When someone says you can’t, when they doubt, when they underestimate you, do you let their words keep you from advancing or do you do the total opposite? In today’s blog I would like to talk about turning underestimation to your benefit. Has it occurred that you expressed your dream, your goals, only to be told you won’t make it, that they are too big for you, or that you are incapable of accomplishing them? 

I have had that happen, and I won’t lie it can hurt, more or less depending on who it comes from. Yet I don’t let that stop me from doing what I said I would do and maybe even a little more. What’s the secret behind doing this? Well it’s not really a secret. It’s more about taking the feelings that come when people express their doubts. I am sure you have experienced that sparkle of anger, that feeling that comes accompanied by words similar to: “watch me as I do it”. 

When working towards our dreams we will always encounter those who will underestimate us for how we look, were we come from, our past mistakes, you name it. You just need to keep in mind that they are measuring you under their standards. If you are determined to put the hard work, you shouldn’t let them define your limits. They may know what they are capable of, but they will never know what you are capable of, especially when you show them you can defeat the doubts.

Before switching jobs, I was told it would be months before I would find anything, that I should probably wait until I was finished with school, that a job search/a new job would come between my school. It’s like people were doubting my abilities, my skills, and in all my potential. Now if you recall from a past post, that is not the case. A new job opportunity came into my life, and in a short time I was enjoying of a new position at a place where I am beyond happy to call work.

Therefore, when people show you their doubts, it’s not the time to sit back and cry—that may be exactly what they are expecting. While they wait for the moment for you fail, just to remind you of their words, you should be taking advantage of every second to work your hardest.  At the end of the day, what you accomplish is for your best interest, in the process you may have dominated the art of enjoying the underestimation.

I’d like to take this opportunity, to remind you that you are the only one who can put a limit to your potential. Next time someone says you can’t, take their words, and make them your fuel to go out and conquer the world. You don’t even have to waste time trying to convince them otherwise; actions can speak louder than words.  

I invite you to click here and think deeply on those words, to a great extent they hold truth.

As we all know, a lot but at the same time not much at all has been going the past weeks. The world is in chaos with the outbreak of COVID-19. Most of us have been impacted by it in more than one way. Most recently, as a result of it, I got the news that the 2020 UNR Spring Commencement will be held virtually.

With the situation not getting any better, I saw it coming. I will admit though that at first, I did not take the news very well. I was upset and my first thought was “all this hard work, to end up graduating in front of a screen”. However, with a blog dedicated to personal development and to staying positive, I opted to remind myself of a couple things. That is what we are going to talk about today. It is easy to smile and be happy during the good times; but the real tests come during the storm. 

I can tell you all day, to stay positive, and find an opportunity in anything and everything. But it is not that easy, and it is not how it works; things will happen, and we will be challenged. With the news on the Spring Commencement, I decided to read past posts for inspiration. Specifically, my “Live with Purpose Post”. There I reminded myself, that graduating was more than the commencement, and celebrating my accomplishment, for which there will eventually be plenty time. 

My dedication and hard work go back to since I was a kid. I always enjoyed learning and attending school. At only age seven, after insisting too much, I left my hometown and family in hopes of a better future. At that time, I was a kid, and perhaps I didn’t know exactly what I was looking for. Today, as I see where my education culminates, I know that leaving was well worth it. If I continue to work hard, my degree will only be the beginning of a better future.  

When I was about five years old, my mother asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up. I remember telling her, I wanted to be Mexico’s president. She looked at me oddly and questioned my response. I recall telling her that I was no different, that at one time the president was also a kid, with tiny hands and tiny feet. And so, like him I could too grow up to be president. I know it’s a silly story, and it’s not where I ended up, but what I take from that is that since as a child I dreamed big. So a canceled live graduation is no good reason to be disappointed.

With that said, I know that if my child self were to meet me today, she would be proud. The days when she cried, the days when she felt lonely paid off. Graduation is more than the ceremony. It’s making that little girl proud. I know that even though she was only a child, she knew her dreams could be limitless.

Therefore, if you are like me, another graduate who will be affected by this situation, I ask that you define your real reason for graduating. What is, is, and there’s not much we can do to change it. So instead of getting angry or too upset, let’s appreciate what we do have, and let’s consider the bigger reason why we pursued a higher education. Once this is all over, everything is going to be fine. We just need to stay together as a family, as a community. 

In my last post I talked about building our confidence, surprisingly by doing something that is almost effortless: wearing red lipstick. If you read some of my first post/s, you are familiar with that month I went through to finally make some adjustments to my life. With that being said, today we are going to discuss three important steps I have come across in my journey for personal development.

Let me start off by telling you that it has not been easy, I have had a difficult time finding the balance and time to do everything I set for myself. Yet one of the best things I could have done, was to define my life goal which basically sums up in two words: LIVE HAPPILY.

After living a difficult time, I understand that some things are inevitable, but it is up to us to decide how we are going to let them impact us. We can have as many life goals as we want, but it’s important to define the one that defines our life purpose. Doing so matters, because when something happens, good or bad, our life goal is a reminder that we are working for better things.

We don’t just magically end up living the life of our dreams. Therefore, it’s important that we define what goes into living our life goal, and getting those things done. I am currently at a point where I wan to finish school, I want to spend more time with my family, I want to take better care of myself, I want to do good at work, I want to build my confidence etc.

There is so much I want to do, and the day only has 24 hours. Planning out my day, and understanding my priorities and capabilities is the best advice I can give you. Setting up your plans ahead of time, makes it easier to stick to them. None the less, sometimes they will have to change, but at least you are better prepared. You know what is going on in your day, that you will know where to make adjustments.

Last but not least, reassurance, has been key in keeping up with my busy days, especially those that feel almost impossible to get through. Getting up at 5 a.m. to go work out is not easy, if I stayed up late the night before doing homework because before that I went to dance practice and or a family dinner. However, having my life purpose to look up to gives me the strength to keep going. When I am about to change something, for no good reason, I remember what I am working towards and why I do it.

Overall, if you too are trying to figure your life out, if you are not happy with who you are, try the following steps.

1. Define your life purpose.
2. Plan out you day around your life purpose
3. Always give reassurance to your life purpose

I encourage you to take some time alone to reflect on them, especially if you wish to become a better version of yourself. It will not be easy, but good things don’t usually come easily. We must work for them.

Are you the girl who can confidently walk out the door with red lips? Or are you the one who thinks twice about it, or maybe the one that wouldn’t even dare at all? 

In today’s blog, let’s talk about the power of red lipstick. The one that turns heads, raises eyebrows, and the common question “what’s going on today”? If you are the girl who can rock red lipstick on any day, on any occasion, you know what I’m talking about. You probably also know of the confidence boost, and empowerment you feel the moment you put it on.

I have been at both ends. I used to think that not everyone could do justice to red lips, especially not me. In my mind it was for someone special to wear at a special occasion. Sometimes, I would put it on, just to end up scrubbing it off, or changing it for a more neutral tone. I felt as if it would catch too much attention, to someone so insignificant. 

Today as I work on building my confidence, on getting out of my comfort zone, I have made a point to wear red lipstick even to go to the grocery store. You may find it hard to believe, but wearing red lipstick, is not like wearing any other tone of lipstick. If you embrace it and wear it with confidence (which comes almost naturally with it), it’s like putting on your superwoman cape. It changes your mood for the day; all the sudden you feel like you can conquer all of what the day holds ahead. 

And to motivate you even a bit more, it’s not only about the confidence boost it gives you, the effort I have had to put towards my makeup, is minimal. I am telling you there is something behind red lipstick.

For the last two weeks, my makeup routine has consisted of eyeliner, mascara, and of course my favorite tone of red lipstick. It’s like the red gives life to my face; the five minutes I put towards my makeup routine is enough. The time I save I put it towards applying all those other products that I love to take care of my skin. Read my “Putting on Your Best…Literally”, for some some of those products.

Now because I want no excuses, below is an image that may be useful in choosing the right tone for you.

If you are like me, somewhere between the caramel and almond skin tone, you might opt for a dark wine-red tone. I have been using the Chanel Camelia Pourpre (637) and the Tarte creamy matte lip paint in the Frenemy shade (links below). 

 

Pictures from Chanel & Tarte. 

All I have got to say now is, don’t wait for a special occasion, go get yourself some red lipstick if you don’t already have some, and give it a try. You may even choose to wear it to the grocery store.

RED lips are not for where you are going, but for who you want to be.

Let them speak for themselves.

Let them bring out your inner queen. 

Personal development is endless; it comes in countless shapes and forms. Today, I want to discuss an area that to many of us matters a lot when it comes to feeling and looking better: our appearance.  Let’s be sincere, are we not more comfortable and confident when we feel good about how we look. Don’t you agree that when a woman feels beautiful—she walks, she speaks, and she acts with confidence. 

And a woman who is confident can conquer her dreams.  

If you remember from my previous post, I talked about putting our best face to our problems. Everyone has their own ways of looking and feeling better. Today I want to share with you, products that will literally bring out your best face. They were my run to when my skin was not looking good, and today they are my favorite in keeping a healthy and beautiful skin. 

The following are three products that I love and use most: 

1. My Predire Paris face peel is one of my absolute favorites. I don’t know how may refills I have gone through because I love it. It is an excellent defoliator; it gets rid of the impurities in my skin. Depending on how my skin is feeling and acting, I use it once or twice a week. It leaves my skin feeling smooth and clean. 

2. My second product is Diamond from Kristals cosmetics, and anti-gravity magnetic mask. This one takes more time, so I use it once or twice a month. With its refined magnetic power for increased cellular regeneration it helps to maintain a smooth and young-looking skin. I feel as if it pulls out the impurities in my pores. 

3. The last product which I use every day, is tea tree oil. I have used a couple brands but my most favorite is from Advanced Clinicals. It has been great to treat/prevent acne. It’s not unusual that I break out when stressed, but this oil does miracles. Due to how great it is, I like to mix it with my body cream as well. 

You might not choose to try any of the products that I listed, and that is fine. What I do ask is that you occasionally set time aside to pamper yourself. The way we feel has a lot to do with how we look.  This weekend why don’t you set aside at least half an hour to wash your face, may be apply a face mask, put on some moisturizer, out there are numerous products that are great for the skin. What I am trying to get at is self-care. Stay busy, set goals, and go after them, but do it because it’s what you want and because it makes you feel good.

Disclaimer: I am no dermatologist; these products have worked for me. Each skin is different, if you try any of these products, I suggest you test them on a small area first. Below are links where you can find each of the products.  

PREDIRE

DIAMOND

ADVANCED CLINICALS TEA TREE OIL

We know what it feels like to be lost, overwhelmed, and in despair. But it is then when we most need to work on staying strong and hopeful. A lot of it has to do with building the right mindset. When life seems to be going downhill, the biggest and best opportunities can come. It is a matter of noticing them and not letting them pass.  

Out of fear, comfort, or the simple fact that we are deep in our sorrows, we sometimes miss out. The feelings we live, will reflect on our bodies as much as they will on our life outcomes. Holding on to the grief and the self-pity, will only cause harm. If we have the blessing of life, with hard work, dedication, and the desire to advance, I believe that life can only get better. 

After what I was going through, I felt the need for a change. I just didn’t know what type of change or where to start. Then somehow, I came across a job opportunity; it offered much more than what I expected. Since day one, I felt welcomed. My decision to resign my former job, seemed almost unbelievable, those that know me, know how true this is. I loved what I did, I had plans, I saw myself at my former job for time to come. This change, however, came at a perfect time, and even though it was a hard decision, I took the risk.

Now you may wonder the relevance of this to my blog. Let me tell you that to me this was proof that life is full of surprises. Sometimes, it’s just a matter of letting ourselves be surprised. What I was going through was only spec in the whole life I have ahead of myself. Life has its ups and downs, let it be more about how we confront and overcome our problems. 

Don’t let one downfall to defeat you; you are more than the problem or two that cross your path. Everyone falls, but it should never be the fall that defines you. You are the strength, the hard work, the effort, the dedication and everything else that it takes to get back up. And if it comes with changes, with challenges, which it most often does—focus on putting your best face. Opportunities come when we least expect them, but certainly at the right time. Don’t be afraid to jump along, it may be the perfect time for a new beginning.

Feel free to read my past posts, there you will see that we all have bad days, even bad months, but the longevity to our problems has a lot do with our actions and desire to move past them.  

https://mdcamacho.com/2020/02/26/blessed-despite-the-losses/

https://mdcamacho.com/2020/02/28/dont-sit-wait/

If I inspired you a bit to look more to the solutions than the problems, I ask that tomorrow morning as you start your day, you smile and make a promise to keep that smile for the rest of the day. You will see and feel the difference. Even though the problem may not disappear instantaneously, you will certainly have a better attitude and a higher chance of finding the solution.