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- 25 Mar
How we dress ourselves: Self-care? Selfish? I’m so Guilty!
When you look in the mirror, do you like the image you see? Does getting dressed feel like another arduous task on the to-do list? Or even worse- Dread or Doom?!
Does spending time caring for your appearance and indulging your- self-image feel self-absorbed? Have you declined speaking engagements because getting ‘dressed’ and be seen feels like being observed under a microscope practically? If you work from home, do you dress for the occasion? Overall, in your life does your dress match the person within?
Have you been told you’ve ‘let yourself go,’ still hanging on to those last 5 or 15 pounds, or that you’re image has grown tired or dowdy (gasp!)? I seen this all too many times with women that struggle with their weight, body image and appearance. This drowns your self-esteem and your desire to stand up for yourself and be seen!
As a woman, you’re worth is not your weight or your appearance, but what you think of your appearance. So how can we change that?
The truth is, not only are YOU your brand, but you are the spokesmodel of your brand (if you have one). You are the face and cover model of your brand. If not you, than who?
If you are not currently a business owner, then think of it this way- YOU are the face and spokesmodel of your life.
You are a role model to someone- whether you realize it or not. If you are a mom, then your children are looking up to you & absorbing everything you do & say & even think. Yes, kids see every-thing! So, that brings this whole idea of taking responsibility for your appearance and upgrading your self-image to a whole other level.
You agree? We set the stage for the women (and men even) of our future by how we live our lives- by how we think about ourselves and treat ourselves.
If you run a business, you likely have a website. (If not, that is another conversation for another day!) Gone are the days of using stock photography in your marketing and websites, expecting people to feel emotionally drawn to you, and regard and respect you as the expert that you are!
Today there is not a shortage of qualified, passionate, and highly-educated women, likely doing there thing in your field. There is a shortage of highly visible and influential women, who are confident in themselves and their business.
Much of this has to do with the notorious imposter syndrome. I’ve worked with countless women- coaches, personal trainers, practitioners, etc.- who don’t feel they look the part. This diminishes women’s self-esteem & makes them want to run and hide, instead of getting dressed up and putting themselves out there… Ultimately, further squashing their self-image and self-esteem!
Once you are educated & experienced, you can not stop there. Enter YOU- the essence of you, your personality!
You are meant to be seen, not to be hidden.
As a style and self-image coach serving women entrepreneurs, a favorite part of my work is to help you be seen and feel fabulous about yourself!
It’s like an unveiling of the real you! First, you need to identify who you are, what you love most about you, what your personal style is and how you can merge those into an image that helps your ideal clients pick you out of the crowd.
I want you to show up like a beacon of light in the darkness, not a needle in a haystack.
You have a brand to build- whether in business or in life. I like to call it your storefront. This is the fun, creative part of building your business- the business of you!
This is the foundation of your legacy. No matter how cool or catchy your marketing and branding, if you don’t have the confidence and self-image to maintain your outer image, you are simply pouring cement on top of quicksand… it is only a matter of time before you sink to the bottom, back to square one.
So what does this have to do with dressing well, you’re probably wondering?
Everything, I say! When we dress ourselves well, it says, ‘I’m important. I believe what I’m doing is important. I value myself and what I have to offer.’
When you look in the mirror, does your outer image reflect the inner image? What message is your look sending to the world?
How you dress yourself on the outside is simply a reflection of how you feel on the inside. It’s human nature for people to assume the image we portray tells a story about who we are and how we feel about ourselves.How you dress is an act of self-care and self-worth and that is the message that is broadcast to the world.
I hope this leaves you feeling empowered to take care of yourself and choose clothing you love and that feel good to you! Use your style to express yourself freely. Love your look, cultivate confidence, shine.
Get confident! Get dressed! Get noticed!