Brave is the new Black

I was subtly reminded the other day just when I was digging out the weeee  last little bit of glorious color from one of my favorite lipstick as I flipped it over and noticed the name of it — that the word brave can mean many things. I smiled at myself because at that exact moment it meant to me that I had to put on my big girl pants and go get the job done, regardless if I felt like it or not, I had to be my version of brave. The brave woman would thank me later….she always does!

My go to neutral-ish color on a daily basis by MAC Cosmetics

BRAVE

Such a bold, strong word.  💪  Sometimes it partners with funny, sexy and inspiring. At times though, it can  partner with sadness, loneliness and the ugly stuff —  that’s when we don’t always give ourselves the credit for the feeling.

The credit we should for finding a way to deal with whatever it is we are going through at the time. To listen in, to cry, to feel the emotion – that can be tough and deserves to be recognized.Sometimes being brave is letting it all out, letting it go, being true to how you are actually feeling.

Everyone has something, no matter how glamorous the social media reel may look – remember that. You are not alone, even though you may feel like it at times. Your words, how you dealt with hardships and stories mean things and are important.

Your version can truly help another person in the most beautiful way.

You are brave in your own way, every single day. Now, off to replace that lipstick, I have used all of my creativity up trying to get the last drop out! (I know I am not alone here!!!) 😍

Thanks so much for stopping by and reading!

 

Naked Confidence

We’ve heard it, read it and from time to time many of us experience what true and utter confidence feels like.  Like you can literally DO anything, right? Totally unstoppable. Don’t give a second thought to what anyone else thinks (in the most loving way of course), in your zone and nothing is going to stop you, you won’t let it.  And then, poof, maybe one day something happens out of your control and throws you unsteady, wavering, on the edge just barely able to talk yourself into getting dressed in the morning not let alone put in any effort. Or, maybe you are on the roller coaster ride — you know, one morning you wake up owning the day and while this happens quite often, but still have a few days a week or a month you just don’t feel it.

So how exactly do you recover? How do you just snap back into that amazing feeling and place? How can it be here one day and feel like it is gone the next? Truthfully, it is ALWAYS there, it is up to you (me included) to recognize it, even on the most shittiest of days when anything and everything feels like it is being turned upside down. HANG IN THERE. Trust that you WILL bounce back and be freaking better than ever. How you react during those moments are telling and lay the groundwork for growth, expansion & personal evolvement (ha, is that a word?! SP is telling me no!), but you know what I am saying.

Naked Confidence.

No, I don’t mean standing naked in front of the mirror or streaking across your backyard (or RV Park / Hotel in my case) – strip away the expensive handbags, sunglasses, uber photo filters that erase every laugh line and slims the face just perfectly, forget the size “mini – me” pants size obsession, thigh gap goal and no root days, ever. I mean really, take the pressure off! I am talking about naked confidence, WHO and WHAT you feel at your your core. Inside, out without all of the flashy stuff. Truuust me when I say I like fun, new & sometimes expensive items, a sexy lipstick and a great hair day, but take it all away and what do you have? That’s my point. Once that is paid attention to, worked on (yes, exactly like a muscle) and developed more & more from the inside out — those days, those days you are like where the hell did my confidence go become fewer & fewer in-between as you rock that inner, naked confidence regardless.

I totally get it, it can be really hard to love yourself in a world that is filter crazy, photo shopped and told through carefully posed photos on social media. We are all guilty from time to time, but come back, always come back to YOU and work that inner confidence muscle that gets stronger if you spend some time with it.

You.

You are doing just fine.

You are EXACTLY where you need to be at this moment.

You have so much to give, just being you.

You are worthy of every single thing that you receive and more.

You ARE truly doing amazing.

Think it.

Say it.

Believe it.

Let go of being so hard on yourself. Love the imperfections, the silly mishaps, the freaking roller coaster of life and laugh it off. That’s what makes you, you.

Breathe.

Celebrate YOU.

You have everything you NEED, right inside of YOU. Go ahead, give it a little attention and notice what happens. 😉

XX

~ Renee