Happy first day of March!
I cannot believe that February has come and gone so soon. Today marks the third month of 2019. Back in January, I set a goal to read one book each month for me. As a middle school language arts teacher, I do a ton of reading to keep up with what the students are reading, grading papers, emails, reports, etc. However, I realized I was not doing enough reading of material that I choose. So far this year I am two for two. I declared February the month of me. I took time to find ways to love myself. One of the things I did was choose to do some personal development through reading. Girl, Wash Your Face has been around for about a year and has increasingly more and more raving reviews. I decided I would give it a try. Typically, nonfiction is not my jam, but I thought since everyone was talking about it I had to figure out what all the buzz was about for myself.
Let me tell you, I was definitely not let down. This book was a quick read for me. I found all of Rachel's advice so relevant to where I am in life right now..minus the part where she talks about being a mom. If you are working to navigate life, take time for you, and start creating healthier habits then this is your next read!
Lessons I learned from Girl, Wash Your Face:
It is important to be careful with your commitments and be honest with yourself.
This one sounds so simple, but is probably the most powerful takeaway I got from reading this. Throughout this chapter, the book talks abut how it is important to treat yourself the way you treat your friends. If you wouldn't break a promise to a friend, then you need to stop breaking the promises you make with yourself. If you tell yourself you're going to start working out, then do it. If you are going to stop a bad habit, then actually work to make that happen.
I like to think that I am a pretty good friend to the people I care about, but when I stopped to reflect on how I treat myself it was quite different. I realized that I need to spend some time fixing the relationship with myself. I need to take the time to honor the promises I make to myself.
Re-order your list:
Lots of us are list makers. We make the impossible to do list because for some reason writing it down on paper and checking some of it off just feels so satisfying. The book talks about how each time we make this list it usually has the same types of items on it. However, rather than just making these impossible to do lists- we have to start creating them with intentions. The order that you make your bullet points should reflect the priority of each item.
It is easy for us to make these long lists and put ourselves at the bottom, but we have to start being more intentional at making room for ourselves at the top of these lists. If you are not taking time for you, then you cannot truly help others.
Deal with it:
As Americans we definitely live in a society where it is so easy to judge others. Scrolling through social media, watching tv, at the gym, etc. In the book, Rachel Hollis discusses how we all need to take a step back to reflect on the fact that these judgmental thoughts are actually rooted in our own insecurities. It is so important for you to take a look in the mirror and think about what is truly going on with you, and during that reflection find out what you need to do to be the best honest version of you.
You are in control of the fight:
It is easy to feel overwhelmed and point blame on everything except you when life gets hard. You have two choices: give up or put up a fight.
"Your dream is worth fighting for, and while you're not in control of what life throws at you, you are in control of the fight."
This made me think about all the obstacles that come my way and how I can shift my mindset to conquer my goals in life.
Name your goals and say them out loud:
One of Rachel's tips to achieving your goals is to name them. Yes, you have to actually say them out loud. This can be done by creating a vision board or by simply writing them down somewhere. No matter how you choose to name your goals, this act brings them to life. The more you say it, the more you believe in your goals, which contributes to your drive and willingness to work to achieve them.
Encounter a guru:
It is so helpful to spend time searching for a guru to help you with where you are in life. Whether it's reading a book, listening to a podcast, watching a TED talk, or actually going to see someone speak we have so many rich opportunities to seek advice. The book shares how every piece of advice you get will not resonate with you, but it is valuable to spend time to seek help and knowledge.
Who is your guru? What do you do to seek personal development?
XOXO
