Faith Style

[Light] something that makes things visible or affords illumination. In a world such as ours we are constantly looking for the light whether it is the light of a great idea, the positive light in a negative situation or the light within. Each of us possesses such a joie de vivre one that is natural, innate, and authentic. Do you know what your light is? Marianne Williamson once said “Our biggest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our biggest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that scares us the most…”

What does your light look like?

The look & feel of your light is essentially your Style. Not just the way you present your outward appearance but the way you express your culture, your identity, your passions and your spirit. It is personal and should be an authentic representation of who you are at the very core.

My light [or Style Statement] is Elegant Discovery. For me it is about how it all comes together and identifying the potential that exists deep within.

Elegance can sometimes be mistaken for the stuck up and snooty – you know the ladies I’m talking about. They often look very well put together, not a hair out of place; they have their noses in the air, hardly notice your presence and are carrying a toy pup in their Chanel tote. I like to think that my form of Elegance has broken those stereotypes and is seen as a unique style, a warm smile and a clear vision of hope.

Find out what is at your very core, listen to your soul and build an appearance that guides your inner essence…let your outer appearance shine as brightly as your inner light.

Stock Photo: Timing is running by 1 (Image ID: 1148970) www.sxc.hu

In today’s society we are conditioned that more is better. That we need a lot of stuff. Think back 15 years ago – life was a bit different. We only had one family car, one television in the house, a couple of favourite things be it jewelry, toys or electronic devices. We spent more time enjoying the beautiful outdoors, we shared the television spending time together as a family and quality meant more than quantity.

By subtracting we can add so much more value. Pairing down to one email address vs. three we spend less time on the computer  and more time with our loved ones. Getting rid of one car in the driveway reduces the carbon footprint we are leaving on the environment and reducing the amount of stuff we own helps the planet become more sustainable. I too was a little skeptical that little things such as this would make much of a difference, checkout  The Story of Stuff, a 20 minute video that will completely change your outlook of our impact on this planet.

You may be asking do we really gain through loss? Can we actually add value by subtracting? Best-selling business author Jim Collins starts each year by choosing what not to do and each of his to-do lists always includes “stop doing” items. Collins advocates that developing a strong discipline around first giving careful thought to prioritizing goals and objectives, then eliminating the bottom 20% of the list…forever.

Jim Collins made the “stop doing” argument in an eloquent essay, which appeared in USA Today:

“A great piece of art is composed not just of what is the final piece, but equally what is not. It is the discipline to discard what does not fit – to cut out what might have already cost days or even years of effort – that distinguishes the truly exceptional artist and marks the ideal piece of work, be it a symphony, a novel, a painting, a company, or most important of all, a life.”

I’m learning that simplicity is a huge part of elegance and in my pursuit of just that I’m making more of an attempt to pair down and make things easier in my life, to be more productive and more importantlyto make room for what’s truly important. What has been a great deal of help is Leo Babauta’s website Zen Habits and The Simple Living Manifesto: 72 Ideas to Simplify Your Life.

This idea of simplicity is also true of Style & Fashion. Less is far more powerful. De-cluttering your wardrobe to only the clothing you absolutely love and feel amazing in or removing one element from an outfit that changes it from great to stunning. This form of subtraction allows you to project confidence, adds an element of interest and intrigue and most importantly we see you before we see your clothes.

What are you going to subtract from your wardrobe or life this week?