Let me ask you this question, do the latter of those words resonate with you more than the former?
The journey towards holistic beauty begins with asking yourself that simple question – how do I feel inside? how do I feel outside? are the two aligned with one another?
In the last few weeks you may have noticed our little series centred around morning rituals. These rituals I like to do to nurture inner beauty and self-love, create glowing outer beauty and increase my intake of beauty foods. Today, I wanted to share with you the real meaning behind my morning routine.
My belief is that morning rituals are practices unique to each individual. Many of us go about our morning doing the same actions without putting much attention or thought around why we do them. After all, in this fast paced world, our mornings are often spent rushing from one thing to the next in order to beat traffic and make it to work on time. For many years before I started living a little more consciously, I knew that story all too well.
I’ve long admired Nelson Mandela. I remember staying in the same hotel as him in Bahrain, well over a decade ago and catching a glimpses of him as he walked by. He was a lot taller than I imagined him to be and his smile was striking and as full of warmth as you’d expect.
He was someone I considered to be a true leader, an inspirational man and a transformational figure. His inspiration and motivation spanned countries across Africa and beyond.
There are plenty of characteristics and traits this charismatic man had that leaders and people in general would benefit from emulating, including: honesty, integrity, fighting spirit, persuader / negotiator, and dreamer. That’s just to name just a few!
As I enter my mid-30s I’ve noticed I have a lot more peace with my body and also my body image is less negative and some days it’s actually very positive.
Don’t get me wrong, I still have plenty of bad days where I’m hyper critical of myself, but I am aware of the pattern. The negative thoughts are very closely related to my hormones and often raise their ugly heads when I’ve not been looking after myself (lack of sleep, overdoing it or having a bit of a tough time). Being more conscious of this means I’m able to be less tied to them and they act as a bit of a red flag that I need to step up the kindness level to myself – take time out, pamper, relax, nourish rightly and do any of those items I know will help me reclaim some of that balance.
But with all this, I also exhibit A-Type tendencies.
And here comes the second BUT.
Alongside those A-type tendencies is a nasty, dirty little habit I’m trying to kick.
Phew, I said it.
That was like standing up in an AA meeting admitting that one. I barely drink a drop but while striving forward at full-speed, I still suffer from what Marie Forleo refers to in B-School as a “comparison hangover”.
