I’ve been thinking a lot about last week’s newsletter (you can read it here) and the ways I can lean into this new version of myself. Discovering oneself isn’t for the faint of heart. We lead some crazy hectic lives around here. There is always something to do, or clean, or buy, or email, or text, or make better, etc. So when I decide to work on something I’ve gotta get focused or it will never happen.
The biggest lesson I’ve learned about myself in the last 10 years is smaller is better (talking goals here). I don’t mean your overall version should be small, make that as big as you can, but the steps you take to get there should be. Setting small, attainable goals have REALLY worked for me. So that’s what I’m doing here, on my quest to rediscover who I’m within the confines of my closet.
This first tip isn’t gonna be sexy, but it’s gonna be hella effective. All you need is a journal/notes app/piece of paper and your mind, now if only I could find that…jokes! Here’s what your gonna do:
get dressed in the morning (or afternoon, no judgment here!) like you normally do
after you’re dressed and before you walk out the door take 30 SECONDS to stop and ask yourself how you FEEL. Try to really get specific like, I feel so powerful in this outfit like I could take on the world or man! these pants make my butt look weird and this color is terrible but I love the cuff. Write it down. You can also capture any feelings you have during the day, I do this a lot.
repeat the above for as long as you can. I think 2 weeks is ideal for this exercise but the hope is that this process because something you do naturally, forever.
Now, you have a notebook full of personalized data to guide you. We shop way too much with our heads. We get very entangled in how things look, fit and cost. Three big factors and rightly so BUT why do we ignore the most important: How do we FEEL. This is where the gold is. This is where you find your sweet spot of personal style. Listening to your body not just looking at it.
SIDE NOTE: it’s easy to get confused with that feeling you get when you are buying something, that surge of dopamine of a new purchase, it’s intoxicating, but this feeling is different. The feeling I’m talking about is when you put on something and immediately feel it’s effect on you without thoughts of how the world will see you differently once you have it.
OK, ladies let’s get cracking. I’m gonna be working on this exercise all week (hopefully my entire life) Let’s meet over on IG (@polishingup) and share how the process is going. Here’s to feeling (and looking) good in our clothes.
See you next week,
jodi xx