[Guest Post] Self-Esteem & Cancer: Never Letting Go of Your Inner Beauty

Hi everyone!

Today I have a wonderful guest post by Jackie. She contacted me a couple weeks ago regarding tips on how to feel beautiful while struggling through cancer (& the many side-effects of its treatments). I am extremely excited to share her piece with you, especially since I have a bit of experience in the area [I volunteered at a cancer hospital in Toronto for 2 years]. Please take a read, be grateful for your health, and share this with the women in your lives that are going through this rough time. It may feel as if part of their identity is being stripped away, and it important to remind them of their self-worth and beauty. Cheers!

Showcase Your Beauty Despite Your Cancer Diagnosis
By: Jackie Clark

A cancer diagnosis is a life-altering event, no matter what type of cancer you are facing.  Of obvious importance is the impact of cancer on your health and your livelihood.  What most don't seem to consider is how cancer and cancer treatments can affect your self-esteem and sense of worth as a woman.  Even when facing the harsh effects of cancer treatments, there are still several ways you can showcase your femininity and regain your confidence.

Use Beauty Tools to Enhance Your Features

Cancers like mesothelioma often require treatments that can take their toll on your health and beauty.   It's important to find ways to minimize these effects and highlight your other stunning features.  Find a bold lipstick to emphasize your mouth.  Even a pretty peach lip gloss and a light dusting of bronzer can create a pretty glow.  For a more striking look, use a kohl liner to rim your eyes and add drama.  There are also several eyebrow pencils on the market right now that can help to fill in sparse eyebrows to create an everyday style.  Use beauty magazine and websites to follow the latest styles and stay on trend.

 


Fashion Accessories Add Flair to Your Wardrobe

Although you may feel like your beauty has changed, there are many fashion accessories available that can add a panache to your existing wardrobe and amp up your style.  It's important not to stop at the usual suspects like scarves and beautiful earrings though.  For example, buy a new coat in show-stopping color.  Shop for beaded or embellished shoes.  There are many comfortable options available, and often the most unique options are in feet-friendly flats or low heels.  Hats are another option that can make you feel at ease when going out in public while still conveying your individuality and beauty.  


Keep in mind, however, that no matter how many makeup products you buy, no matter how many accessories you wear, your real beauty will shine from within no matter what your circumstances.  Your strength and power is the most beautiful accessory you have.  Whenever you may feel self-conscious about your looks, remember the following: I am proud.  I am beautiful.  I am strong.  I am not cancer, and cancer is not me.


 
image source: google & stylecrave [That link will take you to a list of gorgeous Asian models. I had such a hard time finding photos of visible minorities in high-fashion. Not cool.]

"The trail is the thing, not the end of the trail. Travel too fast and you miss all you are traveling for." ~ Louis L’Amour

I am so excited for the summer! Dianna Argon looks beautiful here. I will be (hopefully) posting some academic tips in the near future. I hope you're all doing well my lovelies.

Here are a few links to emulate this look...

Blouses- Equipment, Diane Von Furstenburg, Joie

Flowy Maxi Skirts- WildFox, Tibi, Torn by Ronny Kobo, Rachel Pally*, BB Dakota* [* have my faves]

Clutches that actually fit stuff: Rebecca Minkoff (Mini Mac), Foley + Corinna (Quilty), Alexander Wang

And because I don't have motivational points today, I leave you with Karl Lagerfeld's brilliant video.
It encapsulates all the greatest advice by all the greatest minds in history. This will light a fire in your behind and get you moving. Uncle Karl, you are brilliant and inspirational.

"A failure is a man who has blundered, but is not able to cash in on the experience." - Elbert Hubbard

Images, words, and sounds that have made me feel el primo.

Grecian-inspired dresses by Carl Kapp -
Everything he makes is so light & flowy, in wonderful rich shades.

Have a fantastic amazing brilliant happy day!

"Few people are capable of expressing with equanimity opinions which differ from the prejudices of their social environment. Most people are even incapable of forming such opinions." - Albert Einstein

Hola hola holaaa,

I decided to talk about dreams, motivation, and hard-work today. From all the articles I've read lately, I managed to break down enough information to make sense of it all.

1. Positive thinking allows you to dream bigger, and instill in you the belief that you can achieve your goals.
2. Visualization allows you to see your future-self with more clarity.
3. This creates a deep desire to become the future-self you imagined.
4. You then work harder to have your dreams come to fruition. [Life as a Conscious Practice]
5. This speeds up life plans considerably. You are a productivity-machine, full of creative ideas!
6. Failures don't get you down and depressed for long periods of time, allowing one to have more hours/minutes/days to formulate innovate, original paths & plans to achieve success. [I'd like everyone to remember the trials and tribulations of Steve Jobs: He was fired from his position as Director of Apple, and within a few years he produced another multi-million dollar company called Pixar. Boom. He did not wallow around in self-pity, he pushed through and believed he would succeed again. If a flesh & bone human can do it, so can you. Don't be afraid of your failures, or let them define you.]
7. It's scientifically proven that happiness + positive-thinking have health benefits by decreasing stress hormones, which wreck havoc on your body. Genetics will be the limiting factor, but you're in control of the other 50%. Make it good. [Mayo Clinic. New Scientist.]
9. Positive people = happier people = network more efficiently by leaving a great impression = people remember you more = better & faster business deals.

I decided to load up on productivity links to get you on your way. Just thinking positively isn't going to magically get you where or what you want. Everyone must take action. Don't be all talk; let your results speak for themselves, and inspire others. So get crackin'! Hard work and efficiency, to the max! And start an inspiration board, or book, to push you through those intense nights before important events - although fear usually does that for me. I haven't kicked my anxiety, but I've curbed it to appear the day before tests/interviews/presentations. Hence, that gives me a lot of free time to be happy within 365 days of the year. And remember, for the days you're not freaking out over something important, write down everything that you're grateful for. It'll keep you content, and motivated.

BBC - The Happiness Formula

SelfControl App for Apple computers - Thanks H! 

 (I have it and love it. No matter what I do *delete app/reboot laptop/remove files* it will not let me log onto 

facebook, tumblr, bloglovin, youtube etc until my designated time is up.)

:zenhabits (been a fan for years)

Double your productivity

Productivity and Business posts by Jen Dziura

(I don't agree with all her ideas, because it'd kick my anxiety into overload and put me in a coma by 25, 

but her scheduling and task management tips are great!)

LifeHack --amazing bananas!

50 Productivity Blogs
How to get over being sad or upset - Luan Legacy (hi-lar-ious)

My Tip: Buy a Moleskine and a small Whiteboard. The whiteboard has my daily to-do list, and the Moleskine tracks my weekly goals, and fun stuff I enjoyed throughout the day. I don't really keep journals, so my agenda is like a baby diary of events. You should remember that stuff too! Oh, and when to do your next clay mask. 

You know what you want, now go get'em tiger!

imagesource: fashionista

P.S. I just logged onto my old Polyvore account (last visit > 2 years ago) and discovered I had 478 followers! It totally made my day; I swear I had 60 people when I left. I also flipped through my posts and realized my style remains the same. I have a "Chantelle Formula" that's going to stick around forever.