No More Clearance Rack!

Yes, ladies, we have to value our self-worth. If we don't value our self-worth, how do we expect others to?  Its like putting yourself on the clearance rack and expect someone to give you 100% respect.  But in reality, you will only get 60% because you discounted yourself.  Valuing yourself applies to many different facets of our lives - relationships, career, goals. If we admit it, there has been at least one aspect mentioned that has deflated us and left us questioning our choices.  I'll be the first to admit, at one time or another, each one has been a disappointment to me.  

Sure, relationships, careers, and goals change over time as we grow and learn throughout life.  It's perfectly natural to adjust as we change.  A very good friend of mine, many years ago, was always attracted to the bad boy - you know, the guy with great abs and muscles, a few tattoos, and a carefree, wild spirit.  She was constantly changing relationships every few months or so because looks only took those men so far.  She is still looking for that perfect relationship, but she has matured, valuing herself and what she needs, and has become more aware of her own self-worth.  She has jumped off the clearance rack and put herself on the designer rack with a higher price tag.

And what about careers?  We can spend countless and endless years (or so it seems that way) in a dead end job that is unfulfilling and leaves us feeling bored and even depressed.  I know I had spent too much time in a boring job.  But we need a job to have money to pay bills and maintain ourselves.  Perhaps the career we love requires going to school for a few years and yes, going to school can seem daunting and seem like it would take forever.  I can speak for that - I still have two years to get my Bachelor degree. But I can see light at the end of the tunnel and I will keep going to get that degree.  Perhaps you have a terrific idea and want to become an entrepreneur.   Don't be afraid - go for it!  Starting your own business would surely take discipline and many long hours, but just think of the reward at the end.  Jump off the clearance rack!

Whatever your goals, value yourself and what you want.  Anyone who shares any part of your life will value what you need also.  Never let anyone try to sell you at a discount when your value is sky high.

Fun With Heels and Make-Up

Let's have some fun with heels and make-up!  Why do we wear them (or at least a vast majority of us)? Some women believe heels are attractive because they make our calves look shapely.  This may not be entirely false, but that is not the only reason.  Perhaps we want to look taller.  If our goal is to impress the opposite sex, then our heels could possibly cause us to fall a little "short".  Studies have shown that some men (but not all) believe heels make a woman look powerful or imposing.  Therefore, not all men are attracted to the power of the heel.  However, on the other side, heels point our toes down in a graceful manner, cause the butt to stick out more and emphasize our curves.  We women know that heels are physically appealing to look at.  We go to great lengths to wear heels for hours at a time despite the discomfort and aching feet we will have later on. Perhaps the most important effect heels have is for us and us alone - confidence and more confidence and even more confidence.  Show off them heels ladies!!

I, for one, love make-up!  Nothing like getting that flawless and perfect look.  After all, the first thing people notice everyday is your face.  When someone says "good morning" to you, they are not looking at the color of your socks.  Some of us can spend great lengths of time in front of the mirror applying our daily make-up routine - others no time at all.  Perhaps one of the biggest reason to wear make-up is to maintain youthfulness.  We all would love to remain youthful and radiant forever - however, time will always keep tabs on us.  I am reminded of an article I read some time ago about red lipstick.  A study was done and women who wore red lipstick were approached by men three times more than women who wore other colors of lipstick. Go figure... However, the most noticeable feature of women is the eyes.  Eye make-up is said to be the number one item to enhance a woman's facial attractiveness.  Obviously, make-up has many benefits for each of us.  Make-up is just another part of being a woman and it is up to each of us how to use it.  So ladies... show off that beauty!

Ladies...Use Those Intuitive Powers

This label of "women's intuition" has been scorned, scoffed at, blamed, credited, admired, dissected, believed, not believed and mostly credited to women. However, I believe this "unknown something" is secretly envied by most everyone. We describe this as an "it", as a source unknown and hard to believe, yet seems to be accepted as matter-of-fact, non-debatable even highly regarded and not to be questioned. To describe what "it" is, is hard to define.  Women seem to have a sixth sense about when something feels good and right - or doesn't.  Below is a quote by the famous Joyce Brothers about intuition;

Trust your hunches. They're usually based on facts
filed away just below the conscious level.
- Joyce Brothers

Sometimes the best approach in life to making decisions is to just let go and let your intuition guide you.  Trying to control circumstances can become frustrating or make us more confused.  After all, if you don't know the answer at that time, you just don't know the answer.  Forcing it will not give the right answer either.  Trust your "gut" feeling and let it guide you.  Intuition allows us to see beyond what is showing on the surface.  Once, I'd say around the mid 90's, my then husband wanted to drive to another town to see some friends of ours.  I remember it was on the Fourth of July.  He was bugging me to go for two hours or so, but I just couldn't bring myself to go.  For one, I knew he would be drinking with theses friends.  Now I've driven with him before when he was drinking (should of known better) and nothing happened while he was driving.  But my intuition was desperately nagging at me "do not go".  He finally gave up asking me, hopped on his motorcycle, and went by himself.  Needless to say, four or five hours later, he comes walking in the house banged up - rocks in  his knees, bleeding at the elbows and knees, and other minor scratches.  He lost control of his motorcycle going around a curve.  Needless to say, my intuition was right.  

But how does intuition know when to make itself known in situations? The power of intuition shows us deeper core levels of an individual or situation.  Research on nonverbal skills has clearly shown that women are better at reading emotions and facial expressions, as well as reading situations.  So ladies, trust your instincts.  That intangible sense is there for a reason.