Wellbeing

Confidence: Be beautiful from the inside out

By Brandon Bays

Get gorgeous from the inside out with these six steps from world-renowned life coach Brandon Bays

Get gorgeous from the inside out with these six steps from world-renowned life coach Brandon Bays
Whenever we are feeling jaded and in need of a pick-me up, our first instinct is to give ourselves a makeover. We book an appointment at the hairdressers for the latest face-framing look, we switch to the newest shades in eye make-up and lipstick in search of that evasive glow, we sign ourselves up to be sloughed, tweaked, primped and preened in the hope that when we finally emerge from the tanning booth, changing room or beauty salon we’ll look ‘like a million dollars’. And that’s the point – we do look like a million dollars but the truth is that all that attention on our outward appearance has little impact on how we feel inside – the makeover takes place on the wrong side of our skin.

So how would it be if you were to give yourself a makeover from the inside out? How would you look, feel and ‘be’ if you were to take some time from your beauty regime and invest it into working on your inner beauty, instead of just your outward appearance? If you relax, become still and open deeply into the spaces between the words. If you stop now… and pause… you will sense a strong presence pulling you into yourself, into the wordless wisdom already here. This presence is your own essence. It is vast, free and completely whole. It is a huge unborn potential; full of creativity, genius, wisdom – capable of anything. It is always here continuously available. The following steps give you an opening into this presence and the means to clear some things that may obscure your experience of it – in very real, practical and accessible ways. By internally applying the principles of these six steps, you’ll notice the real you emerging – the vibrant, authentic, naturally beautiful you.

1. Self love

Often we are so busy – there’s so much to do, to accomplish, to achieve – that we overlook our own self. You are invited to take some time to honour yourself. Often we are quick to forgive others, quick to see their talents and their beauty, but much harder on ourselves. Take a moment to sit quietly in gratitude for all that you are. Make a list of all the qualities, talents, moments of giving, caring, kindness, beauty, brilliance, creativity that your own self has given you. Let the list overflow. Then make a fresh page of praise, expressing your gratitude for being yourself. When was the last time you praised yourself or acknowledged your beauty? It’s time to be reckless: lavish yourself in self-love. Then find a gift, something significant, just for you. It can be a flower, a piece of music, something meaningful that says ‘I honour you, I cherish you, I’m grateful’. It’s time to honour your own self. You deserve it.

2. Physical health

Your body is the sacred vessel you’ve been given to experience life, so honour it, cherish it, nourish it. You are invited to attend to your body’s health and wellbeing. Perhaps you need more rest or meditation, more nourishing food or more exercise. Take some long deep breaths in and out. Feel yourself growing spacious and still, and let your awareness go to a place of stress or tension inside your body. If it had words, what might it say? Be still and listen. How do the words make you feel? Be open to what your body is communicating. Surround the feeling with your own love. Open deeper and ask again. Your body is so grateful for any attention you give it. It will respond easily to your loving care.

3. Perfection

There is an innate perfection that pervades all of life. The rosebud is as complete in its perfection as the rose is in full bloom. That same perfection is in the faded rose petals – even when they decay and offer themselves to the soil. Are there ways in which you are striving to get things right, struggling to make them more perfect, pleading, ‘If only… then I could finally relax’? What if you were to stop playing God for a moment; stop trying to fix, change and perfect what is already perfect? Just relax – fall into the divine perfection that permeates the whole Universe, and which suffuses each moment. Rest in it, bathe in it, deeply relax in the knowledge that things are perfect just as they are. God does not need your help to make life more perfect.

4. Discernment

Truth is calling you to be more vigilant in your discernment. Sometimes we get wrapped up in the confusion of the mind. ‘Should I do this or should I do that?’ The mind is a tricky place to dwell. It’s always changing. It’s a morass. Trying to be discerning by checking your thoughts is like walking into quicksand: you get sucked into a desperate struggle that usually ends in disaster. Stop looking in your mind for answers. Instead place all your awareness on your body. The body is the barometer of your soul. If you have a question, ask it and then breathe into the front of your body. If your body remains relaxed, neutral or easy, feel free to take the plunge or take the action needed. If your body signals you with a glitch, or if your breath catches, or you feel uneasy, do not take the action. To be truly discerning, listen to your body – it never lies.

“To be truly discerning, listen to your body – it never lies”

5. Rest

Grace is inviting you to take time to rest deeply. Your body and being need rest. As you prepare to sleep tonight, choose to read words born from silence, or listen to a calming meditation tape or music that gently carries you into stillness, so that you fall asleep in the nourishing embrace of grace. Before you drop off, consciously release the stress of the day. Take a long deep breath in and breathe out any stress, letting it waft out of the door. Take another slow breath and release the tension in your body. Take another slow breath and let go of any questions, letting them dissolve as they drift away. Become aware of the stillness present in the spaces between your breaths. Feel yourself relaxing and expanding into spaciousness as you fall asleep in the deeply healing presence of stillness. You will arise deeply rested.

6. Non-attachment

Have you been investing importance in the things of life? Have you become attached to items, symbols, tokens, or even people? Are you entertaining the notion that something on the outside can give you anything? It’s time to relax and let go. Know that everything is on loan. Practise a light relationship with things, for they are the play dough of reality. Offer an open-handed relationship with loved ones. Hold them as you would a precious and delicate bird that’s free to fly and soar and return when it will. Close your eyes and imagine cutting the energetic cord that attaches things or people to you. Put light at both ends, and send love. Know that the previous attachment was merely an illusory idea. Non-attachment is freedom.

Psst!

We all have to cheat occasionally so work on your outer beauty too with these fabulous radiance boosters…

Aromatherapy Associates Overnight Repair Mask, £46, is an intensive treatment with essential oils of rose and frankincense and strawberry seed extract to nousish and plump up tired skin.
REN Bio Retinoid Anti-Aging Concentrate, £42, harnesses nature-derived vitamin A to combat the appearance of wrinkles and brighten the complexion without the irritating effects of synthetic Retinol.
L’Occitane Brightening Essence, £35, is a concentrated serum that uses active ingredients from the collagen-boosting Immortelle flower to give the face a youthful glow.
Dr Weil for Origins Mega-Bright Skin tone correcting serum, £46, is clinically proven to help brighten skin and improve clarity by combating existing signs such as dark sports and uneven skin tone
Manuka Doctor’s ApiNourish Rejuvenating Face Mask, £49.95, is infused with potent therapeutic purified bee venom renowned for its anti-bacterial, anti-wrinkle and skin regenerating benefits.

Article by

Brandon Bays

Life Coach

Brandon Bays is an internationally acclaimed speaker, bestselling author and mind-body healing expert who pioneered The Journey, a globally recognised and critically acclaimed healing transformational process to awaken people to their true potential.

Article by

Brandon Bays

Life Coach