Say No to 'New Year, New You'

You are not a pair of shoes!

I'm not quite sure how to explain this but my uncertainty about this concept seemed to resonate (verbally) at a networking meeting recently, so I thought I'd share my thoughts anyway.  

I asked my fellow attendees how they felt about the 'New year, new you' idea, and most seemed to feel a little uneasy about it.

It's not so much my thinking from an an isolated stylist perspective (where new year, new clothes kinda works!) - my unease at the idea is in relation to my more holistic approach to image and confidence, which encompasses and embraces my 'hats' as a trainer/HR professional/mentor/body confidence coach.

So, here's a few of my thoughts as to why this, seemingly, annual launch might not be the best thing for us:

• If 'all new' is your key aim, you may lose the best bits of the old you in the process of creating the 'new you' 

• Chances are, there's actually little or nothing wrong about the current you and having a view that you need to be a 'new you' may be too negative a start-point

• If things are wrong, it's too general to say it's 'you' - it's probably about your circumstances, resources etc too

• The old (young/er) you may actually hold the key - maybe the young(er) you is where you were happiest and/best, eg were you a creative child who suppressed it and turned into formal adult? Maybe new year, old you is where it's at!

• Maybe the 'new' will you lack authenticity - will others recognise you? More importantly, will you recognise yourself?

• You cannot (even if you wanted to) simply put out the old and get a brand new, unconnected, forget all about the past 'you'... You are not a pair of shoes! 

Maybe not perfect, but be real about what you need to and can change!

Of course, it's not bad to want to improve - just be careful of trying to create a whole new, not necessarily true, you. And let's face it, that's not a very well defined personal target. So...

Even if things need to change, why link it to the New year and if you must, think about it as 'New year, better best you' or 'New year, improved you' which just seems a more positive perspective to me (even though it's not such a snazzy strapline!)

I hope that make sense... What are your thoughts on this? Let me know by leaving a comment!

Happy New Year!

Denise x

PS - If you'd like some help setting personal goals or working through becoming your best you, let me know. 

For more:

• Call on: 07887 643807 for a body confidence coaching session or image services
• Look at: www.damsonbelle.co.uk
• Follow at: @DenDamBelle
• Check out my Pintrest: Denise Sanderson-Estcourt
• Like me at: Damson Belle on Facebook
• Join: This blog!

Coming back!

It's been a while...

I can't believe it's been so long since I last blogged. It's not as if I've had nothing to say!

There's been so much going on, but I've never lost my colourful core or stopped being a stylist as I get/do a commentary every day in my office with some fellow followers of fashion. It is even became a talking point when I presented back to colleagues on our staff survey!

Along with my regular jobs and styling clients, one of the focus points of recent months has been 'body confidence'. We're reaching our climax when it comes to the 'Body Confidence calendar with the new year looming. (Find out more about this at: www.2015calendar.co.uk, on Twitter: @_BodyConfidence or on Facebook: Body Confidence Calendar 2015). 

It's been a time of 'living out my brand' - whether I've been doing role one (being mum!), my day job, trustee role, being an ambassador for the Calendar Girls or an image consultant. I know I've done it without compromising my co-ordinated dramatic signature style, love of shoes and colour; and with a smile.

Co-ordinated dress and earrings, colourful nails and a smile!

And I'll be bringing all that and more to my blog soon, so watch this space.

It's good to be back!

Denise x

For more:

• Call on: 07887 643807 for a body confidence coaching session or image services
• Look at: www.damsonbelle.co.uk
• Follow at: @DenDamBelle
• Check out my Pintrest: Denise Sanderson-Estcourt
• Like me at: Damson Belle on Facebook
• Join: This blog!