I meet so many wonderful women doing amazing things in the world, both clients and fellow business owners and Maggie Killick is one of those. Simply put, Maggie helps people look and feel amazing!
Through her personal styling, corporate workshops or when re-working a client’s wardrobe, she helps people understand what flatters them and how to put looks together so that they feel more confident in themselves, their body, their clothes and their appearance.
I can personally attest to the fact that a wardrobe makeover and/or a styling makeover can completely transform not only how you feel about yourself, but also how you see yourself in the world.
But what about when you don’t feel good about your body?
One area where we both see clients getting stuck is when they don’t feel good about their body and weight at present and so they hold off taking pride and enjoyment in their appearance ‘until’ they’re a certain size, shape or weight.
When you don’t like what you see in the mirror, how you feel in clothes or how you look in photographs, it’s very hard to be positive. The answer for many is to hide their bodies in old, dark, baggy clothing or to hold off buying new clothes until they reach an ‘ideal’ weight and dress size.
This is not only really saddening from our perspective, but it actually holds people back from getting to where they want to be. So, due to a recent conversation Maggie and I had on this subject, we decided to do something about it – to stop this negative thinking that overshadows peoples’ lives…
Maggie asked me to share my best advice on how you can feel better in the ‘now’ whilst moving towards the results you desire. The blog had such a great reaction from her subscribers that I wanted to share this with my community as well. Whether you struggle in this way or not, I think you’ll find what I have to say inspiring!
Your body is amazing. Full stop. Regardless of its shape and size
It is, quite simply, an awe-inspiring biological masterpiece. Consider for a moment that your heart beats 60-100 times a minute and pumps 8-9 tonnes of blood (per day) throughout your body – pretty amazing, isn’t it?
With this in mind, I want to suggest a powerful exercise – Write a list of 10 reasons why you love your body because of what it does for you. Forget weight or shape for a moment and focus on the organs, senses and bodily functions that you’re grateful for. This opens you up to show your body the love and respect it deserves.
What you focus on you attract
Now at first, this might sound a little too pseudoscientific for you, but quantum scientists have enough evidence to fully support this as fact rather than theory. If you focus on what’s ‘wrong’, the excess weight, restriction and unattractiveness – you will get more of the same. Therefore, you must start taking pride in your appearance to create the results you desire – for example by wearing clothes that make you feel good.
I’m a firm believer (and recent scientific literature supports me on this) that when you don’t focus on weight, you’re more likely to lose weight – because what you focus on expands. So, the key here is to turn your attention to what you want and to start acting as if it’s already yours. A little neuroscience and epigenetics come into play here in the sense that your brain believes what you tell it and so your body responds.
Stop and smell the flowers
My last piece of advice is the one I’m most passionate about: we only have a limited time here – don’t waste it.
When you dislike your body, it can hang over you like a grey cloud. Food and your body are continually at the forefront of your mind and it only takes one small thing, like an extra pound on the scales, or a little over-indulgence, to affect your whole day.
When I work with clients who are unhappy with their weight, as well as looking at their nutritional habits, we work on their mindset and find ways for them to take pride in their appearance whilst on their wellbeing journey. This means wearing outfits they love now and doing things that make them feel good in their body now – Buying new clothes, make-up or even having a make-over, so we can improve their energy and positivity now, in the present, rather than waiting for the result to feel good.
As a side note here, if you’ve ever worked with a stylist before, you’ll already know that finding the right fit, colour, shape and style for you can make the world of a difference!
How you feel about yourself is key to your results, your mood, your day and your whole experience of life. Yes, there are also eating/nutritional, sleep and exercise factors to work on, however, in my experience, both personally and professionally, it is your mindset that really counts.
Kate x
