Skip to main content

Hey Good Lookin'!


My dear friend, Dr. Arnie, has a mantra I love:  Look Good.  Feel Good.  Live Longer.  Sounds great, doesn’t it?  Who wouldn’t want that!  So how can we make the mantra come alive for us?  Specifically, what can we do to look good?

If you would have asked me this question when I was in my 20’s I would have said I “look good” when I am in shape, have my hair fixed, make-up on and am nicely dressed. “Mmmmm, mmmmm… lookin’ good!”  Now, being a bit wiser,  I believe looking good goes way beyond my external appearance and wholeheartedly believe that looking good is more of an inside job.

This inside job refers to my internal health in three key areas:
·      self-talk
·      self-love
·      self-acceptance

Several years ago I started to pay closer attention to how I was doing in each of these areas and once I became really mindful of what I said to myself, how I loved myself, and how fully I accepted myself (as I was), I realized I was on a course of self-destruction!   I was feeding myself with critical words, comparisons, and self-judgment throughout my day.   This internal negativity ultimately affected me externally in my personal energy, how I presented myself, how I took care of myself – all things that affected my looks.  Do you find yourself in similar patterns? 

While I was the same person physically (my face, body, hair, etc.) I would sometimes pass by a mirror and see a very different person.   Who is this not-so-beautiful person?  I can’t pinpoint the exact moment when I “woke up” to the realization that my outer looks were tightly linked to how I talked to, loved, and accepted myself, but I will tell you it was a gradual growth to turn things around. 

One of my first steps (and where I recommend you start too) was to acknowledge and accept how much I was or wasn’t taking care of me in these internal health areas.  I then made a commitment to myself to take better care of me.  Slowly but surely different resources started showing up in my life to help me with this internal beauty job!  I invite you to take this internal journey to lookin’ good!  Here are some simple, effective steps to get you started.

Steps for moving forward:
·      Read a book (better yet, start a book club).  Some of my favorites are: the Art of Extreme Self-Care by Cheryl Richardson; The Gifts of Imperfection by Brene Brown; and A Course in Miracles by Marianne Williamson.
·      Write out a personal mantra or affirmation that addresses self-talk, self-love or self-acceptance.  One of my favorites from Brene’s book is “I am enough”. 
·      Keep a daily gratitude journal.  Each day write 10 things you are grateful for and at least 5 of them need to be things you appreciate about you!

Weekly Challenge:  Plan one of these actions into your week next week, or research these topics and find an action that speaks to you.  Become very mindful of how you treat YOU throughout your day.   Remember that loving you on the inside will translate to a beautiful you on the outside!

Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

What is Radiant Achievement?

What is Radiant Achievement? In order to speak to Radiant Achievement, I want to first address strategic achievement because the latter is how most of us have been programmed to operate. Set the goal. Achieve the goal. Repeat. Success is then defined by one’s ability to culminate the most repeats. Growing up, I was taught that if I wanted something bad enough, I needed to go out and get it myself. So, at age twelve, when I realized I wanted to do things and buy things that my parents weren’t able or willing to provide, I got my first job. I took 100% responsibility for my success, which translated into me taking 100% of the actions; no one was going to help me to accomplish my goals. And what this really meant is that I suffered in silence. I hated asking for help; I thought I would be judged as weak or lazy for asking. That is the crux of strategic achievement. Because it is more fixed on structure and hard work, it is severely limited. It requires us to spend time in our head, connec...
Post a Comment
Read more

The Perfect First Step When You Start Your Goal

Hello, my friend! I know it's been rocky times for many people. I am back here with some motivation and inspiration if you are feeling stuck on any of your goals, especially if you're stuck at the starting line!  Here's to getting started and making progress toward your goals, dreams, and callings!
Post a Comment
Read more

I'm Pregnant! (but not with a baby)

Yes I am pregnant.... but not the way you may be thinking! I am pregnant with a product idea (in the beauty market) that has been slowly growing inside me.  This is exciting and scary all at the same time, a lot like it felt when I was pregnant my two children, especially my first one! I have decided, with the encouragement of a dear friend, to share the conception, pregnancy and upcoming birth of my product.  My hope is to inspire other women to commit to making their dreams a reality, whether it be with the development of a product they've created, movement to the career they REALLY desire to have, or the writing of the book they have deep in their heart.  As I began to share my idea with people in my life, I found myself feeling as if I was sharing a precious secret.  I was a bit unsure how my friends would react.  Would they be excited for me or have that look on their face that says "It's a long road, are you sure you really want to do this?"  My...
Post a Comment
Read more