i had the opportunity two weeks ago to work with other girls in a mini project called project beauty. we were all asked to come with no makeup and write a small piece about what beauty means to us. i still have some thoughts: in my writeup, i talked about radiance. and i think radiance is so beautiful. it is what makes a person glow from the inside out. a person with radiance is a person full of love, confidence, strength, and happiness. in a world where social media is so prominent, it is so easy to fall into a trap of feeling unworthy. we now have ai generating "perfect" women, we see ripped people posting pictures of their bodies online that look impossible for us to achieve, and we look at influencers or celebrities that look like they have it all figured out. the comparison trap is inevitable, so how do we get out of it? well, this is where finding what makes you radiant comes in, and this is where im going to introduce some scripture. luke 11:35-36 says, "make sure that the light you think you have is not actually darkness. if you are filled with light, with no dark corners, then your whole life will be radiant, as though a floodlight were filling you with light.” so, reflect on what you think makes you shine bright. for me, i thought that was clear skin, perfect makeup, and the perfect outfit. this is good stuff, yes, but this is not what makes me radiant. what makes me radiant is my passion to be better at lacrosse and fluent in spanish. i am radiant because i have empathy and love for others. i strive to be strong for myself and others. i am kind to myself and forgiving. i embrace confidence in who i am. notice how this has nothing to do about who i am on the outside. we can begin to love ourselves more when we find out who we are are on the inside. find what makes you radiant so you can inspire yourself and others. true beauty is radiance, and we are all finding out who we are as we go. let go of comparisons and embrace who you are and what you can achieve. thank you @lyncollierphotography for encouraging all of us to do this 🤍