Never ever do this

Never let anyone manipulate you into destroying your self esteem. They will own you, and will give you up to the world to devour you. Though it might be hard to ignore the brutal words of others (especially if they are coming from someone who is supposed to love you) you must try to retain some self worth and confidence in this world. It is all you ever really have. Don't put too much effort into pleasing others, instead use your efforts to love yourself. Let people say what they want and think what they want, but never let them trick you into sharing their negative thoughts.

A Stylish Soul

 When I shop it isn't to be an icon of beauty, or wow passer byers. I simply don't care about a lot of worldly goods other people do. I like simplicity. I'm more found of sun sets than gem stones.

I live in the world, yes. I go out and do what other girls do. I like things, looking at things, buying things, but I don't seek a deep connection with these things.

I don't want to be first in line for any gadget. I don't feel like a better person if people approve of the stuff I own. It's just stuff. My clothes, shoes, bag are just stuff. I'm starting to feel like I have too much stuff.

Yet I keep shopping.

What is the reason for this? It's what humans do I guess. But it's not what spirits do.

It's the spirit part of me that I value the most. That is what I want to look good. If I am too be really beautiful, truly stylish, then I should think more of the spirit than the body.

The spirit isn't dressed in fine jewels, but fine feelings such as peace, love and humility. The spirit doesn't seek out the latest trends, but instead the balance and oneness felt by giving yourself to everything beyond earthly desire.

I don't value my skirts; they don't bring peace or joy. I value my soul. I value God. I value what no shop on earth can sell  me.

xox thank you for stopping by

Skirt: Yesstyle
Top: Thirtstore
Gloves: Gift
Bag: Aldo

You know more than you think

The about statement is what I frequently tell myself when exam time comes around. Or when I have to face a challenge where my knowledge is both my tool and my fear igniter. I often don't feel I know anything at all. All the knowledge runs out of my head like water going down a tap. When I start to feel anxious that I am lacking in knowledge I tell myself that I do in fact know more than I think I do. Then I study, just to be on the safe side :)

Change Me 2012

Change seems to be falling from the sky. I let it crash upon me without dodging. There is no time to ask for more time. Today is here. Yesterday is buried. All the yesterdays made a circle of 365 that tic toced away until before I realized I was standing in the exact place I had when the clock struck 12 last year. But I wasn't the same. Things aren't the same. Change fell. I let it fall on me. But I stand here feeling childish, like a school girl going to her first class for the first time. I felt, I had not grown. Time moved. I watched it, but I didn't move with it. Was it fatigue or was it fear? I can't tell. But my long sock are as higher in spirits than me.
The year felt shorter than my skirt, yet ballooned to exaggerate and falsify more .

I watched the days like a movie. Seeing the characters, me, play their part and only being able to watch. There is only one show playing, my life, and I can't do much more but watch and wait for a change in scene. Change is coming. I talk  back to the show, wishing the characters could hear me, the way you yell out during a horror flick "don't go into the basement." It's like when you cover your eyes at the scary parts, but behind your shut eyes you can still see everything that is happening. The show plays on whether you want to watch or not. The show doesn't end it simply changes. New roles, new lessons, new feelings, but the same show.

I try to kick away the school girl feelings. "Grow up" I say, "grow." Time is moving and you're still at the same place. My height is tall; my courage measures short. I still close my eyes at the scary parts. And like a backward Cinderella, I expect everything the be different at the stroke of 12. As if everything will be fairytale happy after screaming out New Year cheers. It won't. Like Cinderella things will go back to the same, unless I make a change. There will be change. Change is already falling and I'm not moving out of it's way. Come forth my tomorrow, my new year. Give me new lessons, new moments, something new. Give me change.

Check shirt: thrifted
Tie: thrift
Vest: Smart Set
Skirt:Urban Behavior
Knit Socks: Unknown
Heels: thrift

xox followers and readers.  Thanks for stopping  by

Let Them Judge

 

Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day. These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ.

Colossians 2:16-17

When the words and expressions of others get to me; when I let their judgements of trivial matters affect me; I remember the words above. How silly is it to let someone's opinion of your choice of food or music matter to you.

We are quicker to be offended by how someone sees our taste in food than by our moral standpoint. We would rather fight for our hobbies than our principles. 

The trivial life pursuits of others should not weigh so heavy on our minds. Yet somehow it does. We don't want to associate with those who dislike our favorite movie. It's become more appalling for someone to reject our sense of style than our sense of self worth. 

The songs that fill your ears are not nearly as descriptive of you as the words that fill your heart. What you feed your mouth is not quite as important as what you feed your mind and soul. While it may be interesting to learn how others live through their food, fashion, and day to day life style choices, do not let this alone be an adequate picture of who they are. 

We are more than our breads and butter and do not let the dismissal of a personal preference get your feelings in a wave. Pay them no mind for you are more than anyone will ever know.

Sweater: forever21

Hat: thrifted

Jeans: urbanbehavior

Why playing it safe isn’t always best

It makes sense to avoid the risks involved with hazardous things, like jumping off a cliff without a parachute. However, when it comes to getting out of an unfulfilling relationship or job those same cautious instincts can backfire.

Because change seems, scary we believe that it posses a greater risk than sticking with the status quo. However, we often fail to factor in how not taking a risk can lead to an unfulfilling life. As well as all the things we could be missing out on. Consider the following if you are on of the many that play it safe.

Get out of your comfort zone
Many people don’t like to “rock the boat” especially once they obtain some level of success. The downside of this is that you no longer “play to win” instead, you “play to lose”. Experts confirm that this approach of hesitation and second guessing rarely lead you to the desired outcome. Because what you are doing is subconsciously scaling back our efforts and robing yourself of chances to flourish.

In order to “play to win” you have to acknowledge your fear of the unknown in a proactive way. If you are scared of setting up starting your own business or going after that promotion at your company, list your hesitation and ask yourself how you’d handle the worst case scenario. By looking at specific what ifs, you can evaporate some fears and give yourself the confidence boost to get back in the game.

 Stop waiting for the right moment
A lot of us put of doing things we dream of, like taking that dream vacation or starting our own business, because we are holding out for the best conditions possible. What we forget is by waiting for the right moment we may never accomplish these things. Iris Songivliano, a clinical psychologist in New York City said it best when he said “In order to be dealt a winning hand, you have to be in the game.

Rather than waiting around for the right moment, go after what you want. Create your opportunities by setting tiny yet, specific goals. If you always wanted to start your business, you can start by doing some research, figure out what it would take by drafting a business plan. Same goes if you always wanted to visit Germany. Decide which season you would like to go and then read a travel book on the city.

Since the brain interprets small everyday goals as easier to tackle then big lifelong goals, you’ll jump start a stalled mind-set to propel you toward reaching your ultimate outcome.

Don’t dwell on past disappointments
You, like many others, may allow only the negative memories or our past failures to impact your future decision-making. By doing this, you ignore all the positive things you’ve learned from earlier experiences. But the more you see the broader the picture surrounding life challenges, the faster and easier the trail to triumph will shift into focus.   

I want to be beautiful

The world is full of such beautiful things, snowy mountains, and cherry blossoms, sea coral and dirt roads and every creature that walks this world. You and I are both beautiful. But sometimes I don't feel I belong in this world of such bountiful beauty.
I don't mean in the vain sense. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, so to strive to be beautiful in the physical sense is a waste-less cause. One may look at me with appeal and another can turn away without hesitation. I cannot please everyone. But I do want to please God. I want to be beautiful for him. I shudder to think he may look at me with disappointment. I don't know if he beholds me with the same esteem as we do a blossoming spring flower, but I want my friend Jesus to teach me. Teach me how to be beautiful by guiding me. Make my soul a wonder. Make my heart the fairest of them all.

Top: thirfted

Skirt: thirfted 

Stockings: thirfted

Shoes: Urban Outfitters

Bag: thirfted

Necklace: borrowed

Bangles: borrowed

Side note: the red patch in my pocket is actually just at tissue I folded up to look like it was part of the skirt.

Change for the better

The quote above says "people change for the better, not for the worse." With God, they do. They adapt better, they cope better, they make better decisions, and they live and love better. Being on the other side, when I tried to change without him, didn't let me do a good job. I mean I was living, and I was changing, but I wasn't becoming someone I could be proud of. Perhaps it was because I was changing for the world, doing what those who live for external wanted me to do. But the external is limiting. You can only accomplish so much; you can only experience so much; and you can only change so much. But returning to the internal and the eternal eliminated the boundaries and limits. I changed fully, while still allowing myself to believe that God made me perfect. That in this moment, I can accept who I am and live as my best self.