How to Give Your Soul a Makeover - Page 6

So many times, especially each New Year, we seek to change or makeover our physical attributes. A new haircut, change of attire, or plans to lose that extra 10 pounds are usually high on our list of priorities. There is nothing wrong with change, but with each physical makeover should come  an internal makeover as well. Just as our looks need to be rejuvenated, so do our souls.

Yes, surprisingly even with a bold new haircut and an even fiercer new wardrobe to compliment, without having our souls intact, it all seems pointless after a while. As cliché as it may sound, you’ve really got to focus on the inside first. The rest are just additives.

So as the New Year approaches and you seek to unveil a New You, give your soul a makeover in addition to the things people can see. A beautiful soul far surpasses even the hottest pair of pumps.

Try these eight tips to assist you in the best makeover you can give yourself in 2011. Your soul will thank you.

Reflect

With every great moment comes a bad one, with every cry eventually comes a laugh, and usually every disappointment is followed by a lesson. As you begin your journey to makeover your soul, reflect on recent good and bad moments in order to pull a lesson from the let-downs. Reflection is vital in order to move forward in a positive direction; but don’t reflect simply to allow yourself a pity party or ruin your mood, but instead to rejoice in your growth and learn from your mistakes. Then figure out how you want to move forward with your life. After all, it is YOUR life.

Write As Therapy

Begin journaling your intimate thoughts and feelings. There really is a sort of therapy in writing. Start journaling about why you feel your soul needs a makeover and what you hope to accomplish with this change.

An Attitude of Gratitude

Oprah has preached about a Gratitude Journal for years; but practicing and attitude of gratitude has been a life principle long before Oprah was even conceived. As you begin to makeover your soul, make a list (as a constant reminder) of all the things you are thankful for. When life seems to kick you in the butt remind yourself of all of these things.

Take A ‘Me’ Day

Maybe your schedule won’t permit you to take a full day off for yourself, but it is ideal and even necessary to give yourself some alone time as you begin your soul makeover. A couple of hours will suffice. Use this time to just relax and reflect. It’s kind of a day off from life…in the non-physical sense. You’re shutting out distractions and relaxing. In such a fast paced world, and especially  if you’re like most of us Mesdames and are an overachiever, it’s almost unheard of to put down the blackberry, computer, and other work; but if only for a few hours, do it for your soul.

Tap Into Your Spiritual Side

Everyone needs something to believe in, be it religion or core morals and values. Whatever your belief or faith, tap into that with deep meditation or prayer. When it’s all said and done, sometimes hope is the only thing that can keep your soul intact. Whether it’s a hope to achieve your goals or for a bad to become better, clothe yourself with whatever your faith is to keep you going and make it a daily ritual.

Figure Out What Makes You Happy & Do More Of It

This sounds easy, right? Actually it’s not as easy as it sounds. This could be because we don’t appreciate moments of happiness as much as we should or we’re so busy with life that we forget about those moments all together.

Are you extremely peaceful and happy when you’re around family or friends? Or while reading a good book? Whatever makes you happy, take heed of it; and try to incorporate more of it into your life. You owe those moments to yourself.

Embrace Change; But Understand It’s Process

Making up our minds to embrace change is quite easy, but understanding and embracing the process of change is another story. What do I mean? How many times have we made plans to do things differently with secret hopes of changing overnight?

No complete change happens within 24 hours; and if it does prepare for a relapse quicker than the change even occurred. In the past I’ve made plans to control my temper, stop procrastinating, drop an inch or two off of my waist, and change the world, all in one day. I’m sure you can guess the outcome.

Instead prepare to change gradually and understand that your ‘former self’ may slip out. That’s okay. At this point you should be equipped with a mentality of growth and enough affirmations to help you during a relapse.

Embrace the beauty of growing but understand that you can’t correct all of your flaws overnight.