La Vie Est Belle: The Beautiful Within, the Beautiful Around
There’s a French phrase that always carries a touch of magic with it: la vie est belle — life is beautiful.
But let’s be honest — when life feels heavy, chaotic, or overwhelming, it can be hard to remember that.
Beauty can feel distant, hidden behind a curtain of stress, sadness, or worry. And yet, beauty is always there, quietly waiting to be noticed.
What Makes Life Beautiful?
For me, life is a series of experiences, adventures, and moments that shape us. Some are peaceful, others are full of chaos and challenge, but together they remind us that we are alive, growing, and evolving.
Beauty exists in those moments too — sometimes in the obvious ways, like the colours of a sunset or a heartfelt smile. Other times, it sneaks in quietly — a child’s laughter breaking through a difficult day, or a gentle breeze reminding you to pause.
Beauty as a Reflection of How We Feel
When we feel light and open, beauty seems to shine everywhere. We notice it in the little things. But when we’re weighed down, beauty can fade from view. We see the harshness instead, or we interpret a sunset as a reminder of what we didn’t accomplish that day, instead of just basking in it’s beauty, it’s splendor.
And yet, even when life feels heavy, beauty has a way of slipping in — if only for a moment. A sound, a sight, or a smile can break through, reminding us that beauty hasn’t disappeared. It simply asks us to pause, to notice.
Beauty Within and Beauty Around
One of the greatest shifts comes when we realise that beauty isn’t only something outside of us — it lives within us too. Our voice, our kindness, our presence, our compassion — these are all forms of beauty that ripple outward.
When we begin to notice our own inner beauty, it opens the door to seeing more of it in the world around us. And the reverse is true: when we pause to notice the beauty of life, it reflects something back into our hearts.
Living with a Beautiful Lens
What if we approached our lives with the intention of making things beautiful — not by anyone else’s standard, but by our own? A home that feels nourishing, conversations filled with warmth, a way of moving through the world with softness.
Beauty can be in the grand and the simple. In laughter, in tears, in sunlight, in stillness. It is always present, and when we lean into it, it helps us rise, even when life feels heavy.
A Gentle Reminder
If you are in a season of grief, loneliness, or struggle, beauty might feel far away. But it’s still here. Look for the smallest ray of light — a sound, a colour, a kind word. Each small noticing is a reminder that life still holds beauty, and that you, too, are beautiful.
Explore This Week’s Free Resources
🎥 Watch This Week’s Discussion on 🔗 YouTube or Listen on 🔗 Spotify
✏️ To help you recognise when you are assuming, 🔗 Download the journalling worksheet
🧘 Follow the Guided Meditation, 🔗 Listen on YouTube or on 🔗 Spotify
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