I admit it – I love shoes! And purses. And okay, cute dresses too. I’m a girly girl with a tomboy spirit who has grown to love fashion. It’s frivolous I know, but there’s something about getting all dressed up that somehow makes me feel like a warrior princess. Armed with my 4” heels and a mega-watt smile, I walk out as Kat-Woman – ready to take on the world.
It’s amazing how much happier you are when you feel good about the way you look! I was reminded of how powerful this transformation can be when I went shopping with a group of girlfriends. We’d been stuck in a conference all day and finally decided to ditch the bigger group and go shopping. It was such fun! We oohed and awed over our choices, encouraging each other with each round to be more daring.
There was one girlfriend we especially challenged. All week long, she’d basically worn nothing but black and white. But as she tried on more and more clothes, a funny thing happened. The more color she embraced, the more her spirit came to life. And the more of her essence that showed through, the more beautiful she became. It was like watching a flower unfold.
It was later that night that she finally shared some of what was happening in her life, and at once it became so clear. Her lack of color choices in her wardrobe was but a reflection of a lack of radiance in her inner glow. Her light was burning dim, and the sisterhood we shared in those moments in the store provided the spark she needed to get her inner fire burning once again.
From time to time, as I thumb through the pages of fashion magazines our experience comes to mind. I wonder, in the midst of our time-consuming focus on our outer appearance do we ever stop for a moment and focus on our inner glow?
We all have periods in our life when our light burns dim. When that happens to me, I try to stop and make sure I spend some time renewing my spirit. That way when I get dressed up I don’t just feel like a warrior princess. I’m ready for the battles ahead!
Here are my 5 must haves for maintaining our beautiful inner glow.
A grateful heart – Happy people aren’t grateful. Grateful people are happy. And the best part is it shows all over our face. Grateful people can’t help but smile – a lot! And their happiness infects everyone they meet.
A loving spirit – Our grandmothers tried to tell us…Beauty is as beauty does. What better to do than to follow God’s greatest commandment, Love one Another. For with a loving spirit comes a beautiful inner light, shining brightly to illuminate the way for others.
An adventurous mindset – Studies have shown that confidence is a woman’s best accessory. But if we always do what we’ve always done, there will never be anything pushing us to grow. Confidence is built in the unexpected. Embrace adventure, and watch your courage soar.
A compassionate soul – Maya Angelou said, People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel. When you connect with a person heart to heart, a warm energy surrounds you – bathing you in tenderness and love.
A positive outlook – An air of expectancy puts a twinkle in your eye that reflects the hope you carry deep within your soul. For you know, what’s behind us is but a memory and our best days are still ahead.
As we prepare our clothes for this next season, let’s also search ourselves to determine if we need to dial-up our inner glow. Just like we might send a jacket to the cleaners, replace a button, or give a shirt away that no longer fits – we too may need to clean house in our minds, outlook and attitude.
I don’t know about you, but I’m actually looking forward to it. Because when our beauty is shining from the inside out, we are fierce, fabulous and oh so free. Won’t you join me?
Loving on Me as I Love You! ❤
PS – Drop us a line sharing your tips for a healthy inner glow. Hugs and Blessings.
Arika A. Cason says
This spoke to me so clearly! I always enjoy reading your blog, but I had to comment about how refreshing, fun and informative this one was. Thank you!
Katrina says
Wonderful!! I’m so glad it resonated with your spirit. Keep letting your beautiful light shine through. Hugs and Blessings ❤