Positive Affirmations Helped Ciara Manifest The Man Of Her Dreams
"Speak as though it were," my mom would tell me as I worried myself into oblivion. I'm a chronic destination addict with no plan of recovery, but her words have become law to me. The universe proved to me at a very young age that you attract what you focus on, so it is important to speak the things that you want into existence.
Ciara recently opened up in an interview with Essence about her experience with the law of attraction, and how important it is to be clear in your intentions about the things that you want out of life. She cited self-love and positive affirmation as the tools she used to manifest the life of her dreams.
"I'm a big believer in writing down what you want in general. I'm a believer in seeing it, speaking it, and writing it down.There's something about the power of the tongue and the mind and you're actually affirming it by writing it down."
She made the point that it's nearly impossible to attain the life that you dream of without having a concise vision of what that life should include. Before the multi-talented singer met her football superstar husband/father of her one-year-old, Sienna, she took the time to take inventory of what she really wanted out of a lifetime partner. She told Essence:
"I took a moment to pause and to really reflect on the journey and where I was at that moment of even looking at love again. I think that it's really important for [women] to know exactly what we want and be clear about it and also be patient.
"I didn't know I was going to meet my husband when I did, and that was really a blessing and I believe it was God's timing. But I was patient and was willing to be still for as long as I needed to have the best partner I could have in my life."
Ciara is a testament to the power of taking the time to ask ourselves: What do I really want? For Ciara, her ambitions for a perfect reality included philanthropy, being a world class performing artist, a dedicated wife, and an active mommy; but balancing these challenging roles has not been easy and prompted her to develop her own personal game plan for motherhood.
"Being a mom is not about doing what everybody else does. You might take some inspiration and advice, but it's really about designing your own game plan."
She said that her method for balancing her wild ambition with being a mom is planning out the details and making time for what's most important. In an interview with Forbes, the 32-year-old mother of two offered some advice to active moms with chaotic professional lives:
"Before you hit the ground running, you have to think through the details and map out your day, especially if you and your partner are both on the go. It's about putting together the best system and schedule that can allow me to be content in both areas. You never know what it's like until you have kids, especially when you're a driven person and you're so used to focusing on work, work, work. What I've learned is that when things are right at home, with your kids and family, that's where it all starts, and then everything else will fall in place. My kids have given me perspective, too. They allow me to relax a little bit and not be too hard on myself."
Due to her newfound perspective, despite her tremendous accolades and acclaim, Ciara says that she now understands that her children are her greatest legacy. She added:
"They give you perspective about what truly matters, and they make life so much better and more fun. I feel more empowered now than ever, so yeah, don't be afraid of living. Because you really are living life when you decide to create life. That's your legacy."
Ciara reminds how important it is to have a game plan that reflects what we genuinely want in both our personal and professional lives. To reach your goals, no matter how wild, you have to first understand what they and draft a realistic game plan to execute.
When you are clear about your intentions, the Universe will allow you to manifest beyond your wildest dreams.
Originally published May 14, 2018
Featured image via Ciara/Instagram
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Taylor "Pretty" Honore is a spiritually centered and equally provocative rapper from Baton Rouge, Louisiana with a love for people and storytelling. You can probably find me planting herbs in your local community garden, blasting "Back That Thang Up" from my mini speaker. Let's get to know each other: @prettyhonore.
ItGirl 100 Honors Black Women Who Create Culture & Put On For Their Cities
As they say, create the change you want to see in this world, besties. That’s why xoNecole linked up with Hyundai for the inaugural ItGirl 100 List, a celebration of 100 Genzennial women who aren’t afraid to pull up their own seats to the table. Across regions and industries, these women embody the essence of discovering self-value through purpose, honey! They're fierce, they’re ultra-creative, and we know they make their cities proud.
VIEW THE FULL ITGIRL 100 LIST HERE.
Don’t forget to also check out the ItGirl Directory, featuring 50 Black-woman-owned marketing and branding agencies, photographers and videographers, publicists, and more.
THE ITGIRL MEMO
I. An ItGirl puts on for her city and masters her self-worth through purpose.
II. An ItGirl celebrates all the things that make her unique.
III. An ItGirl empowers others to become the best versions of themselves.
IV. An ItGirl leads by example, inspiring others through her actions and integrity.
V. An ItGirl paves the way for authenticity and diversity in all aspects of life.
VI. An ItGirl uses the power of her voice to advocate for positive change in the world.
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Sheila Rashid's Androgynous Approach To Unisex Clothing Is A Lesson In Embracing Individuality
The ItGirl 100 List is a celebration of 100 Black women who aren’t afraid to pull up their own seats to the table.
For Sheila Rashid, it all started with some free-hand drawings and a few strokes of paint.
The Chicago-based clothing designer and creative director of Sheila Rashid Brand recalls using her spare time in high school to hand paint designs on t-shirts and distressed hoodies, distributing them to classmates as walking billboards for her art.
Rashid sought to pursue fashion design at Columbia College in Chicago but eventually took the self-taught route to build upon her knack for crafting one-of-a-kind, androgynous pieces.
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Thanks to the mentorship of local designers taking her under their wings, Rashid was able to gain valuable experience in putting together collections and creating patterns; equipping her with them with the necessary skills to pursue her own collections.
After two years of living in New York, Rashid returned home to the Chi and uncovered the unique flair she could offer the city. “I moved to New York after that because I wanted to be in the fashion capital world,” she tells xoNecole. “That's when I really got a leg up. I found myself when I moved back to Chicago after moving to New York.”
For the Midwest native, inspiration comes from her time around creative peers and the city’s notorious winters — known to be a main character in many Chicagoans stories. “It's a different perspective and mindset when I'm making stuff because of the weather here,” she explains. “When we get summer, it’s ‘Summertime Chi’ — it's amazing. It's beautiful. Still, I find myself always making clothes that cater to the winter.”
"I moved to New York after that because I wanted to be in the fashion capital world. That's when I really got a leg up. I found myself when I moved back to Chicago after moving to New York.”
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Many designers have a signature aesthetic or theme in their creations. In Rashid’s design story, dancing between the lines of femininity and masculinity is how she’s been able to distinguish herself within the industry. Her androgynous clothing has garnered the eye of celebrities like Zendaya, Chance the Rapper, WNBA star Sydney Colson, and more — showing her range and approach to designs with inclusivity in mind.
“I think I do reflect my own style,” she says. “When I do make pieces, I'm very tomboyish, androgynous. My work is unisex because I feel like everybody can wear it. I cater to everybody and that's how I try to approach my clothes.” From denim to overalls, and color-drenched outerwear, Rashid has mastered the structure of statement pieces that tell a story.
“Each collection, I never know what's going to be the thing I'm going to focus on. I try to reflect my own style and have fun with the storytelling,” she shares. “I look at it more like it's my art in this small way of expressing myself, so it's not that calculated.”
"My work is unisex because I feel like everybody can wear it. I cater to everybody and that's how I try to approach my clothes."
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Still, if you were able to add up all the moments within Rashid’s 20-year career in design, one theme that has multiplied her into becoming an “ItGirl” is her confidence to take up space within the fashion industry as a queer, Black woman. “Being an ItGirl is about being yourself, loving what you do, finding your niche, and mastering that,” she says.
No matter where you are on your ItGirl journey, Rashid says to always remain persistent and never hesitate to share your art with the world. “Don’t give up. Even if it's something small, finish it and don't be afraid to put it out,” she says, “It's about tackling your own fear of feeling like you have to please everybody, but just please yourself, and that's good enough.”
To learn more about the ItGirl 100 List, view the full list here.
Featured image Courtesy