Setting 2019 Ablaze!

Happy Saturday, Sisters! Wow, I have to start this by saying: I love this community that has developed since I did a bit of a relaunch of The Daily AMG with a crystal-clear focus! Y'all are my people, my tribe, and I absolutely love your feedback and getting to talking with you about books, life, and style! Y'all make me so happy! I cannot thank you enough for your support! 

Today, I wanted to take some time to talk about something that I get asked quite a bit, or that I receive comments on quite a bit, I should say... and that is on being a bubbly and excitable person. These comments/questions are typically a "why" or a "how", and I always answer that at the end of the day if I am not happy in my soul, and in my skin, than I have failed the reason God put me here! He didn't create us to be miserable, He wants us to be vibrant and to take the time to cultivate a life that sets our souls ablaze and creates in us a confident voice to share our gifts with the world! 
​
Firstly, I must implore unto you, that you have all of the resources and ammunition, you just need to unearth the confidence in yourself to get out there and create the life you know you are worthy of living. That is such a freeing thought, isn't it? The knowledge that it is all up to you! You have full and total control of your life! The adventure starts now! And be gracious with yourself, it doesn't happen overnight, and you will have setbacks and bad days; just keep your eyes on the prize!


-Wardrobe Planning
Ever have those mornings where you do either your hair or your makeup, because you have spent 35.7 minutes searching for an outfit, only to hate what you have chosen? So now you show up to your professional workplace with an ill-fitting blouse, a couple swipes of CC cream, and a manic birds-nest... Yikes! The best thing I ever did for myself, as a bona fide night owl and anti-morning person, was to start wardrobe planning on Sundays! This has become nearly my entire platform on the internet, and I am not mad about it, because it truly revolutionized my work life! By choosing and trying on all of my outfits, including a few "back-up" outfits for those days I am bloated or my mood has changed, I can wake up and begin my morning routine with clarity as I am not bogged down by any decision making! I have even evolved this new year, and resolved to doing my makeup at my vanity whilst I am styling my hair, as opposed to doing my face haphazardly on the ride to work, as I have done since 2005 when I began working a "real job". So, again, be gracious with yourself and your journey! Okay, you may be thinking "Amanda, you've already chased a rabbit, sister - how does this relate?!": When you plan ahead, you are taking back control of over your morning! You aren't in a rush or starting on a bad foot that could last all day; you are put together and ready to have a fabulous day, because you know you look good and that changes your entire outlook! I believe wholeheartedly in the way a woman feels when she knows she looks good, because I feel that way every morning when I leave my house! Harnessing your personal style and going out into the world dressing how you want to be addressed, is the number one way to build and boost your self-confidence! 

-Saying "No" to Problematic People
Do you have friends, co-workers, or even family members that just cannot seem to be satisfied? Do they complain endlessly, or the worst-yet; do they create the issues and drama themselves? Did anyone pop into your head? I challenge you, the next time you see that person, to be very alert of the way they speak to you and of the subjects in which they discuss. Do they even ask about YOU? Does what they are talking about even concern or interest you? Are you even a part of this narrative? Or are they too busy spewing a diatribe of their problems to even get a word in edgewise? Yes?  Then slowly stop feeding into their dramatics, start by inserting positive remarks and helpful solutions, and eventually they will move on to someone who laps up their drama without resistance. They just want to hear themselves talk! And as you begin to disengage, you will see how you actually don't have as much drama in your life as you thought, you were just engaging with dramatic people who were manipulating you into believing their drama was of your concern. It isn't. Move on, sister!

-Saying "Yes!" to Self-Care
The best thing you can do, is take care of YOU! Self-Care is never selfish - get that way of thinking out of your head immediately! Whether you choose a bubble bath, a glass of wine, and a face mask a night or two a week, or you take a mini-vacation alone to get re-centered and recharged; taking the time to care for yourself is extremely important in your growth as a person, friend, parent, etc. As you manifest this way of being, you will learn to listen to your body and mind and know what it needs and when it needs it. You deserve it! 

-Self-Reflection and Journaling
Along the same lines of self-care, we have self-reflection and other self-awareness activities. I love to journal, and it is one of my biggest attributes to being so self-aware, and has helped me to know what I love about myself and what areas I need to hone in on. Some of the best questions you can ask yourself are: Why do you act/react the way you do? What insecurities do I need to work out? Why does fear creep up in some situations and not others? Why do you allow people to steal your confidence, or your voice? Who are those people, and what is their relationship to you? Why do you give someone your time when you know they are abusing it? -- etc. There are so many of these question guides on the internet-just google it!
I, again, implore unto you to start journaling and participating in the glorious practice that is self-reflection. You are You, that is all you ever will be. Know yourself, know what you like, what you dislike, what you stand for... but above all: treat yourself with the upmost kindness. Never berate or belittle yourself, never talk down to yourself-only lift yourself higher and higher! (Higher! - Did you just start singing Rita Coolidge, too?)

-Owning It
Own your weird, own your fabulous, own your flaws, own your voice, own what makes you unique, own what makes you-YOU! When we finalize realize that we are the sole key-holder to the door of our life, magic happens! And life is just too short to be nothing but happy, content, and confident in our hearts and in our souls! Get to making the magic happen!

Happy New Year, You Beautiful & Unique Soul!