How to be true to yourself

Hi all,

Very recently I stumbled upon this article that listed the top 5 regrets people state on their death bed. I find it very interesting that number one is:

 ”I wish I’d had the courage to live a life true to myself, not the life others expected of me”.

Living according to your inner values and to who you truly are requires a lot of courage. Since an early age we are told what to do, what to say, who to be. But what our parents, friends, family and boss tell us is not who we are. Sometimes, it’s important to stand up for ourselves and speak up our minds.

It can be hard to define the limits between  inner values and exterior point of view. To clear up your mind I advice you to follow this guide lines:

1. Find a peaceful place where you won’t be disturbed.

2. Try to empty your mind, take a few deep breath.

3. Take a piece of paper and divide it in two parts:

- Part one : Who I really am.

- Part two: Who I am in front of the others.

For example, you can write:

- Part one : I hate my job and I hate my jobs. They don’t have any ethics and I wish I could quit.

- Part two : Every day I go to work and I smile at my boss and do the unethical stuff they ask me to do.

4. Feel the two columns reviewing every single part of your life : love, friends, family, work, body image, desires, etc.

The goal of this exercise is to determine when you are lying to yourself and therefor to the others. Being conscious of what you really want will free you from the situation you’re stuck in.

5. Face you fears.

The hardest part is to take action.

Good luck and lots of love xx

Feel good images roundup

How to face your fears

Hello girls!

Today, I’d like to share with you something very, very, very important : How to face your fears. For years – and definitely still today – I have been paralyzed by intense fears and anxiety. My fears stopped me from moving forward and accomplish big things. They stopped me from living my life to the fullest. I had hopes, projects and plans that I never even consider starting because I was too scared.

Fears are nasty. Most of the time they are not even conscious. They are the expression of feelings we don’t dare having. If you let go of this hidden feelings, no fear will be be to big to be faced. Bring it on fears!!!

I like to say  “I was born in 1986 but I  started to live my life the day I turned 25″. Because, when I turned 25 I understood that I had to stop running away from my life and my responsibilities. I had to take a deep breath and feel the good like the bad. Every day. Until I die.

1. Write down all your fears : Take a piece of paper and a pen and write down all the things that scare you. I’m not talking about phobia like snakes and rats. I’m talking about deep fears, the one that doesn’t allow you to be in a swimsuit on the beach, the one that makes you order a salad when you want a steak, the one that makes eat compulsively an entire pack of chips, the one that keeps you inside when all your friends are out, the one that doesn’t allow you to be yourself.

2. Study your fears : Try to understand why you have them. What happened in the past that makes you so scared? Can you overcome this fear? What can you do? What’s the worst thing that could happen to you if you face this fear?

3.  Seek help: If your fears are too hard to face, you don’t need to fight them by yourself. You can ask for help. Try to talk to someone you trust or look for a therapist.

4. Stop telling you stories, you can’t predict the future! If I quit my job I will never be able to find something else. If I leave my husband no one will ever love me and take care of me as much as he does. If I don’t lose ten pounds I can’t attend this party, people will reject me. If I go to this date it’s gonna be awkward. STOP! Stop trying to guess what’s gonna happen and just DO IT. There is no way you can predict the future. All these stories in your head are the voice of your fears. Don’t listen to them. Trust your instincts, take some risks and start to live your life!

Good luck and Lots of love xx

Lose weight, relax and just be more beautiful…inside.

Hello there,

Today I would like to share with you a precious secret  I discovered while doing some research on how I could finally feel good in my body. My major concern was my belly. In the past, I wished I could have get rid of it. Make it disappear! I tried everything from diets to personal trainers and intense cardio. NOTHING WORKED. I was desperate. But eventually I understood that the only

way to forget about my belly was to embrace it…

The belly is the center of our body. In some eastern culture it’s even considered as the home of our soul. It’s sacred. In our culture, we tend to make the belly a source of shame. We try to ignore all the feelings coming from this centric part of our body and  we unconsciously end up putting on extra fat. The fat serves to protect our souls from the outside world.

Now, here are a few tips I recommend to free your belly and free  free your soul:

1. Practice some Soft Belly meditation: I found this four minutes guided meditation     that focuses on the belly. It will help you be more conscious of it and relax.

2. Massage your belly : Yes, I know! This doesn’t seem too appealing but trust me it works. Whenever you take a shower, massage your belly. Gently. Feel it without judging it. After the shower apply some body lotion on your belly. Take care of it, it determines your entire body balance!

3. Don’t diet : No, no, no and NO DIET. Diets don’t work. Got it? No diet will ever make you lose belly fat. Maybe for a few weeks, a few months or even a few years but it will ALWAYS come back! Your belly is the way it is. Be thankful and embrace it.

4. Move your belly: In order to be in harmony with your belly, I suggest practicing some activities that will make you make peace with your belly. Think about taking a gentle yoga class or start belly dancing. I’m personally a fan of this last one.

Love your body, relax and listen to yourself. Pounds will shed off by themselves!

Lots of love. xx

New Year and Resolutions

First of all,

Happy New Year!!!

I wish you all the best and everything you desire. May 2012 be a wonderful year for you all.

I’m glad 2011 is behind me. It was a pretty rough year and I have lots of hope for 2012. I wish to be in harmony with myself and to be the best person I can. I decided to take some New Year Resolutions to help my wishes come true. I will start to apply them as soon as I am in New York.

1. Meditate a couple of times a week. I found this videos which are really helpful for beginners.

2. Practice Yoga. I’m planning in choosing a gentle form of yoga. I did practice Bikram and Vyniasa in the past but they weren’t really for me. They were too much of an intense work out and not enough focused on meditation consciousness.

3. Run or take a walk regularly. A few year ago I seriously injured my knee. I was used to run a lot and I had to stop. This year I’d like to take on running again but if it’s too hard I’ll just go for a long power walk.

4. Take better care of myself. By sleeping more, drinking more water, apply body lotion, facial masks, do my nails, take bubble baths, read a good book or watch a good movie and spend more time with the people I love.

5. Listen to myself. That one is tough. I have a tendency to ignore my inner feelings. It’s a very bad habit that I will work on changing this year!

6. Make Within Beauty Blog a source of support for all the girls out there doubting of themselves! 

7. Be HAPPY! Life is too short to worry too much or let our fears take over.

 

 

 

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