Life

Love Yourself First

- Janna

(Disclaimer: This blog will be a little personal, but I hope you all LOVE it.)

“Love yourself first”

This quote is one of the most impactful quotes I have ever heard about self love. How can we expect others to love who we are, if we can’t love who we are? If we can’t see the beauty in our imperfections and flaws, that we often view as shortcomings?

 I think one of the most rewarding things I have ever done, was to learn how to love myself. When I say love myself, I mean love myself with all my ugly scars, imperfections, and flaws. This self love did not occur overnight. And I can truly say that I have been on a constant journey of self love. I have had good days and bad days in regards to how I felt about myself, I still have good days and bad days. But I must say that this journey has been very fulfilling. This summer I have really realized my worth and beauty, and I’m not just speaking on my physical beauty. I’m talking about my internal beauty as well. It’s so easy to pinpoint my flaws and errors, but difficult to highlight my positive attributes and characteristics. So this summer I charged myself with the task of not wearing makeup. I realized how dependent I was on wearing it to enhance my beauty. I am not against makeup, but my skin was not glowing how I wanted it to. However, this summer has made me fall in love with myself, all over again. I no longer wear foundation or spend an hour in front of the mirror making sure my foundation is blended properly or that my highlight is poppin’ (I do miss my highlight lol). Now, I only do my eyebrows and wear mascara, and still that’s not an everyday thing. I changed my skin care routine, too, and I have noticed a difference! I also drank LOTS of water, much more than normal, and I definitely plan on making this a habit. I can not wait to see how my skin will continue to flourish. I am typing this to say, this summer I was changing internally, realizing how trivial some things were and what really mattered to me. And I also reflected this change on the outside, by letting go of what people would think if they saw me bare faced, brows a mess, etc. I must say I am loving the person I am becoming.

He or she may be exceptional, but you are exceptional too. 

It’s so easy for us to compliment and praise others, but often when it’s time to do so for ourselves, we fall short. We compare ourselves to others and emphasize what we lack that others have. I am telling you DON’T keep this pattern up. You are more than enough just the way you are. She may be pretty, but you are pretty too! She may have these features that you admire, but promise me, someone is seeing features in you that they admire. YOU can see features in you that you admire. And remember, it is okay to embrace your flaws. Nobody is perfect and no one will ever be, no matter how hard we pretend. The things we often dislike about ourselves are the unique things that make us who we are. There will never be another you like you. So yeah, she may be pretty, but you’re pretty too.

“Wish I was comfortable just with myself.”

– Supermodel by SZA

Don’t be too hard on yourself. Don’t constantly belittle yourself or feel like you are falling short. I promise you are not. Be comfortable with you and who you are. And if you’re looking for love from someone, I guarantee you’re looking for it from the wrong person. He/she can and will never love you like YOU love yourself. And how can you let someone love you, when you’re struggling to love yourself? So it’s okay to step back, away from people, and focus on you. Focus on what you want, what you need, and focus on the truly great things about you. The person you thought you were looking for may come along when you least expect it, and if not you’ve always got yourself.

Remember, self love isn’t just about loving yourself for your physical attributes and characteristics, but also loving the way you process situations, the way you don’t crack under pressure OR the way you crack under pressure.

I was VERY excited to write this post today. Hopefully this has been something that everyone can relate to and also encourage you on your own personal journey of self love.

So I leave you with this quote,

“You yourself as much as much as anybody in the entire universe deserves your love and affection.”

– Buddha

Love,

Janna Alane

Follow Your Heart

- Janna

Hello, to all of my lovely readers.

I think one of the most rewarding things anyone can do is: to recognize what is in his/her heart. Once you recognize what is important to you or what you care about, then you can choose your next step. Whether it be telling someone how you truly feel, accomplishing a dream that fear kept you from pursuing, or making a life changing decision; it’s important to one day face your fears and listen to your heart.

  I know how difficult it can be listening to your heart. Over the years, I have struggled with listening to my own heart and doing what I thought was socially acceptable. In order for me to listen to my heart and it’s desires, I had to stop worrying about popular opinion, or any opinion that wasn’t my own to be honest. You have to remember that people may not always get it. They may not get your vision, they may not see what you see, how you see it, or when you see it happening. But don’t let that stop you. If something is weighing heavily on your heart and has been, then you maybe you should start looking at that as a sign to pursue whatever the thing may be. Also, don’t be concerned with the what if’s. Because trust me, if you worried about all of the possible things that could go wrong, you’d lose the drive and nerve you have to actually go through with your heart’s desires.

For as long as I can remember, I have always wanted to have my own blog, whether it be a written blog or vlog. However, whenever I hyped myself up to actually start one, I always chickened myself out too. I always asked myself: what if nobody cares what I have to say? What if  nobody visits my blog? But there’s a famous Babe Ruth quote (that I heard on A Cinderella Story),

“Never let the fear of striking out, keep you from playing the game.”

And I find that to be so true. Don’t let your fears keep you from accomplishing something you love and have always hoped for. So I finally stopped letting my fears control my life, took a leap of courage and faith, and started my blog this summer. I must say, I am quite happy I did. And I just want to thank you ALL so much for supporting me as I embark this journey, though I love it, it can be quite frightening sharing my thoughts like this, but also so amazing to see you all post such positive comments on here and via text.

Remember, always listen to your heart (in reason!!! don’t do something outrageous, like do something that’ll get you arrested lol). Regardless of what others will have to say about your decisions. Sometimes, you have to make sure your happiness comes first. Pursue your dreams, reach for the stars, and embark on a journey of courage. I believe it takes a truly courageous person to first, acknowledge what is in his/her heart, and second, follow the desires of his/her heart. My charge to you all is to go do something you’ve always wanted to, but were too afraid to do. Tell someone how you truly feel about them. Start that business endeavor you’ve been dreaming of. And remember that, Rome was not built in a night. Sprinkle of Jesus actually just sent an amazing notification that I would like to quote and leave you all with as you reflect on the true desires of your heart.

“Don’t be hard on yourself if you don’t see results right away. Things manifest at the right time. Your hard work is about to pay off.”

Love,

Janna Alane

Let It Go

- Janna

Hello everyone!

Today’s post is inspired by the famous saying, “let go and let God.” And thus, welcome to “Let it Go Sunday.”

Personally,  I have a really bad problem of lettings things get to me. And by things, I mean situations that I have no control over, that I can not change. For instance, sometimes I dwell on the past and how I wished I would’ve handled a situation differently, or acted differently in order to receive a different outcome. These thoughts sometimes consume me and affect my mood. But I had to understand that no matter how much I worried or stressed about these situations, the past is in the past. I can’t go back and change the past. However, I must use these past situations as a tool moving forward, to not repeat the same mistakes and to act differently.

I think the Serenity Prayer is the BEST prayer to use when trying to let go. It reminds us that we can not control everything, and that’s okay because we’re only human. We have to take a leap of courage in order to take advantage of the situations we can change for the better and let God handle the rest. See, this is where “let go and let God” comes into play.

I am currently obsessed with the Ctrl album by SZA, I listen to it EVERYDAY. And I think she said it best in the song, Normal Girl

“This time next year I’ll be living so good, won’t remember no pain, I swear.”

And boy do these lyrics hold so much truth to them, when I heard them the other night riding home from work I knew I had to include them in this post. Last year around this time, I was in such a sad and terrible emotional state. I didn’t know how I could overcome how bad I felt or if I would ever be happy again. But I did and that was nothing but God. I had to let go of all my hurt, all of my fear, all of my sadness and I gave everything to God. He transformed my life and my mind in such an unimaginable way. Even though my life isn’t perfect, I can truly say I am living so good that I don’t remember the pain of last summer. Thank God!

So whenever you’re feeling down or are second guessing yourself or stressing over things you can’t control,

let it ALL go.

Give everything you have to God, pray the serenity prayer, and keep moving forward, changing the things you can.

And remember, this time next year YOU will be living so good, you won’t remember the pain.

XO,

Janna Alane

Grow Through What You Go Through

- Janna

 

“Grow through what you go through.”

Recently I have seen this picture all over Instagram and I took this as a sign to write a post around this short, powerful sentence. I am sure we can all relate or aspire to relate to these words, I know that I can. And while I have been through a lot of difficult situations, as I reflect on them, I realize that these situations are what influenced me to grow and develop.

Often times we feel defeated by what we go through. It’s so easy to get caught up in the pain and troubles that seem to consume us and forget that these terrible moments and situations will not last forever. They are only temporary. And as I have grown and matured over the years, I realize that not only are these situations temporary, but they are also necessary for growth.  Nobody wants to experience pain, but the honest truth is it’s apart of life. Those painful experiences can result in moments of exponential growth. Growth can come in various forms such as finding strength deep within that one was unaware of, strength to move on, strength to fight for what he or she believes in.

 

I know that I personally have been through situations in which I questioned whether or not I would ever be happy or okay again. I felt so lost and heartbroken and never thought I would get over those things. But I did just that. I got over it. I’m not saying it was an easy process and I’m not saying it happened overnight. For me, it took time, prayer, and the loving support and kind words from my friends and family for me to get over these hurtful experiences. And when I reflect on those experiences, it seemed like they happened forever ago. It’s even hard to believe that I ever felt like that. But I did and I truly thank God for growth. If I hadn’t been through anything, I wouldn’t be the person I am today. I definitely feel wiser because of the hurt, heartache, and pain I have experienced. Instead of letting these emotions consume me, I used them as my pathway to growth, to changing and embracing God’s plan for my life.

The next time you feel like you can’t endure the pain or your situation, try praying or talking to someone. I guarantee that the pain won’t automatically go away, but talking to someone and knowing that you are not facing your battles alone can help you begin to feel a bit better. It’s okay to experience things that are not so pleasing, because remember these failures, painful situations, and struggles are opportunities for growth.

I hope this post will be relatable to you and maybe encourage you a little as you endure tough times. Grow through what you go through & remember,

“weeping may endure for the night, but joy  comes in the morning.”

Psalm 30:5

Love,

Janna Alane

Hello June.

- Janna

Hello June.

Please be good to me, and everyone else.

Here’s to a month filled with endless possibilities, a month of new experiences, a month of summer fun, and a month of living young and free.

 I love when a new month starts. It’s a fresh start for that month. Who knows what all you will experience during this month? And I also like to reflect on what happened during the month a year ago. Take advantage of this new month, especially since it’s the summertime. Go travel, do something exciting, be daring, bold, creative. Do something you’ve always wanted to but never got to. Splurge on yourself a little. But most importantly, ENJOY yourself and make the most of your month, I know that I will be. I can’t wait to see what this month has in store.

So,

Welcome June.

Love,

Janna Alane

Summer 17 Glo

- Janna

 

My motto this summer is, “Glo all Summer 17.” Urban dictionary defines when one “gl0s” as one’s confidence or demeanor being so heightened that it cannot be changed by negativity.  A picture I saw on instagram also illustrates my mood this summer.

 

This picture and “Glo all Summer 17” describe how I am trying to feel this summer.

I want to fall back in love with myself and everything I enjoy. I’ve been so caught up with school, my organization, and so many other things I’ve definitely lost sight of  the things that matter the most to me. It’s so easy to get distracted and sidetracked when you’re continuously busy. It’s also very easy to focus on the negative when things aren’t going as planned. That’s why I am ecstatic that it is summer. I am finally getting a well needed and well deserved break from EVERYTHING. I’m back in my hometown for the summer, so I am really taking a step away in a sense.

I  always put others and their well being before myself. I like to make sure everyone else is okay and doing well and put myself last. However, this summer I am putting myself first. I am embracing all of my flaws because they are what make me who I am. I’m stressing and worrying less and enjoying life more. I always find myself on the go, so this summer I am laying low and relaxing. And this is actually quite hard for me to do, relaxing and not constantly doing something. I love to be in the hustle and bustle, constantly being busy and always having a move. But I think it’s very important to learn how to be alone and be okay with being alone. Because ultimately, sometimes you just have to take time to yourself. To reflect on your shortcomings and your successes, to reflect on your day or your entire life. It’s nice to find moments of peace and quiet. So this summer is all about me. This summer is the first time in a while that I don’t have anything planned. I don’t have to constantly wake up and do this or that. I wake when I want and make plans as I go. I know that while I am glo’ing this summer, I will continue to volunteer and help others because I have a passion for volunteering and I know that is something I will continue to do for the rest of my life. So don’t think I’m going to be sitting around this summer doing nothing lol. That’s not the case, I am going to be productive while enjoying my summer. But I definitely will not over extend myself like I normally do.

I keep a notebook that contains notes from various sermons. I’m going to be studying these notes this summer. And I have 3 books that I purchased and have been meaning to read, but never found the time to do so. So I’m going to conquer those books this summer as well, I may write a mini review of them. I’ve started one and it’s an amazing read so far so of course I want to share the knowledge so you can purchase the book too, if you’re inclined to do so. I’m going to be spending an endless amount of time with my nieces, travel, volunteer, and hopefully get a summer job. I’m ready for the countless opportunities the summer has to offer and for the process of falling back in love with myself and everything to begin.

And you all get to enjoy the journey of glo’ing all summer 17. Who knows, maybe this post will inspire you to focus on yourself a little more and enjoy your glo as well.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       

 

 

 

 

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       

Much Love,

Janna Alane