In life, there are moments when we feel overwhelmed, defeated or just plain exhausted.
The challenges we face in our Salons seem insurmountable, and it can feel like we are treading through a storm with no end in sight.
Yet, even in the darkest moments, the darkest days, it’s crucial to remember one simple yet powerful truth; HOLD YOUR HEAD HIGH….WE GOT THIS!
EMBRACE THE STRUGGLE
We have to remember, struggle is an inevitable part of the human experience. It’s easy to get caught up in frustration and the pain which comes along with the struggle.
Yet, these moments are also opportunities for growth and transformation.
Every challenge we face shapes us into a stronger individual and even more so, a stronger and more resilient industry.
Embracing our struggles is simply acknowledging its presence and using our struggles as a stepping stone rather than a stumbling block.
LEAN ON YOUR SUPPORT SYSTEM
What is so great about our Industry is we do not have to go through tough times alone. Whether it’s friends, family or our Beauty community, a support system can make all the difference. I mention this in a previous article regarding surrounding yourself with people who support you, not those who bring you down.
Reach out, share your burdens with your support team. Count on them to pick you up because you do not have to go through your struggles alone.
Asking for help is not a sign of weakness, it is actually a sign on strength and even more so….a time of self awareness.
STAY POSITIVE AND FOCUSED
Positivity is focusing on the good, no matter how small and believing in a better future.
It doesn’t mean you are ignoring reality or pretending everything is perfect.
Stay focused on your goals and remember why you started your journey in the Beauty Industry in the first place.
Visualize your success and let that vision drive you forward, even when when the going gets tough.
TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF
During challenging times, self-care is crucial. As I have mentioned again, in prior articles, this can mean different things for different people.
Whether it’s taking a long bath, going for a walk/run, getting more sleep, reading a book. Whatever it is, taking care of your physical and mental well-being will most certainly give you the strength and clarity to face any and all your challenges head-on.
CELEBRATE SMALL VICTORIES
We also need to remember, life is like a big elephant. Every step forward (or every little bite) is a victory. Celebrate all moments of progress and look at them, use them as motivation to keep pushing forward.
Lastly, acknowledge any and all achievements and give yourself credit for all the hard work you are putting forth.
KEEP THE FAITH
Whether you are spiritual or not, I am here to tell you through my own personal life experiences…faith can be a powerful source of strength.
This doesn’t mean it has to be religious faith. It’s faith in yourself, in the process and in the belief things WILL get better.
Trust that every setback has a purpose and every difficulty is preparing you for something greater.
Life’s challenges are inevitable and so is our ability to overcome them. When we embrace our struggles, lean on our support systems, stay positive, take care of ourselves, celebrate our victories and keep the faith…..We CAN navigate the stormiest of seas.
Therefore, I say it again hold your head high….we got this “together”. Together we can and will conquer anything and everything which comes our way.
CJ Murray, President
I truly agree with you. I love how you inspire me every week. I always stay positive and keep my faith. My mother was a strong woman and watching her really helped me to become the woman I am today. I have been dealt a lot of hard situations and have overcome. I was diagnosed with Breast Cancer March 23, 2019 and then March 23, 2020, I was diagnosed with Covid and Pneumonia. Hospitalized for 7 days and then confined for another 7 days in a government trailer. I kept my faith, stayed positive and did a lot of smiling and dancing to keep my strength and mental. Once you give yourself to God or your higher power you must let go and lean in your faith. I was working the whole time I was going through my cancer treatments. I know it was what made me a survivor. I kept life like nothing was wrong. I pat myself on the back all the time. I trust my faith and would never not.
Thank you CJ for all you do and have done. You were a great motivator while I was battling and you didn’t know that how much you inspired me to keep moving. You helped me with products, with the best deal, with classes and you even came to see me in New Orleans. Keep doing what you are doing, you never know who life you have changed and will change. Love you my friend
Laura, I’ve been drawn to tears many times, yet this time you have truly touched my heart. Your perseverance and others like you is my inspiration. I haven’t been through physical ailments and challenges like yourself, yet I have been through the many lows and highs of working and running a Business. I can’t even imagine having to deal with both at the same time. WOW!!!! I wish I could Hug you “again” right now. Your kind words will carry me through for days and even a lifetime. Thank you, thank you….I WILL be back in New Orleans (one of my favorite places). Lotsa love right back to you my friend.