Dear EG -- I think you are correct that outward beauty -- as wealth, fame, or power -- can create a barrier in relating to others and developing positive self-image.

A person with good looks, wealth, or power is often never quite sure whether other people value them for the inner "self" or the outer trappings. When I was a reporter, I had a address book chuck full of phone numbers. During a serious injury when almost no one called or visited, I realized that "I" wasn't a friend of these people. Most of them were only interested in being friends with "little miss star reporter for a powerful newspaper."

You are taking constructive steps to figure out who you are, and I believe that it will pay off for you in the long run. Beauty fades, and the women who rely solely on it wind up look like ads for cosmetic surgery.

Best wishes to discovering a half-full glass.

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