Fashion & Focus – Ignite Your Personal Development

There are many definitions of personal development, as it can mean so many different things to different people throughout varying stages of life.

My favourite definition would be from Wikipedia (I know!!) but it encompasses the most holistic meaning of personal development.

Personal development covers activities that improve awareness and identity, develop talents and potential, build human capital and facilitate employability, enhance the quality of life and contribute to the realisation of dreams and aspirations (Wikipedia).

What does personal development mean to you?

Do you have an internal drive or a sneaking suspicion that you want more for yourself, or that you want to contribute more?

 

 

Through personal styling, I meet both men and women where they are at a point in their lives where they would like to feel more confident in the skin they are in, and would like to develop their personal style, brand or presentation.

It is very common for clients to mention that this is something they have thought about for a very long time and inevitably say after their session, ‘I only wish I had done it sooner!’

Hindsight is great that way isn’t it?!

Well, what holds us back from making a change sooner?

Sometimes, fear of change can be enough to hold us back from taking the steps towards the life we really want. Self-doubt, guilt, and relegating our needs behind those of our family are also common difficulties of breaking out of a rut.

This can be true for pursuing our hobbies, new skills and career paths.

I cannot tell you how many women I speak to in regards to our Styling Course that say they have reached a point in their life where they can commit to their passion and do ‘something for me’.

Very commonly women who take part in our Personal Stylist Course found themselves stagnant in a career they were no longer interested in or passionate about… sometimes they were never passionate, to begin with. They may have done a TAFE or university course and found themselves stuck on a path they felt they could not break free of. Very commonly family businesses can create a set path for you that can seem unimaginable to veer from due to guilt and responsibility.

Stay at home Mums often find themselves grappling with their identity and the recurring thought that they want to branch out and explore themselves in a different context.

Or for many women, they find they have a fantastic career but are now ready to develop other aspects of their life and develop their identity outside of the office.

But why do we wait?

Well, our life stage has a huge impact on our hopes, dreams and personal development.

For a lot of us the reality is we have commitments that mean we can’t just follow our dream!

However, that might be for the immediate future, but who says we can’t improve ourselves or follow our hearts today in smaller meaningful ways today?

What I love about the women who are ready to commit to ‘something for them’ is that really, they have pursued and fed their love of fashion this entire time. While they were awaiting the right time they read blogs, spent countless hours playing in their wardrobe, worked really hard to invest in favourite fashion pieces, grew the confidence to help their friends and family, or simply never lost their passion and excitement for fashion.

 

 

The above is the perfect example of smaller, meaningful ways to explore their passion and continue to have personal growth while on their journey!

The important thing is that the time spent with fashion made them feel more fulfilled, happy and excited.

So how do we explore personal development further?

How do we ensure we are growing and evolving?

Ask yourself… are you satisfied and fulfilled or do you feel there is more to life for you than what you are doing?

For myself, years ago I came to the realisation that while I love styling clients one one one, there so many women I wasn’t reaching as I was so heavily booked. I was exhausting myself trying to help as many women make a huge positive change in their lives as possible and still it wasn’t enough. I realised I had more to give. I could train women to be Personal Stylists, for every group of women I taught they could effect change in the lives of hundreds more. I was ready for the next step and I felt full with joy!

 

 

So after you have reflected on what your journey of personal development looks like, you need to do the hard part!

Then you need to give yourself permission to explore your interests or passions, whether they become a career or something that is transformative to you it is about opening the door to the possibilities.

Branching out into something different can open your life to a whole new direction – you never know where it might lead you!

Our incredible stylist Alice raised her three beautiful boys while working as a registered nurse, something that she absolutely loves. While Alice loves nursing, she has always had a love of fashion that could not be ignored and decided to take the plunge! The time Alice has spent nursing has also developed her into an incredible personal stylist. I hear you ask : ‘What does nursing have to do with styling?

 

Empathy and understanding!

Alice has the most beautiful gift of helping people feel comfortable, supported and at ease which has been invaluable to her success!

Being a Mum also makes a fantastic stylist, because Alice understands the practicalities and how difficult it can be to pull everything together sometimes!

Alice’s whole journey has made her styling dream a reality.

 

So, what can you do to further your journey of personal development?

Here are a few ideas to investigate today!

• Seminars and inspirational talks
• Classes including culinary & art
• Writing Courses
• Meditation & Yoga
• Volunteering
• Fitness & leisure sports
• Community groups
• Language classes
• Courses &  TAFE for expanding career opportunities
• Psychology, Hypnotherapy & other wellness
• Travel
• Take a look on Seek etc to see what it out there!
• Reconnect with family or friends in a more meaningful way
• Do something that scares you just a little ! Put yourself out there!

What are you excited to try?

Cindy x