Mom did a good job raising me. Despite the normal insecurities of being a teenager, she was able to reinforce to me that I "pretty" by repeatedly telling me to "look in the mirror" and see that I was "beautiful". Certainly this helped me growing up and I was comfortable with my looks. However, I also placed too much importance on my external features and my self-confidence and ultimate happiness was governed by weather my hair was perfectly styled, my make-up was impeccable, and that I had not one extra ounce of body fat! 

Over the years, I was enslaved by my physical appearance. Gaining 5 pounds or not fitting into my jeans made me feel ugly. I wouldn't dream of leaving the house without make-up on and having a "bad hair day" meant I had a miserable life!  

It took years of growth and experience to realize that these things didn't make me feel happy - in fact they were the very things that dragged me down. My friends didn't like being around me when I was upset over gaining 5 pounds because I was miserable and I wasn't fun to be with. 

Happiness, like beauty, came from the inside. It was something that depended completely on me, that I controlled and commanded. So, doing things that made me happy made me feel better. If I felt better I looked better.  

What do you do to make yourself feel good? Listen to your favorite music. Light a candle with your favorite scent. Maybe you buy something for yourself - a trendy outfit, a flashy piece of jewelry, a bouquet of flowers, even a sinful chocolate bar! 

Think back to the times you've been happy - you usually think of an occasion, not particularly about how you looked. It was the atmosphere that you enjoyed that controlled how you felt. You were doing something fun and you were having fun! 

Over the centuries, dancing has been a way of celebrating special occasions. It's how we project that we feel happy or that we are having fun. Our favorite song starts up and we shed our inhibitions and we can't help but move to the beat of a rhythm that inspires us. From elderly people who can't help but tap their toes or clap their hands to a song that inspires them to those of us who can't keep our hips or feet still when we hear our favorite song dancing is a way to project our inner feelings to others and share happiness.  

Do things that make you happy and you will be happy - and beautiful! 

True Empowerment comes from within us. It cannot be taken away nor given by another. It is a gift that we give ourselves, only when we are ready to admit that we deserve it.