My New York City Favorites
You Are The Company You Keep, Especially In Your 20s
Your early 20s are beautiful, exciting, sad, fun, scary, adventurous and everything that you would least it expect them to be. And as I continue to live this early adulthood life of mine, the more I appreciate and understand the need for surrounding myself with people that empower me to be a better me.
This applies to friends, relationships, the workplace and more. Most people fail to realize that the old saying “You become who you hangout with” is not only true, but can be death sentence for your dreams if you don’t choose wisely.
Not only does your circle impact how you behave, but also how you think, feel and dream- and this backed by science.
Stop and ask yourself: What are the 5 closest people to me actually like?
What are their goals? Are they ambitious? Do they constantly looks for ways to improve their lives? Are they positive? Do they complain about simple things? Do they admit their mistakes and improve? Are they open to change if it means for the better?
If things aren’t adding up in your life, it might be time to subtract.
And I mean this in the best possible way. I do believe that some people are in your life for just a season and that’s perfectly ok.
What most fail to realize is that you naturally pick up the behaviors of others the more you surround yourself with them. Birds of a feather flock together. If you are constantly hanging out with negative, unmotivated people – you will become a negative, unmotivated person.
Align yourself with people who have already achieved the success you want
If you want to grow and achieve certain goals, align yourself with people who have already reached them. Talk to them, listen to them, learn from them. You will be surprised at how much your life can be changed by surrounding yourself with powerful people.
I am blessed to have driven, positive people around me daily that empower me to be a better person each day and I can’t wait to see the successes we bring upon each other in the future. 🙌✨
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Training Your Mind
Did you know that you can workout your mind just as you do your body?
Everyone knows that consistent exercise keeps you physically fit, but there isn’t as much of a cultural focus on the importance of training your mind — something I have grown to be very passionate about.
I have always been a fan of listening to motivational messages by speakers and podcasters, especially in the morning since your brain is operating at 10.5 wave cycles per second from the moment you wake up until 20 minutes after. This means that whatever you are “feeding” your brain within the first 15-20 minutes after you wake up can affect your entire day.
Therefore, by listening to these positive and inspirational messages day after day right when you wake up, you can actually condition your mind to become more focused, motivated and goal-oriented. How cool is that?
Furthermore, just as the time of day that you listen to these messages are important, the content you are consuming are equally, if not more, significant to changing the way you think. Just as doing 100 pushups incorrectly won’t do you as good as 50 pushups done correctly – quality over quantity.
There is no “trick” to being successful, just as there isn’t a quick fix diet pill that can help you improve your weight, patience and consistency are key.
With that being said, below are some of my favorite motivational speakers to listen to when reprograming my mind for success:
Les Brown
Earl Nightingdale
Gary Vee
Simon Sinek
Do Not Listen With The Intent To Reply – But With The Intent To Understand
I recently finished reading the book Twenty-Two Letters, recommended and lended to me by a close friend – and boy, was it an eye-opener!
The stories were inspiring, because I often found myself imagining what it would be like if I were in any of the situations described. This led to a deeper 
understanding – then appreciation for the characters in the book, which reminded me of why listening to others is not just important, but necessary.
Everyone has a story of their own and one of the most valuable life lessons that I have learned so far is the act of simply listening – without the intent of replying but understanding.
Sounds simple, yet the digital-first society that we live in has made the very act of listening seem like a time-consuming and unrealistic task.
However, I think mindfully listening is one of the best skills that anyone can possess.
You will never agree with what everyone has to say – that’s human nature – but by taking the time to hear their side, their story and their reasonings you might just surprise yourself with a more observant mind, better patience and heightened gratitude.
MM
“All the world is my school and all humanity is my teacher.” ― George Whitman
Ironically, graduating college made me fall in love with learning again. I like to think of the phrase “learning something new everyday” tactically. The world is now my school and I’m loving every minute of it.
With that being said, I am so thankful that I work for a company who puts continued education and interdependence first. I recently completed the Complete Digital Marketing Course on Udemy and would highly recommend it to anyone who is passionate about staying up-to-date on digital marketing trends.
Trusting Your Own Intuition
“Think of your intuition as your cells’ way of communicating with you. Trust your cells, girl. They know what’s best for you.”
Anyone who knows me personally knows that I have always been a stickler for trusting my own intuition and encouraging others to do the same, especially at the point of my life that I am in right now, (newly college grad) but how do we ever truly know if our “gut” is leading us into the right direction?
I love this blog post by Imani Brammer on Elite Daily, as she went straight to a trustful source: a mindfulness-based psychotherapist named Lena Franklin.
Check it out!
“You know when you feel it in your gut? Like, you just feel it. You don’t really know what you feel, but you feel…it. It’s the “it” that makes your mother call you randomly to make sure you’re OK, because somehow, she just knows. It’s intangible, but it feels oh so palpable. That “it,” my love, is your intuition, or your “gut,” if that’s your jam. Depending on who you are, you might trust that intuition wholeheartedly, or perhaps you don’t listen to it enough. Either way, the question remains: Can you really trust your gut instincts?
Elite Daily spoke with mindfulness-based psychotherapist Lena Franklin, who lends a bit of insight on what that strong gut feeling actually is, and whether or not you can totally trust it.
She explains that, in a society oversaturated with information, for some people, the gut feeling can get a bit muddled among the muck and the mire of everyday life.
“Trusting your gut is easier said than done in a society where we privilege intellect over intuition,” Franklin says.
If you already naturally trust your gut instincts, you likely have a strong sense of self, and you trust your body and your intuitive feelings not to steer you in the wrong directions in life.
But that doesn’t mean you’re any less secure in your sense of self if you don’t currently trust your gut instincts. Maybe you just need to know a little bit more about it.
So what exactly is a gut instinct, and what does it mean to trust it?
According to Franklin, “gut instincts are body-centered, conscious messages fueled by subconscious insights that we’ve been building since birth.”
Gut feelings, though internal, often initially come from some outside influences. You perceive something — someone’s facial expression, their tone of voice, whatever it may be — and though you may not even be aware of your perception, it’s triggering something inside of you.
Needless to say, it’s a bit different from the logical thinking you’re probably used to.
In fact, Franklin explains that when it comes to intuition and logic, those are two very different playing fields. Just because logic is, well, logical, does not make it more trustworthy than intuition.
She tells Elite Daily,
Trusting the gut is a whole different ball game than trusting logic. Gut instincts come from a bottom-upprocess, meaning that these messages stem from the body rather than from cognitive thoughts.
Logic is a top-down process of thought-based information. If we can distinguish where these messages originate from in the body, we can begin to actually trust the powerful wisdom of our guts rather than making impulsive life choices based on top down, fear-based thoughts.
If you’ve never really tapped into these intuitive gut feelings before, don’t fret. There are plenty of ways to start trying.
Franklin suggests meditation as your best bet, as it taps directly into your gut feelings, but in a calm state.
She explains,
Meditation strengthens our self-awareness, so much like doing bicep curls, we’re making our mindfulness muscle stronger.
The result is that, when we’re outside of our meditation practice, we create a habit of tuning into ourselves through awareness of the body, where intuition lives and thrives.
So the next time you are unsure of if you should listen to your gut or your mind, don’t be so quick to rule out that intuition of yours. It actually comes from a physical place in the body: your cells.
Franklin explains that your cells carry memory. They remember experiences that you’ve had throughout your life, and how you felt when you went through those situations — even if your brain can’t actually conjure up the memory.
Think of your intuition as your cells’ way of communicating with you. Trust your cells, girl. They know what’s best for you.”
Life Lessons You Learn After College
I’m so excited for these next few years of my life as this is my time to truly discover my passions, work hard and be free! With that being said, this blog post by Brendan Marshall is a must read!
When I look back on the last twelve years of my life, they appear in thirds. It’s a simple visual really, since the first four make up my high school years, next four are dedicated to college, and the most previous four years were spent gaining the education that I cannot live without.
Ages 15 to 22 are first and foremost a time for physical growth. Our bodies and minds change rapidly through those formative years, as we are exposed to a wide world of influences in preparation for the next step. Whether your future includes higher education, the Military, professional sports, or even taking time off to travel, these years set a foundation for what is to come.
The highly impressionable young adult mind suddenly taught how to think on a global scale is entirely ready for the real world, right?
The most important education begins after the tassel is turned, with diploma in hand. If formal schooling is practice, the game has begun. As someone who didn’t have a plan coming out of the University of Delaware, I’d like to share some of the things I now understand that recently have become more useful than anything I ever absorbed in the classroom.
As you get older, habits become more difficult to kick.
This idea applies to everything from cigarettes to relationships. Doing something over and over again eventually becomes natural. Your subconscious takes over, and you will have to try much harder to change it if that eventually becomes your intent. The sooner you realize this, the sooner you begin to cultivate the habits that will mold you into the person you wish to become.
Every single person you meet has a story.
As the office hierarchy goes, chances are, the manager with 20 to 25 years of experience is going to have a lot to share. Well, the same goes for the peers you come across socially or otherwise. And the beauty of new interactions is that you never know what people have to offer or what you might have in common. It is important to engage people, asking questions that could shed some light onto why you crossed paths. Chemistry requires a catalyst. After all, everyone’s favorite subject is …themselves.
It’s okay not to have a plan, but remember to network.
There are those who grow up knowing they will one day become a doctor, lawyer or police officer. Likewise, there are others who cannot seem to put the pieces together when it comes to pursuing a career. There is nothing wrong with either direction, but it is important to maintain steady inward and outward communication throughout the process. Opportunities and epiphanies are born from a long string of ideas sewn together over time.
Most great things do not often happen overnight, so when you are searching for the next move, the least you can do is talk to people. It could be Uncle Jim the accountant, or a recruiter from the university-sponsored happy hour – the flow of information will keep the wheels spinning. If you confine yourself to a quiet, inactive box, you will quickly stall your momentum.
Don’t burn bridges.
Our freedom allows us to chase any career that we choose. With that in mind, there are those that fit into our life plan and those that do not. When jumping from place to place and industry to industry, do it professionally and responsibly. Even though you no longer work for a particular company, useful references come at a premium and your paths may cross again one day.
Do your future self a favor and prevent the awkward, uncomfortable situation of facing bridges burnt. We all make mistakes, but foresight is a very valuable skill to hone.
People want to work with problem solvers.
My friend Tim shared this tidbit of knowledge in casual conversation without the slightest idea it would have such a profound impact on my professional life. From entry level to expert, be ready on day one to use that brainpower to help solve issues of all sizes. Volunteer your services to tackle the daily organizational hurdles. Eventually, once confidence and knowledge builds, you may earn the chance to take on bigger challenges. From there, the possibilities are endless. Start with something small and watch it grow.
Taking risks is important, but have a contingency plan.
There will be opportunities to take risks in all avenues of life, but make sure they are somewhat calculated and include a plan in case it does not work out. Strive for success, but plan for the alternative. Valuable items in your life usually require insurance, right? The same concept applies to important intangible decisions.
Everything happens for a reason.
This idea has become seemingly more apparent each year since it became my mantra at age 17. While it bounces somewhere between prophetic and cliché, I find continual motivation to build on successes, dwell only briefly on failures, learn as much as humanly possible, help those in need, always be kind, and wake up each day with a sense of purpose – even if, at this present moment, I’m not quite sure what that is. In the end, the best life lessons are those that cannot fit on a transcript and surprise you in ways you never dreamed possible.
*Re-Blog!* “6 Amazing Destinations That Are Perfect For Women Traveling Alone”
I’ve always embraced having my own opinions about every persona across the U.S. & abroad (despite some backlash) and traveling alone is something I cannot wait to experience one day!
Deuteronomy 31:6 “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.”
With that being said, this blog post by Izabella Zaydenburg, has been such a blessing in my life!
As I write this, I’m dangerously in the throes of wanderlust.
I say “dangerously,” because it’s the first of the month tomorrow and my rent is due within 24 hours. The only kind of travel I can afford is on Pinterest boards and in magazines.
Yet, I’m dying to travel. I live for long flights, meeting new people and trying as much new food as I can shovel into my mouth. I’m also all about doing it alone.
Adventuring alone, especially as a woman, gets a bad rap. Don’t get me wrong, there are certain parts in the world I wouldn’t recommend traveling to solo, regardless of your gender. However, the amount of negative media surrounding solo female travelers is enough to put me off leaving town ever again.
According to the first “Taken” movie, every cute guy with an accent is out to get us, right? Not quite. In fact, there are tons of places in the world that are safe for solo ladies.
Going on an adventure with just your own two feet to keep you company is just as fun as going in a big group. Renew your passports, ladies, because it’s time to book some flights.
If you want to party, head to Phuket, Thailand.
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Hard partiers might tell you Ibiza is the place to go for a good time. Unless you want Justin Bieber-level crowds, your best bet is a place that’s just as known for its relaxation as it is for its party scene: Phuket.
Phuket is Thailand’s largest island, home to five-star resorts, stunning beaches and, of course, an unrivaled party scene. Go bar-hopping with friends you make earlier in the day, or make new ones at one of the many clubs.
Also, don’t forget to try the street food. Your life will change.
If you’re looking to splash out, try Reykjavik, Iceland.
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One of the scariest things about traveling alone is not being able to communicate with any of the locals. Plus, my awkward inner voice is terrified of insulting the locals because I’m not fluent in the native tongue. Iceland, thankfully, eases all those fears.
On top of being absolutely beautiful, most Icelandic residents speaks near-fluent English. If you’re not much of a nightlife junkie, Reykjavik (and all of Iceland, really) boasts hundreds of day tours paying homage to the majestic landscape of the country.
Crime is practically nonexistent here. Hear that, America?
The one caveat? Iceland is f*cking expensive. Your dining options range from “fancy as hell” to “three Michelin stars.” All those cool Nordic spa treatments will run you a pretty penny, too. What did you expect from the fourth most expensive country in the world?
If you’re looking for an adventure, New Zealand is your best bet.
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For ladies who want to create their own “Lord of the Rings” epic, New Zealand is the place to do it. The variety in landscape — from volcanoes, to beaches and hills — makes it easy for even the pickiest female backpacker to find her happy place.
No need to splurge on a five-star resort here. The country has tons of hostels, which are perfect for meeting fellow solo travelers. You also don’t really need a car to get around, either. New Zealand is built for backpackers and even has devoted bus routes for the ultra-adventurous.
The only problem? Getting there. If you’re traveling from the US, it’s whole day’s worth of flying.
If you’re craving yoga time, hop a flight to Costa Rica.
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If you’re uninspired by your local studio and want your sun salutation to actually have the sun as a backdrop, drop by Costa Rica.
This tropical paradise has a great mix of activities, regardless of what you’re in the mood for. Head to the beach, the jungle or the bustling city life of San Jose.
Plus, Costa Rica is equipped for tourists (even the ones traveling solo). You’re likely to meet other fellow yoga junkies at one of the many retreats in this Central American country, or other beach bums on their way to a bit of R&R.
If you want to find yourself, get your “eat, pray, love” on in Bali, Indonesia.
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The best part about traveling to Bali isn’t the beautiful temples, awesome beaches and more yoga than you know what to do with — it’s the inexpensiveness. For real, you can get a beer for less than two bucks, a bottle of wine for around $12 and an apartment for around $170 a month.
BRB, moving there immediately.
But, really, there’s a reason virtually every girl getaway I plan mysteriously segues into a conversation about how much I want to go to Bali. It’s full of young backpackers and there are plenty of resorts, if you want to go the expensive route.
Stockholm, Sweden is perfect if you’re thirsty for style.
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Ask any true fashionista, and she’ll tell you Sweden has hands-down the best street style of any country. There’s a reason so many models are from here: The country is filled with beautiful people and even prettier fashion.
Even if you’re not much of a street style guru, Stockholm boasts stunning architecture, excellent food (ever tried gravlax?) and was named one of the top 5 happiest places on Earth in the World Happiness Report.
Additionally, most people here speak English, which makes befriending locals way easy. Like most of Scandinavia, it’s one of the safest places in the world, so no need to always be looking over your shoulder.
Why You Must Disconnect To Connect
So obsessed with this blog written by Sara Uzer over at Elite Daily! 🙂
“Share Less, Gain More: Why This Generation Should Be More Mysterious”
Reblog from EliteDaily.com by Sara Uzer
As part of the Millennial generation, we often pride ourselves on being perceived as “chill” in relationships. We consistently make it clear that we are content with the lack of labels and keeping things casual.
However, here’s the irony: Although we maintain laidback personas, the way we interact with others can potentially exude a sense of desperation.
As a result, we often prevent ourselves from progressing favorably in relationships. Here are four ways our generation leaves little to the imagination:
1. Our obsession with broadcasting our every move to the world.
The Millennial generation’s obsession with social media is no new concept. Remember how we would get excited about “show and tell” day back in second grade?
This was our shining moment to brag about our latest toys or cool memorabilia. (I distinctly remember bringing in an autograph from soccer player Mia Hamm one year, who was super relevant at the time.)
Today, we still get a similar satisfaction from showing off, except it’s in the form of tweets, Instagrams and Snapchat stories.
This holds especially true for relationships. After all, the whole “#relationshipgoals” phenomenon originally stemmed from couples sharing excessive photos of their “perfect” relationships.
Why should other people really care that you and your boyfriend are on a cruise in the Caribbean? They shouldn’t, really, but many do.
On the demonstrator side of the spectrum, we get satisfaction from showcasing how adorable our relationships are and thrive off our jealous friends’ compliments.
We would never explicitly admit it, but it’s true: Knowing that we are instigating envy in others boosts our own self-esteem.
As observers, we feed on noteworthy events from other people’s lives. Conversely to demonstration’s effect, observing reduces our self-esteem. We can’t help but negatively compare our own lives to theirs, and sometimes we even get irrationally upset about it.
It doesn’t matter that we all know everyone’s lives look 10 times cooler on social media because in that moment, all we can think about is how we want to be sharing a piña coladas with our boyfriends on the beach. (Whether the boyfriends actually exist or not.)
2. Being too aware of each other’s intentions.
The popularity of dating apps allows individuals to meet and initiate potential relationships with a little less effort than through traditional methods.
Of course, the initial interaction between two new people is always forced and often awkward, as it would be on any first date.
We engage in standard small talk because we feel we have to when both parties know that they have one thing in mind.
However, that one thing isn’t necessarily always sex. You could be actually interested in developing a relationship with someone, and that other person may be fully on the same page as you.
Great! Or is it? The problem is, both of you swiping right solidifies the fact that you are fully interested in each other. Where’s the real excitement in that? The point is, when you’re both at least somewhat aware of each other’s intentions, it can take out all the fun.
In defense of instigating potential relationships at bars, which others put down often, at least there you are embracing the unexpected a little bit more.
Plus, when you’re meeting up with a Tinder date, it’s difficult to focus on the ambiguity (and excitement) of whether or not there will be a connection because you’re too worried you might be getting catfished.
3. Oversharing details.
When you go on a date with someone new, there’s no question you’ll dish to your best friends about how it went.
While there’s nothing wrong with discussing your romantic life with others, blabbing details constantly can get you into trouble.
Just because we’re not in high school anymore doesn’t mean rumors and gossip are gone forever. Unfortunately, immature (and evil) people still exist. Others can still twist your words and cause problems that weren’t there in the first place.
Plus, when you ask for advice from others, the feedback can be potentially negative. This can cause you to doubt yourself, or overthink things you shouldn’t.
While ultimately it’s you who knows what you want or how you feel toward someone, it can be easy to get persuaded by others — and that isn’t always a good thing in the long run.
4. Being impatient and giving up entirely too quickly.
How many times have you heard a friend complain he or she, “always goes for the wrong people,” or, “has the worst luck in relationships,” and just really want to find something real?
Maybe you’ve said similar things yourself.
We often we take steps backward by going after people we know are wrong for us.
It’s not necessarily as impossible for us to meet genuine people as we claim. The truth is, we don’t always want to spend time searching.
It’s easier for us to accept that we will be “forever alone” and get cajoled into hooking up with our exes again because we’re lonely. Of course, revisiting bad habits is always a bad idea, and we inevitably feel even worse than before.
It’s a vicious cycle, and it’s more difficult to escape than we’d prefer to admit.
We claim we want something meaningful and then engage in actions that fully contradict our statements.
The bigger problem is this behavior just makes us seem constantly available. We give off the notion that we are ready to accept anything that gets thrown our way, or that we are fully okay with consistently crawling back to people out of convenience.
When we aren’t taken seriously by others, we don’t really have anyone but ourselves to blame.
Maybe instead of focusing on showcasing everything to the world and instilling jealousy in others, we should face our own problems. Once we are honest with ourselves, we can eventually stop engaging in toxic habits.
So, leave more to the imagination. Spend less time sprucing up your dating profile, and more on your actual appearance
. Instead of sharing every detail of your relationship (whether through word of mouth or Instagram posts), take a breather.
Focus on what’s truly important.
You may be surprised by how the element of mystery can finally turn things around to the way you want them to be.
Read more: http://elitedaily.com/life/little-to-the-imagination/1054350/
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18 Little Things To Start Doing Now If You Want To Be Ahead Of Everyone Else In 10 Years
By: Brianna Wiest, Via: Thought Catalog
1. Be friends with different types of people. Don’t insulate your worldview by only socializing with those who are fundamentally the same as you.
2. Read. Do you know how few people are reading anything other than a few lines of an article here and there? Few. Do you know why it matters? Because a book you read in a few days this week can change the way you think about something for decades to come.
3. Question yourself, and honor your doubt. People who aren’t secure enough to do this stagnate.
4. Be willing to live the way other people won’t, so you can live the way other people can’t.
5. Learn how to cook things you enjoy more than you enjoy ordering out.
6. Learn how to budget your money in a way that makes you feel responsible and liberated, not restricted.
7. Put away a bit of money each month, however much you can afford (and don’t worry if there are setbacks along the way). Compounded interest is no joke.
8. Take on a side gig exclusively for the sake of that savings account. It will be exhausting for a while, but you’ll come out with new skills and the peace of mind that comes from having a fiscal cushion.
9. Get addicted to healthy pain. The kind that comes from clocking in hours of practice or maneuvering through the discomfort of training your mind to focus on one task until it’s complete. The more you channel your pain into something productive, the less you’ll be tempted to ruminate.
10. Get comfortable admitting when you’re wrong. There is no failure in making mistakes. There is failure in making mistakes and having too much pride to fix them.
11. Clean out your space, then work on adopting an attitude of “enough.” Do you really want to spend the next 10 years accumulating things? No, you don’t. Imagine what else all of that money and time and worry could have gone toward.
12. Only put things on your credit card that you will be able to remember in 3 months from now. If you look at how much is due and can’t remember what you spent it on, it was nothing worthwhile.
13. Do your soul-searching. Make lists of what you like and what you dislike; what you value and what you don’t; what you’re skilled at and what you’re not. Start cohering an idea of who you fundamentally are, but allow yourself to be open to that idea changing over time.
14. Reflect on your life, and ask yourself what your single most compelling motive is. Construct your narrative about it carefully – the way you justify your past actions will become your philosophy for future ones.
15. If you commit to nothing else, commit to a daily routine that consists of actions that, over time, will lead you to where you want to be.
16. Do things intentionally. Date intentionally. Work intentionally. Don’t let your life be a series of mindless, random actions that just seemed nice at the time, but are ultimately meaningless.
17. Take yourself as seriously as you want the world to. Behave accordingly.
18. Scrap it all and start over as many times as you need to. There’s no shame in not getting it right, there is, however, a lot of self-loathing that comes from knowing better, but not having the courage to do better. 
