There’s something beautiful that happens when you stop hiding. When you can finally shed all of the things that aren’t really you and step into all of the weird and wonderful things that ARE, something shifts. Changes happen.

You like yourself. It’s scary at first, but then you feel empowered. People are attracted to your authenticity. Opportunities that were meant for the REAL you start flowing into your awareness. You might lose a few people, but the ones you gain feel divinely connected. Here are just a few of my favorite quotes on the beauty of stepping into your truth, embracing it and shouting it until your voice cracks. 😉

“Owning our story can be hard but not nearly as difficult as spending our lives running from it. Embracing our vulnerabilities is risky but not nearly as dangerous as giving up on love and belonging and joy—the experiences that make us the most vulnerable. Only when we are brave enough to explore the darkness will we discover the infinite power of our light.”
― Brené Brown

“All stories have a curious and even dangerous power. They are manifestations of truth — yours and mine. And truth is all at once the most wonderful yet terrifying thing in the world, which makes it nearly impossible to handle. It is such a great responsibility that it’s best not to tell a story at all unless you know you can do it right. You must be very careful, or without knowing it you can change the world.”
― Vera Nazarian

“When we were children, we used to think that when we were grown-up we would no longer be vulnerable. But to grow up is to accept vulnerability… To be alive is to be vulnerable.”
― Madeleine L’Engle

“Real dishes break. That’s how you know they’re real.”
― Marty Rubin

Because true belonging only happens when we present our authentic, imperfect selves to the world, our sense of belonging can never be greater than our level of self-acceptance.”
― Brené Brown

“Live authentically. Why would you continue to compromise something that’s beautiful to create something that is fake?”
― Steve Maraboli

“As you become more aligned with the truth of who you are, the question of liking yourself goes away. It is a natural state of being.”
― Rachel Archelaus

“Often misconstrued, authenticity is not about being an open book, revealing every detail of yourself without rhyme or reason. It is simply the act of openly and courageously seeing what needs to be seen, saying what needs to be said, doing what needs to be done, and becoming that which you are intent on being.”
― Scott Edmund Miller

“High above the noise and fear mongering of critics and cynics softly speaks your true self.”
― Mollie Marti

“In the beginning, it is difficult and even painful to see the faults in yourself, the flaws in your soul, the error of your ways. But I have come to love the moments when I see my flaws and I spot my errors! It is one of the most beautiful things, really! Because it is when we see our own flaws and our own errors that we can find the opposite of those things! It is when we see our own flaws and our own errors that we can see that there is so much more room to become better! And so I have come to actually rejoice when I find something wrong with me! And I know when it’s really wrong because I can see it and I can feel it in my heart both at the same time— it is a revelation. It’s not something that comes from any external source; but it is my own spirit and the voice of God revealing these things to me, unfolding them, rolling them out of a silken cloth at my feet. And I smile.”
― C. JoyBell C.

Now…shed what doesn’t belong, reveal what does. Shine a light on it. And watch yourself bloom and grow and triumph. =)

Brad Pitt. Beyonce. Angelina Jolie. Marilyn Monroe. Heck, Barack Obama. All of them have something in common. They are magnetic! Like them or not, we can’t take our eyes off of them.

The term charisma has two definitions: (1) compelling attractiveness or charm that can inspire devotion in others, (2) a divinely conferred power or talent.

I am going to give it a third definition. Charisma: crazy sexy hotness. So how do you get there? Well it isn’t by doing 150 ab crunches a day or by spending hundreds of dollars on professional blonde highlights. (Though those things feel pretty great too!) What I am talking about is completely attainable for everyone reading this. Because you see charisma, or crazy sexy hotness, isn’t about how you look. It’s about you feel; how you feel about YOURSELF and how that feeling inspires others to feel about you. It’s a ripple effect. How YOU feel shoots out a special energy that touches other people and influences their feelings about you. If you beam out a negative energy, they will feel negative around you. If you beam out positivity, self-assurance, love and light, that is exactly what you will bring forth from them. How cool and powerful is that?! How people are attracted to you is a direct result of the energetic messages you are beaming out in their direction. Here are 4 things you need to emanate that awesome, attractive energy that makes you irresistible.

1.    A PASSION- Years and years ago when I was working in theatre and choreographing a show, I was telling my boyfriend at the time how excited I was about the project. He said “I love when  you talk about this. Your whole face lights up and your eyes literally sparkle and shine.” (Looking back, WOW he was cute!) The point is when we have something we feel passionate about, our face truly does look brighter. There is a spark in our eyes and a zest and intensity that pour out of us and that’s hot! What do you LOVE? What makes you feel that rush of energy running through your veins?  Message it sends: I am capable of intense rapture and devotion….everywhere. 😉

 2.    A GOAL- We all need a purpose. Something we are fired up about and moving towards. Something that revs up our engine and fuels our souls. We need to have work that doesn’t feel like work. Friday night with no plans? Great! It gives you a chance to spend time with your vision, working towards your desired outcome.  Nothing is more boring than when we ask someone what’s new, and in return we get a shrug, an empty stare and a “not much. Get a goal; the kind that you lose yourself in. The kind of goal that is so exciting to you that you cannot stop planning for it.    Message it sends: I am never bored (or boring) because I have something AWESOME going on.  And you will want to be a part of it.  

 3.    BOUNDLESS RANDOM LOVE- Hold up. I’m not talking one night stands with random bartenders. What I am talking about is choosing to love every single person you encounter, knowing deep down that you are divinely connected to them in some way. Sometimes when I am just walking down the street and I pass someone I will find myself wondering what moves them. Are they happy? Struggling? Feeling “less than?”  I will quietly bless them, silently say “I love you.”  It feels incredible to be filled with that much love for everyone and everything around you. It makes people feel good in your presence. That same old boyfriend nick named me “Bell.” He said it was because when I walked into a room it was as though a bell rang, and everyone woke up and gravitated towards me. (Maybe I should have held onto him 😉 Message it sends: I have boundless rivers of love within me and therefore, an endless amount to give. In my presence you will feel forever loved and special.  (And who doesn’t want that?!)

 4.    YOUR LITTLE BOOK OF RULES– Know thyself. To thine own self be true… The guys who wrote all that were on to something. Who in the heck are you? What do you stand for? What are your values? What are your non-negotiable needs and expectations? What will you NEVER tolerate? Answer those questions for yourself and hold fast to the answers. When you get comfortable with your rules, and live by them as guidebook, your confidence will soar.  I had no confidence at all growing up. I had no idea what I wanted or what I stood for. I spent many many years watching my friends go on dates while I sat home with my parents. But in my late 20’s something shifted. I began to love myself. I learned my answers to the questions above and I never wavered.  I also never sat home again on a weekend! You see when you know exactly what you want, don’t want, what you always expect and never tolerate a few different things will happen. The opposite sex will be grateful that you’ve removed the tiresome guessing game and they will be inspired by your sense of identity in such a way that they will openly communicate theirs. Message it sends: I know who I am. And who I am ROCKS. And you cannot help but want to dig deep and find out more.

So there you have it.  Four steps to a sexier you. What’s great about these is that it doesn’t matter how bad of a hair day you’re having, or much money you’ve lost or how many pounds you’ve put on. These four steps are totally within your power. Use them. Feel them. Live by them. And watch the love roll in! 😉