Beauty. It's such a difficult word to think about or to discuss. What defines beauty? Is beauty even definable at all? Can you tell if a person is beautiful by studying them on the outside, or is it something that goes deeper than that? Can you gauge beauty by material possessions, or does one have to explore ones soul to seek the answer?
Let's think about strictly physical attractiveness here. Look in the mirror. What do you see? If you see ugliness, society will label you as being depressed, and having a poor self image. If you see beauty - if you enjoy the sight of your skin, your eyes, your hair - society will label you as being narcissistic. They'll tell you that you have an over-inflated ego and you should be less self absorbed.
How about beauty on a deeper level? Are you able to reflect on your acts and deeds over the course of your life, and say to yourself, "I'm a GOOD person. I work hard, I help others, I'm pleased with the way I'm shaping my life"? Can you treat yourself to indulgances without worrying that you are being self-centered?
Is it WRONG to enjoy your own beauty? I don't think so. To me, in a way, the highest form of beauty is when you're able to say to yourself "I am attractive, I am good, I am worthy." If you are able to think these thoughts honestly to yourself, you are loving yourself as you are, which is truly beautiful.
I believe that in order to truly love other people and the world around
us, we must first learn to love ourselves. So go ahead and bask in your
own beauty. Smile at yourself in the mirror. Write a story about yourself.
Sing and dance in the privacy of your own home. Perhaps if everyone spent
20 minutes a day thinking about their own beauty, the beauty and love would
grow, and the world would be a more pleasant, a more harmonious, place
to be together.