About a year ago, I got involved in a project that encouraged me to create my own manifesto. As a visual person who loves playing with colors and type, I had a blast putting together this graphic based on stuff that motivates me to be my best.
I hope you will find some inspiration here… perhaps even pick up a new habit or two.
- SPREAD LIGHT, IT’S THE NEW BLACK
As a stylist who lives in NYC, I am convinced that wearing black will always be cool. But you know what’s even cooler? Spreading light. It has the potential to ripple out to others in ways you may never see. - WHEN YOU HAVE 3 EXTRA MINUTES TAKE 3 LONG DEEP BREATHS
You probably don’t even need 3 whole minutes. I bet it can be done in 1. - WAKEUP TO SEE THE SUNRISE, THEN GET STUFF DONE
There is something auspicious about waking up for those predawn moments when most of the city is still asleep (including my 2 kids and husband). It gives me time to be, and connect with my purpose. Then I know what I need to do. - BE GRATEFUL FOR THE LITTLE THINGS
It’s those little things that eventually add up to create something big. But forget about that — just be grateful for it all. - PRACTICE NOT FOR PERFECTION, BUT FOR PROGRESS
Why reach for the unattainable? Shoot for progress. That’s what brings us to our best. - FOR A HEALTHY HEART GIVE AND EXERCISE MORE
For an extra strong heart, add some loving into that mix. - LOOK OUTSIDE FOR INSPIRATION, GO INSIDE FOR THE ANSWERS
In order to do this, you’ll need time to be quiet and listen. - FIND TIME FOR FUN, IT SHIFTS PERSPECTIVE AND MAKES YOU LOOK YOUNGER
I’m all for having a strong focus and goals. But when life becomes too much work and no play it becomes one dimensional. Laughter is good for the soul. - CLEAR THE MIND BY MOVING THE BODY OR SITTING STILL
You don’t have to be seated to meditate. Simply focus on your breath as a guide. And do this often. - PRACTICE YOGA. IT’S A DIRECT PATH TO THE TOTAL SELF. PLUS IT KEEPS YOU FLEXIBLE
I’ve been at it for almost 20 years. It’s become part of who I am…in the best way possible. - ALWAYS ADD A COLOR POP TO YOUR LOOK
Just a little styling tip. - SMILE A LOT
Sometimes it takes an outside-in approach to help raise your vibe. - LOVE YOUR LIFE, LIVE IT WELL
There are good days, there are bad days. In the end they’re all your days — make each one count.
Which one would you implement into your life?
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These are all great! I’ve been doing that thing about deep breaths when I feel stressed and it really does help. I also love the one about practicing for progress, not perfection. Thanks for these!
The deep breathing really works. I got it from Kundalini yoga, but think it applies to all aspects of life. Thank you, Chaitali!
In my current spot in life, I constantly have to remind myself to stop and have fun. Last weekend, we spend most of our time outdoors, visiting a new local state park, and I felt so much more refreshed for the grind this week at work. Thanks for sharing these tips!
Lots of great nuggets here! In the past month or so I’ve had an accountability partner to help me get into the habit of getting up early. I LOVE it and even changed my work schedule so that I can run in the daylight! (with fall here we have shorter and shorter days)
So true that a good time can totally refresh before returning back to the grind. Thank you, Lisa!
Wendy, how cool that you changed your work schedule so you can run earlier. I love being an early riser…I find myself so much more productive because of it. Thank YOU!
The one I need to work on most is finding time for fun! As someone who is self-employed, I feel like there are always 903856 things I could be doing to push my business closer to where I want it to be, but that leads to days where I am burned out and can’t accomplish anything! I also need to work on keeping a color pop in my outfits. When I make an effort, there’s almost always something (sometimes in my makeup), but since I lived in the Midwest for so many years, I have A LOT of really dark, drab clothing. It seems wrong to wear that a lot of the time in sunny California!
Looks so great! I totally need to get back into a solid yoga practice!!
These are such great reminders of what we need to do daily so that we can be the best us for everyone else. I feel that they are all contigent on each other as well and more powerful than each on their own. I think if everyone followed these tips we would have a happier more productive, successful society. I guess I should do my party and practice a few myself. Thanks again for the reminder!
These are fantastic to-dos! I especially love the idea of love as well as physical fitness for heart health and keeping a pop of color in your look. Thank you!
Mandie, I totally get that self-employed compelled to work 24/7 thing…I do the same! But sometimes I find having fun can inspire my work-life…I get new ideas, or a fresh perspective from enjoying myself and being around others.
Do it! You will be so glad you did.
De Bolton, I love your perspective of how by doing these things for ourselves, it will help all of us as a collective. Thank You for pointing this out!
Thank YOU, Jennifer. It’s been so nice getting to know you these past 2 weeks.
I think it’s so easy to get caught up in the day-to-day and forget to appreciate the little things. I’ve been trying to do a better job at that, but I really appreciate the reminder! I like waking up to see the sunrise – I enjoy starting the day as early as I can but have struggled to get out of bed early the past month or so! I need to get back at it.
First, I love your graphic, so fun and so inspiring!!!
Gosh, I could take several of your tips to heart. I find in the winter I wear a lot of black, not sure why. But I like your tip of a splash of color. I’ve never worn bright red lipstick before, but lately I have really wanted to try it. Sounds dumb, but a bold splash of color like that on my face is very much out of my comfort zone, but I really want to try it!
I also love your last tip, love your life and live it well. I really take this one to heart. Anytime I hear someone complaining constantly I think they are missing the point, if they are not happy with the life they have, then change it and live one they love. We all have a few bad days, but there is no reason not to love your life. So I love that last suggestion for sure!
Thanks for joining up in the hop with us!!!
This is such a beautiful post. Great ad for your styling business 🙂 I love your content but what struck me first of all was this delightful infographic, which I am pinning, by the way.
I totally did those 3 deep breaths as I read it.
You’re right about living in NYC and our belief in black. I am wearing black right now, with a bright blue jacket for my pop of color.
http://Runwright.net
Maybe when Daylight Savings ends you’ll be able to get back to rising earlier. It feels a little odd to be waking up in the dark. Thank YOU!
A bold lipstick is a great idea! Try it!! I think it will give you a little boost in how you feel. It’s the little things like this that can have a big impact. And thank you so much, Kristy. What a great hop you hosted!
I love that you’ve got your pop of color going on..it really breaks up the black with some cheer. (And helps you stand out amongst the sea of it in our city!) Thank you so much, Karen. I really appreciate your kind words.
Clam Down! It’s an inside joke, but my best friend and I vowed to each other to “calm down,” which when we typed it…yeah. We frequently remind each other of this, and it SO helps. We are each other’s accountability partners, reminding each other of what’s important and what’s not – it really helps! Thanks for sharing!
A pop of colour can make a huge difference. My umbrella is pink and what I like about it is that when it rains I’m under a pink glow, which makes the drab rainy skies look a little brighter.
And I like your last point to love your life and live it well.
I simple LOVED LOVED this article!! It felt like each and every point resonated with me. My favorite one is hands down #7!! I follow #3 almost every day. My dad used to emphasize on the importance of waking up with the sun or before it. He wakes up at 4 am. That’s still hard for me to achieve. I try 5 – 5 15 am. And I feel, that is the time I get to reconnect with myself, feel most energized and creative to do stuff that satiates my soul. It varies each day – somedays I read or meditate or do some creative writing. Or somedays, just make a nice cup of coffee and enjoy the moment!! Mornings are my favorite and I am the least crankiest. Haha! I loved #5 and I am a huge work-in-progress when it comes to it. I am a type A perfectionist. So, I got to always remind myself that perfection is unattainable. Thanks for all those gentle reminders. We all know them, but we always need to remind ourselves of them.
Thank you, Madhuri. I’m so happy this resonated with you. And it looks like you and I have some stuff in common! I LOVE my early mornings. It is my sacred time to connect and create, as you do too! Your dad is impressive….4am is next level early bird. It must be extra special for him to be so committed. Admirable.
What a clever way to introduce a pop of color! I may need to swap out my drab grey for fuchsia! Thank you, Nicola.
Haha! CLAM DOWN. What a great joke and reminder. Thank you, Sarah.
I love all of these but lately I’ve been working on reminding myself to stop and have fun and adding more yoga. I tend to do yoga when I feel like I need a good stretch but I have never made it a regular practice.
Yoga is a great stretch. I think it becomes more than that once you start doing it regularly. Thank you, Elizabeth!
I’ve always been a smiler, no matter what was going on inside me.
A great way to be, Cassi. Thank you!