Category Archives: Fear and Anxiety

Midweek SOS Beauty, Style & Spirit Tips {New Motivational Vlog}

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Hey Style Sistas, 

I’ll keep it short & sweet today. Here’s just a few tips to keep you looking & feeling fab this Fall… 

//BEAUTY//

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Pumpkin season is approaching and I want to remind you to integrate it into your Fall beauty routine. Pumpkin is packed with Vitamin A & C and it’s blend of antioxidants make it perfect to use on your skin and hair. I love making a DIY mask of pureed pumpkin and honey to exfoliate, plump up wrinkles and the honey adds moisture. There are tons of new pumpkin skincare, bodycare & haircare  products on the market. Make sure to eat it too! 

 

//STYLE//

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The hot ‘must have’ coat this Fall is a faux fur in blush pink. I’m totally obsessed!  If this is too bold and bulky, find a vest or even a furry scarf in blush pink. It freshens everything up and pairs beautifully with grey, camel, burgundy and even teal. 

 

//SPIRIT//

As we go into the final few months of 2014, it’s a great time to check in with yourself and gauge your level of Faith VS. Fear. Are you leaning toward fear on a regular basis? Remember, F.E.A.R. is False Evidence Appearing Real. Make sure to envision your life and dreams with the eyes of your spirit. What seems impossible with your physical eyes can be POSSIBLE with faith-filled spiritual eyes. 

 

Share with us. “By faith______________!” (fill in the blank)

Comment, Like, Share the SOS Love.

WALK TALL,

Tiff

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Do You Have A Spirit Spot?

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Do you have a “spirit spot” or what I also like to call a “place of peace”? 

This morning as I was meditating, praying and writing in my journal, I became overwhelmed with gratitude for my “spirit spot”. I knew I had to share this with you on this beautiful Sunday. Seemed appropriate. When I started on my spiritual journey about 12-13 years ago, I found that early morning was the perfect time for me to pray, read and seek God. I am naturally an early bird so it was easy. As I began to see how this practice was transforming and strengthening me, I became addicted to my special morning time. On the mornings I was rushed and skipped it, I would be cranky, short tempered and anxiety-ridden the rest of the day. Now, I do not give up my morning ritual for anything or anyone! With all the people and responsibilities we have, it’s vital to start the day in peace (not frantic with anxiety) and equipped to handle it all.

 My “spirit spot” ended up being the couch in the living room complete with a comfy blanket, coffee, candle, Bible, books, journal, highlighter and my furry daughter, Zoe. Now, I realize that this spot works for me because I don’t have kids. A “spirit spot” can be any place YOU can get quiet, connect and feed your spirit. This could be a specific room in the house, on the patio overlooking the pool, a park bench or even in the shower or on the yoga mat.

One of the first things I discuss with my lifestyle mentoring/coaching clients is how they start their day. A common theme I have found among women who need my help, are disconnected from their spirit and constantly exhausted is that they jump out of bed to screaming kids or they hit the snooze button a million times.

If this is you- do you feel a rumbling of anxiety in your gut for the rest of the day? 

Then, I highly recommend getting up a bit earlier than your family. Even just 15 minutes earlier will transform how the rest of your day goes. I PROMISE! Is there a spot in your home where you feel calm? A spot where the minute you sit down you exhale and feel the stress drain off. This could be the perfect place of peace for you. If not, create one. Place things around you and in your view that create a sense of joy, peace and comfort in you. My spot in the living room has things that stimulate my senses in a positive way….

  • Furry blanket that is comforting, safe and cozy. (I skip this during the heat of Summer, of course!)
  • My baby girl Zoe, loves to lay in my lap which creates love and connection.
  • An aromatic candle which creates a calm zen atmosphere.
  • Fresh flowers- usually an orchid- which represents love, luxury, beauty and strength.  
  • Photos of my family and dearest friends which always reminds me to pray for them & send them positive thoughts. 

 

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Remember, it’s just as important what we feed our physical body as what we’re feeding our spirit. When you feed your body junk- ice cream, cookies, fried foods, preservatives- you become overweight, sluggish and become a breeding ground for diseases like diabetes, high blood pressure and more. You become what you eat. 

What you feed your spirit- YOU BECOME. Do you feed your spirit junk like too many violent/sexually immoral shows & movies, trash mags, too much voyeuristic time on social media and surrounding yourself with gossipers/backstabbers/criticizers?  Trust me– I am not perfect at this and indulge in some ridiculous, mind-sucking reality shows from time to time — but, I am cautious of how much time I spend on things like that. It’s important to be so in tune with your spirit, that you notice when these things are altering your character, behavior and your manner of speaking becomes negative.

Again, this is why it is crucial you begin the day filled up on positivity and peace. As the day goes on, we are bombarded with negative images, tragic news and perhaps a gossipy friend. If you begin the day depleted, whoa- no wonder so many women battle anxiety. I did for a long time!  Sistas, it’s no way to live. 

Please share your TWO CENTS on this subject and make a comment!

Share, tweet, like this post if you found it inspiring.

Love, Tiff xo

 

DON’T SWEAT IT, GIRL! How to be Anxiety-Free in 2013 by Guest Blogger Ryan Rivera

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Hey Steel Magnolia,

Many of you have written in and expressed that you’re battling anxiety and panic attacks.  Luckily, Ryan Rivera of The Calm Clinic reached out to share his tips.  I thought this was the perfect reinforcement we needed as we hit the new year running….

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Modern life and everyday living can be so stressful, and women often find these to be causes for anxiety. Then there is that time of the month when our estrogen levels, which affect our vulnerability and anxiousness, fall below normal. This makes us more prone to emotional roller coasters that severely affect our mood.  On a normal day, we stress ourselves out over trivial matters, and then work or family-related matters add up to the pressure. The next thing you know, you’re totally dazed.

While we can’t really escape the trappings of the daily grind, we can choose to handle it better.  Know which tasks to spend time on and which ones to abandon.  Lighten your load and see how your world can open up and become a more vibrant, positive place.  A lot of women find themselves wallowing in their woes and burdens, feeling incapable of escaping the lives they built for themselves. The truth is that you can always choose to improve your life and not waste time on the petty things that carry the most weight.

Don’t let stress and anxiety render you incapable of living the life you want. You can use both to motivate you to be the best in everything you do, but don’t let it get to you so bad that you start feeling inadequate on a regular basis. Don’t think too much about what other people might say about you, don’t pour over the littlest things, and spend too much time worrying about small issues.  Anxiety can help fuel you at times, but it can also cripple your abilities and prevent you from performing when you let it get to you.

Since hormones don’t really work in our favor, women should remain headstrong and persistent.  It may take more effort for us to be able to move forward and battle the anxiety which could hinder us from getting what we want, but it will be worth it!  Don’t sweat the small stuff and just keep doing what you need to do in order for you to achieve your goals. Never allow anyone or anything to stop you from succeeding in life.

Here are 5 simple and doable things you can do to reduce anxiety:

  1. Exercise. Try signing up for a gym membership or work out on your own just to channel the negative energy that’s pent up in your system.  A good workout will boost your endorphins as well.
  2. Get crafty. Get into a new hobby and learn new skills. Who knows? Something that starts as a hobby could end up a source of income for you. This happens to a lot of people. They earn out of something they love doing.
  3. Rest and relax. Unwind and don’t let yourself be bothered by stressful thoughts. You don’t have to splurge to unwind. It can be a day at the spa, lunch date with friends, or movie date with your loved one.
  4. Form healthy habits.  Eat right and stop the vices.  If you maintain a balanced and healthy lifestyle, it will allow you to perform better at work and accomplish tasks more.
  5. Find more things that make you happy.  Open your eyes to the beauty around you.  There’s power in the saying, “stop and smell the roses”.  Focus on the things that make you happy and spend less time focused on the things that stress you out.

Women should not become victims of feelings of anxiety. There is so much more to life than having to go through the pressure of living up to other people’s standards. Do things as you please, and live your life the way you want to.  Create your own ways of fighting off anxiety and you are sure to perform beyond what is expected of you, which can help you live a fulfilled life!

By Ryan Rivera, Publisher & Founder of http://www.calmclinic.com

Ryan Rivera has spent 7 years of his life suffering from, as he calls it, the “whole package” – panic attacks, severe anxiety, agoraphobia, social anxiety, unbearable physical symptoms, headaches, neck pains, constant tension, diarrhea, palpitations, pounding heart.  After trying numerous different treatments for his anxiety (including various medication) a tipping-point in his life made him overcome his emotional problems.

Have you found a great method to reduce anxiety? Please comment and share it!

I have learned to keep my schedule light and stop putting too much on my plate.  This has done wonders!  I also turn my phone on silent a few times a day, take a brisk walk and run a hot bath to keep me from going coocoo for cocoa puffs!  Remember, anxiety is often caused by FEAR so by letting go of the fear, you will also let go of your anxiety.   2012 brought a ton of stress for most of us, but we can make a few small tweaks to ensure the new year will be different.

CHEERS TO BEING A FREE SPIRIT in 2013!

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Love, Tiff