15 Fabulous Ways to Refresh Your Mind and Soothe Your Soul

Hi lovelies,

Feeling stressed and overwhelmed is something you have become quite accustomed to over the years. You realize that you shouldn’t have to suffer on a regular basis, but nothing seems to be working for you. When it comes to refreshing your mind and soothing your soul, there are so many different techniques you can try. Whether you’re trying to enhance your workout or improve your diet, every small change can contribute considerable amounts. There could be many reasons why you have the weight of the world on your shoulders, but you shouldn’t have to suffer any longer. Of course you are going to have worries and stresses in your life, but they should never inhibit you from doing what you really love. If you have yet to find a calming and stress relieving technique that works for you, try some of the following fabulous methods right now.

1. Hydrate! 
You might be surprised to hear that the amount of water in your body can have a direct affect on your mood. If you aren’t drinking enough you will feel slow, sluggish and unmotivated for most of the day. With Berkey water filter systems you can be sure that you are getting your recommended water intake; the water will also be fresh and clean. If you aren’t a fan of plain water then why not spruce it up with some fresh fruit or cordial? Up your water intake to eight or ten glasses a day, and see if your mood improves.

Image

2. Eat Well
As well as water, food can have a huge impact on your stress levels and emotions. If you find yourself binging on high sugar snacks you are likely to experience an unwanted crash right afterwards. Keep your blood sugar steady with slow releasing carbohydrates and whole grain foods. If you get the urge for something sweet grab a green apple and dip it into a dollop of peanut butter. Switching up your diet will work wonders for your mind and body, so why not try it out today?

3. Move Your Body
When you exercise on a regular basis, your body gives off happy hormones called endorphins. These hormones release a positive surge throughout your mind and body, which can help to relieve symptoms of anxiety. Taking on gentle movement each day will help you to overcome your stress and feel calm again.

4. Rethink Your Career 
Your job is such a huge part of your life, so why be unhappy in it? Your career can take a huge turn for the better if you have the guts to admit that you’re unhappy. There is no point in dragging yourself into the office daily when it has such as negative impact on your emotions. Rethink your career and you will soon see a huge improvement in your mental health.

5. Reconnect With Family
When you are having issues with your family it can have a huge knock on effect to you mood. Your family are a fundamental part of your life so you need to remain well connected with them as much as possible. Don’t take your loved ones for granted as you never know when they might not be there. Take the time to call or text them whenever you get a moment and you will soon feel a sense of relief.

6. Assess Your Relationship
If you’re stuck in a toxic relationship, you are never going to get your mental health on track. It can be very easy to feel trapped with someone you have spent a long time with, but you can’t allow this to impact your happiness. If you’re unhappy in a relationship you shouldn’t be afraid to walk away and seek better things for yourself.

Image

7. Put More Effort Into Your Friendships
Your friends are going to be there for you through thick and thin, so you need to value every aspect of your friendships. There are many ways in which you can be a better friend, such as checking up on them when they are poorly or dropping them a text to let you know how much you love them. As soon as you put more into your friendships you will start to get a lot more out of them. 

8. Meditate
Taking some time away from your hectic life to meditate can help you to feel completely calm and relaxed. Use an app to tune out from the world and focus on your breathing for a short amount of time every single day. Meditation is proven to be a healer for anyone suffering from mental health problems or ongoing stress, so why not give it a try?

One obstacle for many people trying to learn how to meditate is that it can be tough to let go of the past and stay in the present moment. As such, it is a good idea to try and find an easy method to let go of the past, as this is going to encourage you to be more mindful of the present moment.

9. Lose Your Screens
Getting lost in your phone, laptop or tablet screen is becoming all too common these days. People are forgetting to embrace their real lives and they watch the world go by through a screen instead. Try to take some time away from your screen whenever possible; this will help you to really appreciate the wonderful opportunities around you.

10. Submit to Self Care
We sometimes fall victim to stress because we forget to take care of ourselves. Perhaps you’re busy caring for a family member and you don’t have the time to do things for yourself anymore. This won’t help you to feel refreshed and relaxed so it’s time to submit to self care. Whether you take ten minutes to read your favourite book or you go for a short walk in the fresh air, these small acts of self care will work wonders for your mental health

Image

11. Practice Gratitude
When you’re stressed out it is very easy to forget about all the amazing things you have going on in your life. Practicing gratitude will go a long way if you are trying to make a difference to your day to day emotions. Nobody else can carry out this technique for you, so it needs to come from within. Write down two or three things every single morning that you are grateful for and your mood will soon be turned from negative to positive.

12. Reduce Chemicals
The chemicals in your home may be contributing significantly to your stress levels without you even realizing. If you use a lot of antiperspirant sprays or toxic cleaning substances, then you could be breathing in a lot of dangerous fumes. If you want to totally revamp the health levels in your household you need to rethink your habits. For example, you can make your own cleaning products at home from lemons, white wine vinegar and baking soda. Keep your home sparkling clean without breathing in toxic fumes. Going greener might just help you to refresh your mind and feel at ease again.

13. Be Kinder
When you do nice things for other people, you will instantly feel uplifted. Carrying out good deeds is a sure fire way to increase happiness and reduce stress. Even if you buy a homeless person a coffee or help an old lady cross the road, you might find serenity in a daily act of kindness.

14. Talk More
Keeping your feelings bottled up inside will never be useful when you’re trying to refresh your mind and soothe your soul. Try to open up to somebody you trust and talk about how you are feeling. If you struggle to speak about your emotions then you might find it useful to visit a reputable psychotherapist. They will be able to teach you calming and therapeutic techniques to get over your stress and anxiety.

Image

15. Take the Pressure off Yourself
Finally, you need to stop overthinking every stressful situation in your life and take the pressure off. When your mind is constantly overburdened with stress you will start to feel overwhelmed. Take a moment to think about the bigger picture and don’t take life too seriously. Although this is much easier said than done when you are an anxious person, it will help you to achieve calmness in the long run.

Every single person is completely unique, so you might find some of these methods magical. Other methods might seem completely alien to you, so don’t put too much pressure on yourself to do everything. Over a prolonged period of time you should attempt some of the most appealing techniques and see how they work for you. It might simply be a case of eating well, hydrating more or reevaluating your relationship. You will find the root of your stress soon and the moment you gain clarity will be a life changing time. Suffering from stress and anxiety will never be easy, but you can find a way to gain control over it. Don’t allow your worries to tip you over the edge and give you extra stress in your life. Practice some of the ideas above and you will soon be able to refresh your mind and soothe your soul.

This is a collaborative post.

LIFE STORIES WITH JOANNA GARZILLI: CANDY WASHINGTON AS SPECIAL GUEST

Hi lovelies,

I was honored to be a special guest on the show, Life Stories hosted by Joanna Garzilli for EverTalkTV. The interview is up on lifestoriestelevision.com as well as Apple TV and Roku, and you can watch below.

We cover how your childhood can play a role in your current success and my plans for my new company, 1214 Media Productions.

Candy Washington from EverTalk TV on Vimeo.

Reach for the Stars

Hi lovelies,

Say you’re watching your favorite, film, TV show or program. And there you see them. Your favorite celebrities and stars, looking absolutely perfect and you wonder to yourself how they must do this? What’s their secret. But chances are you already know what it is. Botox. And the concept of getting Botox seems to alien, so unreal. After all, if your favorite celebrities get that kind of treatment, chances are, it’s very exclusive. 

But now, flash back to reality, where I tell you that Botox is far closer to you than you think. In fact, nowadays, it’s only a few clicks and phone calls away. And I’m here to tell you, how this very day, Botox in New York City and many other major metropolitan areas is accessible and easy to find, with reasonable pricing that’s surely within your budget.

So, Botox in New York City, close to your home may seem odd, but believe it or not, many of the clinics you pass by on your way home or to the store actually offer different treatments and packages for Botox. You just have to look in the right ones.

Make It Accessible
First of all, try finding clinics close to your home. Now this doesn’t mean specifically on the same block where you live, but perhaps a few bus stations away. It’s only more convenient for you, if the clinic is as close as possible, so that you can go for a quick check-up or a little boost once in a while.

History Matters
Regardless of what part of town the clinic may be, it’s important to look into the clinics history. By history, what I mean is basically their track record and everyone involved in the track record, from customers to the specialists themselves.

This mean looking through customer reviews, feedback, before and after photos. Basically, anything you can find about how the clinic operates will only give you a clearer picture of what to expect. Furthermore, you can find people in the same budgetary limit as you and maybe ask for a few pointers on forums.

But even if the budget isn’t that big of a deal for you, and neither is the distance, you should always look into the before and after photos and any other client feedback you can get your hands on. While generally reliable, Botox in New York City is quite widespread and specialists with different kinds of experience and qualifications offer their own packages and deals.

This doesn’t mean that you should be overly picky, but don’t just choose blindfolded. Think about what you need, how much of it you need, when you need it (with everyone being so busy nowadays even a week-long downtime following the procedure could be impossible.)

Understand What You Want
Before you go, so as to not waste any more time, make sure you go to the clinic already knowing at least the basics of what you need to treat with Botox, like what part of the face. While obviously, your specialist will work closely with you to give you your desired results and the closest he can get to replicating exactly what you want, it will only make the specialists job easier and make you more confident in your decision if you take some time to think about it yourself.

Pinpoint exactly what it is you want or feel like you need. Think it over. Maybe you don’t actually need it. Maybe you’ve changed your mind. But one way or another, you need to try and think it over on your own. Sleep on it, weigh the pros and cons, find the little nooks and crannies you think need a little change. It’ll only make the process faster and more efficient.

The Stars are Reachable
So, if to this day you thought it was pretty much impossible to even look the tiniest as perfect as your favorite stars, then you’ve greatly mistaken. Botox is an accessible luxury nowadays and has been for some time. You don’t have to be a rich movie star to have it. You just need to look in the right places.

Just know where to look, what to look for and of course, what you actually want from the treatment. And with the vast number of clinics available in most urban areas, you’re sure to find a clinic that’ll offer you the exact deal you’ve been looking for.

*This is a guest post.

5 Ways to Enhance Your Workout

Hi lovelies,

The saying "don't work hard, work smart" is a mantra that rings true for many things, including your fitness goals. If you've been putting in the hours at the gym but have yet to see any changes on the scale or in your own strength, don't fret — there's nothing wrong with your body. However, there might be something you can do to improve the way you approach your training and motivate yourself further. If this sounds like you, here are some tips to enhance your workout.

Have a plan

No two bodies are completely the same. So while it's tempting to copy your favorite celebrity's detox diet and fitness routine down to a tee, don't be surprised if it doesn't give you the same results. Your best bet is to figure out your own goals and train accordingly. That might sound obvious, but you'd be surprised how many people's routines don't align with their objectives. For example, you might want to tone up, but all you do is cardio when you should be doing strength training. So build a plan that caters to your needs and stick to it. Don't just aimlessly wander around the gym looking for any kind of burn.

Crank up the music

According to the National Center for Health Research, music doesn't just relieve boredom. It can also improve the quality of your workout by putting you in a better mood. What's more is that some sounds can engage certain networks in your brain that allow your muscle groups to sync with the music.

It's worth investing in a pair of earphones that can keep you in the zone as you workout. Jabra's Elite Active 65T ranks as the best earphones for running and the gym, thanks to their wireless fit, sound isolation, and decent battery life. And while you're at it, give the Best Body Ever playlist a listen here!

Wear the right clothes

To "dress for success" doesn't just apply to work. At the gym, high quality fabrics work as hard as you do to accelerate your performance. Your oversized cotton shirt from high school probably won't withstand rigorous training.

And when it comes to doing your best, comfort is the key. Choose leggings, tops, and shirts in soft fabrics that allow maximum breathability. They should also be durable enough to see you through your squat session or an hour-long Vinyasa practice. However, if you're the type to workout outdoors, it may be best to layer up so temperature drops don't get in the way. Woman Within's hooded jackets will help you survive those chilly morning jogs, while still providing you enough room for movement. Plus, they're easy to throw on and off at any point if it gets too warm. Pair it with LNDR'S trusty sports bras, which feature chic designs and antibacterial fibers to wick away the cold sweat.

Stick to quality over quantity

Just because you aren't loading up on your weights doesn't mean you aren't hard at work. So grab that two- or three-pounder if that's what you're comfortable with (for now), because a 2012 study by researchers from McMaster University confirms that using light weights can be just as effective.

The trick is to focus on your repetitions until you reach muscle fatigue, which will eventually lead to the same muscle building as lifting heavy. Don't forget to master your form, too, which is equally important in avoiding injuries.

Recover properly

No, hitting the gym every single day doesn't speed up your goals. Ultimately, all your hard work needs to be complemented by rest to give your muscles ample time for recovery. Otherwise, you could be setting yourself up for muscle damage. It doesn't have to be an elaborate trip to your massage therapist every time, but it does pay to get acquainted with a foam roller and learn some proper stretching techniques.

*This is a guest post

Sugar Pills Podcast: The Warmth of Your Inner Voice

Hi lovelies,

Listen above to the latest episode or on iTunes, here.

I’m honored that you’re joining me on our journey to self-love, self-care, self-worth, and self-discovery. It is my hope that this podcast adds some joy, love, happiness, and actionable insights to your life.

If you haven’t already, be sure to pick-up a copy of Sugar Pills: 10 Days to Awaken Your Inner Power on Amazon, here: https://amzn.to/2GNPDL6

Or grab it on Amazon Kindle, here: https://amzn.to/2vxKzWc.

You can also enjoy all of my favorite things to get your joy back with my “Self-Care Starter Kit,” here: https://www.amazon.com/shop/candywashington

For more on practical self-care: http://candywashington.com/self-care

Join me on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter: @candywashington and check out my site, candywashington.com.

Don't forget to subscribe, rate, and review on iTunes, here.

The Essential Self-Care Starter Kit

Hi lovelies,

Since helping others in how to unconditionally love, support, honor, and protect themselves through self-care is a personal mission of mine, I wanted to curate my essential self-care starter kit for those unsure of where to start when it comes to growing your level of self-worth and self-esteem.

It’s crucial to remember that self-care isn’t about spa days and face masks, although those activities can be apart of your self-care routine, it’s truly about taking inspired and intentional action to honor who you are and the space that you take up in this beautiful world.

Self-care is the foundation for creating healthy boundaries with yourself and others, exercising your own autonomy, building your self-confidence, elevating your mind, body, soul, and spirit, and unlocking your inner peace, love, and joy that’s waiting for you.

Please enjoy some of my favorite ways to honor my life by taking intentional time to slow down, be still, and get present - plus, here’s more Self-Care Essentials.

Need additional guidance in harnessing the power of self-care? Then check out my self-care sessions, here, grab a copy of the Sugar Pills: 10 Days to Awaken Your Inner Power guide and journal, here, and don’t forget to subscribe to the Sugar Pills: 10 Days to Awaken Your Power podcast, here.

***Just click the images below to get started.***

BATH + BODY

---

MEDITATION

---

JOURNALING + CREATIVITY

---

READING

---

AT-HOME EXPERIENCE

How to Awaken the Power of Perseverance

Hi lovelies,

Listen above to the latest episode or on iTunes, here.

I’m honored that you’re joining me on our journey to self-love, self-care, self-worth, and self-discovery. It is my hope that this podcast adds some joy, love, happiness, and actionable insights to your life.

If you haven’t already, be sure to pick-up a copy of Sugar Pills: 10 Days to Awaken Your Inner Power on Amazon, here: https://amzn.to/2GNPDL6

Or grab it on Amazon Kindle, here: https://amzn.to/2vxKzWc.

You can also enjoy all of my favorite things to get your joy back with my “Self-Care Starter Kit,” here: https://www.amazon.com/shop/candywashington

Join me on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter: @candywashington and check out my site, candywashington.com.

Don't forget to subscribe, rate, and review on iTunes, here.

Get Summer Body Ready with Beverly Hills Plastic Surgeon: Dr. Chiu

Hi lovelies,

Now that festival season, warm weather, and summer body season is upon us, it’s time to get confident from the inside out, so our inner Queens can shine through.

That’s why on on Tuesday, April. 2, L.A. philanthropists and owners of Beverly Hills Plastic Surgery Inc.  Christine and Dr. Gabriel Chiu hosted a Pre-Coachella brunch to debut the newest trends and procedures in the field of plastic surgery - removing any shame or stigma of taking back control of living your best life in your best body. 

The soiree was held at Beverly Hills Plastic Surgery Inc. in Beverly Hill’s Golden Triangle. Delicous bites included mini crustless quiche, avocado tartine, and char grilled, herb marinated chicken atop Lola Rosa lettuce with grilled asparagus and Kumato tomato. We then had the opportunity to speak first hand with leading edge beauty , body, and skincare brands like Ultratherapy, Restalyne, Skin Better Science, and Cool Sculpting.

Beverly Hill’s Plastic Surgery generously gifted us with a $1,000 gift certificate to come back to the center and try out some state-of-the-art equipment as well as gift bags filled with SH-RD, JOICO, SHISEIDO,  PROUD SOURCE WATER, and LYDA BEAUTY.

What are the best mistakes that women make with their skin that they don’t know is actually aging them faster?

“..one of the biggest things is dehydration. Everyone forgets about dehydration when they’re drinking, but alcohol is going to dehydrate you even faster, and what your skin needs the most is hydration. “ “With dehydration, one of the things that really helps besides drinking fluids and trying to avoid alcohol is IV infusion therapy. It’s not only a great antioxidant, but repeated treatments will actually help bleach your skin.

When should one start preventative work such as fillers or Botox?

“Antioxidant therapies, preventative treatments on your skin, I always encourage patients in their twenties to go ahead and start that, because they’re not really thinking about what they’re going to want to recover in their thirties and forties.”

Any more interesting stories and facts?

“It’s interesting that most of the top procedures have stayed popular, with breast augmentation, liposuction and rhinoplasty being the top three procedures, with the top non-invasive procedures being Botox, fillers and peels. The interesting thing about it is the trend that we’ve been seeing with regards to these different procedures and treatments is that less is more, and I’m sure you’ve heard that term a lot, because just about every plastic surgeon is saying it right now. Patients today are more into these “tweakments” instead of having treatments; for instance, people are being more subtle with the Botox injections, they’re going with fewer units to have a more natural look. With facial fillers, no one wants overdone lips and cheeks anymore. They are going after results that look a lot more natural.

Some patients I get even want these, I guess you’d say “microinjections” of HA fillers, where you put just a tiny bit to enhance their “Cupid’s bow”, the little upturn on the lip there, because they don’t want to go and have that lip-lift that I’m sure some of you have heard about, where an incision is done underneath the nose. And then a lot more emphasis is being put on having a gentler series of facial treatments rather than having one big splash treatment. It used to be very popular to go ahead and do a very aggressive chemical peel for instance, and then you would have to recover, see your skin peel like a snake. Now it’s more popular to do a series of smaller treatments that aren’t as noticeable. You don’t have that downtime, so you can go back to work that same day and still get the results that you’re looking for. 

Smaller breast implants are also a lot more popular now for a more natural look. And with rhinoplasty, there’s a desire to keep some of the ethnic nuances of your nose. Those requests have been a lot more popular. As a matter of fact, we were at dinner, double-dating with friends of ours, and they were thinking about maybe doing her nose and saying how she only wanted to have these little subtle things. It’s very, very common. Most people don’t want to look like their favorite person on TV anymore.

With the non-surgical treatments, these are also the latest, hottest treatments that are out there. Some of you may have heard of a treatment called “emsculpt”. Emsculpt is using a magnetic field – we used to do the thing where you attach the wires to your stomach, and you’d see them spasm and everything and it’d hurt like heck, right? They’ve actually modified that treatment now where, instead of hooking wires up, they put these paddles on you, and it’s only FDA-approved right now for the abdomen and for your butt, so you can actually get a butt-lift without injecting fat or doing something else and looking like you did this hardcore glute routine that gives you a kind of rounded, full butt, but it’s the muscle of your butt instead of injections.”

Is it several treatments that are required?

“Basically, when you go ahead and do it, it’s recommended that you do about four treatments every two to three days apart. And you’re literally getting - let’s just say on your stomach. You’re literally having your muscles contract about 20,000 times in half an hour. The program that it goes through starts off getting your abdomen used to it; you’re going a couple hundred times a minute. Then, after a little while, it starts going a couple thousand times a minute, and it’s quite a different experience, but hopefully you’ve tolerated the sensation when it’s at a couple hundred. Then it starts to slow down and goes a lot slower again. The reason for that is to push out the lactic acid and the metabolites from the contractions because these are the things that are going to cause you to have soreness, and that’s why most patients do very well afterwards, and don’t end up having that sore stomach feeling or that “just went to boot camp” feeling and you feel very normal. The results are supposed to be permanent, but again, as with anything else, if you go ahead and let it go, and you’re not working out anymore, of course those muscles are going to get soft again. That’s quite a bit of detail…

“I’ll never go to the gym again!”

“Well, if you went ahead and did this regularly, you’d have a pretty good case to stop going, actually. There are a couple doctors who do that.”

ABOUT Beverly Hills Plastic Surgery: Welcome to Beverly Hills Plastic Surgery, Inc., also known as “BHPS”. We are a full-service plastic and cosmetic surgery practice, led by the surgical expertise of renowned plastic and reconstructive surgeon, Dr. Gabriel Chiu. Located in the heart of Beverly Hills, our luxurious spa office is completed with the most modern technologies available and a staff of knowledgeable and personable consultants, nurses, and medical aestheticians.

*Photo credit to Dina Douglass: http://www.andrenaphoto.com 

The Giving Keys Interview on Forgiveness with Candy Washington

As featured on The Giving Keys.

I’m Candy Washington – I’m a content creator, author, actress and at my core, I’m a storyteller.

The most powerful story of forgiveness that I’m a part of would probably be with my father.  He wasn’t really present in my life and I had to learn how to accept that and see him as a person, not as an ideal and forgive myself for thinking that I was less than without him.

To me, forgiveness means having compassionate accountability for yourself and for others. That really creates a space to let go in a way that removes guilt, blame and shame.

I think forgiveness is challenging because it makes it seem as though you are agreeing that what the person did was ok or that somehow that you were hurt by isn’t justified. So I think sometimes it’s difficult to forgive because you that you are giving away your power but the truth is that it’s the opposite, you are actually empowering yourself with the ability to move on and to let go and to take that negative energy and turning it into something positive that you can use and move forward with.

I think it’s easier to forgive people because if you feel that you have to be forgiven you have to admit that you did something wrong. I think sometimes when you have to admit that you did something wrong it can bruise the ego because the ego wants to stay in the state of  ‘I’m right and you’re wrong.’ So to be forgiven means you have to acknowledge that you made a mistake, that you did something wrong and that your actions hurt someone else and that you have to be accountable for those decisions. Sometimes people ask for forgiveness but you can tell it’s very surface like 'Oh yeah I’m sorry' or 'I’m sorry you felt that way' - being kind of dismissive, I think it takes a bigger person to say, 'Please forgive me for what I did.'

For me, being able to ask for forgiveness has really come from a place of self-reflection and self-awareness and acknowledging that you don’t have to have judgment around what happens to you or what you do. We’re all humans and by design we make mistakes. Being forgiven and asking for forgiveness is just a part of our human experience. When you don’t personalize it like, 'I am wrong,' 'I am bad' or 'I am awful' and you kind of allow yourself to have a healthy distance from where you did something wrong and I made a mistake but I am not that mistake and that doesn’t make me wrong, the event and the act is wrong. When you can separate your person from the action it’s much easier to say please forgive me for what I did because you know who I am.

I think it’s imperative that we think about forgiveness not just in our individual lives but also when it comes to the collective consciousness of the world and what’s happening locally, nationally and internationally. I think we need to forgive people who we think are going against what we believe, what we think is right, what we think we should be doing. Once you’re able to forgive past actions and past transgressions then you open up a space for healthy dialogue and you can say this is what I believe, this is what I think, let me actually hear and listen to your perspective. As long as you’re defending your position, you’re not listening and your're not open to learning about a different perspective or someone else’s experience. I can have my opinion and you can have your opinion and they both can coexist without one person being bad and one person being good.  As long as we think I’m always right, you’re not growing and you’re not moving forward. I think a lot of our leaders are stuck on 'this is the way we’ve always done it,' this is the way we’re always going to do it that they’re not actually thinking about what’s best and most beneficial now that will create a better world moving forward.

 I use forgiveness to move myself forward primarily through self-forgiveness. I tend to be really hard on myself – I always want to get the A+, I want the gold star. I have a lot of inner critic chatter that I have to check so the way I do that is through self-forgiveness. The tool I use is really simple, two words, ‘so what’? I didn’t book that gig I really wanted, so what? I’m still here, I’m still alive, I’m still moving forward, I still have my friends, I still have my family. The world is still spinning. When I’m at peace and happy with myself then I’m showing up for my friends and my family and my audience. I’m showing up in a full way because I’m full first. 

The way I nurture my capacity for self-forgiveness is through journaling. I like to write down things like how am I feeling right now? What are the reoccurring thoughts I’m thinking? What are patterns are showing up and looking at them in a loving way and not a critical way? I also meditate – I’ll light a candle and count down and get really still and centered. These are things you can try out this week and see how they work for you!

PODCAST: Episode 4: How Self-Forgiveness Will Set You Free

Hi lovelies,

Don't forget to subscribe, rate, and review on iTunes, here. Of course there will be ups and downs, ebbs and flows in life, but overall, you can create a blueprint of happiness and joy from which to build your life experience upon.

I received a question on Instagram about self-forgiveness and how that helps you to move forward in your life and I wanted to address the question on this week’s podcast.

Remember: Self-forgiveness is a compassionate way to take ownership for your life. We’re human beings and by nature, we will make mistakes and mishaps, but I promise you, you’re ok, you are forgiven, and it’s time to heal.

5 Ways Self-Care Helps to Increase Your Bottom-Line

Hi lovelies,

As an entrepreneur who’s built profitable and purposeful companies through my lifestyle brand, Actress with Style, and my personal branding consulting service, The Billionaire Blogger Society, the single most important lesson that I had to learn to ensure the success of my businesses was to take care of myself first.

If I wasn’t full within myself then I would have nothing to give to my audience and to my clients, and before my business could flourish, I had to learn how to first flourish from within. Through building an arsenal of self-esteem building and self-care practices, I was able to show up for myself and my business in a more healthy, productive, and effective way.

What was born of this newfound mindset, is my first book, Sugar Pills: 10 Ways to Awaken Your Inner Power. From this experience of personal and professional growth, I wanted to share with you how to grow your bottom-line through healthy self-care practices. Be sure to comment on which insights speak to you and share your own story of self-care and securing the bag.

5 Ways Self-Care Helps Secure the Bag

#1: Secure the bag through inspired action

The only way that you’re actually going to make money doing what you love, is by doing it! One of the biggest hindrances to building a profitable business is by being paralyzed by fear and never getting started or by starting and then stopping the moment you hit a road bump. The way to get over this business building block is by building up your accountability, both to you self and to your team.

Self-care Tip: Awaken the Power of Accountability

The way to transform your vision, dreams, plans, and strategies, into a real life manifestation and accomplish your goals, is by holding yourself and your team accountable. Be accountable to show up for yourself, to think out of the box, to take risks, to learn from your mistakes, to not be afraid to fail, and to make sure that you surround yourself by people who are really there to support you and to cut dead weight when needed.

At the end of the day, the only person responsible for your success is yourself, so you have to take accountability and responsibility for your actions and decisions, and most importantly, for how you spend your time.

#2: Secure the bag by not settling for less than what you deserve

You have to remember that you’re running a business and not a charity. One of the biggest obstacles that I faced when building my brand was people asking me to work for free or at a discounted rate. If I had continued to devalue the work that I did for my clients, I would have never been able to quit my “survival job” and become a full-time entrepreneur.

The trick to not settling is to build up your self-esteem and self-confidence so that you’re so secure and grounded in who you are and the value that you provide for your clients, that you’re unwilling to disrespect yourself and your business by working for free.

Self-care Tip: Awaken The Power of Having Standards

Having and enforcing standards and boundaries is one of the most effective ways to activate your power. We condition people on how they treat us, so if you don’t have standards and boundaries in both your personal and professional life, then you can find yourself being stretched too thin, not fulfilled, exhausted, and worn out, because people will take from you as much as you’re willing to give, so you need to establish boundaries in order to protect your time, energy, and space. The best way to show people how you to treat you, is by example. The way you treat yourself is the number 1 indicator of how other people think that they can treat you.

Questions to ask yourself: What do I expect of myself, in terms of honesty, trust, respect, and accountability? What do I expect from other people, in terms of honesty, trust, respect, and accountability? Then make sure that your actions are in alignment with those expectations.

#3: Secure the bag by building an unstoppable team

The quickest way to manifest your professional goals and dreams is by building a team that believes in your vision and is equipped to do their jobs efficiently and effectively. The bottom-line is that your business and your brand is only as strong as your people so it’s imperative to be mindful of the employees that you hire and the friends and associates that you surround yourself with, because they will determine how far and how quickly you grow.

Self-care Tip: Awaken the Power of Your Circle  

Beware of the company that you keep. There’s a reason why the saying, “Birds of a feather, flock together,” always rings true. If you want to know where you’re at in your life and more importantly, where you’re going, just look around at your inner circle of friends. It’s super important to be able to trust the people that you surround yourself with and also make sure that you are surrounded by people that not only encourage you, but also are at a level that you aspire to be at.

You don’t want to be the most successful person in your circle and you also want to be with people that add value to your life. Take an inventory of who you have in your life and involved in your business and write-out what value they add to your life, business, and bottom-line.

#4: Secure the bag by having a vision for your life

If you don’t know what you’re going or what your endgame is, then you’ll continually to be lost and unproductive in both your life and career. Set goals and milestone for where you want to take your business and actually see yourself succeeding in those areas. You won’t be able to grow your business if you don’t have a clear understanding of what you’re trying to create. The trick here is to dream big and not limit yourself and the expectations that you have for your business because the only boundaries that your business has are the boundaries that you create for yourself.

Self-care Tip: Awaken the Power of a Vision
“Before the world can see it, the mind must imagine it.” You must know what you want your life to look before you can create it. The power of visualizing your success and life is paramount to manifesting those things into your reality. The best part is, visualizing and having a vision is 100% free and you can do it right now and start transforming your life.

Also, the vision you have for you life is a great checkpoint for how you move through your current circumstances and the decisions you make, you can ask yourself, “Is this in alignment and in service to what the greater vision for my life is?” Use your vision as a compass for daily actions.

When visualizing your life be sure to feel it. Feel what it feels like to cross the finish of your goal, to buy your dream home, ride in your dream car, have healthy and happy relationships, making your first million, or whatever it is.

#5: Secure the bag by respecting your elders

Just because we live in a digital savvy world, that doesn’t mean that there isn’t a wealth of knowledge, wisdom, and insights from those that came before us. The best way to implement a profitable plan to build your brand is by creating a blueprint based successful strategies from established entrepreneurs and business leaders. This means being strong and vulnerable to ask for help, advice, and guidance when needed.
Remember: even though it is your business, you do not have to build it alone.

Self-care tip: Awaken the Power of Mentorship

Learning from someone who is has done what you’re trying to do is one of the most invaluable resources that you can have. The trick is to find someone that you can trust and that genuinely wants to help you win and achieve your goals. You can learn from their triumphs as well as their mistakes and they can insights on how to reach your goal quicker, how to adjust your mindset, and how to up-level your circle.

I’ve had trouble finding someone to be my mentor. I would reach out to people and for whatever reason, it never really worked out. So I turned to YouTube and watch people that I admired during their interviews, masterclasses, documentaries, and videos. If you can’t find someone to be your mentor in-person, then search for their personal and professional stories online.

5 Things Every Healthy Person Does Alone

Hi lovelies,

As an introvert, I love my alone time at-home, with just me, my books, tea, and a warm blanket. Taking time off to recharge my batteries and be with myself fills me back up and reignites my creativity.

But being alone in your apartment is pretty easy, but what about doing things on your own outside the comfort of your personal space? Are you able to do things that are usually reserved for social occasions without the security blanket of your squad?

If not, then I challenge you to do one thing on the list below each week to grow outside of your comfort zone and learn how to be comfortable in your skin while owning the space that you take up. And grab your copy of Sugar Pills: 10 Days to Awaken Your Inner Power, on Amazon, here.

5 Things Every Healthy Person Does Alone

#1: Take your self to the movies

Get some popcorn, sit back, and relax. Head to the movie theatre alone to watch the latest flick. Laugh, cry, and everything in-between soaking in the newest blockbuster.

#2: Take your self out to dinner

Grab your favorite book or journal and take your self out to dinner. Dining alone can be one of the most liberating experiences that you can have. Allow your self to be your own best company and enjoy a meal at a restaurant that you’ve been dying to try.

#3: Take your self on a staycation

Book a hotel or an AirBNB for the weekend and take a solo mini-vacation. Take a dip in the pool or explore local places that you usually don’t have time to experience.

#4: Take your self to a party

Some people have trouble going out to events or parties without a +1, but I have found that is when I meet the most people and expand my social circle when I head out solo. Instead of standing around chatting it up with my bestie, I’m forced to introduce myself to people that I don’t know and create new social connections, so if there’s a party, event, or networking opportunity that you want to go to, RSVP solo and show up ready to meet new people.

#5: Take your self to a museum or a pottery class

Take in some culture at a local museum or take a pottery class or art class and opt to go it alone. Going alone will give yourself the space and time to enjoy the art and activity on your own terms, it also opens you up to meeting new people that you may not have normally connected with if you were with your usual crew.

PODCAST: 5 Ways to Live a Happier Life

LISTEN ON iTUNES, HERE.

Hi lovelies,

In case you missed my blog post, 5 Ways to Live a Happier Life, you can listen to it while on-the-go, on the Sugar Pills Podcast, here.

Don’t forget to subscribe, rate, review, and share!

And grab your copy of Sugar Pills: 10 Days to Awaken Your Inner Power, on Amazon, here.

5 Ways to Live a Happier Life

Hi lovelies,

My main goal in life is to simply enjoy it. If you’re not happy and fulfilled, then what’s the point? Of course there will be ups and downs, ebbs and flows in life, but overall, you can create a blueprint of happiness and joy from which to build your life experience upon.

The most important lesson to know is that you, and you alone, are responsible for your happiness. This allows you to fully embrace your power. No one can take your power unless you give it to them, so read below for five ways to lead a happier life that creates a foundation and mindset to be in a place of power.

5 Ways to Live a Happier Life

1: Practice Self-Compassion

One of the biggest life lessons that I had to learn, and remind myself of on a daily basis, is to be gentle with myself. To show myself the same love, grace, and understanding that I would to my best friend or to the person that I loved the most in the world, because the person that we love the most in the world and honor the most in the world, should be ourselves. We’re human and we’re allowed to make mistakes and we’re inherently imperfect beings. So embrace your imperfections and be easy on yourself and allow yourself to find your way through compassion.

2: Learn to Relax

As an entrepreneur, I used to feel like I always had “to be busy.” That it was my life to be pitching, posting, hustling, grinding, etc., and that rat race just got exhausting, uninspired, and just led to burnout and fatigue.

I had to retrain my brain and body to relax, destress, and unwind. I was so busy being busy that I had stopped enjoying my journey and the process. That’s when I started implementing an intentional self-care plan. I started to have a cut-off time from work, where I would go offline and read, watch my favorite TV shows, take an epsom salt bath, or go for walk and listen to a podcast.

3: Meditate and Journal

This shouldn’t be a shocker, but meditating and taking a few moments to journal your thoughts and feelings is a powerful way to reclaim your power and establish a foundation of peace, joy, and self-awareness.

The best way is start with 3-5 minutes a day and then increase from there as your grow in your journey. Set a timer on phone, create a safe and comfortable space, and focus on your breathing. Don’t worry about thoughts popping up in your head, just do your best to observe them and not interact with them, and like all things, it gets easier with time. You can also do guided meditations to help you relax and focus. You can search for guided meditations on YouTube for free.

For journaling, you don’t have to be a great writer, just a pen and pad or even on your computer or phone. If you’re having trouble thinking of what to write, use journal entry prompts and questions to get your started. Or simply ask yourself, “What am I feeling right now? What am I struggling with right now? What am I excited about right now?”

4: Date Yourself

Take the time to get to know yourself when no one else is around. Take yourself to the movies, out to dinner, to a comedy club, for a hike, or whatever your interests and passions are, do things that make you authentically happy and fulfilled.

Spend a night alone and get comfortable in your own skin and in your own company. Become your own best friend and your own perfect partner. Rediscover what makes you tick and what turns you on as an individual. Forget the societal labels of wife, father, husband, daughter, best friend, boss, co-workers, etc., and focus on the simplicity of just being your Self.

5: Mind Your Business

This might sound simple, but believe, minding your own business can be tougher than it seems. I had to learn to only worry about what was my business, what was in my control, and what was truly my responsibility. As a recovering ‘people pleaser’ this was harder said than done and something that I work on a daily basis, but learning to only take on what is actually my business and problems has fundamentally elevated my level personal happiness, peace, and stability.

This makes you the center of your own well-being and you’re not responsible for saving other people and other people aren’t responsible for your well-being which gives you the ultimate power to enjoy your life and relish in all of the beauty and joy that’s available to you now.

Things that are your business:

• Your self-care practices

• Your mental health

• Your physical health

• Your emotional well-being

• Your boundaries

• Your standards

• Your self-worth

• Your self-esteem

• Your self-respect

• Your standards

• Your self-confidence

• Your happiness

• Your relationships

• Your career

Things that are not your business:

• Other people’s happiness

• Other people’s relationships

• Other people’s careers

• Other people’s opinions of you

• Other people’s sense of self

3 Powerful Ways To Detox Your Body

Hi lovelies,

With the New Year officially upon us it’s time to refresh and reset. This means detoxifying your body of excess toxins, unprocessed foods, stress, and environmental pollutants.

The benefits of detoxifying your body include a clearer mind, a stronger body, glowing skin, and an overall elevated sense of well-being.

So let’s bring in the New Year in the most powerful and empowering way possible.

3 Powerful Ways To Detox Your Body

#1: Drink a ton of water: Add fresh lemon and aloe vera

It might sound like beating a dead horse, but drinking water is one of the most tried-and-true ways to cleanse and detoxify your body.

I love added fresh lemon to my water for added detoxing benefits along with a capful of Aloe Vera for added flavor and help with cleansing and digestion.

---

#2: Hit up the sauna and sweat it out

After your workout or if you’re just in the mood to relax and sweat it out, then hit up the sauna. Sit in the sauna for at least 20 minutes, taking breaks if necessary, and let the heat and steam work it’s magic in bring out the toxins in your body.

My pro tip is to soak in a epsom salt bath after your sauna sessions to make sure that you get all of your toxins out and to relax your muscles.

---

#3: Fast and grab a green smoothie

Giving your digestive a break for a few days is an excellent way to detox and reset your body. Instead of giving up all foods opt for drinking green teas, water, fresh fruits and veggies, and green smoothies for at least 48 to 72 hours.

My pro tip is to take a spoonful of Apple Cider Vinegar to every morning to jumpstart your fasting and detox.

VLOG: 3 Free Ways To Practice Self-Care

The 10 Power Principles to Transform Your Life (Part 2): How Steve Harvey Saved Me

Hi lovelies,

Ok, so maybe the title of this article is a bit sensational, after all, Steve Harvey didn’t physically save my life, but his words of wisdom, the example that he set, and his personal story of struggles and triumph, inspired me  to continue on my path of building the life that I envisioned for my self.

Taking the leap from Corporate America to pursuing my passion of being a storyteller through writing, acting, and social media, wasn’t easy and there are still times that I get stuck, but now that I have the 10 Power Principles to Transform Your Life that I learned by listening to Steve Harvey’s wisdom, insights, and words of motivation, I’m empowered with a game plan and strategy to ensure my success both personally and professionally.

I wanted to share those power principles with all in hopes that they are of value to you too while you’re on your journey to creating the life that you deserve.

Below is Part 2 of my list! Read this article for Part 1!  

#6: The Power of Mentorship

Learning from someone who is has done what you’re trying to do is one of the most invaluable resources that you can have. The trick is to find someone that you can trust and that genuinely wants to help you win and achieve your goals. You can learn from their triumphs as well as their mistakes and they can insights on how to reach your goal quicker, how to adjust your mindset, and how to up-level your circle.

TIP: I’ve had trouble finding someone to be my mentor. I would reach out to people and for whatever reason, it never really worked out. So I turned to YouTube and watch people that I admired during their interviews, masterclasses, documentaries, and videos. If you can’t find someone to be your mentor in-person, then search for their personal and professional stories online.

#7: The Power of a Vision

“Before the world can see it, the mind must imagine it.” You must know what you want your life to look before you can create it. The power of visualizing your success and life is paramount to manifesting those things into your reality. The best part is, visualizing and having a vision is 100% free and you can do it right now and start transforming your life. Also, the vision you have for you life is a great checkpoint for how you move through your current circumstances and the decisions you make, you can ask yourself, “Is this in alignment and in service to what the greater vision for my life is?” Use your vision as a compass for daily actions.

TIP: When visualizing your life be sure to feel it. Feel what it feels like to cross the finish of your goal, to buy your dream home, ride in your dream car, have healthy and happy relationships, winning your Oscar, or whatever it is.

#8: The Power of Your Circle

Beware of the company that you keep. There’s a reason why the saying, “Birds of a feather, flock together,” always rings true. If you want to know where you’re at in your life and more importantly, where you’re going, just look around at your inner circle of friends. It’s super important to be able to trust the people that you surround yourself with and also make sure that you are surrounded by people that not only encourage you, but also are at a level that you aspire to be at. You don’t want to be the most successful person in your circle and you also want to be with people that add value to your life.

#9: The Power of Meditation

Don’t fret, this isn’t super religious or anything, but there are so many leaders, innovators, and super successful people that attribute a part of their accomplishments to the power of meditation. Silencing the mind and learning to observe your thoughts is an extremely effective way to transform your life and harnessing your inner power and guidance. It’s a great way to tap into your inner intuition to guide you.

#10: The Power of Perseverance

Steve Harvey was homeless and lived in his car for 3 years. But he didn’t give up. He kept going and he kept fighting the good fight. If your dream is worth having, it’s worth fighting for even when things get tough. You can’t let perceived failures or setbacks stop you from pursuing what you are called to do in this world. Often times what we think is a setback is actually the biggest set-up for something amazing to manifest in your life, you just have to keep going in order to get it.

TIP: The majority of the time, you need to learn the lesson that failures and setbacks are meant to teach you in order to prepare you and equip you the necessary wisdom and experience to handle your success. It’s strengthening you so your successful becomes a blessing and not a burden.

Listen to the Podcast here.

Found value in this article? Then be sure to comment below and share!

Don’t forget to pick-up some cool, cheeky swag at shop.candywashington.com.

If you're in a place where you want personal coaching and guidance on how to build a profitable personal brand and become an expert in your industry, then take a moment to review my two coaching options, The Personal Branding Masterclass and the VIP 4-Week Personal Masterclass.

Want to chat before committing to coaching? Then sign-up for a FREE strategy coaching call here.

The 10 Power Principles to Transform Your Life (Part 1): How Steve Harvey Saved Me

Hi lovelies,

Ok, so maybe the title of this article is a bit sensational, after all, Steve Harvey didn’t physically save my life, but his words of wisdom, the example that he set, and his personal story of struggles and triumph, inspired me  to continue on my path of building the life that I envisioned for my self.

Taking the leap from Corporate America to pursuing my passion of being a storyteller through writing, acting, and social media, wasn’t easy and there are still times that I get stuck, but now that I have the 10 Power Principles to Transform Your Life that I learned by listening to Steve Harvey’s wisdom, insights, and words of motivation, I’m empowered with a game plan and strategy to ensure my success both personally and professionally.

I wanted to share those power principles with all in hopes that they are of value to you too while you’re on your journey to creating the life that you deserve.

#1: The Power of Surrender

Embrace the power of letting go of expectations, being in control, and dictating the “how” of your hopes, dreams, and vision for your life. Being able to relax into how your career and personal life unfolds allows you operate from a place of flow rather than a place of unmet deadlines and disappointments. You don’t have to carry your burdens alone, and regardless of religion or spiritual beliefs, giving over your worries and anxieties in addition to your dreams and visions to a higher power, gives you the freedom to pursue your dreams with confidence, clarity, and focus.

#2: The Power of a Plan

Create a blueprint and strategy for where you what you want your life and career to look like. Establish goals for yourself and then work backwards from there to create the steps that you need to take in order to reach your goals. Remember, no two paths are the same, so don’t think that your timeline, goals, accomplishments, and milestones has to look like a cookie-cutter version of everyone else’s. It is your race that you are running and no one else’s. Also, have a plan but also be flexible in how your plan unfolds, the power of surrender will help with this.

#3: The Power of Laughter

Speaking from personal experience, whenever I feel sad, discouraged, depressed, or defeated, I have to make the decision to get happy. That starts with doing things that make me laugh, smile, and feel good. There’s a reason why that they say laughter is the best medicine, because it is. Watch funny movies, create a gratitude list, go for a run, listen to upbeat music, talk to your best friend, call your mom, or go to a comedy show. Do whatever brings you joy and gets your endorphins flowing, your frequency up, and gets you back into your happiness overflow.  

TIP: If you’re not enjoying your journey, it isn’t worth it. There’s no reason to look back on your life and realize that you were miserable in pursuit of your dreams. This doesn’t mean that your dream is wrong, it means that your perspective and intentionality might be off. Of course everyday isn’t rainbows and sunshine, but at your core, there should be joy and it’s ok to course correct while on your journey. Dreams, plans, visions, and paths are allowed to change.

#4: The Power of Having Standards

Having and enforcing standards and boundaries is one of the most effective ways to activate your power. We condition people on how they treat us, so if you don’t have standards and boundaries in both your personal and professional life, then you can find yourself being stretched too thin, not fulfilled, exhausted, and worn out, because people will take from you as much as you’re willing to give, so you need to establish boundaries in order to protect your time, energy, and space. The best way to show people how you to treat you, is by example. The way you treat yourself is the number 1 indicator of how other people think that they can treat you.

TIP: Questions to ask yourself: What do I expect of myself, in terms of honesty, trust, respect, and accountability? What do I expect from other people, in terms of honesty, trust, respect, and accountability? Then make sure that your actions are in alignment with those expectations.

#5: The Power of Accountability

The way to transform your vision, dreams, plans, and strategies, into a real life manifestation and accomplish your goals, is by holding yourself and your team accountable. Be accountable to show up for yourself, to think out of the box, to take risks, to learn from your mistakes, to not be afraid to fail, and to make sure that you surround yourself by people who are really there to support you and to cut dead weight when needed. At the end of the day, the only person responsible for your success is yourself, so you have to take accountability and responsibility for your actions and decisions, and most importantly, for how you spend your time.
 

Read Part 2 here with the last five power principles!

Listen to the Podcast here.

Found value in this article? Then be sure to comment below and share!

Don’t forget to pick-up some cool, cheeky swag at shop.candywashington.com.

If you're in a place where you want personal coaching and guidance on how to build a profitable personal brand and become an expert in your industry, then take a moment to review my two coaching options, The Personal Branding Masterclass and the VIP 4-Week Personal Masterclass.

Want to chat before committing to coaching? Then sign-up for a FREE strategy coaching call here.

3 Free Ways to Practice Self-Care

Hi lovelies,

Over the past few weeks, I've been really reminding myself to slow down and enjoy every moment possible of my life.

I was literally putting on my make-up and it dawned on me that the single most important thing about life, is that we enjoy it. It's not just, "Did I do it?," it's really, "Did I enjoy it?"

So I decided to challenge myself by doing and learning the true meaning of 'self-care.' Even though I love a good face mask and bubble bath, I challenged myself to go beyond the usual ways that we treat and take care of ourselves, to explore what is the root of self-care that's imperative to our mental, spiritual, emotional, and physical health.

For me, that meaning was to truly believe that: 

"I am worthy. I am enough. My feelings, wants, and needs are valid. I feel comfortable taking up space and owning my presence." 

Once you have that belief and knowing embedded in your psyche, saying no to things that don't serve you comes easily, taking time for yourself to recharge becomes second nature, protecting your energy and staying away from toxic people is your norm, practicing self-soothing and speaking kindly to your self about your self is your constant sermon, and being confident, grounded, and self-assured is just who you are. 

True self-care is a mindset that 'you' are your first and best priority in your life and then from there, your actions, words, thoughts, and feelings will move in alignment to honor that belief. 

Please read on for the three ways that you can express the true meaning of self-care in your everyday life:

#1: Check-in with your self throughout the day

It might sound weird, but by simply checking in with your self throughout your day is a great way to reduce stress and anxiety and increase joy, calmness, and a sense of well-being. 

Often times we are just going through the motions and are on auto-pilot without really acknowledging the present moment.

Simply ask your self, "How am I feeling right now?" It's the perfect way to be present and still in the moment. It's also a great way to realign yourself into a good-feeling and conscious mode. If you're not feeling good, then change what you're thinking about or what you're doing to something that brings you joy and happiness.

It could be as simple as you're irritated while being stuck in traffic, so rather than focus on being frustrated, switch your thought to how happy you'll be once you arrive or think about a fond memory. You're still in the same situation but you're feeling better just being switching your focus and by being mindful of how you feel. 

#2: Harness the power of the word "No."

As a natural people-pleaser, this was a hard skill for me to master. I was accustomed to saying, "Yes, of course I'll do that, be there, help out, show up, etc." without really giving thought to if it was something that I actually wanted to do. I put the need to please others over the need to honor my own feelings.

Operating in the people-pleaser mode is a recipe for disaster and burn-out, so I'm super grateful that I've been able to harness of the power of the word, "No." I had to get over the hurdle that other people would think that I was mean or selfish for saying no to them or by putting my own needs first, but then I realized that there's nothing selfish about taking care of self and that the people who truly love and respect will be ok with that. If they're not, then you really don't need them in your life in the first place. 

As a healthy individual, it's your responsibility to place your time, energy, well-being, and mindset above all else, because you're not your best, then you cannot give and be of value to others. Remember, put your own rescue mask on first before helping others. 

A few easy ways to say, "No."
"No, I can't do that right now."
"No, but thank you for thinking of me."
"No, but I'll keep it in mind for next time."
"No, thank you."
Personal favorite: "No, but I still love you."

#3: Subscribe and listen to my podcast, Sugar Pills: Your Weekly Dose of Inspiration to Grow Your Mind, Body, and Soul

Shameless self-plug here, but I recently launched my very first ever podcast, Sugar Pills: Your Weekly Dose of Inspiration to Grow Your Mind, Body, and Soul, and I would be super honored if you subscribed and listened.

One way that I practice self-care is to be mindful about the type of content that I watch, listen to, and read. I want to keep my energy clean, joyful, and continuously elevating, so I listen to happy music and listen to inspiring and insightful podcasts, and it is my goal that my podcast can serve as that inspiring safe place for others. 

Subscribe, comment, and listen to my first episode below:

Click here to listen: How Steve Harvey Saved My Life - The 10 Power Principles of Success

How To Actually Be Happy In The New Year

Hi lovelies,

The New Year is one of the most magical times of the year, and as I reflect on 217, one of the biggest lessons that I've learned this year is that, "thoughts become things, so choose the good ones."

This insight came from TUT, an inspirational brand co-founded by Mike Dooley to remind us of life’s fundamental truths: that life is magical, we are powerful, and dreams really do come true. 

And also thanks to this awesome site, I have a new, fresh outlook on how to approach the New Year that would actually result in elevated levels of happiness, joy, and success, rather than the usual guilt from not fulfilling my "resolutions" and empty claims of "New Year, New Me." 

So you actually want to be happy in the New Year, I suggest you follow the suggestions below.

Soon the new year starts, so now's a great time to:

1. Wipe the slate clean.
2. Focus upon what you really want.
3. Chart your course.

Or is that a bit old school? Feels tiring? Ugh!

How about an adventurous alternative:

1. Give thanks that your life is exactly as it is.
2. Decide that 2018 will be the happiest year of your life yet.
3. Every day, follow your heart and instincts down new paths. 

This will be your year!