{}

This is NOT pretty.

Yup, I took a break during my busiest time of the year and it was the best thing I could have done. This is what I was like pre-break; I was stressed out to the MAX about the Self-Love Celebration. Yes Beauties, I’m not perfect (gasp!) and even I can find myself in major fear or overwhelm at times. For the last three weeks of event planning I started to feel like I was trying to push out a 17 pound baby.  I know I’ve never actually done that before but the amount of pressure I was feeling made me think, this must be what it feels like to give birth to an over-sized watermelon. I was achy, anxious, not sleeping then not wanting to wake up, crying, eating like crap and beating myself up in the process for all of it.

Yeah. Not fun. I was feeling all of this because I was really stretching myself with this event as it was the first time in three years that I wasn’t being sponsored by a big company to host it, meaning that it was the first time all of my event costs weren’t covered. It was also the start of my second year as a full-time entrepreneur as I quit my job in real estate last year once I filmed my talk show, and I was basically telling myself that I needed to fund half of my year of living from this one evening. When I actually wrote that just now I started laughing because while it’s great to have goals, that’s kind of ridiculous!!! Anyway, you get the picture, I was stressed.

Not only was this stress bad for my health, it was also completely toxic for the event. I knew this of course, it’s coaching 101 and if my friend was feeling this way, that is the first thing I would have reminded her of, but I just couldn’t cut it out. Finally, after being in this cycle of turmoil for about 2 1/2 weeks, I started to surrender.

One of my close friends said to me “What’s the absolute worst thing that could happen?” I of course looked at her with complete terror in my eyes trying to get her to telepathically understand what I was thinking, which was “we are NOT going to talk about that!!!”  I was so afraid of the possibilities of what could go terribly wrong, I absolutely forgot about all of the things that could go totally RIGHT.

Well if you were at the Self-Love Celebration then you know that the evening went off without a hitch. We had 200 guests all enjoying delicious food, amazing services like getting there hair done and being a professional photo campaign (!!) as well as tons of killer networking between like-minded women and incredible brands in the wellness industry. It. Was. Awesome! If I do say so myself.

I can hardly believe it but my next Bella Life Celebration is already being planned and is happening on May 6th so everything my last event taught me has to be put to good use immediately.  I know not all of you who are reading this are planning events but I do know that you are all stretching yourself constantly. You’re the kind of people who are committed to being the best version of yourselves as much as possible all while helping the world or at least those you know, feel loved and inspired in the process. You’re amazing. What I continue to learn as I grow my business and push past my comfort zones is that as much as I am committed to being the best version of me that I can, I  am also going to continue facing the not so pleasant parts of myself as long as I am here on earth. These NSP (not-so-pretty) moments happen to the best of us so read below to find out some easy and valuable ways to navigate your NSP days (or weeks or months).

1. Secure your dream team. Have at least 3 people that you can lean on, call when you’re in a panic and delegate out to during the times when your NSP side is in full-swing. These people might be people you pay or not, depending on what you’re working on. For me it is a mixture of both and I know I couldn’t get through my NSP without them.

2. Take frequent breaks. I have always been very aware of the affect that stress has on my body and my mood. Taking frequent breaks is one of the most effective ways I have found to keep my stress in check. Because I work from home, I find that shutting down my computer and taking Bella for a walk or watching 30 minutes of Ellen in the middle of the 150 emails I’m trying to respond to, really helps me put things in perspective and move through the NSP phase with ease.

3. Give yourself an NSP blowout window. I’m not a fan of suppressing our emotions. It leads to massive amounts of health problems, can cause major passive aggression and the more you suppress the more likely you are to melt down at the worst time. So, have an NSP party for a healthy length of time. Whether it be with someone or alone in your own space, just let it ALL out. All your fears, dooms-day scenarios and even the little emotional bruises you have accumulated along the way. Chances are you will feel a lot better once you stop holding all of that in.

We all have those not-so-pretty moments, so don’t worry if you find yourself in the middle of one. Just remember you’re not alone + there is a way to get through them.

So now I want you to tell me, when was the last time you found yourself in NSP land? Can you take it a step further and let us know how you got through it?

Your comment might make all the difference to someone else so be as specific as you can.

Wishing you an NSP-free week + sending lots of love!

Comments

comments

April Issue 2014