Ladies, I know most of us try to look beautiful and our personal best with daily beauty routines, cosmetics, and beauty treatments. Have you heard the term “beauty is only skin deep”? Well it does not have to be!
While it is important to keep up our appearance and strive to look beautiful and attractive, have you also considered doing what it takes to cultivate the beauty that comes from within and shines through with or without your makeup on?
The thought of working on your inner beauty may not have occurred to you. No wonder, you will not see articles in magazines, online or ads on TV or discussions about this on talk shows. So, what is inner beauty and how do you cultivate it? I discovered a book by Gina Loehr titled: Choosing Beauty: a 30 day Spiritual Makeover. In a fun and lighthearted way she takes you through a 30 day journey in learning about the 7 Spiritual Virtues and how to apply them in your life for a radiance that will surpass your daily beauty routine and attract others.
The 7 Virtues are: Prudence, Justice, Fortitude, Temperance, Faith, Hope and Charity. Cultivating virtues and a spirit of Grace is an ongoing process. It involves self-awareness, continuous learning, and a commitment to personal and spiritual growth. But no time like the present to start the process. Read and learn about these attributes and remember after a quick
reflection on what you have not or Have done thus far, you move on and start today to make positive change.
Here is a brief summary on each:
Prudence is a virtue that involves the ability to judge and choose correctly in situations requiring practical wisdom. It is often considered the “mother” or “charioteer” of virtues because it guides and governs the other virtues. Prudence is about making sound and informed decisions, taking into account both short-term and long-term consequences. It involves a careful consideration of circumstances, a thoughtful analysis of options, and the exercise of good judgment. To put simply it is “right reason in action”
Justice is a moral virtue that involves giving each person their due, treating others fairly, and upholding what is right and equitable. It is a fundamental principle in ethics. Justice is not only about fairness but also about treating individuals with respect, dignity, and equality. It involves a continuous effort to align one’s actions with principles that promote the well-being and rights of all individuals.
Fortitude virtue is about courage, strength of character, and the ability to endure and persevere in the face of challenges, adversity, or fear. It represents moral and mental strength in difficult situations. Fortitude is not just physical courage but also the capacity to withstand moral challenges and to act with integrity and resolve.
Temperance is a virtue that involves moderation, self-control, and the balanced use of one’s desires and pleasures. It is the ability to restrain impulses and maintain a sense of proportion in the pursuit of pleasures and desires. Temperance emphasizes the importance of harmony and balance in one’s actions and lifestyle
Faith, as a theological virtue, involves placing our belief in God and accepting everything He has communicated to us in Scripture as absolute Truth. It is the capacity to uphold one’s beliefs and trust in God even when confronted with adversity, doubt, or challenges, demonstrating a steadfast and resilient commitment to one’s convictions. Nurturing faith involves reading the Bible and fostering a spiritual connection and relationship with God, often expressed through the practices of prayer and meditation.
Hope, another theological virtue, is a theological virtue characterized by a confident expectation and belief in the fulfillment of God’s promises, in the concept of eternal life and salvation. In theological terms, hope is closely tied to faith and charity as one of the three Christian theological virtues. It provides strength, motivation, and a sense of purpose in the journey of faith.
Charity, last but not least!. This theological virtue is a profound and selfless love directed toward God and others. It encompasses acts of kindness, generosity, forgiveness, and sacrificial love, which reflects the Christian understanding of God’s love for humanity.
Charity (love) is the glue that holds all the virtues together. Our beauty is incomplete if we are lacking the ability to love God and others which reduces the value of the other virtues.
For a more in depth study of the Virtues and cultivating your inner beauty I encourage you to get Choosing Beauty: a 30 day Spiritual Makeover. The study is for individuals, doing it with a friend or in a group.
This is the first day of the rest of your life and you can start right now to choose a better self and a great life!
