1. "Be fearless in the pursuit of what sets your soul on fire."
When I was growing up, I had a lot of big opportunities come my way, but I would often self-sabotage. I'd try, but I wouldn't try my hardest so if I had failed, it'd be because I didn't give it my all. It was a way for me to protect myself and my pride - I mean, looking back at it now, I honestly can't think of anything stupider, but it made sense to me back then.
We're human so it's natural to fear failure. No one wants to eff up or be rejected, but you won't move forward unless you put yourself out there. Take advantage of whatever opportunity comes your way, but don't sit back and wait for them to come knocking at your door because you'll be asking for failure. I hear so many people bitch and moan about others and their successes. "That guy totally didn't deserve that position" or "how did SHE book that concert" or "how is that blogger working with that company, she's not even that pretty." Girl bosses don't think that way.
If you don't like where your career's at, do something about it. Get out of your comfort zone. Go meet people and make genuine connections. Ask for help! Pitch collaborative ideas to brands, artists, or whoever/whatever's applicable. The worst you'll ever hear is "no," and trust me, it won't kill you. You have absolutely nothing to lose and everything to gain.
2. "We can do anything we want to if we stick to it long enough."
Grit is everything. We all know the story about the tortoise and the hare, and although I didn't know it back then, that shit was deep. Slow and steady really does win the race. When I was in college, I used to work in spurts. I'd feel super motivated one day and pull an all-nighter working on a project, only to wake up late the next, feeling too groggy to function. It's better to do small amounts daily rather than binge-work, especially if you're working towards a long term goal. For example, if you want to run a mile in 8 minutes or less, you'll need to schedule jogs several times a week for an extended period of time to build your endurance. Consistency. Is. Key.
Now, on top of that, expect to hit a wall at some point. Actually, scratch that! Expect to slam into SEVERAL walls that seem unbreakable - the key word being "seem." If you give up when the going gets tough, you're never going to succeed. Regardless of how talented or how smart you are, you're going to plateau or straight up fail at some point. I've hit rock bottom MANY times in my life, and I'm not afraid to admit it. I've played concerts where I've forgotten lines of music, or worse, competed and totally bombed after months and months of excruciating preparation.
There's nothing more disappointing than investing your blood, sweat, and tears into something only to have it explode in your face, BUT it's all a learning experience and you need to embrace it as such. When things get hard, girl bosses push themselves harder. They fall seven times and get up eight because behind that wall is a revelation that'll help them get THAT much better. Always think long term, and stick with whatever it is you're doing because things will get easier at some point.
There's nothing more disappointing than investing your blood, sweat, and tears into something only to have it explode in your face, BUT it's all a learning experience and you need to embrace it as such. When things get hard, girl bosses push themselves harder. They fall seven times and get up eight because behind that wall is a revelation that'll help them get THAT much better. Always think long term, and stick with whatever it is you're doing because things will get easier at some point.
3. "A lion doesn't concern himself (or herself in this matter) with the opinions of sheep."
When I first started Sensible Stylista, people talked so much shit! Fashion blogging wasn't as common back then, and I had just started my doctorate at school so I felt pretty self-conscious about it all. Friends would come up and tell me that so and so was saying this and that about my style or my writing, and it sucked. It hurt my feelings to hear bitchy things, BUT it helped me develop a much thicker skin so at the end of the day, I'm grateful for it all.
If you're putting yourself out there, people are going to talk. Be prepared for it and stay strong. Keep your eye on the prize and focus on your goals because at the end of the day, negative words mean absolutely nothing. Like Eleanor Roosevelt eloquently said, "no one can make you feel inferior without your consent." Fast forward 5 years, with 500k+ followers and 100k+ monthly views, I'm so beyond glad that I ignored all the haters and powered through. Don't let anyone discourage you from pursuing your dreams! You're a girl boss, therefore you shouldn't give a damn what anyone thinks.
4. "Comparison is the thief of joy."
Social media's great on so many different levels, but it can be discouraging and even depressing at times. Everyone's putting their best foot forward without acknowledging their hardships out in the open so the grass almost always seems greener on the other side. Girl bosses don't deal with that bullshit though! They stay focused and only concern themselves with their own progress. They also respect other people and their successes and realize that their accomplishments (however impressive they might be) don't detract from their own.
Alright everyone, that's it for today! Do any of these mantras resonate with you? If yes, which one /s and why? I hope you enjoyed this post. It took me a while to write up so hopefully it was helpful. If you enjoyed it, please take a second to share it with friends!
