A Beautiful Story

I want to share something beautiful that happened to me.

It starts with me being persistently psychologically and emotionally abused and isolated from the rest of my family, by my brother, being terrorised throughout my youth until 14 years old when I came up with the ‘brilliant’ solution – not of standing up for myself – but by numbing myself with drugs. I couldn’t work out what was ‘wrong’ with me to attract such abuse, or how to behave to stop it. As I grew up I had to invent some basis of self to fit into the world, so my entire self-esteem proceeded to be based upon a tragic array of glamorous illusions of societal constructed prerequisites for beauty and success and subsequent acceptability.

I’ve spent the better part of 51 years trying to define who I am by what I look like and what I do… the problem is, I never could. I unconsciously manipulated every choice towards seeking recognition and being acceptable. I moulded myself according to standards that I didn’t agree with or believe in, that didn’t honour my inner truth, my natural expression, me as a person, or as a woman. The truth is that the constant search of ‘what to do with my life’ always felt empty, exhausting, demoralising and impossible to resolve. The way I looked could never fulfill the world’s ‘ideal’ of beautiful; therefore, by those markers I was never going to be an acceptable human being or woman, and as a result my self-loathing blossomed into an ever-present lack of confidence and slight depression.

This of course, and most sadly, is the way of the world that we live in: most people are bound by these illusions of glamour in some form or another to varying degrees, and most set about resolving them in ways that in truth only feed the illusions.

But I have come to know that it doesn’t have to be that way. That it’s actually the energetic quality of how I am and my presence that determines the quality of my life and relationships with others and myself. I am not what I do or what I look like, but I am so very much more. I realised that seeking external gratification is futile; that I needed to change how I felt about and treated myself, to stop being so hard on myself and start loving and honouring myself more. As I became more loving and tender with myself I grew more self-confident, then more able to accept my innate beauty.

Throughout my life I’ve looked in the mirror and seen all manner of reflections: from feeling ‘I can’t manage more than a fleeting glance’, to feeling ‘ugly’, to feeling ‘sexy’, to ‘that will do’, to being able to look myself in the eye and have a quick pep-talk, or to confirm I was doing ok that day as I could actually look myself in the eyes and nod hello. But the other day I miraculously saw a reflection I’ve never felt before – My Beauty. A beauty that transcended my physical attributes, any need to be different, any comparison, self-doubt or self-loathing. It was just suddenly there and it was amazing. I now know for absolutely sure what beautiful means; that I am beautiful, as are we all, that true beauty lives within me, that it always did and it now wants to shine.

It’s been the unwavering love, commitment and support of Serge Benhayon, Mirtha and other Universal Medicine practitioners over the past 13 years that’s helped me to begin to unravel the web of glamorous illusions in which I’d entangled myself; to stop beating myself up for not being good enough, to start accepting myself for who I am and stop giving power to the old ideals, beliefs and patterns that drove me to seek to define myself by what I do and what I look like. Although these things still strive to rule at times, nonetheless I am able to allow myself to come back to just being me more easily, and more often.

And that is a beautiful thing!

by Jeannette, Sydney, Australia

772 thoughts on “A Beautiful Story

  1. We are all beautiful inside, in our essence, ‘I miraculously saw a reflection I’ve never felt before – My Beauty. A beauty that transcended my physical attributes, any need to be different, any comparison, self-doubt or self-loathing. It was just suddenly there and it was amazing. I now know for absolutely sure what beautiful means; that I am beautiful, as are we all’.

  2. “I now know for absolutely sure what beautiful means; that I am beautiful, as are we all, that true beauty lives within me, that it always did and it now wants to shine.” When we feel our inner beauty and let it shine we inspire others to do the same.

  3. When we let go any picture we have about beauty, we can find it easily within us

  4. To me a session with a Universal Medicine practitioner is a very beautiful thing to have, something that supports me to feel again the fact that I’m already everything, so there is no need to fix or achieve anything but to reconnect back to my preciousness within.

    1. Coming to accept that we are beautiful, ‘ I now know for absolutely sure what beautiful means; that I am beautiful, as are we all, that true beauty lives within me, that it always did and it now wants to shine.’

  5. ‘…to stop beating myself up for not being good enough, to start accepting myself for who I am and stop giving power to the old ideals, beliefs and patterns that drove me to seek to define myself by what I do and what I look like.’ This is a life-changing experience, a living miracle that feels solid and true.

  6. This is what we need to be learning … from day dot ‘that it’s actually the energetic quality of how I am and my presence that determines the quality of my life and relationships with others and myself.’

  7. This is truly beautiful to read. it’s amazing how much we can try to look better, be better act better etc, but it’s by letting go of the need to be any of these things that leads us back to realising we are this beauty, and no amount of doing will match the wondrous love we already are.

  8. When we spend our life thinking we are not good enough, just stopping and being with ourselves seems like the last thing we would want to do, but that is exactly where we reconnect with and start accepting the beauty that we have always been.

  9. ‘I realised that seeking external gratification is futile…’ So true. Recently I’ve found myself in a situation where I am reliant on approval to pass a course I’ve put a lot of money and effort into. I’m noticing how what I bring is being ignored and interactions are asking me to play small. It’s a replica of how I felt as I grew up. My reaction back then was to go into proving and improving myself until I am so perfect I couldn’t be faulted. The self-judgement I put on myself comes out in self-doubt and hardness, contraction of my natural ease of expression and nervousness.

    It is unnerving to be feeling this now, both what’s happening outside of myself and internally. But I’m learning great lessons this time around: the trap is pretending other than I am – so no trying to be perfect and perform; coming to appreciate fragility and vulnerability as strengths even if others want to use this against me as evidence of me being less in some way; letting go of protection so I love people, including myself, more and more; not putting myself as less or more – holding everyone in equalness; hearing out for old beliefs (such as the only way to be strong is to be tough) that are in my head and aren’t currently present. There may come a point where I walk away but I’m not going to run away and hide as I once did. This is to be appreciated greatly.

    1. Something happened to me last week which reminded me to live what I know, and to love with authority. I feel this may be what you need to claim as well.

  10. Claiming back our beauty and living that is the best thing we can do for ourselves, then it doesn’t matter what other people think or say about us because we know it is not true.

  11. There’s a difference in telling yourself that there is a beauty inside which radiates out, to feeling that beauty and knowing without a doubt that it is apparent to all.

  12. Jeanette, the old way was mission impossible and once connected to our essence it is plain sailing with some simple initiatives keeping us focused and on track as we prepare our bodies to move with Love.

  13. ‘stop giving power to the old ideals, beliefs and patterns that drove me to seek to define myself by what I do and what I look like.’ That there is no truth in the ideals and beliefs there is no steadiness or love either, which makes life abiding by them an extremely exhausting pursuit.

  14. “The truth is that the constant search of ‘what to do with my life’ always felt empty, exhausting, demoralising and impossible to resolve.” This is so true Jeanette. Its not until we come to accept who we are and stop the ‘trying to be something or someone’ that we can then allow life to unfold before us and simply do what ever is there to be done. When we allow life to flow in this way, it really does become joyful and vitalising.

  15. Jeanette, I have also found this to be true; ‘I realised that seeking external gratification is futile; that I needed to change how I felt about and treated myself.’ Living for acceptance and recognition is a very up and down way of living. I have found that taking care of myself and appreciating myself and what I bring allows me to be more confident in myself and to be more steady.

    1. Living and relying on being accepted and recognised by others is like being a dinghy on the sea floating who knows were, completely rudderless. No wonder this way erodes any confidence in ourselves. I’ve let this go a lot and am enjoying steering from my own compass, learning to navigate by the stars.

      1. Seeking acceptance, recognition, or anything externally is futile, ‘I realised that seeking external gratification is futile; that I needed to change how I felt about and treated myself, to stop being so hard on myself and start loving and honouring myself more.’

  16. How absolutely beautiful to feel the expression of your true beauty shining through this blog Jeanette, thank you.

  17. The self-abuse we cast upon ourselves is another form of protection, it’s a layer of dirt we throw on our chest so that not only other people don’t see our beauty, but we ourselves don’t see it either. Because once we begin to feel it and reclaim it, my god does the world flip upside down.

  18. Yes, it’s a huge shift when we not only question those beliefs about not being good enough, beautiful enough, smart enough, fast enough or whatever enough it is, but also begin to accept those thoughts are not who we are. We can be kind and loving towards ourselves when we “mess up”. We can begin to love ourselves regardless of our so-called flaws and imperfections. We can even appreciate ourselves for the qualities that we bring to life and be open to that true appreciation from another.

    1. Beautifully said elainarthey – accepting, appreciating and confirming who we are, even through the mess -ups, it’s the consistency of it through ‘up’ and ‘down’ that brings the different experience of life.

  19. Everything being energy means that our reflection in the mirror will feed back what we have invested in and projected to be. A mirror is a true reflection of the content of our mind and the ideals and beliefs we have subscribed to.

    1. How important then is the quality of energy that we choose to live in, ‘That it’s actually the energetic quality of how I am and my presence that determines the quality of my life and relationships with others and myself.’

  20. We all definitely hold a light within that when ignited emanates its beauty and grace from our whole body.

  21. I used to get attention from the way I looked, however that attention and recognition was in truth not what I wanted for it was laced with sexuality. Today because of the love I have for myself I came to the conclusion only the other day that it is not what I look like that attracts people to express and appreciate me, but the warmth and love inside me that others can feel. This is the difference between looking for love on the outside and claiming the inherent, natural love within.

  22. Just came across this beautiful blog from 2012, and was touched by how relevant it is for me today – ‘I needed to change how I felt about and treated myself, to stop being so hard on myself and start loving and honouring myself more.’ Truly loving ourselves is something fundamental to life, as it is the only way to return to love in full and the grace of who we are by nature.

  23. How beautiful it is to read of your ‘beautiful story’ that is so honouring and appreciative of yourself, and not full of the usual emotional drama. Thank you Jeanette. Such a refreshing read of you reclaiming your innate beauty.

  24. Jeanette, this is so simple and beautiful; ‘I needed to change how I felt about and treated myself, to stop being so hard on myself and start loving and honouring myself more.’ I know with myself that not being so hard on myself and taking more care of myself has made a huge difference to my self-confidence, I feel like I trust and respect myself more.

  25. I love that you have redefined the term “A beautiful story” and made it to be a tale of true transformation and discovery, rather than a perfect, happy ever after story. Beauty doesn’t need to be airy-fairy or exclusively the good bits, it can be real and fleshy and gritty while it uncovers the wonders of life.

  26. Reading your blog I got to feel just how much we have created in this world about it being what we look like, rather than who we are .. our innate being. What I love in what you have shared here is, not only how after finding it really hard to see or connect with this when you looked in the mirror in changing this … realising, accepting and appreciating your innate beauty, the ripple effect is then felt across the world making it possible for all of us to feel, be and do the same ✨ Bringing it back to who we truly are not what we look like ❤️

  27. It is a magical moment when you feel your inner beauty. No benchmark of looks, clothing, shape or age can touch this absolute knowing that you were born beautiful and it is your natural right to feel this way.

  28. Healing ourselves from abuse is a beautiful story, for how many truly heal this kind of trauma that doesn’t impinge underneath their whole life long? The fact you have is a great testimony that should have the whole world sit up, take notice and ask how you did it.

  29. Accepting who we truly is indeed a beautiful story. A story to be shared far and wide for this is why we are here – to realise this truth and live it in full.

  30. There are so many versions of ourselves, but only one true one.. the rest are a clever distraction that keeps us separated from all those around us.

  31. When in a world where everything is constantly confirming a worthlessness, feeling worthy is noble, feeling beautiful is exquisite and sharing these experiences is a must! Thank you Jeannette.

  32. Your story Jeannette gives deep understanding to others………..that we all have the power to change things in our lives that do not feel true to us and we can choose to accept our innate beauty we all so naturally are.

    1. We can change things when we stop subscribing to a model that has never served us and never will.

  33. Thankyou for sharing your story Jeanette, which is indeed beautiful. Our energetic quality is so important and sharing that with others feels to be such a gift. Looking back to my pre Universal Medicine days, there is no comparison with how I used to treat not only myself but others also. I thank heaven, literally, for finding Serge Benhayon and the Esoteric Healing modalities, which have allowed me to gently return to my true self – an ongoing and forever deepening work in progress.

    1. You’ve picked out a nugget here Sue – how there is a correlation between how we treat ourselves, and then how we are capable of treating others. We can’t pretend to love another in truth, without that being there for us first.

  34. Our connection to who we are within reveals a beauty that represents our divinity, which is out of this world, that which can never be matched or boxed by any ideal or belief that is created and imposed by society.

  35. To rediscover our true beauty inside, is pure gold. This blog is something for us all to celebrate, for one more person to turn their lives around, to be reconnected back to their full expression in all the gorgeousness of themselves, is one less person who is living lost. This might seem insignificant as we live among billions, but on an energetic level this is huge and will have tremendous ripple effects for others.

  36. Just imagine if each and every one of us was given this very wise teaching when we were young, one that was consistently repeated to us as we grew. ‘I am not what I do or what I look like, but I am so very much more’. I know for sure that life would have been very different for me as I am sure yours would have been too, Jeanette. And that fact that we are so much more than we could ever imagine is one the most confirming truths I have been presented with. It took a while to accept but now I know it with every particle of my being and every day live it to the best of my ability.

  37. When we look in the mirror and do not like what we see, it is not because we are ugly. It is because we have been treating ourselves poorly which is then shown in our reflection. When we start to treat ourselves with love and care, that emanates and we need not worry about our hair, make up, or clothes as it all comes together naturally.

  38. This is what we all want, truly, madly and deeply is just to be ourselves, and to live that in the world. Good on you for taking these steps, particularly after an abusive start to life, to choose to be you, the beautiful you and live that for us all to see.

  39. Attacking ourselves seems to be a ‘brilliant’ alternative from being attacked by others. It might do the trick…. At our expense anyway. Once you open the door to self-attack it is not that easy to close it.

  40. It’s surprising in a way that increasing our self worth and confidence is so very simple and happens very naturally, almost as a by-product of choices to look after ourselves more lovingly. These choices to be more self loving sometimes feel difficult to make if we’re used to disregarding ourselves, but the more we make them, and appreciate the effects on our bodies, the more we inspire ourselves to keep going and make this our way of being.

  41. All the ‘looking outside’ of ourselves for approval and acceptance is an excuse to be self-focused and is a dead give-away for not being willing to step up and take full responsibility for being a very crucial part of the Whole.

  42. It is so amusing when I ponder on just how caught up in ‘looks’ we are as women. Most men don’t seem to have the same obsession. The amusing thing is we cannot really change what we look like as we always look like ourself or a version of ourself. We think if only we would find the perfect hairdo or dress or boots, but at the end of the day we still look like ourselves no matter what the disguise or the makeup or the hairdo. We simply only have to accept that we are so much more than this outer appearance and that through connection we can have a sparkle in our eyes and a spring in our step that no money can buy and that brings our true beauty to the fore for all to see and be truly inspired by.

    1. And when I see this sparkle in someone’s eyes and or the spring in a step, there is a joy in sharing this love from inside out , no comparison or judgement just a togetherness and a pull to be more.

      1. The sparkle in the eye bypasses form as it is this light that reminds us of who we truly are.

  43. It takes a certain dedication, a commitment and what some might call devotion to turn our lives around as you have Jeanette. Knowing what we do on some level affects everyone. We are committing not just to ourselves, but to humanity and there is great purpose in that.

  44. It is indeed a beautiful story one that we all equally participate of returning to our own love, in every aspect in our lives.

  45. From such a young age we are sold a story of what beauty looks like rather than feeling our own beauty from within regardless of any physical attributes. We are all beautiful and when we live knowing we are beautiful we give permission to others to feel their beauty too.

  46. It is interesting to observe what the mirror reflects to us- we see all of what we have been choosing or not choosing to express and so we can either see the fullness or we can see where we have held back or not expressed our truth.

  47. This is what I call a truly beautiful story as once we embrace our own true beauty we can clearly see the beauty in all.

  48. I have noticed a direct correlation between how easily I could look at my reflection in the mirror without judgement and how connected I was with my own inner essence. The times where I was in some emotional reaction to life found me not wanting to look at myself in the eyes, as if I knew I was not being myself.

    1. Absolutely Michael. When we are totally connected to who we are, we have nothing to hide from anyone, not even ourselves and it is a beatuiful thing to look into our own eyes, as we are looking into the eyes of the divine and fully accepting that that is who and what we are.

  49. “I realised that seeking external gratification is futile; that I needed to change how I felt about and treated myself, to stop being so hard on myself and start loving and honouring myself more.” Once we have this realisation, it is miraculous as to what it is possible to change about our lives simply by virtue of the fact that we start to understand that by accepting anything that is less than love, is dishonouring of who we are.

  50. Nowhere have I read something that says ‘A beautifull story’ that then goes on to speak about abuse that was received! And this is in no way shape or form condoning abuse. Instead it highlights the importance of loving ourselves first, as this is imperative to our whole well-being and relationship with ourselves and others. Gorgeous to hear how you now truly see the beauty within you ✨

    1. This stood out to me too Vicky. It was quite alarming to read about the a abuse following the title. But in truth it is absolutely beautiful to allow ourselves the space to look at the abuse in our lives in order to uncover the reason why it is there and then to turn it around. There is much beauty in this.

      1. Yes, it does seem ironic to use the words Beauty and abuse in the same sentence, but what Jeanette shares here is indeed beautiful and deeply inspiring. There is much for us all to learn from this.

    2. Loving ourselves first is super important, and helps stop us looking for acceptance and recognition outside of ourselves.

  51. I love the title “a beautiful story” because we all have beautiful stories to tell when we accept the magnificence of who we are.

  52. Beauty is from within us it is there for everyone. How we get to this point deep down is to start letting go of all the falseness we have built up for ourselves. The more we chip away these ideals of who we are not, the brighter our inside shines.

  53. What an amazing turn around Jeanette, to now live guided by a loving relationship with yourself, and to know that who you are is defined by the love you innately are in essence.

  54. It is a beautiful story, because you could have easily carried on with the same thoughts and ways of living until your last days. But you clearly always knew there was more, and it wasn’t until you were truly ready to heal did another way present itself. That’s super cool.

  55. “But the other day I miraculously saw a reflection I’ve never felt before – My Beauty. A beauty that transcended my physical attributes, any need to be different, any comparison, self-doubt or self-loathing.” Now this is something to be truly celebrated!

  56. Jeanette, this is gorgeous and confirming to read; ‘I am beautiful, as are we all, that true beauty lives within me, that it always did and it now wants to shine.’ This feels key to me, that true beauty always did live within, it seems that we can be unaware of this in life and miss out on just how beautiful and amazing we actually, naturally are.

  57. The choice to re-connect to one’s own beauty and preciousness is indeed a blessing for all and so empowering for the individual.

  58. The first day I saw my true beauty in the mirror, I melted, the grace and presence was palpable. Sine this day, so much can be seen in the mirror, I can see if I am “trying” or “critiquing”, but what is eternal under any way of living I choose is my beauty. The moment I connect with that again, I see my beauty again in the mirror.

  59. How the different the adults of tomorrow would be if we raised the children of today to know that they are so much more than what they see reflected back to them in the mirror; that they have their own inner essence that is absolutely unique to them and this uniqueness has a place in this world as does everyone else’s, equally so. These children would grow into adulthood supported by a foundation built on the knowing of who they truly are having claimed this essence.

  60. Absolutely gorgeous Jeanette, and to see that spark of beauty in the instance, and not let in the thoughts to counteract this – well that will teach us something about what we put out is reflected back.

  61. This is indeed a beautiful story Jeanette that many could and would relate to. I certainly can and it is the appreciation of the beauty that resides within that really grows it so that there is a consistency for us and everyone else to feel and be inspired by.

  62. Jeanette, this is really gorgeous to read; ‘I realised that seeking external gratification is futile; that I needed to change how I felt about and treated myself, to stop being so hard on myself and start loving and honouring myself more’, wow this is an amazing life lesson and one that will make a huge difference to our lives, this self love and self care will change everything – how we feel about and treat ourselves and how we feel about and treat all others.

  63. ‘As I became more loving and tender with myself I grew more self-confident, then more able to accept my innate beauty.’ This seems such a simple process, especially when so many of us find it hard to look in the mirror without criticising what we see there. But the steps are simple, we can learn to touch things tenderly and feel the effect in our body, just for a start. Unpicking all the negative self talk is perhaps further down the line because it has become so normal a way of being we don’t realise we are doing it.

  64. That look in the mirror tells us so much about how we are feeling about ourselves. To actually be able to stop and appreciate your beauty and know it is unrelated to your looks, size, clothes etc. is a miracle in current times, where we are so critical of ourselves and feeling we never measure up. So it seems there is a cure for the propaganda and unrealistic female role models we see in the media.

  65. How is it possible that when we look in the mirror we get all kind of reflections depending how we are with ourselves, how we can completely write ourselves off (which never comes from the truth) or how we can allow ourselves to see our beauty, a beauty that is innate and true, which is always there when we make the choice to connect and truly appreciate the one who is looking back to us in the mirror.

  66. Wow I’ve never realised before just how often I say ‘that’ll do’ when I look at myself in the mirror. When I look and see something I ‘don’t like’, it’s not unusual for me to take 5 minutes to restyle my hair, add to my makeup and maybe put on some lipstick until I reach a point where it’s ‘acceptable’ to walk away again. Isn’t this crazy, how we treat ourselves and constantly expect of our appearance to be 100% perfection, whilst we almost never appreciate the beauty within…

  67. When we connect and appreciate our innate quality and attributes of who we are, it allows us to renounce and dispel any imprints we hold within our bodies that once might have allowed abuse and denigration of those innate qualities and instead nurture, love and accept ourselves deeply for who we are.

  68. ‘I am not what I do or what I look like, but I am so very much more.’ This is a beautiful realisation. Wouldn’t it be amazing if we could support all our teenagers to feel this, to their core , on a wider scale?

    1. I agree Rachel this is very much needed – and this is what The Girl to Woman initiative/festival is all about. Celebrating the gorgeousness of who young girls are, the preciousness and wisdom they naturally hold within, plus inviting families to come together to connect, confirm and support our girls to live and stay true to the powerhouses that are as they grow into women and engage with the world – http://www.girltowoman.com.au/

  69. Through everything this is what I keep coming back to; “That it’s actually the energetic quality of how I am and my presence that determines the quality of my life and relationships with others and myself.” We may have to read this over and over again to unfold further what this means personally but the willing consistency of this awareness allows life to be viewed in a different way than is currently being projected. Who said we had no ‘control’ over life?

  70. Lack of self-worth and self-loathing blinds a woman in such a way that she cannot see herself truly, and she cannot see the beauty that is within her. When she takes those steps towards healing what has caused this low self-esteem there does come a time where she actually sees and feels herself for the first time. In all the innocence and pristineness that she naturally is as a woman she will then stand in awe of how beautiful she truly is. And that is a sight to behold and cherish – because once witnessed, seen and felt, it is with us forevermore.

  71. The moment where you meet yourself for the first time, look in the mirror and see yourself as more than the outside covering, is a ‘kapow’ moment. I am sure children have that knowing of the grandness they come from and reflect back to us naturally and hold on to it for as long as they can. They inspire me to peel back the layers to live that as a way of living.

  72. It is amazing how society tries to sell us beauty from a picture, that it is something to obtain from outside ourselves, yet we are all beautiful from within, and the more we are able to connect to ourselves the more we feel that beauty for ourselves too.

  73. “I now know for absolutely sure what beautiful means; that I am beautiful, as are we all, that true beauty lives within me, that it always did and it now wants to shine.” . . . beautiful Jeanette and shine it does.! If only we all knew this to be our truth what a difference that would make to this world. No advertising could touch us! No improvement needed just a connection to the beauty that lies within is all that is required.

  74. This really is a beautiful story, very inspiring and revelation – for a woman to come out of lack of self-worth and regain her inner knowing and beauty is going against the grain of societal norms.

  75. It is very beautiful when we see past all the ideals and beliefs we have had around beauty and ourselves and just receive the reflection, as you did, of ourselves in all our glory. There is then no looking back and although we may falter and stumble at times we know true beauty and we know that is who we are.

  76. True beauty no doubt is always there within us all and it is never going to go away. How much we see the beauty depends on how much we dwell and indulge in that which is not who we are. There is always evolution being offered to us therefore always something in our lives being shown to us offering more love but this cannot ever come in the way of the natural beauty that is constantly within only if we purposely forget and choose to align to that which is not true.

  77. This is indeed a beautiful story and one that is very touching, particularly this line “I am not what I do or what I look like, but I am so very much more”. To be able to see the beauty and grace beyond what we do, and what we look like, is one of the greatest gifts we can give ourselves.

  78. What a great blog highlighting the harm of images and beliefs that we can let rule us, true freedom is releasing ourselves from the pictures that have been imposed on us.

    1. Yes, who would have thought of this as a freedom?! Yet the value we place on the images we are fed and then trying to live to those images traps us in a perpetual cycle of low self-esteem.

  79. Its a sad fact that so many get caught up in the illusion of glamour, at the expense of their own true beauty. But what you are showing us here Jeanette is that it is never too late to change this and that it just takes the inspiration of another along with a willingness to be open to a different choice.

  80. If only we were taught about energetic quality when we are children and that was part of the school curriculum, what a huge difference this would make to the way we lived.

  81. I can relate to what Jeanette is saying with trying to define who I was with what I did and how I looked, and it does not matter if you are a brain surgeon or a housewife we can still identify ourselves in what ever role we take on. Being the best or being the worse, it makes no difference, as it is all part of the same game. Only when we get to the point where we accept ourselves and know that we are enough, do we feel settled within ourselves – it’s as if a huge weight is lifted off of our shoulders as the trying is no longer needed.

  82. Thank you for this Jeannette. It’s reminded me that there is more to look at in the mirror and ask myself do I truly look? And by this I mean standing there and getting a sense of what I feel is being presented. I’ve done this before and the results where amazing in that more often than not I love looking into my eyes, but something tells me to go back in and experiment further.

  83. Trying to ‘fix’ our smashed pictures of inadequate beauty and the like with glamours of what we think beauty ought to be is the very definition of solution itself. True answers only come from within.

  84. ‘As I became more loving and tender with myself I grew more self-confident, then more able to accept my innate beauty.’ Spot on Jeannette, to embrace and honour the beauty we all have within stops any need to seek outside of yourself for any validation or approval.

  85. We are so gloriously beautiful beyond all our imaginings and yet we get bogged down in what is ‘not us’ . . . until we at last get a glimpse once again of the light that we are.

    1. Yes, we get so distracted with issues and problems that we completely miss the grandness we are from settling for a lesser version of ourselves.

      1. Yes Fiona, we choose to be distracted with our issues and problems as this allows us to only focus on ourselves and we think that this relieves us by giving us excuse as to why we are refusing to step up and take responsibility for being a crucial part of the whole.

  86. This is no small feet, but a revelation and significant miracle – for a woman to come out of lack of self-worth and regain her inner knowing and beauty is going against the grain of societal norms.

  87. True beauty pours from us but so often we do not appreciate or even see it. What a defining moment when we can claim that beauty for ourselves so thank you Jeanette for opening us up to this.

  88. When we have low self-esteem we invite others to share this view of us and when we feel the power of our inner beauty then this is equally what others feel and can inspire them to reconnect to their own inner beauty.

  89. Images and pictures can be such a distraction from the glory that we truly are. Connecting to the inner joy and beauty we are is where we find our true home. A return to being…

  90. Jeannette what it seems to me you are saying is that we have been fed a lie and it is constantly fed to us like a drip by drip. To break free from the strangle the lies have on humanity will I feel take a lot of effort as first of all we have to admit that we are constantly fed lies in the first place. The world is set up in a way that we are encouraged to seek out side of ourselves for recognition and acceptance. This keeps our attention from looking inwards where everything is known to us. What a perfect set up! Until we all come back to the truth that everything is energy and all is because of energy we will continue to live in the illusion that we don’t even know we are living in!

  91. This is indeed a truly beautiful thing to start appreciating and expressing the natural beauty that lies within us all. As I get older I’ve been inspired by all those women who are embracing and expressing their natural beauty, and no longer define myself by what I look like. Yes, this can still be present but there was a time I would have written myself off as not being young any more and so unworthy of relationships with others – yes! that’s how lost I was. I thought all interactions were based on physical attractiveness!!! It’s a joy to discover connections are made from our essence which is timeless.

  92. “I needed to change how I treated myself,” we all need to do this – this changes things for many without ever having to speak to or see them. You have no idea of the power we have simply walking in a supermarket in our full body. By that I mean full of our absolute knowing we are divine and not from here. And having fun with ourselves, listening to our bodies, not what anyone else tells us. We aren’t here to make things better, to simply reflect that’s all, as I am learning – let people feel true love and – we are all divine. So much joy can be had from doing the most simple and mundane things like going buying food, you have no idea how many lives you change. People clock there is something different and magical at play.

  93. Early ‘brilliant’ decisions to cope with the tension we feel in and from the world stick with us and set us on a course that leads us further and further away from the truth of us. The tension relieving mechanism becomes our way to confirming ourselves. But what does it really confirm? What are we coming back to? It is not easy to become aware that the version of ourselves with less tension in the body is not really us. It is galaxies away from the true us.

  94. Life is not about the externalised pursuit of happiness but more so the rekindling of the inner joy we each were born in and with. Reigniting this allows our true beauty to shine. It is a very personal process that affects everyone we come in contact with by virtue of the love we emanate and the eternal reflection it provides for all others on our path back home to our inner godliness.

  95. I love that you called this a beautiful story Jeanette, these are the stories we need in ‘trash magazines’. Stories where we feel that we are all equal in being caught in our own prison of illusion, and that we all have the offering to bring love and beauty to our lives.

  96. Beautiful Jeannette what an amazing place to find yourself evolving with and knowing and a delight to read ‘it’s actually the energetic quality of how I am and my presence that determines the quality of my life and relationships with others and myself. I am not what I do or what I look like, but I am so very much more.’

  97. It is a phenomenal moment when you look into your eyes and you don’t see the colour (or the wrinkles)! You see an unending well of beauty, depth and connection to the universe. There is no coincidence that they say the eyes are the window to the soul.

  98. ” I now know for absolutely sure what beautiful means; that I am beautiful, as are we all, that true beauty lives within me, that it always did and it now wants to shine.” thank you Jeanette for finding your true beauty and expressing it so beautifully, I too have felt this inner beauty that has nothing to do with age or anything external, but resides within the inner heart of every human being, what a gift it would be to see this beauty in all who we meet before we see the external outer covering this we present to the world. The more I see it in me the more I can see it in others.

  99. ‘I realised that seeking external gratification is futile; that I needed to change how I felt about and treated myself…’ This is a huge shift in thinking and a huge shift in a way of living. It takes much commitment, but is well worth making the effort for.

  100. To be able to see true beauty is a gift but it’s not a gift that was handed to you on a silver platter, it’s one that you have earned by committing to loving yourself. It can be a long road back to self-love in a world that does not model what self-love truly is that well.It’s great that you have had some solid role models in Universal Medicine Practitioners to support you come home to you.

  101. It just goes to show how much you have healed to look back and your life and say it is a beautiful story. It shows how much you love and value yourself and also how the abuse has been truly cleared from your body in that you are no longer holding this anymore. Amazing.

  102. Thank you Jeannette, it’s a truly amazing moment to feel and connect to ones own inner beauty, especially in the mirror. It’s like we are lit up from within and feeling the beauty of that inner emanation changes everything. If I don’t see and feel it then I know it’s a signal I am not taking loving care of myself and my being.

  103. I love this – ” the other day I miraculously saw a reflection I’ve never felt before – My Beauty”. I remember the moment when I suddenly connected with my own beauty and the joy that was there was profound. We are so conditioned to believe that we should look like this, that or someone else that it takes a deep acceptance and appreciation of ourselves to be able to see and feel our own beauty. When it happens though it is pure gold and never to be let go of again. Beauty has everything to do with what it feels like on the inside, which then reflects what it looks like on the outside.

  104. The true beauty of who we are is eternally present through our connection to our essence. Imagine the power we all would live if the magnificence we already are was confirmed from birth, so we grow up knowing without a doubt that our connection to this quality is ever-present and what truly defines who we are in essence.

  105. ‘But the other day I miraculously saw a reflection I’ve never felt before – My Beauty.’ Whenever we are not seeing our beauty, we are not seeing who we truly are.

  106. I am sure as women most of us can relate to what you share on some level about having self-loathing and a lack of self-worth. How gorgeous is it then that you have turned yourself around and can deeply honour and appreciate your beauty and how far you have come in recent years in changing your life and self-perception.

  107. Love your blog Jeanette, many of us spend years and stacks of money trying to heal our childhood wounds, what you have shown us is that if we surrender to the love and beauty that resides within we can re-connect to who we were before the abuse. We can then let the abuse go and get on with being who we innately are.

  108. Beauty cannot be forced from any ideal or image for it requires to be continually fed to be real. The mirror is the perfect reflection of this. The innermost beauty as Jeannette is claiming back is the natural connection to within and as it is held it externalises into a physical being. So, yes our inner beauty comes from our Soul equal to God and all that love he represents.

  109. What comes to me is how when we don’t allow ourselves to feel and surrender to what is there we look for an image, trying to compute and make sense of it. It is very beautiful, Jeannette, how you have reversed this process and reclaimed your beauty by simply accepting what you are already.

  110. “I am not what I do or what I look like, but I am so very much more” This is powerful, and it is through the appreciation of our beingness that we can embody and surrender more back to the flow of life where our only responsibility is holding our quality within and observe true alchemy at play.

  111. Before we even stand to look in a mirror we have already decided what we’re going to see, and often have an image in our heads to compare ourselves against, guaranteeing that today we are ugly, fat and not worthy if we don’t look like that image.

  112. Being ‘beautiful’ on the outside does not guarantee feeling a sense of worth. In fact many ‘beautiful’ women are severely depressed and still not happy with themselves. This is definitely not the key. As you have stated it is the beauty within that counts, and everyone is beautiful within. This is where true equality lies. We are all the same and all beautiful on the inside. We just have to connect to it and appreciate it.

  113. “I’ve spent the better part of 51 years trying to define who I am by what I look like and what I do… the problem is, I never could”; beautifully said Jeanette. All I need to do is to change the 51 to 55, the age that I began to understand that the reflection in the mirror that I was constantly avoiding was actually not the true me, but the me that had been overlaid by so many destructive ideals and beliefs and the challenges that kept arising in my life. It has taken a long time, well into my 60’s, but now I finally love looking in the mirror and have fallen in love with the beautiful woman looking back at me; and if there are days when the old reflection returns then I know to stop and check in as to how I have been living my life and asking the question; has that living been based on love?

    1. Thank you Ingrid, I appreciated your simple question “has that living been based on love?” A simple way to check in on how we have been nurturing our body and our being.

  114. That is indeed a beautifull story. What I love about this is not only have you truly felt and acknowledged your deep inner beauty (after such a long time of avoiding or not wanting to either feel it or think it was there!) but in writing this you are confirming what you have felt therefore it then becomes a part of your ‘normal’ where then so much more can be revealed to you.

  115. Every part of our world and society seems to be set up to show off, measure and compare our physical appearance. It’s intense! Yet when you meet old couples or lovers it is clear as their body and physiques wither, the tenderness and delicate care can be very much still there. This starts to dispel the beauty myth as you show here Jeanette. We have been sold a big fat lie that beauty lives in a limited way, instead of in a quality of energy. Your words here lead me to think that living life is like singing a constant song – the harmony and sweetness that comes is totally up to us. This super power we have to contribute to Love or harm and be reminded of the truth – now this is to me, the real beauty of life.

  116. The real beauty within radiates when we connect to our every fine movement. It is here that I find such depth, joy and grace that the beauty just shines outwardly so. I find it is only when I hold back this joy from fear of what others will think or dull it down if I feel others are unhappy or not feeling like I do, but this denial of how I feel holds everyone back. So why not be all of who we are and share it in full appreciation of the joy felt? Because without the reflection of joy how will others be able to share in that and feel it within themselves too?

  117. It is interesting to notice moments when I seek recognition because it happens when I feel a lack of appreciation for myself and when I have chosen to disconnect from expressing truth. When I appreciate the beauty and strength that is within me and everyone else, these thoughts and cravings no longer have space to occupy my body or my thoughts.

  118. Well said — we are everything we choose. So we better choose the power of love instead of the absense of all that, and so it reveals to us that wherever we stand in life now is the simply the outcome of all our choices in or away from that.. Which is a beautiful revelation eitherway it ask us to take more loving responsibility for ourselves..

  119. Allowing ourselves to feel the beauty that is within us all brings us a way to live that is asking us to share it with everyone, and not hold it for ourselves. It is in coming to this way of self love and adoration that we are asked to be love in everything we do.

    1. Gorgeous Benkt; ‘It is in coming to this way of self love and adoration that we are asked to be love in everything we do’… gorgeous to take into my day.

  120. Imagine looking in the mirror and not only seeing the beauty, but feeling the responsibility to see the beauty, to then allow ourselves to openly support others to feel that beauty too. That is an amazing way to live.

  121. ‘I realised that seeking external gratification is futile…’ a simple but powerful statement! How many of us (I include myself here) have spent their entire life looking for approval from others rather than feeling that deep sense of self-worth from within?

  122. A powerful story and most importantly are these words…” That it’s actually the energetic quality of how I am and my presence that determines the quality of my life and relationships with others and myself.

  123. When we spend our days vainly trying to define who we are by what we do it completely omits and disregards the actual quality that not only founds but builds all that we do from it.

  124. Thank you Jeanette for sharing such a lovely outcome to your story. We first need to love and appreciate ourselves then all drops into place.

  125. I agree Brendan – even though we have all we need within, the reflection of that in activity and livingness is always an inspiration as there are limitless potentials to this connection.

  126. We wake up with ourselves, we go to sleep with ourselves, we live day in and day out with ourselves – so why do we make ourselves the enemy?

  127. Jeannette – thank you for your sharing – “to stop beating myself up for not being good enough, to start accepting myself for who I am” – this is indeed a great starting point for any one of us!

  128. A truly beautiful story as you are Jeannette shared for us all to feel and know our own beauty too, Thank you, you are a very real inspiration.

  129. What is very beautiful about this is that it shows that no matter how much self-loathing, lack of self worth, self hate etc that we build up during our life, it is all erasable very simply by loving ourselves again, as the natural beauty and essence is never tainted and never goes.

    1. Spot on Joshua – our natural beauty lies within and our essence is never tainted. It lies there awaiting for us simply to re-connect to it and to allow its expression to all.

      1. So much for the feeling being right or wrong. Self judgement and critique has no place at all if we reconnect to our inner hearts and feel that we are already full and complete already in just being who we naturally are.

    2. Absolutely Joshua, all it takes is a glimpse of what has always been there and once seen so much of the beliefs we carry about ourselves start to be exposed as false.

  130. It is awesome you have been able to feel and appreciate your true beauty and call out all that is not true as in glamour, not being good enough, giving your power away, seeking recognition and numbing yourself to name a few .. some of which many can relate to, myself being one of them. You clearly show, with the willingness to be honest with these things, to look at them and heal them, just how much we can truly turn our lives around to be in line with who we truly are

  131. Jeanette, thank you for sharing your story. I have also come to realise that we are all beautiful. I lived with a lack of self worth for most of my life and it is amazing that this is now changing and that I am becoming more confident in myself and that I see my beauty and as a result I see the beauty in others, this is a huge change and feels very lovely not to be caught in the illusion of being less and of trying to compete.

  132. Often it is the people close to us that we experience abuse and they seem to hurt the most. I have experienced this myself and I realise this deeper hurt comes from an expectation that family members should love us no matter what.

    1. Also the deep hurt comes from not standing up for myself and seeing people I love behave lovelessly.

  133. Wow Jeanette this is so beautiful as is the knowing from within of our own beauty and that of everyone. Our eyes are a picture of our soul and the Universe we come from, and truly seeing this is an amazing gift and joy to feel and lives within us all. Thank you for sharing your story it is inspirational and deeply felt.

  134. It is sad to see that the ones we love, our supposed family can end up abusive. The search for what is wrong with us always ends up with no answers, so how beautiful that you found a way of supporting yourself and truly moving forward. When we are stuck in the dilemma it seems impossible to get out of, like quicksand but when we look back we can understand it completely.

  135. It is a beautiful story Jeanette, you show it really is never too late to change the way we are living and claim the beauty that lies within us all.

  136. Seeing and feeling our own beauty is truly a beautiful thing. Jeanette thank you for a very beautiful story.

  137. This is indeed a very beautiful thing and a very beautiful thing to read this morning. To hear a sister return to her true beauty, and not the false shallow version we have been sold, is to be celebrated and cherished.

    1. I agree Sarah, very beautiful indeed. Jeanette’s beauty and her celebration of this is a blessing to all women. When one person steps into their beauty and shares who they are with the world they are inspiring and give others permission to do the same, to fully claim our true beauty.

  138. ‘I now know for absolutely sure what beautiful means; that I am beautiful, as are we all, that true beauty lives within me, that it always did and it now wants to shine.’ Jeanette, it is so lovely to read this and that you share this blog so that others can stop trying to match the image of beauty that is fed to us by the media because of our own lack of self-worth.

  139. this is a gift we could all offer each other, knowing our own true beauty and love we can hold the reflection of another’s beauty until they too once more recognise and remember this for themselves. The power of what we can bring together is beyond enormous – all we have to do is embrace it.

  140. This is really really beautiful Jeanette. We so often make the problems we have the focus and often ignore that the foundation of how we are with ourselves in every moment is actually the central crux behind it all.

  141. What a powerful message Jeanette, especially this sentence came deep into my heart. And I know I must ponder and let it go, and I know I am not the only one. ”To stop beating myself up for not being good enough, to start accepting myself for who I am and stop giving power to the old ideals, beliefs and patterns that drove me to seek to define myself by what I do and what I look like. ”
    There is no need to define myself, simply no.

  142. It is a beautiful story that everyone can tell that no matter what behaviours they may exhibit, or stuff that they may have piled on top of themselves in life, underneath all of that who we are remains unscathed and is pure love. We can always come back to that.

  143. Great story Jeanette, has something deep to it that shows us another form of being, which allows us to see wider and feel more of who we are in a great sense.. And hence our spiritual journey is being questioned if it is on its true way.

  144. ‘That it’s actually the energetic quality of how I am and my presence that determines the quality of my life and relationships with others and myself.’ This is it all in a nut shell and if only one thing could be lived by us all this understanding alone would change everything – what a powerful realization to have.

  145. In the face of love the “glamorous illusions” are easily exposed for the empty and fake substitute that they are, so it is with self-love first that the speciousness loses attraction and with unconditional love that illusion evaporates like veil of mist in the warming sun.

  146. No matter how hard life may have been for us and how much we feel damaged by what has happened the inner beauty is never touched by it. What is affected is our relationship with the innermost qualities that make who we are in truth and it is this relationship that needs to be healed as presented and offered by Universal Medicine and experienced and now shared by you. It might be hard but it is possible for everyone to come back to their inner timeless beauty.

  147. Why is it so normal to numb ourselves silly with all sorts of things, inside of naturally being who truly are? A silly question perhaps that exposes the craziness in itself but I feel a big part of this is in valuing and appreciating our true expression. Something we feel is not liked at all by the world at times but why does it have to be? If it is true for you then why not claim it?

  148. Who do we know that has not numbed themselves in some way… humanity desperately needs the connection with the inner heart that has always been there, and will always be there.

  149. This is beautiful indeed Jeanette and thank you for sharing it here. We are so much more than what we do and how we look – even if society chooses to laud such things. Rediscovering the importance of self-love is one of, if not the most important steps in our return to knowing our true selves rather than spending our lives seeking endlessly outside ourselves. When we understand this life takes on a new purpose and flow and we realise what we have been missing for a very long time.

  150. YES! This is ‘A Beautiful Story Jeanette. To heal yourself from being psychologically and emotionally abused for many years, to a woman who celebrates herself in full, is an inspiring and powerful sharing of what is possible with making different choices. “I now know for absolutely sure what beautiful means; that I am beautiful, as are we all, that true beauty lives within me, that it always did and it now wants to shine”.

  151. Whenever I am hard on myself or self loathing comes in I know I’ve given my power away to some external belief, ideal, or image of how I think I should be. A lifetime of defining myself by what I did for others, or did out in the world, is taking time to step away from. What’s interesting is that when I connect to that inner beauty within me and am not affected by ideals or beliefs I feel really clear. As soon as I’m in the ideals and beliefs again I feel foggy or cloudy, which indicates a lot about the quality of energy these come from. We are made to be ourselves and it feels amazing to surrender to and live from the simplicity of this.

  152. We are sold such a big lie about how things are, the glamour and illusion thing and most of us swallow it hook, line and sinker and settle for a life of misery or at the very least a life that may have times of happiness but no real joy. We need to be taught from day one that true beauty comes from within so we don’t get caught up in the outer.

    1. So true kevmchardy for it we started a true beauty empowerment program from day one with our parents and this is followed up in the education system, we would definitely not have the levels of self-loathing, self-abuse and acceptance of abuse by others that so characterises the experience of our teens of today.

  153. This feels like a whole new way of drug and alcohol rehab – feel how amazing you are and learn how to bring that to the world… the whole world sure does benefit greatly from it!

  154. Universal Medicine presents, for all of us, the opportunity to see, feel and appreciate the true inner beauty within us all. This may sound clichéd, but in its living truth it is profound.

  155. Everything you have shared has some element that we can all resonate with, so to see how you today, have shifted and are living with a foundation of love is inspiring in that it shows self love certainly does lead the way back home.

  156. I have been feeling lately how I can never do enough of truly loving and accepting myself, and your sharing here confirms that I too am a part of a beautiful story. Thank you, Jeannette.

  157. Jeanette – thank you for this profound and deeply touching blog. How inspiring to read of the changes made to break this mould you write of so clearly.
    “I moulded myself according to standards that I didn’t agree with or believe in, that didn’t honour my inner truth, my natural expression, me as a person, or as a woman”.

  158. ‘That it’s actually the energetic quality of how I am and my presence that determines the quality of my life and relationships with others and myself. ‘ Beautifully said and very true Jeanette, we spend so much time on trying to get things right and look a certain way and we end up feeling exhausted, life is simple and true when we make it about our quality first and foremost.

  159. I feel truly beautiful when I listen to what my heart shares over all the outer ideals and images of I should or shouldn’t be doing.

  160. What a fabulous and defining moment. Everyone has their true beauty, everyone, and it should be shouted from the roof tops when we finally break through the illusions about ourselves that we have adopted or had placed upon us and see how beautiful we actually are for ourselves.

  161. Thank you Jeannette for sharing your realisation and acceptance of your true beauty, a beauty that lives within us all regardless of our physical features or what we are doing, this is a beauty that doesn’t fade with age but a beauty that is only ever deepening everlasting and eternally divine.

  162. This really is a beautiful story, l truly long for the day when glamour and illusion are part of history and all of us who promote it and live by it are able to see right through it and see the true beauty in ourselves and everyone, so the illusion has nothing to feed on.

  163. To recognize your beauty after all these years is wonderful Jeannette. How awesome this world would be if we all came to the conclusion as you have, that we are all wonderful, beautiful beings. Equal in the eyes of God and made from Love.

  164. I would say a goal of mine is to model my everyday life with my inner values. Whenever we allow external values to taint who we are it is normally a recipe for discord with ourselves and others..

    1. So true Luke – returning to the inner foundation and true values is way preferable to being run by external values – where ‘right and wrong’ measure and mould us constantly, rather than living from the innate joy and stillness within.

  165. This is so beautiful. Our beauty is always there underneath the pile of other stuff that we place on top. How gorgeous that you have uncovered it and can now appreciate it and allow yourself to shine.

  166. Jeannette, we are indeed “so very much more” than what we do or who we try to be. It’s crazy how we all get caught in the search for recognition but it never truly delivers for when our self compares there is always someone else who seems better, fairer, more intelligent etc and we inevitably mark ourselves as less. It’s an exhausting game which as you say, “only feeds the illusions”.

  167. Jeanette, it’s lovely to read how you are now able to connect to the beauty within and once we do that we stop looking outside for confirmation of our worth because we are appreciating who we truly are.

  168. The world is set up telling us the way we must live and the roles we need to play in order to be a man or woman, this is an imposition we all grow up with but it doesn’t have to be that way. It is by us connecting to our bodies and feeling the beauty within that we can break away from the illusion and embrace the truth of who we are.

  169. There is nothing more beautiful than someone who is living from their innate love and joy. It’s mesmerising and so very deeply inspiring.

  170. Jeanette – you have broken a cycle here. It is very common for people who have been hurt and abused, to then abuse themselves or others. A cycle that they know because they don’t want to see there is another way. But your story here shows how we don’t have to hide in our hurts, we don’t have to not feel to get by. This is very beautiful and powerful and provides a huge healing to people in your situation.

  171. Thank you, Jeanette. This blog is worth reading again and again as it is deeply moving to read about a life that has been turned around. To go from experiencing abuse and blaming yourself for it to knowing in every cell of your being that you are beautiful is very enriching to read about.

  172. I can so relate to this. When we see our true self looking back from the mirror there is a feeling of sheer joy and a oneness, as in that moment we are connected to everyone and everything ad infinitum. Consciously choosing to live in this harmony is an ever evolving journey. Simple things like bringing quality to our movement can support us to say on track.

  173. “That it’s actually the energetic quality of how I am and my presence that determines the quality of my life and relationships with others and myself.” The beauty is held in allowing ourselves to be exactly who we are in any given moment and that quality is then reflected outwardly for all to see and feel. Just gorgeous Jeanette thank you.

  174. Beautiful Jeanette – showing us the wisdom from heaven and how the truth about Universal Medicine is real and in no way an illusion (it can only expose it). It is never ever before that I felt a business is so deep, so enriching and so loving. An unending business that offers unending teachings, philosophies, books, audios, music etc. etc. What an amazing gift to our world. A business that keeps giving.. That is so transparent.. And unique in its Way.. Thank you Serge Benhayon as initiator of this very all encompassing business.

  175. Jeanette, to come from loathing yourself to being able to see and appreciate your beauty is absolutely huge and definitely, worth taking a moment or many moments to celebrate. To heal self-loathing you have to get to the root cause of it and it is obvious that you have walked that path and come out the other end. This is very inspiring.

  176. ‘I realised that seeking external gratification is futile; that I needed to change how I felt about and treated myself, to stop being so hard on myself and start loving and honouring myself more.’ A beautiful way to go, and every step on the way we feel the so much more that we are, never ending always becoming more beautiful and more our true selves.

  177. When we begin to accept and appreciate who we are, it peels away all the layers of past hurts, ideals and beliefs that may be muddying our natural essence. So when those layers held begin to fall away, you look in the mirror now and the reflection that shines back is pure beauty for all to see and feel and its a quality we all hold.

  178. ‘…my presence that determines the quality of my life and relationships with others and myself.’ I’m learning this everyday and everyday am so surprised when I can just be with others and they respond with connection and equality.

    1. Isn’t this interesting Karin, it would make more sense if we were suprised when we weren’t being ourselves but everything we are seeing around us is geared for us not to be ourselves.

  179. I also used to receive such a lot of emotional and psychological abuse when I was a child that I grew up thinking something was wrong with me. It was a huge revelation when I discovered that the attacks were due to jealousy and because there was something right or more accurately true about me and not because there was something wrong. Now if people have a go at me for these reasons I take it as a compliment and confirmation as to how awesome I am. Thank you Serge Benhayon for exposing the truth about jealousy. There is a great description of it here: http://www.unimedliving.com/unimedpedia/word-index/unimedpedia-jealousy.html

  180. That’s very cool Jeannette. It’s pretty amazing to realise that physical beauty really and truly is only skin deep and that it actually doesn’t really get us anywhere, despite the illusion we are fed. Catching that glance of you and feeling your beauty is absolutely where it’s at. From here there is only further development of that appreciation needed. I have felt the difference between thinking I ‘look good’, and feeling like I am enough, and I can absolutely attest to feeling like who I am is enough is far more empowering.

  181. This is so beautiful Jeanette, loved hearing about how after a life of living in momentum of abuse you could stop that and see and feel your beauty, and live it which is so amazing! An inspiration.

  182. To really love and appreciate ourselves and what we each bring is indeed a deeply beautiful and joyful experience. Every now and then I glimpse myself in the mirror and am taken aback by the beauty of sparkling eyes and a smiling face – that was never my experience before I reconnected to myself via Universal Medicine a decade ago.

  183. Jeanette this is indeed a beautiful story, this is so true, “I am not what I do or what I look like, but I am so very much more”. I can feel this now in myself and others, we are very amazing and not living to our full potential, I can feel the unique qualities that we all bring, including myself and how we hold these back and do not appreciate how amazing and beautiful we all truly are when we are simply being ourselves.

  184. ‘…it’s actually the energetic quality of how I am and my presence that determines the quality of my life and relationships with others and myself.’ So true Jeanette. True beauty is an inner virtue that delivers a discernable quality. It may or may not be accompanied by socially / culturally received visions of physical attractiveness.

  185. We tend to be fooled by the eye, equating physical beauty with a depth of character. Sometimes these two factors do align, but they are not a given. Look at the women on http://www.womeninlivingness.com – particularly their eyes – all are deeply beautiful but you wouldn’t necessarily see them in a fashion magazine. But they are living something that shines forth in a tangible and undeniable way.

  186. Our beauty is found in our essence and emanates from inside… it has nothing to do with our physical appearance.

  187. I have noticed that when I sit at the mirror I look at my appearance. I have been concentrating on looking past that and trying to observe the quality of me. It is taking some training but I know there is so much more than what my eyes can currently see.

  188. “But the other day I miraculously saw a reflection I’ve never felt before – My Beauty”
    I have found that the more care and appreciation I feel for myself the more words like beautiful, delicate and womanly literally come alive as I recognises these qualities in me, they are no longer empty letters that sit on the page but alive, magic & lived within me.

  189. “The truth is that the constant search of ‘what to do with my life’ always felt empty, exhausting, demoralising and impossible to resolve. The way I looked could never fulfill the world’s ‘ideal’ of beautiful; therefore, by those markers I was never going to be an acceptable human being or woman, and as a result my self-loathing blossomed into an ever-present lack of confidence and slight depression.” Amazing Jeanette how you have summed up this ever present feeling of being less and the self loathing that piggy backs this. Living from the outside in, is a path that will never confirm us for the more and more that we truly are.

  190. A True Celebration to Love ourselves deeply and therein to feel the absoluteness of Love, Godliness and Grace we are.

  191. “My Beauty. A beauty that transcended my physical attributes, any need to be different, any comparison, self-doubt or self-loathing.” This beauty we all carry with us and many people see it in us but it only truly comes to life if we accept and appreciate this beauty that we are from within.

  192. It is indeed a very beautiful thing Jeanette; what you have shared is powerful and inspirational.

  193. It’s a great moment to reach when you know from inside that there is absolutely nothing wrong with you, and that all those years of negative self talk was just wrong and incorrect information being fed to us and then it was our choice to run with it or not. It is very empowering to start to question if the thoughts are true or not, mostly likely not.

  194. ‘…I came up with the ‘brilliant’ solution – not of standing up for myself – but by numbing myself with drugs.’ How many of us have used numbing substances (drugs, alcohol, tobacco, food, TV, sex, relationships, emotional drama, over-work, etc) in lieu of standing up for ourselves? I know I have. But what a self-defeating choice that is, and what a laborious one to unravel. For not only does it entail kicking the habits we’ve come to depend on to deaden us from feeling what we can feel, it means we need to also develop a new the capacity to speak up for ourselves from scratch – a task that will be harder after a lifetime of not doing so.

  195. So gorgeous Jeannette that you now see, feel and appreciate your true inner beauty, essence and wisdom, thank you for sharing. What you have so beautifully and powerfully expressed here I could so relate to, sad to think of so many wasted years;
    “so my entire self-esteem proceeded to be based upon a tragic array of glamorous illusions of societal constructed prerequisites for beauty and success and subsequent acceptability”.

  196. Drugs may be seen as a way out from a situation but only at the price of getting you into another really damaging one, that has no easy way out because it is your own choice to be there in the first place.

  197. Many of us look at models or movie stars and use them as a marker of beauty, something we need to aspire to, when actually all we need to do is look within as our true beauty resides there

  198. It’s interesting that our society’s ideas and ideals of beauty actually makes people feel terrible about themselves and ugly! How does that work? Who makes the images that only some can fit the mould while other try their hardest to fit it with putting their bodies at high level of risk with surgery, crazy diets and extreme exercise?

  199. An inspirational story and a well deserved freedom from the shackles of outer beauty overriding our innate and ever present inner beauty. This is a beautiful testament to the power of self-love and how the consistent act of caring for and honouring oneself can strip away the layers of doubt, self-loathing and lack of confidence.

  200. Our beauty is an emanation of the love within ourselves, it has nothing to do with the outer physicality as in essence we are all equally the sons of God.

  201. True beauty is an emanation of who we are, it is much more than how we look but a depth of love from within our souls.

  202. This is truly a beautiful story. I too see glimpses of beauty in myself. What’s super lovely is I feel it too and I see this and feel this quality in others. I’m discovering it’s a choice I can make to re connect and feel the beauty in another when I choose to.

  203. True beauty that emanates from within far outshines any of our physical characteristics.

  204. Jeannette what you share about looking in the mirror is so real, all the fleeting glances and moments from one end of feeling a boost to the other where looking isn’t even considered. The moment we look and see nothing but the absolute loveliness we are, feeling our inner beauty shine is truly a wonderful moment. Thank you so much for the reminder to appreciate this more deeply knowing this is the truth and it’s a choice to allow myself to feel this constantly.

  205. “That it’s actually the energetic quality of how I am and my presence that determines the quality of my life and relationships with others and myself.” I love this Jeannette and feel that the quality we all hold is indeed beautiful and it is destined to shine when we first recognise it from within ourselves first. A beautiful blog indeed. Thank you.

  206. How amazing to uncover whatever those layers were to finally see and reconnect to the love and beauty that was there all along and will always be there for us all.

  207. This is a beautiful story and one I am sure many will relate to, but unfortunately the majority of us don’t come out the other end and find our inner beauty such as you have described. That’s why it is so important to let others know that life does not have to revolve around getting recognition for what we look like and for the things we do.

  208. “But the other day I miraculously saw a reflection I’ve never felt before – My Beauty. ” That is so awesome Jeannette, congratulations, you have worked lovingly to get to that point and it is to be deeply valued and appreciated.

  209. That is incredible Jeanette. This shows your commitment to truth and living from this truth everyday. Thank you for sharing this with us. A beautiful testimony that we can change our lives and that we are able to stop abuse and life from a love that is beyond anything imaginary! That equally kicks out any ideals and beliefs (those that are lies, such as the ones about beauty image)! Super cool! Those people around you are blessed.

  210. This is beautiful Jeannette – truly claiming your self. I loved how you were aware of the choices you were making and the constant bringing yourself back to what was true. Your reflection is shining brightly and inspiring for others – you are Gorgeous.

  211. I loved reading this blog because it shows that no matter what things have affected us growing up there is always a way back from that, and this is what Serge Benhayon and Universal Medicine team does so well – they show us the enormous lie we have been living with and using to lessen ourselves.

  212. How different the world would be if we all could see our innate beauty… for the beauty industry would have nothing to hook into us with for nothing could capture what we already possess within.

  213. No matter what we have or look like, it is never enough and we do just feed the illusion by wanting more and more, unless we do discover the inner beauty that resides in all of us and that never leaves.

  214. This was such an inspirational read. Particularly love this part “it’s actually the energetic quality of how I am and my presence that determines the quality of my life and relationships with others and myself.” Every child needs to be reminded this from day 1, by the way we love with them! It’s our reflection that can inspire this way of thinking and being to the rest of the world!

  215. “I realised that seeking external gratification is futile; that I needed to change how I felt about and treated myself, to stop being so hard on myself and start loving and honouring myself more.” – the self awareness you had Jeanette was the first step in changing your life. And, it’s the being hard on ourselves that is far worse than probably anything else we do as it fuels any self loathing or self worth issues. The way out is through self love.

  216. “The way I looked could never fulfill the world’s ‘ideal’ of beautiful…” – and really how many people do, a small percentage at a guess. So it’s a setup. Any ideal is a setup as it keeps us looking externally for an image of how to look, be, act, etc that is mostly unattainable or unsustainable, and therefore leads to the spiral of not good enough, low self worth, low confidence, etc. Feeling good enough, or feeling beautiful has to come from a feeling within us – a knowing that we are enough and we are beautiful.

  217. Jeanette this is a beautiful story as it shows that within us all this beauty lies, it is just a matter of us choosing to love who we are. Thank you, through your sharing I can feel it’s time to stop, see and feel the beauty within.

  218. How wonderful to know you have come through much abuse and now to finally know you truly are ‘beautiful’ and a very worthy person and always have been.

  219. Having connected to this inner beauty also, Jeannette, I completely agree with you that it transcends our outer appearance and what we do. Once connected to though it does begin to shape our outer appearance and enter into what we do, making it all permeate with the beauty that we all hold equally within. I have found that the beauty of delicateness and grace are qualities that can now be seen in my face, in my movements, in my body. All sharing the beauty that lies within, now being allowed to come to the surface and be shared for all to see. It is a most beautiful reflection!

  220. Beauty is a quality yet many of us have been fooled into thinking it is a look.

  221. Once we feel our bodies and connect to ourselves we get confirmed in who we truly are which diminishes the self-doubt or self-loathing that we have allowed in and thought was us.

  222. Jeanette, this is indeed a beautiful story. Thank you for sharing this experience, it feels so real. I have experienced it myself both when looking at my own reflection and when watching my 84 yr old mum when she was dying – there was an ageless beauty shining through her and her skin seemed almost transparent and I saw through to the beauty of the being in that body and I know that is in all of us, no matter what age we are, how disfigured our face might be, or how ill we might feel.

  223. ‘I realised that seeking external gratification is futile; that I needed to change how I felt about and treated myself, to stop being so hard on myself and start loving and honouring myself more.’ I can really relate to this – but still can manipulate situations so they revolve around me.

    The honesty with which you share is the key to being free from the ideals and beliefs we imprison ourselves with. Now I’m recognising, before observing the thoughts, the quality I’m feeling. So the poor me syndrome – a long standing habitual state of play – is a quality that feels heavy, and acts to suck the life out of others – a give me attention and also a push away to say no, I’m not worthy of attention. This constant motion of push people away martyrdom and then pull them in through sympathy is so dishonest. It’s a lie that I’ve used to hide behind and leaves everyone less.

    So now I observe more how open I am feeling – if I’m letting the world in no matter what’s going on. This quality feels so different, it’s love flowing through me which has its own source so isn’t dependent on seeking anything from anything or anybody. A completely different way of living that I can choose any time I fall for old habits of looking to something/one for something.

  224. Comparison and judgement doesn’t leave space for the absolute truth we all hold and that is the purity, radiance and exquisite essence of true beauty that we all carry within. Self acceptance is the key to unlock the magic we all hold and once the door is open our beauty is so powerful that it can never be completely closed again. The gap between the door and door frame may get smaller at time to time ( i.e from little thoughts or self doubt) but the choice is always there to open it up a little more, so we can share who we are again and again. Thank you Jeanette this blog is exquisite.

  225. Wow, that truly is beautiful – such a complete 180 degree turn around on how you had always viewed yourself – thank you so much for sharing how we can get caught up in ideas of what we need to look like, dress like, sound like and act like to be acceptable and when we don’t measure up as we so often don’t, we then feel like a failure or that we need to change. What your sharing is so amazing because it is showing everyone that there is something greater than all the markers in the outside world – there is something in side us infinitely beautiful and precious just waiting to be treasured.

  226. Jeanette what a powerful story you have to share, very inspiring to have overcome all that and to feel and see your own true beauty in that way. To end up feeling the way you do, from what you experienced in your younger years is quite astounding, and deserves great applaud. The influence and inspiration of Serge Benhayon and Universal Medicine deserves the credit you give, I have seen so many make these sort of transformational changes through what is offered by this incredible organisation.

  227. That is a beautiful story Jeannette. It is amazing how we are usually always our worst enemy and critic. Great to smash those ideals and beliefs you were carrying with the love that you are!

  228. That is most definitely a beautiful thing! The recognition of our own beauty opens us up to be able to truly see the beauty of the world.

  229. Our physical appearance is so often entangled with security. We use our natural appearance or our ability to style ourselves in order to gain acceptance, blend in, not trigger anyone, etc. We do this even in very subtle ways and there can be many layers of this use of our own faces as protection to unravel.

  230. When we look in the mirror, we tend to just only see our physical aspects (and then we mostly focus on what is not good…). But how we look all has to do with how we feel about ourselves. This has changed so much for me. I have far more moments now of looking in the mirror and see how I feel. And yes, there are still moments that I am judging and only looking at my appearance. Both are there but the judging becomes less and less.

  231. Jeannette, that is a beautiful story, one which deepens with more richness everyday. Feeling your shift and acceptance of yourself is awesome and very inspiring. The world focuses on external appearance whereas we live with our quality 24/7 and ultimately if we do not have that right it does not matter what the world may think of us we will not be content with life.

  232. Jeanette – you have brought to us a real gift in what you write, something that is so relatable to so many people. I love how you share ‘I realised that seeking external gratification is futile; that I needed to change how I felt about and treated myself, to stop being so hard on myself and start loving and honouring myself more.’ – To no longer seek external approval in our lives is a huge game changer in supporting us to value ourselves for who we are first, before what anyone else thinks of us. To live this way, and be this reflection to others is truly inspirational, and stops this trend of external approval that we have so heavily configured.

  233. This is indeed a beautiful story. The world places so much emphasis and importance on what we look like and what we do. But as you say, these are simply expressions of who we are. There is so much more to us. Once we start to connect to our inner beauty our whole perception changes, and the outer appearances no longer take precedence and are no longer the most important thing. The paradox is that once we are connected to our inner beauty we start to shine in a way that does improve our outer appearance, but without all the anxiousness and the stress.

  234. ‘I realised that seeking external gratification is futile; that I needed to change how I felt about and treated myself, to stop being so hard on myself and start loving and honouring myself more.’

    I love this. Initially I started with the knowledge that seeking outside gratification in the form of acceptance and recognition, food, TV etc. only lead to compromising myself and disconnection. Like it was a knowledge that made sense but I didn’t live its wisdom or truth. This is changing slowly as I work on new awarenesses of what forms this gratification takes and let go of the anxiety underlying them. I celebrate these awarenesses. There are many, many more but when I am accepting of myself I can bring understanding to why I reach for food or the comfort of certain relationships. I am now feeling the possibility of holding myself in love and the healing this can bring.

  235. Yes I love reading stories like this of the many people who are choosing to no longer numb themselves from their hurts, who are taking responsibly for themselves and their choices and building more self-love and self-care into their days. And then hearing the beauty, joy and simplicity of which they are living their lives is quite incredible.

  236. When you carry that love and connection with self out into the world it is a blessing to humanity.
    Your sparkling eyes bring a reflection of who we are, when the choice to connect has been felt and lived.
    Yes we are not perfect in our connection, and may at times be lead astray with false images that tantalise the spirit.
    Regardless once this love is known and felt within we have a marker of truth, that defines who we are allowing us to let go of all or some of the held ideals that have robed us of feeling our light.
    Shine bright that light Jeanette it is beautiful what you have shared.

  237. “That it’s actually the energetic quality of how I am and my presence that determines the quality of my life and relationships with others and myself. I am not what I do or what I look like, but I am so very much more.” Beautifully expressed Jeanette.

  238. ” I am not what I do or what I look like, but I am so very much more.” What a beautiful path we tread, every step inward counters a step taken outwardly – arriving ultimately back with our true selves.

  239. What a lovely sharing of someone coming back to who they truly are and that is the beauty and love within. Thank you, Jeanette.

  240. The connection to our hearts bring so much joy and allows ourself to feel the beauty that we are within, I feel there is so much to appreciate about ourself that the time spend debasing our glory is time not so well spend.. although I know the depth of drama we can sometimes resort in that feels like we will never come out of it, but in the end that is just a thin layer that we can magnify if we so choose to.

  241. Everyone has to deal wit the ideals and beliefs that have separated them from who they inately are. It is so normal that it takes a while to even realise the imposing and unnatural character of these concepts especially when they are championed as being good. The more we recognise the ideals and there effect on us the more we realise how crippling and devastating they are.

    1. Yep Alex, and how insidious and all encompassing these illusionary ideals have us entangled.

  242. “I am not what I do, or what I look like, but I am so very much more” So, so true… the world tells us differently, but this is the truth.

  243. I have such appreciation for the honesty of your experience and that you have shared it with us, showing how we are not what we do, but just who we are inside.

  244. This is a beautiful sharing Jeanette. We are all pounded in differing degrees from outside of ourselves which can separate us from the rich loving essence within. You have shown that we can re-connect, look deeply within and discard all that is not true and claim in full what is. i felt a stillness and warmth emanate from your blog and the love it offers. Thank you for sharing, it is truly inspiring.

  245. Thank you Jeanette. Something hit home to me today as I read your blog. I know I use food like a drug to keep me from realising the awesome potential I have. This hurts on a deep level. I just stopped for a while to let my body unwind and felt how I have been allowing so much tension to build up on the inside. I have been escaping into my head to avoid the pain. A wake up call going on here. I so appreciate the opportunity for this.

  246. From a very young age, we are bombarded with images of what beauty should look like that keep telling us ‘you are not good enough’, so no wonder so many of us build up unhealthy obsession with the way we look and low self-esteem, and disconnect from the true beauty within, and cannot recognise the preciousness of what we hold within. It truly is beautiful to rediscover this part of us again.

  247. Jeannette I can relate to all those feeling you listed when you used to look in the mirror. When I looked in the mirror I was always looking for faults, and I had never considered looking into my eyes. What for? When a practitioner suggested I make it a daily habit, I decided to give it a go, but it was difficult at first, and I still found myself in critical mode. What I saw looking back at me was not an image I liked. It was only when I started appreciating myself that I was able to hold my gaze and smile. Very life transforming.

  248. Wow this story you share here Jennette is truly inspiring and very healing to read. Your choice to heal this abuse and move forward is a beautiful reminder of the true love and support offered by Serge Benhayon and Universal Medicine practitioners.

  249. Jeanette, I feel that what you have shared so many can and will relate to, I certainly can. That is, experiencing abuse in life and blaming ourselves for it, wanting to change it but never truly knowing how. Then the cycle of abuse that one can put oneself through as a result to not wanting to feel, numbing, then the self abuse, reaction and judgement that comes, that is very self destructive. But you found a way, a way of being with yourself, re-connecting to that essence we all hold, that is the key to developing and unfolding a true and lasting relationship with oneself. Really wonderful.

  250. Thanks Jeanette, I can relate to looking out side for what to be and how to fit in somewhere to feel accepted. I am finding the more I connect to the Love that I am the more I have a knowing that I don’t have to be anything to fit in or be liked. I can be all of me. This is true freedom.

  251. Changing the relationship we have with the reflection we meet in the mirror and to see the beauty that lies within is life-changing as it allows us to see the inner beauty of everyone.

    1. True Mary, when we open up to our own inner beauty that shines out, we are open to see this same beauty in others even when it is covered up by their defence to not feel the hurts, like hardness, anger, resentment, frustration etc. I love looking people in their eyes and meet them and not the layers that we get to experience first.

    2. Yes, well said Mary, I fully agree…how we see ourselves impacts fully on how we see others.

    3. It really does Mary. It breaks down comparison and competition and all the ‘ feeling greater and lesser than’ judgements that accompany these shenanigans. It frees us to see the inner beauty in all, and equally so, and at those times we do it’s an absolute joy that is felt.

  252. Our old ideals and beliefs have a huge hold over us until we begin to heal the hurts that we have, and as we live in a more self loving way we are able to let go of our hurts, ideals and beliefs. Beautiful to read how you have evolved to find your truer self.

  253. I still find it totally amazing how many women find themselves ugly, this really shocks me! It’s beautiful to read you now see the beauty in yourself, the truth is often when we look in the mirror we are reading the sum of the quality of all our choices that led us to feel that particular way, but that’s only like a cloud masking the beauty that’s ALWAYS there.

    1. Universal Medicine teach a modality called True Movement. One of the moves is peeling of the mask. From your comment Meg I just felt the power of this move – it is like letting go of all past choices, situations and judgements as if they are no more than a glamour we have shrouded ourselves with. It is about returning to our inner-most heart – a place from which all choices are loving and reflect our innate beauty. Letting go is key.

      1. Totally – peeling away a mask that we have chosen to define us for so long is incredibly empowering. Letting go of all that trying and pretending and making a new fresh choice, just from you, is definitely the way to go!

  254. The ideals and beliefs we take on feel like vines wrapped around ourselves, keeping us tied and locked into certain ways of acting and moving. Building more love for ourselves, from the inside out, allows these ‘vines’ to start to unravel and we become more free each day to live and express in the way we have always known, but have not always been able to nurture.

  255. Accepting and appreciating ourself is the beginning or re-connecting to the true beauty -our inner beauty. “‘I now know for absolutely sure what beautiful means; that I am beautiful, as are we all, that true beauty lives within me, that it always did and it now wants to shine’. This is a wonderful claiming statement, keep shining Jeanette.

  256. Thank you for this great sharing Jeanette. Beautiful reminder to connect with my inner radiance – looking in the mirror deep into my eyes is confirming now but it wasn’t for the longest time.

    1. I agree…shelleyjones44, there is a radiance that is intrinsic and innate within all

  257. What a sad and difficult life you had before finding Serge Benhayon, Jeannette. What a great life change you’ve had as I and so many others have, because of the wonderful guidance, healings and blessings we have received during our years in Universal Medicine.

  258. ‘I moulded myself according to standards that I didn’t agree with or believe in, that didn’t honour my inner truth, my natural expression, me as a person, or as a woman.’ I am becoming more and more aware how we ask young people to do this on the whole in education ‘mould themselves to something they are not’. This really needs to change.

    1. It really does need to change Vicky. What if it changed before school too, at home as babies? What if children were raised to know that their value is innate and nothing to do with what they do or what they look like from day one?

    2. I agree Vicky, it’s very hard to watch the repercussions of measuring all our young people by a very narrow, outdated set of exams that only really tell us how good each person is at recall. We are all so much more that what we can remember, yet many of our young people feel dumb, or like failures if they don’t do well in their exams. And in fact these feeling stay with us well into adulthood affecting what we feel we can or can’t achieve.

    3. Asked by people who don´t know better as they are caught up in exactly the ideals and beliefs they impose on the young and even with so-called good intention. That is the insidiousness of ideals, we consider them to be a good thing worth striving for – in the end it is a means of survival and protection.

  259. Thank you Jeannette for telling your story, it is simply a miracle that you have come from the place you did to where you are now, and this is available to everyone!

    1. It is a while since this miracle occurred 1timrobinson and I have to say this was just the beginning of recognising a beauty in me. This beauty deepens in direct correlation to the levels of self-love I choose to adore myself with. Some days it is exquisite, on others lesser, and very rarely not at all. How we look back at ourselves in the mirror is the clearest indication of just where we are at in our day, in our life.

      1. That’s very true – the way we feel when we look in the mirror is a massive indicator of what’s been going on for us in the last day or two. I know normally I’m blown away by the depth of magic in my eyes, but if I make a bad choice (or two!) I can absolutely see it in my face and the way I feel.

      2. Too right Meg. We can see everything in our faces when we look in the mirror. Mirror mirror on the wall, tell me tell me tell me all!

      3. Yes, I love this discussion about what the mirror reflects back to us…it’s beautiful when we look and see the beauty within and hold appreciation for that.

  260. So magnificent when we allow ourselves to feel our true beauty emanating from the inside, full and absolute.

  261. This is indeed a beautiful story, just being is so much more satisfying than trying constantly to be different and defined by that what we do, but just by that what we are. We are all enormously beautiful.

  262. A beautiful thing indeed Jeanette, that you were able to “unravel the web of glamorous illusions in which I’d entangled myself; to stop beating myself up for not being good enough, to start accepting myself for who I am and stop giving power to the old ideals, beliefs and patterns that drove me to seek to define myself by what I do and what I look like.” This is an amazing transformation, and something I have witnessed with many students of Universal Medicine as they put into practice the simple techniques presented and become more aware of the ideals, beliefs and illusions that run us all until we see they are not us, and we are able to connect with what lies beneath the covers we cling to for comfort, safety and protection.

  263. Thank you for sharing this Jeannette – I find it truly inspiring as one who still struggles at times to look at herself in the mirror, and know that this will become easier the more loving, tender and accepting of myself I am, and also understanding that true beauty stems from an energetic quality.

  264. Well said Jeanette, what this reveals to us is that beauty is within us and we can always connect to that because it is always there. This to me highlight the fact that we are so much more then all the hurts, emotions , ideals and beliefs – we are innately beautiful.

    1. Indeed Danna, the hurts etc are not us and once we see that we can deal with them and let them go and what is left is the real me who is innately beautiful.

    2. This is a great point, we can let our hurts and emotions and beliefs get so big we think they define us, but underneath is simply who we are untouched. There is so much more to us.

      1. Yes absolutely Meg, we need to switch of this ‘negative voice’ and spend more time on feeling our hearts. I trust the world would be a much greater place – one of connection over our mind. Love is so much better when it is being lived by a person and eventually all together. It is up to us when we stop to continue this hurts, emotions and believe lead our way.. And instead take the lead from our hearts (our inside).

      2. ‘We need to switch off this ‘negative voice’ and spend more time on feeling our hearts.’ What comes from our hearts is so much sweeter and more truthful than what comes from our minds – I wholeheartedly agree 🙂

  265. It is such a joy to read how much you have evolved in the last years, once you started to make loving choices. We have created our own mess and we are the ones, which can convert the mess into love again – how powerful is that. Awesome.

    1. Yes Alexander, there is absolute beauty and joy in knowing that we need no one or no thing outside ourselves to return to the love that we are…..and as we begin to live more of that love in our lives we become lovingly powerful……….and yes, that is very powerful.

    2. Yes I agree Alexander. Jeanette your story is a gold mine and inspiration for many, as so mine, to feel, appreciate and accept (and so letting of the old and accept the new) our life and the choices we have made. And to then tackle the hurdles and issues in our lives, and become free of them – by choice. As we have the power to let go and become a part of the divine all together, there.. there is no need for issues.. only acceptance of love.

  266. This is actually such an important article on how we are all living, and how change can occur Jeannette. Thank you, what I realised is that Serge Benhayon presents a consistent way of being in Love. In your examples of looking in the mirror (which I can relate to) and seeing different reflections/reactions each time, it just highlighted to me how we do not consistently take loving care to prepare ourselves or hold ourselves in Love. Consistency feels like the way. I would love to know more about the detail of self-love.

  267. This is a great story about your transformation, not choosing Love makes life so much easier, as the self loathing and abuse can’t have a place when we fully commit to love.

    1. I too love how Jeanette has openly shared her journey back to love, and living in a way that now honours and respects herself in the way she forgot how to all those harsh years ago. I love how no one is beyond healing, the love we are underneath the hurts can’t be extinguished. Thanks Jeanette, there will be others who read this and then know there is a way out, it can be done.

  268. When we recognise the love of our own heart, there is no where else to look because all of the answers are already there and we are already enough. No more searching for answers from outside sources as we know all already. That’s pretty cool.

  269. Looking in the mirror and seeing beauty, isn’t that a time-less treasure? This is what will go with me even when my body passes away from me together with all worldly possesions.

    1. This beauty, the quality of it, it timeless indeed. And embodying it this lifetime will stay with you forever and ever.

    2. I totally agree Felix, I love nothing more than looking in the mirror and seeing the beauty I feel inside being reflected to me- Beauty within definitely equals beauty externally!

    3. And this is what shall return with you, when you grace earth with your beauty in your next life. We have to start thinking like this. Thinking about our legacy to the future generations, in this life and the next. For ourselves, and for others, to come back to.

  270. Gorgeous Jeannette, I just loved reading this blog and felt myself touched by your unfolding beauty. As women we are all so divinely beautiful, thank you for the reminder.

    1. Beautiful reminder. I didn’t look at myself in the mirror this morning. Yes, I watched myself as I brushed my teeth and applied moisturiser in the mirror, but I didn’t give myself the joy of looking at my beauty, so I began my day with something missing – an appreciation of my own beauty.

      1. Yes Catherine, we do see ourselves in the mirror as you say while brushing our teeth, applying moisturiser or brushing our hair, but how often do we take the time to deeply look into our own eyes, with loving appreciation, allowing ourselves to see our own inner beauty?……I think not often enough.

      2. That is exactly what it is Catherine, an appreciation of our own beauty and I can really feel the power of appreciation in your comment. Appreciation uplifts us, it confirms us as amazing and gorgeous instead of the all too common opposite inner relationship of beating ourselves up and putting ourselves down.

      3. I love what you say here Catherine as it is worth considering what it is about myself that there are days when I don’t fully look and appreciate what I see in the mirror. How am I feeling really and how does this impact on my relationship with myself that day? Thank you for sharing this 🙂

    2. “As women we are all so divinely beautiful” and so unique in our expression of that, and once we know this that gets rid of the need to compare ourselves with another or worry about how we look.

  271. I remember not so long ago I was not being able to look in the mirror at myself as it felt very uncomfortable. Now that I have reclaimed and have a more loving connection with myself, I am able to look into the mirror for longer periods and appreciate me for the true beauty that I am.

    1. I too would only take a quick glance of myself in the mirror for a very long period of my life but now I love connecting with me and my own reflection every day.

    2. I can relate to this, I am now able to look into the mirror for longer periods and appreciate me for the true beauty I am.

      1. Looking at ourselves in the mirror and feeling our true quality and essence is very different from looking in the mirror to seek acceptance and approval. The more I appreciate and accept these qualities, the longer I can look in the mirror and simply have confirmed back to me, who I really am.

  272. Thank you Jeanette for sharing your way back to true beauty. Beauty is within us all and just needs to be tapped into and then we can feel how grand we really are.

  273. I also had no idea of the depth of beauty inside me before Universal Medicine. I am now enjoying uncovering this, enjoying it and allowing it out to be expressed.

  274. This is a great and grand true story Jeannette and well worth sharing so thank you.
    What you have said about your life and where you are at today is deeply inspiring and a confirmation that the teachings of Serge Benhayon and Universal Medicine have given us the tools to make choices that support us to let go of our old way of living that was harmful. That beauty you are now living is something I am feeling more and more and it’s a quality that is deep within me and nothing on the outside can change that.
    The biggest thing for me was to let go of the need to always want some form of recognition and this is a ‘work in progress’ and something I am learning as it takes me away from who I truly am.

  275. The moment we feel that beauty is not to do with our looks there is an expansion that confirms our divinity. Thank you Jeanette for sharing so eloquently what is a scourge on our humanity, our deep lack of self-worth and insecurity about who we are.

  276. Thank you Jeanette for sharing so honestly, self loathing is such an issue for woman everywhere, it is inspiring to read how you healed this and have embraced the true beauty you are.

  277. “That it’s actually the energetic quality of how I am and my presence that determines the quality of my life and relationships with others and myself.” This is exactly what I needed to read at this moment Jeannette, thank you.

  278. Jeanette, I can feel how beautiful you are and I have not ever met you. I am learning also that inner beauty is far more delicate, tender , soul-full and everlasting than anything that can be achieved on the outside.

  279. Absolutely beautiful Jeanette, to connect to our beauty inside dispels the lies we are fed and buy into that we are anything but, it tells of truth for the world to feel.

  280. Looking into my eyes in the mirror has become far more frequent for me since starting to truly connect to me. I find that is a lovely stop moment and is always a confirmation of what is going on in my life.

    1. Actually it is such a joy, Heidi, to look into my eyes in the mirror and I frequently have a look as it confirms me where I am. It is even such that when I am at places with out a mirror I really miss them as I truly love to look myself in the eyes as the connection that is there to explore often makes me to stop and only enjoy, nothing more or less.

      1. I do appreciate the type of conversation we have on these blogs Chris, especially between men, as that is not my common experience at work or in everyday life. In fact this way of talking to each other is so normal to me and it is nourishing me in all my cells, as this is who I am, as it all lives in me which is reflected in the mirror every time when I look into my eyes.

  281. I love being with me and I come to a place of real acceptance of me and then I find I go out the door and change things about me to suit others which then in turn creates an anxiousness that takes me away from the real me. There is much to ponder on why I feel I need the acceptance of others and this has come a long way but still hangs on at time. As you say Joel, it is so much easier just to be.

    1. Yes Heidi, I find life at home, honouring myself a beautiful and simple way of being. When I go to work in the morning I find the way I am with myself changes as I sometimes try to fit in with how everyone else is or not wanting to feel what is really going on beneath the surface. This creates a tension in my body. When I am all of me at work I find that this is a strong reflection for others that are making different choices. This leads to attacks and exclusions from others. I feel this is the point where I can either make a choice to contract and live a lesser version of me, or live from my Essence no matter what, Shining forth my true Light.

  282. Hi Jeannette

    I know exactly what you are talking about, I can see this in peoples eyes especially students of the livingness that are simply people that have chosen to deal with there stuff and accept more love into there bodies and then reflect this in there eyes to all they meet, its right there waiting bursting to be let out wanting us all to stop squashing it down causing illness and disease that is simply just our boddies saying to us we are so much more than what we are currently living.
    Ever since I was a young boy whenever I looked deep into my reflectionof my eyes in the mirror I could feel this love, I remember thinking this is not me, and in truth I was simply saying im not truly living the love I could feel in those eyes at that time..
    Thanks to Serge Benhayon im living closer to the love that I can feel in those beautiful eyes of mine looking back at me in the mirror..

  283. “As I became more loving and tender with myself I grew more self-confident, then more able to accept my innate beauty”
    And that is a very beautiful and inspiring thing Jeanette, thank you.

  284. Thanks Jeanette. To me it is really telling in regards to how heavily we have allowed ourselves to becomes overpowered by the cloud of not feeling good enough as we are and/or not accepting our uniqueness as a point of beauty. What a struggle and such complexity along the way! It requires a lot of dedication and responsibility to work on shifting these old ideals and beliefs but as the fog is lifting I am coming to see more and more glimpses of my natural beauty.

  285. This line is gold: ” … it’s actually the energetic quality of how I am and my presence that determines the quality of my life and relationships …. ”
    I’ve found that it’s so true that when we are aware of ourselves from the inner, that when we hold and feel our love and joy for ourselves, we then treat others the same way and thus automatically can offer a lighter way of being.

  286. Thanks Jeanette this certainly was a good blog for me to read, I think I have experienced all the same things as you by seeing my reflection in the mirror over the years.Really accepting that we are all truly beautiful from within, is such a big thing and a giant step towards being truly soulful.

  287. Ah, I love especially the last bit of your article. You don’t make it about being beautiful all the time and perfecting this, but about knowing your beauty and not giving up to re-connect to it any time you wavered. I can relate to this so deeply, because our daily life is configurated in such a way that it is not possible to be perfectly aligned to our full beauty 24/7. But it is possible to reconnect in every moment.

  288. Making the choice to love and value ourselves is the first step to taking responsibility for our own lives and not living through the beliefs and ideals offered to us by society. To feel that the beauty has been there all along – how much energy it must take for us to overlook and override it, energy that is better spent on celebrating and enjoying ourselves as you are now doing so naturally in the mirror through your own reflection.

  289. What a beautiful blog Jeanette, and so very powerful as I believe many people, myself included can so easily relate to what you have written. I felt a sadness as I read it, for all the years I didn’t see my beauty, but also an absolute joy in knowing my beauty now shines when I am connected to the deep beauty and love that I am, and seeing this beauty in myself allows me to see the true beauty in others.

  290. “I moulded myself according to standards that I didn’t agree with or believe in, that didn’t honour my inner truth, my natural expression, me as a person, or as a woman. The truth is that the constant search of ‘what to do with my life’ always felt empty, exhausting, demoralising and impossible to resolve. The way I looked could never fulfill the world’s ‘ideal’ of beautiful; therefore, by those markers I was never going to be an acceptable human being or woman, and as a result my self-loathing blossomed into an ever-present lack of confidence and slight depression.” A great reflection of how we sell out, shut down, walk away from our core and then drift in the emptiness/sadness of this self created cycle.

  291. I could not agree with more Jeannette there is nothing more beautiful than when we start accepting ourselves for who we are and stop giving power to the old ideals, beliefs and patterns that drive us to seek to define ourselves by what we do and what we look like.

  292. It is so profound to look into the mirror, after decades of seeing a dark face of misery and see a smiling face of joy and light. Same face, different life.

  293. Thank you for sharing your beautiful story Jeannette. The first thing that came up for me was a whole lot of appreciation for the family I was born into and that even though I felt it at times, I did not understand or acknowledge it at a deeper level. The second thing that came up was the subtle underlying level of abuse that was ever present due to my father’s ideals and beliefs around the ‘lesser’ value of women – their job is simply to look after their husbands and their children and my mother slotted into this role ‘perfectly’. I realise now that I grew up and subsequently lived my life without any understanding or appreciation of ‘true equality’.

  294. A beautiful story on self care and appreciation, it is far more effective than the loathing or trying to chase recognition by playing out something that your not.

  295. We are bombarded with the ideals of glamour and images of what it means to be perfect in many media platforms today. But when we disconnect from this false ideal of outside perfection and return to the beauty will hold within. Life opens up and where are able to see the world clearly and appreciate our own beauty and that of everyone else.

  296. “I molded myself according to standards that I didn’t agree with or believe in”, I spent a good portion of my life in a desire/hate relationship with these standards. Something I wanted so badly but I looked at others who in my eyes had achieved them and they were so empty or lost, or I would achieve a certain something and happiness or fulfillment would be non existent, disappointing or fleeting.

  297. The ‘glamour’ constantly around us in so many arenas stops us connecting and reflecting innately on who we are. The focus is drawn outside of us so we will need to buy that next thing, or do that next thing in order to be beautiful, successful or accepted. This external focus is an insidious poison that plays out in many more ways that we may recognise. Having the opportunity to connect to my innermost has allowed me to start to shift and see these external layers, of what is not me, and so what cannot stay as part of my life as a divine and honouring woman.

  298. Jeannette I’m so glad you’ve chosen you over seeking recognition and written about it. I can’t tell you how this is so confirming as to making life about quality and no longer choosing what would others think of me? Version of life.

    I wanted to be a model as a teenager and thankfully it never worked out- I’d have been eaten alive being so insecure and riddled with jealousy or turned arrogant. I’d always have had a feeling of, this is empty, and lived walking around knowing this constantly, knowing there is way more to us all. This is how I’ve felt with every recognition seeking choice I’ve ever made.

    So to read that focusing on my innate beauty, that is so regardless of physical features or anything outside of myself ( beauty doesn’t build because someone sees you as beautiful and tells you daily) and allowing myself to live from my own beauty, really supports me to no longer short change myself and indeed others from experiencing beauty including their own.

  299. Jeannette, your article exposes the energy of how I am with myself during the day, bashing myself for not being good enough etc., which is a lie. To take responsibility for this and appreciate that I am a son of God and as such an amazing person who has lots to bring is the key for evolving from the energy of imprisonment.

  300. Truly ‘a beautiful story’. “…it’s actually the energetic quality of how I am and my presence that determines the quality of my life and relationships with others and myself. I am not what I do or what I look like, but I am so very much more. I realised that seeking external gratification is futile; that I needed to change how I felt about and treated myself, to stop being so hard on myself and start loving and honouring myself more.” I myself have spent so much time (choosing) to not feel good enough. Accepting, appreciating and loving ourselves is the way through. Thankyou for sharing your story Jeanette.

  301. “That it’s actually the energetic quality of how I am and my presence that determines the quality of my life and relationships with others and myself.” Yes Jeanette it is of vital importance that we all take responsibility for how we are in the world as all it gets mirrored back to us. It is time that we stop blaming the reflection and instead adjust what we need to within ourselves .

    1. So true Kathleen, and once we start taking responsibility we can also begin to let go of all that we have been running away from.

      1. Yes Jenny and by taking responsibility we can then stand in the mirror and accept ourselves and know all those things that were not us at all and be able to appreciate the beauty that is in deed who we truly are that was never to be measured by what we do, what we look like or what others think.

  302. Thank you Jeanette – what struck me in particular was when I read that you had been trying to work out what was ‘wrong’ with you because of the abuse you were receiving. How often do we all do that when we are at the receiving end of abuse? Most of us will do exactly what you did – we assume that there is something wrong with us or then we turn to checking out or numbing out with some form of socially accepted escapism such as drugs, alcohol or even excessive work or studying. Very rarely do we simply call out the abuse for what it is and stand up for ourselves. Of course as a small child this is far more difficult to do especially when the abuse is coming from an older family member – but once we have grown up there is no reason for us to to continue to take it, as so many of us still continue to do. Thank you for sharing your story and the external blossoming of the internal beauty that was and is always there.

  303. It certainly is a beautiful thing Jeannette. To stand face to face in your own light, gaze into your own eyes and see, “A beauty that transcended my physical attributes, any need to be different, any comparison, self-doubt or self-loathing. It was just suddenly there and it was amazing.” This love lives in each and every one of us if we just have the eyes to see and the heart to acknowledge. When Serge Benhayon holds the mirror one can’t help but see their true reflection.

  304. This is a Beautiful Story Jeanette. Thank you for sharing an experience that many of us can relate to. Even if you didn’t choose drugs there are plenty of choices you can absorb yourself in to numb the truth of the powerhouse that lives within!

    1. True Suzanne, how crazy it is that we would want to “numb the truth of the powerhouse that lives within!” There are many things we are addicted to which can do this and some of the most insidious ones are those that we don’t commonly accept as addictions, such as working hard to compensate for not feeling good enough, or doing ‘good’ to feel better about ourselves. In fact it is often much easier to let go of a drug addiction because it is so obviously something that is not naturally us and therefore it is easier to separate ourselves from it than from an identification with an ideal, illusion or belief.

  305. “I now know for absolutely sure what beautiful means; that I am beautiful, as are we all, that true beauty lives within me, that it always did and it now wants to shine.” Jeanette thank-you for cutting through the glamour so clearly and for making an absolute and sure commitment to re-sparking the beautiful quality within you.

  306. One of the most profound things that I have ever experienced is looking in the mirror and seeing my own divine beauty. It is breathtaking and it has nothing to do with how I look. It is indeed a beautiful thing that you are describing here Jeannette.

  307. Wow that is incredible Jeanette. I can absolutely relate to what you shared about constantly trying to fit an ideal of what being ‘beautiful’ is and looks like, and running to the hills when anyone mentioned phrases like ‘self acceptance’ or ‘appreciation’. Looking in the mirror and picking out flaws is something I do a lot, or as you say there are other times I think I look great, or okay, or ugly, or tired, or chubby and the list could go on. What you shared about looking at the reflection and seeing the beauty within that fills OUT into our features and doing this CONSISTENTLY is inspiring, I’d love to give it a go!

    1. It is interesting that I could ask a bunch of random people “what do you not like about yourself?” And they would string a whole list of things. But if I said “what do you like about yourself?” The list would be much shorter and possibly not a thing at all. It is so much easier to see the flaws of ourselves but when we are asked what we like abouts ourselves we “run for the hills”.

  308. Gosh Jeanette, your simple blog is so deeply beautiful – we have all been caught up in self loathing and/or lack of self worth to varying degrees in this life and it is at times hard to shrug off – but what you have shared here is a testament that to know ones true inner beauty is possible and there to be claimed more and more over time as the result of making tender, loving choices is all aspects of life.

    1. You have beautifully shared and expressed Gemma, as Jeanette has in her blog, “that to know ones true inner beauty is possible and there to be claimed more and more over time as the result of making tender, loving choices is all aspects of life.” Very inspiring, thank you both.

  309. It is a lovely feeling when we claim ourselves and accept the love that we are and stop trying to live up to the pictures we often have in our heads of how others expect us to be.

  310. Thank you Jeanette, for your words, they match so well what I have experienced – the fact that we develop an image of how we think we should be that is complete illusion and then further lower our self worth by never feeling we are doing or being enough. as Lucy says above, we can sink into victimhood or we can take responsibility for the past and present. It is inspiring to read how you have been able to turn your life around and feel yourself as truly beautiful, and to know that we can all do this.

  311. That’s beautiful Jeanette, it is really something to heal from that degree of self loathing. It is quite a number we do on ourselves as women, taking on expectations and ideals around what it means to be acceptable as women. To discover that when we stop trying to be all these things for others, there’s actually a deeper and more truly beautiful woman to be felt within IS amazing, thank you!

    1. Yes Jenny it is quite a number, the relentless demands and expectations we women take on is such an ill course, navigating from within is where we truly begin to shine.

      1. I had a moment the other day where I just stopped and realised the amount of pressure I was putting on myself and that these pressures and demands were coming from within me but thinking it was from and for others – there was no ‘poor me’ factor but very interesting to see how insidious such ideals and beliefs can be. It was a great opportunity to chose me and the love that I am.

  312. In speaking with old friends whom I’ve not had a lot of contact with, but upon spending time with, often wish to connect quite deeply with me, it’s become so glaringly obvious that we’re all aware of the hardship that comes from a lacking self relationship. The troublesome ideals and beliefs are often held onto like we’ll perish without fulfilling them and it makes for interesting conversation. Bridging over the awareness ravine, seems to start when the person who knows something is not right, starts to get really honest. We know honesty isn’t truth, but it’s the beginning of uncovering what is and it’s great to encourage this.

    1. Oliver, this is inspiring. It only takes one person to speak up, and it’s like a light is lit in the darkness. It’s been my experience also that it opens up the opportunity to have more than the regular superficial conversations.

  313. It’s amazing how we can convince ourselves to keep playing the same old ‘poor me’ record which is helping us to stay in victim-mode. But when you bring responsibility into the equation and start living in a way that accepts responsibility for the past and the present, it’s possible to feel just how arrogant we are when we persist in putting on the old record again to try to side-step responsibility.

    1. Yes Lucy, ‘victim mode’ is one of our most crippling and incarcerating choices, keeping us locked into the same patterns over and over and as you say, avoiding 100% responsibility for the things that have hurt us. Even an ounce of blame or justification is all it takes to prevent truly moving on.

      1. Well said ladies – having unresolved hurts is exhausting and blinds you to the beauty within and around us everyday. This creates a tension that if we don’t take responsibility for is a very vicious cycle.

      2. So true ladies, that thinking of ‘poor me’ creates no movement towards being ourselves because we have already said we are less because we are a victim. It is like an escape route away from responsibility when we focus on blaming another. I know this well so it stands out like a sore thumb now if I choose to go into this.

      3. Yes Gemma, it does blind us to the beauty that is within and surrounds us every day. And Jeanette is a living testament as to what is possible when we take the blinkers off and start on the process of self-love, self-care and self-responsibility. The world needs women to do this more and more each day.

    2. Agree with you ladies, and GemmaRubina, I can deeply feel what you are sharing here with us. Once we experience that tension it works for me the best to stop, have a feel and be honest about what comes up. Most of the time I can then feel and nominate for myself what is going one and choose to let it go.

    3. That is so true Lucy – love your analogy about playing the same old ‘poor me’ record!

    4. Beautifully expressed Lucy – this sounds very familiar to me, “poor me”, I played this role for a long time. And as you say, once we bring the self-responsibility into the equation, life starts to change – we are all love and very precious, no reason to hide.

    5. Ah that word again ‘responsibility’ – how often we want to avoid it! For me it’s because I think of it as a burden rather than as an ‘ability to respond’ to what is needed. Once I see it in that light and connect to the purpose of what I am here to do the resistance drops and suddenly the way is light and clear and no need to fall back into the comfort of being a victim.

      1. I used to think of responsibility as being ‘self-sacrifice’ so of course it came with a weight, a heaviness and has been a burden as you say Sandra. But more recently I have been feeling responsibility in a different way – that it is simply a call for me to be myself as much as I can be. When felt in this way I wonder where on earth the burdensome definition came from because there is no greater joy in life than allowing myself to be myself in full. Of course responsibility comes with having to change behaviours that take us away from being ourselves, and that is what I have and still do to to a lesser extent react to. But when it comes down to it the question is as simple as, “is whatever it is I don’t want to stop doing, worth losing the joy of the connection I have with myself, when this is the best feeling I have ever had?”. It’s a no-brainer when put like that.

      2. I can see how I’ve seen responsibility as a burden and have spent my whole life avoiding it, thinking if I can avoid it then I won’t have to deal with the choices I’ve made and could hide in the comfort of just getting by and only living a lesser version of myself instead of living the Love and Beauty I truly am.

    6. Agree Lucy, playing the poor me record over and over keeps us in that rut. Unless we take action to make changes, nothing will and we perpetuate our own misery.

  314. “The truth is that the constant search of ‘what to do with my life’ always felt empty, exhausting, demoralising and impossible to resolve.”
    I totally agree with this statement and have carried a sense of failure because of it … only recently have I become aware of having taken this on and have seen & felt the real, ordinary, gorgeous and true me underneath this illusion … thanks to a Universal Medicine practitioner and the chakra puncture healing modality.

  315. It is great when we can finally accept ourselves and remove some of the tension we live with daily when trying to present an image to the world that is not real or true. Great that you have discovered this.

    1. This is so true Gail, there is such a tension between how I know I can feel or how others want me to feel…it is so much easier to just be me, without the expetcations I place on myself or accept from others..

      1. It is easier Joel, I just realised this morning that most of the time when I feel anxious about something it is because I have left being me to change into something that is more usually acceptable to others. I’m aware of expectations more now when I feel a tension in my body.

    1. Yes Jeannette, awesome journey of self and soul discovery. Stepping up and stepping out !!

    2. Very true Elodie, Jeanette has given herself the most beautiful gift of seeing, knowing and feeling her inner beauty, but by living this she has also given us, and the world, the most precious gift of reflection.

  316. ” The energetic quality of how I am and my presence that determines the quality of my life and relationships with others and myself” – beautifully expressed Jeannette, thank you for the gorgeous reminder to stop and appreciate the true beauty we all are.

  317. When we come to the point feeling our beauty that is a fabulous moment, the acceptance of oneself in full. To often though I override this feeling and do not accept that it is easy as that: Simply being me is all what it needs. No effort, no strain.

    1. Yes, the simplicity of How we feel when we are living in truth can feel just that, too simple. Our minds think there needs to be a complexity to everything and can’t fathom that all that needs to be lived is Love.

    2. Yes Sonja, it is a fabulous moment and one that made me feel teary because it was a feeling I had not felt for decades, and I realised how much I had missed myself. When we do feel it, we have a new marker that the body has registered, even if we don’t feel it everyday, we can continue to make those loving choices that will enable that feeling of connection more often, until it becomes a way of being.

  318. Jeanette this is awesome – an awesome story of your return to you and the beauty that was always inside waiting to be lived and appreciated. It is inspiring to read and shows us the power we have within to change when we choose to make it about the quality of how we live and relate to ourselves.

  319. This is beautiful indeed Jeannette, reading your blog I can feel my heart opening up to the truth that the more we feel our own beauty, the more we start to shine and share this with the world.

  320. Your blog Jeanette exposes how it is not the systems or others that often bound us in what is beautiful or not, but our own ideals and conceptions we place on ourselves from what others have shown us that actually are the things that bound us so to speak. We are the biggest barrier to embracing our very own beauty.

  321. I have to admit sometimes that blogs such as these can make me feel uncomfortable, and I dare say I would not be alone in saying that. We are not comfortable with people who are forthright in expressing that life is not perfect. So much of the world is based upon putting out the image that all is OK, when clearly it is not.

    Life could do with less glamour and more honesty, and for that reason alone I truly appreciate blogs such as these, where people such as yourself Jeanette express with such honesty what really goes on behind the scenes. Many women and men struggle with the feelings of not being enough, yet we are sold the illusion that the answer to our lack of self esteem is outside of us. Clearly this does not work, otherwise celebrities and sports stars would have high self esteem – and they clearly do not. What Universal Medicine teaches us is that the answer always lies within, and it starts, as you have so aptly described, by learning to appreciate the innate beauty of our being-ness first and foremost.

  322. It sure is a beautiful thing beautiful Jeanette! Thank you for opening to, and expressing so freely, your beauty and wisdom, it is deeply felt and appreciated.

  323. So beautiful to read Jeanette. It put a big smile on my face whilst reading it, and opened my heart. Truly inspirational reminding us of the true beauty that lies within us all, just waiting for permission to shine brightly.

  324. It is so inspiring that you are claiming and thus offering a reflection of what true inner beauty is…. a beauty that all generations currently scrambling to define themselves by the outer, so desperately need to recognise, connect to, and appreciate within themselves.

  325. Thanks to the teachings of Universal Medicine I have begun ‘to stop beating myself up for not being good enough’, it has been a process which at times I felt was not remotely possible. Remarkably, over time I have noticed the voice of my self critique quietening allowing the grace and beauty of the women I am to shine.

  326. Wow Jeanette, what a powerful sharing. I love how you imply that it is not about perfection to live knowing our beauty is our inner essence but once we have discovered this, it is our truth and a marker we can always come back to. And as I develop and deepen this acceptance and knowing of my inner true beauty I stray from it less and less.

  327. ‘But the other day I miraculously saw a reflection I’ve never felt before – My Beauty. A beauty that transcended my physical attributes, any need to be different, any comparison, self-doubt or self-loathing. It was just suddenly there and it was amazing. I now know for absolutely sure what beautiful means; that I am beautiful, as are we all, that true beauty lives within me, that it always did and it now wants to shine.’
    It’s always been there and when we connect to this beauty not only do we feel our own truth, but so does the world.
    Thank you for sharing your absolute beauty Jeanette. In every way ✨✨

  328. We can struggle so hard to match up to what we think others want us to be and lose sight of who we truly are. A heartfelt ‘thank you’ to Serge Benhayon and all at Universal Medicine who have supported and encouraged me to find and love being me. I too can look in the mirror and see a reflection to “now know for absolutely sure what beautiful means; that I am beautiful, as are we all, that true beauty lives within me, that it always did and it now wants to shine.”

  329. Jeanette your sharing is a common package that many of us are familiar with. We may have had different experiences and situations but the choice to be less than who we naturally are runs deep throughout us all. Your choice to step out of the self imposed limited version of yourself inspires us to see that there is indeed another way.

  330. Thank you for your inspiring account of how you stopped trying to fulfil the world’s unattainable ideals and came home to yourself and your innate beauty – that had, as you found out, always been there.

  331. Tis a beautiful thing, to be able to come-back to yourself more easily and naturally, rather than wondering who that is.

  332. I so agree Brendan, accepting ourselves is the way. The more we appreciate what is great about us (so much) the more what we think isn’t drops away.

  333. That sure is a beautiful thing Jeanette. This is how it should be, it just seems so pointless that we all walk around wanting to look a different way – how can there be any one way of beauty when we all look so different?! Our beauty is within us all, this is so true and such a beautiful thing to be talking about.

  334. I agree Jeanette. Were it not for the support from Universal Medicine – the practitioners, the esoteric healing modalities and Serge Benhayon I would never have got in touch with the beauty that I am and that lives inside of me and is in fact within every single person. Our inner beauty just blossoms and grows as we tap into it more, acknowledge and appreciate how beautiful we are and take loving care of ourselves and others. I feel myself growing into a beauty woman and the more accepting I am of who I am I find that my body shape also changes. My hips become more rounded in shape and curvy as I just allow myself to be comfortable in my own skin.

  335. Today at the physiotherapist I was lying face down on the table and turned my head and suddenly looked at myself in the mirror. I was feeling tired and it showed on my face, but it was as if my whole body was saying you are beautiful, feel it within, and before any negative thought could settle in I simply felt my beauty within and basked in the warmth of that.

  336. Great article Jeanette, I can so relate to this, ‘As I grew up I had to invent some basis of self to fit into the world,’ I remember doing this, of deciding how I would be and what my ‘personality’ would be that would fit in with the world and define me, and so I stopped being my natural self. I am now re-connecting to me, to my natural way and am realising that I am beautiful just as I am.

  337. “I needed to change how I felt about and treated myself, to stop being so hard on myself and start loving and honouring myself more”
    It was so beautiful to read how you have blossomed as a woman as you accepted the real you. Keep shining as you are an awesome loving reflection for other woman.

  338. It is a beautiful thing to see and feel innate beauty and gorgeousness. As you said, what’s freeing is “to unravel the web of glamorous illusions in which I’d entangled myself; to stop beating myself up for not being good enough, to start accepting myself for who I am and stop giving power to the old ideals, beliefs and patterns that drove me to seek to define myself by what I do and what I look like”. Well summed-up, very well actually.

  339. “I needed to change how I felt about and treated myself, to stop being so hard on myself and start loving and honouring myself more”.

    Yes, the beautiful you has been patiently waiting there all along for you to get over all the blocks and hurdles we allow to get in the way.

  340. Well written Jeannette I can feel the authenticity in your blog and you have set a great example to others about the power of self love

  341. When you write that you choose to be more loving and tender to yourself, my body relaxed. A great marker and reminder to be super super tender with me and with my body from this day on.

  342. It’s wonderful Jeanette that you can reconnect to your truly beautiful self and express that for others to see and feel.

  343. This is a powerful testimony, to go from being abused by others to finding self love and feeling how beautiful you are on the inside. I love the fact that no matter how ugly our thoughts are about ourselves, self love is never very far away if we choose it.

  344. Jeanette you are petal of the large flower that continues to unfold, that shows that whatever the choices we all have made in the past that we are not confined to them if we simply choose self-love.

  345. I was having a little chuckle to myself remembering a conversation I had with a friend once where we shared that we felt like we were so much more beautiful and sexy than what was currently reflecting back at us in the mirror or in photos. It was quite a big thing to admit knowing this but now instead of beating myself up because I can see clearly that I am not living up to my true expression, I now know I simply need to be honest and not let myself be consumed by the what is not and feel more of the what is.

  346. Thank you Jeanette for sharing your story and showing how we can go from being self-abusive to self-loving – that it is possible.

  347. You start out by saying you received abuse and therefore thought something was wrong with you. I and many others I have spoken to have had exactly the same experience. More recently I have discovered that we are often abused because there is something right with us, not wrong with us. This kind of abuse often comes because others are jealous of what we reflect and the attack is to make us contract and be less than who we really are.

    1. “It was just suddenly there and it was amazing.” Maybe it wasn’t “just suddenly”?, Jannette, for several years you were consistently making loving choices, working toward this point in time which is in a way, predicted by your intention and actions, so you can return to the beauty you have always been.

    2. The abuse can be also be very subtle so we are being put down and belittled without being consciously aware that that is what is going on. Of course we have a choice to be honest about it as we feel everything. The moment we get to the honesty we can then say no and start claiming the beauty and grandness that we are without having to be perfect.

    3. Beautiful Nicola, so true. We see abuse as someone not liking us when in fact it is so often jealousy and the behaviours that stem from that.

  348. Indeed Brendan, divine beauty is deep within us all waiting patiently for us to return to it and let it shine out. It is in the stillness that it is felt.

  349. The process you talk about is beautiful Jeannette – working on old ideals and beliefs so that they can no longer continue to rule and malign us from the true beauty that we are. I can very much relate to your article and it was lovely to read today, so thank you.

  350. Hello Jeannette and that was a bit of a rough story and ride for you. After all that and with your life experience you still didn’t have the answer to it all until Universal Medicine. This line states a lot for me, “I now know for absolutely sure what beautiful means; that I am beautiful, as are we all, that true beauty lives within me, that it always did and it now wants to shine.” It is an interesting fact that we live in a world that raises us not to see something that is innate within us and from there we create our woes. I agree that everything we need is within us and the world outside never has had and never will have the answer, your blog is testament to that, thank you Jeannette.

  351. Thank you for sharing your journey of self acceptance Jeanette and it is so lovely to read your realisation ‘that true beauty lives within me, that it always did and it now wants to shine.’

  352. ‘As I became more loving and tender with myself I grew more self-confident, then more able to accept my innate beauty.’ Accepting this innate beauty is what is needed to shine. My mirror is now my best friend, to see myself shine or not. It always gives me the opportunity to appreciate myself and to connect.

    1. So lovely Annelies. To be able to look at ourselves in the mirror without judgement but in apprecaion and reflection of our innate beauty is breaking the mould in how women have viewed themselves for a very long time.

  353. Accepting the inner beauty is a lovely process of getting to know yourself after years of living from the outer and now really appreciate that beauty – as said it is also beautiful for others to feel this as well.

  354. This is such a beautiful blog. I really feel the emptiness of chasing beauty or recognition from anyone or thing that is outside of ourselves. I know I haven’t fully stepped away from doing this but, feeling the quality of true beauty in what you have written, supports me to fully let go of seeking outside recognition or judgement of myself based on my interpretation of the world’s standards and making a consistent commitment to connecting with myself.

  355. It is a beautiful thing Jeanette. Go for a walk down the main street of any town or city and take note of the people, how many do you see & feel that are enjoying themselves?
    What I notice is the majority of us are struggling through life on a day to day basis, just getting the job done and I used to be exactly the same as I thought what I did made me who I was. Trying to live up to some expectation of what we consider success to be will always fall short as we are trying to achieve something that is outside of us. Success is within.

    1. Agree Tony, most people struggle with daily life, so to even suggest that something is better then getting by can be far fetched. But as Jeanette explained beautiful that this isn’t the case but rather dedication and commitment.

      1. A lot of the time when we see others doing well in life we put them down and say they have it easy, we could say we are jealous. And yes maybe they do have it easy but we make it as easy or as hard as we like through the multitude of choices we make in life.

  356. It’s a great point Jeanette, that as you became more tender and loving with yourself, you were able to accept your beauty. It’s amazing that our beauty is always with us, however, it is only when we accept it that we can feel the enormity of how truly beautiful we are.

    1. Yes Kylie, and it’s only when we feel, connect to, and accept, our own beauty – that we can truly begin to feel, connect to and accept the beauty within others.

    2. I agree Kylie, there is this amazing balance that the more we accept our tenderness, even fragility, the more we can connect to our beauty and strength.

  357. A beautiful first hand account of how one can transform ones life into a joy-experience, one that then serves us all by your gorgeous lived reflection.
    Thank you from the bottom of my heart Jeanette.

  358. Knowing and feeling that you are beautiful is indeed an amazing quality in a woman. For you to do this and continue to develop this, within my experience, allows others to also see and feel this more than ever within you. It’s such a lovely process 💗

    1. I love the point you make here Natasha that it’s not only ourselves that feel our own beauty, but that it offers others a reflection and inspiration that they too can feel the same within them. As you say, “a lovely process”…

  359. Jeanette, your journey and experience reflects some of my insecurities. I am inspired by hearing your story of transformation, from needing external props to being guided only by your inner knowing and essence. Thank you.

  360. Jeanette reading your blog put a big smile on my face this morning. I loved this part especially ‘I now know for absolutely sure what beautiful means; that I am beautiful, as are we all, that true beauty lives within me, that it always did and it now wants to shine.’

    1. I agree Debra this sentence is so powerful, it put a big smile on my face and allowed me to feel our collective beauty within me. As women we have so much to share and inspire each other with. Thank you Jeanette.

  361. Beautiful and joyful Jeannette, if I could I would take you to my workplace – you are such a wonderful role model – please shine your light and inspire other women to not hold back their inner beauty like you do with your amazing blog.

  362. OOOEEEE. Jeanette, it seems that you know my story as well…so it seems to me that your story is common to many women. Thankyou for sharing!

  363. Just to be ourselves is so simple and beautiful yet at times it feels like there are so many other things going on, identifying with all of that ‘doing’ that prevents us from feeling the natural simplicity of just being.

  364. To be able to let go of a complete illusion most of us are sold out to and understand for real that your beauty is inside of you, shining out is nothing short of a miracle. Universal Medicine supports so many to shed their version of abuse, self loathing, lack of worth and build the knowing of who they really are underneath it all – you are absolutely right Jeanette, it is beautiful – beyond words.

  365. Thanks Jeanette, for your Beautiful Story. Like some of the other readers, it could be my story too! I really relate to most of what you said about lack of self-worth running your life.
    Through the love and support of Serge Benhayon and Universal Medicine practitioners, I also am slowly finding my true beauty within. Articles like yours offer extra encouragement and confirmation.

  366. Beautiful sharing and a great reminder, that the beauty is within us, if we choose to feel it, it has always been there waiting for us to make that connect to the self.

  367. Beautiful, Jeannette. It’s not about the ‘getting there’, it’s the journey along the way. All those self loving choices to deeply appreciate our innate beauty.

  368. This is indeed a beautiful sharing of a beautiful story. I love the timeless aspect of it. That when we realise the beauty we are within, we realise that it doesn’t matter if we ignored or missed it until now as it is there, always was, always is.

  369. That beauty can “suddenly be there” is also an experience I can relate to. One of the key things I have learnt in my 9 years of study with Universal Medicine is that beauty is always there, it is me who walks away from it and gets distracted by all manner of things to try and not feel the pain of walking away from it.

  370. Yes it is a beautiful story and is one we can all write if we so choose. As you share, Jeannette, the turning point is “I realised that seeking external gratification is futile; that I needed to change how I felt about and treated myself, to stop being so hard on myself and start loving and honouring myself more.”

  371. This is indeed a beautiful story and one which will help many who have a lack of self worth or self loathing and to show that life does not have to be governed by our negative thoughts about ourselves. And as you have stated, we are all beautiful and that beauty is there equally for everyone, no matter what the outer body looks like.

  372. Beautiful story indeed. I am amazed at how much you have come to know and love yourself.

  373. It certainly is a beautiful thing Jeanette and one worth celebrating and sharing with the world as most cannot see the true beauty that lies within. I actually didn’t even own a mirror for 7 years and realised I actively did not look at my reflection when it was offered to me that I may be avoiding seeing how I was choosing to live. A ouch at the time but not one I could argue with as it was true and now I can lovingly gaze at my reflection and see how truly gorgeous I am. Thank you Universal Medicine!

  374. This is indeed a beautiful thing Jeanette. What a celebratory moment to see your innate beauty shining back at you… stripped of all the layers of ideals and beliefs. I have found the mirror never lies, it shows me exactly the quality I have been choosing, a great daily check in …and way to appreciate ourselves.

  375. When there is no confirmation of our natural inner beauty at a very young age and sometimes even suppression and abuse from people who react because of their own issues, it is a truly wonderful to turn that around and claim it for oneself and then play a part in breaking that cycle for the next generation. This is a truly beautiful story.

  376. That is indeed a beautiful thing Jeanette, it seems that how we look and what we do is the most common thing for us to be judged upon (and by ourselves just as much!). How amazing for you to recognise this and to connect to your own beauty through your quality of being.

  377. Your story Jeanette highlights that within us all we have this same incredible, amazing beauty and it has nothing to do with looks. Once this is felt and connected to, an incredible relationship develops. The doorway to this relationship is self appreciation.

  378. It certainly is a beautiful thing, Jeannette. Thank you for sharing your story.

  379. Jeanette thank you so much for writing this. It’s truly supportive to have you claim what is true and what is futile illusion in a world set up to feed the illusion and glamour of false attainment. So beautiful to read. I feel supported to stand by what I know is true and worthwhile and to stop wasting energy on what is actually harmful.

  380. A beautiful story indeed Jeanette. At the beginning When reading about the abuse I was like ‘this isn’t really a beautiful story..’ Only because of course I was imagining butterfly’s and rainbows. As it unravelled further it most certainly is a beautiful story. To be able to change your life around from what it was to how you are now is an incredible story. I can understand what you mean about looking in the mirror and feeling as though you radiate- irrespective if your outside looks.

  381. Very beautiful Jeanette,this is a really great reminder for me as in the past I had a real lack of confidence, that is changing now and it’s lovely to have the reminder of being more loving and tender with myself, thank you. ‘As I became more loving and tender with myself I grew more self-confident, then more able to accept my innate beauty.’

  382. Wow what a gift on offer each day. to see ourselves for ALL the beauty we truly are.

  383. You discernible very clearly how defining ourself by what we do and what we look like doesn’t work. But the opposite, seeing the beauty that we are is so much better.

  384. A very beautiful you, is expressing the very beautiful truth, Jeanette. You are a star in the night sky constantly shining bright, reflecting back to the universe the wonderment of it all. This is what I feel when I read your story, confirming the amazement of my own learning too. Thank you

  385. Jeanette what a thought provoking and inspiring story. There is much many of us can relate to and it’s really interesting what you share about your reflection in the mirror. I think I almost always approach the mirror to see if I am looking good enough, to see my faults and perhaps have a strange affliction as a result. What I’ve felt from your blog is I’ve not really been open to seeing the beauty, wisdom and love in my reflection – an interesting reflection in itself.

  386. Dear Jeanette, Thank you for sharing my story. Oh I mean yours 🙂 When I read your story I realised how much it was my story as well. The line about – “the truth is that the constant search of ‘what to do with my life’ always felt empty, exhausting, demoralising and impossible to resolve”. Oh this was so me….and I would add “who to be in this life” to the mix. Acceptance is the key – that we are innately all so beautiful and have much wisdom and light to bring this world. And the key to living with that comes with the steps of starting to take great care of yourself and look at the energy in which you do this. Thank you, I cried reading your blog, it was a great healing for me, Love Sarah x

  387. I have read this beautiful story before, but found myself here again months later to uncover a depth I missed the first time. This speaks to me in such an intimately personal way that I cannot help but listen. Jeannette, your self awareness is amazing and I can really feel the gentleness and love you hold yourself in now, to allow the slip ups and lovingly come back to what you know is the true you. I am well acquainted with that self-bashing way and can feel it is a mask for self-loathing now, and very very far from loving me at all. Thank you for sharing and inspiring others to feel the true beauty within.

  388. Jeannette so beautifully expressed. Achieving such transformation that only you could have given to yourself. This is something so precious and priceless. A blessing to read.

  389. Thank you Jeannette for the reminder that being gentle and tender with ones self can pull ourselves out of the self-loathing and lack of confidence. The more it (love) is repeated the more it grows, so simple.

  390. The world needs more confident, self assured people as what I see is that this supports others to also take on these qualities. This is a confidence that doesn’t belittle anyone else but instead can support everyone to develop the same feelings of self worth and grandness. It is obvious that from Universal Medicine you found the means to build your own grandness and accept your own beautiful qualities. Thank you Jeannette

  391. A beautiful story indeed. Accepting that you are enough and acknowledging the beauty within – gorgeous. What a turn around, as so many of us have experienced, with the unwavering support and love from Serge Benhayon and Universal Medicine practitioners

  392. I love this line, and can feel how it could support so many people, ” I am not what I do or what I look like, but I am so very much more.” imagine growing up with this knowing.

  393. It is indeed a beautiful thing to be able to finally see just how much beauty is laying underneath the surface, that place we so often judge for not being perfect. Lovely blog Jeanette.

  394. It sure is and you sure are, its felt resounding through this beautiful expose. Beauty is and will always be what resides within.

  395. How can we not each be beautiful, when we are all part of this amazingly beautiful living universe. All the stars in the sky, all of nature around us, all the inner workings of ourselves also, they all show us their beauty. It is only constructs of the mind that seemingly show us ugliness, fault and comparison.

  396. A beautiful story indeed Jeannette. I can so relate to “I’ve spent the better part of 51 years trying to define who I am by what I look like and what I do…” Not the 51 years but for sure trying to define myself by what I do. It is such a beautiful thing to feel that we do not have to define ourselves by what we do because it comes from who we are, and we are amazingly grand always.

  397. Thank you Jeanette, your true beauty shines through this post; that joy in claiming our inner most beauty that always remains untouched by whatever ickyness we happen to come across and take on in life, is our real beauty. When we allow ourselves to see this beauty, we realise this is what is real about us and not any outer ‘muck’ — and as this shines through our bodies others get to feel this inner beauty that we all equally have as well.

  398. Jeannette I liked reading your story. Your beauty shined through, thank you.

  399. Acceptance of self is us saying yes to the beauty within ourselves. It helps us to break the illusion of the need to perform or look a certain way and instead allows us to appreciate the power of our own essence.

    1. Thank you for this offering franciscoclara8 – acceptance of self is absolutely us saying yes to our true beauty within. The true beauty and loveliness that has always been there and has never left us, patiently waiting for us to remember.

  400. Jeanette I am so inspired that you found another way, a way that connects you to your tender, loving immeasurable beauty within. I can feel your light and beauty shining as you claimed your essence within. Thank you sharing your story, and your truly beautiful reflection of you.

  401. A beautiful thing indeed, Jeannette! I’ve been blessed to observe how you have made the transition from the illusory outer beauty to the amazing inner beauty you are, with Universal Medicine’s loving guidance. And as you’ve really claimed yourself, that inner beauty shines outwardly with a magnificence that outer illusions are incapable of.

  402. Jeanette this is definitely a beautiful story of you appreciating you.
    And what stands out for me is:- “seeking external gratification is futile; that I needed to change how I felt about and treated myself, to stop being so hard on myself and start loving and honouring myself more. As I became more loving and tender with myself I grew more self-confident, then more able to accept my innate beauty.”- very inspiring!

    1. Yes seeking external gratification, as you put it, simply buys time against the real question; when will we love ourselves enough to look within and let out the true and innate beauty we all have.

  403. Jeanette what a wonderful appreciation of your true beauty. We all have it and yet sometimes it takes a little while to accept it. All in good time.

    1. It’s true, we do all have this beauty within, and to me what this blog shares so beautifully is that when we are willing to take responsibility for our lives, and when we are willing to deal with our hurts, we remove many of the things that get in the way of us connecting to this fact.

  404. Rereading this is very supportive. This time,` I am not what I do or what I look like, but I am so very much more`, stands out for me. Yes, I am much more than this!

  405. That is indeed a beautiful story Jeanette. One that I can use to remind me that when I look in the mirror and see the beautiful me that it is not a fairy story I have made up but the truth!

  406. Thank you Jeannette, an inspiring story of how far you have come – I am aware that I don’t appreciate myself and can be too hard on myself, I can feel how this is affecting me and holding me back in how I see myself. Something for me to reflect on.

  407. …to unravel the web of glamorous illusions in which I’d entangled myself…I know this feeling very well. Even though I got a lot of recognition in my life because of my looks by working as a professional model, being truely connected with my inner beauty is something so different. Much more profound and settle and non irritable. I can always feel it in my eyes, how I look at something or someone or myself, if I am truly connected to my beauty and showing it out. It feels tender, superloving and bright.

  408. Thank you for sharing your beautiful and inspiring transformation with us. I can relate to so much of what you have shared, and I remember too well the many conversations I have had with the reflection in the mirror. But also inspired by the presentations of Universal Medicine which have supported me to make many nurturing changes in my life, the conversations with myself are much more loving and tender these days. I particularly love these words: “I am beautiful, as are we all, that true beauty lives within me, that it always did, and it now wants to shine.” Such wise words to share with all of humanity.

  409. Thank you Jeanette. The world has not taught us that beauty is beyond the physical, and that everything that is physical comes from the unseen as well as the quality we express in. But by sharing your experiences, the way to true beauty is offered to be felt in the relationship we have with ourselves and everyone else–this is very different from how beauty has been taught to us from young, but we are ready for more truth as physical beauty on its own can never satisfy us truly.

  410. A really honest sharing and a hook that effects many women. It’s awesome that you have broken through the illusion and can see yourself as a beautiful woman. Accepting who we are is an incredibly healing and powerful choice.

  411. I too can relate to what you present, Jeannette, about seeing oneself in the mirror and actually seeing through the illusion that we had been seeing. It is like a whole new dimension or level of ourselves is reached and seen that has always been there but unnoticed.

  412. I absolutely relate Jeannette to how we can turn abuse from others into our own self-loathing and blaming ourselves and then to use a substance like drugs to numb that pain. What is amazing about your story is you realising ” I have come to know that it doesn’t have to be that way”. Once we feel that innate beauty within us we no longer tolerate abuse or try to fill up the emptiness with outside pursuits. I love the moment when the mirror reflected the true you back to you. Thanks for sharing your beauty-filled story.

  413. It is very beautiful indeed to learn to allow ourselves to be ourselves! Thank you Jeannette.

  414. Accepting who we truly are is such a deeply healing and powerful way to live. I have found that by re-connecting to my essence, which I learnt to do through the teachings of Universal Medicine, has supported me to have true self confidence and love for myself and all. When you live with connection to who you truly are life becomes simpler and you feel the connection and “sameness” that exists between people. Thank you Jeannette for sharing your healing experience. I agree you are beautiful….we all are 🙂

  415. Jeannette, thank-you for your writing. There are so many reasons for, and ways in which, we can find ourselves lacking fulfilment in life, taking to self-abusing behaviours, finding ourselves ‘trying’ to be more, never being enough… Reading your story, I am reminded that we are all, every one of us – as you have once again recognised in yourself – truly beautiful.
    If I find myself not living in the treasuring and richness of my beauty, or see another not doing so, it will most surely be due to a shutting down to life that has occurred (and may still be occurring..), in some fashion. As you experienced in your growing years, we can be so eroded by life, that all we want to do is shut things down, to stop ourselves feeling what hurts us so badly.
    I deeply honour the path you have taken, and can completely relate to the support of Universal Medicine and Universal Medicine trained practitioners, in healing what has been, that we can return to a sense of our true selves again. It is most definitely possible, and yet, we need expect no ‘perfection’. Your blog resonates with the deep understanding that we needn’t be perfect in this, but boy, how awesome it is, when we once again truly re-connect to our innate beauty – from that, it would be pretty darn hard to turn back.
    I look forward to reading more of what unfolds for you, thank-you for sharing such wisdom.

  416. Thank you Jeannette. I can very much relate. I tried to define myself by what I look like and what I do for years, and there is still more healing here to go, it’s a very deep seed. But a few years ago I started to realise I was missing out big time on connecting to my essence and all the true beauty inside me that has nothing to do with what I look like or what I do. It’s just naturally there. So if I get tangled up in this now, I have some great tools to bring me back to myself. The love within has no expectations of us, it just is.

  417. Thank you Jeannette- pearls of wisdom here: I always love hearing: “to stop beating myself up for not being good enough, to start accepting myself for who I am and stop giving power to the old ideals, beliefs and patterns that drove me”.

  418. It truly is a beautiful story, Thank you Jeannette. It was so lovely to read your story. I too was abused as a child. It was pretty horrendous. It seemed like there was no way out but to deal with it the best way I could. Since I’ve attended Universal Medicine I have learnt to let go of my hurts and sadness. I’m learning to bring back joy in my life and allow myself to be loved and self-love. I have more to learn and to let go but I am open and embracing every level. Your story Jeannette is very inspiring and reminds me to appreciate my inner beauty and my strength. Thank you.

  419. I loved reading your blog Jeannette, so simple yet so powerful. Thank you for sharing how you have changed the way you view beauty. One crazy thing I have noticed when it comes to beauty, is those who society view as beautiful because of their appearance, quite often are the people that struggle with the idea that they are beautiful. This has proved to me that outer beauty does not define true beauty, we would not question outer beauty if it were what defines us as beautiful or not. When one feels the beauty within, there is no question in their being as to its truth.

  420. We seek on the outside to full fill and it lasts only for fleeting moments and we forever chase that something, yet there is a wealth within us – a true beauty and if we sought to reconnect back to that and live from that there is nothing that can beat that…and it is not a fleeting moment but a steadfast development of deepening and on our way we start to see how we have been living to sustain an ‘unreal’ unfulfilling life. I say ‘us’ when as I write this because I feel it is very much what is happening for many and I can definitely say this has been my experience..but now I am developing from the inside out…thank you your story is our story and it is beautiful.

  421. So lovely to re-visit your blog Jeanettte. Wow there really are so many illusions and beliefs self imposed and imposed to keep us feeling small. I am uprooting them day by day at the moment. Ones I had convinced myself of that didn’t effect me. But as my awareness grows their grip and can no longer take hold as they once did. It is a work in progress but work that is so worth doing. This is certainly a beautiful thing.

  422. What a wonderful breakthrough Jeannette, to be able to see your true beauty. Imagine having the perspective of being so connected with oneself that we could truly see and feel the hearts of everyone we met, and not just the mask and protection that everyone adopts to get through the day. And if just one person reconnects to themselves and feels their true beauty, then they will go forth, and people will have the opportunity to see a true mirror, and to feel their own grace and beauty. And so like a single drop of water in the pool, the ripples will spread out and on and on, and this is just one person connecting with themselves.

    1. Absolutely Chris .. once you can see the true inner beauty within yourself, others can see it in you, and you can see it in others and indeed it ripples on … its beautiful!

  423. Beauty- full blog Jeanette. I love seeing all that reflects back to me when I look in the mirror… and the moments you share where we receive in full our innate beauty are truly precious.

  424. Thanks for a beautiful blog Jeanette. It feels like you now have a solid foundation that allows you to bring yourself back to self when you find yourself slipping into old patterns. Beautiful transformation

  425. I love your path to your unfolding of appreciating & knowing beauty in you & also in everyone equally so. “I now know for absolutely sure what beautiful means; that I am beautiful, as are we all, that true beauty lives within me, that it always did and it now wants to shine.”
    I do get caught up at times where it feels others have it better (be it looks, skin colour, hair, eyes, clothes, intelligence, family, friends, balance in life..list can go on), but all these comparisons leave me feeling less. It’s like a never ending “Grass being greener on other side!”
    Yes, you are so right in saying beauty lives within us & knowing that makes us feel enough & full; with no need for looking outside or compare. Its all there always, we just need to connect to that inner knowing & then all we can do is allow that to shine out.
    What an amazing blog.

  426. This story is beautiful and has brought me to tears. No one should ever had to strive and constantly fight themselves for approval and acceptance when it is so innate and so naturally there within our expression. If only we just allow ourselves to be. I too have struggles with the concept of ‘beauty’ and looking outside of myself for recognition and approval and acceptance. I feel like the world is constantly supporting me to do this and to compare myself to all those beauty stars, to all those movie stars and super models and ‘high’ profile women that, when truly feeling into THEM and THEiR lives they too are also empty and trying to seek acceptance and recognition from outside themselves. It feels like such an epidemic ~ the living proof that you are finding beauty within your inner self and inner being is truly gold Jeannette and is something that should be honoured and celebrated for the true magnificence that that is.

  427. What a great point you have made Jeannette- That everyone bases their self-worth and acceptance on the ideal they have for their outer beauty (or how good they feel based on how much they fit into the ‘beautiful’ category), yet everyone’s ideal of what beauty is different- so you can never please anyone or feel accepted by everyone! huge score for the not feeling good enough game…

  428. The merry-go-round of not feeling enough, looking for recognition and acceptance is so exhausting and has always left me seeking and trying to be better. I love the moment you shared of seeing your natural beauty that has always been there… this has also been a major shift for me, realising that beauty is always there.

  429. Jeannette, I like reading your story, your transformation and appreciate your sharing. Thank you

  430. Your blog is a “beautiful story” I really enjoyed reading it and I can totally relate to the different reflections you wrote about when looking in the mirror

  431. A beautiful story indeed! The mirror has played a great role in my life as well. I also got a myriad of reflections from it. Many times I saw beauty. Not always saw ME though. I have not yet totally surrendered to me and to my own beauty. I wonder whether the mirror reflects that we are not allowing our beauty out or that we are not necessarily allowing ourselves in?

  432. To live one’s life without needing the gaze of others to affirm oneself is what you have now Jeannette. A beautiful story.

  433. Jeanette I can recognise myself in what you write, especially when I was young and I felt I had to change the way I looked through hair colour “do blondes have more fun”? The answer is NO. In my middle years I was almost invisible, and now in my latter years I am just learning to be me and appreciate that beauty is within and I am accepting that who I am is more than skin deep or what I do. Thank you.

  434. “I am not what I do or what I look like, but I am so very much more.” What you say here is so huge. I know this but I am yet to fully see or feel it. Who I think I am is so linked to how I look and what I do. I haven’t been too sure how to move beyond this so thank you for this blog and sharing your experience. I can put more energy into being loving and tender with myself and honouring myself.

  435. I have experienced what you are talking about. A moment where suddenly you catch yourself in the mirror and see through what you have always thought you were. And there before you is this beautiful being.

    1. Yes, exactly Dean. It is so joyful and it gets better because then I could truly see it, acknowledge it, connect to and cherish the inner beauty of others.

      1. So much in history of how different we all are and yet underneath it all we are exactly the same – beautiful.

  436. To not seek recognition is an important one, as I realized in reading your blog how this emotion is coming into my life when I am not totally with me. Thank you for your sharing, Jeannette.

  437. Beautiful what you share with us. The connection with your inner beauty that has always been there, never out there. Just you meeting you again. Lovely.

  438. Hi Jeannette, I too have struggled with a constant feeling of lack, of not measuring up which also sent me on a path of self destruction as I related to the ugliness I believed was me. The ugliness just turned out to be my hurts, of not being met, not being truly loved, not being honoured and cherished. I have come to realise it is now my responsibility to give those things to myself and stop playing the victim. Through being more loving with myself I now know there is amazing beauty within me, and I feel so much more I am yet to reconnect back to as I continue on my path of evolution.

  439. I so relate to your blog and absolutely love it! I really appreciated reading your journey from how you were to how you allowed yourself to not be so hard on yourself and your inner beauty then just shining out. And then to be able to recognise this beauty in others is gorgeous. Such a heart-warmingly reassuring and inspiring blog to read. So appreciated. Thank you.

  440. ‘But the other day I miraculously saw a reflection I’ve never felt before – My Beauty.’ Reading this I could feel my body letting go as the truth of what you were sharing came through. Lovely, thank you Jeanette.

  441. I can relate to all you have said Jeanette. For me it was a relief to know I didn’t need to be looking on the outside anymore to tell me how to be, I had everything I needed inside and it was a matter of connecting to this amazingness that is within and living life from this connection. The key to this as you said is being more loving and appreciative of ourselves. So beautiful.

  442. “The way I looked could never fulfil the world’s ‘ideal’ of beautiful; therefore, by those markers I was never going to be an acceptable human being or woman” This sentence really stands out for me, until reading this I thought I had long ago dismissed (buried) this issue but actually this has brought to my attention that I felt exactly this and instead of being honest about it I chose to ‘play’ someone I wasn’t….deceiving both myself and others. Thank you for your sharing.

  443. What a gorgeous blog – thank you for sharing your experience with beauty with us. It is a beautiful thing!

  444. Old ideals, beliefs and patterns do rear their ‘ugly’ heads now and then, especially when I have forgotten who I am and given my power away to them. Creating new rituals for myself allows me to see myself in the mirror as I truly am – the beautiful me.

  445. Beautiful and simple, ” As I became more loving and tender with myself I grew more self-confident, then more able to accept my innate beauty.”

    1. Indeed, beautiful and so simple Gyl, the beauty we are is forever waiting to be found and accepted by us.

  446. Thank you Jeanette. It really is so hard to not fall in to that trap of feeling like you need something to define you. Being different to most of those around you makes for a real challenge. I’m recently single and almost all of my friends are in the throws of motherhood or are pregnant and therefore it’s in my face everyday. There is a constant feeling of ‘missing out’ or feeling ‘less’. I can connect to what that feeling is about and when I do I realise it’s just an illusion that makes their lives appear better than mine because of what we’re fed. I’m just working on accepting that I am enough, and I have to say I am now having more days of holding on to that than others at the moment, but I do find it challenging.

  447. “I am not what I do or what I look like, but I am so very much more.” – thank you for the reminder Jeanette, I couldn’t agree more.

  448. Beautiful story Jeanette, and it is indeed our inner beauty that when connected to it “transcends any physical attributes, any comparison, self doubt or self loathing”.
    I was recently admiring my beautiful rose garden when I felt the deep reflection of my own inner beauty- it felt priceless!

  449. Indeed – A Beautiful Story. Thank you for the inspiration with: “I am able to allow myself to come back to just being me” Being who we are is the most beautiful thing.

  450. And that Janette was a beautiful story. I can relate to many parts and the coming home to ones beauty. What a priceless moment when we feel our reflection meets the amazingness we are.

  451. I love how you describe the beauty you see that transcends any physical attributes, any comparison, self doubt or self loathing. It feels like the same quality as unwavering love.

  452. Beautiful story Jeanette, and thank you for the reminder that it is the energetic quality of our being and our presence that matters the most, and that is the key to break away from the illusion of glamour and the way to truly appreciate ourselves for the love that we are.

  453. Beautiful Jeanette, you share with us the true power and beauty that only ever comes from within us.

  454. The day that we can look in the mirror and see our own beauty is indeed a day to celebrate. Thank you for reminding us of that. How insidious is it that we so rarely see our own beauty.

  455. Jeanette, I loved reading your story. Knowing you today as the beautiful and confident woman you are, I would of never of known that this was your background. You emanate that beauty on the inside and on the outer and when we meet in person I feel the equalness of beauty that is there is us both. Thanks for the reflection.

  456. There are many people in the world who would understand deeply what you have expressed here – this blog could be their very own. I am one of those people. Thank you Jeanette for your honesty and openness.

  457. That is so true Brendan, our inner beauty ‘surpasses any physical beauty imaginable’, it is so much more. It is amazing to actually feel beauty, something I had not done before. Thank you Serge Benhayon.

  458. Coming back to ourselves is a beautiful thing, I totally agree. It is also an ever deepening thing, an infinite and evolving recognition and awareness of what we have been tricked into believing and what has been there the whole time. It’s a beautiful thing.

  459. When you say that you give yourself pep talks.. I realised that I somewhat avoid talking to myself..maybe cause I’ll look crazy.. But seriously though I avoid even asking myself in thought how am I really feeling, for fear that I will actually tell myself the truth..I am going to try this. Thank you for sharing

  460. And what is even more beautiful than feeling your own beauty is to feel that equal beauty in another. It is truly gorgeous to feel!

  461. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder’ doesn’t make so much sense anymore if we connect to our essence and see from there. Then beauty just is…..

  462. What I feel when I read your blog is an opportunity to stop and reflect. Life has been set up for us to constantly chase something outside of us, be it beauty, recognition, jobs, relationships, acceptance, the list could go on, in the belief this will fulfil and complete who we are, but in truth the answers and joy are not there. What I can feel is the simplicity and joy of life,when I allow myself to stop and feel, and all I can feel is that everything I have ever been looking for is in me.

  463. It seems so simple that being more loving and tender with ourselves can heal a lifetime of self-loathing and abuse, and it is. I have found it to be a matter of choosing this for me in each moment, particularly the moments when I’m feeling any doubt, sadness, or self-criticism. If I’m really paying attention in those moments I can choose to stop and reconnect to the love that is already within and let that be my compass rather than the other negative thoughts. I can choose to make the love and wisdom that is already in me guide me rather than the rules, ideals and beliefs from outside.

  464. The force that comes at us when we are young feels overwhelming and powerful, those around us become the barometer from which we measure who we are. Always with us, deeply settled within is this little voice that insistently questions anything that doesn’t feel true and no matter the choices made, it continues to be present, asking you to come back. Your sharing Jeanette is beautiful, and proof that the innate essence of who we truly are is more powerful than anything else, than the rules, images, pressures from love ones and life. Choosing to listen, see, and live that, is a beautiful model for all those who are feeling that same beckoning but still attempting to hide. Thank you for your sharing.

  465. Loved your article Jeanette, it truly is a beautiful story, one that needs to be told time and time again to all. A beauty that shines from within as you so aptly write… ‘A beauty that transcended my physical attributes, any need to be different, any comparison, self-doubt or self-loathing” A beauty that is there at birth. A beauty that will go with us at death.

  466. I felt such a resonance to your words Jeanette, as they expressed the beautiful unfolding back to you. What a gift.

  467. Wow I was stopped by your line of seeing yourself as beautiful, I could just feel how true this was, how awesome! What a truly miraculous change around! One the millions of women around the world would love to feel also! How inspiring.

  468. Lovely to read this Jeanette, this is a great example that no matter what happens in our lives and the choices we make to not shine, the beauty inside never leaves us and is always there waiting patiently for us to let it out.

  469. Thank you Jeanette for your honest sharing. It’s lovely to read how you discovered your inner beauty and are now expressing that for all to see and feel.

  470. Jeannette, thank you for sharing your transformational journey. It is a great example that doesn’t matter where we are at or what we are doing we can ALWAYS choose to re-turn to who we truly are and re-connect to our true beauty. We are privileged to know Serge Benhayon and all the Universal Medicine practitioners, but it is also possible for every single person anywhere in the world to be our, or your-reflection and expression.

  471. Jeanette it’s so true that we get caught up in the illusion of defining ourselves by our physical appearance and what we do. So amazing that we can let this go to discover our inner beauty with the support of the Universal Medicine teachings and practitioners.

  472. Thankyou Jeanette your beautiful story is an inspiration to all. The pressure to be more comes every day from all directions but you are choosing to be more of YOU!

  473. What a lovely reflection Jeanette.
    It is sad that there are so many people in the world that feel the same way you have growing up for various reasons. I love these blogs because no matter the detail of them I’ve found I can reassonate with each of them in my own way so as more and more people express their experiences others can feel supported to make the changes as you have done, they only need to make the choice.

  474. Amazing account Jeanette of your discovery of beauty in its greatest and truest meaning; you offer great wisdom and inspiration back towards the love we are.

  475. The quality of relationship we have with ourselves has a profound impact on our lives.

  476. What stood out for me in this blog was the sentence about moulding ourselves to standards we don’t even agree with or believe in (deep down), in the first place! What a set up and no wonder so many of us feel empty and lacking in something in life and need constant distractions, stimulations and escapes just to keep living, or should I say existing because that is what it really is.

  477. Thank you for sharing your journey. I related to several parts of your story and love that you point out that the old patterns try to work their way back in because this is where I can often be especially hard on myself for not getting it quicker or better. But it feels to me that you are very solid in your commitment to developing your inner self and that this is sought with no agenda, timeframes or perfection. That’s beautiful.

  478. Thank you for sharing your beautiful journey. I related to several parts of your story and it is so lovely to hear you say the old patterns strive to rule sometimes. But, I get the sense that you are solid in your commitment to let them go, as long as that takes and with no perfection. That is inspirational.

  479. A beautiful, honest and inspiring blog thank you Jeannette. I, like so many others, have been transformed by the support and love of Serge Benhayon and other practioners at Universal Medicine. What a gift that is so deeply appreciated.

  480. What a moment for you Jeannette, when you looked in the mirror and had the awareness of your inner beauty shining through that first time, knowing that all the glamour of the external could then be just, dropped! There is no going back, shine on sister and the world shines more because of you. We are beautiful and we are ‘enough’, as we are.

  481. A beautiful blog from a beautiful woman. I related to every word you wrote here, and it was somehow very important for me to hear that another woman has felt the same as I have and has used the same strategies to cope with the world and the inner sense of emptiness and loss that I had – AND to subsequently develop the gorgeous inner quality that we all have. This felt to me like a very honest blog.

  482. With Universal Medicine I got introduced to the difference between saying: “I AM a health practicioner” and “I WORK AS A health practitioner.” That took a huge heaviness off my shoulders. Nobody is, what she or he does: True. Easy. Beautiful.

  483. Shine in yor beauty Jeanette and I am sure you will help others to shine too.
    Beautiful……

  484. It is a defining moment when you look in the mirror and all you can see reflected back is your beauty. It really does have nothing specifically to do with how you look at that moment, but due to deeply connecting to ourselves, our essence is able shine brightly and everything about the reflection is beautiful. Uplifting and inspiring.

  485. Wow Janette, you have described your transformation with such strength, clarity and honesty. What an inspiring testimonial.

  486. Thank you Jeanette for your expression, as it brings up so many ways we may feel and how we “cope” or numb out when we are not in full presence with oneself. Tenderness is an amazing way to return to our loveliness and who we truly are.

  487. The support of Serge Benhayon and the practitioners at Universal Medicine have allowed so many of us to transform what seemed like insurmountable issues. Your story of drugs to true beauty is a miracle.

    1. … and to do it simply and easily; and so many other miraculous stories just like Jeanette’s.

  488. Jeannette, it takes great courage to allow yourself to come back from where you have been, because you have to first feel all that you have come to allow that has not been of that same beauty, truth, love and strength that you so clearly stand with today. A beautiful story indeed.

  489. A very powerful blog Jeanette, it can be easy to allow what is outside of us to dictate what we do and how we are in life – but the real truth is to stop and re-claim what is rightfully ours by seeing the truth of the Beauty that lies within and living that every moment. A timely reminder that it is up to us to make that choice and to be our own most loving, nurturing and tender supporter.

    1. That is very beautiful ch, ‘to be our own most loving, nurturing and tender supporter.’ What a grace to be able to restore that for ourselves, to bring to ourselves all that delicate and tender care we might bestow on a baby, to treat ourselves with the same loving care. Jeanette has shown us that it is possible to turn our attitudes towards ourselves around and make our lives about love first, a very powerful transition and one that brings great healing.

  490. We can feel ” the unwavering love, commitment and support ” for ourselves too, as we find the love we are, renounce the self loathing and let our beauty shine.
    A truly transformative, inspirational article Jeanette.

  491. Yes Jeanette, that is truly beautiful. It is so lovely that you see your beauty deep within in your reflection in the mirror. I find our self talk to our selves is a direct reflection of our self worth which is determined by how we treat our selves in all areas.

  492. Thank you for sharing Jeanette. I agree, beauty is so much more than we could have ever thought it was.

  493. Beautiful sharing Jeanette. I love how you describe the quality of your presence and being and how that is the expression of beauty. I have been inspired by many women who live a quality of stillness that emanates from within. It is an exquisite beauty that transcends any physical or outward appearance.

  494. What a big change of your life !
    I experience that looking into your own eyes in the mirror by choosing to look with loving eyes, is like meeting myself in my depth of beauty. It also helps me to really look into ohter peoples eyes conciously, meeting their beauty.. and even if it can be hidden sometimes, it feels like being reminded of our amazing essence.

  495. Thank you for sharing – it opens my eyes more and helps me understand more of the pain the world is actually in, being one person in this world with a story like that makes me want to know everyone’s. It’s beautiful you are coming to know the beautiful woman you are.

  496. I loved feeling the truth in your words Jeanette, and to be inspired to go deeper into the acceptance and appreciation of myself and my innate beauty. Thank you.

  497. It truly is a beautiful thing! Amazing how the self care and connecting through feeling how we truly feel inside can bring about the sort of true change that is rarely seen. Thank you

  498. Thanks Jeanette for a wonderful sharing that summed up so well what a lot of us are working on changing. For me, the statement ‘I unconsciously manipulated every choice towards seeking recognition and being acceptable.’ is something that I am still catching myself doing but thankfully I now see it for what it is and it is happening less and less as I grow in my self acceptance and self love.

  499. Jeanette, you are just gorgeous! Your blog has really supported me in so many ways, thank you for sharing. What immediately stood out for me as I read was how I am still not accepting myself. This has been very healing to feel. Your quote really summed up so much for me:

    “The way I looked could never fulfill the world’s ‘ideal’ of beautiful; therefore, by those markers I was never going to be an acceptable human being or woman, and as a result my self-loathing blossomed into an ever-present lack of confidence and slight depression.” Thank you.

  500. Thankyou Jeannette for your deep honesty. As a man too I have often found myself unable to stare into the mirror at times for what I saw and judged, and I am not even an unattractive man by society’s definition. So, if even our “prettiest” models struggle to find beauty when they look in the mirror, then perhaps that tells us all that physical beauty is not something that can be objectively assessed, and indeed is entirely at the mercy of the perception of the beholder.

    Yet for all of that I have found that when we look deeply into our own eyes, and the eyes of another, and let ourselves drink deeply there is a beauty to be seen in us all that trandscends time.

    1. Adam, yes it is not only the women that struggle to find beauty. Sometimes I tend to forget because in society there is so much focus on how women should look like and the men assess a woman according to the standards of the media and the glossies.

  501. Thanks Jeanette. I have had red skin for years and always covered it with makeup. If I ever went out for a morning walk without makeup on I would hope I wouldn’t run into people in case they judged me for my skin. Only recently I have begun to go out without makeup on and felt so lovely on my walk that I have stopped and chatted to people without it even occurring to me that they may notice my skin. I have been met with nothing but warmth and engagement from these strangers. I can now walk without the shackles I once held about myself thanks to my learning from Universal Medicine. I have come to understand that when I look in the mirror I actually get t he reflection of how I feel, and my beauty comes from this.

  502. Wow Jeanette the transformation feels incredible. Having the clarity to see that “… most people are bound by these illusions of glamour in some form or another to varying degrees, and most set about resolving them in ways that in truth only feed the illusions” is remarkable and it is a game we all play in the hope that we will get by, get on and succeed.

  503. “My Beauty. A beauty that transcended my physical attributes, any need to be different, any comparison, self-doubt or self-loathing. It was just suddenly there and it was amazing. I now know for absolutely sure what beautiful means; that I am beautiful, as are we all, that true beauty lives within me, that it always did and it now wants to shine.” – Thank you Jeannette, I can feel My Beauty reading your article.

  504. It is indeed, beautiful, as is every man and every woman on this earth: for we all possess an inner-beauty, that cannot be tainted by anything we do or we seemingly are – not by any of the masks or the forms that we assume in our lives. For our inner beauty lives inside of us, and will be there – always – just waiting patiently for us to tap into. What need have we for the conception of beauty which we derive from the attentions and recognition from other people around us? What need, when we connect to and know for sure the beauty that lives perpetually inside us? A beauty which does not require constant propping up or supporting from any other source, because it simply just is. For truth is truth, regardless of any amount of non-truth which seems to hide or cover it.

  505. Love the phrase ‘unravelling the web of glamorous illusions’ which you’ve certainly done here in your blog. Thank you for your honesty. It is real-life examples like yours that can help break the spell of the ‘societally constructed prerequisites’ of beauty and success that have us in their grip.

  506. Thank you Jeanette for your beautiful sharing and for the inspiration you offer:
    “I now know for absolutely sure what beautiful means; that I am beautiful, as are we all, that true beauty lives within me, that it always did and it now wants to shine.’
    I agree with you you: it is time to let the beauty shine and let all the love I am and feel in my body, out.

    1. The certainty, power and truth with which Jeanette expressed that line shone out for me too Monika. That expression alone could change the world.

  507. The web of glamorous illusion has also trapped me, discovering my inner beauty breaks all my illusions that I have found and they are many. THANK YOU SERGE BENHAYON FOR PROVIDING THE WISDOM and JEANETTE for her blog.

  508. What a great realisation to come to: “I am not what I do or what I look like, but I am so very much more.” This is immense in the face of so much in society focusing on what we look like, particularly bad for women or focusing on what we do, particularly intense for men. It is very liberating and empowering to know that what really counts is the inner Beauty that we all hold within equally.

  509. Wow! how evil are our ideals when this is how they make us feel deep down… ‘The way I looked could never fulfill the world’s ‘ideal’ of beautiful; therefore, by those markers I was never going to be an acceptable human being or woman.’ Thank you for your amazing honesty, it is a beautiful thing.

  510. I can relate to the endless and exhausting search for “what I’m supposed to do with my life” and have only recently come to know that for myself. Similar to your lovely sudden awareness of your inner Beauty, the answer just dropped in my lap only when I had begun to let go of attachments to both how I was perceived by others and not ever feeling ‘enough’ in my life. It’s like we all are walking around with all the answers to life’s questions once we realise that we don’t have to prove ourselves or look outward for acceptance and recognition, but can trust that we are beautiful and all-knowing.

  511. Re-reading this blog reminds me of yesterday when I stopped myself at realising that the more I care for myself the more I feel that I am worth caring for myself. This was amazing as even a couple of months ago I would not have said that to myself. Self-care is indeed a beautiful thing and even more so is the fact, as Serge presents, it continues to expand and grow the more we do it.

    1. Love it Leigh, ‘the more I care for myself the more I feel that I am worth caring for’.

  512. This is indeed a Beautiful Story Jeanette, and of note for all editors as it would be so great to read articles of this quality in your magazines!!. I love this realisation…’ As I became more loving and tender with myself I grew more self-confident, then more able to accept my innate beauty.’…so so true.

  513. Being caught in the need to be a certain way means we miss out on the natural way we are, as do others. A little appreciation of our natural qualities and a little nurturing of expressing them regularly is quite simple… Then we can let our beauty shine.

  514. Thank you for sharing Jeanette, the more I have let go of “performing to the world” the more greatful I am when I see this in others trying to do the same today!

  515. Thank you for sharing Jeanette, I too can relate to a lot of what you have shared trying exhaustively so to fit in with the world and be accepted, focussing on the external outcomes and on how people saw me rather than building the love and connection with myself. It has been through my self acceptance and love that I now feel content with myself and with others.

  516. I can relate to much of what has been written and also with the support of Universal Medicine have been able to feel the natural beauty I hold within. Thank you Jeanette for defining beauty for what it truly is.

  517. Jeanette, I can really sense in your words how ‘feeling the true beauty within’ is a true freedom and that to walk around feeling/knowing that we ‘are this’ is the very fullness and Joy we are all after.

    We’ll never find ourselves by focusing on our outermost layer to pander to the outer world. We all want who we really are underneath all that! And we want to be met by others who are full of themselves too!

  518. Thank you Jeanette for this very simple and powerful article, I too have been caught up in not feeling enough and not seeing my own beauty, but that is changing now, I’m also learning ‘to stop beating myself up for not being good enough, to start accepting myself for who I am and stop giving power to the old ideals, beliefs and patterns that drove me to seek to define myself by what I do and what I look like’.

  519. Absolutely beautiful Jeannette, I love hearing how you now know your beauty is within and has always and will always be. How funny we can spend our lives pursuing the ideal look of what we think is beauty when all along it is right there under our very noses!

    1. It is definitely crazy that we spend our whole lives trying to look beautiful, wondering if we are beautiful, or even worse thinking we are either born beautiful or not (definitely a belief I used to subscribe to!) and when we stop searching and accept ourselves that beauty is naturally present, and so so so much deeper than the way we look.

  520. “… it’s actually the energetic quality of how I am and my presence that determines the quality of my life and relationships with others and myself. I am not what I do or what I look like, but I am so very much more.” I love this Jeanette – thankyou so much for sharing your powerful story. I can relate to your numbing to escape feeling – for me it was through reading books voraciously and eating chocolate – the same energy of disregard, be it drugs, alcohol or chocolate. It feels so good to now feel my feelings, accept them and deal with them, then move on.

  521. I had a relationship that mirrored the one you discussed initially, I have wondered why I had been attacked. From this experience in childhood and adulthood, I too collected behaviours to attempt to get me through life, particular seeking acknowledgement from others. It is profound to read your blog, not a scrap of self indulgence or self pity, complete straight up honesty and pragmatism. How beautiful to witness your beauty from the inside out, to feel it and express it through your eyes. True acceptance of the truth that we are all equally beautiful, something I feel to be my truth, and feel I am learning to practice and live. Thank you.

  522. Your blog made me think about romantic films. It is always the story of people looking for something to complete them – this idea that life isn’t that great and then they find someone and alas – all is well in the world.
    This is just one example of how we’re groomed to believe that there is always something to strive for outside ourselves. An illusion of glamour.
    But now, like you, my experience of this is very different.
    I’ve stopped feeding the illusion – and started to face how I was beating myself up to fill a role that was not me.
    And a huge effect of this is my relationship with others – and how they has changed to be much more loving. And as you say – that is true beauty.

  523. Beautifully said! When I realised the ‘quality of how I am and my presence that determines the quality of my life and relationships with others and myself’ it literally changed my life. The more I work on the quality of my life and the love I have with myself, the more the self doubt and insecurities melt away.

  524. “I needed to change how I felt about and treated myself, to stop being so hard on myself and start loving and honouring myself more. As I became more loving and tender with myself I grew more self-confident, then more able to accept my innate beauty.” This is beautiful Jeanette. As I attended some Universal Medicine presentations recently I noticed how women – and men – are now reflecting their inner beauty outwardly, as we reclaim our natural selves. Natural – not manufactured – beauty – gorgeous.

  525. Gorgeous to read thank you for sharing. I was just reading one of the principle teachings on the Universal Medicine website which is beautifull and in accordance with what you were saying “To empower another to be who they truly are in accordance to the living essence that dwells inside them, and to have that person connect to that on their own accord, and by doing so choose to live from it and by it, is the basis of Universal Medicine, for as one reconnects to their innermost, they will find that the Universe is in harmonious constellation with them to evolve as such” Serge Benhayon.

  526. Beautiful Jean, isn’t that an amazing day, when we look in the mirror and see “A beauty that transcended my physical attributes”. It is living proof that no matter what we may look like, our real beauty lies inside. What a huge transformation you have undergone through the simple choice to self care and be loving towards yourself, rather than continue the abuse experienced as a child. You have shown us all the real magic when we choose Love in all we do. Thank you sharing such a personal journey.

    1. Very well said, stories like these are definitely living proof, and I like how you highlight that a definite choice was made here, to continue the abuse or to choose a different way.

  527. A beauty that transcends physical attributes – this is so true. Beauty is indeed not just about the shape of our face or body or colour of eyes or hair etc but the sparkle in someone’s eyes or the way they can light up a room with their smile. Thank you Jeanette.

  528. I can so much relate to what you say, the psychological and emotional abuse in childhood, and the consequent search for recognition outside of myself, it has taken a long time to realize and accept that ” it’s actually the energetic quality of how I am and my presence that determines the quality of my life and relationships with others and myself”, that beauty comes from within truly, and that what ” I needed to change how I felt about and treated myself, to stop being so hard on myself and start loving and honouring myself more”.

  529. It is a beautiful thing to start to get an understanding of our true worth. The enormity of who we really are can quickly become something to celebrate as you have mentioned here. The truth is when faced with a society with less than self worth the constant comparison and yearning causes reaction upon reaction and this just does not feel good. I often start to wear that reaction as something I have done bringing me away from my truth and self worth. A difficult battle to face sometimes. What I have to come to realise is that there are lots of little simple things being offered by Universal Medicine and Serge Benhayon that can actually support me in a constant steadiness that prevents me from slipping into that competitive comparison. Not easy by any means at this stage, but fun while trying.

  530. Thank you Jeannette for sharing your beautiful story. When I was a teenager and looking a people’s faces, I realised that although they may not be “beautiful” by society’s standards, there was always something beautiful in someone’s face : a mouth, eyebrows, a smile, cheekbones, quality of skin etc. so I felt that beauty was in everyone. Now I know, from attending presentations from Universal Medicine, that everybody IS beautiful indeed and that ideals and beliefs prevent us to see it.

  531. Lovely blog Jeanette, its very inspiring to read about the changes you have been through and the claiming of your beauty within. Thank you.

  532. Like you shared Jeannette I too have felt that consistent, never wavering but always growing love from Serge Benhayon and Universal Medicine that is there to support everyone to be who they truly are. I am understanding more and more that who I am is not what I have attached to from the outside world, be it my job, a task, a look, a style or knowledge. There is actually a way to be in life that doesn’t require an act or effort that is just natural. It is letting go of the belief that I need to keep the song and dance going that I am learning to strip away and start to reacquaint myself with living in a more natural way.

  533. It is so amazing when we realise that, “I am not what I do or what I look like” at it frees us to be who we truly are which is always more than we can imagine.

  534. It sure is a beautiful thing Jeanette, I too, with the endless support from Universal Medicine and the practitioners that offer what it represents have been able to cut through some ideals and beliefs, ones that I didn’t even realise I had. I still have some more to go, but with the on going support from Serge Benhayon and Universal Medicine practitioners to see and understand the truth – I know I will be free to just be more of me.

  535. At a social gathering recently, I was very aware that most of the women in some way, either by what they had chosen to wear, their behaviour, or their conversation, were attracting attention to themselves to be recognised and appreciated and admired. What I also noticed was that this was unconscious. As you say, Golnaz, these issues are experienced by the majority of people. Yet I could also feel the beautiful women inside the facade, which has been developed to hide a lack of confidence about how beautiful they actually are on the inside. I have lived like this for about 70 years, (never being good enough) but am now beginning to live the beauty I feel inside me. I know on this occasion I did not go with the intention to impress, or attract attention. What others thought did not matter, I knew my beauty was shining through. This felt like freedom, and I feet it is up to me to keep shining for the benefit of all. This new awakening of inner beauty is not solely for me but for everyone.

    1. I agree Joan and your comment is beaufiful. Feeling our inner-beauty is very liberating and when we shine, we shine for everyone equally.

    2. It also feels good to be appreciated for that recognition of oneself, as it is gracious and loving to receive, and something we are not always able to do when someone expresses that to us. I realise i KNOW deep inside when I am in that warm, beautiful place inside me that is reflected and expressed on the outside for others to receive, and I certainly know when I am NOT feeling like that and dressing becomes a trying and false, Continuing to work with all that I have experienced as a student of Universal Medicine is the key for me, as it has helped me affirm that I am truly that warm, loving place inside, and the rest is when I get in the way of myself and start to fabricate lies about myself,

  536. Hi Jeannette, when reading blogs such as yours, there is a degree of honesty and exposing of the ideals we have lived by and it gives us a choice to live a different way. Thank you for yours.

  537. The issues you describe in the last paragraph: – that Serge Benhayon and Universal Medicine practitioners have supported you in accepting and appreciating yourself and in ceasing to give power to the old ideals, beliefs and patterns that drove you to define yourself by what you did or look like – these same issues are experienced by the majority of people. What a gift it is to be supported to turn it around for ourselves.

  538. The difference in knowing your true beauty and needing others to see that you are beautiful is huge. I have learnt and experienced the difference over the last few years through the presentations of Universal Medicine and by observing people like Natalie Benhayon and Sara Williams. These women and others are so confident in themselves that there is no need for approval or recognition from others. In seeing this I have been able to look at the huge need I had from others (both men and women) to see me as beautiful, nice, gorgeous attractive etc. Which left the way I feel about myself at the mercy of others. I also became aware of the effect this need had on others, and how it effected my relationships, more obviously with men, but also with women. The more I develop an appreciation of myself, and know my own beauty, the more this unravels, and the more gorgeous I feel.

  539. Your beautiful and open blog has been inspiring to read Jeanette. It continually touches me the openness and honesty contained in the blogs and comments. That when people open up and share their lives with us, how truly amazing people really are and that with understanding another, we can begin to drop our judgements of ourselves and others.

  540. Your blog is really touching Jeanette, opening up like a flower as you write. One which I can relate to from my own journey through life. Love your comment Rod.

  541. Wow this sentence jumped out at me ‘That it’s actually the energetic quality of how I am and my presence that determines the quality of my life and relationships with others and myself. I am not what I do or what I look like, but I am so very much more’
    We are so so much more Jeanette and we get to chose this in every moment. Knowing and feeling the truth of this is the biggest gift to live and share. Thank you for your amazing blog. I really love it.

  542. So true, to look for acceptance and recognition outside ourselves is to turn away from the power and support we all have within. It is lovely to hear of how you are finding the true beauty within yourself and reconnecting with that. Your whole blog resonated with me and I really related to your experiences. Thank you for sharing this Jeanette.

  543. An inspirational article for anyone struggling to untangle the web of ideals and beliefs that we establish to run our lives by. I like your honesty about the fact that ‘these things still strive to rule at times, nonetheless I am able to allow myself to come back to just being me more easily, and more often, accepting myself for who I am and stop giving power to the old ideals, beliefs and patterns that drove me to seek to define myself by what I do and what I look like.’ What shines through is the claiming of your own power.

  544. I liked the part when you recognised the natural beauty in the quality of your presence, and then how you looked out from that place and saw that everyone has the same beauty, a natural presence within us all.

  545. This is indeed a beautiful article Jeanette, I love the honesty and the depth……” I moulded myself according to standards that I didn’t agree with or believe in, that didn’t honour my inner truth, my natural expression, me as a person, or as a woman” …….an inspiring post, thank you.

  546. What you have shared Jeanette is priceless, especially the moment when you could feel your beauty shining through. We can see ourselves as beautiful by society’s standards or not, but as you say, there is no true beauty unless we accept ourselves and let it shine from within, and boy does it shine.

  547. Wow – well said Jeanette. It is so empowering to claim back who we truly know ourselves to be and that there is nothing wrong with us – no matter what anyone else thinks or says, and to accept that there is a beauty in us that is always there, always present, that never leaves us.

  548. “I am not what I do or what I look like, but I am so very much more.” Yes you are utterly amazing, beautiful and wise! Thank you for sharing this, as we each wake up to the fact that we are all beauty-full within the illusion that’s being holding women for centuries, slowly but surely crumbles!

  549. I think what you have shared is so important for so many people. Self-loathing and beating ourselves up is very common. But what is beautiful about your journey, is you have looked past those behaviours and seen your worth and innate beauty. Awesome!

  550. Jeanette, I can feel the truth of your beautiful words. I have often looked in the mirror and thought ‘who am I?’. Now I know, and it’s beautiful.

  551. Thank you Jeanette, I really relate to that and it is so helpful to have it expressed so clearly. A beautiful blog about the beauty that is always inside of us waiting to be felt, seen and expressed.

  552. Incredible to read how you were seeing the untrue beliefs and ideals that were reflected back to you in the mirror. Judging your life and your self by them…until you found a way to look beneath all that. I could not help but smile as you saw your true beauty for the first time. I see everyone constantly striving to “fix” their life by re arranging all its outer aspects…but what if we opened up to realize that it is “…actually the energetic quality of how I am and my presence that determines the quality of my life.” as you say?

  553. Thank you Jeanette, I could relate to everything you said. We are all born connected to our radiant beauty and we lose this as we get older. Looking in the mirror is no longer a need to search for something in myself, I now see it as a true refection for how I am feeling. We are all so much more than we have led ourselves to believe and it is lovely to have this confirmed by your beautiful blog.

  554. Thank you Jeanette, that is indeed a beautiful story that you have felt and know “that I am beautiful, as are we all, that true beauty lives within me”. It’s lovely to read your article and be reminded of this.

  555. Wow this is an amazing story Jeanette – it is beautiful how you have shared your experience of learning to let go of old ideals and beliefs and started to truly accept and appreciate how awesome you are!

    1. Thank you for sharing Jeanette, what a beautiful blog and a great sharing that beauty is within us all.

  556. Beautiful Jeanette – a lovely loving turn around, now that is what we like to see and what we’re all about isn’t it!

  557. This is truly beautifully written. I agree that too much attention is sought from outside of us for recognition and acceptance, based on a picture we have created of how life should be. Thank you, Jeanette.

  558. “It’s actually the energetic quality of how I am and my presence that determines the quality of my life and relationships with others and myself.” How true this is and how by simply being aware and choosing to be more loving and tender it changes everything. Lovely Jeanette.

  559. Thank you Jeannette. That was beautiful and very touching. I loved reading it and can feel your love and beauty shining through. 🙂

  560. That is truly a beauty-full story, and i felt every word of it. Thank you for sharing.

  561. Awesome Jeannette, and thank you for raising this. There are so many ideals that we have set for ourselves around beauty, and we see it as something we have to go and get or make happen with this look or that look. Great to recognise that true beauty is inside of us all, just waiting to be connected to, accepted and expressed in all we do.

    1. Well said Beverley, it is “Great to recognise that true beauty is inside of us all, just waiting to be connected to, accepted and expressed in all we do”. It is that simple, just waiting for us to connect.

  562. The ‘that will do’ look in the mirror is one I so recognise . . . thank you for reminding us to stop and have a chat with the beautiful image that is truly there.

  563. Wow, such a beautiful story you are right in claiming. I loved the last paragraph and the honesty you have shared with us. I can relate to the web of illusion we spin ourselves around in, and also feeling more the simplicity of just being and connecting to the simple truth of who we are – then living from there. It is so important for us to remain open to feeling along with this. Thank you for sharing your love with us.

    1. Rod, I love that you are speaking such beautiful, profound, encouraging and supportive words. I feel your wisdom – breaking down the glamorous prisons most women are enmeshed in and held prisoner to, by the false ingrained ‘ways of the world’. It is men like you who are contributing to develop new, more open, and natural relationships between men and women. Thanks for sharing your love with us.

    2. Wow that is such a beautiful thing to say 🙂 Susan is right – you are speaking for every woman and man.

  564. I love your blog Jeanette – it is so you and so true and I can totally relate to everything you say! Your blog has helped me, yet again, to come back to beauty today, on a morning I was having a bit of a struggle with! Thank you.

Comments are closed.