Nowadays, it can feel as if we’re questioning what the true meaning of beauty actually is and whether or not it’s defined by inner or outer beauty. Society tells us one thing, while our upbringing most likely tells us another, leaving us to determine what beauty truly means on our own terms.

Your inner beauty defines who you are as a person, your dreams, aspirations, and values in life – along with your loyalty, generosity, and all-around goodness. Beauty is not necessarily in the physical features but deep in an individual’s heart; outer beauty may please the eye, but inner beauty truly captivates the soul. 

Unlike external beauty, which is dependent on your physical appearance, inner beauty has the potential to keep getting better with age. With the arrival of National Inner Beauty Day on October 7th, it’s a perfect time to learn to foster and really cultivate your inner beauty. After all, the changes we make on the inside are often the most transformative. Let’s have a look:

What Is Inner Beauty?

“Your outer beauty will capture the eyes, but your inner beauty will capture the heart.”.”— Steve Aitchison

It’s nearly impossible for the average person to achieve the outward beauty presented by the media. So while it’s okay to look your best, striving for absolute perfection can lead to disappointment. There are 7.4 billion people of all sizes, shapes, colors, and complexions worldwide. It’s a miracle that no two are exactly alike, so let your inner beauty shine.

The Bible mentions inner beauty by saying, “Do not let your adornment be merely outward — arranging the hair, wearing gold, or putting on fine apparel — rather let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God.”—I Peter 3:3-4 (NKJV).”

As with most things, time alters your appearance as you travel through life, but your inner beauty is immortal. So instead of worrying about the wrinkles on your face or the cellulite on your thighs, think about how you can be kinder and gentler and how your inner beauty can leave a mark on this world in a positive way.

Confidence Is Key

“Beauty is not always in the face, but it is always in confidence.” ― Debasish Mridha

The importance of cultivating your inner beauty over stressing about your outer beauty comes down to one word: confidence. Confidence helps us feel ready for life’s experiences. When we’re confident, we’re more likely to move forward with people and opportunities — not back away from them. And if things don’t work out at first, confidence helps us try again.

Catherine Alford, a nationally recognized educator, says, “When you have self-confidence, no task or goal seems insurmountable. Even if you encounter a difficult decision, self confidence means you trust your ability to choose the best path for you. It helps you in all aspects of life.”

You might think that outer beauty is what makes you feel good about yourself, but that’s not entirely true. All of these good vibes about yourself come from the confidence that you derive from your inner beauty. Absolute confidence comes from within us, not from outside influences — and that is a beautiful thing!

Curious about how you can grow your confidence? Check out this article in Psychology Today on what having confidence can do for you and those around you.

People Recognized for Their Inner Beauty

Looking back at those who reminded us that people can do better is essential. In the past, humanity persevered, communities rallied together, and people supported one another the best they could. Among them were several widely-known individuals who gave back, using their star power to bring attention to those in need or donating time and money to various causes.

Here are a few people, whom you may know, that have inner beauty abound and are commonly recognized for it:

Audrey Hepburn

Pictured: Audrey Hepburn    Source: UNICEF

Audrey is known to most as a glamorous yet relatable Hollywood actress. In her later years, her life was primarily dedicated to UNICEF. This led her on missions into poverty-stricken Asia and Africa. She was even awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1992. 

Audrey once said, “The beauty of a woman is not in the clothes she wears, the figure that she carries, or the way she combs her hair. The beauty of a woman is seen in her eyes because that is the doorway to her heart. True beauty in a woman is reflected in her soul.”

Princess Diana

Pictured: Princess Diana    Source: Sunday Post

Diana was and is beloved by the world due to her huge heart. Despite her difficult life, Diana was the epitome of selflessness. She was a wonderful mother to two beautiful boys, and often reached out to the sick and poor. 

During a time when many were ignorant about AIDS, Diana was often seen hugging AIDS-afflicted children. She possessed a genuine spirit that will never be forgotten. Diana once quoted, “I knew what my job was; it was to go out and meet the people and love them.”

Keanu Reeves

Pictured: Keanu Reeves    Source: PBS

In addition to his general, and sometimes viral, acts of kindness, Keanu has also donated money to children’s hospitals and to cancer research. In fact, he reportedly runs a private charitable foundation that aims to help sick kids, but his name isn’t attached to the organization.

Keanu is also known to take voluntary pay cuts so that more money is available for costumes and special effects. One of Reeves’ most known acts of generosity came during the filming of “The Matrix,” when he gifted a dozen stuntmen with motorcycles to thank them.

Bill and Melinda Gates

Pictured: Bill and Melinda Gates   Source: Gates Foundation

For years, Bill and Melinda have focused on stamping out outbreaks of diseases including HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria, and their work has been credited with reducing polio cases by 99% since 1988, saving around 18 million children from paralysis.

The Gates Foundation played a key role in creating Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, which is a global health program founded in 2000 that provides immunization to poor countries. Additionally, if you partake in Reddit’s famous Secret Santa, you may receive a huge gift from Bill, as he loves to spread holiday cheer on the platform.

Ways to Cultivate Your Inner Beauty

Cultivating inner beauty is a delicate dance as we move between turning inwards to embrace self-care practices, while also turning our gaze outwards to focus on the people around us, doing our best to show up and support the ones we love. 

Here are five inspiring ways to cultivate inner beauty with balance:

Practice Kindness

Kindness is often an underrated trait but is an incredibly important characteristic to cultivate. Kindness encapsulates acts of compassion and selflessness, so it’s no surprise that research links kindness to feelings of happiness and contentment for both the giver and the receiver.

To spread good vibes to the people in your life, here are 5 simple ways to practice kindness every day:

• Offer a helping hand
• Be there to listen
• Compliment others
• Say “thank you” and “I’m sorry”
• Show yourself some compassion

Eat Well

According to the Cleveland Clinic, “Certain foods are key components in the manufacture of powerful chemicals in the brain. These chemicals, called neurotransmitters, can boost mood, improve sleep, increase pain tolerance and enhance performance”. 

Food neurotransmitters can be found in turkey, liver, eggs, cheese, seafood, soybeans, and other foods. Most importantly, gut flora, which occurs naturally in the small intestine, produces most of the body’s serotonin, which is an important neurotransmitter.

Exercise Mindfully

Not a fan of running? Don’t do it. Can’t stand pilates? Find an alternative. By finding forms of movement that we love and look forward to, we’re far more likely to feel energized and nourished when we exercise.

Regular movement plays a vital role in our mental and physical well-being, and when we do it in a way that works for us, we won’t feel bored or depleted. According to the Mayo Clinic, exercise promotes better sleep, improves mood, and boosts energy.

Look Up

Too much phone time, especially spent on social media, may be harming our mental health. A study in the Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology found that people who limited their social media use to just 30 minutes a day reported reductions in feelings of depression and loneliness.

The solution? Look up. By looking up and out at the world around you, you allow your brain to play, daydream, and improvise, thereby encouraging it to enter into its natural cognitive state, leaving you feeling energized and ready to take on the world.

Practice Gratitude

Perhaps more than any other practice, gratitude helps to cultivate inner beauty by making us aware of all the abundance and joy in our lives; however, it doesn’t always come naturally to us.

Sometimes, we need to take a more disciplined approach to feel grateful.

To help you with gratitude, try taking five minutes every day to pause and ponder the things in your life that bring you joy. Then, write them down in a journal or in the notes section of your phone. This provides a tangible reference to reflect on in times of stress. 

The Human Beauty Movement Is Here to Help You Cultivate Your Inner Beauty

“Loving yourself enough to live out your truth is what real beauty is all about.” – Jennifer Norman, The Human Beauty Movement’s Founder

At The Human Beauty Movement (The HBM), our goal is to touch every human being daily to inspire self-love and self-expression, igniting positive global change and liberating beauty for humankind. We believe that inner beauty and self-love are your secret weapons to living a fulfilling life, as your inner world creates your outer world.

The Human Beauty Movement is here to help you foster your inner beauty with workshops, discovery events, and, most importantly, a community that uplifts, admires, inspires, and cheers you on throughout your life journey. Take this opportunity to join now. We look forward to welcoming you to The Human Beauty Movement!