Using the Beatitudes to find true beauty

Admit it. At some point in your life, you looked in the mirror and were not pleased with what you saw.

Society has given us standards we are expected to live up to. We have to be smart, we have to be athletic, we have to be talented. But of all these standards, the most persistent message youth are being fed is that we have to be beautiful — by societal standards of course.

Both girls and guys have to deal with self-esteem issues, and everyone has experienced one of those days where they just don’t feel good enough.

As Catholic youth, it is important to remember that we are all made in God’s image and that God created us to be unique and special in our own way.

What we are exposed to on television and in magazines is not real beauty. The technology of today, including software programs such as Photoshop, enhance the images we see in the media.

I wish I was skinny, I wish I was taller, I wish I had nicer eyes, I wish my nose was smaller, I wish my skin was clear, I wish I was pretty: These thoughts run wild in the minds of youth. We need to stop wishing to be more attractive and instead pray for beauty that can only be seen in the heart and is eternal.

We have to try to be beautiful according to God’s standards — not society’s.

At the end of the day, we have to remind ourselves that pleasing the people of this world is not important, but being worthy in God’s eyes is what truly matters.

We must work to embrace our inner beauty through following in Christ’s footsteps and fulfilling our duties as Catholics. We can do this by using the Beatitudes as guidelines and by simply being a good and happy person reflecting the values of Christ.

Smile at a stranger, volunteer at a charity, hold a door open for someone, sacrifice your time or money to help someone in need, be genuinely nice to people — these are the actions and qualities that make someone beautiful.

When it comes to looks, the Bible reassures us in the Song of Solomon when we read, “You are altogether beautiful my love; there is no flaw in you.” (Song of Solomon 4:7)

It’s understandable that, with the pressures faced by youth, it can be hard to accept ourselves no matter how hard we try. But in God’s eyes there is no judgment. There is only — and always will be — acceptance.

Knowing that God created you in His image and not only looks at you as beautiful, but as His masterpiece, should give you higher self-esteem, and confidence in being yourself.

Instead of focusing on looking good, we should concentrate on doing good, just as Jesus did during his time on Earth.

(Leanage, 18, is a media studies student at the University of Guelph-Humber in Toronto.)