• LAUNCH YOUR DREAM
  • BE A MOTIVATIONAL SPEAKER
  • STARTING OVER MIDLIFE
  • HAPPINESS THROUGH ACTIVISM
  • TRAVEL THE WORLD
  • GET HEALTHY & FIT
  • BUILD SELF-CONFIDENCE
  • BRAVE LIVING
  • WRITE WITH US

8WomenDream

Dream Big Stories

  • HOME
  • ABOUT
  • CONNECT
You Are Here Home » BRAVE LIVING » Why Inner Beauty Matters to Our Dreams and to the World

in BRAVE LIVING

Why Inner Beauty Matters to Our Dreams and to the World

 Why Inner Beauty Matters

“Always be a first-rate version of yourself, instead of a second-rate version of somebody else”

At one of my recent motivational speaking engagements, a girl approached me and asked if she could ask me a personal question. I felt a little intimidated, but I said, “Go ahead!” anyway.

This beautiful young woman asked me, “Do you have stretch marks?  Because I do and I need to get rid of them or else my boyfriend will leave me. I’ve tried everything.”

Immediately, I felt two emotions: 1) anger towards the boyfriend and 2) sadness that this woman’s relationship was hanging on a thread due to a boyfriend who thought she should get rid of her stretch marks.

I explained to her that recently had a baby and that my body had fine lines too because my skin needed to expand to carry my little girl. It’s what our bodies do to accommodate another human being.  What else is our skin supposed to do?

I then shared that if my husband scored his love for me on every time I got a pimple or flaw I would be divorced by now. I am far from perfect. I just know how to present myself in a way that shows off my best features.

Women will often envy models in magazines, but we don’t say it out loud. And the truth is that those magazines give many girls a false sense of their own real beauty.  They don’t realize all the lighting, angles, and image touch ups that go into making those images.  If they walked by one of the models in real life they probably wouldn’t recognize them in person.

It’s the inner beauty that matters in life and to our dreams.  It’s the inner self that creates the change we need to see in this world.

Besides, I have found that the most beautiful people are often the most insecure beings on earth.

Real love does not depend on how you look.

What I tell these girls, when I am asked to speak, is that it’s most important to feel proud of ourselves regardless of how we look. The real beauty lies within our inner strength.

These young girls in my country, or anywhere for that matter, should not allow a boyfriend, lover, or a husband dictate what their beauty is. Men have no idea what it takes to be a woman, have babies, and be all that we are.  We need to decide what our beauty is.

I always say, you might be the best looking person on earth when you meet your partner, but looks will fade as you grow old. I tell my girls to marry someone who will accept them for their beautiful heart, brains, and ability to laugh, because in 50 years the looks will be gone.

And if you’ve built your life around only exterior looks, you are going to have a rough, rough go of it after age 50.

I once read that “outside show is a poor substitute for inner worth.”  I love it.

Why Inner Beauty Matters

I tell my girls to be proud of who they are, to embrace their age, their bodies — with those stretch marks. Today and right now!

They are beautiful because they matter to the world.

Just like you, dreamers.

So in honor of these girls I speak to, this week step away from the fashion magazines and remind yourself of what is wonderful about you, which has nothing to do with your “outside show.”

Show the world what real beauty looks like from the inside out.

And then, just pursue it –

Sue

Related Stories:

  • What does inner beauty look like graphic
    What Does Inner Beauty Look Like?
  • How Giving Our Dreams Our Best - or Not - Is OK
    How Giving Our Dreams Our Best - or Not - Is OK
  • Dream Motivational Picture Quote: Live Our Lives As We See It In Our Dreams
    Dream Motivational Picture Quote: Live Our Lives As…
  • Food matters in triathlete training
    Food Matters to Female Triathlete's Big Dream
Sue Levy

Sue Levy is the founder of the South African Just Pursue It Blog and Inspirational Women Initiative. She’s a motivational writer and media designer, who is obsessed with everything inspirational with a hint of geek. She thrives on teaching women how to be brave and take big chances on themselves. You can find Sue on her Twitter page @Sue_Levy.

Note: Articles by Sue may contain affiliate links and may be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking on an affiliate link.

Filed Under: BRAVE LIVING

Some of the posts on 8WD contain affiliate links or links to purchase products or programs from 8WD contributors. This means 8WD or the contributor may make a small commission if you make a purchase. The 8WD affiliate links help offset the cost of hosting this website and the contributor links help support the dreams of the contributor. Please check out the 8WD Legal Page for more details.

Thank you for your continued support!

« Nikon Cameras for Pro Photographer Dreamers
Avoid These Dream Planning Mistakes: Things I Learned on Race Day »

Check it out

  • LAUNCH YOUR DREAM
  • BE A MOTIVATIONAL SPEAKER
  • STARTING OVER MIDLIFE
  • HAPPINESS THROUGH ACTIVISM
  • TRAVEL THE WORLD
  • GET HEALTHY & FIT
  • BUILD SELF-CONFIDENCE
  • BRAVE LIVING
  • WRITE WITH US


The 8WomenDream Dream Tote Bag

About the 8WomenDream Tote Bag
US – 10oz Cotton
Dimensions (External Dimensions)
• Height – 18″ (45.72cm or 457.2mm)
• Width – 15″ (38.1cm or 381mm)
Handle Dimensions (Internal Dimensions)
• Length – 29″ (73.7cm or 736.6mm)

Recent Dream Stories

  • 8 Solstice Traditions for Focusing on Your Big Dream this Year
  • Winter Solstice: What Will You Do With 1 Minute More?
  • Why Halloween Costumes Can Help Discover Your Big Dream
  • How the Equinox Can be a Catalyst for Change
  • 5 Strategies to Live Your Wildest Dreams
  • Starting Over as a Single Mom Wasn’t My Big Dream
  • Warning: Big Dream to Be a Motivational Speaker Won’t Always Obey Your Plans
  • Dance to Relieve Stress to Focus on Your Big Dream

Inspiration

More About 8WD

WE BELIEVE EVERYONE HAS THE POWER TO ACHIEVE BIG DREAMS.
 
IT IS OUR SINCEREST WISH THROUGH THE SHARING OF PERSONAL STORIES ABOUT WHAT IT’S LIKE TO TRY TO ACHIEVE A BIG DREAM THAT WE WILL INSPIRE YOU GO AFTER A BIG DREAM TOO.
 
YOU CAN FIND OUT MORE ABOUT 8WOMENDREAM, HERE.

8 WOMEN DREAM | COPYRIGHT All RIGHTS RESERVED © 2025 · LEGAL

Welcome to 8WomenDream Where Big Dreams Are Shared
The 8WomenDream website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're OK with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. ACCEPT REJECT READ MORE
Privacy & Cookies Policy

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Non-necessary
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
SAVE & ACCEPT