The Art of Adornment: How Physical Self-Care nurtures Emotional Growth
There was a time I loved to dress up. I would be the girl at the cookouts or in the mall with heels on. Getting ready felt like a fun and sacred ritual. But somewhere along the way, burnout took that joy from me. My once colorful closet turned into a sea of black. I started throwing on whatever was easy. I was ashamed in my appearance due to overall neglect. And little by little, I lost connection with the joy that used to come from simply celebrating the simple art of being in my body.
If you’ve ever felt this, I want to offer you a gentle reminder: coming back to yourself doesn’t require a huge transformation. It starts with the smallest acts of care. Adornment rituals, a simple skincare routine, a touch of lipstick, or the decision to wear your favorite jewelry just for you are all intentional invitations back home to yourself.
Self-Adornment as Emotional Well-being
Beauty rituals can be used as medicine for the spirit. When we take time to care for our outer appearance, it often mirrors what’s happening within. Adorning ourselves with earrings that make us feel powerful or wrapping ourselves in fabrics that feels soft and sensual can become healing activities for the nervous system.
It’s about cultivating presence, not vanity.
Studies in psychology and somatic therapy show that intentional physical self-care can help in regulating the nervous system and releasing dopamine and serotonin. These chemicals naturally elevate mood and reduce stress.
Small daily acts of beauty invite us to slow down, breathe deeper, and reconnect with the highest version of ourselves we’re meant to become. Even a five-minute morning skincare or breathwork ritual can remind us that we are worth tending to. And when we show up for ourselves physically, it often shifts how we feel emotionally. I tend to feel more grounded and radiant, more like myself again.
Adornment as a Form of Self-Compassion
So many of us were taught or learned from society to keep going through pain. To prove our worth through productivity. To put off “getting ready” as vain or frivolous.
But what if we saw these rituals as portals to healing? Tending to your physical body is actually a profound act of self-compassion.
How?
• It creates consistency. Rituals anchor you. They provide stability when emotions feel overwhelming.
• It promotes self-trust. Showing up for yourself in small ways sends a message to your nervous system: I am safe and I am cared for.
• It helps process suppressed emotions. When you feel disconnected or numb, physical touch like self massage with body oil can reignite that sense of aliveness and tenderness.
Applying your skincare with intention. Choosing an outfit with textures and colors that honor your softness and your strength. These are not shallow acts, they are affirmations that say, “I matter and deserve to feel beautiful and cared for.”
Adornment becomes an act of self-compassion, a language your nervous system understands deeply. The more you honor yourself through these small details, the more your inner world begins to soften.
Nourishing the Body and Soul Through Ritual
To reiterate my statement from earlier, transformation doesn’t have to come from grand transformations or routines with a ton of steps. Here are a few simple but powerful adornment rituals you can weave into your day to nourish both body and spirit:
• Morning Skincare + Affirmation: As you cleanse and moisturize, speak kind and loving words to your reflection. “I am safe and returning to myself.”
• Intentional Outfit Planning: Choose one accessory that brings you joy each day like a unique purse, a pop of color, or your favorite ring.
• Dress for the Mood You Desire: Even if you’re staying home, put on a color or fabric that lifts your energy. Color psychology shows that soft pinks promote tenderness, while earthy tones ground and soothe.
• Evening Wind-Down Oil Ritual: Massage your feet, belly, or heart space with a calming body oil to signal to your nervous system that it’s safe to relax.
These rituals don’t have to be complicated. They just have to be intentional. Choose something that you love to do so that it doesn’t feel like an extra chore, just tender loving care. Adorning yourself can even become a practice of mindfulness. When you give yourself time to adorn, nourish, and notice, you create space for emotional growth and inner calm.
Final Thoughts: Returning to Color
You don’t need to wait for a better season of life to feel radiant. You don’t need to have it all figured out to deserve softness and celebration. Start with one act of care. A swipe of lip gloss. A spritz of your signature fragrance. A hand on your heart. Every act of physical care becomes a thread in the tapestry of your healing.
You are doing more than just getting dressed. You are reclaiming your presence.
References
Sherman DK, Bunyan DP, Creswell JD, Jaremka LM. Psychological vulnerability and stress: the effects of self-affirmation on sympathetic nervous system responses to naturalistic stressors. Health Psychol. 2009 Sep;28(5):554-62. doi: 10.1037/a0014663. PMID: 19751081.