Self Love Interview with Jenna

As we wrap up our project from May focusing on positive self esteem we are ending it with a bang! Jenna here is our last momma that we interviewed and I love what she has to say about loving yourself and not falling into the comparison game. 

Jenna @Jennaskitchen

A mother, a wife, she has amazing food insight on eating healthy but balanced and is a lover of essential oils. 

1.     What is self esteem to you and how does if affect the person you are?

     Self Esteem is being at peace with who you are. Knowing that you're a human with flaws but they make you special and unique, irreplaceable even. 

2.     What are five words that you would choose to describe yourself?

Cheerful, Driven, Fun, Spiritual and Generous.

3.     Do you ever get down or are too hard on yourself sometimes?

A  Are you kidding? All the time!! I am a woman!! 

4.     Are there specific things that trigger those negative vibes and feelings?

Life experiences. Not doing the best I could with kids that day, social media, a confusing exchange, whatever it is I can find myself doubting all the time if I'm doing the right thing! 

5.     How do you help yourself get out of that “negative funk?”

   I like to turn off the noise. No TV, no computer, no phone. Just me, my bath and my essential oils. Some prayer and self love talking about the things I DID do right that day.

6.     Do you ever find yourself judging or comparing yourself to others? (if so when)

   Yes I find that I do compare myself to others. I've heard it been said that we compare our weakest areas to someones strongest and isn't that the truth!! It can be totally debilitating and such a vicious cycle so I do my best not to get involved. I really try to focus on the accomplishments I'm having. I also like to show that person love and gratitude. Be PROUD of the things they're doing, what is going right for THEM! Graciousness and love is the answer.

7.   Do you feel like social media as a whole helps build you up and or do you feel like it makes it harder to be positive?

     As a whole social media is a positive place for me. My readers are some of the kindest on the Internet. But trust me I have my days!

8. What helps you feel confident and beautiful?

  I feel confident and beautiful when I'm loving to others. When I show people charity and love beyond what I feel is possible for me that day. Going the extra mile for my children and others helps me feel like I'm killing it!

10.  What brings peace in your life?

I am religious so my Savior brings me Peace. To know that I have a friend who suffered the most ultimate price so that I could find forgiveness, joy and love in even the darkest periods of my life. Find something like that. Find light and love and joy - they will carry you through!

Thank you everyone for your love and kindness I had so much for with this project and I hope you have felt some kind of inspiration and motivation to be kinder to yourself and others!! 

xoxo

Lluvio

Interview with Stephanie

I know we are a little behind this week but come on, we are working on not judging others so don't be that person! ha ha.. So how has it been for you guys? Have any of these interviews with these women helped you see things differently or think about yourself and others in a more positive light? I know it has for me, a lot. I just find myself always being negative and finding something wrong with myself and others and then I think about something I remembered that one of these ladies said and then I focus on that and try to be more positive. Most of the time it helps I wish I could say all the time but that is not true. We are human and have natural instincts to be critical and harsh. And by a little practice and hard work we can overcome this and have more control over our thoughts. 

Anywhoo.. this weekend we will be sharing our interview with another momma 

STEPHANI @Steph__pollock 

She is a mother to a darling little girl, a wife, a photographer, and a blogger

1.     What is self esteem to you and how does it affect the person you are?

Self esteem to me, is believing in myself. When I believe in myself I am the most productive, positive and outgoing person. When I don’t, I feel like my world falls apart.

2.     What are five words that you would choose to describe yourself?

1. Loyal 2.Passionate 3.Beautiful 4.Outgoing 5.Stylish

3.     Do you ever get down or are too hard on yourself sometimes?

Yes, ALL the time. I think as women we are too hard on ourselves all the time. Especially now that I’m a mother, on top of being a women I feel like I’m always wondering if I am enough. Or if I’m doing anything right.

4.     Are there specific things that trigger those negative vibes and feelings?

I’m usually down on myself when I have a deadline to meet or if I have a dream project but can’t make it a reality. I start criticizing myself instead of owning it and doing my thing.

5.     How do you help yourself get out of that “negative funk?”

I totally take a bath! Or I light a few candles and blast the music in my house while I scroll through funny buzzfeed articles. Then I have a good cry about why I don’t feel good enough and my husband encourages me and tells me I’m awesome! haha.

6.     Do you ever find yourself judging or comparing yourself to others? (if so when)

Yes, Usually in situations I feel uncomfortable in. But I try and catch myself and instead I start complimenting that person. If that’s inside my head or out loud. I try and correct my thinking because I’m only comparing myself because of an insecurity inside of me. Often, I’ll go tell that person something nice like I like their shirt or their hair and I am genuine about it.

Do you feel like social media as a whole helps build you up and or do you feel like it makes it harder to be positive?

I feel like social media builds me up more than it drags me down. I love the feeling of community that social media has created. I feel like so many people who I follow or follow me are all just trying to relate in some way. Either to celebrate with each other or to let each other know we are in the same boat. I’ve connected with so many women who have let me know I’m not alone in so many situations. There has been a few times I’ve found myself comparing to other people on social media but that’s not long lasting at all.

7.     What helps you not compare yourself or judge others, or what have you done or do now to help yourself not fall into the game of judging and comparing?

I try to compliment instead of compare. Everyone is so different from our personalities to individual style. There's no reason to constantly compare because it will be a never ending game of making you feel like crap. So instead I try to celebrate that difference instead of feeling negative about someone or something.

8.     What helps you feel confident and beautiful?

I feel like we are all born feeling confident and beautiful and don’t know any better until someone tells us different. Being confident is really just being okay and liking who you are. Also realizing that the world doesn't define what “beautiful” means. Beauty goes so much deeper than outer looks. My mom taught me from a very young age what inner beauty looks like. Because of that I often see past outside appearances and see their inner beauty no matter what.

9.     What brings peace in your life?

Jesus. When nothing else seems peaceful in my life I know I can go to him and claim that peace. I recently listened to a teaching where the women said where there is fear and anxiety in your life that is satan stealing from you. It has stuck with me and I’ve done my best not to just sit in fear, anxiety or self-doubt because I know my worth, and I don’t want to waste my time focusing on all the negative or something I don’t have. When you focus on everything you do have and change your attitude to being thankful is it so much easier to see all the beauty in life.

10.  What do you think women today can do to have more self love and positive vibes towards themselves and others?

Grace!!!! Grace to be who they are but to also embrace who they are becoming. We are constantly changing, and absorbing or adding to ourselves. I try and remind myself that who I am today isn’t who I will be in 3 months from now. I think women need to accept themselves for who they are and stop focussing on what the world says they have to be or look like. Start loving who you are and acknowledging how awesome you are just for being you!