Roald Dahl said “A person who has good thoughts cannot ever be ugly. You can have a wonky nose and a crooked mouth and a double chin and stick-out teeth, but if you have good thoughts they will shine out of your face and you will always look lovely.” With the return of Jess from Fox’s hit show New Girl to our screens, our blossoming love for Kristen Bell and her adoration for sloths, as well as rising stars like Lily Collins and Jennifer Lawrence it isn’t any wonder this question arises.
Keeping this in mind, take a look at our society today. Although it hasn’t quite reached its full potential, it has progressed. In the past, guys have been portrayed as finding the beautiful more attractive i.e. Daphne over Velma, Rachel over Monica, etc. Flash forward a few years and Rory Gilmore is an icon for the smart girls, and Disney’s Frozen gave us Ana who’s awkward yet adorable personality has won the hearts of thousands.
That brings me to my point: I’d rather be quirky than hot. I’d rather let my inner self shine, and be true to who I am than look like Barbie. It’s honest and it puts my imperfections and flaws on the line but that’s all a part of embracing them. How can we expect other people to accept us for who we are if we don’t first take that step ourselves? Embracing your flaws is realizing they are what make you you and that in itself is beautiful. Being completely who you are is more of an attractive quality than having the shiniest hair or the prettiest smile. Why aren’t more people looking up to J Law who acts silly because that’s who she is? Why can’t we all be comfortable enough to share that side of ourselves with the world? Because we’re afraid. We don’t want to be criticized, or judged…for what? Being ourselves? For letting the world see who we really are? What makes you attractive is not what you look like. Yes, people identify who you are based on your looks initially, but the outlet you use to express yourself, the way you treat other people, and how you deal with the ups and downs of life, that’s what matters. That’s what people gravitate towards. It’s not about how you look or dress, it’s how you make people feel.
Taylor Swift has said: “Beauty is sincerity…these personality traits that come through when somebody is really sincere is what makes them beautiful.” We are so focused on what we look like to others and how we’re perceived by others that we’ve lost sight of ourselves. Why do we love these goofy, outgoing characters and people we come across? Why are we so enamored by them? Because we envy their ability to fully embrace who they are. It’s refreshing to see the focus on genuine character than outward beauty. They’re surrounded by naysayers and critics and yet they continue to do what makes them happy.
Let them be your example.
Learn from them.
There is nothing more beautiful than recognizing your inner beauty by opening yourself up to the world around you.