Your Style Statement is as useful as you make it. It’s like a muscle that builds over time, enjoy getting in shape with these 10 Style Statement reminders:
- Post your Style Statement on refrigerator door, in your car or on the bathroom mirror.
- Write your Style Statement in your day timer and use as a focal point.
- Are you procrastinating? Apply your second word. Remember your second word is often a stretch, be brave and go for it.
- Go through all your accessories and let go of whatever is not your style.
- Watch your proportion. Style Statement is based on the 80/20 principle, too much 80% can create inflexibility and too much 20% leads to burnout.
- Your second word is your fragrance, just the right amount is lovely & detectable but not overwhelming. Are you wearing your fragrance?
- Your foundation word represents your basics in the visual world – sofa, dining set, suit or dress. Keep this in mind when you’re shopping.
- Your 20% is your accessories – jewelry, throw pillow or art. The twist that brings things to life, be creative.
- Feeling uncomfortable? Ask yourself, “How can I apply my Style Statement in a graceful and powerful way?”
- Read Manifesto of Style daily.
I adore #3 if only because my second word is EASE, so if I’m procrastinating, it means I should probably just relax and not do it!
Carolee’s joking, but she makes a good point. How do those of us with more boring second words (mine is comfort) use those as a stretch or an accent?
Great question Ruth. If you read the definition of comfort, especially the synonyms perhaps a couple of words twinge at your desires or fears. For instance comfort when applied to your body may stretch you to nurture and care for your body = a new form of exercise ie salsa classes. Even though you may feel nervous of a new adventure, stretch yourself to feel restored and strengthened.
ps I am married to a comfortable, it adds richness to our marriage.
Thanks for the different way to look at it, Carrie. I had to kind of laugh at myself when I worked through the book because you talk about how this is not a time to be small, that this is about your best self, and while there are ways my style statement feels big, it also feels boring in some ways – which fits right in with any other sort of “who are you” exercise I’ve done. I’m not the exciting, adventurous type, and I’m working on reminding myself that that’s okay.
Ruth, I work on reminding myself that it’s OK to not be an adventurer a lot too! My first word is Innovative so I have to really use Ease to temper that. I want to see, do, try and get my hands dirty! But I have to remember to give myself the ease to have the energy to innovate. I learned also that I can give innovative ideas to others and that that can fuel and feed my first word while giving my second the space to flourish. It took me a bit of time and tweaking, but I’d encourage anyone with those type of feelings to really take a look and see where you can live your first word while respecting your second.
It’s funny though… I live a very Innovative Ease lifestyle, but it hasn’t come anywhere near any of my other styles, including clothing, decor, etc. Still haven’t quite figured that one out…
Carolee, I feel the same way about the inside/outside match. My first word is Graceful, and while I think my life and how I act toward others is in line with Graceful Comfort, my clothing style is not and my decor only sort of is. (One day I will find a dining room table I like and be able to give back the really not my style one I have on long-term loan from a friend’s mother.)
There is much talk about being a star, think big and little talk about connecting with values and service. Imagine how comfort given in moments of despair may heal and imagine the gift of comfort given daily when connecting with others. That makes a difference.
Haha! I’m most certainly NOT joking! I’m a recovering “should” addict. My procrastination is now a sign: this isn’t something I need to do so I should focus my time and energy elsewhere. Perhaps this is a tool you can use as well? If you feel ill at ease, or say, unCOMFORTable, it’s not good.
Our second words aren’t more boring, they’re just different, special, a feeling rather than a doing or a thing. I can ask myself, “does this put me at ease?” if so, I know I’m on the right track. Our second words are certainly a bit less obvious, but I dig that about ‘em.
“Our second words aren’t more boring, they’re just different, special,” lovely Carolee.
And feeling uncomfortable, ill at ease is a sign from your body & spirit to listen, and learn more deeply about yourself.
I like “a feeling rather than a doing or a thing.” Thanks for another way to think about it!
So very well said
before Style Statement my 20% was overpowering everything in life and when I learned to keep that as my signature scent and allow the rest of me to shine, everything has become more more balanced
Perfectly said, thanks for sharing!