The [REAL] Beauty Challenge

Over the past few weeks you may have noticed the ‘Beauty Challenge’ floating around Facebook and various other social media sites. The point of it is to tag people and then have them share 5 pictures of themselves where the feel most beautiful. A nice idea, right?

Well what’s happening because of it is even better. People from all over the world are having the realization that the times they feel most beautiful have little to do with their exterior. In fact, the times they feel most beautiful and most confident are usually times when they weren’t thinking about their outward appearance at all. Instead they are purely happy, with people they love, doing things they enjoy, and truly living life!

I love the idea of this movement as it really makes people think about what matters in life and the things that really make life worth living. Beauty is so much more than a look, an appearance, or an aesthetic. It’s a way of being and it radiates from your soul when you are being your genuine self and pursuing happiness.

As much as I’d like to tag EVERYONE in the world for this project, I realized that would be a little ambitious. So instead I thought it would be fun to feature ALL OF YOU at times when you’re feeling most beautiful! I have had a slew of amazing submissions and I can’t wait to share them all with you. You all are truly beautiful, inside and out.

I guess I’ll go first!

This is a photo of me from my trip to the Philippines last Summer. I feel beautiful when I am outside, traveling, and exploring new places! That’s when I feel most myself and most in my element. Also, being around such beautiful, old ruins you can’t help but feel good yourself!

And now for a great bunch of inspiring ladies!

Heather: This is such a great idea! I am attaching one of my favorite race photos. It was after my second half marathon in 6 days and I was hot, sweaty and utterly exhausted but I was so proud of what I accomplished. I felt happy and beautiful (thus the ginormous smile!). I love the feeling I get when I run.

Amber: I feel beautiful in this photo, because when I took it, I was beaming with happiness. I love anything princess related and this headband I had received literally made my day, especially the vibrant colors. So I put it on and snapped a photo of my expression while trying to show the design, and this is what I got. Typically, I used to not like pictures of my face taken from angles or the side, I didn’t like my profile, I felt that I looked ugly. I felt beautiful from head on shots, but anything from the side I would either delete or untag myself in. BUT on my journey of harboring of a more positive mindset and loving myself whole-heartedly, I have come to love every part of me, so this photo is not only about happiness, but of acceptance and self love. I am happy and confident enough to love ALL of myself, especially the parts that were not always my favorite because now, I love my unique profile, it’s part of what makes me, me!

Jennifer: This picture makes me feel beautiful because it shows off how hard I’ve been working to build muscle and become a better climber and more confident and healthier person all around.

 Sarah: I feel beautiful when I am surrounded by those I love!

Kristin: I feel beautiful because I have been working really hard to get into the best shape of my life. My husband has even noticed which is even better. When he tells me I am beautiful it makes what I am doing so much better!!

Emily: My sister took this picture as I was looking on watching our kids play. I feel like I look pretty in the picture and I love that my smile is because of my kiddos trying to catch fish with Cheerios.

Kaylin: Here is a photo attached that I feel very beautiful in. It was taken for my college graduation photos this past Fall and includes my boyfriend of 3 1/2 years, Wade. The reason it makes me feel beautiful is because I was very proud of my college graduation coming up (because brains and intelligence are beautiful!), and because of the love I was feeling and still feel for this amazing man I have been blessed to have in my life since I started college.

Amy: I feel beautiful in this photo. It’s hard to not feel beautiful when I’ve got nature’s beauty all around me. When I’m out hiking, I realize that nothing is made ugly. Everything is beautiful, you just have to be willing to see it.

Mary: I feel beautiful surrounded by the natural wonders of this incredible world, wearing vivid colors and quirky clothing, spinning around barefoot in a patch of grass, and knowing someone I love is on the other end of that camera lens.

Evelin: In this photo I’m completely natural, without make-up and with wet messy hair after getting caught by a rainstorm during my bike ride. Normally I’d be afraid to show myself like this, but when I go back and see this photo I feel happy (and beautiful). There’s something special about allowing myself to sweat, to not care about how I look and just let the workout GLOW from within take over. I’m happy and proud of myself and my body for what we can do together.

Raechel: I feel beautiful in this picture because I’m happy, healthy, and strong. I’ve been in a bootcamp class for 6 weeks and haven’t lost a pound but there are so many better changes I’ve experienced.

Abby: I felt beautiful when i helped a friend to finish her first full marathon, being there for others is beautiful.

If these amazing women don’t make you rethink how you define beauty, then I don’t know what else I can say! They exemplify what it means to be well-rounded, confident, and secure with themselves. You all inspire me so much and I am so happy you’ve decided to join me in sharing your beauty with the world! Thank you.

Here are a few last sentiments on beauty I wanted to leave you with…

A woman whose smile is open and whose expression is glad has a kind of beauty no matter what she wears.

Character contributes to beauty. It fortifies a woman as her youth fades. A mode of conduct, a standard of courage, discipline, fortitude, and integrity can do a great deal to make a woman beautiful.

Everything has beauty, but not everyone sees it.

There is no definition of beauty, but when you can see someone’s spirit coming through, something unexplainable, that’s beautiful to me.

How do you define beauty?

What parts of yourself do you consider beautiful (remember beauty goes far beyond the exterior!)?

Will you take the REAL Beauty Challenge?

Kaila

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Todays’s Healthy Help: Donated some clothes to a local charity.

Never too early to start Lending a {Healthy} Hand for this week’s round-up! Tell me what you’ve done to help someone else lately!