What is REAL Beauty?

By New Contributing Editor, Rebecca Hillegeist 

Beauty is a subject I have been exploring and observing for over 25 years.  I have studied different cultures, got into peoples lives, observed the media, watched my circle of friends and most of all, I have learned to be friends with myself.  Keep in mind while reading that my mother was abused while pregnant with me, I was born into abuse and drugs, adopted in elementary school, brought up in a strict southern baptist home, married a physically abusive man, was a single mother, married an emotionally abusive man, became a single mother again, almost died 3 times and then spent a few years physically alone...working on finding and rebuilding me.  I just turned 39.

My conclusion is that real beauty is about integration--collecting all the shattered pieces of yourself and becoming whole.

We are a soul with a body, not the other way around.  We are born whole beings and while traveling this wonderful world, we experience trauma--this is just part of life.  Each time we experience something traumatic we shield our heart and leave pieces of our soul scattered until we deal with the issues at hand.  Dealing with hurt is not something I was taught to do.  I had to live though some very traumatic experiences in order to "get it".  My warrior self had to rise up and on purpose take back all the power I gave away.  I had to learn to be my own hero.  

The last 5 years, I have learned to quiet my mind and open my heart totally.  I have learned to forgive my abusers and realized that hurt people, hurt people.  I have learned that people do the very best they can do, with what they are given and if they knew better, they would have done better.  Hating them only hurt me and kept me stuck in time.  It has been said that holding a grudge is like eating rat poison and expecting the rat to die.  I was the one slowing dying.

Beauty is authentic, not fake. If your heart is not clouded, then you can see beauty all around.

I was taught in my early 20's to "fake it till you make it" and yes, as a gorgeous woman in man's world I got my way!  On the surface I had it all, but what people didn't know was that I was dying inside from all the trauma that was never dealt with.  I never saw the beauty all around me.  I was stressed.  I lost friends. I couldn't be alone and most of all, I missed being a mother.  I was miserable and people didn't even know it.  I went through a midlife crisis at 28.

Beauty comes from inside and radiates out into your energy field--this energy is what create your reality.

When we do not deal with the trauma's in life, our heart is clouded and therefore we can not manifest the highest and best for our life. We continue to replay experiences until we learn the lesson needed.  We are vibrational beings and we always attract into our life what we are.  Look around, do you see things you do not like?  If so, look inside yourself and find what it is you need to deal with, confront it and then let it go.  You will be glad you did.

I am thankful for learning the lessons I have at such a young age.  I look better now than I did 10 years ago.  I am alive, vibrant and yes--oh so BEAUTIFUL! 

We are so excited to welcome new Contributing Editor, Rebecca Hillegeist to The Big, Bold, Beautiful Blog! Rebecca is an emotionally & socially i

ntelligent Visionary Leader with a heart of gold. Her specialty is Community & Business Psychology. She does whatever it takes to live her dream and has helped countless others in living theirs. She is a lover who savors the moment--tasting each experience like it is the first bite. She is a creator who realizes the value of co-creation. She is a provider of healing--nurturing herself to the point of overflowing--serving her water to the thirsty. She is a connector--totally connected to the ultimate life force. Her gifts combine Eastern and Western philosophies, allowing her to communicate in a multi-dimensional way. For more info on Rebecca & her work CLICK HERE!