Tuesday, May 31, 2016

An Inspired Start

Welcome to the launch of my blog, A Beauty(full) Thing. Yes the name is a little grammatically cheesy, though I wanted to get across my point that here you’ll find a resource full of various beauty-related things. Get it? My greater goal is to not only include information on cosmetic ingredients and trends, but also provide bits of inspiration and highlight some cool people doing cool things in the industry.

I'm kicking things off with a post that falls into the “bits of inspiration” category. It contains a few reminders of ways to make your workday more meaningful and is a list of things I find valuable in keeping myself centered amidst the often-chaotic workday.

Stay positive.
I feel like I’m stating the obvious here, but we all know how hard it can be to remain optimistic when life throws a few challenges your way. The more things feel out of control the more important it is to give yourself a break. It's really the only way to keep sane. Even a quick respite can make a huge difference. And focusing on what's working instead of the craziness will help you ride the waves with a little more ease. Which leads me too…

Refill the well.
No matter how busy you get you have to give yourself some down time. I learned this one (and am still learning) the hard way, having ended up completely burned out more than a few times. The only way I've been able to wrap my head around the concept was by understanding that down time is a necessary part of getting anything worthwhile done. Without this mindset you run the risk of your energy well running dry and ending up completely depleted. Not so fun.

Embrace authenticity.
Real is so much better than fake, don’t you think? Acting in a way that’s inauthentic can be awfully constricting and feel horrible—not to mention dishonest. When you act authentically you also give others the space to do the same and sets up greater potential for creating more meaningful relationships—whether at work or home. Give yourself permission to unfurl that freak flag from time-to-time and let your true self shine through.

Hold yourself accountable.
A sure sign of emotional maturity is when you can admit your mistakes and take responsibility for your actions. It reminds me of someone I once worked with who constantly threw their co-workers under the bus for various project mishaps, even when some (or all) of the blame fell on their shoulders. This very talented individual didn’t quite get the concept of “team player”. We’re all human and to err is…well, you know. When you take the high road you gain the trust and respect of those around you—a necessary part of building healthy relationships.

Lead by example.
The most motivational leaders are those that inspire through their actions. We all know the contrasting experiences of positive, supportive leadership vs. the micromanaging and disempowering variety. Lead the way you would like to be led. Want to be respected? Be respectful. Want to create an environment of transparency? Be transparent. And so on, and so on…

Stay connected.
To throw an old cliché your way, no man (or woman) is an island. We’re social creatures by nature and need human contact to thrive. This is even more vital if you work from home or have a position where you fly solo most of the time. Get out, network, or join a class...anything that helps you feel connected.  Allow yourself to be supported and supportive. When I find myself having full-on conversations with my houseplants I know it’s time get out amongst fellow humans.

Encourage creativity.
I don’t care who you are or what you do, YOU are creative. Whether you’re an accountant, painter, programmer or designer allow yourself to do something creative, whatever that means to you. Creativity gets our juices flowing and ignites a sense of passion that spills over into all aspects of life—use it.

Be brave.
I’m not saying be fearless. Fearlessness is not the same as bravery. You can be fearless and brave, but you can also be quaking in your boots with fear and be brave. It’s that moment that you choose to step out of your comfort zone and push yourself—whether it’s rushing into a burning building or making a difficult phone call. Just keep putting one foot in front of the other, even when you can’t see the path. 

So there you have it, the first installment of my weekly blog. I hope you enjoyed reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it. In the coming weeks look for information on cosmetic ingredients and industry news, along with a few other things. And a special shout out to calligrapher extraordinaire May Key Lee for blessing me with her beautiful handwriting talents for the title of this blog. Please check out more of May Key's incredible works of art on Instagram

Thank you for taking the time read...any and all comments are welcome!

Warmly,
Mollie