ELEMENTS OF A HIPPIE

2015 wasn’t my most gracious year. I had a lot of obstacles, people, negativity and so much more trying to hold me back. But I will say this – 2015 was the year I got shit done! I’m proud of myself; all boasting included. After a few depressing years full of self-hatred, self doubt and sadness .. I truly did prosper.

I graduated from undergrad .. and it WASN’T easy. I fought like hell to walk across that stage. I began working with an incredible team as a research assistant for one of the few people that pushed me and made me a better person throughout my undergraduate career. I connected with a whole new set of people who will forever be family (winks at Clari, Gisbel, & Flo <3). I gained understanding of myself. I started a spiritual journey .. a beautiful journey of self appreciation, self love, positivity, peace and happiness. AND I literally started my own business and well I started this baby here – elementsofahippie.com. I started my own brand; something that will forever be mine! I mean 2015 wasn’t all bad.

With all of that being said, I wanted to share some lessons that I learned through 2015.

1. It is not selfish to put your happiness first.
   You deserve to be happy and you deserve to put yourself first. We live in a world that makes us feel selfish when we put our needs and wants above the needs and wants of our loved ones. But think about this, if we aren’t happy (I mean TRULY happy) how are we going to help anyone achieve happiness? How can we expect to help others if we are not helping ourselves?
2. Things aren’t always going to go your way. That’s okay.
3. It is okay to be angry, sad, emotional, “down in the dumps” .. as long as you don’t stay there. Let it go and move on.
4. There is no rush to happiness.
   It is not a destination. It is a journey. There will be faults and setbacks along the path but that’s okay. Be patient.
5. Be patient.
6. You are capable of more than you give yourself credit for.
   A lot of times we limit ourselves.
   “Well, I’m not even going to try to do ___, because I know that I won’t be any good.”
   If we keep thinking like that we will forever be stagnant. We will forever be stuck and unfulfilled. We have to take chances, try and even if we fail, we’ve learned and that is more than a lot of people can say for themselves. We have to be able to give ourselves credit when it is due (and if when it’s not). Be your biggest fan.
7. No seriously, be your biggest fan.
8. Health is important.
   I mean, I always knew this. Lol. But this year it seems like I got the short end of the stick. I feel like I was always sick (especially during the beginning of 2015). Then I would get a wake up call and live a healthy lifestyle … then I wouldn’t … then I would … then I wouldn’t. It’s not right and I know it. To live right on the outside, we have to start doing better inside … and well, truth be told (I don’t know about you guys but) I gotta do better.
9. You do not owe anyone any explanations.
10. Not everyone is going to understand you. You still don’t need to explain yourself.
11. Self Love is necessary to prosper.
    This is simple but so major. Stop beating yourself up. You want to prosper and be happy and be successful. It will come in due time. But what is prosperity, happiness and success without the love of self?
12. Family does not always mean blood.
    Sometimes the ones that you expect to have your back, won’t. Sometimes the ones that you don’t expect to leave you behind, will.
    Family is always about love, honor, respect and all of those good things but family doesn’t always mean blood .. check out Cain and Abel.
13. It is okay to let go of people or relationships that no longer benefit you. Do not feel guilty about it.
    I wrote in my previous post that something we need to leave in 2015 are “People/Relationships that are stagnant”. Well a lot of times we don’t do that (or we hold on to those people/relationships) because we feel guilty about letting those people go. Trust me, once you start to let those people go, your life will automatically begin to feel lighter.
14. Stop depending on people .. who aren’t dependable.
    Self explanatory. This was a lesson in 2009,2010,2011,2012,2013 and 2014. I just don’t listen. Hopefully I get my life together for 2016! Lol
15. As cliche as it sounds, everything truly does happen for a reason.
16. Even when things aren’t going your way, always be thankful.

This year .. was hard but through it all I am beyond thankful. For everything. For everyone. The good. The bad. The happy and the sad. ❤

Good Riddens 2015 .. 2016, I’m ready for ya!

xoxo Cielo.