Sometimes we are broken. Broken by the disheartening events of life that we must endure. And we may even start to feel as if we may never be who we once were again. But that’s OK, because when we are broken, we are reachable. This vulnerability opens our soul and we listen more carefully to the whispers of the Universe. And when we are broken we are teachable. This enlightenment clears our vision and brings understanding. Brokenness births strength, wisdom, compassion, and humility. When you embrace your brokenness it can make you better than you once were…if you allow it to ♥

Hi ladies! If your looking for another fun site about all the issues important to you, check out GirlZone.com. You’ll find info about pretty much everything-fashion, health, college, boys, money, friendships. I am the GZ Advisor and answer girls’ questions. Maybe I’ll answer something you’ve been wondering about….here is an example of some of the problems I help with.

Hey. My name is Angela and i’m 14 years old. I have skinny legs and i feel like I am not normal.  Please give me some tips on how to reduce skinny legs.
Love, Angela

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I’ve been receiving a ton of emails lately from girls who aren’t happy with their bodies and want to change something about themselves. The thing to remember is that there is no ”right” way to look or one thing that defines beauty. I have girls that write in and say they are too short, too tall, wish they were were skinnier, wish they were more curvy, hate their curly hair, hate their straight hair. My point is that people tend to want what they don’t have because they compare themselves to others. If you are comparing yourself to someone else, you will NEVER be happy. Work on liking what you see in the mirror, embracing your so-called “flaws” and realize that every single person on this earth is different, unique and beautiful.

I encourage my readers to live and breathe a healthy lifestyle… not to be skinny, but to be healthy! For example, Try joining a gym and doing some exercises with weights to build muscles in your legs. Join a sports team at school and have fun while getting exercise. Just know that having the perfect legs will not make you love yourself. That comes from within.

Love ya girl!

GZ Advisor

Confusion can be a kind of intuition: Your body’s way of saying, don’t do anything right now-just go with the flow and the answer will come.”

~Susan King

“Would you tell me, please, which way I ought to go from here?”

“That depends a good deal on where you want to get to,” said the cat.

“I don’t much care where-” said Alice.

“Then it doesn’t matter which way you go,” said the cat.

“-So long as I get somewhere,” Alice added as an explanation.

“Oh, you’re sure to do that,”said the cat, “If you only walk long enough.”

From Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland(1865) by Lewis Carroll

Words written in 1865 still ring true and are easy for many to relate to. It’s interesting to think that so many years ago, people were still grappling with the same common issues about life, choices, fate and discovering our destiny. I just recently turned 30..old, right? I chose an Alice themed party, partially because I love the symbolism in the movie and the messages that emerge amidst the eccentric characters during her psychedelic trip in Wonderland. I highly recommend watching the new version of the movie, and I say this not only because I heart Johnny Depp. Sometimes, I think we all feel a little like Alice, the young girl who hasn’t found her way in either of her worlds. In her real life, her unique way of thinking is deemed as nonsense and she is dismissed as a quirky dreamer. In Wonderland, she feels as if she doesn’t quite  fit in and her once friends don’t seem to recognize her.

deviantart.com

“I wonder if I’ve been changed in the night? Let me think. Was I the same when I got up this morning? I almost think I can remember feeling a little different. But if I’m not the same, the next question is ‘Who in the world am I?’ Ah, that’s the great puzzle!”

The various transitions of life can make you feel as if you don’t recognize yourself one morning, as the quote expresses. You may wonder, “How did I get here“?

As in all fairy tales, a happy ending prevails, as Alice finds her voice and her place in the world; both of her worlds. So, how do we navigate our own way out of dark points in our lives? I’m still forging my personal path out of the rabbit hole, but I’ve learned a few things along the way.

• Live consciously. Stop pretending that everything is okay or that you’re happy with the way things are when in the pit of your stomach, you know you are not. Listen to what those whispers are trying to tell you. Maybe you’re in a major, at a job or in a relationship that is not fulfilling your needs. Do not be in denial for one more day. Accept that something has to change.

• Don’t be afraid to jump. Fear comes with taking risks because we don’t want to lose what once had. Release the fear and take the plunge toward what you could be yours.

• Dream big, start small. We may feel overwhelmed when we try a plan of attack to accomplish our goals. It is essential to begin with the sub-steps that must be taken first. Not always glamorous, they are necessary on the climb to your future. Focus, organize, and do it.

• Lean on all the characters in your life. Alice had the wise cat and caterpillar that did not tell her exactly what to do, but helped guide her. Turn to your friends and family for support and guidance to help you get over the through the rough patches.

I don’t believe Lewis Carroll would have graced us with a classic that has endured for generations to enjoy if he hadn’t a little bit of nonsense in him.

“ I relieve and release your hurt that you may be set free. ” ~L.C.

There is not much we can control in life, but we are fully in control of ourselves and our feelings. Our thoughts are powerful and I like to think of them as the gateway to our emotions. If we fill our mind with positive thoughts, this will have a major effect on our emotions. A simple exercise to start your day off right is to remind yourself of 3 positive things you are grateful for…no matter show small they might be.

Obstacles are an inevitable part of our lives. Whether it is a relationship ending or a rejection letter from a college, we have to look at each experience as a opportunity to learn from. When things don’t go as planned or we aren’t sure what the lesson is, don’t let it get you off track. Instead, reflect on what you can take away from the situation. Did it teach you something about yourself or encourage you to make changes for the future? Reflection and acceptance will help you to grow as a person and ultimately become stronger and wiser. Sometimes the biggest barrier standing in our way of success and happiness is ourselves. If we get bogged down by negativity and self doubt, we are holding ourselves prisoner to these negative emotions. Free yourself and embark on the journey of life! There are guaranteed to be setbacks, failures and tears along the way, but those shining moments when you feel on top of the world make it all seem worthwhile. Isn’t living out your dream worth the journey?

Tips to Be Positive (And Find the Sunshine in any Situation)

• Allow yourself to feel the negative emotions(sadness, anger, frustration) and then be willing to let them go.
• Confide in your support system-parents, friends, coaches, counselors etc.
• Get out and enjoy life; do all the things that make you smile.
• Be your biggest cheerleader and praise yourself for your triumphs. Think of past obstacles that you have overcome in your life.
• Reflect on setbacks and imagine how you wish to change things in the future.
• Be proactive about making changes in your life. Create a plan with goals and the steps you have to take to reach it.

prettyprincessgirls.com

I am so grateful to the amazing girls at prettyprincessgirls.com-Jenna, Cameron, Ashlee and Krissie. They truly care about supporting & empowering other girls. They interviewed me to help spread the word about Ask Erica. Check it out!

http://prettyprincessgirls.com/pretty-princesses/ask-erica/

“We think girls should lift each other up instead of trying to bring each other down. We talk about girls we adore on here, and why we think they are beautiful, talented, inspiring, and amazing, and why they are princesses.”

~PrettyPrincessGirls

I feel honored to be included in their awesome site which talks about everything important to girls..

I ♥ what they stand for and I think you will too…read more from their inspirational site.

“…we think every girl is a princess.

It’s all the little things- your energy, the way you talk, the things that make you smile, the dreams you dream, and the passions you hold, that make you a princess.

we believe…

…every girl should fall in love with who they are and who they get to be…and celebrate it…and we believe girls should celebrate each other too.

PrettyPrincessGirls.com is about…

…feeling alive, being confident, being inspired, being random and silly, adventure, girl stuff shopping, our favorite things, being a girl, and just having fun with it.”

(You can also view my interview by clicking on “Cool Chicks” tab.)