You always hear that your body is your temple, but I believe your body is more like your home. It was designed as a place to make your soul comfortable, a place for your inner self to shine through the beautiful windows. So why do we run ourselves down instead of treating our bodies with as much care, maintenance, and desire for beauty as our home? And how can we change that? How do we fall in love with ourselves like we do our home?
is simple: hydrate and get a rock star skincare routine that fits your skin’s needs. This should include cleansing, exfoliating, and moisturizing. I love to get a facial at least once a month to get a deep cleaning, to see if my skin’s needs have changed, and to make sure I am maintaining the best regimen for my skin during that time of the year. Yes, your skin’s needs change!
Step One: Home Maintenance Home maintenance is key to keeping any house running and functioning properly; the same is true for your body. When we have clogged pipes, creaky doors, or malfunctioning appliances, we don’t waste any time getting them repaired. When we have achy muscles, upset digestive systems, or problems with our skin, we toss these problems to the side and consider them part of getting older. It doesn’t have to be that way! All good self-maintenance begins with what fuel you put into your body. Food is the basis and core of how our bodies look and feel, and let’s just go ahead and put out there that food is also a form of pleasure and can bring us emotional joy. There is no one easy diet that works to make everyone’s body function at its highest potential, so don’t worry, I’m not about to tell you to go completely plant-based or keto. Just eat what feels right for your body and enjoy treats in moderation. If you don’t know what feels right or how to do that, call a plumber! Or in this case a health coach. What we eat affects our energy, mood, skin, and much more. Make sure you are eating for your body! Now let’s work on getting out those creeks, dings, and dents in your home – or your muscles. When was the last time you got a massage? If you can’t remember or it’s been so long you can feel your muscles yelling at you while you read the word “massage,” you are doing your body a huge disservice. Massage is more than taking a nap while someone rubs lavender oil on your body. Massage helps with sore and knotted muscles, lymphatic drainage, circulation, and releasing chemicals and hormones in the body to make you feel happier and either more alert or relaxed. Sounds a little more necessary now, doesn’t it?
Step Two: Beautification Even for those of us who aren’t always Instagram ready, we love our homes to be clean, beautiful, and give off a sense of self. Our bodies should be the same way. From what we wear, how we style our hair, how we maintain our bodies and so much more, our appearance tells the world a whole story about us. And as much as we might hate to admit it, our look and our auras/vibes are the first things people will notice about you. Let’s make sure we are painting a picture we want people to see. The most crucial and noticeable step anyone can take to up their “curb appeal” is having flawless skin. Let’s face it, with great skin you can rock a messy bun, cozy sweater, and no makeup and still look ready to take on the world. In addition, your skin is your largest and most visible organ; you wouldn’t let your walls and foundation look less than perfect. Keeping your skin happy
Once you have a base of amazing skin, your makeup should accentuate and highlight what you want people to notice. I live on only eyeliner and mascara because they make my eyes pop and make me happy; others love a great red lipstick, or a full face if it makes them happy and confident! Beautification of the rest of the exterior is easy. I always recommend people pick clothes in which they are comfortable. No, that doesn’t mean sweatpants; it means picking items that fit comfortably. If you are tugging your shirt down constantly, feeling lumpy, or can’t breathe, that’s not the piece for you! Clothes should accentuate, flatter, and make you comfortable and confident as you walk out the door. You wouldn’t buy an uncomfortable couch you don’t want to sit on and doesn’t fit your lifestyle, so don’t do it with your outfits either!
Step Three: Glow from Within No matter how much you work on the exterior of your home or yourself, if there is poor lighting inside you’ll never be happy with outside results. Your aura or presence is your best advertisement. There is just something about someone who radiates happiness and confidence, even on their bad days, that is captivating. NOVEMBER 2019 • 23