I was in seventh grade. I stood in the lunch line, ready to pick up my tray when a boy tapped me on the shoulder. I turned around, somewhat startled and curious. “You’re ugly,” he blurted. I stared at him for a moment. He stared back. I didn’t know what to say or how to react, so I turned back around, grabbed my tray and went through the line.
I wanted to cry. But I didn’t want that boy to know he had hurt me. And he had. So much that I felt I truly must be ugly.
I had many encounters like this in my childhood, not all of them about looks, but about something. I wasn’t good enough at softball or kickball. My drawing was weird-looking. Was I wearing a wig?
I’m sure we all had these encounters. And what I didn’t know then about those experiences is that they not only affected how I felt about my looks or my ability; they affected my creativity, my willingness to embrace the creative muscles I had been given and pursue what I really wanted to pursue.
Although I’ve done a lot of work over the years to pursue creativity, as I’ve gotten older, especially in the last few years, I’ve come to realize that how I feel about my beauty and style does affect my creativity. As I have learned to fully love how I look and feel about my personal beauty and style, I’ve been able to embrace other parts of myself, including my ability to create.
So why is this all important? Because beauty and style important lead self love and better creativity.
Yes! Read on, my friend.
5 Reasons Why Beauty and Style Lead to Self Love, which Leads to Better Creativity
1. You Are Beautiful!
First, and foremost, you are beautiful! Yes, you are!
We are programmed to think low of ourselves, to refuse compliments and deny good qualities about ourselves, including our unique and personal beauty.
For a long time I believed I wasn’t beautiful. A long time! I was sure the reason I didn’t date much when I was younger was because of my looks. And I picked at my flaws. My teeth were crooked. I was awkward. My style wasn’t as “in” as other girls’.
When I started to embrace my own sense of style, I began to see my own beauty. I started leaning in to hairstyles and makeup and clothes that I felt good in. And then I felt beautiful. And I realized I am beautiful.
I’ll say it again. You are beautiful. Find the styles that make you feel it. Embrace it. Flaunt it. Let it drape over you. And recognize how incredibly beautiful you are.
2. When You Recognize Your Personal Beauty, You Embrace More than Just Your Looks
It’s true. When you recognize your unique beauty, when you feel it, you embrace more than just your looks. You embrace you and all the beautiful qualities about you. You embrace your creativity that made you step into that look. You embrace your ability to have good taste. You embrace your love of yourself. And when you embrace love for yourself, you embrace the talents and gifts you have been given to make this world a better place.
3. Your Beauty and Style Are Part of Your Creativity
How you wear your hair or how you do your makeup or what clothes and styles you wear are all part of your creativity. It takes creative energy to put an outfit together, even when it’s your favorite pair of overalls and keds, or your favorite leggings and t-shirt, or your favorite dress and jean jacket. What you wear is a choice and how you put your outfit together is your choices coming together to create a look.
Ta da! Your creativity at work. All you have to do now is put that creative energy toward your creative passion.
4. When You Love How You Look and Feel, You Make Room for Other Interests, Including Your Creativity
Have you ever noticed that when you love how you look, you feel amazing? And when you feel amazing, you are better able to think and analyze and communicate. You are better able to solve problems and find new solutions. You are better able to think outside the box. You’re better able to create.
It’s true–when you love how you look, you feel better, which helps you better create.
5. When You Love Yourself, You Have More Creative Energy
This goes right back to the point before. When you love and embrace your beauty and style, you have more love for yourself. You recognize more great qualities about yourself. And you feel amazing. And when you feel amazing, you have more creative energy.
Invest in Yourself and Embrace Your Unique and Personal Beauty
A few years ago, I really did not like how I looked or felt and it affected my desire to write. So I decided to do something about it. I downloaded a health app and started losing weight. I went to yoga five times a week. I started investing in beauty and health products that actually made me feel beautiful and good about my skin.
As I invested more in myself, I came to better love myself. And the creativity came. I wrote the first draft to my novel. And it felt so good to have accomplished that.
I think self love and embracing our beauty and style is an ongoing process. I still have to remind myself that I’m worth the investment. I still have to fight the negative thoughts. But I do recognize that when I love myself and invest in myself, and embrace my unique and personal beauty and style, my creativity flourishes.
Try it. Invest in yourself. No matter how small. Wear that outfit you’ve had sitting in the back of your closet for months. Put on that hat. Wear that new eyeshadow. Try out those nails. You’re worth it. You’re beautiful. Embrace it and keep creating.