March 06, 2023

Monday Motivation: 6 March

Got the Monday blues? Reclaim the day and set the tone for the entire week with these helpful, motivational tidbits:

“It’s not about the dress you wear. It’s about the life you lead in the dress” – Diana Vreeland, America-French fashion editor

Fashion is like a revolving door: one moment it’s in, the next moment it’s out. That’s why this week’s edition of “Monday Motivation” is taking its cue from the world of fashion, starting with this quote from Diana Vreeland.

Sadly, we live in a world where society judges us by what we wear. But unless they’re paying your clothing bills, you’re entitled to wearing what makes you feel comfortable – what’s more, the more you feel better about yourself in your second skin, the happier and more confident you will feel and appear to the world at large.

And with this happiness and confidence, you can apply yourself to any situation, do your best, and make a contribution to the world at large.

“Fashion you can buy, but style you possess. The key to style is learning who you are, which takes years. There’s no how-to road map to style. It’s about self-expression and, above all, attitude” – Iris Apfel, American businesswoman

You are unique. A one-of-a-kind original that can’t be replicated anywhere else. Your DNA didn’t come with an instruction manual, so why let someone else rewrite who you are?

Fashion trends come and go, but style lies at the essence of your being, NOT the brand label. Much like conforming to the latest fad, you lose what makes you tick if you try to blend in with everyone else, by adapting their habits in order to please them. Stick to your guns – your style, your character, your attitude should never be masked. Respect yourself, and others will surely do the same!

“Dress shabbily, and they remember the dress; dress impeccably, and they notice the woman” – Coco Chanel, French fashion designer

This quote can be taken two ways: literally and metaphorically. Literally, in the sense that if you take pride in your appearance – which will heighten your sense of confidence and self-worth – people will look beyond your clothing and REALLY see the person who’s wearing it for they are, which will make them appreciate and understand you more.

On a metaphorical level, you want people to remember the kind of person you are rather than be wholly defined by your actions. Take the workplace, for instance: perform a task poorly once, and upper management will remember that more and will take little notice of you from thereon. But by doing all your work in an efficient and brilliant manner, they will sit up and take notice of you, and will actually begin to respect, appreciate and acknowledge you.