All articles written by: Amy Carpentieri

self love, personal growth
Rockstar Awesomesauce, Self Love Books

Believe in Yourself: #GirlBoss Book Review

It blows my mind how so many of us knock ourselves down regardless of successes achieved. I just read #GirlBoss with Sophia Amoruso and even she is talking about not believing in herself while running a $100 million plus company. She finally had enough, and basically stepped in and stopped the negative story playing in her head.

How many of you have felt not good enough… like you were faking your way through something? A job? A social event? For years I carried around that voice, “If they only really knew me they wouldn’t like me.” WTF! Why not? We all have amazing gifts to share and have a right to be here on this planet. Time to take up some space rockstars!

Here is our review of #GirlBoss:

This book is awesome… Sophia is raw and authentic in every way. It’s amazing to hear her story and learn from her evolution to self love and acceptance. The fact that she actually shares things in her past (like shoplifting) only accentuates her honesty and the contrast to where she came from, to where she is today.

I also really love how she shares the level of work that has gone into her success. Following her passion along with taking tons of “massive action” as Tony Robbins calls it.

She offers advice on getting a job or having a business, such as interviewing, cover letters, working with investors, creativity, and being a badass in general.

We completely recommend this book!

Awesomesauce quotes from #GirlBoss:

  • “In about eight years, I went from a broke, anarchist ‘freegan’ dead set on smashing the system to a millionaire businesswoman who today is as at home in the boardroom as she is in the dressing room.”
  • “I’m telling my story to remind you that the straight and narrow is not the only path to success. “
  • “Learn to create your own opportunities. Know that there is no finish line; fortune favors action… And prepare to have a hell of a lot of fun along the way.”
  • “What I know now is that nothing is universally boring–what’s boring to you could be totally engaging to someone else. If you’re bored and hating it, it’s a big sign that you’re most likely just in the wrong place.”
  • “If you’re frustrated because you’re not getting what you want, stop for a second;: Have you flat out asked for it? If you haven’t, stop complaining. You can’t expect the world to read your mind. You have to put it out there, and sometimes putting it out there is as simple as just saying, ‘Hey, can I have that?’”
  • “In my  book (and this is my book!) magical thinking is the alchemy that you can use to visualize and project yourself into the professional and personal life that you want… each time you make a good decision or do something once or take care of yourself; each time you show up to work and work hard and do your best at everything you can do, you’re planting seeds for a life that you can only hope will grow beyond your wildest dreams. Take care of the little things–even the little things that you hate–and treat them as promises to your own future. Soon you’ll see that fortune favors the bold who get shit done.”
  • “You have to kick people out of your head as forcefully as you’d kick someone out of your house if you didn’t want them to be there.”
  • “I’ve always been willing to throw myself at the wall and see if I stuck when it game to general life experiences, and my approach to my personal style hasn’t been any different. I was always willing to try something new. “
  • “When i’m confident in what I am wearing, it makes me feel more confident throughout the day. Granted, I could probably negotiate a deal in my pajamas, but i’m a lot more dangerous in a pair of leather pants and boots that could hurt a fool.”
  • “Bad bitches are taking over the world. When i walk into the Nasty Gal offices, it’s clear: Busting your butt isn’t just for the wallflowers anymore. We’ve arrived, and we’re killing it. There’s a chance for you, #GIRLBOSS. So take it.”

POTENTIAL ACTION STEP FROM #GIRLBOSS: SIGILS

Abstract words or symbols you create and embed with your wishes. Start by writing out a desire or goal as brief as possible (at most a short sentence). Then remove duplicate letters, then all the vowels until you have a bunch of lines that can combine into a symbol. Then place this somewhere it won’t get lost and forget about it.

The #GirlBoss challenge for you rockstars is to do something fun that you enjoy and could possibly make money from at some point… it can be a small thing on the side like it started for Sophia. Have some fun and go for it! Giddy up rockstars!

personal growth, body self love, nourish the body
Body Self Love

From Toxicity to Nourishment – Where to Start?

I still remember the first moment I became aware of nutrition or what I ate. I was 15 and I had always been active (on the cheerleading team and things like that) up until middle school. I was so skinny my dad used to say things like, “You eat like a bird. You are going to fly away.” Anyway I stopped exercising and all summer I ate bagels with cream cheese late and night and gained weight. I didn’t notice until we took our school pictures in tenth grade and I saw my face and thought, “Who is that?” That was the beginning of the nutrition journey and exploration, in terms of starting to eat healthier (and also being self conscious).

I still didn’t do much different in any other aspect of my life, in terms of taking care of myself. It wasn’t until my third year in college that I started to question things I had been taught (related to health and body self love). I had been invited to a network marketing seminar. Have you ever been to one? Well there was a ton of amazing energy, and someone on a stage talking about saving the environment and making a huge amount of money doing it. I was completely engaged. Then they started talking about things like vitamin absorption, chemicals in our products (hair and body), and how unclean our water was. I never thought about what was in the products I used or the food I ate (except maybe how fattening it was).

After that evening I started this long journey of questioning… looking at labels and starting to decide for myself what is and isn’t healthy for my body, and not taking for granted that my doctor or the government was right. I became an active participant regarding my health and health-related choices.

To clarify, I am talking about EVERYTHING related to our health-

  • What we eat
  • What we drink
  • What we put on our skin and body
  • What we put in the air and ingest (from cleaning products, to air fresheners, to perfumes)

There are layers to this process and it’s important to start slow, wherever you may be on this journey of discovery.

A good place to start is with basic essentials like what we put on and in our body. What kind of deodorant, toothpaste, and skin care do we use? For example, deodorant should not contain aluminum, which doesn’t breakdown in the body and is a potential cause of Alzheimer’s disease. Regarding toothpaste, do your research regarding fluoride to decide for yourself if you still want to use it. More and more organic and natural skin care options are available (where you can actually read the label and pronounce the ingredients).

Regarding food… there are tons and tons of different theories of what to eat, but all seem to agree that organic is better than conventional wherever possible, and that antibiotic/hormone-free, wild caught meats and fish are better than conventional/farm-raised food.

Finally regarding what we drink- water is the best option, but what kind? Bottled water is better than tap water but not always by much. If possible invest in a water filter in your home, which saves tons of money over time and helps the environment by reducing plastic ending up in landfills. They cost under $100 for a good one and last for years.

We’ll get more in detail with future posts, but for now the challenge for the week rockstars… find one body self care product and modify it based on your own research and intuition. Enjoy the journey and giddy up!

self love, personal growth, meditation
Rockstar Awesomesauce

How do Rockstars Stay Present?

Usually when I share something with you all it’s because I’ve been on the journey and discovered some useful rockstar tools that can help you along your own journey. Today, however, I’m writing about something I’m currently working on myself- being present. Yes I’ve heard about the gift of “now” and all of that, but recently I’ve become increasingly aware that it’s a challenge for me to actually be present and in the moment.

I know the first step in any personal growth is to become aware of the contrast of experiencing something I do not want to experience, which is a good thing. My tendency is to shift into future (and sometimes in the past), which I notice most when I am around my children. They are a constant reminder of change and growth happening quickly.

Tonight for example, I was getting my 5 year old to sleep. She asked me to rub her back (adorable) and I immediately started thinking of what I was going to do after she was asleep. I stopped myself. Well actually, those mean self-destructive voices about being a terrible mother stopped me. After I told them to chill out I stopped and took some deep breaths. I became aware of the way my daughter’s back felt as I rubbed it for her. I felt sad/happy. In other words, sad because she is growing so fast, and happy because I am grateful I get to experience her and my other daughters, as they grow. I enjoyed the sweetness of the moment. And then I remembered a book I’ve never sat down to read by Eckart Tolle, The Power of Now.

So my challenge for me rockstars (and for you if you’d like), is to read that book if you haven’t already along with me, and to find one moment each day to stop and bring yourself present. Ideally, it would be amazing to be present most of the day, but just start wherever you are, just like I am. Giddy up rockstars!

self love, self esteem, personal growth
Rockstar Awesomesauce

Self Love in a Hurry

I used to have the impression that I needed gobs of time to set aside in order to connect and feel good. Ideally it is really beneficial to take at least 30 minutes to an hour every day when possible. However, for those times when we are busier in our lives, it really doesn’t have to take a long time to connect with ourselves and receive some self love. Especially now, where it seems like everyone is busier and busier in general, finding short and simple ways to reorient and re-member who we are, can mean the difference between a wonderful or horrendous day.

Here’s an example of a quick tool I love. Abraham-Hicks has a really powerful incantation I use most mornings which is this:

“Today, no matter where I’m going, no matter what I’m doing, no matter who I’m with… it is my dominant intent to look for what I’m wanting to see.”

I even created and posted an acapella song on Youtube a while back (thank you those 1,000 people who enjoyed it too), so that I may hummm the melody throughout the day. What does the incantation mean? Basically it means to take a moment and think about what we WANT versus what we don’t want and to look for THAT during each day, instead of the potential problems around us. After saying (or singing) that incantation, I always take a moment to think about what I’m wanting to see and feel for my day. I usually do this in the shower and it takes less than one minute. It makes all the difference in the world… try it!

A simple reminder to connect can shift everything- that all is well and I love myself… followed by a deep breath.

Another great rockstar resource to add to your self love arsenal is to add an hourly alarm to your phone with a message like, “You Rock!” or “All is well.” Set the intention that every time it goes off you are going to breathe and become present (for just a few seconds- that’s all it takes)! Then go back to whatever it was you were doing.

Here’s your challenge for the week rockstars: try one of the above tools (or your own) for quick self love and self care reconnection. Giddy up rockstars!!!

 

Body Self Love

Rockstar Goal Accomplishing One Step at a Time

Patience is a quality I strive for, and I like to see quick results. The results then motivate to keep going at whatever task I am doing or whatever I am focused on. But sometimes large goals that us Self Love Rockstars set for ourselves TAKE TIME. I can see some of you rolling your eyes already… but it’s true.

For example- I wanted a healthier body. I mentioned in a previous blog that I decided to get some support and go to an actual place with an actual personalized program. I am 1 pound away from my goal (I’ve lost 30 lbs.) and feel incredible. BUT it didn’t happen overnight. It happened one pound at a time. One choice at a time. One workout at a time. And truly I have enjoyed the journey. Well… not in the beginning if I am being totally honest. After the first couple of weeks, though, once I got acclimated to eating less and different food choices, I felt fueled by the results I was getting.

The point is that here I am on the other side of a “big” goal and it feels fantastic. And this time I really have ENJOYED the journey. Abraham Hicks mentions this- having fun along the way, and that there is no “real” destination. Louise Hay mentions this in the context of loving ourselves more- she says if we just love ourselves a teeny bit more every day, then after a few weeks we love ourselves a LOT more, and it keeps increasing in gradual increments until we look back and realize how far we’ve come.

Writing a book, changing careers, increasing income- some goals like this can happen quickly, but others will happen one action at a time. We just need to “plant the seed” so to speak, and then trust that it is growing when we water it! We can be mindful of weeds and pluck them out diligently, but never, never should we mess with the dirt or the seed that is under the ground.

Challenge for the week- think of a goal you accomplished over time. Is there another goal you want to achieve now? See if you can break it down into 1 or 2 action steps you can take this week to move it forward. If you’re feeling really bold, share it in the comments section and put it out there! Giddy Up Rockstars!

Self Love, Personal Growth
Rockstar Awesomesauce

Be a Rockstar at Decision Making

Making big (or small) decisions can be stressful and we need to make them on a daily basis. At work decisions have to be made all the time. If you have children you need to decide what to make (or buy) them for breakfast/lunch/dinner, and there is endless logistics to decide and plan every day. With family we need to make short and long-term decisions. With ourselves you need to decide what to wear every day, what to eat, prepare,  and with life in general- always decisions, decisions, decisions!

Sometimes at the end of a busy day I do not want to decide one… more… thing. I literally will tell my husband (or children) to decide for themselves whatever it is they are asking me about. I am DONE for the day.

But the decisions I’m mainly referring to here are larger ones, like “Should I take this new job?” Or, “is it the right time to move?” So they revolve more around change, where the answer affects many things and people. How to decide? Sometimes we are clear and the answer comes right away, but other times we need to use tools to find the answer.

Rockstar Decision Making Tool

I was recently a little bit stuck in a decision and used this tool myself. I wanted to attend a Tony Robbins event and felt really clear that I wanted to be there, but not clear in what capacity I wanted to be there. Did I want to attend as a participant or as a crew member supporting and serving others (which I haven’t done yet)? The answer felt really foggy for me. I began using the Rockstar Decision Making Tool and the answer became really clear really quickly.

If you are struggling with a decision, consider using this visual Rockstar Check-In tool:

  1. Sit quietly and close your eyes
  2. Think clearly about the decision in question without making it too elaborate
    1. When you ask the question, refrain from saying “should I” and instead consider the phrase “what is in the highest good for me and others? This or That?”
  3. Picture a “Yes” on the left and a “No” on the right (or the two different choices one on each side), or each of the options one on each side *** It is essential to only have 2 choices here!
  4. Imagine a white light in the center of your heart and see which side it goes to when you ask the question. Be patient with this part
    • Alternatively you can physically hold your hands up (similar to your hands becoming a scale palms up above your waist) and see which one moves down or feels heavier when you ask the question
  5. Don’t overthink this! Do this exercise multiple times if you are unsure (but usually the first answer is the most aligned one)

Using this tool has helped me so many times throughout the years, and the best part is that once the guidance comes I feel a sense of peace- there is no wavering back and forth- there is decision and clarity.

The challenge for this week Self Love Rockstars is to think of a decision you’ve been putting off and use this Rockstar Decision Making Tool! Let us know how it works for you! Giddy Up!

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