If you’re anything like me, you’ve got a million books on living
a chic lifestyle and read all the blogs you can find, but instead of bringing
you closer to your idealistic way of living, you find yourself further away
because of overwhelm. There’s just too
much good information!
When I first started this journey, it was new and exciting
and I devoured everything on this topic.
Nowadays what serves me better is to listen to my own voice more. When I have too many external influences I
get cloudy on what I want.
It doesn’t take long to get my thoughts back and feel more
in balance again. I think it’s a cyclic
thing where sometimes I’m happy taking in more of other peoples opinions and at other
times less. Something that helps me feel
more sure of the direction I’m going in and still being inspired by others rather than drowned out, is to note down my own take on chic.
So I sat down and came up with my top ten chic timeless principles
to guide me.
May I present to you my Chic Manifesto --
The
Chic Manifesto - my 10 chic principles
I am me, no matter who I am around. Because I love all things chic, I will not
dull myself down to fit in with others.
I share as much or as little as I am comfortable
sharing. Others will not pressure me
into giving away more than I want to. I
enjoy having mystique and moving freely throughout life.
I treat myself with exquisite care. I love my body because it is my vessel in
this life. I take care of her by feeding
her nourishing foods, pampering her with self-care and give her adequate
rest. I listen to what she tells me.
I treat others with compassion and empathy. Everyone is doing the best they can and most
people are kind. I try and see things
from their point of view and it makes it very easy to be the kind of person I
want to be.
I am a good steward of my resources. I appreciate my income and all the
possessions I have been blessed with.
Anything I don’t need any more is donated so that someone else can make
use of it and I can enjoy the space in my life.
I am ambitious for a wonderful, fabulous, sparkling and
magical life and it begins today. I am
constantly dreaming up new and better ways to make my life more fun and
happy. In turn that cheer spills over to
others, and as I become more prosperous I can help better the charities close
to my heart.
I am inspired by the latest fashions each season and how
others put their style together, and at the same time enjoy dressing uniquely in
a way that reflects the spirit of the true me.
I purchase and wear only that which makes my heart sing and I am
grateful for a wardrobe that lifts me up every single day.
Even though I may sometimes feel small or insignificant, I
know I am a valuable member of the human race and have a lot to contribute to
my circle of influence. This includes my
family, friends, acquaintances, blog friends and blog readers – really everyone
I come into contact with. I take on this
responsibility.
I enjoy my home and appreciate how lucky I am to live in a
safe country with a warm and cosy place to shelter. I show this appreciation by keeping my home
clutter-free, tidy and clean. I support
my home and it supports me.
I am constantly inspired by both myself and others. I welcome the ideas I dream up and am
thankful we are able to gain inspiration and wisdom from others around us.
--
So chic friend, what about you? Have you found yourself feeling overwhelmed now that we are
living in this information age? Do you
have any tips to share on how you navigate and curate what you receive and take
in with chic aplomb?
Please do share.
Beautifully stated.
ReplyDeleteOf all your many inspiring posts, Fiona, this is perhaps the best one. It's a tour de force.
ReplyDeleteAlison
Very powerful.
ReplyDeleteBravo! So many times we are advised to do specific things or dress or act a certain way that feels foreign to us just so that we can achieve what someone says is the epitome of everything that is chic. What happens is that you become a pale carbon copy of someone else's ideals instead of doing things that, as you so wonderfully stated, make YOUR heart sing! For example, if I tried the "no makeup" French look complete with red lipstick, I would look like a corpse! Or the messy, no fuss hairstyle or the short bob that so many French women wear - I would look.....messy and frumpy! LOL! It is inspiring to look and get ideas and in turn get the motivation and confidence to explore new ideas that you may never have tried on your own. But with too much information overload, we get bombarded with so many images that we are encouraged to copy and we end up losing sight of our own uniqueness. I have been working on developing a mindset in which I consciously try to present the best version of ME possible and also to stop focusing on the things about myself that make me less than happy. Sometimes I get it wrong, but getting it right is happening more and more!!!!
ReplyDeleteYes, I certainly feel overwhelmed with all of the many responsibilities we face: working, maintaining and nurturing oneself and one's home and relationships, plus trying to remain inspired and motivated! It can be a bit much. Remembering to set one's intentions and create a manifesto is a great way to regain focus!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the reminder -- I want to revisit my chic manifesto soon!
ReplyDeleteWonderful Fiona. I love having access to hundreds of books and of course, fabulous blogs. It's nice to know I can pick and chose aspects to apply to my own life rather than being a carbon copy of that something else says chic should be.
ReplyDeleteI agree with all of these. I would also add that I chose to keep a beautiful mind per your last post and not succumb to gossip or lose my head when dealing with difficult people. This is a huge one for me that I've really been working on. It really is the basis for everything, as you've said.
Also, remember that marriage requires effort and not to forget to make my husband an ultimate priority. I never want to be one of those people who lose the spark and romance in their relationship :)
Fay, Alison, Anonymous 1 and Marissa, thank you!
ReplyDeleteAnonymous 2, well said. When we realise that we don't have to accept all the advice we read, it's so freeing. There are some things that just don't do it for me and being given permission to say 'thanks but no thanks' takes away the feeling that there must be something wrong with me if I don't want to do something that everyone else is doing.
Andrea, sometimes it feels like we have to be superwoman doesn't it!
Anna, thanks for your two additions, both great reminders. I love it when I see elderly couples holding hands out walking - and not just for stability :) I want to be like that when I grow up.
Well stated Fiona! It has taken me a long time to learn a lot of the same things!
ReplyDeleteThanks Roxanne, I'm still learning them too :)
ReplyDeleteBeautifully said! There is just "something" about seeing them in print.....
ReplyDeleteyou inspire while making me feel very humble and grateful. Bless you!
ReplyDeleteCarol
Beautifully said ... thank you!!
ReplyDeleteBrenda
I just finished "How To Live Well". It was a treat to myself today...as well as the free down time :-) At this stage of my life I am enjoying my family, my home, and donating what is not useful or treasured by us-- thus finding freedom :-)
ReplyDeleteRebecca, Carol, Brenda and Pret a Porter P, thank you!
ReplyDeleteAntonia, beautifully said. The word freedom holds such appeal and rightly so!
Thank you for Fiona.
ReplyDeleteSometimes due to stress, mainly work, I react without stepping back which causes panic and anxiety.
I think that I will develop my own work manifesto to combat day-to-day stressors and handle things in a manner that is more chic.
Starting with breathing. :-)
Have a wonderful weekend!
Olivia, I think a work manifesto is a fabulous idea. Please let us know if you decide to share it on your blog!
ReplyDeleteFiona,
ReplyDeleteI love this list and how it's focused on inward values and not just more about outward style over substance. You sound very kind--a rarity in the blog world!
Beautifully said! What I'm learning is to be authentic - to be me - and that is what makes my light shine for me and my family and people around me.
ReplyDelete