Exploring the meaning of Radiance: moving beyond skin deep
Radiance
There’s always that one person that comes to mind when you think of someone as being radiant. Someone who lights up the room when they walk in. You can’t put your finger on what exactly it is that makes them that way but they exude the qualities of radiance. They have that “Je se ne sais quai”.
We always think that the bride on her wedding day is beautiful and glowing. Or the pregnant lady has a “glow” about her. Upon first value, these are all physical aspects of radiance. But I wonder if this is the case.
The term radiance
Radiance is somewhat of an ambiguous term. When we say someone is looking radiant what are we referring to? Shiny hair? Good grooming? Beautiful clothes? Maybe we are referring to skin that is dewy and glowing, a complexion free from blemishes, and is hydrated and plump. They look “well”. These are all physical attributes that society deems to be attractive and show health. However, as I have got older I have come to realise you can’t take radiance on a surface level and think only skin deep.
In my opinion, there is much more behind the idea of what makes someone glow. I try to live by the term “don’t judge a book by its cover” and this is no exception. Radiance to me is a mixture of good health and contentment that beams outward. True radiance is made and cultivated from within. No amount of glowing make up, fake tan or highlighter can create the appearance of a true glow. Radiance happens below the surface level.
“Radiance to me is a mixture of good health and contentment that beams out.”
My preoccupation with radiance
To be glowing has been a preoccupation of mine since my early twenties. Growing up there was a real pressure placed upon myself and my peers to look our best. To have uber groomed skin, hair, and nails and wear the most on trend outfit. Your radiance was on show for the world to see. All at face value.
At the age of 21, I had a blood clot in my brain. I was fortunate to recover from it, but it was a completely life altering event, one that changed the way I viewed life. I became a much more intuitive person and was more aware of what I was placing in and on my body. My idea of radiance changed overnight.
My thirst for living a life of optimal health came bubbling to the surface. After I recovered I felt I was more radiant than ever. I had a much deeper connection with myself and I properly understood my needs for the first time. I changed my career direction by gaining a politics degree and retraining to become a spa therapist. I wanted to learn more about wellness and what made people glow. I loved my time in the spas and watching people melt at the power of my hands. I realised that in this busy world, cultivating radiance was a difficult task. I would always ponder on what was causing my facial client's skin to be so angry and red. Or why was another client suffering from confidence-crippling acne? Something was happening on the inside that I couldn’t completely help on the outside.
After a few years I took some time away from the spas and joined the world of makeup and skincare. Again I thrived in this environment but I couldn’t help questioning certain ideas surrounding luminosity. I felt that it was just a little too superficial. I couldn’t get my head around putting more makeup on someone who was naturally beautiful. Nor covering up imperfections that were coming from somewhere deep within that the latest skincare couldn’t touch or foundation couldn’t patch up.
Not long after I became a mum to a beautiful boy. I was exhausted after a difficult birth. Leaving me depleted. I had many questions about the concept of health and wellbeing and I retrained to become a nutritional therapist with CNM. After three years of intense study, I set up my clinic. It was a no-brainer to decide to call myself “The Radiant Nutritionist”. To be honest it is all rather tongue in cheek and it all leads back to my own radiant journey. I know how it feels to be far from your radiant self. To feel exhausted. To feel so tired you don’t have the energy to do the things you love. I want to support other women to be their happiest and healthiest self. For them to glow from head to toe from the inside out.
The practice of Naturopathic medicine tied in perfectly with my idea of radiance being about the whole person and giving the body the right conditions and tools to support the proper functioning of systems and delivering radiance. Training to be a naturopathic nutritionist allowed me to find the science to back up my thoughts and experiences through the years.
So what is radiance?
When you look up the meaning of the word radiance it says “A glowing light shining from something”. You could easily think that this is referring to the skin’s ability to reflect light. But as I have already alluded to, radiance goes far deeper than skin level. It has to do with inner and outer vitality and health. Radiance has more to do with the persons energy.
Radiance comes from the individual's core. It is what lights up a person from within. Living in tune with yourself and having intuition which provides somewhat of a compass deep within. Intuition acts as a guide for individual needs in optimal self and health
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I would sum up radiance as living with intention and vibrating health outwardly. Someone is radiant to me when they are bright-eyed, and full of positive energy. They have this special ability to be able to light up a room without realising it.
Is modern day living extinguishing our radiance?
We aren't fully radiant if our systems are not in balance and certain key systems of the body aren’t working optimally. Naturopathically, radiance is about the whole person. It comes from a balanced mind, body, and soul. Naturopathic nutrition allows us to investigate the root cause of what is stopping us from being our most vibrant self.
The following are a few scenarios that can stamp out our internal radiance in modern day living:
Intense stress - many are now living with chronic stress
Hormone imbalances
Nutrient deficiencies
Poor self esteem and confidence
Mindset - with limiting beliefs.
Poor skin barrier and gut health
Not being consistent with self care and how we look after ourselves and putting one's self last
Lack of purpose
Food intolerances
Radiance can be supported by simple everyday practices that help bring the body into balance. Things such as resting more and adequate sleep are critical. Helping us to regenerate and activate our parasympathetic nervous system. Gentle movement and a daily dose of nature slows the nervous system. A well supported nervous system aids our digestive system to absorb and digest nutrients effectively and also detoxify toxins. This all helps to support the idea of glowing. Consuming a balanced colourful diet rich in healthy fats, proteins, and complex carbohydrates. Providing the body with all the fuel, vitamins, and antioxidants It needs. A diet that is low in processed sugars and fats is key instead focusing on real, fresh whole foods. Adequate hydration is also key. Sometimes it is necessary to remove anything that is hindering the body's systems to work optimally.
Every small step amounts up to help us to feel good from the inside out.
Radiance is about the mind, body, and soul’s optimal health
True radiance is optimal health in mind, body, and soul.
To be radiant is to enjoy and live our lives with a deep vibration of inner health that rises to the surface. Real radiance requires deep inner work. This deep internal work doesn’t happen overnight, nor can it be bottled and sold. It is something that is cultivated over time. We have to get to know ourselves better than anyone else. We have to understand ourselves. What works for us in all aspects of our lives. This is something many of us do not have the time nor the inclination for in modern day living. However, we have to do the work on ourselves for ourselves to be our most radiant version.
We all deserve to be our best selves. We all deserve to be the healthiest version of ourselves. YOU deserve to be your best self. Try turning your attention inwards, GET TO KNOW YOU, what makes you feel GOOD? And importantly, what doesn’t make you feel good?
Set your inner radiance free.
Much love
Katie xx