Happy Thursday! This Fall has been going by so fast. It’s getting colder and I haven’t even had the chance to go apple picking or see the leaves change!

What I really want out of the rest of this year is to focus on what will help me grow the most and to bring that momentum into 2018. My drive is stronger than ever, but things have yet to fall into place.

Now that I have begun my career and have gotten (relatively) used to adulting, I’m still trying to figure out what works best for me. How can I maximize my time so that I can succeed at work and still have time to take care of myself mentally and physically? (If anyone has suggestions, please leave a comment and let me know what works for you!)

One thing I make sure that I do is be nice to myself. I’m my hardest critic and sometimes it can lead to a cycle of negative self-talk. This can be dangerous! I refuse to let myself slip into these bad habits anymore, especially now that I’m in the “real world” where it doesn’t get any easier and people don’t get any nicer.

I choose to dress the way that makes me happy, I keep company that uplifts me and genuinely cares about me, I say no when I need to, and I make decisions that make me feel confident. Take this outfit for example… I LOVE this floral shirt! It’s super girly and flirty and it fits me perfectly! It makes me feel good to wear it… so I do!

I walk with my head high and I own who I am. I am allowed to take up all of the space in this world that God has given me, so why not do it confidently? I am destined to do great things in this life and I plan on walking that path with pride.

Even when days get hard (because trust me, they’ve gotten really hard), you have to tell yourself that you are worth it, you are allowed to make mistakes, and that you are loved. If you need to turn off all of the lights, shut off your phone(s), light a million candles, and wrap yourself up in all of your cozy blankets while listening to some soul-lifting music, DO IT! It’s okay to not be okay sometimes, you just have to know when to give yourself a break and when to pick yourself up by the bootstraps.

As I continue to figure out how to navigate this new chapter in my life, I will continue to prioritize myself first. One of my main objectives is to be genuinely happy and remain confident in myself, and I will fight for anything that does that for me (as long as it’s healthy and positive – even if I’m still figuring out what exactly that is)!

I hope you guys join me in this and I look forward to hearing any tips, ideas, or thoughts you all may have! Thank you for reading and talk to you all soon!

Outfit Details

Blouse: Topshop

Jeans: Fashion Nova

Clutch: Nastygal

Heels: Mango

Bracelet: Leo Mazzotti

xoxo, Arielle