modern mentorship: getting you across campus (and beyond) one pep talk at a time
Do you spend more time during your day doing what you love or doing what you hate? In today’s vlog I share an exercise to help you take a look at the activities in your life and start doing more of what you love!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AL2Md4MuUBg
As a health conscious girl, I try to be aware of the food I put in my body but what about the products that go ONTO my body? The more I thought about all the chemicals in my daily grooming products the more research I did on how to go the natural route and these are some of my favorites. Best of all, every ingredient can be purchased at the grocery store!
Oatmeal Face Scrub
This may sound like breakfast, but this face scrub will leave your skin feeling great. The oatmeal serves as a skin soother, while the honey is a natural moisturizer. Yogurt’s lactic acid brightens and smooths your complexion.
Ingredients:
Directions:
Combine all ingredients in a bowl. Apply to face using small circular motions. Rinse with warm water.
Epsom Salt Body Exfoliator
Epsom salt is made up of magnesium sulfate. It helps to flush toxins from the body making it the perfect body exfoliator. It’s also known to soothe achy muscles and decrease bruises.
Ingredients:
Directions:
In your jar combine Epsom salt with sesame oil until a paste is made. Use in the shower to smooth skin. You can also use a few drops of your favorite essential oil (I like lavender) to make it smell great too.
Almond Oil Moisturizer
Almond oil has essential fatty acids which balance the skin’s moisture levels. It’s easily absorbed into the skin and rich in vitamin E.
Ingredients:
Directions:
Rub almond oil onto skin directly after a shower.
Strawberry Teeth Whitening
It may seem counterintuitive because of the berries’ bright red color, but they are actually natural teeth whiteners. Strawberries contain malic acid which removes stains from teeth, but don’t do it more than once a week because the acid could damage the enamel of the tooth.
Ingredients:
1 Strawberry
1/2 teaspoon of baking soda.
Directions:
Wash strawberry under cool water then cut off stem. Mash the berry with a fork in a small bowl until it is pulp then add baking soda until they form a paste. Brush onto teeth and leave for five minutes then remove with toothpaste.
You just found out your sister borrowed your clothes without asking. Your roommates ate all your food. You’re debating whether or not to text your ex-boyfriend. You’re contemplating how to handle a fight with a friend. We’ve all been there- situations where you want to react immediately in the heat of the moment especially in ways that you might regret later on. One of the best ways to manage emotions is to take time. 24 hours between you and a problem will make a world of difference.
Now I’m not going to lie this is a tough rule to follow. You’re going to need to check your emotions and focus on calming down. I’ve learned this the hard way. Almost every time I act out of haste I regret it and usually immediately. When I wait, I have a clear mind that gives me new perspective and I’m so happy I didn’t say/text/email/ whatever it was I really wanted to say in that moment. A day helps you to focus on what you really want from a situation.
Here are some ways to give yourself space from a problem:
– Ask your Inner Guidance System (Inner GPS) for help. All you need is one little line. I say, “Please guide me towards the highest outcome.”
– Back away from the situation. Move away from the computer. Drop the phone.
– Go work out. Nothing like sweating out a problem.
– Ask yourself if you’re bringing love to the situation? Are you making it better or worse?
– Write out your frustration in a journal.
– Stop, drop and meditate.
I know taking time can be hard, but it’s so worth it. The 24-hour rule helps in a multitude of ways, but it all stems from the peace you get when you give yourself the break of time.
Last week I took a dance class where my teacher said something that stuck with me. She told us to dance like we’ve never made a mistake before and it got me thinking. When we make mistakes we teach ourselves something, but what if our mistakes actually scare us from living life full out. When we do something “wrong” we can create a behavior. For example if you took a risk and it didn’t work out it might stop you from wanting to take another risk. You do things a certain way because of how people have reacted when you’ve done them in the past. Ever go out with a guy and never hear from him again? It might make you not want to take romantic risk anymore! How about if you get a bad grade on a test and then consider yourself bad at that subject?
Yet what if we started 2013 as if we haven’t made mistakes before or been hurt? Take the lessons that 2012 taught to you (you are older and wiser now after all), but leave the fear of being rejected/wrong/not good enough behind. I encourage you to sit down with a piece of paper and jot down answers to these questions:
Happy 2013!!