A guest post by Jackie Clark from Mesothelioma Cancer Alliance

A while ago, I was contacted by Jackie Clark to ask whether I would mind using my blog to spread an important message about feeling beautiful, not matter what your medical condition. Of course this is something I fully support, so without further ado, a message from her:'

Where are you at when it comes to your mesothelioma treatment, you may start to feel helpless, hopeless and exhausted. Mesothelioma cancer, like any other cancer, is an illness with a prescribed treatment, but it is easy to feel as if you are no longer yourself. Instead of being a strong and beautiful woman, you instead turn into a list of symptoms, aches and pains. If you are tired of being nothing but your diagnosis, it is time for you to consider what you can do to find your inner strength. Whether your style is easy and breezy or high femme in high heels, you will find that your own fashion aesthetic can be a tool.

When it comes to power and strength, it is important to remember that these attributes take many forms. For example, some people show their strength through being physically strong or through winning awards. However, what people often forget is that strength can also come from being seen the way that we wish to be seen. Think about how good it feels when someone sees that you have been taking care of yourself. That is a type of power that you exert over your body and the world, and a cancer diagnosis does not have to take it away.

Consider what kind of beauty you are. Are you someone who needs to be able to throw on her face in a handful of minutes, or are you someone who loves to have a very constructed beauty ideal that involves complicated garments and at least twenty minutes in front of the mirror? Neither ideal is better or worse than the other, and at the end of the day, it all boils down to preferences. What are the effects that you want to achieve, and how can you create a look that makes you feel right with the world?

The first thing that you can consider is shopping to match your tastes. For example, do you love vintage shopping? Head to the second hand clothing stores. Do you love big names? You can find them everywhere. Find the clothes that make you smile when you wear them, and remember that the clothes should fit you, not the other way around. Plenty of women get frustrated when they are dealing with clothes that don’t fit them, but the truth of the matter is that there are clothes out there that will fit you; it just takes some searching.

When you are after the right look, don’t be delayed by what people tell you you should wear. If your friends are being honest with you, they will understand that you should wear exactly what you want, and that you know what is best about your appearance.

Take some time and think about the beauty ideal that you want to express. A small amount of effort will help you figure out what you want to be and it will help you feel more confident about yourself. This is one way to help you get out of those uninspiring doldrums.