Before I forget– I promised you a chile oil recipe in last weeks dating post. here it is! I put this chile oil by Mandy Lee on everything these days, Let me know if you make it! Okay now for todays post…
When I feel resistance in my life, I know that it is time for me to pause and ask God what I’m supposed to be doing.
I don’t know about you, but with everything happening in the world, it’s clear that I am starting a new chapter, whether I like it or not.
Traditionally, theCURVYcon begins the week after Labor Day. As co-founder of theCURVYcon I am always in deep preparation for our convention. We put theCURVYcon on hiatus due to COVID-19 and I’m heartbroken. This is an emotional week for me.
At the same time, this is the first Labor Day weekend that I’ve been able to go away and relax.
That’s the thing about starting a new chapter, there are times I feel awful and there are times I feel amazing.
I’ve had many opportunities to start a new chapter in my life. From corporate employee to creative entrepreneur. From this guy to that guy. Living in New York City, I feel like I start a new life with each apartment. Then there are the curve balls that life throws at me from time to time. If you’ve been with me for a while, you know that I have been through some thangs, but we don’t need to get into that today!
My point is that I feel like I know a little bit about successfully starting a new chapter. If you feel that change is in the air for you, here are some things I’m thinking about right now:
Leave Room for Doubt
I am an ambitious woman, but I doubt myself constantly. I will sit on idea for ages. I will convince myself that I can’t execute on my idea alone. I will wonder if I’m good enough to execute the vision that I see. At this point in my life I know that I will never be 100% sure of myself. If I wait to feel 100% sure, I’ll never move. So I’m learning how to keep creating even when I doubt myself.
Don’t make Perfect the Enemy of Good
Voltaire said that, not me. But part of me leaving room for doubt is leaving room for perfection paralysis. One of the ways that I hold myself back is by insisting that things be perfect before we begin. For example, I’ve had this idea for a membership community for plus size women who want to be intentional about their wellness, confidence, style and creativity. I have been in perfection paralysis around this idea for a long time, but I decided last week to release it. I’m calling it the Curvy Girls Guide. Curvy Girls Guide is a community of plus size women. A Curvy Girls membership includes: a fashion guide, creative entrepreneurship workshops, confidence workshops and wellness classes. We also meet live on a private zoom once a month for an open Q&A with me. We dropped our first guide this weekend. Is it perfect? Does it have everything I want? No, but I can grow this into the guide that I needed when I began my journey towards confidence, wellness, style and creativity. Here’s a little sneak peek:
Look Back at it
Ayyeeee! haha– just kidding. One of my favorite ways to remind myself that everything is going to be okay is to look back at my life. There were so many times I wasn’t sure how things were going to work out but they did (usually better than I imagined they would). The anxiety I feel around launching the Curvy Girls Guide is the same anxiety I felt when I co-founded theCURVYcon.
Thank you to everyone who is tagging me in your memories of theCURVYcon from the last five years. Here are a few of my favorites:
About five years ago I had to leave room for doubt, stop making perfect the enemy of good and look back at my life so that I could launch theCURVYcon. I am so proud of that business and I can’t wait until we’re together again. In the meantime, I’m pleased to start a new chapter with the Curvy Girls Guide. I hope to see you inside! xx
Good stuff CeCe. It’s good to see someone shared the same emotions as you when it comes to starting something new. You just may inspire me to get moving ? Thank you????
This is the season CeCe. It’s a time for beginning. I’m just starting too. After years in my head I started a blog this week. It’s humble but it’s a start and it’s all about what you’ve shared here on beginning again. Here’s to the journey! https://datraoliver.wordpress.com/
Oh Cece!
You never cease to inspire me. Just now I was reminded of your yoga videos that you used to share on YouTube. When I was beginning my journey of self love and acceptance, doing (more like fumbling) yoga ‘with’ you was always my highlight of the day everyday.
You deserve all the successes that are yet to come. Blessings always.
XOXO Meu Jwara (South Africa)
New season, new beginning. Wishing you the best! I’ve never been to curvycon , but I hope I get to experience something so special in the future!
CeCe, you are amazing and on top of the world, a game changer for us curvy for women, Blessings.
Nice article. It was a interesting article. Thanks for sharing!!