5 Must-have's for Inner Beauty

Five Must--Have's for Inner Beauty

My mother, my spiritual leaders, my teachers, and many public officials have taught me what is important in life, and it all comes down to how we manage our emotions and how we make others feel when they are around us. All in due time, education, intelligence, accomplishments, wealth, and worldly possessions are soon forgotten.  What people really remember is our inner beauty or how we made them feel. So as I work toward becoming my ideal self, I always try to remember what my mother used to say, "Pretty is as pretty does." 

Based on what I know, there are five essential components of inner beauty:

Integrity -Having personal honesty and values that reflect an accepted standard of right and wrong. It is  based on being true to oneself and being complete and undivided in morals, beliefs, or artistic values. It involves always making the decision to do what's right, not what's expedient or what's traditionally expected. It takes inner strength to consistently choose to do what's right under the circumstances without violating our beliefs, but integrity is what keeps us grounded.  A Rudyard Kipling poem  describes it best:  "If you can keep your head when all about you are losing theirs and blaming it on you," you have integrity.

Empathy -Understanding feelings and emotions of another person and being able to share their experiences on an emotional level. It is not the same as compassion or sympathy, but it is closely related. Empathy requires listening and being present in the moment so as to really "get" the emotions behind the words that are being said without making judgments. It is an ability to "be" someone else for a particular moment in time in order to know and appreciate what and how they feel.

Dignity -Relating to others in a way that indicates self-respect and self-management worthy of honor or respect from others.  Dignity relates to how we manage our emotions, how we relate to others, and how we respond to what happens around us. It includes a sense of well-being, regard for others, and self-respect worthy of being admired and emulated.

Charity- Sharing personal wealth by giving to others. It can involve donating time or expertise through volunteerism; offering donations of money or food; tutoring, teaching, or offering other help to people in need. Charity is not simply a tax deduction; it's a state of mind that reflects a strong desire to make a difference in the world. Oprah said it, but I first heard it from the former congressman, Rev. Floyd H. Flake, Queens, NY:  "To whom much is given, much is required."

Community- Joining a group of people who share interests, religion, race, purpose, etc. A community is a supportive group that includes people who have similar interests, religion, or race; who share a similar purpose or sense of charity; or who offer support. While social media sites like Facebook are also called communities, a true "community" is smaller and more personal than a list of FB friends. It is also more supportive.  From a community of supporters, one might  find a mentor or someone who can offer emotional support. One might find a business partner or just have a safe place to go when feeling alone.  Communities remind us, we are not alone. They give us purpose, help us set goals, and help us thrive.

This list of must-have's could be longer, but these five must-have's are the essence of inner beauty. Inner beauty is something that comes natural with some effort and with a little support from family or friends. 
(c) M.D.Johnson (2015)