| |
| |
Monday, December 29, 2008 |
|
 |
|
 |
| |
| Making Headlines |
Hey there FGs!
So I want to share another awesome tip from my fave read right now - Don't Sweat the Small Stuff for Teens, by Richard Carlson. The suggestion is "Examine Your Headlines." Basically, we all have the stories and parts of our life that we highlight the most in our own minds and share with others. But these parts that we focus on aren't necessarily the whole picture.
When I first read this, I wasn't exactly sure what mine were, or if I even had them. I mean, I'd like to think I have a clear view of my life. But I started thinking back on the past year, and what some of the things are that stood out to me. And the first ones that came to mind were the mistakes I made, the regrets I had, and the times when I slipped up or didn't act like the person that I wanted to be. My headlines were all in the negative. My accomplishments, adventures, new friends, and the times I had stepped out of my box - those were lost somewhere on the back page.
So I think that now, as the year is coming to a close, is the best time of all to "examine your headlines." When you think about 2008, where does your focus go - drama, losses, mistakes? Or are your headlines mostly positive? Because don't get me wrong - it is good to recognize when something doesn't go right. That's how you learn. But your successes deserve some face time, too! And once you recognize your headlines, you can adjust them a little, if you need to. And adjusting your focus will give you a new attitude for the new year.
xoxo
The Fab GalLabels: attitude, Don't Sweat the Small Stuff for Teens, headlines, Richard Carlson, teens |
posted by Fab Gal @ 9:12 AM   |
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 |
| |
Monday, December 15, 2008 |
|
|
|
|
| |
| Be a Rebel |
Hello Fab Gals!
Good books, like good chocolate and good music, are meant to be shared. And I'm still on this great one that I started a while back - Don't Sweat the Small Stuff For Teens, by Richard Carlson. It's full of simple tips to make your life just a little better. And this one is my favorite - #58, "Be Creative in Your Rebellion." Sounds a little crazy, right?
Basically, it works like this - there seems to be an expectation, in the media and our culture, that we should never be satisfied. We should always want to be thinner, more beautiful, more popular, and we shouldn't be happy till we get there. Of course, that's really just a way to sell more products, but we seem to buy into it. If you get into that kind of thinking, you'll become unhappy with yourself. It can leads to all kinds of problems, and it's no fun, either. Carlson's solution: Be rebelliously happy. Make the decision to see how happy you can be without buying into that expectation. Be smart to know that you never needed all of that silly stuff to be happy anyways.
FG Challenge: Find a day this week to be as rebellious as you possibly can! Love your body. Smile at everyone. Wear what you love, eat what you like. Hey, even enjoy math class! See how happy you can be, just as you are. And be sure to let me know how it goes...
xoxo
The Fab GalLabels: Don't Sweat the Small Stuff for Teens, fab gal, girls, happiness, life lessons, teens |
| posted by Fab Gal @ 10:08 AM |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Friday, December 5, 2008 |
|
|
|
|
| |
| Hey, Pay Attention to Me! |
Hey there FGs!
Yesterday, when I was out shopping, I just had to pick up a mag with Britney Spears on the cover. I try not to be too celeb-addicted, but at least it wasn't a trashy tabloid. I was just so excited to see her looking happy and healthy after all of the press that was out about her struggles the past year or so. Struggles that were well-documented b the paparazzi, waiting to see what she would do next. In fact, her music got very little attention compared to her personal life. It makes me wonder - why do we give more attention to people with drama?
One FG was telling me recently about what it had been like starting a new school this year. While it was mostly going really well, she said she felt like she got a lot less attention than the girls who caused all the drama. They were often fighting with their friends, or having an issue with some guy - and people wanted to know about it, talk to them, and be in on the action. Obviously not the same as what went on with Britney Spears, but think how little news coverage other stars, like Christina Aguilera or Reese Witherspoon, received in comparison for their highly successful careers but relatively normal lives.
I'm not exactly sure how or why things work out this way. I guess we just want a story - we want juicy gossip, we want excitement. But it certainly puts our values in the wrong place. It's almost like it's better to be a little wild child or drama queen so you can be noticed. But it's not worth it, and it won't make you feel happy with yourself. The good news is this - if you work hard at your talents, embrace your unique abilities, and choose to lead a life without drama, people will eventually notice. Take Beyoncé, America Ferrara, or Ashley Tisdale for example. Believe me, the respect and positive attention is totally worth the wait.
xoxo
The Fab GalLabels: attention, celebrity gossip, Don't Sweat the Small Stuff for Teens, drama, fab gal, girls, media, respect |
| posted by Fab Gal @ 8:41 AM |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Friday, November 7, 2008 |
|
|
|
|
| |
| Love is a Battlefield |
Hey Fab Gals! Can you put up a good fight? Give 'em your best shot? Do you really even have to? The truth is, most of the time, you don't. Sometimes, it really does seem like love, or life, is a battlefield. Everyone  , everywhere is challenging something or someone. I heard it described like this - we live in a conflict culture, in constant states of arguments. Part of it is because, quite simply - conflict is entertaining, and it sells. It's funny to see Heidi and Lauren or America's Next Top Models caught up in a cat fight. And I guess we like to see our politicians duke it out, as if that proves that they really know what they're doing. Although it certainly doesn't help them get anything done. For the most part, that's okay - as long as it stays in the media. But if you internalize that idea, and start living battle to battle, things can get pretty difficult. It saps your energy, because everything looks like a challenge. Your sister is ruining your life, the traffic is out to get you, and everyone at school must be stupid if they don't understand your strong opinions. I've been reading this super-awesome book, called Don't Sweat the Small Stuff for Teens, by Richard Carlson. And one of the lessons was about facing life's battles - simply put, choose wisely. Whenever a conflict arises, give it a ranking from 1-10 (Doesn't Really Matter on up to Majorly Big Deal). Anything 5 and below, let it go (and if you're unsure, assume you're ranking it too high). Like he says, practicing this technique saves your energy, because you don't waste your time on silly problems, and it makes it a lot easier for you to go after the ones you truly care about. Because your little sis borrowing your flip-flops is not that big of a deal. But what about standing up for your BFF, or taking on a personal challenge? Now those are worth fighting for. Besides, if you're trying out for reality TV, you could probably stand to lose some drama. xoxo The Fab Gal Labels: conflict, Don't Sweat the Small Stuff for Teens, drama, fab gal, problem solving, Richard Carlson |
| posted by Fab Gal @ 10:28 AM |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
