Instascam

The social media craze has got us all up in arms. Who's with who? Where are they going? What are they doing? What are they wearing? And so forth... Social media, originally created as a fun way to keep in contact with old friends and relatives, build networks or simply just to see what everyone has been up to, has become a platform of who is who. Now don't get me wrong, I absolutely love social media and I find it quite entertaining but when I find myself comparing my life to other or envying them for the things they have, I know I've hit a bump somewhere in the road.

Social media and more specifically I'm speaking about Instagram, has become a dangerous form of self harm. Okay, that sounds a tad bit dramatic but think about it. When we're having the worst hair day accompanied by that lower abdominal bloating that causes our stomach to make us look like we're 5 months pregnant, scrolling through our Instgram feed is probably not the safest thing to do. We then stumble upon Chloe (say for instance) who has just come from a photoshoot, who's hair is looking longer and glossier than Rapanzel before she let it down, and physique on point, looking as though she's been gyming since the age of 2. Yes, then we go into exile mode and begin beating ourselves up for not looking like Chloe who seems to have it working for her. In that moment, we forget that Instagram is merely a REPRESENTATION of our best days. What I am saying is that we have not seen a picture of Chloe while on her periods, eating a  two litre tub of ice cream with that huge zit on her face, because Chloe would never dare let the world see her in that state. Now I'm not making fun of Chloe, just reminding all you beautiful princesses that Instagram is NOT REAL!!

Instagram has distorted our complete outlook on life and what we're supposed to look like. It has gotten to the point where we no longer do things for the fun of doing but rather to document it and let the world know what we're doing. Its a sad reality that even I am guilty of. I want this post to serve as a reminder to us all that we are all human and far from perfect. We are drenched in imperfections but that is exactly what makes us so uniquely beautiful. If God wanted us to look like Valencia filter, He would have created us that way. So take that filter off, honey. You are STUNNING!!!

What doesn't kill you

How many times do we look at the situations we're going through and think, "This just makes me want to give up." "I'm over this!" "I'm never giving anyone my all again!" "Guys are all the same!" "It's time to be heartless." etc etc. I'm pretty sure we can all relate to these few phrases. When we give a friendship or a relationship our heart and soul, only for the next person to walk away as if it's nothing but the norm, it is honestly enough to make us want to curl under a rock and block any sort of emotions we feel from the world. Well pretty young ladies, do I have a tale to tell you...

Whatever it is that you're going through, from heartbreaks to broken friendships, to family issues to stressful studies, it is all intended to be exactly the way it is. "Huh??" "What???" Who the heck would want you to go through this pain ON PURPOSE, like who does that?? God does, that's who. We need to experience the heartaches in life in order to grow and learn more about ourselves. It is a terrible idea but going through rough patches in life is what makes life worth living. Imagine living a life where everything is perfect and always going your way. Okay, it sounds pretty decent but honestly, we'd then still have the mind and emotions of a ten-year-old. Hardships is what strengthens our faith not only in God but in ourselves. It shows us just how strong we actually are and how capable we are of excelling beyond what we'd ever imagine. Ever hear the quote: "You never know how strong you are until being strong is your only choice". I'm not too sure who invented that beautiful little quote but it is pretty dang true!! How would we know our inner strength if hardships never existed? I am personally going through an experience at the moment that is stretching my mind, my soul and my spirit beyond where it has ever been before. It is painful but I can see and feel the difference in myself. I am wiser, I am stronger and I am much more aware of my life and my goals. Perfect example of how we need to experience these challenges in order for us to discover our God-given purpose.

It is without a doubt the most painful experiences that close us up to new opportunities and new potentials of life. However, it is also these painful experiences that unlock doors of wisdom that we had no idea existed. Believe me when I say that most of the time, the hardships we go through are not only there to strengthen us but to strengthen others as well. Our experiences are often testimonies to get others through their own hardships. So let us allow these challenges to take place because when we come out the other side we will be stronger than what we were when we started...and we won't even smell like smoke! :):)
Be blessed and stay strong beautiful warriors.

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Choose them wisely

Hello, me again, reporting for duty. I've once again been sitting with a topic on my heart that I just could not wait to blog about. It is something that each and every one of us as young females deal with on what seems to be a daily basis... Friendship(s). Well, if you're like me, I go through friends like underwear. Not that I treat them bad or anything but because I am very picky when it comes to friends. Like some people, I don't let people in very easily, for the simple fact that you cannot trust just anyone.

In life, whether young or whether old, we will always come into contact with people; Some will become a friend for a season while others will simply become a lifelong bud. A friend is someone who complements your character and who you are, they are there to celebrate your victories and defeats (yes, we celebrate defeats because it means something better is in store!). It is so important to surround ourselves with the right kind of people because ultimately, we are only as good as the people we surround ourselves with. We need people who are going to uplift us, people who are inspiring and on the same mission as us. If not, it's pretty much pointless surrounding ourselves with them. We're at an age where high school friends are starting to fall by the waist-side. Why? Simply because we're maturing, and with maturity comes change. It means deciding who is real and who was only there for the good times. Unfortunately, this is life and the good times aren't always going to roll, so you better roll those fake friends outta here. However, I'm not saying that all high school friends fall away but most of them do. This is our life and we need to decide who is worth being in it and who is worth the effort of keeping.

But I don't want to end this post on a negative note because meeting new people and making new friends is an exciting process. All you need to do is go to the right places and keep in mind who you are, what you stand for and never compromise that to please anybody. Toodles:)

Change

Greetings beautiful ones:) Its been a while since I've posted but I am here now. For the past week I've been sitting with this topic on my heart and I've been mentally brainstorming exactly how I would put this up on my blog. This topic is change. I am personally going through a season of change. Like most people, change is a season that comes about 10 times a year. It is something that is not easy but it is inevitable and eventually we all need to adapt. 

The thing about change is that it comes in different forms. It could in the form of friends, or it could be in the form of relationships. Change is something that comes along in order for us to grow. It is God's way of saying "The time for this is now over, I have something new and even better in store for you". Yes, I know that we do not see change the way God intends for it to be because we get into a certain comfort zone and it is almost like as soon as we get cosy, things start to change. That is exactly what it is though. Imagine we never had a thing such as change. We would not grow, we would not learn, we would not see that there is always something better out there. Sometimes, we might long for a change; to change our hair, to change our style of to simply change the way we think.

It is human nature to fear change and what it might bring but I personally feel that when the season of change comes, we should be excited and we should embrace it because it only means that God's best is coming our way. I will leave you with this quote that truly inspires me when it comes to change:

"Change is sometimes needed to better yourself, love yourself and truly be happy. Never stop working on the best you can be. It's a life long endeavor" - Angelique Laforest Tremblay

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Finding Mr Right

So I have recently come across many of my friends who are dying to find 'The One'. Searching high and low to find 'Mr Right'. This got me thinking... Is there an ACTUAL Mr Right out there for all women? Or is this just a cliche term used by women who perhaps set their standards a bit too high (or low)? Then I realised, in order to find Mr Right, you need to be Ms Right, right (See what I did there *laughs*)?

Let's put it into perspective: Mr Right won't recognise you unless you're the type of person that he is looking for because you're not Ms Right...Okay, pretty blunt but hey, you can at least credit me for my honesty. Women tend to be so focused on finding Mr Right that they forget the fact that they too need to fix themselves and be ready for when the potential candidate comes. I think that women need to focus more on themselves and I swear that at any moment, he will come strolling along. Focus on being the type of person YOU would like to fall in love with. In other words, be the example, after all, the type of person you are is the type of person you will attract.

So ladies, take a deep breath and try not to have a heart attack thinking about the fact that you might die alone with 600 cats (just kidding, you'll never)! If it's what you'd prefer, go on a date or a few, meet new people and make new friends because there is absolutely no harm in trying. I personally believe that it is not about finding Mr Right but rather PREPARING YOURSELF for someone who will appreciate and adore you the way God does. :)

Happy finding beauts♥

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Keep Calm

I'm not to sure who I'll be relating to here but if you're easily prone to stress and anxiety then this one is for you *snaps finger, rolling head in circular motion*.  I know I often find myself juggling family, friends, a boyfriend, God, and Varsity, and let me tell you it is EXHAUSTING!! It becomes so hectic at times that I just want to bury my head in the ground. But through all the chaos, I try to find that voice that says 'Claire, just relax'. So ladies, this is me, the calm and angelic voice, telling you to 'just relax'.

Take time to enjoy life. I know we're females and we nag and over-think and 'it's my way or the highway' but we shouldn't let our emotional nature distract us from what already is. We shouldn't let it take away our peace and our ability to enjoy the simple things in life - and I'm preaching to myself right now *laughs*. God created life and its simplicity for us to enjoy. So while you're on your way to wherever it is you're going, enjoy the view, the trees, the birds and the feeling of the warm sun against your skin. Just sit back, relax and savor this beautiful adventure we call life. ♥

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That's life. We live and we learn ♥

Being You

DISCOVER YOURSELF
Sit and jot down your values, ambitions and goals. Think about where you are in your life and where you want to be. It might sound like a silly exercise but it really works. This will basically put into perspective who you are and what you want out of life. It will help you to discover your worth, and once you know your worth, you will not settle for anything less.

SPEND TIME WITH YOURSELF
Now this is a scary one (yes, even for me!). The minute we find ourself sitting alone at home on a Friday night, our first reflex question to ask is 'Is something wrong with me?' But my dear beauts, it is perfectly okay to spend some QT with yourself. Watch a movie, dance around in your room to some good music, sing to yourself, be comfortable with being you. . Be  Like they say, you need to be able to enjoy your own company before you can enjoy anyone else's.

KNOW YOUR WEAKNESS
From personal experience I can honestly say that this is a critical step. If you;re dealing with something, whether be it personal or with someone else, allow yourself time to be weak. It's okay to cry, it's okay scream, it's okay to sleep until you feel strong enough to get up, and YES, it is absolutely okay to indulge in an entire slab of chocolate(PHEW!) Without your weakness, you would not know your strengths.

EXTENUATE YOUR STRENGTHS
Now everyone has their strengths and weakness but focus on your strengths. I believe that for every weakness there is a strength, for example; I am an 'overly' emotional person, I let the things that people say and don't say get me down - but in correlation to that, without the help of anyone (except God), I have the strength to pick myself up when I'm weak or hurting. What is a strength that you can use to make up for your weakness?

God wants you to be confident in who you are, after all, you were made in his image:):)
x

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Perfectly Imperfect

Welcome to my very first post, ladies (and gentlemen, if you will.) We are living in a world where it is so easy to lose our identity before we have even found it. We are bombarded with people telling us who to be, what to be, how to look, how to walk, how to eat, what to eat and literally, the list goes on. It is hard to be an individual in a society that pulls you in so many different directions that parts of you begin to rip off; parts that make you unique, parts that separate you from everybody else in this world.

How about a breath of fresh air? Who you are is exactly who God had intended you to be... right now, right here at this exact moment. Is that not refreshing? I know I felt a peace come over me when I typed that. God had not created you to imitate those around you. He did not create you to style your hair a certain way, or to wear the latest trends; God designed you in a very specific way. Ever heard the saying ‘God broke the mold when He made you’? God is the mold He used to create us. The same God who created the beauty of the starry night created you...Just let that sink in. 

We are so obsessed with being who society tells us to be. We idolize this image of what PERFECT looks like, when little do we know that perfection is who we see staring back at us in the mirror. A KIND OF PERFECTION THAT LIVES UP TO GOD’S STANDARDS. Every hump, every bump, every dimple in your thigh, every blemish on your face and every curl in your hair is exactly where God had intended for it to be. Are we not blessed to have a God who looks at our hearts rather than our outer appearance? All God wants, and all that Jesus died for, was to perfect our hearts. 

We need to stop looking at our flaws as imperfections but rather look at them through the eyes of our Father because all He sees is perfection and beauty and royalty. This world's idea of beauty is nothing more than a Photoshop edit. The media is one of Satan’s greatest weapons; it will have you changing that which God created to make you stand out. This world has poisoned our brains to such severity that women are nipping and tucking to please this world’s sinful desires. 

Believe me, if you were meant to have silicon balloons planted anywhere in your body, God PROBABLY would have inserted them back in the Garden of Eden. We have got to stop poisoning our women with the idea that if there is something they do not like about themselves, they should cut it off! We need to learn to accept that which we do not like and be humbled by the fact that our God already sees perfection.

1 Peter 3:3-4

3 Do not let your adorning be external—the braiding of hair and the putting on of gold jewelry, or the clothing you wear— 4 but let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God's sight is very precious.