Pampas and Pearls

   "It's not being the best. It's about being better than you were yesterday." - Unknown Have you ever felt like whatever you were doing wasn’t good enough? Have you ever felt imposter syndrome whenever you achieve something?  Have you felt insecure in a job role because you don’t know if what you’re doing is correct?  If so then, welcome to the club! It’s completely normal to feel like you’re not good enough. You’ll be surprised how many people actually feel that way. In almost all the jobs I’ve had, I’ve had a longing to belong - to feel like I deserve the job I have. To feel a sense of purpose. But so many times my own insecurities kept me from doing my best. There were times my bosses were proud of me, but I wasn’t proud of me. This kept me from accepting that I was good enough. I didn’t believe I was good. I kept telling myself that I’m a phony. When I look back at the girl who didn’t believe in herself, my heart honestly breaks for her. She definitely missed ou

"You are never too old to set a new goal or to dream a new dream." - C.S. Lewis Positive thinking is a powerful tool that can transform the way we approach challenges and opportunities in life. By adopting a positive mindset, we can shift our focus from problems to solutions, from obstacles to opportunities, and from failures to success. Self-improvement begins with things 'I can' and positive thinking is that way to go, but it is more certainly easier said than done, and from someone with anxiety I often think the worse but I have been trying to be more positive and seeing where that takes me.  Here are some ways in which positive thinking can benefit different areas of life: Work:  Positive thinking can help us approach our work with a sense of enthusiasm, creativity, and innovation. It can also help us build better relationships with colleagues, clients, and bosses, by fostering a spirit of collaboration, empathy, and respect. Relationships:  Positive thinking can

“Success is no accident. It is hard work, perseverance, learning, studying, sacrifice and most of all, love of what you are doing or learning to do.” - Pele Hi it’s Imaan, It’s been a hot minute.  I’ve been away focusing on my self and getting my life together. I finally have a job that I feel is right for me. It’s the first job I’ve had where I’m not feeling anxious every morning - I’ve just been so grateful to God (or the universe, whoever you believe in). I'm shocked that I even allowed myself to stay in places where I was so anxious, it was to the point of needing a good cry every morning. But when I think back on it I think I was just going through growing pains and I'm grateful for the hurt I felt too. Without the hurt, the good things in life wouldn't feel as great.  I just wanted to remind you all that it is possible to achieve your dreams, especially if you work hard towards them! Whether you’re living out your desires or struggling to survive, there is hope at th

"If you want to improve your life, you must first improve your mindset." - Unknown Self-reflection is a powerful tool that can help you gain a deeper understanding of yourself and improve your life in many ways. Here are some ways in which regular self-reflection can benefit you: Increased self-awareness: By reflecting on your thoughts, actions, and emotions, you can become more aware of your strengths, weaknesses, and areas for improvement. Improved decision-making: When you reflect on your past decisions and their outcomes, you can gain insights that can help you make better decisions in the future. Better relationships: Self-reflection can help you identify patterns in your behaviour that may be causing problems in your relationships, and take steps to address them. Reduced stress: Reflecting on your thoughts and emotions can help you identify sources of stress and find ways to manage them. Personal growth: By regularly reflecting on your experiences and learning from them

"The most important thing when you go into an interview is to be yourself. Don't try and be someone else, because you can't sustain it." - Indra Nooyi, former CEO of PepsiCo Job interviews can be nerve-wracking experiences, but with proper preparation and awareness, candidates can avoid making some common mistakes that might cost them the job.  Here are some additional points to consider when preparing for a job interview: Dress appropriately : Dressing professionally can make a great first impression on your interviewer. It shows that you take the interview seriously and are respectful of the company's culture. Research the company : Researching the company beforehand will help you understand their values, goals, and expectations. This will allow you to tailor your answers during the interview to align with their mission, and show that you are genuinely interested in the position. Practice common interview questions : Practicing common interview questions with a

"The only way to do great work is to love what you do." - Steve Jobs Improving daily productivity is a desirable goal for many people, but it is often easier said than done and can often seem like an overwhelming task. But in small steps you can get there.   Here are some ways to help you establish simple habits that can make a big difference: Plan your day the night before : Take a few minutes before you go to bed to make a to-do list for the next day. This can help you start the day with a clear plan and avoid wasting time trying to figure out what to do first. Break tasks into smaller steps : Large tasks can be overwhelming, but breaking them down into smaller, more manageable steps can make them easier to tackle. This can help you feel more accomplished as you complete each step and keep you motivated to continue. Take regular breaks : It's easy to get caught up in work and forget to take breaks, but taking regular breaks can actually improve your productivity. Try w

“Any transition is easier if you believe in yourself and your talent.” -Priyanka Chopra I often find August is a time of transition, from Summer to Autumn, from University student to actual adult. A lot of things happen in August and this year is no different. This will be the first August for a long time that I will not be returning to some form of education, in fact I have nothing planned other than progressing with my blog and trying to gain clients for my freelance copywriting.  Discussing with Imaan and posting on our social media the topic that we felt fit this period of the year was something transition based and self-improvement is just such topic.  This month you can expect posts about how to improve yourself in numerous ways, from job interviews to university qualifications and lets not forget the selfcare, wellbeing and mental health.  It will be around this time of year some people start to think about Christmas especially with the cost of living not set to improve. With th