What does it mean to be beautiful?
When I reflect on the word beauty, I am immediately reminded of the old adage, “beauty is in the eye of the beholder,” meaning simply that beauty is subjective. Oxford Languages defines beauty as, “a combination of qualities, such as shape, color, or form, that pleases the aesthetic senses, especially the sight,” but I have always found this particular definition lacking. After all, what makes something pleasing to the aesthetic senses? There is a more complete way to define this, taking into account the subjectivity of the human experience.
What we find beautiful, I feel, are those qualities which are in harmony — in alignment — with our higher selves. When struck by something particularly beautiful, humans innately feel an emotional response, most often in the chest, where the heart chakra resides. My internal reaction to beauty, for example, is physically felt as swells of energy filling my chest, reaching deep into my innermost being, reminding me of what a gift it is to be traversing this human experience.
To be beauty-full, in this respect, is to be living in harmony with one’s destiny. To be in alignment with one’s heart, soul and life purpose. I often remind myself and those around me that, if it feels good, and is directed toward the highest and greatest good rather than self-serving, do more of that. Conversely, if it doesn’t feel good, and we feel our intuition tugging us away from a particular situation, we are being shown that the situation in question is not in harmony with our innermost being.
We are lovingly guided on our soul paths through our emotional responses, each quietly whispering the next step as the map unfolds before us. So, enjoy more of what you find beautiful — that which is in harmony with your higher self — and in doing so, you’ll walk the path of your life’s purpose with ease and grace.
