Here’s another Q&A that I wanted to share with you today from one of my readers.  I hope that you enjoy and have a great weekend!

Question…

Hi Lovely!

Let me first just start by saying how AWESOME your site is.  Stumbled upon it today and I am absorbing your blog posts like a sponge.  I’m inspired.

I have a couple questions I was hoping you could answer.  I’m about to graduate college in the spring.  I’m wanting to do something creative, having contributed to the world vs. working a 9-5 I hate while slowly feeling my soul dying on a daily basis.

I’m trying everything and see a huge overarching theme of self improvement in every aspect of life- travel, beauty, fearlessness, PD concepts, etc.

My questions are : A.) Did you follow a business model for your site?  Or did you just start by making changes in your life and writing about them?  and B.) Do you deal with fear often? Of what other people think?  Of failure?  Of trying new things?  How do you deal with it?

Thanks so much for your time, and thank you for making a difference.  The world needs more people like you.

My Reply…

Hi,

Congratulations on graduating college this spring!  This is a major success that should be acknowledged in a HUGE way!  Also thank you so much for your beautiful compliment, and I’m thrilled that the site is inspiring.

There hasn’t been a specific business plan for Minimalist Beauty per say, but just an intuitive feeling that I follow to share my personal experience and research that has helped me.  Minimalist Beauty was created to express my love of writing, simple eco-friendly living, and all things related to organic beauty.  I find it ironic that the job I had in cosmetics sales to pay the bills in between dance jobs has been the foundation of my understanding the cosmetics industry, cosmetic ingredient knowledge, and the influence of marketing and sales tactics in the beauty industry.  So you really never always understand everything in life, but the puzzle pieces fall into place later on if you pay attention.

Everything really does happen for a reason.

My BFA is in Dance, and after graduation the performance world was a foreign world in the beginning.  My sheer will, drive, and determination to make my dream come true, as well as my families support even when they didn’t understand was my backbone.  Did I question my choices and have fears at times?  Of course and I still do!  But dance and eco simple living is my heart, and I would be suffocating doing any thing else.  I surround myself with positive like minded people, meditate and pray for guidance, courage, and strength, and do my best to take excellent care of my body so that I will feel good while I continue to go for my dreams.

Life is going to have its challenges regardless of what you decide to do.

My thought is if life will automatically have ups and downs, growing pains, life lessons, joys, etc. I might as well be doing something I am truly passionate about.  If you can find an amazing mentor in the field that you want to go into for guidance even better.  If not find someone that you can study and learn from even if only from a distance.  Do your research constantly to learn as much as you can about the field you want to enter and stay focused.  When times get rough, if you follow your heart you will always have that spark inside of yourself to keep pushing forward on the days you think you want to give up.

As for being concerned with what others think of you, that is a waste of time.

What other’s think of you really is none of your business since it actually has nothing to do with you.  What other’s think of you is based upon their perception of their life and how they think of it.  No one is experiencing what is going on in your head or heart, nor are they moving through life in your body.  Everyone is allowed to have their opinion and perceptions, yet I’ve found that being compassionate while also creating healthy boundaries with others really helps.  Not everyone is going to like you or agree with you and that’s what makes us all unique and special.

When it comes to fear of trying new things usually I have found that the things I fear are exactly what I must do unless it will cause actual harm to myself or others.  I’ve learned to follow that still small voice (my intuition or gut feeling) for every decision.  That is one skill that I wish was taught in school but it can definitely be learned in the school of life.  Your intuition is actually better than any advisor, mentor, or teacher.

What I personally love about the minimalist lifestyle is that it really helps you stay clear on your life purpose and your dreams.

If you aren’t in shopping mode all of the time you really have an enormous space open in your life to concentrate on your dreams as well as family, friends, travel, and experiencing life in an authentic way. Simple living increases more of what you truly desire because of the clarity that comes with it versus being distracted by society’s standards of materialism or success.  When you live with less, you also have less to take care of and concern yourself with as well as more money to do what you really want to do to.  Your definition of simple living and minimalism can be whatever works best for your life.

Because you will be graduating this spring, now is the perfect opportunity to make a list of what is important to you and what drives your spirit.

You had mentioned travel as a theme you were focusing on, and I feel traveling really expands oneself in every way.  I’ve been able to visit more countries performing as a dancer than I would have if I stayed “safe” and chose a more practical career.  The experience of traveling is also way more valuable than things.  I’m wishing you great joy and abundance on your life path after graduation.

Peace & Sunshine,
Dawn Michelle

Best wishes to all those graduating this spring!

(Image by Dawn Michelle)

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