It's amazing how one thought, phrase, picture, meeting, moment, etc can change your whole view on things.
Most of the time gaining perspective is glorious; it snaps you out of your little bubble and forces you to see the bigger picture. I love when this happens.
But sometimes perspective can increase guilty feelings. Meaning, once we gain perspective, we look at our own trials and troubles as if they are meaningless and silly. This can make us feel guilty of ever worrying about those things in the first place.
Just remember: it's all relative. Just because your situation might not be the absolute most dire situation on earth doesn't mean you're not allowed to feel emotional,stressed,scared, etc about it. These emotions are completely natural and should be allowed to be felt and dealt with! The same goes for positive feelings too: just because something great in your life isn't the absolute best thing to ever happen on earth doesn't mean it should be celebrated!
So, as with pretty much everything, it's a balance. Seek out perspective, appreciate it, let it broaden your view on things and open your mind. But also remember that everything is relative, and your reality is just as meaningful as anyone else's.
What brings your world back into perspective?
Do you think you have trouble finding perspective in certain situations?
After gaining a new perspective, have you found yourself feeling guilty or ashamed about your own life?

xo
L

This video had me sobbing this morning.  So many amazing moments and lessons I can't even begin to touch on them all.  I'll let the video speak for itself, but mostly I just came away wanting to live my life better.

This is your life. Has Zach says in the video- "It's really pretty simple."  It is.  We're here to be happy and make other people happy as well.  To help.

Go out and live your life today :)

xo
Julia

WOW. WOW. The amazing women who attended the Let's Glow* event were above and beyond inspirational. I want to thank you all for ignoring the bullying at school and attending something that was important to YOU!

There were stories of massive struggles and huge triumphs. However, after the event was over, the four of us sat in our rooms and talked about how mature and resilient the young women of Springfield were. They are making big changes in their life's because they value themselves and their future. AMAZING! Oh and the taxidermy in the lodge was fantastic :)

Give a SHOUTOUT (first names only) to Someone who is making BIG changes!!

GO Hanna!!!

Love you ladies!
Denise

I was talking with someone lately about how thankful I am for being in a field that forced me early on to get used to being uncomfortable.

Say what?!

Yep! Thankful for it. I don't even realize it anymore, but recently I stopped to reflect and I found that I have gotten very comfortable with being uncomfortable because so many challenges of pursuing my career have demanded me to leave my comfort zone.

I've had to get very used to taking big risks, having even bigger "asks", and genuinely just stepping outside my settled self.



The truth is, though, life is uncomfortable.  The things we want most in life often require us to go through a phase of being uncomfortable.  I used to value "finding comfort" but I'm starting to think that comfort is over-rated.

We don't achieve the things we want, the relationships we desire, any of it by seeking out what makes us feel comfortable or secure- we find these things by developing the ability to be a little scared or unsure and take chances anyone.  We must become comfortable with being uncomfortable.

What can you ask for this week that makes you a little uncomfortable, but you know it'd be for good?

xoxo
Juls

Photographer Jamie C. Moore was tired of seeing the unrealistic expectations set for young girls in the media by companies like Disney and MTV. In an effort to highlight positive role models for her 5 year old daughter, she created a photo project featuring her daughter Emma dressed as influential and powerful women from history. 
I am embarrassed to admit this now, but When I was 5 years old, my role model was Barbie. Now, at age 24 I look up to CNN reporter Christiane Amanpour. 

Who was your role model as a child versus who your role models are now?

Love, 
Jaime Lyn

I just got back from England and it was AMAZING!! London was beautiful, etc.

I never had phone reception (obviously :)) and I only had wi-fi in my hotel.  At first I was like "oh no! I gotta talk to my mom and make sure work is going ok! I gotta map out where I'm gonna go and google this place...blah blah blah."

Then I said to myself "shhhhhh" people traveled without hand held Internet. They looked at maps and, my God, actually asked people for directions.  I could do this. 

I had two days after everyone left and I just explored by myself. Two days of only saying about 20 words/day and it honestly changed my life. I live with two people and I am always around people to talk to. Not talking for two days gave me a great opportunity to just reflect. Just be present. I ended up sitting in  Kensington park and kinda crying.  For no reason. Just because I was actually "here" and present.........and eating chocolate.


Have you ever just been in the moment of your life and it takes you by surprise? You were just you with no accessories?

Have a super happy Monday!!!
Deeds

A few days ago, I returned from trip to the UK. While traveling abroad, I relished in the day to day excitement of being in a new environment, adjusting to new schedules, and establishing new habits.  I've always enjoyed living out of a suitcase and I find it exhilarating having to condense ALL my usual life habits into one little roll-away bag. When living away from home, I tend to find comforts in the strangest of things:

•  The charm of using tiny toothbrush
  
• The creative challenge it takes to turn 2 pairs of pants, 2 shirts & a dress into 8 different outfits 
• key cards!
• The taste of local tap water
• The opportunity to explore a new environment and get lost a few times

Now, nearly 4 days back in Chicago, I'm having trouble adjusting to the monotony of day to day life. Water from the tap tastes boring, my keys are made of cold metal, I can't get lost, and worst of all: my toothbrush is normal size again.

Long story short,  returning to day-to-day habits of normal life is no fun when you've been away traveling.
In the days since my arrival, I've been challenging myself to craft tiny adventures and shake up normal habits to find new excitement in normalcy. 
Yesterday, I walked into a hardware store near my apartment...not because  I needed anything but simply as an excuse for adventure, to discover a new place. Best of all, tonight, I've got MAJOR plans to unearth my tiny toothbrush and brush away...simply because.

Do you struggle with adjusting to the monotony of day-to-day life?
What comforts do you find in being away from home?

xo
Jaime Lyn 

Hi Girls, Julia here again!
The above video is an incredible watch with so many good nuggets to pull.  The opening speaker, a young teenage girl, talks about her experience going through a painful fallout with friends and how it set her up to find new and better friends.

The second speaker talks about the importance of learning how to emotionally navigate our relationships as well as all the emotional barriers that keep us from succeeding in the way we want to.

I know these are major issues that so many of us have gone through, and continue to go through, and that have come up at many of our events.

I'll let the video speak for itself.

Do you feel equipped to navigate your relationships?  Do you feel a "psychological glass ceiling" in your life?

xo
Juls