Things that make me happy

So many of the simple things in life put a smile on my face, so I thought I'd share them with you!

1. Disney movies: I love losing myself in an enchanted world of fiction where everything turns out to be perfect!

2. Perfume: nothing is more uplifting or confidence boosting than a spritz of your favourite perfume. For me this is Alien by Thierry Mugler.

3. Giggling: even when it's about the most stupid, childish and immature things! Giggling is amazing!

4. The outdoors: yes I'm a girly girl but I love the outdoors and nature and I'm much more a mountain and lake kinda girl than a beach and seaside girl! I always think that the views from a mountain are far more fulfilling than the view of even the most beautiful beaches.

5. Sunsets: Watching a day draw to a close is magical.

6. New clothes: it always helps you feel a million dollars to step out wearing something new! 

7. Music: we all have those songs that make us get goosebumps; that we connect with on a deep level and that just strike a chord with us. I have many but a few of them are: Rule the World by Take That, You Raise Me Up by Westlife, True Colours by Phil Collins, I Swear by All 4 one, Time of Your Life by Greenday, More Than This by One Direction and 8 letters, never forget and back for good all by Take That 

8. Pampering: taking the time out to paint my nails, care for my skin and do my hair all make me feel great!

9. Connecting with people: When you have those long deep conversations where you really just click and connect with someone and you feel like you just 'get' eachother! It's immense! 

10. Cats: I think there's nothing better than a purring cat sat on your lap all content and happy.

11. Banter: having that carefree relationship with people where you can just completely 100% be yourself and it's just accepted that actually, you're a loser!

12: party's: socialising and hanging with my girls!

13. Tea: there isn't much a good old cup of tea can't sort out!

14. Love. Feeling loved. Giving love. It's incredible.

15. New Years: the magical feeling of knowing you get a new start, a new adventure and setting new goals!

16. Achieving the smallest task: like finishing cleaning the house and looking around at it gleaming and knowing you did it! Or getting through a pile of ironing, completing a days work or a video or blog post! 

17. Family: It's quite incredible to think that no matter what you do, some people just love you unconditionally.

18. Payday: knowing you've worked hard to earn that money and getting yourself a little treat! 

19. Candles: sitting down at night with scented candles burning is an absolute must for me, so relaxing. My house is literally full of candles! 

20. A long hot bath! Soaking away a long day is the best feeling in the world! 

 

Being Yourself

Being yourself should be the easiest thing in the world. After all that's exactly who you are! 

Yet so much of the time, so many of us are afraid to be exactly that.

Society, jobs, the media and even peer pressure all influence the way we present ourselves and we are terrified of being judged, ridiculed or outcast, so instead of being unapologetically ourselves and the fabulous unique indeviduals that we are, we put up a front and in some cases even play a fictional role and be someone else because it's easier. Or at least we perceive it to be easier.

Outwardly this can be the way a person dresses, styles their hair, wears their makeup or holds themselves. 

Inwardly it could be holding back their personality, sense of humour or values, sexuality, dreams or desires.

I have met so many people who, if they just had the confidence to be themselves, could conquer anything and live their dreams, even take over the world and bring about real positive change, but they're too scared to put themselves out there incase they are judged or too scared to chase what they really want because they are afraid to fail. 

It's human nature to want to be accepted and liked, we all strive for that, consciously or not. It's nice to be 'normal' but something people fail to realise is that 'normal' people aren't the ones who change the world, it's the ones who break the mould that do. Maybe if you had the confidence to be you, it would inspire others?

Often we feel that our hands are tied, family, friends, employers or peers simply wouldn't accept us if we revealed the true version of us. Sometimes we are not allowed to be us or we'd lose our jobs! Employers literally banish any uniqueness by insisting on a uniform, banning piercings and tattoos, hairstyles and even tell us we must toughen up our personalities and stop being too 'nice' Hardly helpful! You can't change who you are! They shouldn't expect you to! 

The truth is nobody is normal, not really, because normal doesn't exist. Everyone is different. On the inside we all have different dreams and ideals, different fears and passions. Normal only exists because people conceal these things because they are too afraid if being seen as eccentric. 

How this relates to me:

Last year for the first time in my life I truly found myself. I found the confidence to do what I want to do, to be who I am. I started my youtube channel and put myself out there, flaws and all and you know what? For the first time in my life I found true contentment. I found contentment because I admitted to being who I am:

Yes, I look like complete crap when I've just woke up in a morning, yes I probably spend far too much time dreaming about a life I'll never have, yes I like being centre of attention and yes I am just a little bit chubby. Yes I buy farrrr too much makeup and yes I talk to my cats like they're my children, yes I do have OCD and like washing my hands a lot and yes I do like boybands even though I'm 30. Yes I do work in a supermarket even though I've got good qualifications and yes I dream of being a writer, yes I laugh at stupid things and yes I smoke when I know it's dangerous,Yes, I'm a soft touch, too nice for my own good, yes I've made a million mistakes and yes I am scared of a lot of things.

When I decided to start my youtube channel I braced myself for the hate, what I didn't brace myself for was where it would come from. I expected it to be strangers when in fact it was people closer to me. Family and friends who didn't support me, laughed at me and told me I was a loser but I faught back and I told them I was doing it with or without their blessing because it was what I wanted to do. Eventually people either supported me because they saw it made me happy or I cut them from my life, because if they can't accept me for who I am and what I want then they have no place in my life! 

On the contrast I got letters and cards from strangers all over the world who watched me on youtube and said I inspired them, they liked me and they supported me, so I lost friends but I gained many many more good supportive friends in the process! 

That's the thing you see, anybody who can't accept the real you doesn't deserve to be a part of your life! Maybe your old peer group won't like it, but it won't be long until you find a new group of friends that love the real you! And surely that's better! 

I'd love to hear your thoughts and comments below xx

You can also find me on: 

Twitter @helen_ann

Youtube: www.youtube.com/beautyandhelen

Instagram: beautyandhelen