True Beauty that Shines #Shine

“People are like stained glass windows – the true beauty can be seen only when there is light within.”

~Elizabeth Kubler-Ross

All women should do self-care. Why? Because others are drawn to a woman who shines! People take notice when someone is rested, pleasant, has good boundaries, stops people-pleasing, and learns to say no so that she can say yes to what God really wants. People want to be with a woman who feels good because she put herself on the list. She takes time to eat right, exercise, and finds pleasure in small things. When Jesus told people to love others as they love themselves, he was assuming people would love themselves. As a counselor, I meet so many women who don’t love themselves by taking time for self-care. Hey Church 4 Chicks, would you stop what you’re doing and write down one thing you’re going to do for yourself today.

 It is nice to know that self-care doesn’t have to be radical or expensive. History and research has shown that when the economy goes into a recession or a depression, the sale of lipstick increases. The Lipstick Effect is a term coined after the Great Depression, when sales of cosmetics rose in the four years from 1929 to 1933. People continue to spend money on small luxuries during times of economic or emotional stress to buoy their spirits. The same thing happened after the terrorist attacks of 9/11. Lipstick sales doubled.

Not everyone enjoys the lift that lipstick brings, but there are small items you can buy that will give you a truckload of happiness. Maybe it's a pretty journal or a beautiful pen. Maybe it's a pink frilly blouse that makes you feel ultra-feminine, or perhaps it's a pumpkin-caramel latte that goes down warm and comforting. Even if the item is small, the fact that you took time to buy and enjoy it, affirms your worth to yourself. Perhaps you stop to sip some tea and read your favorite book for 15 minutes. Or take a quiet walk. Doing something simple for yourself has the capacity to change your life in a big way. Thomas Merton said, “Happiness is not a matter of intensity but of balance and order and rhythm and harmony.”


What about you? Do you struggle to take care of yourself? If so, what causes this struggle for you?


If you have found ways to maintain your own balance and well-being, do tell! Share your secrets for making self-care a priority.

Lucille is working on a book about self-care for Abingdon Press. She and her husband are celebrating 25 years of marriage and are experiencing the "empty nest." She has a private counseling practice in Littleton, Colorado and teaches psychology courses at Colorado Christian University. She writes on her own blog http://blog.rumorsofglory.com/ and for the http://wordservewatercooler.com/

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