Monday Motivation | How to Cause Great Things to Happen in Your Life

My mind is constantly thinking about my goals.  There probably isn't a day that goes by where I'm not thinking about the experiences I want.  But lately, I've realized that some of what I constantly think about has remained at the same status.

I reflected for a while and was reminded of a lesson I learned several years ago.  The topic of the lesson was regarding how we are creating a future that will look very much like it does today. Our current actions create our future results. If we continue to live our lives the exact way as before, we will experience the same outcomes.

Unless something drastic happens, we can pretty much assume that the new experiences we desire, won't happen.  I know someone who's constantly proclaiming big goals. Years go by and none of it happens.  Why?  Because this person is missing one major element.  That person isn't CAUSING his intentions to happen.

In the seminar I attended years ago, the facilitator reminded us that we needed to be the CAUSE of powerful things happening in our life.  Sitting around and expecting for outcomes to manifest just because we talk about it is a fallacy.

Microneedling | The Beauty Treatment That Will Finally Give Me Flawless Skin I've Longed For

The ultimate goal in my skin care journey is to have perfectly flawless skin. Unfortunately for me, past acne breakouts left behind a lot of deep scarring and discoloration.  I looked high and low for treatments that could create the skin I desired.  Some of the treatments helped, but they were no match for the deeper, move severe scars.

Then one day, I learned about a cosmetic treatment that promised to make my skin new again. When I  first heard of microneedling, I immediately wanted to have it done.  My research lead me to the at home rollers that could be bought online.  I bought a couple, but I was slightly afraid to use them. I didn't want to ruin my skin or cause an infection.

Time passed and I experimented with a few more alternatives. Everything improved my skin but still the issue with the texture still remained.

Sculpt Your Perfect Silhouette with these Targeted Exercises

I was once told, by a professional trainer, that one couldn't target fat loss to a specific area of the body.  He's probably right, but his advice didn't stop me from creating workout routines based on the type of physique I wanted to achieve.

The first time I experimented with sculpting my ideal body, it worked!  After I got my cardio out of the way, I went into body sculpting mode.  Now that I'm back in the gym again, operation body sculpt is in full effect.  This time, I'm focusing on creating a killer side profile.

Summer's Over. Now's the Time to Create Your Best Skin Ever.

In a few hours, I'll be at a Skin Care Spa receiving the first of a series of treatments that will hopefully rid my deep acne scars for good.  This treatment is just one step in my grandiose plan to completely transform my skin.

Over the past couple of years, I've paid much more attention to my facial regimen. And the hard work has really paid off. But, I'm now realizing that I have to make one final push to experience the flawless skin that I've always dreamed of.

Typically, when fall and winter rolls around, I tend to slack off on my regimen.  The cooler weather calms my skin down quite a bit so not much effort is required to maintain it.

That's the issue..... The last half of the year, I go into maintenance mode.   I do the bare minimum required and my skin still looks pretty decent.

But what if I completely changed my approach.  Instead of coasting for the next few months, I can get laser focused and finally achieve the skin of my dreams.  This time of year is perfect for making a real impact on your skin.  Oil production is down because of cooler temps and we don't have the intense sun rays aggravating our skin discoloration.  This time of year, my skin is less congested and looks smoother overall.

Having unproblematic skin creates the perfect opportunity for me to finally get what I want.

As part of my strategy, I'm completing my first professional microneedling session.   If all goes well, I can finally experience perfectly smooth skin once and for all.  I'll do a full write up on microneedling after I had a chance to experience it.

Beyond the needling, I'll try to squeeze in a couple mild, professional peels over the next few months.  If all goes well, I'll make this an annual, end-of-year process.  That way I start the new year off with bright, healthy skin.

One other major component to my skin care routine is facial fitness.  I want my face to always look lifted and toned but I'm realizing that I have to put in a conscious effort in order to achieve that result.
This means engaging in face toning activities such as Tanaka Massage, facial exercises and (my favorite off all), the Yamuna Face Rolling Routine.  I have deep nasal labial folds on the sides of my mouth.  They're hereditary on my dad's side of the family. The only thing that keeps my smile lines in check is a consistent facial toning routine.

Lastly, I'm gonna finally use retin-A consistently. Every time I begin a retin-A regimen, my forehead peels, I panic, then stop using it.  That was before I knew about the amazing, hydrating powers of sheet masks.  Now I can combat the dryness and enjoy the rewards of consistent use of retin-A once and for all.

If you'd had a struggle in making decent headway in your skin routine, try stepping things up this fall and winter.  You'll make tons of progress and enjoy clear, glowing skin that's ready for summer.

If You Like Sheet Masks, You're Gonna Love This.

Fall is in full force and I've already noticed the intensely drier air.   Unlike last year, I'm not waiting too long to start taking corrective action.  One of our greatest assets in the war against dry facial skin is the almighty sheet mask.  It infuses moisture into the skin like no other.

I have to admit, I don't use sheet masks as often as I should.  One reason for my hesitance is that sheet masks require me to lay still for the duration of the process.  The sheet masks I use are super-saturated with product so walking around and being productive with the mask on is pretty much out of the question. If I'm not laying down, the serum will inevitably start dripping down my face.

@hannahbrofman

NEW IN.

It's been a while since I've shared a round up of recent purchases.  I've tried to be intentional as much as possible and only buy items that I plan on incorporating directly into regular rotation.  This month, I've stumbled upon some real winners.

Say Goodbye to Dark Under Eye Circles Thanks to This Concealer Trick

In one of my most recent trips to Sephora, I learned that they offered various makeup application courses.  I promised myself that I would wake up early on Saturday morning and treat myself to a free class.

But when the time comes, I'm usually busy or I conveniently forget about the scheduled class. Luckily for me, Sephora has released some of their makeup application tips via their YouTube Channel.  This tutorial, in particular, has made a huge difference in the appearance of my under eye circles. By adding one quick step to my concealer routine, I get better and more natural coverage.

The Key Ingredient That Makes Achieving All of Your Goals Possible

While reflecting on the progress of my goals, I realized that I wasn't making progress in several areas. Then I thought back to a time where I seemed to easily achieve my intentions. I wondered what the difference between then and now.   After contemplating for a while, the answer became clear.

The differentiating factor between then and now was simple.  I easily achieved all of the goals that I developed an obsession with.

Sometimes I have an idea and I bounce it around for a little bit, then it fades into the darkness. Other times, the idea takes over and I can barely operate like a normal human being.  The right term to describe what happens is that I become utterly obsessed.  And when that happens, I don't rest until my intention becomes real.

ob·sess

əbˈses/

verb

1. • : a state in which someone thinks about someone or something constantly or frequently
   • : someone or something that a person thinks about constantly or frequently
   • : an activity that someone is very interested in or spends a lot of time doing

The Story of When I Conducted the "My Ideal Life" Experiment

Last week, I shared the details of a previous end of year experiment.  One of my favorite experiments of all time was living the life of a Polished Woman.  Shortly after the article was published. I received a comment inquiring about any other experiments I've conducted in the past.  One of my favorite (and most powerful) experiments of all time is the "Living My Ideal Life" experiment.

The Law of Attraction (LOA) states that in order to attract the things we want in our lives, we must utilize certain techniques to raise our vibration.  One of those techniques is visualization.  By creating a clear picture of what we desire, we encourage our unconscious minds to take part in the creation process.  The clearer the picture, the easier it is to believe that this outcome is possible.

Another powerful LOA technique is the pairing of emotion with your visualization/affirmations.  When strong feelings, positive feelings are involved, we increase the likelihood of taking action based on our faith versus fear.  Strong emotions can fuel us into action.  They add a new layer of dimension to our intentions.  The stronger the feelings, the more we attract what we want.  

I've always had the hardest time with visualization and generating strong feelings around my goals.  The only time I was able to visualize clearly was when I practiced it 2X a day.  But that isn't always practical so I had to come up with another way to paint a clear picture that felt incredibly real. 

The Protein-Digesting Enzyme Supplement that Makes Everything Sweeter

Recently, I've reintroduced chicken and some red meat to my diet after eating a pescatarian diet for over a decade.  I read that meat eaters have a different gut bacteria makeup than those who don't regularly consume meat. So my first thought was how to help my body in processing and digesting these new proteins.

After a brief search, I stumbled on bromelain supplements. Bromelain is the enzyme prevalent in the core and stem of pineapples.  Bromelain is essentially a protein-digesting enzyme. When our food is properly digested, our bodies are better able to absorb nutrients.  One of the reasons why I gave up meat years ago was due to concerns of animal protein remaining stagnant in the digestive system.

[Try This] The Simple Tweak that Creates Your Smoothest Shave Ever

Typically, when cooler weather arrives, I tend to slack on typical womanly duties like maintaining smooth legs.  Wearing pants every day can really bring out the laziness in me when it comes to shaving.  But this year I'm determined to do things differently.

From this day forward, I vow to rock smooth legs all fall and winter.  The smoother, the better.  Just recently, I stumbled upon a simple shaving tip that I had the pleasure of trying this morning.  I'm happy to report that this tiny tweak made a huge difference in the closeness of my shave.

The All-Natural Plant Based Collagen Source Proven to Reduce Wrinkles in 90 Days

I'm sure you all are aware of this by now, but I have a slight obsession with what I call "beauty drinks."  These beverages provide even greater benefits than thirst quenching alone.  The mother of all beauty drinks is water because, as you may recall, water is considered nutrition to our cells.  

But there are so many more options available.  I'm a huge advocate of consuming liquids that can enhance our external beauty.  Among some of my favorites are bamboo tea for strong hair & nails, lemon water for internal detox, green smoothies as a nutritional powerhouse and collagen rich drinks.  
I fell in love with the idea of collagen drinks after watching an Oprah segment where they touted liquid collagen as all the rage in Asian countries.  Women of all ages drank this stuff non-stop in order to preserve their plump, youthful skin.  I was sold.  It didn't take me long before I ordered collagen supplements, powder and even experimented with bottled drinks.   I did notice a difference when I first introduced collagen supplements into my regimen and it's been a staple ever since.

But in the back of my mind, I've wondered if there was a way to get liquid collagen from a natural source.  Perhaps drinking collagen from an all natural source would allow our bodies to better absorb it.  This morning I learned about a new collagen source proven to significantly reduce wrinkles and I can't wait to share it with you.

Adriana Lima Reminds us to Sweat for Faster Hair Growth

As the end of the year approaches, one thing that always pops up in my mind is how I'm going to reach my end of year hair goals.  Unfortunately, the end of year also coincides with the annual slowing down of our hair growth rate.  This means that we've got to work harder if we wish to make huge progress between now and the end of the year.

3 Things You're Doing that's Slowing Down Your Success

This weekend I ran into a friend of a friend who's working on launching her mobile app.  The concept of her brand seemed pretty solid and I think it has the potential of becoming a successful brand in the future.

After chatting with her in detail, I realized that she has lots of work to do in order to turn her idea into a profitable business.  Her concept is great but I sense there was some hesitation on her part that could stand in the way of her success.

If you're on a mission to manifest your dreams, the best thing you can do is eliminate any obstacle that can keep it from happening.  Unfortunately, most of the road blocks are internal. And if you aren't aware of them, these hindrances will operate in the background, keeping your dreams at arms length.

Here's the Story of How I became Pretty and it Changed My Life

Traditionally, the last two weeks of the year has always held a special place in my heart.  I normally work year round then request that time off.  It was special because, during those two weeks, I'd conduct various experiments.

One year, I decided to live the life of a "polished woman."  Basically, this is a girl who takes great pride in her appearance and self-care routine.  Little did I know how life-transforming that experience would be.

Super Model Jas Tookes

Snapchat Beauty Secret | Tracee Ellis Ross made me want these Anti-Aging Patches

Yesterday, I decided to jump on Snapchat for a few minutes.  Little did I know that, in those few moments, I would be introduced to a future purchase. When Tracee Ellis Ross popped up on my screen, she had my immediate attention.

Tracee appeared to be sitting in a make up chair, getting prepped for her next appearance.  On her face were various "patches" meant for targeted anti-aging.  Along her nasal labial folds were two large strips. Tracie also sported two under her eyes and one huge patch on her forehead.

Your Pretty Feet Regimen is here!

Many years ago I would, on occasion, receive random compliments on my feet.  Receiving an unsolicited compliment on your feet can absolutely make your day.  I really didn't pay much attention to my feet but I realized that one of the first things men noticed is how well you maintain them.

I'm in open-toed shoes quite a bit so my feet are constantly exposed to the elements. This really can take a toll on how your feet look.  It's time to establish a legit foot care regimen.  Especially now that winter's on deck.  If we can perfect this regimen now, we won't have a care in the world come spring.

Monday Motivation | My 2 Favorite Techniques for producing Amazing Results.

As we head towards the end of the year, I feel like it's a good time to reflect on what's worked well for me in recent past (with regards to reaching my goals).  It's important that we are VERY aware of what works for us so we can replicate it. This also keeps us from constantly seeking out new advice.

For me, two main techniques have produced the majority of my results.  These techniques are:

1. NEW ACTION(s)

2. No Zero Days

{NEW ACTIONS}

The premise of new actions is simple.  Everything you now do (and have been doing) creates your current results.  Want things to change? You've got to do something new.  I'm somewhat a creature of habit. If I'm not careful, I tend to repeat the same actions day after day, week after week.  The problem with this is that my results stagnate.  Stagnation is only temporary before things start to decline.  

The only way to change this and bring new (fresh) results in my life is to focus on NEW ACTIONS. When I consistently challenged myself to incorporate new actions into my week, my business and life flourished.   These new actions don't have to be anything crazy, just something that has the ability to create new results.  For example, last week, I didn't work from a to-do list.  I just did whatever task came to mind.  This week, if I were to write down my important tasks, along with those that align directly with my goals, I would certainly produce new results.  What I love most about NEW ACTIONS is they have this "butterfly effect."  The butterfly effect is one of my favorite things in life.  It's the idea that just one simple change can alter the course of your day (and life).   I've experienced the immense impact of incorporating new actions in my day.  The more new actions I take, the better.

{NO ZERO DAYS}

The No Zero Days concept is similar to Jerry Seinfeld's "don't break the chain." Basically, Jerry challenged himself to write jokes every day as a way of improving his skillset.  Each day that he wrote jokes, he'd draw a big red X on the calendar.  His goal was to keep the chain of red Xs going for as long as possible.  

I've also seen it referred to as "No Zero Days."  Meaning, you take action every day towards your goals.  You don't have to do anything major, you just have to do something!  The goal is to make sure you don't go to bed without having done something that takes you one step closer towards your goals.  I'll be honest, I don't really follow this perfectly.  I'll skip days here and there but I never, ever stop.  

The times when I did follow the NO ZERO DAYS philosophy, my results skyrocketed.  Doing something every day is the easiest way to overcome resistance.  You take away the decision-making process by making a commitment to do something daily.  Decision making is risky when you are engaging in a goal-related activity. More often than not, if we're given a choice, we'll choose not to do it.   But with no ZERO days, you have no choice.  You just do what you need to do and, in the process, you develop an incredible level of discipline. 

Pro Tip:  The habits that you struggle with the most, consider making them a"NO ZERO DAY" activity.  Example:  If you struggle to work out regularly, forget trying to get on a sporadic schedule and focus on implementing a NO ZERO DAY activity daily.  

These two techniques alone are extremely powerful. But when combined, they have the ability to transform any situation into whatever result you desire.  

Who to Follow | @spiritedpursuit

A couple of years ago, I set an intention to travel to new and amazing places.  Unfortunately, this was around the same time that I exited corporate America. I haven't had much time to go on exotic getaways while in the early stages of building a business.

To appease my desire to experience new and exciting environments, I've been living vicariously through the lives of others.  As a matter of fact, I came across a new muse this past week that gained an instant follow.

Via Spirited Pursuit

The young traveler behind the Spirited Pursuit brand is Lee Litumbe. She's a self-proclaimed nomad with a pure and intense passion for travel.

What I love about her Instajournal is that Lee isn't only seen frolicking on sandy beaches. Instead, she seems to relish in experiencing the rich cultures of the places she explores.   Her love of photography is clearly evident in the images Lee shares of her adventures.  Notice how Lee serves us endless style inspiration in all of her amazing posts.  Her strong sense of style is what I like to call, "wanderlust chic."

My favorite post of Lee's is the one where she answers the question on everyone's mind.  How does one afford to finance endless escapades to faraway lands?

Here's Lee's advice on how to afford your own life of adventure.

"I've been asked a lot lately about how I can afford to do what I'm currently doing. My best advice is this: think about how much you may spend on eating at restaurants, shopping for new shoes/clothes, or nights out partying with friends. Imagine if instead of doing some of those things, you saved your money. When I was still in the States I never went out to fancy dinners, I never went shopping, I hardly ever partied with friends. That’s how I was able to save a bit up to be able to travel."

Her wise words serve as a friendly reminder to put our money where our goals are.  That, ladies & gentlemen, is exactly how to transform your life into a lifestyle.   

And what a beautiful lifestyle it is. 

Be sure to follow @spiritedpursuit on Instagram and visit Lee's blog.