Every single person is beautiful but often we don't see real beauty for what it is. Elizabeth Criner, a counselor who helps women discover their real beauty, shares her insights into how each and everyone of us can feel beautiful every day.

If you were asked what you find beautiful about your friends, your sisters or the "cool" girls at school, you could roll off five things at the drop of a hat. If I then asked you what is beautiful about yourself chances are you would be tongue-tied.

Why is it so difficult for each of us to see beauty in ourselves? True beauty emanates from YOU. It is your spirit, your essence, the thing that makes you YOU - that is what makes you attractive.

Being unique makes you beautiful. Imagine if we all looked the same - we would never be able to see the beauty of the individual. That is why it is so much more beautiful to embrace all that you are. Do you see every tree in nature looking the same??? That would be ridiculous!! Some are tall and some are short, but each tree has something special about it, therefore they are never in competition with one another, because they are not the same!!

When you are connected to who you are, you feel alive and full of energy and excitement, this brings you joy. Your own happiness within yourself connects you to your beauty. Someone in a bad mood is definitely not very attractive!!!! It is when you are so involved in your own joy that you become irresistible.

So why is it so hard to be connected to YOU, your beauty, your joy? Your rational mind, fears, emotional wounds and pressure from your family and society cloud your ability to see your true self, the self you were born to be.

Think about young kids - they think they are fabulous. They don't doubt themselves. They don't think negative things about themselves. It's only as we get older and we are exposed to more that the negative voice inside your head emerges.

The negative voice in your head is constantly creating things to keep you separate from others, "No one understands me, I am alone in this world, I'll show them, I'm unlovable, I'm not good enough, I'm not beautiful".

A war begins inside of you. You want to experience a connectedness with others but your negative thoughts are continuously fighting to keep you separate. This war will not be resolved by itself, it will rage for a lifetime unless you have the courage to assert your will.... to choose your spirit, your joy, and banish the seductions of your negative self talk.

So the trick is, instead of constantly focusing on what you don't like about yourself when you look in the mirror each day, you must begin to be powerful and focus on what you do have!! Say thank you everyday for your amazing unique qualities, which make you beautiful; those qualities no one else in this world has!!!!

For example, I was always so sensitive and emotional, feeling like a sad and weak person, now I have come to recognise and be thankful for my sensitivity and my ability to feel others, as it has allowed me to become a healer and a life coach!! I know this can be difficult in the beginning but with your persistence, you must focus on your positive qualities or your gifts and they will begin to grow….. what you focus on will grow… and what you resist will persist.

Choose your own beauty, uniqueness and power. Understand that you are not alone in feeling insecure or negative about yourself at times, we all feel this, but know that these are not real and choosing to be powerfully positive is what creates an incredibly beautiful woman.

I have worked with many of the top models in Australia and America, who are supposedly the most beautiful and confident people in the world. Guess again!!!! They struggle with negative self-talk more than anyone!!! They are just like everyone else and have to work continuously to stay positive and love themselves as they are.

Why do we need to love our selves?
Because the people who love themselves find it impossible to take actions that cause self harm and that love causes happiness which translates to true beauty.

Here's a little game for you. Make sure there is no one around!! Walk to the bathroom mirror and say out loud, "I love myself" with conviction, and continue saying it over and over until you truly feel it inside. I'm sure you will feel awkward if indeed you even have the courage to give it a go!! Too often we mistake self-love with pride, ego or arrogance when in fact it is simply bearing witness to the beauty of who you are. The thing is, if we intend for our beauty to shine in this life, self-love isn't an optional character trait, it is essential.

I invite you to support your sisters and your friends in expressing their true beauty. I invite you to inspire others by being open, honest and fun. As you let your own light shine you automatically give permission for others to do the same, creating a new type of female role model.

Enjoy your beautiful body, celebrate your soul and use your mind to create positive change in the world today!!

www.elizabethcriner.com

Your Real Beauty Mantras

• True beauty is about loving you
• Accept and embrace who you are
• Love the essence of your uniqueness
• Being unique is beautiful
• Banish the negative voice in your head and push positive thoughts forward
• Identify what it is about YOU that you love and focus on those things
• Don't try to be someone else, be YOU
• Love yourself and see how happy and beautiful that makes you feel
• Inspire others to find their unique beauty