I recently saw a beautiful woman standing in front of a mirror.
She was just standing washing her hands.
When I saw her, my reaction was instantaneous.
Every time I spoke I could feel something.
But I did not stop!
Then she was standing in front of me, and she just looked at me.
Then I was brought to a stop.
For that instant I stopped – my body froze as I felt the reflection.
It was so powerful. I didn’t know what to do, so I ran.
Running for me is just talking constantly, accelerating the momentum.
Not wanting to feel me.
Could it be that every time I don’t want to see my loveliness, I am not just running, but in this process I am also hurting everyone around me?
By denying the woman I am, I am also denying the woman standing in front of me, the woman at the grocery store and the women in the street.
What a vicious cycle.
Imagine if each time I looked at another woman and saw the exquisiteness of all of us, just how lovely that would be – a feeling of equalness in the connection of a gentle, yet simple smile.
What if, when I look at another woman it brings up something in me?
What if I just accept that quality in me, and not fight it?
And if I see something I may not like reflected, just see it as a wart, to look under – a gift.
By Denise Cavanough, Woman, 57 years, Brisbane.
Women in Livingness Blog 
The loveliness is in our reflection all the time, however, it is a choice to look under any nonsense that may also present itself.
Appreciating the reflection that is offered with everyone we meet is to deepen our understanding of who we are.
By choosing not to see our own loveliness we are hurting ourselves and others. The more I let go of the voices in my head that tell me I am not enough the more I am able to appreciate my reflection in the mirror.
Every time we look at another woman, we look at sacredness personified. Every time we look another woman in the eyes we can get the reflection of God right back to us.
Elizabeth, without any judgement or criticism intended, we are also dishonouring everyone not just ourselves, because to live connected to our true essence, our inner-beauty, is to also reflect the truth of who we all are to everyone around us.
Thank you Denise, accepting and embracing every ounce of the inner-beauty we are as women and living connected to this is a gift of reflection we offer to other women to feel the same within themselves.
This would be great, to accept our quality, ‘What if I just accept that quality in me, and not fight it?’
It would be such a game changer if every woman who looks in the mirror and does not see the beauty and power that she actually she is, knew that what she was seeing was not the real her. This would lead us to ask, why don’t I look and feel amazing? Am I comparing myself to a social norm? Have I not been expressing myself through the way I move, dress, speak etc so I feel full and radiant? If this was the norm we wouldn’t accept the universal consciousnesses that keep women playing and accepting less.
I have started to do this, if I look in the mirror and I don’t like how I look I know something is up, I know I’m not connected to my inner beauty and I need to take some time to reflect on how this has happened and come back to my connection to myself. If I feel like I don’t like how I look it’s always because I don’t feel good inside myself, i.e., I don’t feel the true essence of me.
I love the simplicity with what you share, ”Imagine if each time I looked at another woman and saw the exquisiteness of all of us, just how lovely that would be – a feeling of equalness in the connection of a gentle, yet simple smile.’
I couldn’t help but return to this line: “By denying the woman I am, I am also denying the woman standing in front of me, the woman at the grocery store and the women in the street.” What actual impact are we having on the world and the amazing women around us by denying ourselves and living in an eternal self-critical cycle? It’s definitely a question worth pondering.
Yes and the reasons why we have been encouraged to deny the women we are and who it serves if we are not claiming our full power. The more we claim ourselves and our sacredness the more this will be reflected for other women to be inspired by.
Love the simplicity and truth in your article Denise. Appreciation and confirming ourselves and each other is like a glue that can bind us all together.
To fully appreciate our reflection is to confirm that innate beauty within all of us.
Being able to appreciate the loveliness and beauty of another person is an amazing skill in life – as is being able to appreciate that same loveliness in yourself. I reckon if you can see it in another person you’re not far away from seeing that same magnificence in you.
In deeply appreciating the beauty of who we are and honouring the sacredness we innately hold within, we essentially are deeply honouring the essence of every woman young and old in the world. As from here our movements are a celebration of the love we are, the love we stand for and the love we are united by, and when we meet another woman we then are open to feel this truth of who we are and be inspired or inspire another to live our magnificence.
It is at the same time delicious and sometimes confronting to be with other women who reflect absolute delicacy, grace and warmth. I find the confronting part is to feel how I have not been living that myself, but also that I feel I am that too and feel like overwhelmed by the wow! am I really like that. This is a great reminder to just embrace all that we are by the reflections we see in others. Some people have mastered one part of being a women and other another part and seeing it in each other is how we can grow and be inspired.
Yeh inspiration is amazing. The amazing thing about us all having mastered different things is that something you have mastered can reawaken something in me, and something I have mastered can reawaken something in you.
There are many different ways of running away from who we truly are. Be that actual running, non stop talking or as I am currently experiencing (and have for what feels like lifetimes) having a radio or commentator in my mind blaring. But all of that stops and I sink into how lovely I am and create the space to feel how lovely I am, Beautiful.
Denying our loveliness hurts everyone not just us and in that I can feel the responsibility to appreciate what I/we all bring in every moment and the profound healing that is on offer for humanity when we connect to our stillness and accept all of ourselves.
It’s actually no wonder so many women are exhausted all the time as we spend so much precious energy running away from who we are. The continual denial of our innate beauty and gloriousness takes a lot of force and a lot of effort but in stark contrast living who we are is so very simple and naturally joyful.
I agree Ingrid. We have so much to offer and are so powerful when we know who we are, yet we use a great deal of energy trying to hide it or avoid it, not daring to let it be seen. We are so good at this that we can even trick ourselves that we are not that amazing. Accepting yourself brings so much ease into your body and means you have energy to spare.
I agree Fiona, tricking “ourselves that we are not that amazing” is, for me, the ultimate form of abuse of the amazing women we naturally are. And if we are tricking ourselves then it follows that it is so easy to trick others so they believe the lie too. In total contrast, to accept how amazing and powerful we are and to live that will naturally result in a joyful and energy-filled life.
Yes.. totally agree that fighting who we are and not accepting ourselves is the biggest energy depleter and total waste of time! We are all amazing, all have incredible qualities that we so naturally reflect to one another – and the moment we see and embrace that, we inspire others to see it in themselves.
When we look in a mirror and see the reflection of the beauty shining through our own eyes we know this same reflection is there to be seen in us all.
Thank you Denise for the reflections you offer here. The greatest gift is to appreciate ourselves and every other woman we meet to bring a big stop to the denial of the truth of the powerful qualities we all have naturally within us.
“By denying the woman I am, I am also denying the woman standing in front of me, the woman at the grocery store and the women in the street.”
Deep down inside we all know who we are and we do truly love ourselves as we are love and yet we still play these games in the world of shying away from our own reflection and flirting with comparison and jealousy . But when I have ask anyone if they honestly would want to be anyone other than themselves they all give with the same answer – no. So why not celebrate and appreciate who we are.
So often we look for our flaws instead of appreciating the beauty that is there.
The beauty in you is the beauty in me. Comparison is futile when this truth is known.
This is something I had not considered before so thank you for sharing as actually it makes sense.
“By denying the woman I am, I am also denying the woman standing in front of me, the woman at the grocery store and the women in the street.”
The beautiful thing is that the reflection is there. We may run but we won’t run forever.
As a woman I find that there are so many pictures that we measure ourselves against and these interfere with truly accepting and embracing ourselves. It requires us to connect deeper within to see through these pictures and to live in a way that is in appreciation of our beauty.
Absolutely. At a deeper level, we allow ourselves to get led astray by these pictures because the truth is that our true beauty is formless in the sense it is not tangible but more so a movement of pure grace that pours through our every move via the form we are enhoused within. Therefore, getting hooked by images is simply a way to deny and thus delay our true beauty and that is formlessness (divinity) expressed through form (physicality).
It is very beautiful to feel and observe the beauty of other women, because in that moment you actually feel an equalness and expansion at the same time.
We are often quick to pick up the reflections of our ill choices but most of us spend less time honouring the reflections of our true beauty. This is a great reminder Denise.
It is always much easier for me to see the innate beauty in another woman, but to be able to stand in front of the mirror and look at myself without judgement, the power that I feel is not from what I see, but from what I see I am able to accept my choices and not judge them, and still feel and absolutely know I am not just my looks, there is something much deeper and everlasting within me that my outer appearance is asking to be more honestly represented. And with this reflection, we said yes.
It is so important that we start to truly know and love ourselves because then we have the opportunity to reconnect with humanity… And this is where so many vicious cycles of self worth issues and disregard will start to be healed.
What a great catch Denise. Not wanting to see who we truly are is a denial of our true beauty and thus not only a denial of ourselves but also of God, The Universe and Us All.
Love the blog Denise. “Running for me is just talking constantly, accelerating the momentum.
Not wanting to feel me.” I know this one. Talking over it when I feel how beautiful I am or if someone really sees me in my beauty and appreciates it. It seems to be harmless, even honourable, but is it really? What are we doing in such a moment? Could it be we avoid really feeling it and claiming it and by that avoid going even deeper in beauty and appreciation of ourselves and thus equally all others? Our natural evolution?
This is a gorgeous blog on appreciating our own reflection written by a gorgeous woman. Thank you Denise.
What I feel when I look in the mirror is always just a reflection of how I feel, if I feel amazing then I look amazing, if I feel awful then I look awful, we see so much more than our physical attributes when we look at ourselves in the mirror – we see all our choices and how they have effected us and where exactly we are at and that is what we sometimes do not like.
Our literal reflection is interesting, sometimes I feel like it doesn’t match how what’s inside. Sometimes I look great and feel average and others times I feel great but I am surprised with how little that shows in the physical. Then there are the times I feel like I don’t remember the last time I even looked at me. Always just getting to the next thing, never truly present. What this blog has reflected to me is the opportunity to be very aware each time I catch a glance of this beautiful women and see if she might like to say hello rather than rushing off to get to the next place all the time. By the way you are a stunning woman at any age Denise but 57! You are kidding me right? Too hot, it won’t be hard to appreciate that reflection everyday!
I was just thinking the same thing Sarah about how gorgeous Denise looks in this photo. It’s interesting how appreciative I can be of other women’s beauty but not give as much attention to my own. I love this, “What this blog has reflected to me is the opportunity to be very aware each time I catch a glance of this beautiful women and see if she might like to say hello rather than rushing off to get to the next place all the time.” A great reminder to so many women!
Yes, I always see the beauty in others but I play games with myself, like if I allow it, there is this voice challenging me that says, what if your kidding yourself and you actually quite ugly. The larger part of me knows this is rubbish but its interesting that I never think such mean thoughts about other women. I now say “no” each time I hear the devil of self worth on my shoulder.
Imagine if every time we looked into a mirror, we saw more of who we are and then lived our day from that, rather than looking into the mirror (or avoiding looking in the mirror) from the “do I look decent/acceptable/functional” perspective.
The reason many of us do not accept, let alone appreciate the reflection on offer, be that through ourselves or another, is because somewhere inside us we know that the moment we say ‘yes’ we are catapulted forward into our next stage of evolution, whatever that may be. Self-loathing has more to do with dogged resistance than it has to do with not liking ourselves.
I was just appreciating my inner beauty, which is a rarity for me, and then this is the next blog I read. I can still feel a tiny part that says that is arrogant to say that, you can’t say that, well time for that thought and energy to go, as by confirming my beauty, my essence, I allow this to grow and I reflect this to the world which is so needed.
The more we appreciate the deep sacredness we hold within ourselves and the beauty and wisdom that this comes with, the more we see, feel and honor the same deep sacredness that is with all women, whether they show it or not. With this appreciation we not only magnify who we truly are through all we do, but we also meet another knowing who they truly are in essence, honoring the love they are within. As such we all then are a mirror for each other offering a true reflection of the exquisiteness that we all are in essence.
Beautifully said Carola. We each carry the responsibility to reflect the truth of who we are to each other. Our divinity is not ours to own and so it is never ours to hold back.
Denise, you have given us the antidote to stopping comparison as so often we look at another woman and compare ourselves to her, whether we score better or worse. If we looked at women the way you describe in your blog, this would open up a whole other dimension of being with each other and ourselves and an amazing way to support each other.
Beautifully said Judith. Comparison is what many of us as women have allowed our lives to be run by, it is everywhere. Yet it is comparison that instantly severs the understanding, appreciation and connection to the deeply beautiful and potent qualities that we all hold within as women. Our sacredness is what we are born to live and when we appreciate ourselves, as you say, we can open up a world of being with ourselves and others that honours and celebrates the depth and richness of the women we truly are in essence.
Very true Carola and it is so worth it to renounce comparison as it opens the door to our sacredness and all the joy, playfulness and lightness that comes with it.
‘What if I just accept that quality in me, and not fight it?’ Re-reading this today I was struck by how much energy I have expended fighting rather than accepting qualities in me. Appreciating the reflections that I and other women offer feels so deeply confirming that I wonder why I have taken so long to embrace it. Thank you Denise for the inspiration to see our warts as gifts and appreciate each other for all our amazing qualities.
What we see in the mirror is a powerful reflector of how we feel about ourselves. If one day I look and all I see are my imperfections, this shows me I am not only judging myself, but everyone else too. If I look and see my beauty, there is so much potential then to expand and evolve with this, holding myself and everyone else in tender Love and appreciation.
I have recently discovered how I can see my beauty in the mirror at home but when I look in the mirror at work it’s changed and I look tired and run down. It’s shows how I measure where and when this beauty comes out instead of reflecting it everywhere.
It is a lovely feeling to stop and appreciate the person you are in the mirror.
The power of observation can be advantageous or detrimental to one’s health depending what we are looking for and choosing to see. The science of reflection constantly provides us with the power of choice.
The more we are willing to see the more it is possible to accept.
I absolutely agree that the first step in seeing the beauty and qualities of another person, is being able to see them in ourselves.
It is awesome to appreciate the beautiful reflections that we offer to each other and how confirming that is.
When we appreciate the beauty that we bring to the world we can see the beauty that is in everyone else as well.
When we do look at other women and see and feel the beauty in them and ourselves Denise, it does feel absolutely delicious.
It is true that one day we will be out to look at each other and see the deep inner well of our true quality, that of the light of the universe… Until that day we simply need to always look inside and feel our own deep in connection and through this window, or this awareness look at everyone else.
This was lovely to read Denise. I am amazed by the way I find myself attempting to sabotage my own beauty. Lately I have connected to the responsibility and power of reflecting my beauty to others and this helps me to see things in a whole new light.
Thank you Denise for this loving reminder of the beauty within us all.
What a delight to read your words again Denise but even more so to see your photo. Yes, holding back our own gorgeousness holds all women back. We don’t serve anyone by playing small. A great reminder, what am I reflecting to women and humanity today?
Simply to start upon the path of reconnecting with our true nature brings a deepening of that most precious of feelings and that is, true love for ourselves… And from this self-love everything can flower.
Amazing watching children they reflect in each other that abundance of joy and smiles but somewhere along the line as adults we reflect more in our mirrors and in some cases run away from that reflection. Yes I agree Linda a beauty-full reflection for us all – thank you Denise.
I love feeling how everyone is our mirror when we look deeply into their hearts and feel the love and beauty inside them. It shows that when we are not accepting of that beauty of our own reflection we are instantly shutting everyone else out too. Vicious cycle indeed!
allowing ourselves to feel our own loveliness, to honour that, to know that, and to let that loveliness shine out our eyes, and bring that to everyone that we meet, just is an incredible service that we are providing to the world… Just by being.
Thankyou Denise! An awakening blog!
It is amazing how when faced with something we are not prepared to look at, we can bring in patterns of behaviour to escape or hide without stopping to appreciate the offering in that moment to address something that will be a blessing to deal with…. and a true healing. By denying ourselves we absolutely deny another from receiving the reflection of us living the fullness and beauty of who we can be and therefore who they are too.
“Imagine if each time I looked at another woman and saw the exquisiteness of all of us, just how lovely that would be – a feeling of equalness in the connection of a gentle, yet simple smile.” This is tremendously beautiful, no comparison, no jealously, just the beauty of all of us.
Coming back to your beautiful blog Denise offered me a timely and gentle reminder that if we run away from ourselves we are running away from all other women. So therefore we have a huge responsibility to stop the running, acknowledge and own the gorgeous women we are, and in so doing allow our gorgeousness to be reflected back to others.
Denise what a gorgeous sharing of such a beautiful realisation. What stood out for me was “By denying the woman I am, I am also denying the woman standing in front of me, the woman at the grocery store and the women in the street.” Ouch! Isn’t this awful & I know I have lived that way not realising the enormous ripple affect it has. Its got me awakened to take responsibility in self love to another level. Thank you.
Thank you Denise for a beautiful reflection, I love the words ” Imagine if each time I looked at another woman and saw the exquisiteness of all of us, just how lovely that would be – a feeling of equalness in the connection of a gentle, yet simple smile.”
It would transform us.
When we accept our beauty and our grace, we bring a blessing to the world.
Totally agree Chris. The struggle many of us face is the acceptance but I know that when I am feeling that loveliness inside of me, that it has a radiating effect on everyone/thing around me. The beauty everywhere is magnified and there to be celebrated.
Denise thank you for these beautiful, poetic ‘reflections’ on accepting and appreciating ourselves as the powerful and amazing women we are. “By denying the woman I am, I am also denying the woman standing in front of me, the woman at the grocery store and the women in the street.” We are all connected, one woman stands tall in all her shining glory we all feel the call to join her.
Every time we are in front of a mirror we can do a little check on where are with regarding ourselves. What is that we see? Do we pause and see us? Or do we avoid to see us? Of course, what we do is a reflection of how we feel in our body. Do we confirm ourselves? Do we focus on what we do not like of ourselves? Do we look at the whole? Do we concentrate in what we love of ourselves?
What a gorgeous photo! The words you have written here Denise feel very universal, that within us each is an amazing woman, someone that is felt and experienced beyond the confines of the physical body but very much present. It’s so simple just being with me but I leave myself regularly still to be in the complication of life. Rarely do I just stop and be and enjoy feeling me. Why am I so content in discontent? As you say, if I were to just stop and be, enjoy and meet all I am and appreciate this I could also do this with other women. It has to start with me.
This is so beautiful Denise, thank you. I have done some long distance running too, only to discover that stillness and being centred is my most natural normal, and choosing now to live from this natural place to realize and materialize its powerful normality.
I love this “powerful normality” that is ours when we choose to feel and appreciate our inner beauty radiating out to the world.
Your sharing Denise is exquisite. I could feel the beauty in what you found when you stopped to take in the image in the mirror – ‘I recently saw a beautiful woman standing in front of a mirror. She was just standing washing her hands. When I saw her, my reaction was instantaneous’. We are all so beautiful but that moment of ‘judgement’ slips in and blinds us to the truth. I love this blog as it allows for ‘the’ moment where in that instant everything is known, felt and reflects truth.. Thank you.
Thank you Denise, your message is powerful. In our denying of ourselves, we fall very short of truly appreciating the beauty that surrounds us and all of the exquisiteness that is within us.
What You bring up here is deeply supporting by running away and denying myself I do it with all others around me so this is a perspective where I can feel the oneness and that it is always about all of us. Thank You for sharing. With love Nadine
Denise, what simple yet powerful words. I love what you shared here about running, I know this. Whenever in the past someone reflected something lovely about myself, I wouldn’t allow myself the space to really feel this and appreciate it, instead I would run (race off into another thought or action). I didn’t have enough self worth to allow myself that moment to stop and really claim that in myself. This is now a thing of the past. These days I am enjoying soaking me up in the littlest of ways, and I know there is so much room for more of this, i have only just discovered the tip of the iceberg.
I “was so powerful. I didn’t know what to do, so I ran.” I have been running for a long time but the denial of my power has finally caught up with me … All I can do now is surrender … There is no choice.
So true – that everyone is either a reflection for us of our true beauty and amazingness (and theirs) if we choose to accept it, or of something to observe in and about ourselves, to learn, heal and grow from.
I love this powerful blog Denise, it made me stop and feel my inner beauty 🙂
“By denying the woman I am, I am also denying the woman standing in front of me, the woman at the grocery store and the women in the street.” these words are gold and it was great to be reminded of our responsibility and how we affect others, thank you.
Seeing everyone as an equally exquisite being on this earth is simply awesome. Everyone is a gorgeous shining star amongst the ever present universal sky and I love that. Simply stunning blog Denise thank you.
Thank you for sharing your beautiful observations and reminding us that we are all beautiful, If we deny this then, as has been confirmed in other comments, we deny the beauty in all. Thank you Denise.
If only we could all feel the beauty, loveliness and equal-ness, equally in every living human being. Now that would be something. Your blog Denise is equally inspirational to all men as well.
Denise I love your photo – beautiful and you feel so precious. I love the tender and fragile reflection from an other woman and also to reflect this because it help me to remind me that I am the same. That is so supportive and inspirational like your amazing blog.
‘By denying the woman I am, I am also denying the woman standing in front of me, the woman at the grocery store and the women in the street.’ This makes absolute sense how can we cherish another if we can’t cherish ourselves. So thank you for the beautiful reflection you give here Denise of the importance to pause and take in our own loveliness and grandness.
Thank you Denise for this beautiful sharing. I read it a couple of times like a very precious poem on our beauty. Such a strong message about the responsibility we hold for ourselves and every woman.
Beautiful Denise. I feel it would be very powerful accepting our beauty and the reflection of another. It’s a great point that you made about how by not accepting it your pretty much denying the beauty of all women. If you can’t find yourself beautiful and know what that feels like, how can you fully accept another’s beauty.
Feeling the delicacy and power in our own reflection, and allowing this to be seen by all, brings one more light to the world, that by its light , unites and inspires.
Yes, that is beautifully said. If we then manage to handle the jealousy we can express and be our beauty on a sustained basis.
Thank you Denise, I was also inspired by the woman you mentioned washing her hands. She felt solid. Solidness is very powerful, just being yourself – not needing anything from anyone and not comparing.
A very powerful message Denise – thank you. What you say is so true. There is no difference, no greater or less than, in the divinely beautiful essence that is within every women. Only an equally grand uniqueness in how we express this. And to honor and appreciate this, within ourselves first, allows us to celebrate the sacredness and joy of this connection with all our sisters, in sisterhood.
When i read the words ‘Running for me is just talking constantly, accelerating the momentum.Not wanting to feel me,’ it triggered something very old and familiar in me, I have been running away in one form or another for most of my life. Knowing that I am running away from me brings a stop to the ridiculousness of it…..not wanting to feel my choices and where I am. All the time I am doing this I am not accepting and appreciating the beauty in me and the beauty in an other. Thank you Denise your blog brought something I had not allowed myself to truly feel before.
A lovely reflection Denise. When we appreciate the beauty in another we can feel an equal beauty in ourselves.
Agree Mary, felt this too reading this beautiful blog. Also, when we appreciate the beauty in ourselves we can equally feel the beauty in others.
awesome, thanks for your powerful expression Denise. Its given me something to really consider, what is running from ourselves? exactly what you’ve described… not wanting to feel how gorgeous we are in any one moment, and not accepting it. Its made me consider, If i am not walking around accepting myself, my lightness and my jot, then what is that showing to others? Is it showing that they don’t need to shine as well? this gives me a great sense of responsibility.
It is a responsibility Harry, and this responsibility of accepting and appreciating our beauty offers others the same choice.
Thank you Denise. I love to look at other women and see how they are like mirrors themselves. We possess amazingly beautiful reflections for us all to feel how truly amazing we are. Mirrors are a very powerful tool of appreciation.
Denise this is truly beautiful yet powerful reminder to all women to embrace our true beauty. As you have so wisely shared, it’s only we when we can to this, that we can embrace and feel the beauty of others.
What a beautiful reminder to stop and appreciate our own beauty and to allow others to feel it too. Thank you Denise
It’s awesome that you presented running from yourself can just be using a distraction like talking or doing things.. Not just literally running haha. Seeing the exquisiteness in every women you come into contact with would be amazing – endless inspiration !
I agree Emily. Running from ourselves can be done in so many ways. And to think that when we choose this we are hurting ourselves and everyone around us asks us to consider the level of responsibility we hold in every moment.
Wall to ceiling mirrors needed every where
It feels exquisite to be able to stop and appreciate beauty in women and men. When I see physical and inner beauty in women, if I was with my partner I would point out to him so I can share what I have seen. We have this relationship to be able to appreciate beauty in other people without any jealousy of each others appreciation.
Beautiful and simple Denise. Truly lovely.
Beautifully written in all its power and simplicity. Each of us as women reflect to other women either our beauty and power or our hurts, withdrawal and protection. A big responsibility I sometimes try to deny, knowing the neutral reflection doesn’t exist.
I asked someone the other day ‘what is jealousy all about?’ and I was answered along the lines of ‘it’s just feeling that someone has done is being something you know you can too’.
So when I read: “What if, when I look at another woman it brings up something in me?
What if I just accept that quality in me, and not fight it?” it reminds me, that we’re always feeling others and to appreciate their reflections constantly, is to be constantly healing.
Wow Denise in a few words you have like many others have commented brought me to a stop and allowed me to see the bigger picture. That when we deny ourselves the beauty that we naturally are, then we are denying this in all other women. Beautifully and powerfully written it was a joy to read.
Yes, it is amazing to appreciate the beauty in within ourselves and in turn able to appreciate others equally.
It is so needed that we acknowledge and appreciate each other in how beautiful and ok we are, because if we don’t, as you say Denise Cavanough, we are trapped in a vicious cycle. This is the way forward to restore the beauty of life, that human life actually is, back into our societies.
Exquisite Denise! And I feel the same as you; when we deny ourselves as a woman, it naturally follows on that we are denying all women. And then of course the reverse will also apply; when we claim ourselves as the beautiful and powerful women that we are, and deeply appreciate this fact, then we will naturally honour and appreciate every other woman,; a true responsibility that does not feel onerous or forced, but one that flows so easily from the choice to claim the love and the beauty that we innately are.
Thank you Denise for your profoundly beautiful and inspiring post to see the exquisite beauty within us all.
The spherical inclusive nature of our natural awareness when it comes from stillness in truth is very beautiful, how lovely that we are developing this, letting go of all comparison, and seeing each other for the beauty that we truly are.
This is beautiful Denise and brought me to a stop. In that stop I could feel my own loveliness and how this is equally within us all. Thank you for sharing.
Just the thought of seeing every woman as the beautiful, exquisiteness that we all are was enough to make me feel completely lovely Denise, thank you.
‘Imagine if each time I looked at another woman and saw the exquisiteness of all of us, just how lovely that would be – a feeling of equalness in the connection of a gentle, yet simple smile.’ Thank you Denise for this reminder how simple and joyful it can be if we do not compare but feel that we all are equal
Such a gorgeous message, so beautifully and simply expressed.
Denise, this is just exquisite, to see the beauty in us is to see the beauty in all, to deny it in us is to deny all. Beauty is something to be celebrated and cherished and that very much includes us. I love the questions you pose, it’s helping me right now with my appreciation of the beauty this is innately in me, and of course all women equally so.
It is amazing how fast we react to other people and if we are not aware we are just that reaction. Thank you Denise Cavanough for posting this blog where you show me how we relate to each other and that the reflection you get from the other person is showing us something from ourselves. And this is great since it helps us to get a better understanding of who we really are. Either by accepting the beauty we see in the other is equally in us as by discarding the what we are not that is reflected by the other person.
A really short, simple but makes you stop and think blog. Thank you Denise. To feel the immense power of being a woman that comes from inside of us and can be palpably felt is really strong when we allow it. I know that my way of running is to say No, by shutting down but in the end once that power and connection has been felt no matter how much we may try to shut it down the truth is that we know that it is there as we have already felt it.
“By denying the woman I am, I am also denying the woman standing in front of me” a responsibility we all carry, thank you Denise to make it so simple for us to see how ridiculous it is when we are not living ourselves. How powerful our reflection can be when we are with ourselves and the ripple effect this has on everyone.
I totally agree Annelies, we have a loving responsibility to be all that we are as a woman. In doing so other woman have permission to be this too.
This is powerful wisdom. To be pondered.
Thank you.
that is so great. You gave me a deeper understanding of what the consequence is when not accepting and or feeling the beauty within me as a woman, how we then have to neglect all the women in the world for their beauty. That is so well said. Indeed a vehicle – coming back to the same point over and over again. And how beautiful we can use that vehicle to express and feel my beauty as a woman and then see it in everyone else. What a gifts we are – and if i look very deeply within I know we are so so deeply beautiful – sometimes more then we can see.
Amazing revelation Denise! I have realised that I do this too by trying to be included in the moment. I have been trying so hard to get love from someone that when they do it naturally, I freak out and make a comment as well. I feel that honouring the love that I am receiving from another person and letting their love in is so much more rewarding and helps humanity evolve so much more. Because others get a chance to be love as well.
The richness and beauty of women is something to be cherished.
Thank you Denise – I love the message in this blog simple yet powerfull.
Yes, and a beautiful photo as well.
Beautifully said Denise, if we deny ourselves then this is constantly reflected in the way we look to other women and men, we are actually denying them too.
Beautiful blog and oh so true.
Each time we deny another in any way then we deny ourselves. There is no you and me, only the us of us all.
This blog and all the comments feel like a super warm bath, thank you so much. Yesterday I have been singing with a group of women and the support I felt, and the equalness, it was just beyond words. There is so much beauty in all of us and it felt like we were breathing one breath, that we were moving in one rhythm.
I love your message. Simple
Thankyou for this powerful reminder of the beauty in all and how when we deny our own beauty , we are also denying in all…. This piece of writing is a gift I shall take with me and next time I feel to run, I will breath and just feel how truly lovely I am….and we all are when we just simply connect, accept and be.
Such a beautiful blog and something that I can take with me in all the reflections I have with Woman every single day.
‘Imagine if each time I looked at another woman and saw the exquisiteness of all of us, just how lovely that would be – a feeling of equalness in the connection of a gentle, yet simple smile.’
There is so much beauty to behold in each of us and so much grace and wonder to receive when we decide not to run from it. Thank you Denise.
Hi Denise – I too often play with the reflection of myself in the mirror – there are times that I notice myself not wanting to look at myself and then there are times when I glance up and have to stop for the beauty that I encounter in front of me. In these times it is the eyes that are the ones that reflect most the beauty within, and I love these moments. What I love about your blog is how it asks us to look at us and all women and to see and celebrate the beauty within each of us, celebrating each of us for the unique divine qualities that we bring to this world. Thank you Denise!
I remember seeing my reflection in the mirror once for a split second, and thinking “who is that beautiful woman, I wish I had her good looks, I literally did a double take of myself -pretty funny and very different to all the times I had been critical and disparaging towards myself. These days, those glimpses of my own and others beauty occur far more frequently.
Thank you Denise, this is a powerful reminder to stop and breathe every time as women we want to run away from our powerful reflections, and to just be still and feel. How stunning and amazing indeed as to what follows, and how immense a gift this is to acknowledge, accept and appreciate ourselves and therefore of others–how can any woman be not truly beautiful?
Beautifully expressed Denise. Recently I have actually been watching people around me when I’m out and about . Just simple gesture like a smile or a lovely glance to another person instantly lightens not only them but myself too.
Absolutely Susan. Thank you Denise for such a powerful reminder of who we are as women.
Beautiful blog Denise. Accepting our beauty and loving our reflection in the mirror is the key.
What if, when we look at ourselves in the mirror, we would see and feel the beautiful loveliness shining out from within. I love the simplicity in this blog. Hello my mirror reflection.
Simple. Powerful. True. The reflective nature of beauty is not to hide from but to celebrate, for in celebrating ourselves, we celebrate another’s beauty. Thank you Denise.
Thank you Denise, I need to take more time to stop and look in the mirror!
Thank-you Denise for your beautiful blog. Acceptance of oneself is a powerful thing, so powerful, it can totally change us and the world we live in.
Reading your lovely blog about accepting our beauty and enjoying the beauty of other women really sets us free from comparison and jealousy. As an elder woman, it feels even more powerful to allow ourselves this loving way to be.
Beautiful blog Denise. Seeing everyone in their beauty and ‘exquisiteness’ is indeed a gift and one that will remove any comparisons that may arise when meeting someone else. What you say here is very true ‘Could it be that every time I don’t want to see my loveliness, I am not just running, but in this process I am also hurting everyone around me?’ So, first, we need to see the beauty and exquisiteness in ourselves, which I know for myself can be a lot harder.
Simply gorgeous. The first time I read this over a year ago – I could relate and imagine what it might be like to not run but sit steady and accept the ‘full of beauty’ self in the mirror. When I feel connected with me – I can now easily sit at my dressing table and adore my eyes and the heavenliness I see there – I have come such a way back to me – and whilst I know there is lots more of me to embrace, I can feel that already as I allow myself to accept and celebrate my beauty I celebrate all women and any women I meet have the opportunty to feel this too. I love the way you sum this up in this blog.
Thanks for this Denise, something for everyone to ponder.
“Imagine if each time I looked at another woman and saw the exquisiteness of all of us” – this is super powerful Denise, and totally different to the norm where in my experience women usually compare or get jealous of others, I know I have experienced this myself!
Yes I agree Jessica, How supportive and nurturing it would be.
Denise, I love this, simple and it asks an important question, what if, when I see another woman rather than going into comparison, I could accept that the quality I see in her is in me also, now that cuts out so much. And of course the more I accept me, the more I can accept in another, really acceptance is the only way.
I love what you share here Denise. We are not used to stopping and feeling what is there to be felt in each moment. It needn’t always be bad, but we ‘run’ still the same. What a gift for everyone to just stop, accept and appreciate all that is on offer in that moment.
I have come back to this blog, I appreciate its pace and content deeply. The quote “Imagine if each time I looked at another woman and saw the exquisiteness of all of us, just how lovely that would be – a feeling of equalness in the connection of a gentle, yet simple smile.” as really resonated with me today and I am feeling to ponder this as I pick up the kids from school this afternoon. It feels so important to embody this and not reject what we seen ourselves and others. Thank you.
What if…indeed! “What if I just accept that quality in me, and not fight it?” Great quote and a subject I am wrestling with…just stop the fight and learn to accept the beauty in myself and in others. Thank you.
Beautiful blog, and yes in denying ourselves as the women we are, so do indeed deny every woman – wow. What I feel most reading this is the power of acceptance, and how simple that can be.
A beautiful blog
“And if I see something I may not like reflected, just see it as a wart, to look under – a gift.” That’s it, the key to not imprisoning ourselves in comparison. Accepting what we see and feel and looking at it from the inside out.
This is a lovely blog Denise. What would it be like if instead of seeing another woman walking by and going into immediate comparison of petty things like ‘why aren’t I that skinny’, or ‘she really needs to do her eyebrows’, we used the opportunity to appreciate how divine and beautiful each women is in their own unique way.
Hi Susie, I completely agree and very well said.
Yes great question Susie, I agree.
Hi Denise, this is a real stopper! Gosh really makes me ask myself a few questions – do I appreciate the beauty in me? Do I appreciate the beauty in the women I see? And if not why not? The reflection in the mirror will be there to remind me, thank you so much for giving me the opportunity to reflect.
Thank you Denise, I am reminded of all the beautiful women I saw whilst I was out shopping today.
“Imagine if each time I looked at another woman and saw the exquisiteness of all of us, just how lovely that would be – a feeling of equalness in the connection of a gentle, yet simple smile.”
The power and truth in your words is awesome to feel, thank you Denise for the reminder of accepting, sharing and appreciating the beauty we all innately are.
Hmm Denise your question has brought me to a stop. I seem to have picked up along the way the notion was any positive focus on my appearance is self-indulgent, and yet here you are asking if in fact we harm others by not seeing our own loveliness. This is revolutionary for me, and I feel a bit topsy turvy as a result, and yet, the truth in what you say is clear.
When the outer is a reflection of the inner it is a clear marker of how we are living and caring for ourself. Its such a great gauge and when I bring this understanding to myself, then I am able to bring more attention to the inner, rather than what I used to do which was try to ‘fix’ the outer which never worked in the long run as it is never ending or never good enough.
As within, so without…living truth from the inside out!
Denise this is so beautiful, wow how the world would change if we all just accepted our beauty and deeply appreciated everyone else’s beauty, always lovely to be reminded – thank you.
Denise, this is so simple and so true! Life becomes much simpler when we accept.
“What if I just accept that quality in me, and not fight it?”
More and more recently I have started to become aware of just how much I resist feeling the fact that that loveliness I feel within me is equally within another. This blog is a great reminder that by resisting this feeling not only am I feeling less but the other person does not get to feel that equalness. What do we have to loose by accepting and sharing our gentleness?
I love the simplicity and beauty this blog offers, yet very powerful. This part especially is a great reminder if at any time there is doubt of our own beauty and power. “By denying the woman I am, I am also denying the woman standing in front of me, the woman at the grocery store and the women in the street.” Thank you Denise.
“By denying the woman I am, I am also denying the woman standing in front of me, the woman at the grocery store and the women in the street” wow amazing truth-full message here thank you.
Can you imagine if this was the basis of women’s magazines, promoting self acceptance so we are also able to accept all other women who come into our life. This is a far cry from the gossip, bitching and judgement in the mainstream media. Your blog offers a beautiful understanding into the depths of true self appreciation and its power. Thank you.
Great comment Samantha. Allowing the image and reflection in the mirror to be a reflection of the beauty within everyone.
‘Imagine if each time I looked at another woman and saw the exquisiteness of all of us, just how lovely that would be – a feeling of equalness in the connection of a gentle, yet simple smile.’ How beautiful are these words when relating to another woman.
Even more, how powerful are they when we relate them to how we regard ourselves – ‘Imagine if each time I looked at myself I saw the exquisiteness I and every other woman holds within, how glorious that would be – a feeling of acceptance of this connection to who I truly am.’ That makes hairstyle, clothing, makeup, shape and weight etc. fade into oblivion when it comes to the true qualities and beauty of a woman for me.
Wow what a beautifull blog. Its quality is very precious and lovely womanly and that comes back in the words you have written. What really made me stop and feel was that you wrote that by denying our own beauty and grace we deny that in every other woman too. And how great it is to see and feel each others beauty and enjoy and share that – Thank you Denise.
How ‘arresting’ – to be so stopped in our tracks, Denise.
And then, to discover the same in our own reflection…
Thank you, Victoria. I love how you have put “How ‘arresting’ – to be so stopped in our tracks” – this really speaks to me.
Yes, Fumiyo. This is powerfully shared here by Denise.
Do we run from ourselves, or truly stop to see – and claim the knowing that is innately within us – of the beauty, power and grace that is within?
Or do we glance meaningfully perhaps at ourselves, yet avoid the power of a direct gaze into the depth of the woman before us in the mirror?
Much to sit with and so much richness to connect to, if we ‘dare’ to go there, isn’t there…
“I recently saw a beautiful woman standing in front of a mirror” … Thank you for reminding me Denise. Next time I see her I might just stop and check her out a little longer.
Imagine!
We can do it by taking responsibility for the role we each have to play, in our own life and in that of others. Interactions and relationships with mutual understanding, acceptance and appreciation are certainly worth it, and the changes in society will be cataclysmic.
Being gentler and understanding of ourselves and others is what makes a big difference. Not pointing out the things that still need a little learning. Instead honouring and appreciating the beauty and gorgeousness that is there. That makes a huge difference,
Beautifull Denise.
Thank you perfect timing for me.
Beautifully expressed Denise, making connection with a smile is often enough!
I love the simplicity and truth in what your saying Denise 🙂