Princess Theodora von Auersperg

Study: Most Women Don’t Feel Beautiful:

In my constant quest to help women discover their inner beauty, I discovered a study that shocked and surprised me to such an extent, that I felt compelled to write about it.

Dove®, the company that makes soaps and moisturizers, recently performed a study to discover how women felt about themselves and beauty, and the results made me sad.

The research revealed that women have a dim view of themselves in relationship to what they consider to be beautiful. The numbers are horrifying to a beauty advocate like myself:

• Only 4 percent of women around the world consider themselves beautiful (up from 2 percent from 2004).
• Only 11 percent of girls globally are comfortable using the word beautiful to describe themselves.
• 72 percent of girls feel tremendous pressure to be beautiful.
• 80 percent of women agree that every woman has something about her that is beautiful but do not see their own beauty.
• More than half (54 percent) of women globally agree that when it comes to how they look, they are their own worst beauty critic.

Now, I am finding it difficult to believe these numbers, but if they are even halfway accurate, I wanted to impart my advice on how women can find their inner beauty and feel better about themselves and their place in the world.

• Seek Balance & Harmony — Deep inside each of us is a need to honor, respect and protect nature as we seek beauty, balance and harmony in every aspect of our daily activities and dealings with others. As you move through your day and through this world, do what you can to enhance that balance by being kind to others in subtle ways. Offer a kind word to someone who seems troubled, comfort friends when they need a shoulder and be kind to the environment around you so you can leave the world better for your having been here. In those ways, you will receive rewards of inner peace and harmony that will remind you how true beauty feels.

• Give of Yourself — You don’t have to look hard to find a good cause or people in need, and you don’t need to be wealthy of coin to give to those causes. Most charitable organizations prefer those who are wealthy in spirit and can give of their time and their energy. Volunteer for a cause that matches your interests and your passion. To give of yourself when you have the least to offer will empower you in ways you never felt possible. And where there is inner strength, there is inner beauty.

• Pamper Yourself – To balance out offering your energy to others, you need to offer some to yourself. True luxury has less to do with money than it does with time and attention. It could be as simple as indulging in a soothing bath at the end of the day, or losing yourself in a good book. No matter the road you choose, you must make time for yourself every single day, as a reminder that you are worth the effort. And yes, I believe that women forget far too often that they deserve the best and that they need to have their daily moment getting in touch with their inner voice and feel pampered, luxurious and loved. Beauty might be in the eye of the beholder, but please allow me to remind you: You are all beautiful and you are worth it!

• Indulge your Dreams — Find your passion in life, and pursue it. No matter the obstacle, no matter the challenge, every woman deserves the opportunity to fulfill her dreams. Don’t let anyone tell you that you’re too old, or too uneducated or that it’s too late to find your path. It is never too late to get started. Let your Inner Princess come out – don’t be afraid of making new personal connections and friends. Share with them your thoughts and feelings and in return you can give them your attention and help. People might just surprise you with their kindness, warmth, generosity and willingness to assist you. You never know whom you will meet along the way. Just live your dream!

Try keeping these ideas in your life for two weeks and then look back and discover the difference in your spirits and energy from the time you began. You will believe you are beautiful, because the truth is that you already were.

Yours in Beauty,