In Your Own Time
There is a lot of talk & interest around the ideas of mindfulness and being in the "now", as in being present & focused on the moment you're in. Not the moment that has passed ... and not the moment that has yet to come. Just the now. I really want to remind & encourage women & all people in general, to try and look past any pressures they might feel regarding timelines. Enjoy the chapter of life you're in.
Concepts such as "live in the moment", seem so easy to grasp onto but they can actually be exceptionally tough to conquer. There is so much going on in the world right now. So much news, so much noise, so many ideas to explore and delve into. And along with it all comes pressure & perhaps a lot of stress we don't need nor should we be expected to face.
For women in particular, I'm finding that with each year passing there seems to be a slightly increased focus around my plans for the future. I'm sure a lot of you can relate to this ... especially those in their 20's and 30's? Questions pop up all the time about work, travel, family. These aspects to life should bring joy & never stress.
Going back to mindfulness and being present in the moment, this is really the only goal we need. Regardless of our age and regardless of what stage of life we're in, remember there isn't a list "must do's in life". There isn't a "normal" or a "conventional" way of doing things. That is the beauty of life right? It's there to be moulded into a shape that fits you personally and perfectly.
You DO You... might sound like an overused or a cliché statement, but oh my gosh is it true!
Career goals & aspirations are such a huge focus for so many of us in our 20s and 30s. I’m sure many of you are frequently asked, “what is your dream job?”, “where do you want to be in 1, 5 or 10 years time?”, “what’s next for you?”. While it’s great to work towards big dreams or a particular role at a particular company, try to avoid placing too much focus on the race to get there. You’ll only stress yourself out. Use the journey getting from A to B as a learning curve. You might actually discover something along the way that grabs your interest or shifts your whole perspective. This is usually where magic is made. Remain open as your career matures. If you invest in things you're actually passionate about, you'll thrive.
My career has been fast paced to date. It's been incredible, exciting and testing. I used to think that I had to make it BIG time in the overseas markets. I had the idea that becoming a Victoria Secret runway model was the ticket to "success" & happiness, but over the years I've learnt that I will only ever measure the success of my career by my own happiness. I am fortunate in so many ways and I am grateful for every single opportunity I've experienced. This alone makes me feel successful. And proud.
Nurturing my true love of Australia, our impeccable country and all of the natural goodness it has to offer in terms of the landscape, the coastlines, nature, wildlife, fresh air, freedom and an element of isolation ... is something that takes my breath away daily. When I walk the dogs down the beach or watch the sunset with Joshy, I am in the moment. I am without angst or pressure ... I am wholeheartedly grounded. I am me.
I have a lot of goals and aspirations & they're forever changing as I learn new things! I have adventures yet to go on, roads to explore, people to meet, places to go & so many things I want to learn more about. But for now, I'm focused on where I am now.
We've all been living through an incredibly tough year. A lot has happened and there is a lot of fear & loss circulating our country day after day, after day. To anyone who is feeling any added pressure about their personal "timeline", their life in general or things that really don't share much relevance to what is truly important, please take a moment to stop & take a breath. Remind yourself that all you need to focus on right now, is the now. The minute you're in. Not the one 5 minutes ago, not the one tomorrow or two weeks from now. Find something to ground your feet, lift your energy & help you to practice gratitude ... and know that I for one, think YOU are amazing! Go out there & create your own journey.
Wishing you all continuous love & thoughts during this unpredictable phase of life. We will all get through it together. Be kind to one another, and show heart.
Thank you to the lovely team for this shoot. These beautiful images were taken by @kelly_geddes, makeup by the very talented @ashleapenfold , and styling by @sarahbirchley.
Elyse x
