Gratitude is often mistaken for something you either have or don’t—a natural instinct, an innate quality. But what if gratitude is not just a feeling, but a skill? A practice that must be cultivated, especially when it feels the most out of reach?
When appreciation is weak, it does not strengthen itself. It requires nourishment. Without gratitude, we cannot recognize beauty—not in ourselves, not in others, not in the unseen force that moves through all things. That force, whether you call it the universe, life itself, or something more intimate, does not require our appreciation. But we do.
The Fear That Blocks Gratitude
Fear and appreciation cannot exist in the same space. When we fear something, we do not recognize its worth; we only see its potential for harm. This is especially true when it comes to how we see ourselves. If you are afraid of who you are—afraid you are not enough, afraid you are too much, afraid you will be seen or not seen—you will reject yourself before anyone else has the chance.
Rejection is a lesson we unconsciously pass down. When we reject ourselves, we teach rejection. We communicate it in how we carry ourselves, how we speak about others, how we react to beauty when we see it in someone else. How can we embrace love if we do not first embrace appreciation?
Rebuilding Gratitude, Rebuilding Perception
To change this pattern, we must first learn gratitude—not as an abstract idea, but as a tangible practice. It starts small:
- A moment spent appreciating the texture of your skin, the curve of your lips.
- A deep breath, recognizing that your body carries you even when you struggle to carry yourself.
- A shift in perspective—seeing makeup not as a mask, but as a tool for self-expression, self-celebration, and appreciation.
As gratitude grows, so does our ability to see beauty in places we had once overlooked, including in ourselves. And when we begin to appreciate ourselves, rejection loses its power.
The Shift from Rejection to Love
We cannot love what we do not appreciate. And we cannot appreciate what we fear. But once fear begins to dissolve, something else takes its place: recognition. To recognize beauty is to honor it, and in honoring, we open the door to love.
Gratitude, then, is not just about saying “thank you.” It is about learning to see—clearly, honestly, and without fear. It is about choosing appreciation over rejection, again and again, until it becomes second nature. Because when we learn to appreciate, we learn to love. And when we learn to love, we find ourselves—perhaps for the very first time.
If you’re struggling to see and appreciate the beauty in yourself, let’s shift that together. A private makeup lesson isn’t just about technique—it’s about rediscovering your features, embracing your uniqueness, and learning to see yourself with gratitude instead of critique.
Photos: Imagine Images Photo