see me beautiful.
    Strong women are pure beauty for me,and it’s beautiful when somebody dont need anybody’s opinion because they know they are good enough in their own style.
    I always keep in mind this wise saw ” Accept what you can’t change and change what you can’t accept.”

    ( and sorry for my language im hungarian )

  • Aurora

    As a teenager, it’s often difficult to feel beautiful, especially since many of our cultural representations in movies or tv shows are so much older than we are. I’ve found that physical beauty never makes me feel as good as when I recognize beauty in other people that I love, because I see their imperfections and I don’t care, and that makes me realize that my imperfections are okay too. It’s also helpful for me to look at my own flaws after a long day and acknowledge that I earned them by being a person who lives their life to the fullest.
    Thank you so much for tackling this topic! We all need to hear this sometimes.

  • Ellis D

    Would you be able to do “a week in the life of gen” type thing? To be a happier and healthier person I need to change my lifestyle. You’ve already helped me so much but I’m still struggling. Xx

  • Claire

    I actually feel the most beautiful by the time I wake up and open my eyes, and see my messy hair and my swelled lips and my wrinkled cheeks. xD It’s that time of the day I feel most natural and most like my real self. I never use much makeup, it’s always some mascara, eyeliner and lipgloss, nothing too much. I don’t even like foundations nor anything that is too heavy for my skin. But, as you said, I believe we should change the meaning of “Beauty” and start loving ourselves from inside out, and when we start loving ourselves at our fullest we will be able to look in the mirror and see something that is perfect to our eyes. I never struggled with my image but we all have our insecurities… still what we have to understand is that we’re only humans with our different shapes and sizes and that our souls must look for beauty and not our eyes, because they can be decieved from the truth. We must feel the love and the beauty inside others. That’s the real beauty. We all have flaws that we want to rectify but instead of making that our priority I think we should make that the least of our concerns and focus on WHEN we feel the most beautiful and WHAT makes us feel so, just like you said.
    Thanks Gen, for sharing your llife with us and for being such an inspiration and the most beautiful human. Xo Xo

  • Claire

    I actually feel the most beautiful by the time I wake up and open my eyes, and see my messy hair and my swelled lips and my wrinkled cheeks. xD It’s that time of the day I feel most natural and most like my real self. I never use much makeup, it’s always some mascara, eyeliner and lipgloss, nothing too much. I don’t even like foundations nor anything that is too heavy for my skin. But, as you said, I believe we should change the meaning of “Beauty” and start loving ourselves from inside out, and when we start loving ourselves at our fullest we will be able to look in the mirror and see something that is perfect to our eyes. I never struggled with my image but we all have our insecurities… still what we have to understand is that we’re only humans with our different shapes and sizes and that our souls must look for beauty and not our eyes, because they can be decieved from the truth. We must feel the love and the beauty inside others. That’s the real beauty. We all have flaws and

  • Tiana W

    I feel beautiful when I can be myself. I don’t know about everyone else that’s commenting, but I’m still in high school, where the expectations are high and the skin is not so clear. I’ve been dealing with acne since I was about 7-8 and I still deal with it now. I used to get strange looks not only from the other kids from school, who didn’t understand what I was going through, but also strangers walking by on the streets. It was hard for me, because I felt like no one could take me seriously, even if I was just a child, and they would judge me based on my looks (like I didn’t care about myself enough to wash my face). Even my family started to judge me. But once I reached high school, I found a great group of friends who accepted me for who I was, acne and all. I felt more confident, because they didn’t point my acne out all the time (yes, I KNOW I have a pimple on my chin) and they would make me laugh. I ignored the states and embraced my crazy hormones and oily complexion.
    I know that this situation doesn’t only apply to me, but if, maybe, by chance, another girl is dealing with the same problems I am, and she sees me walking down the street, she might think she can get over the stares too. She can ignore all the people who judge her. And even if her glance at me didn’t change anything for me, it might of changed her world. And that’s what makes me feel great about myself. And who knows, maybe I’ve already accomplished than goal and haven’t even realised.
    And even though you may not see this comment, I also want to thank you, Gen, for inspiring me even further with every blog, vlog or Instagram post you make. I found you blog (after I had started watching Supernatural in 9th grade ? ) and you helped me accept myself. I hope you realize that these posts make a huge impact on some people and can change their lives.

  • Lucy

    I rarely feel physically beautiful. As a teenage girl, I find it difficult among all of the influential media and unrealistic beauty standards for young women to feel truly beautiful. I compare myself to other people far too often, and that detracts from my opinion of myself. I also have a fear of overconfidence and arrogance, so I shy away from allowing myself to be confident or proud of my looks. When I find a headspace that lets me let go of my reservations, I feel beautiful, but not physically. I feel beautiful when I am doing what I love (Irish dancing), even if I am exhausted and sweaty. When I am in my element and using the gifts that God gave me, I feel beautiful. I also feel beautiful when I see other strong women expressing their intelligence and opinions, because it makes me feel justified in being a smart young woman. The times when I feel physically beautiful come less often. If I have my makeup just right, and my face cooperates, and I wear my favourite outfit, I feel physically beautiful. The older I get, I feel less dependent on physical beauty. Though it is nice to feel attractive and pretty, seeing the beauty of strength, intelligence, and community will last far longer. I try to remember that when I see the photoshopped pictures, physical beauty isn’t everything. I can feel just as beautiful as those people appear if I am confident in my gifts and special talents, even if I don’t objectively measure up to their standard of attractiveness. It is far easier said than done, especially with teenage insecurities, but seeing women like you, Gen, who are effortlessly intelligent and beautiful at the same time, gives me hope and strength to see my own beauty both inside and out.

  • Marissa

    I’m my most beautiful self when (as weird as this might be) – when I’m in a movie theater watching a new movie for the first time. And when I’m at a concert listening to my favorite music. And when I’m sitting in the balcony of a theater taking in the magic of a musical. I love the arts, and I think I’m most beautiful when I’m involved in any aspect of that. I smile with my eyes, and you can just tell I’m completely in my element. Xo. M.

  • ?✨

    I feel beautiful after I‘ve helped another person or just in general done something good. Because it reminds me of the beauty there is in humanity and the glow you get after making someone’s day even a little bit better, can‘t be faked by any makeup or clothing. Wearing my new red lipstick may make me feel powerful, wearing that cute sundress may make me feel feminine and wearing those high heels may make me feel confident, but when it comes to such a subjective thing as beauty, I think talking about inner beauty is more important, because it shines through. So being selfless every once in a while and using the influence we have on other people’s lifes to help and support them really makes me feel beautiful, from the inside out.

  • Sophia

    Today I needed to read again this article. Some days, my relationship with my body is hurtful. Today is one of those…

  • Ashlyn

    I feel most beautiful when I look at how far I’ve come, when I feel strong. Working out is great, but I really feel strong when I remind myself of what I’ve been through- severe depression, an abusive marriage, bullying and body-shaming, but I overcame it to finally love who I see when I look in the mirror.

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