Motivation Mondays

“JUST DO IT”

Such a simple phrase, yet not the easiest thing to do. Lately I’ve found myself making excuses for “just doing” the things that set my soul on fire. Lack of time, exhaustion from other engagements, not feeling creative… my excuses have been piling on. I am definitely a firm believer of balance in life. I know it’s important to take the time to reset and recharge when needed, but I’m an even bigger advocate for making sure life is filled with the things, that will bring you immense joy on the daily. Excuses can make that a hard reality at times.

Life is continuously full of “just do it” moments, and they won’t always be at the perfect time or on route of a carefully thought out plan. The “just do it” moments are the risks, the funny stories, the advances, the lessons and the moments you look back on and realize that they altered your life in unimaginable ways. So next time you find yourself playing it safe and caught up in routine, put yourself in a position to JUST DO IT.

Motivation Mondays

“Trust the timing of your life”

Honestly, I cannot emphasize this quote enough! EVERYTHING in your life is happening to you or for you with divine reasoning. Trust that whatever opportunities are presented, struggles you’re going through, or calm moments to think clearly, were given to you in that moment for a specific reason. With that being said, allow yourself to process the things happening to you in the present and to trust that they’re leading you to your next path.

Motivation Mondays

“In the middle of difficulty lies opportunity”

Often times all we think of during difficult situations is the stress that we endure in that moment. What really should be noticed, is that a difficult time is always offering value of some sort to your life. The goal is to be able to train your way of thinking to automatically go to this mindset when faced with a challenge.

Life is really all about perspective. How you are able to perceive the situations you go through, ultimately dictates your quality of life. If you were to take a difficult situation and think of the positive things that were actually to come from it, rather than dwelling on what you may be losing in that moment, I bet you could find a way to change your perception of the situation. Doesn’t this sound much better than being stuck in a negative thought process, with no way out? Once you are able to flip your way of thinking and to identify the positives that can come from this, you are then able to gain something from a difficult situation. Therefore, what once started as a stressful, difficult hardship becomes a valuable lesson that has helped you on your journey of life.

With that in mind, I advise you to try to start training your mind with little annoyances and work your way up; i.e. You miss the train– More time to think/read/prepare properly for your day, lose something– I’m sure it’s not the worst thing you could have lost, so that’s the universe warning you to stop being so forgetful before it gets worse! Something doesn’t go your way-look for the the things you can gain because of this…etc. Once you start thinking like this, you will become more conscious of all of your thoughts. This will provide you with a better mindset to filter out the negative ones.

Motivation Mondays

“I am creating the life of my dreams”

Are you? Or are you simply just living. To the people that want to create the life of their dreams…Take a look at your daily habits. What are you doing each day that is inspiring you to lead the life you dream of? Do you have a list of tasks needed to accomplish that dream? Can you identify the things that are preventing you from reaching that end goal? Get specific with all of the details. Having a vision is one thing, but having the drive and discipline to see that your vision becomes your reality, is what will enable you to position yourself for both present and future success. So starting today, set yourself up with a plan and make that dream life your reality!

Friday Favorites

So it’s been a while since I’ve shared with you some of my favorites, and given the current state of the world right now, I decided I would shift my Friday Favorites to cater to the small businesses that have made New York City a home to me over the past 8 years.

Starting this off with a new find, but one worth sharing- ilashyou. Anyone that knows me, knows my lashes… are my thing. I’ve scoured the city to find the perfect lash extensions and this my followers, is it. Located on the Upper East side in the most relaxing and clean studio, sits this hidden gem. The owner Tanya is the sweetest and most accommodating technician. She’s knowledgeable and listens to what you want and somehow exceeds all expectations every single time. If you’re a lash fanatic like myself, or in the mood to treat yourself, you should definitely check her out because you will not be disappointed!

ILASHYOU

Motivation Mondays

“Every new beginning comes from some other beginnings end”.

Endings have a bad reputation. What often comes to mind when people hear of an ending is the furthest or final part of something. When something comes to an end, the feelings most associated are sadness or feeling like it’s an end all be all situation. It’s hard to see the bigger picture when you’re only focusing on one side of the situation. I’ve felt that, I’ve seen friends and family experience it and I am sure at least everyone has as well. In the moment, the most difficult thing to comprehend, is that every single ending always leads you to a new beginning of some sort. The chance to start anew is always just around the corner. So maybe something in your life is ending right now and you’re stressing that it is the end of the world, but what if you shifted your perspective and embraced the beauty of the new that was to come?

What I Wore Wednesdays

As NYC temperatures keep progressively dropping, you will find me LIVING in this coat for the rest of the time being. I purchased this last year but it’s definitely my go to in the winter. I’m one of those people that doesn’t really ever want to close their coats fully( the outfit is always important! ) so this coats amazing because it has a cropped leather interior that zips, which gives me the best of both worlds! It’s cute and functional, so what’s not to love?! I’m also the kind of person that definitely needs gloves because I’m always freezing, but I also hate the restriction that normal ones provide. These gloves were the perfect quality and look that I had been searching for. I found them at this adorable boutique that I came across in Brooklyn called Lubella. If you’re ever in the area, definitely check them out! These Commando leather leggings are also another winter staple for me because they’re so versatile! Either dressed up or dressed down, I’ve constantly found myself grabbing for these this year. To finish off the look, I chose my black lace up boots to provide a little warmth and comfort for the night.

Coat Leather leggings boots

Motivation Mondays

“Without rain, nothing grows. Learn to embrace the storms in your life”.

Whether we’re talking major storms or a little drizzle, you need to embrace it all to properly cherish the good days. While social media can make it seem like there are people living perfect lives 24/7… I promise you, they’re really not. That’s okay though! Everyone needs a little struggle in life because without the bad days, or a little hiccup in our routine… we would not be able to appreciate the little moments in life, that provide us with our happiest days. How would you even be able to recognize the things that made you happy without knowing what didn’t? While embracing a little struggle, the key to all of this, is to not harbor on the bad days and the disruptions to your flow. I have found it to be extremely beneficial to take the time to acknowledge and dissect the bad moments experienced. Why do you feel the way you do? What improvements could you make to prevent feeling like this for the future? What steps can you take to change your situation right now? These are all questions that I ask myself when faced with a problem because it allows me to talk the problem out with myself and often times, not repeat the situation. So while the storms are just a part of life, just know that they will eventually pass and they’re crucial to everyones journey in growth.

Motivation Mondays

“If you can’t fly then run, if you can’t run then walk, if you can’t walk then crawl, but whatever you do you have to keep moving forward.” – Martin Luther King Jr.

Today we honor and celebrate Martin Luther King Jr., so it only seemed appropriate to pull a quote from his archives. As one of history’s greatest influencers, this quote from 1960, that King spoke of at the Spelman college rally is still relevant. I honestly love this quote because it is what I personally stand for in my day to day life; to keep moving forward.

The consistent component of life is that it is so unpredictable. Unforeseen circumstances are inevitable, but rather than to be thrown off course by something that you cannot control, find a way to continue on, at whatever pace you can. With the mindset of continuously pushing yourself forward, despite any hardships that you may encounter, you will eventually realize that you are able to do anything you set your mind to and consistently work towards. The other factors simply won’t matter with the right motivated mindset.

Motivation Mondays

“Take the risk, don’t let the unknown stop you from progressing”.

Staying in your comfort zone is…comfortable. Sure, it’s easy, but also the number one thing that will prevent you from progressing in life. Everyone has the same 24 hours in a day. The same opportunities to take a vision and to make it a reality. While not everyone has the same exact tools to do so, we all have it in us to become whatever we want for ourselves. And that’s going to be different for everyone. We wouldn’t have dreams of doing things or becoming certain versions of ourselves, if it weren’t possible. While it’s an easy route to go with the flow and to continue on a safe path, I’ve found that it’s the most worthwhile to take a dream and step out of your comfort zone in order to get yourself closer to that. It’s certainly not easy, and can even be a bit scary, but rather than wondering what could have been, wouldn’t you want to at least try to get closer to your highest potential? So, my advice to you this week is to do something to get yourself out of your comfort zone, however big or small, in any aspect of your life. You owe it to yourself to at least try.