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Tuesday, October 20, 2015

Skin Deep |

One of the biggest problems with humanity is the fact that we are naturally programmed to instantaneously judge someone off of their appearance. We are taught early on that first impressions are wildly important. We learn quickly that being “pretty” automatically makes you a much “cooler” person on the ladder of popularity. Why is that though? Why is it that we naturally make assessments of people solely based on what they look like?

Recently, I had a conversation with a great friend of mine, who happens to be a very attractive individual. This person said something to me in conversation that really resonated with me. They said, “They only like me for what I look like. It’s like what kind of person I am doesn’t matter to them”. This whole conversation was so thought provoking to me, and the more I thought about it, the more I realized that this issue, this immense disservice to humankind, is universal.

Studies show startling statistics about attractiveness and how it relates to your career, your social life and people’s overall perception of who you are as an individual. In fact, I recently read an article in preparation for this blog post that stated that attractive people earn 10-15% more than the average looking person. That. Is. Insane. That actually kind of blew my mind. Why is it that humans are obsessed with beauty?

Why is it that we often ignore a wildly beautiful, passionate, intoxicating soul for a shell?

After reading the above statement, I assume that your mind immediately travels to those “less fortunate” who are granted less than perfect features. Yet, this, my friends, can go both ways.

While there are obvious perks to being physically attractive there are downsides as well. In the case of my friend, people constantly referred to them as attractive and simply stopped there. They fail to look within this person’s soul and really discover who they are at their very core. Because, the startling, haunting truth is that the vast majority of people only look Skin Deep. Perhaps, you have even experienced this injustice to some degree. Perhaps you have not been taken seriously because of what your outward appearance. There may even be those who have written you off because they haven’t taken the time to examine the soul and the vivid, wonderful personality beneath the skin. And in all honesty, what a travesty. We often fail to realize the worth and depth of a human being because we only look at their exterior: their shell. The Bible confirms this in 1 Samuel 16:7, “People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart” (NIV).

For whatever reason, I feel burdened to tell you that you are so much more than what you look like. Do not let your beautiful, incredible, brilliant soul be defined by your shell. Your exterior is not a reflection of your interior. Do not let your calling be stifled by the world’s definition of you. Being beautiful is not your only gift or sole contribution to the world, or more importantly, to the Kingdom. You are so much more than “pretty”. You have been called to do so much more than be beautiful and be a trophy on someone’s arm. To settle for being a “trophy wife or trophy husband” would be a disservice to the person that you truly are inside. God’s purpose for you exceeds any label that the world could brand you with, because beneath the skin, you have a heart that beats for a specific, God given purpose. You are capable of more than you could ever imagine. And that, my friends, is something worthy of attention.

If today you are feeling that somehow you don’t measure up, and maybe you don’t find yourself particularly beautiful, let me tell you this: “You are altogether beautiful, my darling; there is no flaw in you.” – Song of Solomon 4:7 (NIV). You were created for a very unique purpose that will be greater than something as fleeting beauty.

Never allow someone to limit who you are because of your appearance. Do not settle for someone who limits the person that you know you are inside.

Look deeper than the skin. What you find within the corridors of your soul may astound you.

XOXO


Nikkimarie

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