4 Ways to Feel Beautiful…when you’re not really feeling it

Any person in their right mind would think that what I’m about to share on the topic of feeling beautiful actually feels beautiful.  But I don’t.

When I look in the mirror, I cringe.

When I was invited by J from Hot, Holy, and Humorous to guest post on her series of Feel Beautiful, I cringed.

Over the months as I’ve thought about writing this post, I’ve cringed.

As I’ve sat down to type out this post, I’ve cringed.

I’ve always had a distorted view of my outer appearance.  Even when I weighed 112 lbs. standing at 5’7.

Now I weigh more. Much more after giving birth to two kiddos and I don’t mean yesterday.  My sons are 14 and 16 years old and for the life of me I still  can’t get the weight off after all of these years.  Insert: feels like a failure after all these years.

Just the other day my family and I were looking at old photos of the four of us.  My husband remarked that he looks the same in all of them.  I had a bout of discouragement that ran through my soul because it was quite evident that I did not look the same.

He was growing old graciously and I was just… growing old.  My waist is thicker and my hair is thinner.

When I look at those old photos, I cringe.

So, what on earth can someone like me who struggles with her outer appearance tell you about feeling beautiful when the majority of the time I do not?

Well, I do a few things so I’m not constantly consumed and drowning in my vanity sorrows and perhaps what I share will help you?

You can read my 4 Ways to Feel Beautiful over here at Hot, Holy, and Humorous.

Have a blessed Christmas and I’ll be back here in 2016!

Live a poured out life for Christ,

Jolene