Oh Soul, You worry too much.
You have seen your own strength.
You have seen your own beauty.
You have seen your golden wings.
Why do you worry?
~ Rumi
To feel beautiful we must nurture, inspire and feed our souls the food it needs to flourish.
We spend hours each day tending to our face and locks, but often neglect our inner beauty, our inner world, our real world…which can leave us feeling anything but beautiful…
How do we re-ignite that inner spark and breathe magic back into our being in a way that makes us come alive again? How do we restore our inner radiance and bring back those things that give us a glow? Those things that make our eyes sparkle and our cheeks rosy?
Here are 12 incredibly simple ways to beautify your soul and make you feel utterly beautiful…
Giving
“It’s not about what we can get from this world, it’s about what we can give” ~ Neale Donald Walsch
Repeated discoveries at the forefront of neuroscience have shown that our brain’s reward centres light up when you give to charity or focus on a higher purpose, meaning that one of the most powerful pathways to feeling good is derived from helping others!
For me, there is nothing more meaningful or rewarding than knowing you have made a difference in someone’s life. Selfless service liberates us from our petty problems, self–obsession and narcissistic tendencies. It can be a cure for depression, low self–esteem and isolation, as it connects us to others in a meaningful way to create purpose in our lives.
Unleash your care, kindness and love on the planet, give to something you’re passionate about, give to others expecting nothing in return, give with an open heart, give freely, give wildly, give creatively, give abundantly, give of yourself in any way that you can… Don’t do it for accolades or attention, do it cause it just feels so bloody good…. You never know what the world will give back to you… it could just be yourself…
Practice the art of mindfulness
Our minds feeds us a constant stream of stories and beliefs we tell ourselves about ourselves, that are not the truth.
Imagine for a moment you are a light bulb, now when you think thoughts that are not a true reflection of you, it dims your light. However, when we choose thoughts that are in alignment with our true nature, we light up our inner light globe, allowing us to shine more brightly.
Pay attention to your thoughts through non–judgemental awareness. Simply notice and observe them, like bubbles floating by, without attaching any emotion or feeling to them. Know that you are not your thoughts, for if you were, you would not have the ability to observe them. The goal here is not to change our thoughts, because in my experience the more we resist them, the stronger they become. The aim is to simply notice them through the practice of mindfulness, giving us back the power to choose…
Follow your bliss
Following your bliss makes us feel the rapture of being ALIVE. Bliss is your built-in GPS, it will guide you on your journey, creating a life that is fulfilling, satisfying, juicy and delicious. Bliss is a state where we are feeling instead of thinking, where hours feel like minutes and we become lost in moments of pure ecstasy. Following our bliss, our desires, our heart’s secret longings WILL lead us to places that are inspiring, magical and yummy. Doors will open for us that we never knew existed. When it comes to finding “your bliss” have an open mind, your bliss may find you in a place you never imagined. Your bliss may be a cause, an untapped talent, your natural gifts, a vision, a dream, an activity, adventure or even a place.
When we lose ourselves in our bliss, we find ourselves there too.
Getting Wet
“The cure for anything is saltwater, sweat, tears or the sea” ~ Victoria Erickson
Water is the essence of life, we are instinctively drawn to its magical nature. Water reminds us that life is fluid, ever-changing, flowing. It caresses the soul, purifies our being and restores calm. Integrate water into your self–care rituals, let it wash away your tears, float on your back in the ocean, soak in a hot mineral spring, dance in the rain or swim naked in the moonlight. Harness the power of water, let it wash away your troubles, let it quench your thirst, let it open your heart and drink….
Fill yourself with Wonder
“He who can no longer pause to wonder and stand rapt in awe, is as good as dead; his eyes are closed” ~ Albert Einstein
Turn your eyes to the mysteries and miracles of this magnificent world. Contemplate her beauties, explore her unexplainable, let it inspire you and be filled with a sense of wonder.
Wonder has to be one of humanity’s most important emotions. Wonder ignites our curiosity, making it instrumental to our very evolution as a human species. When we are faced with something so inconceivable that it perplexes our mind to a point beyond comprehension, the spell of wonder has been cast over us. When we are surprised and amazed by something so beautiful it leaves us awestruck, when we contemplate the miracles and accomplishments of the human race, their tenacity in the face of adversity and their capacity for love, I am struck with a sense of wonder.
Wonder demands nothing but our utmost almost worshipful attention. We might say “Oh my god” or “Wow”. Wonder transports us to a place where all distractions fall away, time stops, and our soul has stirred from its slumber leaving nothing but pure joy in its wake.
The world contains limitless amounts of wonder and beauty aching to be explored, from the pyramids to Niagara Falls, the Northern Lights, to magic and miracles, creations of the human species, the meaning of life, synchronicities, possibilities and people who stopped at nothing to pursue their dreams inspire me, humble me and leave me filled with a sense of wonder.
The greatest cure for when life pulls you under
Is to live a life full of love and wonder
Play
As children we went around soaking in the simple pleasures of life, getting lost in our make-believe games and making daisy chains in the springtime. It was an enchanted existence where you were filled with possibilities. The world was and could be anything we imagined…
Unleash your inner child, go roller skating, soar on a swing, let your friends bury you in the sand until only your head sticks out, have a water fight or even better wrestle in the mud. Spend a day with or in the shoes of a 5-year-old, play, shriek, laugh and run, be silly, be spontaneous, play truth or dare or dress up and play pretend. Life isn’t always about “to–do” lists and work, work, work. Be playful, dive into pleasure like a child without conditions or guilt. Pleasure does not need to be earned, it is our god-given right.
Go forth and awaken your inner child, close your eyes and remember…
Travel
“The world is a book and those who don’t travel read only a page” ~ Saint Augustine
The world is bursting with adventures and the true magic of life begins at the end of your comfort zone, we cannot learn and grow as humans unless we are willing to take risks and open ourselves up to new experiences.
“The core of man’s spirit comes from new experiences” ~ Into the Wild.
Life is about discovery and exploration, it is made up of moments and experiences. The lessons and rewards travelling can give you are priceless, it expands your mind, opens your eyes to other cultures and other ways of living and being in this world. It takes us on incredible adventures that we will treasure for the rest of our lives. Every single person you will meet on that journey is fascinating, they have a story, and there is always something you can learn from them. Travelling allows us to see commonalities rather than our differences, and educates you about the world in a way that no school or book on earth could ever do.
“Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow–mindedness” ~ Mark Twain
The first time I went overseas, I have a memory of sitting in a hotel room the size of a shoebox in Paris. The only TV channel airing in English was CNN news. After a few minutes, I was suddenly struck by the sheer enormity of our precious planet. It suddenly dawned on me that we spend the majority of our lives living within one tiny bubble. Often we get caught up in the smallness of life and forget to see the big picture.
Travelling expands our horizons. It switches off our autopilot button and delivers a much-needed shift in perspective. In our material world, travelling to places where people have so much less and so few opportunities offered to them, swells your heart and fills it with gratitude. It also serves to remind us that money is not a source of happiness. But of course, your soul already knew this…
The world will remain unchanged….but your heart will never be the same again.
Meditation
“We cannot see our reflection in running water. It is only in still water that we can see” ~ Taoist Proverb
Yes yes, we all know about this one but how many of us truly practice it? Remember meditation can come in many forms such as guided relaxation, visualisation, focus on the breath, losing yourself in the rhythm of dance, sitting in silence under a tree or even staring into a fireplace… How much time in your day do you find a moment of peace? A moment to stop, be still, reflect and contemplate? Repeated studies continue to show again and again that meditation can lower stress levels, balance our hormones and connect you with your soul. Giving yourself even five minutes can change your entire day. All you need is a willingness to just show up and be. OM….
Go Wild
Take off your shoes and walk barefoot in the grass, let it ground you into mother earth. Take in the beauty of the stars, be injected by the love of a glorious sunset and drink in the beauty of a simple flower, its better than Prozac! Nature brings me back, by revealing to me my of our own true nature. There is nothing better than the healing nectar of nature, to shift me from my head to my heart.
Unleash your inner creative
“It can first fit into the cracks of your life, and as you nurture it, it will expand into a glorious interior garden” ~ SARK
As women, we are naturally creative beings. We are, after all, the creators of life! We often think that creativity is the gift of only a privileged few, but I’m here to tell you this is bullshit. In the same way that we are all uniquely beautiful, we also have our own unique way of creating beauty in this world. Creative expression allows your soul to express itself, it opens a portal into another world, a magical place where anything is possible…
When we plant the seeds and allow the creative buds within us to burst forth, you will surprise and delight yourself with what comes through. Silence your inner critic, there are no rules, get messy painting, sing in the shower, share your stories, journal your thoughts and dreams, write, dance, act out theatrical shows, be the author of your own life and above all make mistakes!!
Creative people dance on the edge of two worlds, imagining, visioning and drawing medicine to inspire and heal any weary soul…
Laughing
“Trouble knocked on the door, but hearing laughter it hurried away” ~ Benjamin Franklin
A day without laughter really is a day wasted, gather your friends and laugh until you cry. Laughter is the sound of freedom and beauty woven together… Laughter soothes the soul, but watch out it is infectious! This one really does speak for itself.
Listening to music
“Music gives a soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination, and life to everything” ~ Plato
Find the music that makes your soul soar, music that awakens you from your slumber, makes you feel wild, primal and free. Music has the ability to transport us to another dimension in space and time. The good vibes raise our vibration. Have you ever listened to jazz while being barefoot in a beautiful garden under a warm summer night sky? It unchains our hearts and reminds us that life is and can be beautiful. Music wraps its melodies around you like a warm blanket…
To your blossoming Bec x
