A Vision Board Helped 'Glow' Actress Sydelle Noel Manifest Her Best Life
There is power in having a plan. Being intentional about your vision is key in manifesting the life of your dreams, just ask Sydelle Noel. The would-be actress once dreamed of becoming a track star and had her eye on the Olympics until her dreams were stifled by a critical injury. When her ambitions of being a world-class athlete were ruined, she was clueless about her next move.
After working a number of unfulfilling jobs, she felt lost and unsatisfied. It wasn't until her manager mentioned sports modeling that she even considered a career in the industry. Sydelle went from being in sports commercials to starring in one of the biggest box office hits of the year, Black Panther. Now, Sydelle is the newest cast member, Glow and says that this is only the beginning.
Emma McIntyre/Getty Images
Sydelle does all of her own stunts, and says that her roles in Glow and Black Panther didn't come from sheer luck or by coincidence. Her big break through her very meticulous manipulation of the laws of attraction. The 32-year-old said that it's pretty much impossible to attain success when you haven't visualized success as it relates to you personally. She told Madame Noire:
"I feel like it's one thing wishing for something, but I feel like you can't just say, 'I want to be an actress.' I feel like you need to be very specific in what you want because you can be an actress, but what you're doing as an actress may not be what you wanted to be."
We all have goals and aspirations. The difference between the people who reach their goals and the ones that don't is usually clarity. Anyone can be rich, or own a business, but the person who understands that life is in the power of the tongue always wins. With the help of a friend, Sydelle literally spoke her dreams into existence.
The actress said that before she could manifest her best life, she had to be more specific as to what happiness really meant to her. Thanks to the suggestion of a homegirl, Sydelle created a vision board that encompassed some of her wildest dreams:
"So I would literally put exactly what I want on my vision board. It's not even a board right now. It's literally a hallway. If you walked by my wall, you would see pictures, you will see everything, and it's exactly what I want. I'm very specific in my dreams and what direction I want to go and I would say that to everybody. Like I tell my friends, when you're doing the vision board, be specific. You can't just say I want this, I want that, because it's truly the direction you want to go."
One by one, she's seen the images from her vision hallway manifest in her real life, but it didn't happen overnight. It's important to remember that having a plan doesn't mean bypassing the pain that comes along with self-discovery. Making your vision a reality will not be easy, but Sydelle says it's worth it.
"It didn't come easy for me. I mean there were times where I didn't know how to pay my rent. There were times that I was really, really struggling and, you know, had to call my mom and be like, 'Hey, I don't have my rent this month.' So I don't take that for granted at all."
Growing up in a Catholic household, Sydelle says that her perseverance is rooted in faith. Even if you aren't particularly religious, you have to understand that the laws of attraction allow you to have anything in this world that you can imagine and then some. Anything that you speak, you will have.
A little more than a decade ago, Sydelle had been offered a full ride to the University of Georgia on a track scholarship. Her athletic training and career-ending injury put her on track to become our generation's first and only black female action star.
"My entire goal in this entertainment business is to be an action hero, because literally, I can't really name an African-American female that's an action hero. ... Where do you have one that's constantly being used like the Rock or Charlize Theron? You don't have one that's constantly known as an action hero, and that's my total goal for this entertainment business."
Sometimes our goals have the potential to scare us into paralysis, leaving us to wallow in complacency and wonder "what if" for the remainder of our natural born lives. If you really want it, visualize it, write it down, and watch it come to fruition.
Once you believe in the power of your own ambitions and create a plan, nothing in this world can stop you, girl.
Featured image via Sydelle Noel / Instagram
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.
Let’s make things inbox official! Sign up for the xoNecole newsletter for daily love, wellness, career, and exclusive content delivered straight to your inbox.
The Quiet Luxury Skincare Products A Beauty Writer Thinks Are Worth The Hype
Luxury has become TikTok’s new obsession. Long gone are the days when it was cool to wear that t-shirt with GUCCI labeled across the front. Nowadays, the girls are all about keeping their luxury items a secret. Only opting for clean and high-fashion pieces leaves nothing but a mystery to the mind. Now that quiet luxury fashion has established itself as the latest “it girl” of the season, it’s time for her to expand to other areas, like skincare. Quiet skincare is a rising trend that is soon to take over the summer.
Local drugstore and trendy skincare must move to the left because now it’s all about the fabulous life of luxury skincare. Think Prada, Gucci, and Dior, but on your face. Now that’s what I call a good time! Of course, as your fellow beauty writer, I have done the Lord's work and tested out plenty of luxury skincare products. It hasn’t been easy, and trust me, I’m exhausted, but a girl's gotta do what a girl's gotta do.
This is not the economy to mindlessly buy luxury skincare brands that will barely live up to the hype. Here are my recommendations for luxury skincare that are worth the hype and do what they say they’re going to do.
Tata Harper Clarifying Pore & Oil Control Cleanser with BHA & AHA
Sephora
Our skin and makeup will thrive by keeping our pores as happy as possible. Tata Harper's Clarifying Cleanser is guaranteed to put your pores in their place. This cleanser contains three key ingredients: pear flower enzymes, juniper fruit, and chlorella. Combining these ingredients helps promote exfoliation, oil balance, and soothe redness. I’ve enjoyed using this when those pesky breakouts come through, and my skin is calmer. A gentle clearing cleanser is all you need to invest your money in.
Dr. Barbra Sturm Face Mask
Dr. Barbara Sturm
Before we begin to apply the best of the best of skincare, we must prep our skin. The Dr. Barbara Sturm Face Mask is packed with nutrients to give your skin the supple hydration it deserves. I truly enjoyed using this face mask after my routine deep pore cleansing face mask - no, it’s not luxury, but it is to my pores. It’s safe to say that this face mask is best for all skin types and will have your skin glowing all day long. Aloe vera, known for its hydration and clearing properties, is the main ingredient in this product. After a few usages, I have noticed a massive difference in hyperpigmentation and hydration.
La Mer The Concentrate
This serum is going to cost you a coin. The product is set at a whopping $440. I can try multiple beauty products through brand PR packages as a beauty writer. I tried this popular serum with a small sample I inherited. Sometimes, a sample is all a girl needs to live a rich auntie lifestyle. The serum had my skin looking as incredible as the aftermath of a fresh facial appointment. This product aims to take all your money and rebuild your skin barrier. A secret miracle concentrate is packed into each bottle to enrich your skin. It also contains antioxidants that protect the skin from inflammation and environmental stressors.
Lancôme Absolue Soft Cream Revitalizing & Brightening Moisturizer
Lancôme
Bring your skin back to life with the Lancôme Absolue Soft Cream Moisturizer. Few brightening creams catch my attention, but this one has my heart. Shea butter is one of the key ingredients along with vitamin E. I am convinced these ingredients have played a massive role in the deep hydration of my skin and the radiance I have experienced with this product. Although this item will cost you $165, a little goes a long way with this product. Shea butter is exceptionally moisturizing and shouldn’t be used with a heavy hand.
Dr. Barbara Sturm Under Eye Cream
Dr. Barbara Sturm is back at it, stealing our wallets one product at a time. Her undereye cream is an exception in terms of skincare. Are you crying at your job? This undereye cream has got you covered! This product is praised for reducing redness and dark undereye shadows, smoothing, and firming while protecting the skin barrier. I’ve used this product on good and bad days and found the consistency is similar to the face mask previously mentioned—hydrating, supple, and enriching.
Let’s make things inbox official! Sign up for the xoNecole newsletter for love, wellness, career, and exclusive content delivered straight to your inbox.
Featured image by GoodLifeStudio/Getty Images