becoming ur own project and self upgrading⋆.ೃ࿔*:・🍡
the goal of becoming ur own project is to continuously improve and TRACK the progress that u make. to reflect on what serves u and upgrade, so that u can pursue your own excellence ✨
the power of intention : we have this thing in our brains called the reticular activating system and it acts as a filter for our thoughts. this is why i always stress the importance of affirmations bcuz they're so good for you. simply setting an intention before we start our day, being intentional with our actions, our affirmations etc can cause massive shifts in ur life positively. set the intention to be 1% better each and every day, to do better than u did the day before.
choose an era : crafting an era helps u to enjoy the process of ur goals and what u do to achieve them. that way u can stay consistent because it'll be ENJOYABLE. what i like to do before every single month is make a vision board for the era that i wanna embody during that month. for example, my era for the month of january will be wellness. so make urself a vision board and choose an era that way u can romanticize it.
where ur focus goes energy flows : ask urself what aspect of ur life needs the most attention and improvement and in ur era ur going to pour into that aspect of ur life whole-heartedly. turn it into a project
when u turn something into a project, u track how fruitful that project was, for later reflection ofc. you should be doing the same when ur making urself ur own project. not only will it be a helpful resource for the future, but it can also give u a view on how far you've come ✨
choose ur character : kind of think of it like a video game. unlock the character that you'll need for that specific era of ur life. what are they're characteristics? what do they focus on? u rly wanna get into character so that then u can embody the era without it feeling foreign to you. literally be your own MUSE.
vision boards and environment : set urself up for success and make a vision board bcuz they work!! tweak ur environment so that then u can be set up for success in the era that u wanna embody. for example if ur focus is on looking ur best then you'd prep the environment : buy some new makeup or beauty products, designate an area to get ready everyday, create a playlist etc etc. make it evident to ur brain that change is being made. look at situations as if you already won bcuz u did.
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The truth is, two people can have the same amount of money and not be in the same Class. Relationships among the Rich are based on how many traits—what I call “layers of Class”—people have in common. And having certain layers of Class in common can even override differences in wealth. It may sound a bit confusing, but the best thing about this is that most layers of Class can be learned.
Class Layer 1—Wealth
Class Layer 2—Lineage
Class Layer 3—Memberships
Class Layer 4—Education
Class Layer 5—Arts
Class Layer 6—Social Savvy
Class Layer 7—Political Clout
Class Layer 8—Travel Sophistication
Class Layer 9—Sports
Class Layer 10—Values
Class Layer 11— Achievement
Class Layer 12—Hobbies
Class Layer 13—Philanthropy
Class Layer 14—Manners And Self-Care
Each layer of Class is like a layer of wealth, all its own. Adding Class in layers adds Richness to you and therefore increases your “market value” to potential Rich clients, Rich friendships, and Rich mates.
Source: *** How to Meet the Rich, by Ginie Sayles***
So with Arab perfumes becoming popular in the West due to their strong projection and beautiful smell, and the Arab world becoming known for our knowledge on how to smell good af, I (a half Moroccan) am going to reveal some other ways we ensure we smell amazing to the girlies on Tumblr who are interested in Arab perfumes or just in generally smelling amazing 😍 Most tips are Moroccan but many apply to the Arab world in general (under the cut because this turned into a long post) ✨💞💐
1) Good Eating Habits: When my mother moved here to Europe, she was immediately struck by how the people seemed to smell like "pig." And that's no coincidence. You are what you eat, so coming from a country where nobody eats pig to one where everyone eats it, of course you're going to be struck by people smelling like it from the inside out. Not just that, but in the Arab world, it's also way less common for people to eat takeout and drink alcohol, whereas in many parts of the West, these things are a normal part of many people's diets and affects their natural scent. A lot of Arabs have also talked about how Westerners smell like "milk," and this is because Westerners tend to consume more dairy products than people in the East do. It's also common for Arabs to eat fruit as dessert instead of having cakes or cookies all the time (although speaking of cookies and cakes, the scents of rosewater, orange blossom water, almonds, honey, vanilla, oranges and lemons commonly used in Arab baking fill up the house with a wonderful smell while they're baking). Teas made from various herbal infusions are popular throughout the Arab world. Spearmint, peppermint, sage, cardamom, cinnamon, hibiscus, chamomile, anise, and thyme are commonly used to flavor tea in MENA. Dried lime tea is drunk in the Arabian Peninsula. Coffee flavoured with cardamom is also common. I especially like Turkish coffee. Spices like cinnamon, cardamom, and cloves are commonly used in cooking, and the scent of them can cling to your clothes and hair. Herbs like mint and parsley, which have natural deodorising properties, are often used in meals.
I'm not saying that you need to cut any foods out in order to smell good, but you should consider reducing the amounts of unhealthy foods and red meats you eat, and make sure to drink plenty of water and eat veggies and fruit daily.
2) Keeping a Clean House: Here in Ireland, a lot of people don't clean their houses every day. I know multiple people that only clean their floor once a week, and have a couple of neighbours who don't do much cleaning themselves and just have a housekeeper visit to clean once a week. But in Morocco, people clean daily. The home is also deep cleaned once a week, we even wash the walls. We don't wear shoes inside, and not just that, but we also have different slippers specifically for wearing inside the bathroom. Living in a clean space is important for smelling good, because no matter what you do, you'll always end up smelling like wherever you live due to spending so much time there. The scent will cling to your clothes and hair. Which means if your house smells dirty, you will also smell dirty.
As well as making sure the house is clean, Arabs also make it smell pretty with extras. For example, in Morocco it's common to burn incense or bakhour (perfumed wood chips), and the scent permeates your clothes. People also keep pieces of musk in their wardrobes (wrapped in a handkerchief). It come in scents like orange blossom, jasmine, amber, sandalwood, chamomile and lavender. An unused bar of soap or a sachet of potpourri in your wardrobe will do the same job though if you can't or don't want to buy musk. The musk can also be used as a scented wax melt, a home scent (you just leave it in a bowl), a body perfume (rub it on your skin), a hair perfume (rub on your palms and run through the hair), or to scent bathwater. Solid perfume made from natural ingredients has the same effect. I like Lush Rose Jam solid perfume, as it smells like sweet roses and Turkish delight, and a little goes a long way.
Specific to Marrakech, you can buy jasmine balls which you just leave around the house (if you're not in Marrakech, you can just leave potpourri or dried flowers and herbs in sachets on your desk, bedside table, etc). The Marrakech herbal shops also sell sandalwood bark which you burn. Oud and amber are also burned. Herbs like lavender are sprinkled under carpets and rugs so the scent rises as they're stepped on. Room sprays from brands like Nabeel are used, which come in a range of lovely scents (like the warm vanilla and oud Kanz or the rich floral Raunaq).
3) Personal Hygiene: In the Arab world, people shower daily. In Morocco, we also go to the hammam (public bath) once a week, and we sit in the sauna room, and then rub our bodies with sabon beldi (black soap), a natural soap made from olive oil and black olives, leaving it on for a few minutes before rinsing it off. Then we scrub our skin with a kessa glove after it's marinated. Exfoliating dead skin regularly makes perfume cling to you better (if you order Korean bath towels from Amazon, they're very similar to Moroccan kessa gloves and you use them in a similar way). Then after washing our hair, we use a ghassoul clay mask (some people also rub henna into their skin). After washing the clay off, many people rub rosewater or argan oil into their skin before heading to the relaxation area to enjoy refreshments. As well as helping us smell good, it also makes our skin incomparably soft. When my parents were newlyweds, my father remarked on how he'd never felt a woman with such soft skin in his life before. My mother attributes it to regularly using the hammams before moving here.
Obviously not everyone has access to a hammam, but you can create a similar experience at home. Just sit in a steamy hot shower for 10-15 minutes, wash your skin with a natural soap and leave it on for a few minutes before rinsing off and exfoliating with a glove. Then tone with rosewater and apply oil to your body.
Dukhan treatments (smoke baths) are practiced in Sudan. Married women and brides anoint themselves with oil, before sitting over a chair with a hole in the centre. Under the seat, there is a pit, in which acacia wood, frankincense, or other aromatic woods and resins are burned in a clay vessel.
As well as showering daily (and using the hammam regularly if you're Maghrebi), many people in the Arab world also perform wudu (ritual cleansing) five times a day before praying.
Women commonly apply Musk Al Tahara (white musk), an attar that smells like vanilla, flowers and soft musk on the external parts of their vulva after periods.
Alum was commonly used as a natural deodorant in the Arab world in the past, and some still use it today.
Bidets are also common in the Arab world. In the Anglosphere they're uncommon, but it's easy to get a portable bidet (a small squeezable bottle with a nozzle) online.
We also wash our hands before meals, with a pitcher of water which is passed around the room. In Turkey, they use kolonya, made from fig blossoms, jasmine, rose, or citrus to disinfect their hands. In Morocco, it's common for women to scent their hands with rosewater or orange blossom water after meals.
4) Fragrances, Lotions and Potions: In the Arab world, perfumes are incredible. They're oil-based, so they have excellent projection and longevity. The olfactory notes commonly used in them are beautiful too: delicate rosewater and orange blossom water, exotic oud, sweet amber, vibrant roses and jasmine. In Morocco, gardenia scents are popular, even among men.
Emirati perfumes are the most well known in the West and are super good. Some personal favourites of mine include Oud Mood by Lattafa (Caramel, rose, saffron, and oud), Fatima Pink by Zimaya (Sweet rose that smells like a bit like Turkish delight. it's a dupe of the French Parfums De Marly Delina, however, the actual Delina smells very similar to generic rose oil perfumes you can get in the Arab world to begin with so Zimaya was basically able to dupe it to a T. Their version lasts really long too), Ameerat Al Arab by Lattafa (jasmine, a hint of oud, slightly citrusy. Also the name means "Arabian Princess" in English), Fakhar Rose by Lattafa (sweet, fruity, and very floral) and Yara by Lattafa (floral, amber, vanilla and strawberry). I buy my perfumes from Dubai Perfume Shop in Dublin, but they can be easily found online. Some well-known Arab perfume houses include Lattafa, Al Rehab, Zimaya, Al Qurashi, Amouage, Afnan, Ajmal, Asdaaf, Al Haramain, Armaf, Kayali, Maison Alhambra, and Swiss Arabian, but there are hundreds more.
As well as sprayable perfume, perfume oil is also used. It usually comes in rollerballs or small containers, is inexpensive, and lasts for ages. Like spray perfume, it comes in a huge variety of scents. You can also put it in diffusers or add some to cotton balls and leave in your wardrobe to scent clothes and linens.
Arabs know when to wear perfumes. For example, a rich, sweet, strong oud and vanilla scent will be beautiful in colder weather. But in warm weather, it will become cloying and sickly. Musk, amber and saffron are popular in winter, while rose, orange blossom and jasmine are popular in summer.
In the Arab world, many stalls in the Medina sell gorgeous oils, fragrances and soaps that are inexpensive. For example, the musk I mentioned above. As well as making your home smell incredible, you can also rub it on your body and you'll smell good for days.
Rosewater is commonly used as a toner and to remove makeup. In the town of Skoura, where my great grandparents were from, men even use it to shave with! Orange blossom water is also used in Arab beauty routines in a similar way to rosewater. You can apply either to a bath for extra luxury.
Argan oil is commonly used in Morocco on both skin and hair, as well as the less well-known but just as good prickly pear oil (which is very high in vitamin E). Pure argan oil actually smells mild and not fragrant (similar to olive oil), but for beauty, things like rose oil and menthol are commonly added, so it smells pretty good. Throughout the Middle East and North Africa, jasmine hair oil, castor oil and sweet almond oil (I like putting it in my baths and on my body) are easy to find. Usually Middle Eastern and South Asian shops in the West sell them too.
Honey and almond masks have been used since ancient times, and to this day are still popular. You can buy them basically anywhere. Homemade face masks made from honey and yoghurt or crushed figs and yoghurt are also used.
Aloe Vera is used to treat dry skin, acne, and sunburns. It has a cool and refreshing scent, perfect for the hot climate in many parts of the Arabian world. I like applying it after shaving as it's soothing, natural, and absorbs easily.
Frankincense, a resin used in the Middle East and North Africa for thousands of years, was traditionally used as a natural perfume. It's commonly used in incense. Frankincense oil is also good for the skin.
There are many beautiful scented soaps available in the Arab world. If you go to Turkish or Arab supermarkets, a lot of them will have a section where they sell hygiene products, including soaps with ingredients like argan, rose and oud, and olive oil. I've even found Syrian Aleppo soap before. You can just buy soaps from regular stores in scents like rose, jasmine, honey and almond, orange blossom and sandalwood for achieving that exotic scent though.
As well as using various oils, perfumes, and fragrant beauty treatments, Arab women also know how to layer these different scents to add dimension to them and avoid clashing. For example, a rose perfume over a vanilla lotion will always smell good. Other combinations that are good include almond and vanilla, rose and oud, rose and jasmine, lavender and lemon, rose and orange blossom, and orange blossom and vanilla. But there are many different combinations you can use to achieve a delicious scent that's unique to you.
Be excessive, be obsessive about what you truly want. There is no other option but getting what you want. You will work harder than you could imagine, there will be sleepless nights and probably you won't even have time to eat. But don't stop. Yes, for a long time it will be CHAOS, confusion. But let me tell you, THE SATISFACTION you have from the hard work, there is no better feeling than achieving your goal through hard work. And then, THE REGRET you'll have for not doing it will eat you alive. YOUR CHOICE
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Self-abandonment means not taking care of yourself, your needs, and your feelings. It's like ignoring what's good for you and not being kind to yourself normally in a way that benefits everyone but you.
Not eating well or exercising.
Pretending to be happy when you're not.
Working too much without breaks.
Staying in a bad relationship.
Letting people use you.
Forgetting about things you enjoy.
Not saying what you want.
Always doing things for others.
Not asking for help when you're sad or stressed.
Being alone when you need friends.
Saying mean things to yourself in your head.
Giving up your dreams for others.
Avoiding problems instead of solving them.
Never taking time to relax.
Ignoring how you look or feel.
Not asking for help when things are too hard.
Trying to be perfect all the time.
Doing things that hurt you, like drugs or danger.
Changing who you are to fit in.
Not being yourself and doing what others want.
Ignoring your body when it needs rest or sleep.
Letting others make decisions for you all the time.
Keeping your feelings bottled up inside.
Surrounding yourself with people who bring you down.
Not pursuing your interests or hobbies.
Saying "yes" to everything, even when you're overwhelmed.
Putting up with disrespect or mistreatment from others.
Not giving yourself credit for your accomplishments.
Skipping important appointments or check-ups.
Holding onto grudges and negative emotions.
Comparing yourself unfavorably to others.
Not taking breaks when you're stressed.
Neglecting your financial well-being and overspending.
Ignoring signs of burnout or exhaustion.
Avoiding seeking help for mental health struggles.
Ignoring your own intuition and gut feelings.
Overcommitting and spreading yourself too thin.
Constantly seeking validation from others.
Letting fear hold you back from trying new things.
Dwelling on past mistakes and not forgiving yourself.
Every day is a day to dress up and look my best. 5am walks in the park call for cute workout fits. 12pm grocery runs call for a nicely styled outfit and jewelry. There’s no reason to ever look bummy.
Weather permitting, heels are a daily shoe. If I’m not doing something casual or extensive that requires a sneaker or flat, if it’s not icy or raining, I put some heels on. Heels in the form of sandals, boots, wedges, doesn’t matter. Not only does it make outfits cuter but it’s just hotter. Heels are the default, everything else is the exception. They don’t have to be too high and definitely not painful, it’s just the principle.
Sexy pajamas are the only option. I always utilize my collection of cute silky matching sets. Soft to the touch and fun to look at.
Sexy panties are the only option. Lace trims, silks, bows, cheeky cuts, thongs.
Shower twice a day, stay exfoliated and moisturized. Cocoa butter to keep my skin plump. A spritz of Chanel perfume to smell expensive.
Hair and makeup is done at the same time I brush my teeth and wash my face. I get myself together first thing in the morning. Doesn’t have to be a full va-va-voom face of makeup but a little something something to look more awake and lively makes a difference. I like to sleep with my hair in flexi rods to make curls quick and easy.
I put on athletic wear straight away to make sure I’m ready to stretch and go exercise. When I’m done for the day, I shower and put on a real outfit. I have so many cute clothes, so why not put them to use?
Don’t feel like crafting an outfit? Deciding which top goes with which bottoms taking up too much time? I throw on a figure hugging cami dress. I have a nice handful of them in a variety of colors. Some with slits, some without. Paired with some simple jewelry, a little bag and a heeled sandal, I look like a million bucks with minimum effort. 60 second outfit.
I have my nails and toes done frequently, but always take a small break in between sessions to keep my natural nails healthy. Even a few days off will help prevent damage. When I’m not wearing fake nails, I keep my natural nails filed short with a clear coat on top.
Athletic wear/t-shirts/leggings are for fitness activities and early morning errands on my way home from exercising. Not as a daily style. I always put on a real outfit.
Skincare, skincare, skincare. Non negotiable, not up for debate. AM and PM skincare routine no matter what.
I always have something to work towards and something to do. I try to avoid idle hands, engage my hobbies and work on my skills.
I care about putting God first and keeping His commandments. A spirit bogged down by the guilt of sin does not carry an attractive aura. People who live life on the right track shine brighter.
I do a posture check every so often. Sit up straighter and relax into it rather than looking like a stiff board. Walk with confidence as if I’m a model strutting down the runway. Don’t be too shy to take up space or be seen.
I light the candelabra every night so that we can have a candlelit dinner on the reg. I use the good china as the default. Our tablecloth is satin, our duvet and pillowcases are satin, the gold cutlery is the default cutlery. I enjoy the finer things and make it my daily life rather than waiting for special occasions and I want my family to have that standard set for themselves as well.
what i’ve been working towards. my mindset has improved tremendously since i switched to silk sheets, pillowcases and wearing matching pajama sets with cute hair accessories.
Reblog + comment on this post if you are a woman woman on her self development journey seeking to be part of female only group chat to support women on their self development journeys and yours too, to gain results and encourage
* all identities must stay anonymous unless wanted to reveal.
* must be 18+ due to the nature of conversations and have a vision and have goals you want to attain (business,dating, fitness etc)
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Hey! I work as a freelance content writer/copywriter as well. I had to stop working because of academic pressure, but the pay in my country is peanuts, and I have always wanted to expand globally. I would really appreciate it if you could share some tips on how you started getting clients and how did you build your agency? Thanks!!
Hi love! Some high-level tips are below:
Intern/Apply to remote internships to get clips/experience
Create an Upwork account to get entry-level work/testimonials to get some client portfolio work and to help build your professional reputation
Always be on the lookout for leads, do your research, and craft a thoughtful/useful pitch for the client/publisher. Send work samples/share how you can help them. Follow up – remember rejection is part of the job, it's a numbers game
Start your own blog to show off your skills/build credibility in the writing world/your field
Save all of your quality-work to use in your portfolio. Always have a portfolio ready in PDF format and as a direct link that's mobile-friendly available when pitching clients
Utilize LinkedIn, your university connections, build your network, request informational interviews, and don't be shy to ask for letters of recommendation or referrals
When you do get a client whose honest and integral, show up and do your best work and submit it on time. If you can't for whatever reason, request an extension/notify them of the delay ahead of time
Perfect your craft, continuously read about your industry, and sharpen your skills. Show up with a business owner, not employee, mindset. This might be different when you're doing contract work for an agency where they might have their own contracts, set a budget, etc. But, when working with smaller, independent clients, ensure you have your rates, terms, general business practices, contracts (see a lawyer about this one), onboarding process, client questionnaire, payment method, etc., all set up for your client to acclimate to when you're ready to sign them. Remember, your clients are your customers, not your employers. It is a partnership, not an unequal power dynamic – you are the talent, not the direct report.
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Reblog + comment on this post if you are a woman woman on her self development journey seeking to be part of female only group chat to support women on their self development journeys and yours too, to gain results and encourage
* all identities must stay anonymous unless wanted to reveal.
* must be 18+ due to the nature of conversations and have a vision and have goals you want to attain (business,dating, fitness etc)
*this will not be a spammy group chat, only used as an online community.
Once you allow someone to take over your mind constantly, you are screwed and you are allowing them to be placed on a higher level they do not need to be.
Get busy, get on your routine, put yourself first.
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A crash course on fine dining/ being invited to dinner at someone’s place. Even if you don’t fine dine, I’d recommend you start practicing these habits in any establishment so that they come to you naturally.
Remember : A typical four-course meal consists of a soup, an appetizer, an entrée, and dessert.
If you’re standing at some sort of a networking session/ mixer:
Keep at least one hand free. If you are standing, have only a drink or food in one hand, never both. Hold a drink in your left hand so that you have a clean hand for a handshake. You can eat and drink while sitting, but it is always better to stand and greet.
Sitting/ dining out/ invited to dinner:
1. Wait to be seated by the staff/ host.
2. Napkin on your lap the minute you sit down at the table.
3. if you're looking at the menu, make sure to have the bottom, or at least one part of it, still touching the table, even if your impulse is to bring it closer to your face. Don’t lift the menu off the table to your nose.
4. Once you sip from a glass, you must sip from the exact same place on that glass for the rest of the evening.
5. If there’s a breadbasket and butter on your table - don’t dip the bread in the communal butter plate. Take a piece of the butter with your butter knife, put it on the side plate, then spread that butter on your bread. Don’t double dip! Your bread plate is the one on your left, by the way. And your glass will be on your right.
6. If your table has a lot of silverware - start from the outside and work your way in.
7. Dishes should be passed in a counter-clockwise flow. Don’t reach across the table.
8. Lay you fork and knife diagonally across the plate, side by side, pointing at 10:00 and 4:00 on a clock face. This signifies to the wait staff that you have finished.
9. Keep the rim of your plates as clean as possible, as a sign of respect to the staff.
Cultural differences:
1. Whilst eating Indian food/ in India, always eat with your right hand. The left hand should never touch the food. This is also seen in the Arab world - use only the thumb, index finger and middle finger to pick up food.
2. In Korea, one waits for the senior most person in the room to sit and eat, and is followed suit. Sharing is caring - food is often ordered to share with each other rather than individual plates.
3. Chopsticks etiquette (general): don’t stick and leave your chopsticks in your food perpendicular to the table, it signifies death. Don't set your chopsticks down pointed at another person at the table. Don't point your chopsticks at other people around the table.
4. France: bread on the table is meant to accompany the main dish, not as an appetiser.
What are some table manners that one should keep in mind if they’re eating food/ eating with someone of your culture?