Mind the Beauty (Standard): A Gay Man's Contemplation on Mindfulness and Beauty

I've found that the actual experience of beauty in my life has only minimal coincidence with the explicit beauty standards that I've got floating around in my psyche. This truth is often clouded by the fact that I tend to confuse moments of beauty with moments of pride, desire or jealousy.

I think it's good to be mindful of the times when you actually feel beautiful. You don't even have to ask "Why do I feel beautiful right now?","Where is this feeling coming from?", "What is this feeling?", or even "Do I really feel beautiful?". Instead, simply acknowledge it, and observe it. This way it ends up being a form of mindfulness practice.