what if the parts of ourselves we hide from the world, are the most beautiful parts of us

Sometimes the parts of ourselves we hide from the world are the most beautiful parts of us.

what if you stopped hiding the things you consider ugly about yourself, and showed the world your true beauty scars?

I took a long walk

I was searching for some inner peace,

peace from my mind,

from relentless thoughts,

and self loathing,

all encompassing self defeating thoughts.

I stopped and watched the world going by,

I saw a bird soaring,

heard leaves rustling in the trees.

The air so cold,

crisp,

cleansing.

Where I stopped there was a stone at my feet.

I bent to pick it up.

One side, the side facing me, was smooth,

beautiful,

perfectly formed.

I turned the stone over in my hand,

immediately I saw it’s imperfections,

dirt,

moss,

roughness.

Then I saw something I hadn’t noticed,

as I looked closer,

I saw amazing, raw beauty.

That is the moment I realised that the stone was me.

Not the physical me,

but a reflection of me,

it was like a mirror to my soul,

to how I saw myself.

To the outside world I am smooth,

clear,

beautiful even.

Inside I feel covered in moss.

Moss, and imperfections that I am trying to hide.

Only it was the dirt, the moss, the curves,

the stones so called ugliness,

that actually made this stone so fascinating to me,

that made me want to really look at it.

It was its untold story.

Its journey,

it was the path of life it had been on until this moment,

that made it truly beautiful,

that made it unique.

I left that stone facing moss side up that day,

waiting to show itself to the world,

and that stone left me with a gift,

a lesson,

a seed planted in my mind.

I am more than my exterior,

more than the ‘me’ I present to the world,

more than a pretty face,

beautiful clothing,

beautiful possessions,

perfect hair.

I am someone who has been on lifes journey,

sometimes a good journey,

sometimes heart wrenchingly awful,

some days I couldn’t bare to face the world,

but I am more interesting for it,

I can show myself to the world,

and perhaps if I do,

I will be more me,

more honest,

more beautiful, and amazing,

and maybe I can find that peace I am searching for.

……………………………..

I used to believe that I had to hide who I truly was. I believed no one would really want to see the real me. I worked so hard to try and please others, to make them happy, and in the process I lost track of who I was. The authentic me.

I was so busy trying to be what I thought everyone wanted, that I got to a point that I didn’t even remember what it was I wanted to be.

It was after that walk that I came home and wrote those words in an old journal. In many ways it was that stone that inspired me to look deeper into myself, to begin the search for what would make me happy. It was a turning point for me.

When I began that walk I was lost, and when I returned I had made a life changing discovery.

I finally realised that I didn’t need to pretend anymore. I didn’t need to hide my so called “imperfections”. For the first time I saw that it was those imperfections that made me unique, that made me interesting, and beautiful. For the first time I understood that I was the only person holding myself back from true happiness, and the only way I would find happiness was to live my own truth. I had to be ME, and I had to live fearlessly authentic.

We can not find happiness if we are not looking in the right direction. We need to look within. We need to learn to accept our mistakes, and imperfections, and embrace them. We need to forgive ourselves and most importantly we need to love ourselves.

Make this your year to truly learn to love yourself. Make this your year to live fearlessly. Embrace life, believe in yourself. The happier you become, the happier everyone around you will become too. You deserve this, you matter!

Make this the year you live fearlessly authentic! 

Thanks for joining me, love Mac xx

I have decided to start a IG community Hashtag series. This year I have become even more focused on inspiring us to live more authentically. So in the spirit of that I have decided to create the #livingfearlesslyauthentic 

So what does that mean exactly?

It means that when sharing an authentic Instagram Post or Photo, you can add the #livingfearlesslyauthentic and I will go through all these posts and give them some Instagram love!

What photos can be shared with this hashtag?

Anything that represents you being you! It may be your kids playing, a fab inspiring quote, your coffee, a lazy day, a busy day, a messy room, you getting your hair done! It really is endless because Instagram is all about sharing photos of our lives! And if we are sharing what our lives are truly about then we are celebrating being authentic! Happy moments, proud moments, bed hair moments, sick kids, they are all part of real life! So let’s celebrate life together, the highs and the lows. Let’s share those moments and support one another in being REAL!

I am super excited to see what you share. All you have to do is add #livingfearlesslyauthentic and I will see your pics! It would be great if you can show other people in the community your support too by liking some pics. Comments are always a bonus too.

And remember you don’t have to have  blog to join in, all you need is an Instagram account. Don’t forget to follow me @macglanville 

Oh and don’t forget #mg Link Up party is back on February 6th!