How to Be Beautiful Without Spending a Fortune

One of the sanest voices in contemporary writing is Victoria Moran, author of Shelter for the Spirit and Creating a Charmed Life. Her down to earth sensibility is a proponent of simple wisdom, not the least of which is the advice to decide that you are beautiful.

It's strikingly simple and gives you back the power lost fighting unrealistic definitions of beauty which focus on perfection. Sure there are those people who seem perfect or who have perfect features. My two best friends each have such qualities.

Rae's feet look as though they've never touched a hot driveway or spent too much time in shoes. They are perfectly shaped, sculpted and, well, just perfect. My other friend has a perfect nose. Cute, proportioned and perfectly passed on to her two young sons.

Both of these women are beautiful, but the fact that they have many perfect features is just a part of that.

My feet, unlike my friend's, show every mile they've hiked, splashed or stumbled over. But they are mine. My nose is neither cute nor perfect. But it too is mine. It also belongs to my father, and my favorite aunts who are beautiful in their own right.

There are many things about my physical being that are imperfect when held against the backdrop of modern media's definition or even when next to the perfect features of my two best friend's. The truth is the three of us couldn't be more different, and therein lies one of the secrets you need to know when you decide that you are beautiful.

When a party is imminent, my friend with the perfect feet will buy sexy sandals and opt for a natural pedicure, securing her "perfect feet" title in subtle fashion. The additional perk is that she can see her beautiful feet throughout the party too, a little reminder of her little assets.

My friend with the perfect nose also has the most luxurious natural hair color; one that other women pay fortunes to own. She also has beautiful brown eyes. When she's got a night on the town, the nose needs no attendance. She accentuates the features that make her stand out.

I've been told I have an elegant neck. Once by a very creepy McDonald's patron, but nonetheless I tend to take the compliment at face value. When I want to look my best, I choose something that accentuates this feature as well as the other parts of my body that I feel confident about. Most days I like my stomach and the hips that accentuate it so these get their own shine time as well.

All three of us have a check list of things we don't like. But just like our names, families and birthdates, we know there is nothing much to be done about them other than acceptance. Instead, by focusing on the features we like best about ourselves we are telling the world that we have decided that we are beautiful.

The decision creates a dynamic cycle. When you feel good about your unique beauty, you tend to treat yourself better. More rest, better nutrition, more exercise. In return these actions support health, and make you feel more beautiful. Taking care of yourself on the inside is reflected in your attitude and physical presence. As age changes your outside appearance, health keeps you feeling beautiful.

There are countless women in the media who have achieved success not only through their beauty but by making the decision that they are beautiful.

Model-turned-actress Lauren Hutton used to have her head shots come back from photo shoots marked with red checks, circles and discouraging comments about her imperfections. She refused to change, kept the gap in her teeth and is still a sought after model and spokeswoman today at the age of 62.

The voluptuous starlet Scarlett Johansson topped FHM magazine's 100 "Sexiest Woman in the World" reader poll and Esquire Magazine called her the "Sexiest Woman Alive" in 2006. FHM's editor-in-chief, Scott Gramling said "her sultry voice and striking beauty certainly have a lot to do with that, but so does the confidence she exudes."

Scarlett's decision that she is beautiful emanates in her natural style and reflects a wisdom beyond her years. As did Hutton's early adherence to her own unique beauty and refusal to react to the unrealistic and fleeting definitions of others.

In a world filled with "models" that reflect the physical perfection of maybe 1 of the thousands of real people I've met throughout my life it is easy to find flaws and to feel less than beautiful. I say save your time, your health and your sanity. As early on in your own life as possible, recognize your unique qualities as gifts and decide that you are beautiful.