Tag: modestnook

Living a Meaningful Life: Redefine Your Story

WHAT IS A MEANINGFUL LIFE?

It’s not just about trying to be happy.

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“Redefine your story by redemption, growth,  and love.”

From Emily Esfahani Smith’s Ted Talk, “There’s More to Life Than Being Happy” 

Considering the perpetual society we live in, we tend to neglect the present moment and instead constantly strive for the ideal future. Admittedly, this realization only came to mind recently when I experienced loss in life- a true test of purpose and meaning. I had previously lived my life constantly working and going to class, saving up and striving towards a glorified future. This future consisted of a specified money goal, a change in career and location, and pure happiness. With only the future and a seemingly unattainable bliss in mind, I paid no attention to my current mental well being or the state of happiness I was in. Emily Esfahani Smith’s lecture, “There’s More to Life Than Being Happy” truly hit home as I could relate to the bold pillars of a meaningful life.

4 PILLARS OF MEANING

1. BELONGING – develop relationships

2. PURPOSE – focus on the moments leading to your goals

3. TRANSCENDENCE – What moments bring you existential happiness

4. STORYTELLING – Redefine your story

“Happiness comes and goes… Having meaning gives you something to hold on to.”

There is more to life than being happy. Smith discussed the 4 major pillars of a meaningful life to be: belonging, purpose, transcendence, and storytelling.

With this structure in mind, I became aware of the imbalance of these 4 factors and prioritized my efforts on having a sole purpose in life, which was to earn money and a degree. Money and a degree were the gateway to happiness, and thus a meaningful life. Truthfully, this thought still lingers, but it would be an unrealistic expectation to digest the grandness of the meaning of life at once. I believe Smith’s 4 pillars provides an ethical resolution to defining the meaning of life, yet it lacks the difficulty of finding a balance between each.

As I noted before, I prioritized having a purpose compared to building valuable relationships or redefining my important experiences to change the direction of my life. Part of this incessant drive towards a better future led me to forget the present moment and life that was passing in front of me. I had lost chances and time in my life to find happiness with the situation I was in. After experiencing loss, I noticed that life is shorter than expected and the time we have is valuable. Despite the feeling of unfulfillment in my life now, I should continue to cherish the other aspects such as developing relationships or shaping a new perspective on life. Valuing the time in the present moment and changing the way you look at your current situation, whether it is bad or good, is how to live a meaningful life.

 

As always, thanks for stopping by.

Rachaelle

Reaching Your Goals: How to Stay Positive and Have Inevitable Success

Cultivate your passions, strive for success. Surround yourself with uplifting people who are inspired to consistently work hard.

Recently been feeling motivated by uplifting creatives who work hard towards cultivating their passions and goals. Success seems unattainable at times, but when you surround yourself with positive people you’ll find that it is inevitable. Cheesy, but it only gets better from here.

As always, thanks for stopping by.

Rachaelle

CREATE WITH PASSION

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Day 7 into 2018 and it has already been an incredible start. I left off 2017 with great friends, both old and new, as well as better work habits that I accumulated throughout the end of the year. I hardly follow any clear cut resolutions but instead set out small, attainable goals. One of the goals is to create with passion, rather than generate frequent posts with less effort. Quality over quantity.

HOW I PLAN TO ACCOMPLISH THIS GOAL

is to focus on my interests and what inspires me. It’s easy to throw out content just to provide you with something to read, but this can become a horrible habit! Hopefully I’ll be able to create content that is interesting and helpful for times in need of fashion and wellness advice!

FINDING A NICHE

has been one of my biggest struggles with blogging, as I have many interests and feel limited if I structure everything into a single category. I am getting to know myself further every day and discovering what I love to share with you or what I don’t quite like. For now, my posts will be related to fashion, photography, wellness, and weekly favorites.

QUALITY OVER QUANTITY

or QUANTITY WITH QUALITY will be my goal for these upcoming months. Granted, I’m sure there will be days where I go MIA, but I am definitely going to try my best to push out more content that I genuinely love and am proud of.

Thank you for sticking with me through another year. Hope you all had an amazing start to 2018. Here’s to growing together!

As always, thanks for stopping by.

Rachaelle

Are you there, God?

We look up to higher beings when we feel like we have lost control or when we can no longer see the future ahead of us. We feel powerless. Admittedly, I have wavering faith in the power that HE has. His love is powerful. We ask for guidance only in desperate times, but fail to appreciate everything he has already shown and provides for us daily. The humor in this is when I prayed and wished for a sign or direction in life today, he literally led me to a sign. Plenty of signs.

There is no sign. Only trust.

As always, thanks for stopping by.

– Rachaelle

A LOOK BACK ON SUMMER

As always, thanks for stopping by.

– Rachaelle

#FASHIONFINDS // PINK PLASTIC BABEZ

Instagram is always with the latest fashion trends and hip boutiques. I am so inspired and impressed by all the individuals who turn their start ups into hugely successful fashion empires throughout social media! Here's an example of one.

Instagram – @pinkplasticbabez
Show these ladies some love & Shop NOW!

SHOP MY FAVORITES:

As always, thanks for stopping by.
– Rachaelle

IT’S A WRAP! SUMMER 2017

Well, not just yet. Just a few more weeks until the beloved Summer 2017 comes to a closing. Here are my tips to soak up the sun.



Go out and do something you've always wanted to do!

As always, thanks for stopping by.
– Rachaelle

*Sushi pictured is from Osawa Shabu Shabu & Sushi! Located in Pasadena, CA. Definitely drop by if you're in the area.

SLACKING ONCE MORE // FRIDAY FAVS

It’s been a bit since I’ve caught up with you guys.

I am truly sorry for the huge delay in posts… From school work to family hardships, I’ve struggled to keep my balance in life overall. As I continue to find that balance in my life, I thought I’d throw out a weekly favorites post! Haven’t done one of these in a while so here it goes. 

MUSIC:

  • XO – EDEN
  • You Send Me – Sam Cooke 
  • Foldin Clothes – J. Cole
  • Someone Like You – Cobrayama 
  • Love in the Dark – Adele
  • Gemini – Anne-Marie 
  • Die For You – The Weeknd

FASHION: 

  • Oversized flannels! I am definitely part of the lazy girl club, so I don’t plan much when it comes to choosing outfits. Throwing on a nice flowy oversized flannel (or a stolen flannel from your boyfriend, brother, or dad) is what I call the perfect transitioning outfit. Depending on the shoes and layering, you can dress it up or down. Casual to date night. It’s also a plus that flannels hide your belly when you want to pig out. No one will know. Leave me a comment if you want to see how I style oversized flannels! I’d love to let you in on all my secrets to the lazy girl wardrobe. 

FOOD: 

  • Manna Grill (Riverside, CA) – Unfortunately, there is a lack of authentic, quality, homestyle Asian food in Riverside. I came across this little Korean family run kitchen just last month, not expecting much from the cheap prices, besides some dry kimbap and flavorless sides. Yet, I was proven totally wrong! For the low prices, the quality and amount of food remains pretty standard. You can just tell their rolls are made with lots of love and effort. For a cheeky little snack along with your meal, order a cup of dukbokki! These are rice cakes drenched in a yummy spicy sauce. I would drink the sauce if that didn’t mean I was psycho. Be sure to try it out if you’re in Riverside! 

I always love hearing your favorites of the week and your feedback in general. Thank you all so much for your continuous support and love. Let’s all get in touch again, share some of your favorite songs in the comments! I’ll be sure to give them a listen.

As always, thanks for stopping by. 

– Rachaelle