Oh I kid. My humble bits of advice are not even close to being pearls of wisdom. But nonetheless, I liked that phrase on this Lulu Guinness clutch, and also happened to need some sort of a header-picture type photo. Thus, the image of the clutch. It’s quite kitschy actually, all be-speckled in pearls. I do love pearls.

Please ignore my random burbles, should they pop up unexpectedly at any time or place in this post; I shall make my Starbucks coffee with an extra shot of expresso the scapegoat. That, and my lack of sleep for the past few days; there is simply too much on my mind! I swear this post has a purpose, darlings. =]

So… I’ve been obsessed with Blog de Mode for quite some time; if I remember correctly (if I don’t, blame the excess caffeine running rampant in my body), after stumbling upon Jaime’s blog late in the summer, I’ve been visiting his blog every day or so to ogle his amazing collages. Aesthetically beautiful & chock full of the most beautiful things and people, imagine my utter delight when I received an email from him of a collage he made for me!! Jaime has sent another email, one that makes me feel so honored to answer. Dearest Jaime, you are simply the sweetest & most talented!

Bonjour La C,            

Thank you very much for the comment on my blog! Just to let you know it usually takes about 20 minutes to do a collage on photoshop, but I find it fun rather than a chore! Also, I’m not sure if you noticed but the Chanel bag in this post ( http://blog.justjr.com/archives/2009/02/ide-n-tit-y-c/ ) is actually a cupcake, if I ever become rich I’d love to buy you one for your birthday ! 😀

I was wondering if I could be a little rude and request a post, I always check your blog and as you know I am a hugeeee fan of your inspiration posts, the only thing is, I sometimes find with the spare time I have that I never end up doing them, even though I really want to! So I was wondering if you could maybe pop a little something into a post about your tips on becoming motivated, and making sure you’re the best person you could possibly be ! 

In return I could always do a post in a theme for you! Anyway I hope you’re having a wonderful day and I hope to hear from you soon

Best,
Jamie
xox

A post in a theme isn’t necessary at all; I’m already beyond flattered and honored to be chosen to answer this! And no, you are not rude at all!

So here goes.

 .   .   .

On Self-Motivation: How to Find—And Get—Motivated

One of the most wonderful things felt is a rush of adrenalin accompanied by a drive to pursue and reach a goal. This drive is self-motivation – one of the most powerful things bestowed upon us, one that enables us to do nearly anything we want, so long as there is passion. Simply imagine the possibilities; there is no limit to what we can do.

But it is nearly impossible to retain this sort of self-motivation every moment of our lives; there will always be a time when our motivation, our drive, and our self-esteem hits a low(-er) point. It’s simply human, completely inevitable. Because sometimes laziness overcomes us, work bogs us down until the bags beneath our eyes seem permanent, or perhaps that fiery passion disappears suddenly. Regardless of the reason, we must pick ourselves up at some time or another (preferably a.s.a.p.) and re-discover the source of our motivation – it is the vital to not just progress, but also crucial in achieving success.

Accept.

Simply accept that you have no desire to do anything at the moment because it’s normal; it’s embedded into human nature, whether or not we like it. It happens. So set that project/goal aside for the time being and allow your mind to wander a bit. Sometimes all we need is a break from routine and concentration; set a date with friends and enjoy it. Watch a few movies, catch up on TV episodes, indulge in a bit of ice cream or sweets, take a stroll in a museum or a public area, etc. Be re-inspired by your lack of inspiration and motivation in allowing yourself to soak in, from a new perspective, what you already know. (I do hope that made sense.) As they say; a breath of fresh air is needed occasionally in order to continue something and not feel bored of it; giving both yourself and that particular project/goal time off allows you to come back with a fresh start.

Take a break; relax.

Bumming around is perfectly okay – and not just because I do it ;]. Don’t force yourself to be productive when you simply are un-inspired or hardly motivated. Coercing yourself to finish something will only make you unhappy and even more unwilling to go about your work; not to mention, the end result won’t be something you are happy with – it becomes just a thing you wanted to finish – it is no longer special. Case in point: I’ve been holding off on replying to emails/questions this week because a flood of emails can cause dread. But it wasn’t that – I like to take my time in thinking about each answer so I can give the best reply I can; rushing to answer them when my brain is hardly functioning or if I feel un-inspired will only produce mediocre results.

… some ideas? Buy tickets to your favorite museum (art, perhaps, since you’re a graphic designer?) / Plan an outing with friends / Turn up the music, plop onto your bed or couch, and read a good book / Walk around town or the city; people watching is quite enjoyable and inspirational! / (This need not apply to you, Jaime ;]) Dance around (it works for me, always) / Browse around blogs for humorous anecdotes or inspiration / etc.

Tea is your best friend!

I must have a whole groupie of best friends; bags, shoes, Post-It notes, etc. But tea really is incredibly helpful in soothing and calming not just your mind, but your body. I must admit that I have no idea as to how these anti-oxidants and other ingredients work scientifically; all I do know is that they do work. Coffee, though absolutely delicious (I am such a hypocrite!) is hardly the sort of drink that is calming. Avoid it!

After giving yourself ample time to rejuvenate and relax, bring out your personal inspiration books/collages. Perhaps browsing  your first work or journal will re-inspire you and re-ignite the passion, whilst reminding you of why you started in the first place. A bit of nostalgia always brings back good memories and smiles =].

Jot down the things you love.

Write it all down in a list; it’s sure to bring smiles and remind you of why you began/wanted the particular goal/project. Sometimes, without even knowing it, writing lists can give you revelations or epiphany moments of inspiration!

Re-establish that goal.

Re-word, re-form, & re-vamp your original goal so it sounds just a bit newer and more fresh. Write it down somewhere that is easily accessible. As silly as it sounds, I have my goals set as the wallpaper to my laptop; I too lose focus of what I want at times – a constant reminder is necessary for me, as a sort of means to push me back on track.

Think of the rewards!

Whether they be monetary, tangible, or this inward emotion of triumph, it’s nice to daydream a bit of what you could achieve in following through with your goal. Dreams are meant to be dreamt, not to be left shriveling and stale in your mind. Sometimes, just thinking of what I can potentially be in the future motivates me to work harder for what I want. Though I must admit it requires a lot of concentration and focus – something I have yet to find ;].

And to be the best person you can possibly be is all relative to perspective. But be sure you meet your personal standards; not what everyone else around you wants. Yes, in the real world, sadly, you must live up to others’ expectations of you. But at the end of the day, you must be happy with who you are (I apologize for the cliché topic and cheesiness.) I wish I knew the answers to everything so I could help everyone to the best of my abilities, but all I can say for this particular area is this: if you are happy with where you are and who are currently, then you are being the best person you possibly be.

.   .   .

So, dearest Jaime, I hope this rather lengthy and wordy passage of mine will help at least a little. Best of luck to everything and all you do (not that you need it, considering the oodles amount of talent you posses) and regaining your motivation! & Thank you for giving me this opportunity!

xoxo,

La C.