I am currently reading "Girl, Wash Your Face" by Rachel Hollis...and loving every minute of it! I'm about half way through the book and just wanted to share a few takeaways that have stuck with me. PLUS, the book just celebrated their 1 year anniversary on February 6th, 2019...even more reason to share my love for the book. hehe :)
I feel like this book is so popular and everyone knows about it... because it's amazing, right? BUT for those of you who don't know about it or haven't read it yet, here is a quick 101. "Girl, Wash Your Face" is all about "helping people break free from the lies that are keeping them from the joy-filled and exuberant lives they are meant to live." This book offers Rachel's "combination of honesty, humor, and direct, no-nonsense advice." And look at the quote on the cover... "stop believing the lies about who you are, so you can become who you were meant to be." AMEN!!! Who wouldn't want to read this book?? :)
OK, here are my takeaways so far... Below, I share a quote from the book, highlight my main takeaway from the quote, and then offer a bullet of my own 2 cents, thoughts, and ways these points apply to my life.
"I hope you’ll rest in the knowledge that you can become whomever and whatever you want to be, my sweet friend. And on the days that seem the hardest, you’ll remember that—by an inch or a mile—forward momentum is the only requirement."
YES, such a great reminder for me! I have BIG dreams and truly believe I can accomplish my dreams. Some days I feel they are so far away but I remember to keep moving towards those dreams and they will continue to become closer and closer. There are times I reflect on my life today, and am like "WOW, that used to be a dream of mine and now look, I am doing it!"
"You must choose to be happy, grateful, and fulfilled. If you make that choice every single day, regardless of where you are or what’s happening, you will be happy."
I believe there is always something to be happy about, be grateful for, and a way to be fulfilled. Some days it's harder to find those reasons but if I try hard enough, I can focus and CHOOSE to be happy, grateful, and fulfilled about something.
"you should spend more time doing things that feed your spirit: more long walks with your dog, less volunteering for that thing you feel obligated to do but actually hate. You are in charge of your own life, sister, and there’s not one thing in it that you’re not allowing to be there. Think about it."
GOSH, this is so important for me to practice everyday. I tend to say YES to so many things... which sometimes means I am saying NO to me. This is something I am working on BIG TIME!
"I made a promise to myself and I don’t break those, not ever."
ENOUGH SAID... we need to make promises to ourself and keep them. So important!
"When you really want something, you will find a way. When you don’t really want something, you’ll find an excuse."
Totally agree!! I am a firm believer that we can achieve anything we want to... LIKE for real, anything! Such a great reminder!
"It’s much easier to add a habit than to take one away...When that's conquered for a month, a new standard for achievement is set and something tougher can be added."
I love this advice Rachel gives to people trying to go on a diet or start something new. I truly believe that it's important to make small changes that we can turn into habits and then continue to add in things as we go. "Slow and steady wins the race" is something I like to say about many things like this!
“Go home and do nothing. Sit around, watch TV, spend an entire day on the sofa. Discover that your world doesn’t implode without you going a hundred miles an hour. Get up the next day and do it again.”
OMG.... this advice is something I need to practice. I have always been someone to have a lot on my plate. Having big dreams, wanting to help everyone I can around me, and saying yes to almost everything, makes my plate FULL... but operating like this 24/7 is not good. It's important to slow down and do nothing... I am working on this! Hence my reason for starting this blog. I am working on slowing down, relaxing, and enjoying the beauty of life. I am trying many things to do this and it's such a good reminder to keep working on this!
"The most fundamental thing a woman needs to do before she can take care of anyone else: take care of herself!
YUP!! What else is there to say? We have to be our own hero and take care of ourself FIRST!
"Have you ever pointed your finger in their direction and ignored the three other fingers on your hand pointing back at you?"
I absolutely love this saying and have never heard it before. Something I am going to start doing when I analyze things in my life.
"as long as you allow someone to treat you badly, they will continue to do so. If you’re not able to value yourself, no one else will either. Sometimes choosing to walk away, even if it means breaking your own heart, can be the greatest act of self-love you have access to."
WOW, thanks for the reminder Rachel! While, I totally agree and have heard this saying before, this one is sometimes hard for me to do. I am working on this!
"I am successful because I refused to take no for an answer. I am successful because I have never once believed my dreams were someone else’s to manage. That’s the incredible part about your dreams: nobody gets to tell you how big they can be. No doesn’t mean that you stop; it simply means that you change course in order to make it to your destination."
AMEN!!! I love this so much and this fires me up to keep chasing my dreams!!
"When things are allowed to sit in the darkness, when we’re afraid to speak them aloud, we give them power. The darkness lets those fears fester and grow until they become stronger over time. If you never allow your fears out, then how in the world can you disseminate them?"
I am so thankful for this reminder and advice. I think it's so important to talk about things and don't let them sit in darkness because YESS it gives them power. Reading this reminds me to keep talking about things that need to be talked about... I don't want to give things power that don't deserve it.
"If you’re lucky, your legacy will be a lifetime in the making. Your dream is worth fighting for, and while you’re not in control of what life throws at you, you are in control of the fight. It’s about who you become on your way to that goal. Nobody will ever care about your dream as much as you do. Ever."
YES FRIENDS!!! Let's keep fighting for our dreams, it's worth it!
NEXT, the book goes into an entire chapter about how Rachel used to think she was bad at SEX... and gives advice on how to love sex with your partner... now that's one heck of a teaser, right?? hehe! I guess you will have to read the book to learn all about that topic ;) AND all the other topics from the book.
I truly am loving all the takeaways from "Girl, Wash Your Face!" I am like "yes, yes, yes, that is soooo true" and I have been finding ways to apply these things to my life. I highly recommend reading this book and can't wait to keep reading! hehe
Reading and taking time for myself is one way I slow down and enjoy life, does it help you? Let me know if you have read this book, or if you have any recommendations for me! Remember to stop and smell the roses!
xo
Bri
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