A Complaint Free Month: a Week Later, Still On Day 1

In my previous post I wrote about my intention to spend the whole month complaint free. I put on a rubber band on my wrist and was determined to never ever even think about the things I dislike, let alone speaking about them. What I didn’t realize was that I wasn’t living in a cave all by myself – I was surrounded by other people who were not that eager to participate in a similar challenge.

freedigitalphotos.net

freedigitalphotos.net

We Complain to Validate Our Existence

 

I noticed that I had a habit of sharing every little negative event or feeling with anyone who asked how I was doing. I was probably using it as a means of making myself look more big of a Person, with all those troubles I’m going through. Oh yeah, see how hard my life is!

That’s disgusting.

When I started paying attention to what I am saying and how I’m answering the basic questions, I immediately managed to change my outlook. I began to tell people I was just fine and this only little transformation helped me to finally understand that my blessings outweigh the problems, times 100. My life suddenly turned the sunny side up for me. I got a new wave of inspiration and creativity in my work, and I came up with a number of exciting projects I’m about to share with you real soon. Besides, my relationships have improved in the past week – no wonder, since I got a bit closer to the nice and optimistic person people enjoy being around.

 

Continue reading HERE —>

31-Day Healthy Lifestyle Challenge: 20 Questions That Will Help You Create The Best Action Plan.

It’s been almost a month since I completed my Self-Rebranding Challenge. The main goal was to become more beautiful, and I sure did. What is more, the change stuck, and most of the habits I developed during the challenge are a part of my routine now:

Stacey Dream, Self-Rebranding photo shoot

Stacey Dream, Self-Rebranding photo shoot

  • I do morning yoga sequence (sun salutation series) every day for at least 5-10 minutes.
  • I drink less coffee than I used to (it’s still 1-3 cups a day, so there’s space for improvement).
  • I always (no, seriously – ALWAYS!) look good. I pay attention to what make-up and clothes I’m wearing, and it turns out to be not big a deal.
  • I walk more (on average about 30 minutes a day).
  • I stick to the vegetarian diet (I eat fish and seafood occasionally, but that’s a necessity, no matter how much I wish I could do without it).

I loved taking care of myself and learning to be a better person, but one of the hardest parts of the Challenge was the week devoted to leading a healthy lifestyle. At the end of that week I felt pretty disappointed with myself for not doing my best. So I realized 1 week was simply not enough for making a considerable change that would stick. That was when I promised myself I would get back to the dream of improving my lifestyle – AND I’M DOING IT IN MAY!

 

What Is a Healthy Lifestyle: 20 Questions to Ask Yourself

 

I suppose you can’t make up an ideal set of do’s and don’t’s regarding a healthy lifestyle that would suit everybody on the planet. There so many scientists and doctors saying completely different things about what is right and what is wrong when it comes to your diet, regimen, and exercise. So, the best way to find out what being healthy means for you is to answer the following questions, paying attention to what your body tells you and not the opinions of a thousand people around.

Find a comfy position, relax, let go of all thoughts and listen to your heart when you answer these 20 questions:

 

Your Current Condition.

 

1. What are the issues with your health that need taking care of? Are there any symptoms that you’ve been closing your eyes on? Is there anything you really should pay attention to (like your weak immune system, or anxiety, or excess weight)?

2. What parts of your lifestyle stand out as the unhealthy ones? What seems to be the biggest problem about your daily routine and habits that negatively influences your well-being?

 

Diet.

 

A pic from freedigitalphotos.net

A pic from freedigitalphotos.net

 Continue reading HERE —>

Self-Rebranding Series: How I Became a Brand-New Person In Just One Month

If you can imagine it, you can achieve it.

If you can dream it, you can become it.

~ William Arthur Ward

motivational-wallpaper-about-dreams

A mere 5 weeks ago I was a completely different person. Not that I have changed in all dimensions (not just yet) – but I do feel like I have created a new brand under my old name. What is even more exciting, people around me see the transformation and keep telling me how much better I look compared to the Stacey I used to be. In this post I’ll share with what I have achieved during my 1-Month Self-Rebranding Challenge and where I’m planning to go from here. I encourage you to start a similar challenge for yourself and  finally become the person you imagine yourself to be.

This is the final part of The Self-Rebranding Series.

Read more:

Week 1. Awakening The Beauty.

Week 2. A Healthy Lifestyle.

Week 3. Character Building.

Weeks 4-5. How To Be Gorgeous, Healthy, Smart And Self-Sufficient.

Meet The Brand New Me

Stacey DreamI must admit, the past month has been extremely hard on me. It’s as if life has been testing my determination to be a strong and self-sufficient person. Have I become this person? Frankly speaking, I have been forced to: my family needed me to put my own problems and fears aside, and do my best to support my loved ones through the hard times. Surprisingly enough, I did what I had to, and I’m proud of myself for finding the strength I thought I didn’t possess.

I also developed a habit of wearing good make-up and stylish outfits. I haven’t looked bad even a single day! This is a huge achievement for me, since I used to wear the first thing I could find in the wardrobe, and I hardly ever took time to use any cosmetics, let alone using something that becomes me

I realized that it’s easy to find time for anything, but there’s only one condition: you must really want it, you must have the determination to make something a part of your routine. I started waking up earlier (not at 11 as I used to, but at around 8 am). This little change enabled me to do a yoga sequence (surya namascar – sun salutation series). Besides, I began to meditate for 15-20 minutes every day and I intend to make it a habit.

The Biggest Change I Have Faced

What was the greatest improvement for me during the last 5 weeks? I understood that the power to change my life lies within me, and after I had made the decision to become a better person, I started to find ways for personal growth. Since my main goal was to learn to look better, every day without exceptions, I can say that this goal has been achieved. Now I look my best and my appearance is on top of my list every morning, before I start the day. It’s so pleasant and flattering when somebody (especially your own husband) tells you how beautiful you are! That’s good to know that people notice the transformation.

Continue reading HERE —>

Self-Rebranding Series: Weeks 4-5. How To Be Gorgeous, Healthy, Smart and Self-Sufficient.

I decided to spend the last 2 weeks of my Self-Rebranding Challenge on putting everything together and trying to stick to my newly-developed habits. I’ve been working on Beauty, Health, and Character – and now it’s time to show the new Me to the world. 

Brand-New Anastasia

Meet The New Me

 

To tell you the truth, I’m not there yet and there’s a lot of work to be done, but it’s said that in order to make something come true you should first write it in the Present Tense. So, here is what I’m going to repeat to myself several times a day during the next 2 weeks (I do hope I’ll see the transformation and the results will tick):

 

1. I always look my best.

I find time to do my make-up and hair so that I look neat and pretty. I choose outfits that emphasize my better parts and help me create a stylish and professional image. I make sure to look good not only at work, but also at home – my husband is the first person who deserves to see how gorgeous I can be.

 

2. I take care of myself.

I use facial and body creams every day to moisturize my skin and prolong its youth. I take vitamins  to give my body enough nutrients. I sleep no less than 8 hours a day and spend little time at my computer. I try to control my emotions and let go of all negativity that attempts to enter my mind and soul. Some people believe that our emotional state is a matter of personal choice: if you make a decision not to feel bad, you can transform your mood and attitude to things almost immediately. Actually, I’ve tried it a few times, and it always works. I simply tell myself that I choose not to feel angry, or upset, or worried – and the negative emotion goes away at this very moment. The problem is, though, that we subconsciously prefer to go through some suffering because there are some inner motives that we are unaware of. If you get down to this, you negativity adds some value to your life – if you find out what value it is, you can discover other ways of getting it, and then you won’t need your destructive emotions and feelings anymore.

 

3. I eat healthy food.

I have chosen to be a vegetarian, so I understand that I should eat such food that contains all the necessary nutrients and vitamins. I try to have a lot of fruit, vegetables, nuts, grains, mushrooms, beans etc. on a daily basis. I also drink a lot of water and green tea. I have no more than 1 cup of coffee a day (before lunch). I let myself enjoy junk food once in 2 weeks (or more seldom).

 

4. I exercise regularly.

I wake up 40-60 minutes earlier and do my morning sun salutation series (Surya Namaskara). I spend at least 30 minutes a day walking in the fresh air. I go to the gym twice a week (at weekends) and relax in the sauna after my workout.

 

5. I am self-sufficient.

I look for all the necessary support, appreciation, and admiration in my own soul, not in other people. I tell myself all the compliments and inspiring words I need to hear – I don’t beg my family for approval and validation of my achievements. I know exactly what I have accomplished and how hard I have tried to be a good wife, daughter, friend, and professional. If I ask myself for honest opinion about my self-worth and the answer is satisfactory, there is no point in questioning it. As long as I’m true to the best in me, everything is going to be alright.

 

6. I know exactly what I want in life.

I have chosen to be happy just where I am. I believe that the Universe needs us in the place where we are, and there is no need trying to move unless it’s absolutely inevitable. We can find our life purposean ideal partner, a lot of entertainments opportunities – we only need to open our eyes and truly see. Besides, who told you that if you change the decorations, the dream life will immediately come your way? Chances are, you will lose even more than you will gain. So, before running away from the city you live in, give it a thought: maybe you are not considering some great options that it gives you. Be grateful to the place where you are now, and you will be satisfied with your life anywhere you go.

 

7. I accept myself and others with all the imperfections.

I know that nobody is perfect. We all have our own stories and our personal reasons for being who we are. I see how hard everybody is trying to become better at what they are doing, and I praise their hard work. I understand that everyone is fighting their own battles, and I avoid being judgmental. I let people make their choices and respect their individual way of living. I also praise myself for striving to do my best, and even though I fail sometimes, I will succeed later on. I celebrate my own uniqueness and that of the people around me. We are like flowers, all possessing our special beauty and charm. It would be a crime to try to ruin it.

 

8. I always strive to be the best at my job.

I was born with a gift, with a purpose. I have something to contribute to this world, and I can do it through my hard work. I keep it in mind that even when it gets absolutely unbearable, I still have to remember why I have come on this planet: that is, to add some light, love, and happiness to it. I continue my personal and professional growth and set a good example to my family, friends and clients. If at least one life

 

Continue reading HERE —>

Self-Rebranding Series: Week 3 Results. Character-Building And Self-Discovery Of One Needy, Confused And Highly-Sensitive Perfectionist.

Imperfection is beauty. Madness is genius. It is better to be absolutely ridiculous than absolutely boring. – Marilyn Monroe

 

Great Expectations

 

text_quotes_typography_motivation_1920x1200_wallpaper_Wallpaper_1280x960_www.wallpapermi.com

 

To begin with, I would like to remind you what the whole Self-Rebranding idea is about. Three weeks ago I decided to spend one month improving my self-image and transforming into a brand-new person who looks and feels better, and who is admired by people around.

 

  • The first week was devoted to looking my best. It’s been the most successful week so far: I started wearing a better make-up right away and it lead to a lot of compliments from my colleagues, friends and family. I also bought some new clothes and finally began to dress tastefully. So, working on my beauty resulted in the great boost of my self-esteem and confidence. Beauty Challenges are a must for any woman who needs to feel attractive and desirable.

    Anastasia G

 

  • The second week was aimed at leading a healthy lifestyle. What I didn’t expect was that I would end up eating even more junk food and drinking lots of coffee and alcohol almost every day. It was as if my brain negatively reacted to the limitations I’d put on myself and it preferred to push me towards all the unhealthy things I’d rather eliminate from my diet and regimen. I know part of the reason was my grandma’s serious illness which kept my mind off all my great plans. I needed to get rid of my pain, so the best way to do so was to eat and drink. Generally, I don’t have any unhealthy habits – that’s why I use junk food and strong drinks as a getaway whenever I feel like giving up. My conclusion is to spend more than a week on improving your eating habits and exercise routine. One month would do the trick, I guess. 1 week was not a waste of time though: I’ve been doing daily morning yoga flow since then!

 

  • The third week (Character Building) has just finished, and it was quite a disappointment. I’ve discovered a number of unpleasant things about myself, my behaviors and the character traits I wish I didn’t have. But let’s talk more about that.

 

What Kind of Character We Need to Succeed And Be Happy

 

I started off by creating a list of my values and beliefs. It wasn’t very difficult. Then I came up with a description of the character I think I (and others) need to be successful and happy.

Here’s the list of 17 main secrets of building Good Character:

1. Be a good partner for your man/woman.

2. Always try to find balance between your body, mind, and soul.

3. Manage your time wisely.

4. Live to the fullest .

5. Listen to your intuition.

6. Take care of yourself.

7. Jump at opportunities.

8. Trust God/Universe.

9. Love and accept yourself.

Continue reading HERE —>

 

 

Self-Rebranding Series: Week 3. Character Building.

Life isn’t about finding yourself. It’s about creating yourself.  – George Bernard Shaw

 

Anastasia G

Anastasia G

 

In the past couple of weeks I’ve developed a number of brand-new habits. Thanks to my Self-Rebranding Challenge, now I:

 

1. Do yoga every morning. It’s just a short 10-minute sun salutation series, but it helps me to create the right mindset for the day.

 

2. Do make-up every day. I’ve learned to feel more comfortable with using bright lipsticks and eye shadows.

 

3. Dress in a way that emphasizes my better parts. I used to feel rather shy about clothes that are a bit tight or about wearing something beautiful. I’ve bought some new attire and shoes that make me feel and look my best. No wonder I started getting compliments much more often.

 

4. Look gorgeous. It’s one thing to look good, and it’s a totally different story to feel like a queen. It’s a problem of many attractive highly sensitive girls who have serious issues with self-esteem. We need more compliments to boost our confidence than others do. I didn’t expect 2 weeks of flattery to be enough for my self-esteem to flourish.

 

Week 3. Character Building.

 

Since I started to look considerably better, the huge gap between how I look on the outside and how I feel on the inside became really obvious to me. I literally began to ask my husband to tell me something nice just because I wasn’t quite sure he noticed the transformation I’ve been through (even though a lot of people have repeatedly told me they saw and liked the new me better). I also initiated a couple of conflicts only to attract Tim’s attention. I’ve been feeling like I’m not getting as much admiration as I deserve, but now I realize that it was my insecurity talking.

So, I am ready to turn my attention to Building my Character – it’s time to Rebrand my beliefs, values, strengths, and the choices I make on a daily basis.

 

The Action Plan For Recreating Your Character.

 

Step 1. Make a list of your core beliefs.

What opinions to you stick to? What do you believe to be true about yourself, the people around you, and the world in general? Write down all the things that you keep repeating to yourself and others, both positive and negative, and pay attention to the thoughts that you have most often.

 

Step 2. Identify the beliefs you would like to eliminate.

Look at the list you’ve just made and be honest with yourself: which thought patterns would you be better off without? Use a red marker to underline the limiting beliefs that prevent you from achieving your highest potential. Underline your positive opinions with a green marker – we’ll work on them in later.

 

 Continue reading and check out my Photo Shoot HERE —>

Self-Rebranding Series: Week 2. A Healthy Lifestyle.

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Hello and thanks for staying in touch with my updates.

I’m going to spend this week on developing healthy habits related to exercise, regimen, diet, and emotional state. Frankly speaking, my lifestyle is pretty healthy already:

  • I don’t eat any meat and poultry. I hardly ever eat fish and seafood.
  • I have over 8 hours of sleep every day.
  • I don’t smoke and rarely drink alcohol.
  • I try to do yoga at least twice a week.
  • I use good facial and body creams to take care of my skin.
  • I take vitamins.
  • I try to walk a lot (I don’t have a car and i usually get everywhere on foot).
  • I hardly ever eat junk food and my body doesn’t respond well to it.

It took me years to turn into the person I am now, and since 2010 my health has improved quite a lot. My hormones levels went back to norm, my mood has improved, my skin has become cleaner, my digestion has been causing me less troubles.

However, there are still things I would like to change or get rid of:

  • I drink too much coffee sometimes.
  • I don’t do yoga as much as I’d like. Ideally, every morning.
  • I spend too much time in front of my laptop.
  • I hardly ever meditate.

My plan for this Week

1. Drink no more than 1 cup of coffee a day.

2. Drink more water.

3. Wake up earlier (at around 8 o’clock) and do the sun salutation series (Surya Namaskar, 17 vinyasas). 

Surya Namaskar

Surya Namaskar

Continue reading HERE —>

Self-Rebranding Series: Week 1. Results of the Beauty Challenge

It’s Part 4 of my Self-Rebranding Series.

Read  Part 1 HEREPart 2 HERE, and Part 3 HERE

Today is the last day of my Beauty Challenge, and I am ready to share the results with you. If you want to read about my plan and the action steps for the Beauty week, read this post about Awakening Your Beauty.

Anastasia G

Anastasia G

So, what have I achieved during the first week of my Self-Rebranding Journey?

1. I became more self-confident. 

I was amazed at how important it is to look and feel beautiful! On the first day of my Challenge I did my hair beautifully and dressed so that my best parts were emphasized. I also did very pretty make-up – and I felt like a Goddess! No wonder almost everyone (both friends and colleagues) told me how great I looked. I was smiling more, and I truly enjoyed myself. Every day since then I have been on cloud nine.

2. I opened up for men’s attention.

I have been trying to accept men’s attention gracefully and with ease. If someone thinks I am beautiful and they let me know (respectfully, of course), I appreciate these signs and don’t shy away. There are still some nasty guys who try to pick you up in the street in the worst of ways. But I just pretend I don’t see them and quickly go away. Despite the fact that I have been wearing skinny jeans and a new sexy short coat, nobody annoying tried to hit on me.

3. I learned to find time for myself.

It turns out, there is a lot of time in the day to do a good make-up, curl your hair, and find the best outfit. I usually took me about an hour to do a makeover and get dressed.

If you set the priorities for yourself and promise yourself to put your beauty and health first, nothing can hold you back.

Continue reading HERE —>

Self-Rebranding Series: Week 1. Awakening The Beauty

It’s Part 3 of my Self-Rebranding Series.

Read  Part 1 HERE and Part 2 HERE

The past few days have been so exciting! I felt energized and inspired to show the best of me to the world. I suddenly started feeling more confident (which is my weak spot, especially since I’m an HSP – I’m too critical of myself and such an unbearable perfectionist!). I’ve been looking forward to the first week of my Challenge with so much enthusiasm – and it’s finally started. Let’s get the ball rolling: we have a lot of radiance to share with the people around us. No more fear of being judged, misunderstood or mocked! Time to be our best beautiful selves!

Anastasia G

Anastasia G

The Beauty I Keep Hiding From Myself And Others

Have you ever felt that for some reason you gave up on yourself and started dressing poorly, taking less care of your body and looks, not keeping your back straight, smiling less frequently?

I realized I’d allowed myself to turn into some plain girl who couldn’t care less what others think about her. I guess it’s good – there’s no way in the world you could please everyone.

But is your current state your personal choice, or maybe you, like me, are running away from some fears you gained back when you were younger?

I know I am trying to hide my beauty, and here’s the 5 reasons why:

1. I don’t want people to make wrong assumptions about me.

 I wonder why I even care what others think about me. Besides, who said they pay a lot of attention to the clothes I’m dressed in or the make-up I’m wearing. They might as well just look me over and keep going without even dwelling on the impression I made. Or, if you get down to this, people could easily find me pretty, stylish, sexy…. Whatever comes to their mind when they see me looking my best is their business, not mine. They can make any assumptions they like. The point is, I know the truth: I am who I am, and I don’t have to make sure everybody sees the real me under the cover. Not all people would want to make an effort, you know.

2. I want to avoid men’s attention.

When I was younger, I had a very unpleasant incident with an older man who molested me and planted this fear of men deep inside my soul. I wonder how I managed to get married and learn to trust men again, but I still don’t like being picked up in the street or told something like “Wow! You’re hot! Does your mom need a son-in-law?” by strangers. There are some decent men at work and among my acquaintances whose compliments and even flirting would be very flattering, so I’d feel quite comfortable with looking good in their company. But other than that, I’d rather not attract too much attention from those who could hurt me emotionally and physically.

Continue reading HERE —>

Self-Rebranding Series: 1 Month For a More Beautiful Me

Anastasia G

Anastasia G

I’m here to tell you the truth: I am so tired of being shy and trying to hide my beauty from everyone, even from myself! I was given this body and my looks not to keep them under ugly clothes and tasteless style. I think I am finally ready for transformation. I want to give the world the best of me. 

It’s time for Self-Rebranding!

What do I mean by “self-rebranding”? 

Well, there’s this typical impression I often make which is “a very busy girl who has no time for taking care of her appearance”:

  • I wear anything that seems clean enough and not too crumpled.
  • I do the same make-up every day and I’m not even sure if it suits me.
  • I have long fair hair but I don’t create any hairstyles.
  • I feel uncomfortable when men look at me and pay me compliments.
  • I am not used to attracting attention (even though I work with people and spend a lot of time in the crowd).
  • Frankly speaking, I don’t really care about how I look. On the one hand, it’s good to be completely comfortable with who you are. On the other hand, though, I have to remember about my clients who look at me and judge by appearances. Moreover, I want to be admired by my husband and by some other men who surround me. Any woman wants it, right?

What Is Self-Rebranding Anyway?

Rebranding is a marketing strategy in which a new name, term, symbol, design, or combination thereof is created for an established brand with the intention of developing a new, differentiated identity in the minds of consumers, investors, and competitors. Often, this involves radical changes to a brand’s logo, name, image, marketing strategy, and advertising themes.  (Wikipedia)

Self-rebranding is a strategy in which you create a new style and new image of yourself. The main goal is to rediscover your beauty and charm, and allow yourself to blossom.

Continue reading HERE —->