Self Care IS YOU!

What does self care mean to you?

 I never realized how important self care is until having MJ, I didn’t realize that taking some time for you is needed and necessary especially for your mental health. So many of us are on the go where juggling many things at once never just take 5 minutes to breath. Before you know it, you’re stressed and feeling overwhelmed because you forgot to take some time for you. 

Self care doesn’t take much, it can take as much as reading a book and going for a walk. It doesn’t require hours but just enough time for you to breath and connect with yourself again. Mental health is so important and more people than we know deal with it. We are all dealing with our own battles but it is also important in the mist of dealing with things to take a step back to take care of yourself. Even if it’s to go out with friends, that’s taking time for you. I never knew how much I needed my ME Time until now. No matter how busy I am or how much I have to do, I take time for me. 

I need to be the best Version Of Myself especially around MJ, he doesn’t need to see or feel his mother frustrated or stressed. So it is important to me that I take my ME TIME at least twice a week and it usually last an hour or two. I take that time to disconnect, breathe and do something that I love such as reading, writing ( currently writing this blog on my ME Time), Watching a movie, going for a mani/pedi and the list goes on. It’s so many things I do on my ME time and I wouldn’t trade it for anything and I also feel that I deserve it. Being a full time mother and working full time, it’s not easy but I get shit done. 

Self care also means of letting things or people that no longer serve you. You have the ability to protect your peace and your energy at all times. Keeping certain individuals in your life because you have “history” with them or you feel they will “change” but never do Isn’t worth it to you. Here they are consuming your peace when you can easily let them go. I get it, it’s not easy letting go but I’ve learned over the years, if it’s not serving me in the right way, then I simply let it go. Once again your mental health is important and you have to protect it by all means. 

Self care is important, you’re important and you need to be reminded of that daily. It’s ok to take time for yourself and do some of the things that brings you joy or let go of things/people that doesn’t bring peace into your life. Some may say “you’re being selfish” when in all reality, you’re taking care of the most important person which is yourself. How can you be happy from within if you haven’t taken proper care of yourself? Or let go of the things weighting you down. We all need 5 mins to breathe and disconnect so we can just put things into perspective so we can be OK. 

Here are some self care tips that you can practice so you can take the ME Time that you deserve 

• Go for a walk or a run 
• Read a book/ magazine
• Get a pedi and mani or a facial 
• Go to the movies or to dinner with a friend or by yourself. ( There is absolutely nothing wrong with going out by yourself)
• Take a bubble bath 
• Write down your goals and plans for the following week, month or year. 

This is just a few of the things that you can do but most of all do what makes you happy, do things that will satisfy you and ease your mind. Being stress and feeling overwhelming isn’t worth it, being at peace within yourself and taking care of your mental as well of your self being is what’s important. So don’t be ashamed or scared to take time for you, always remember you Matter and you’re worth it. 

         A Confident Love From Me To You

                          Xoxo, Yanika   

A Winner You Are

We all want to be successful, we all want to win, we all want to be the one to achieve our goals and live the amazing life we want. Guess what? We all can, of course our journeys are completely different but we all have the ability to succeed and win in our ways. Is it easy to succeed? It’s not but you’re capable of doing what is necessary in order for you to succeed. Over the years, I realized if it’s something that you truly want it won’t be as hard as you think it it. If being the owner of your own salon is your dream then all you have to do is work towards that goal. You will take you making some sacrifices but it will all be worth it once you have the keys to your own shop. 

When I came out with “Confidence Is You”, I honestly didn’t know what I wanted to do besides make a difference by helping women with their self confidence. I knew I wanted to incorporate my passion of writing into CIY. I was blessed to have someone believe in me to give the opportunity to write a book. Despite the plans changing after my book came out, here I am still writing and doing what is necessary in order for me to be successful. I may not be where I want to be but I am further than I am when I started. I could of given up once I got dropped from the book publishing company. I went into a depression afterwards, I just didn’t know what to do but I knew for a fact I wasn’t going to give up. 

After a few weeks, I had to do what was necessary for my book to be known by more women all over the world. The first copy of my book was shipped to Africa, Los Angeles, Detroit, England and the list goes on. There was no way I was giving up, my book with my name on it is in places over the world. How amazing is that? I wanted my book to be in so many more places and for so many more women to be reminded that they matter, they’re worth it and Confidence starts with them. I prayed and prayed and prayed some more. I just knew I was going to come out with my book again one day.

 I remember having a conversation with one of my friends  and he said “ have you ever thought of self publishing” and as a self published author himself, I was interested. He gave me advice and information, I did my research as well. Was it easy? It wasn’t. I think my biggest thing was having the money to have it published. I could of easily borrowed  the money frim my parents but I didn’t want to, I wanted to do it on my own. I wasn’t working at the time so it was hard for me to save over $1,000 but a few weeks later after a year and some months of not working, I got a job. God was working and it was my time to do the work for my dream to become my reality. 

As soon as I started working, I started saving. I was determined and I knew that if I saved money and stayed true to what I believed in then my book will be released again but self published by me this time around. I saved money for a few months and through those months, I was in contact with a publishing company which till this day I still keep in touch with them. They were beyond amazing and did everything in their power to make the book perfect. I was scared of course but I was determined before you knew it my book was released again self published by ME. 

So no matter what it is that you are passionate about, no matter how hard it gets, you just have to keep going. It won’t happen overnight and that’s ok because eventually it will happen. I said it before, Iam not where I want to be but I know one day I will be where I am suppose to be. I just have to stay focus, stay ten toes down, stay in my lane and do what’s best for me. Don’t allow anyone else success or journey discourage you. What’s for them will be them and what’s for you will be for you.  The road to success isn’t easy but it’s not impossible and can be done. 

So many of us be so quick to give up when it doesn’t go out way the first time we give it a try, it doesn’t work that way. The people that you look up to, your favorite celebrities didn’t give up after their first try or hearing the word “ NO”, they kept pushing no matter how hard it got. Any thought or goal can turn into a reality, it takes work, determination and consistency for it to work. So don’t be too hard on yourself and stop doubting yourself. Believe in yourself, have faith in yourself and act like it’s already yours because it is. 

You Got This, I Believe In You!!! Remember Confidence Is You Always. 

             A Confident Love From Me To You

                            Xoxo, Yanika

( All Pictures Taken  By My Best Friend Yessenia D, Her IG name Is @oooh_yess)