Often what we consider beautiful is a reflection of ourselves. By a “reflection,” I don’t literally mean that we define beauty as what see in the mirror or some close derivative of that, but I mean that beauty is a reflection of our ideas and beliefs made manifest in a sensory format. And beauty is about love, not tolerance. So if we deeply believe in diverse beauty, our definition and engagement with things we consider beautiful will reflect that range. This concept is curious to me in so much as we allow ourselves, or are allowed, only limited degrees of expression of beauty in different environments such as work or sometimes at social engagements. Unfortunately, freedom to engage with beauty closely correlates to our potential happiness. In other words, the more we can express our ideas of beauty, the happier we are. If you don’t believe this assertion, please test it out. So here are my questions on our collective range of beauty.

Why don’t our ideas translate to practice?

Companies often will create or sponsor advertising with very diverse depictions of beauty, but internally they don’t reflect that diversity and are not nearly as creative in changing that.

Why don’t we know what we know?

Companies often conduct research to get insights into their consumer base to better communicate with them.  However, these same leaders don’t think that to some extent their employees are just a sample of the same consumers and so maybe they should self reflect on their own diversity insights when dealing with them.

Why don’t we mean what we mean?

Each season, fashion designers send boldly creative visions down the runway on models and these images can compel us to run into stores or search online for these products.  However, what we find in the stores or even online is far less bold and creative than what we see on the runway.  Why can’t we have a closer engagement with the true artistic vision, to live closer to the promise.

Why don’t we question what we don’t know?

Sometimes we are lazy with our ideas of beauty, especially when they are tightly focused and narrow.  We say, “well the heart wants what the heart wants.”  Well I don’t think we always know our own heart, which is why Jesus said “Forgive them Father, for they know not what they do.”  Broadly interpreted that statement speaks to when we fail to have real understanding of the origins or implications of our own behavior.  I wonder if we would genuinely question our hearts and inquire what prevents us from opening up to more of what is beautiful.