Ibonio D’Souza
We see almost every day in a magazine or TV a handsome man and a lovely woman, often hugging, always smiling and, without exception, selling something. The message: you can be just like us if you buy this product! But, of course, in real life it may not be true that you can be beautiful, happy, loved, and popular just by using the right product, driving the right car, or wearing a fancy brand name.
But don’t we see so many people who buy all the “right” things, and still not liked by others? The truth is that the beautiful, happy, lovable part of you comes from within. It remains unaffected by clothes, cars, or other outer considerations. Beauty is more than skin deep. It begins at the center of your spiritual being and is reflected in face, posture, mannerisms, speech, and tone of voice – all the qualities that are recognizable as uniquely you.
Beauty often lies in your attitude towards other people, perhaps toward those who may not be popular or cannot afford the “right” clothes, expensive cars, or other possessions. Can you see beyond the clothes or cars to the deeper identity of the person? Do you make an effort to get to know the being within? Mahatma Gandhi commented on beauty, “All truths, not merely ideas, but truthful faces, truthful pictures, or songs, are highly beautiful.” And another Chinese philosopher, Hsi K’ang, said, “To have reached two noble goals, selfishness and flawlessness, is the highest beauty.”
As we have read and known, the most influential people in history progressed from humble beginnings, without the material goods and advantages others may enjoy. They called upon the richness of their minds, the depths of their creativity, their high respect for the worth of others, and expressed their willingness to stand apart from the crowd. St. Francis of Assisi, Mahatma Gandhi, and many others, who on the inside were truly beautiful and rich in spirit, chose to live in poverty.
The contribution of truly great people to our lives can be measured not by the size of their bank accounts but by the depth of their victorious spirits. They may not have been leaders in the popularity polls or included in the Forbes “400” wealthy list, but their contributions often changed lives and can continue to do so as long as truth is valued.
Often the people and styles we choose for patters in life may be no more than trivia questions in five or ten years. It is important to learn how we want to live our life, and one way to start is by answering these questions in preparation for the years ahead. Is what I am doing now going to be appropriate and beneficial in thirty or fifty years? While being grateful for my present life, what am I doing now to prepare for that future time? What am I doing to leave the world a better place than I found it?
Love yourself by being the very best you can possibly be. Treat yourself as a close friend, one for whom you want only the best of everything – respect, honor, genuine relationships, and joy of a life well-lived.
