Girl Talk Participants Expose the Ugly Truth about Beauty

What is the first thought that comes to mind when you hear the word beauty?  The image of a famous entertainer or super model?  That “perfect” co-worker, soccer mom or friend who always seems to “have it together” and look spectacular?  Why not you?

At the winter 2012 edition of Girl Talk, we explored our thoughts and attitudes about beauty--what our minds tell us, what the media tells us, and the truth. 

As an intro to the day, we identified the beauty scars that have plagued us throughout our lives.  This time of self-reflection allowed us to "get real" and identify our individual beauty myths. 

Beauty Scars - clusters of negative words and/or experiences related to your physical appearance or personal characteristics that: (1) play over and over in your mind; (2) leave a permanent mark in your mind and heart; and (3) influence how you view yourself and how you act from that moment forward.  What are your deepest beauty scars?  How have those scars impacted the way  you see yourself?

The first segment was all about accentuating the positive and being the best we can be.  Instead of focusing on your flaws, why not identify your “personal bests” (i.e., best physical feature, best character trait, and best talent/skill set) and accentuate those things instead?  

Delicia Douglas (hair stylist, make-up artist and self-proclaimed “wanna-be fashionista”), guided participants through a fun-filled segment where each participant identified the perfect haircut for her face shape and learned how to choose “the perfect jean.”  Segment 1 also had a great surprise in store.  Three women went from "drab to fab” by shedding bulky layers of clothing, replacing flip-flops with stylish flats, and adding accessories for a little sizzle. 

Segment 2 was all about re-shaping our concept of beauty and embracing the truth...God's truth.  Our speaker was Rosa Carter, a wife, mother, and women's ministry leader, who could easily pass for 10 years younger than her stated age (44 years-young).  Rosa first shared her struggles with the concept of beauty.  Those struggles ultimately led to her current bare-bones approach to outer beauty, and her ever-growing commitment to enhancing her inner beauty. 

Ever feel overwhelmed trying to live up to society’s standard of the perfect beauty?  Think about this…Jesus was not physically attractive; yet, crowds were drawn to him, and he had an amazing impact on everyone he met. [Isaiah 53:2b - There was nothing beautiful or majestic about his appearance, nothing to attract us to him.]  Pretty amazing, huh?

Here are some of the refreshing truths Rosa shared about beauty.  The challenge for all of us is to embrace them and share them with the women around us.

• Beauty is being confident in who you are
• Beauty is living, not just existing; being free & pure
• You will radiate outer beauty if you treasure inner beauty
• Beauty is found in every smile and in every laugh
• Beauty is never settling for less than you are worth