Springing into Summer
Welcome back Candle Cousins. ✨ Thank you for supporting Laquain's Impressions and our Candle Cousins newsletter. This week our "Mood of the week" fragrance is: Amber Romance.
Let me start by saying GOD is more than good. He has done so many wonderful things for Laquain's Impressions LLC. As I look back over our lives, I can see how GOD’s love has guided, and provided for us. We have moved into our space. We have welcomed Shiestty Styles with owner Chantel Green, and Booming on the Block with social media phenomenon Tisha Raye. We have 2 more offices available… but that's for another post.
Today let's talk about investing in yourself. As black women business owners we are seeking more freedom, opportunity, fulfillment and stability. We are also escaping from discrimination and other barriers in the workplace. Only 3% of Black women are running mature businesses, which can be attributed to unequal distribution of resources and the fact that 61% of Black women self-fund their total start-up capital.
The Money Mentor website states there are 12 ways to invest in yourself:
Embrace lifelong learning.- Education doesn’t end once you leave the classroom, and you can build your skill set and feed your passions with lifelong learning. There’s still so much to learn in this world and there are so many ways to access new information.
Prioritize your mental health.- This year make your mental health a priority by checking in with yourself regularly to manage stress levels and prevent burnout. Give yourself permission to take a break, make a mistake and set boundaries. Understand that you might not be where you thought you’d be right now (who is?) but that you’ll get there one day.
Set goals.- We know it might feel pointless to set 2023 goals―considering how well everyone’s went last year―but hear us out. They can be as simple as setting up auto payments with your financial institution, limiting eating out to only once per month, or updating your resumé. Whatever short-term and perhaps long-term goals you choose to focus on this year, make sure they’re obtainable and won’t leave you feeling worse off at the end of the year if you don’t accomplish all of them.
Find a mentor.-We could all use a friend to talk to―especially about our finances. Find a financial mentor this year to help you navigate your money, so you can get closer to reaching your financial goals.
Start a journal.- There are lots of benefits to journaling, like managing stress, identifying issues, and solving problems. It’s also a great place to practice gratitude and set goals.
Practice gratitude.- You don’t need to wait until Thanksgiving to be grateful for everything that you have. Practice gratitude regularly to help you gain perspective and feel comfortable about where you are at in life.
Break a bad habit.- Whether it’s spending money emotionally, smoking, spending too much time on a device, etc., we know you have one. We all do! This year let’s work on finally breaking that bad habit.
Get organized.- Take some time this year to establish an effective organizational system for your finances, office, house, etc. Everything should have a place
Procrastinate less.- Make a list of all the things you’ve been procrastinating starting or completing and then devise a plan to get them done.
Declutter.- Go through all the social media accounts you follow and pare them down to only the ones that inspire you, make you laugh, educate you, etc. “Doom-scrolling” and “passive likes” are so 2021―fill your feeds with positivity and authenticity
Make a budget.- Spend a month tracking your finances in a money diary, list your expenses, and then develop a budget that is both attainable and will help you reach your financial goals.
Set Boundaries.- Practice saying NO. If something truly doesn’t interest you or align with your values/goals (like weekly coffees with your co-worker), make a commitment to JUST SAY NO.
No means no cousins. Invest in yourself mentally, physically, and emotionally. Only you know how to truly invest in your life.
Need a little motivation to get started ? Try spraying a Laquain's Impressions room spray, adding your favorite fragrance to a candle/wax tarts, or using one of our popular body scrubs or butters to invest in yourself.
Spring Cleaning - Purify the air around your home while you tackle your annual Spring-cleaning rituals.
3 drops Lavender Essential Oil
2 drops Rosemary Essential Oil
3 drops Lemon Essential Oil
3 drops Lime Essential Oil
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