Finding Beauty in the Parts of Myself I Used to Overlook
Beauty isn’t just what we see in the mirror—it’s how we soften, how we show up, how we care for ourselves. But many of us were taught to notice flaws before anything else. This essay is about relearning beauty by seeing ourselves with gentler eyes.
The Old Lens I Didn’t Realize I Had
I grew up noticing the parts of myself that needed “fixing.” I knew how to critique, how to compare, how to shrink. But noticing what was already beautiful? That took time.
It’s only recently that I’ve started paying attention to the qualities I once overlooked—the warmth in my skin, the quiet confidence in my expression, the softness in my features when I’m relaxed.
“Beauty feels different when it comes from acceptance instead of critique.”
Rituals That Feel Like Returning to Myself
There’s something sacred about the small moments of care: applying oil to my skin, brushing out my hair slowly, enjoying the quiet of my nighttime routine. These rituals have become less about appearance and more about presence. They remind me that beauty is personal, intimate, and deeply tied to how I treat myself.
Seeing Myself Through Kinder Eyes
The real transformation wasn’t external—it was the way I started looking at myself. I stopped viewing my reflection as a project and started seeing a person. A body that has carried me. A face shaped by laughter, tears, growth, and life itself.
That shift changed everything.
