When our highly anticipated spring arrives, I start to think about what I love most about the season. It’s the small buds on the trees, the tulips that slowly peek out of the ground; the neighbors that you haven’t seen for months start to tinker outside, and of course, the abominable snowman that is missing from my front yard. After the bleak, dark days of winter — spring evokes in me a great sense of renewal.
One of my favorite quotes is by Maria Robinson, “Nobody can go back and start a new beginning, but anyone can start today and make a new ending.”
This spring, make the commitment to a new ending by not only concentrating on your outer beauty, but inner beauty as well. To make sure that the outside looks good, we make the appointments for our fresh haircut and brighter highlights to reflect the upcoming summer and a pedicure to slough off the dry layer of winter. Why do we do this? Because it is important to rejuvenate your body and present yourself well.
Let’s take the same approach to your inner beauty. Invest the same amount of time on your inner beauty as you spend on your outer beauty — ensuring that both are in balance. By addressing your inner beauty, you will not only get to know yourself better, but you will learn to manage your stress levels.
Here’s how to get started… take some quiet time to reflect on what is important to you. Then write down what your passionate values are, walk away and come back to them with a clear head so that they are truly flushed out, i.e. ‘Be a source of strength’ can be further defined as ‘Be a source of strength, authenticity and honesty to myself and others.’ When finished, post them in a place you frequent to continually remind yourself what is important in your life. Living according to what you hold dear helps you to focus on what’s important in your life and tune out life’s peripheral, petty nuisances.
Why is this so important? Well, here’s a test for you, the next time you start to feel anxious, depleted or critical of yourself or others, you are actually not living according to one or more of your core values — not taking care of yourself and what is important to you. Take the time to listen to what your body/self is saying when those negative feelings encroach on your life and then reevaluate what you need to change to ensure you are living the life you want to live.
So, take a walk, sip some tea on a rainy day, reflect during a Simonson’s beauty treatment and think about what you value in life, and then, take the steps towards your new ending.
Kristin Beltaos, M.A.
Guest Blogger
Owner, A Gift of Miles
Kristin Beltaos is the owner of A Gift of Miles, a life coaching company specializing in stress management, child food allergies and reproductive challenges (infertility, miscarriage and pregnancy after loss). Kristin inspires, encourages, and brings focus and positivity to individuals’ lives using the Broaden and Build Theory as well as other life coaching and stress management techniques. For more information about Kristin, A Gift of Miles or to set up an appointment, visit the website at http://www.agiftofmiles.com or call 612.845.7585.