What does it Mean to be Beautiful?

"The beauty of her body was the essence of her soul." - E.Scott Fitzgerald

Defining the true meaning of the word "beautiful" can be a very controversial topic. Most argue that true beauty comes from the "inside" represented through actions, thoughts and personality rather than the "outside" which is how aesthetically pleasing a person is. Personally, I prefer to look at the meaning of beauty, in a way more similar to Fitzgerald. The Oxford Dictionary definition of the world beautiful is "pleasing the senses or mind aesthetically". I don't believe that my senses nor mind have ever been pleased just from looking at something "pretty" or "appealing". Usually in order to feel mentally pleased in one way or another a deeper, more intoxicating and invigorating feeling must be evoked. Now this is where Fitzgerald comes into play, "the beauty of her body was the essence of her soul": in order to be seen and more importantly, feel truly beautiful, a person must be willing to reveal the pure, unfiltered and most authentic parts of their soul. In order to honestly reveal our true selves, we must acknowledge the parts of ourselves we love and the parts we hate. Outer beauty is irrelevant when a person is unkind and withdrawn: just as inner beauty is powerless if the person possessing it is reluctant to share it. Inner beauty becomes and radiates as outer beauty when a person is fully and unapologetically themselves. When a person is confident in themselves, their capabilities, opinions and self worth, they become inspiring, uplifting and irresistable. The true meaning of beauty comes from being bold and brave to express the true essence of the soul: then allowing it to emanate and beam without regret.