Friday, November 3, 2017

The Inspiration Behind The Mirror Said You're Be-You-Tiful by Austiage @austiage

The Inspiration Behind The Mirror Said You’re Be-You-Tiful

by Austiage

The inspiration for my book came from the most extraordinary scenario, it was during a visit to the Children’s hospital I met a girl named Julianne who proposed the question “When you look in the mirror does it tell you you’re ugly?” I remember being instantly taken aback that such a young and beautiful girl was asking such a question. I instantly responded “Of course not the mirror always tells you you’re beautiful.” But Julianne was not convinced and from there we began to chat I shared my experiences the good and the bad. I shared with her what I had learned through living my life in both the public eye as well as out. It was captivating and beautiful because my conversation with Julianne reminded me of those that I often have and had with my Mother sitting on the kitchen countertop and just chatting about anything and everything. Julianne and I’s conversation had a level of authenticity and consideration that is rare in todays society. Finally a few hours after chatting our conversation came to an end and as I got up to leave Julianne asked me if I had a mirror, so I gave her my compact that I always kept in my purse she looked in the mirror and said “Now I see it the mirror does say you’re beautiful.” In that moment a sentence clicked for me, and it was the mirror said you’re beyoutiful. But instead of spelling beautiful the traditional way I chose to spell it beyoutiful to represent that one will only feel beautiful when you decide to be no one but yourself. Knowing that my conversation with Julianne had an impact beyond what I could have ever imagined led to want to share that conversation with more people, so I thought what better way to do so then to write a book. My conversation with Julianne left me inspired and it was in that instant and all that followed. I broke down and analyzed my conversation with Julianne and figured out how to translate that authenticity, warmth, and impact to paper. Five months latter my book The Mirror Said You’re BeYouTiful was a completed manuscript.

About the Author

Austiage is a former national-level champion fencer who was born in Washington, DC. She speaks seven languages, attended American University, and is the founder of the Star Individuality Foundation, a nonprofit organization that supports youths in developing their unique individuality. Her book The Mirror Said, “You’re Be-You-Tiful” explores the societal pressures that many people are faced with today and offers a game plan for nurturing individuality and owning one’s beauty.

You can visit Austiage’s website at https://www.austiage.com/.

About the Book:

In her motivational self-help book, THE MIRROR SAID, “YOU’RE BE-YOU-TIFUL,” former elite athlete Austiage offers readers a foundation for embracing their unique beauty in a world that doesn’t always value diversity and individuality. Writing in a welcoming, conversational style, Austiage outlines a plan for embracing a positive self-image that develops from the inside out.

An unexpected question (“Does the mirror make you feel ugly?”) was the spark that led Austiage to pen THE MIRROR SAID, “YOU’RE BE-YOU-TIFUL.” She met the young girl, Julianne, who posed the question while donating supplies to a children’s hospital. After talking with the girl about beauty and what it means, the author felt moved to share her thoughts with others on this delicate subject, which many people—young and old, male and female—frequently struggle with. The book has a powerful message that begins by focusing on the individual.

Austiage asserts that beauty is much more than aesthetic. She emphasizes that character is an essential component of beauty and encourages readers to bolster their character by being positive and kind to themselves and others. The author repeatedly stresses the importance of having a strong belief in one’s self and explains how this belief affects how people see themselves, the type of people they invite into their lives, and the manner in which they take care of themselves and pursue their goals.

THE MIRROR SAID, “YOU’RE BE-YOU-TIFUL” takes an in-depth look at the necessity of self-care including eating well without foregoing pleasure, incorporating fitness and relaxation in one’s daily life, using makeup to highlight and enhance one’s beauty, discarding fear and doubt to follow opportunities to find one’s passion, and reevaluating relationships to make conscious decisions about the people in one’s life.

Austiage says, “In my point of view, my book is about helping those who are at the point in their lives that they want to feel better about themselves. I think my book will help people understand that they aren’t the only contributing factor in feeling good or bad about themselves. Rather, the everyday lifestyle choices they make, the people they surround themselves with, and the words they use all merge to develop a feeling unique to how they feel about their identity. Learning how to break down different aspects of daily life and to reevaluate them will dramatically change the way they perceive themselves.” Austiage wrote THE MIRROR SAID, “YOU’RE BE-YOU-TIFUL” “to help everyone understand that they have the ability to feel beautiful. Ultimately, I want readers to step away from my book feeling happiness, beauty, and pride from the inside out.”