Style Statement

The following information is from one of my favorite books, Style Statement by Carrie McCarthy & Danielle LaPorte, which was designed to inspire you to discover the two profoundly descriptive words that capture your essence. Based on the 80/20 principle, the first word represents your foundation, your 80%. The second word is your creative edge-the 20% of your image that motivates and distinguishes you.

Your style statement defines your authentic self. It is a compass for making more powerful choices, a guide for designing a life that reflects your whole being.Self-expression is not an either-or formula. You can be traditional and avant-garde, opportunistic and socially responsible, serene and flamboyant. It's all good if it's all real. It is infinitely better to be fully yourself with myriad contradictions than to be an indirect, inauthentic version of yourself. Identities are crackled, colorful kaleidoscopes. And it's the whole package of talents and flaws and preferences that make us infinitely more interesting.

In a consumer-driven society that overloads us with must-haves and must-dos, your Style Statement is a grounding rod. You'll have far fewer what was I thinking? moments. Consider your Style Statement a direct line to your inner wisdom and better judgement. With inner clarity, you stop wasting time, energy and money striving to be what and who others-be they media, community, or family-tell you to be.

Authenticity is a force of nature. When you channel it to intentionally design the look and feel of every aspect of your life, your outsides begin to match your insides. And something truly magical happens. You continue to become more genuinely yourself, and you have more of what you want.