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(Heading into ASmall Gathering event this Tuesday, 06/19/18, we decided to interview wellness blogger Marisa Barnard to give those who aren’t familiar with her blog some background into Mindfully Glam.)
What is Mindfully Glam all about? What are the basic principles or concepts behind it?
My lifestyle blog, titled "Mindfully Glam" (http://www.mindfullyglam.com) is a place where wellness meets glamour. I touch on positive thinking, gratitude, spirituality, fashion, beauty, holistic health, wellness, nutrition, and everything both mindful and glam!
Being “mindfully glam” is basically a description of me. I love putting on makeup, stepping out in a pair of stilettos and wearing the latest fashion trends. I’m also passionate about exercise, meditation, maintaining a positive mindset, and incorporating healthy eating habits into my lifestyle.
You’ll typically catch me at the newest hotspot in SoHo or a meditation studio in Flatiron...probably all in the same evening! I am constantly trying to maintain balance in my life, and MG incorporates new ideas and tips for my readers that I hope will help and inspire them do the same.
In May of 2016 I hit a pretty hard rock bottom and embarked on the biggest journey of my life: a journey to heal myself and let go of depression, anxiety, and a negative mindset.
Living in New York City is a challenge in so many ways. After living here for a few years, I realized that you don’t have to compromise who you are or the person you want to be.
I also aim to give my readers advice and tips on how to stay grounded in a chaotic world that attempts to throw you out of alignment on a daily basis.
I don’t believe in coincidences, hence the name “Happens for a Reason.” HFAR was more of a hobby, while MG is a business, brand, and resource for my readers to find inspiration, insight, and helpful tips on various subjects.
My posts were more like diary entries, with the occasional fashion or beauty post. One reader even commented that it was very “Carrie Bradshaw-esque.”
With MG, I took my blog to a new level. I realized that I had the answers (or at least the knowledge of what worked for me) to certain problems, challenges, and experiences. I knew I could potentially help other people that were going through the same things.
It recently occurred to me that the evolution of my blog is a direct reflection of my growth as an individual. HFAR was the process, and MG is the outcome. HFAR had no clear direction, and at the time neither did I.
I didn’t know myself very well at the time, and it is clear that whatever I wrote about, I was currently working through and growing through. Now, I write about my life experiences and share them with my readers in the hope that they will be inspired and encouraged.
How do you feel MG is turning out?
MG is constantly evolving. Every day I see a lot of progress and positive feedback from my readers. I worked on MG for 6 months before launching it, and it was a dream come true finally seeing it all come together.
Right before I launched it, I was on the verge of giving up. You typically feel the strongest desire to quit right before you are about to achieve your goals. Out of nowhere, my old self-sabotaging behaviors started to creep up on me. What if I fail? What if I embarrass myself? I launched my blog before it was “ready” in my terms, but had I not, I would have never gone through with it.
Once it was out there, there was no turning back. I even wrote a blog post on my experience:
http://www.mindfullyglam.com/3-sneaky-signs-youre-self-sabotaging-let-go-fear-launched-dream-blog/
Is it a hard line of work?
Everything may look easy on the internet and social media, but blogging is a lot of work! I am my business, and I have to hold myself accountable. I hold down a full-time job, and any down time I have, I feel obligated to work on my blog. It’s been challenging, but I am inspired by the positive feedback from my readers. If I can help one person in some way, then I have succeeded.
What are your biggest challenges in this field?
Blogging is now a very saturated field; however, I’ve realized it takes a lot of perseverance and dedication to be in this for the long haul. I know I’m in-it-to-win-it because I want to publish my own self-help book one day. Everything I write and experience for the blog is helping me prepare for that.
I am constantly working to have my blog stand out. It takes time for blogs to catch on, and I understand that I need to keep at it. Lastly, I’d have to say my age. I’m only 25 years old, but if you were a stranger having a conversation with me, you would think I’m at least 5-7 years older than I actually am. People are skeptical of taking advice from someone who is young. Valid point. I don’t have everything figured out, but when it comes to topics regarding life, does anyone have it all figured out?
I have received a lot of positive comments about MG, and I know that people of all ages can relate to my topics. It’s most rewarding to hear, “Wow, that’s exactly what I needed to read/hear/see,” from a reader.
What is your background, school & work-wise?
I even completed all of the requirements for the major pretty early on in my college career, however, just hours before I had to officially declare my major, I chose Psychology. I only had one class under my belt, but I just knew it was the right choice.
One of the riskiest things I’ve ever done was move to NYC on whim. I had no definite plan, just a dream. I originally wanted to pursue modeling and acting, but upon moving here, I quickly learned that these are tough industries. Nothing worth having comes easy, however, these industries were challenging me in a very unhealthy way. They further fed into my insecurities instead of helping me work through them and grow as an individual. It took me a long time to realize this because being a model was the only identity I associated with. It’s kind of like being in a hot-and-cold relationship where I was the one constantly chasing the other person. Once I realized my worth and the reality of the situation, I wasn’t afraid to walk away, or at least put this former passion of mine on the backburner.
As a blogger, I realized that I could combine my love for modeling with my writing and work both behind and in front of the camera. I’m attracted to the idea of being in control in all aspects—everything from picking the location of a fashion shoot to the topic of a blog post. It’s more meaningful to me and fills a void that modeling could not.
I am still signed with my commercial print agencies, and I will occasionally take a modeling job here and there, but I never had my big “break.” I’m convinced my “break” is manifesting in another form, perhaps in a different industry.
What inspired you to do blogging in the first place?
I've always had a passion for writing. I took my first creative writing course when I was 13 years-old, and from that point on, I knew that I wanted to be a published author one day.
Having studied Psychology in college, I've always been intrigued by human thought processes, emotions, feelings, and behavior. I’ve been journaling about these topics for years, probably since I was 15 years-old. At a young age, I naturally developed a healthy habit of journaling. Whenever I’m upset or struggling with something, I write it out.
While discovering and learning about myself, I commonly found myself writing about these topics and the concept of "self-love" how to love and accept the person that you are. It soon developed into having a blog of my own.
For the longest time, I was afraid to be vulnerable and put myself and my personal thoughts out there for the world to see. At the end of the day, you have to get out of your own way. If you’re not achieving your own dreams, you’ll end up working for someone else who is achieving theirs.
What is the next level for MG & how do you plan on taking it there?
I am constantly working to increase my reader base. My goal is to have more and more people read my blog and share it with others. I also started my own YouTube channel, and I am working to add more content for my viewers.
I believe that YouTube will increase my audience more quickly, and it’s another outlet for me as I enjoy filming and producing my own videos.
I look at MG as a stepping stone for my future career as a life coach, motivational speaker, and published author.
In the MG world, what are upcoming concepts or products that you're most excited about?
Ever so frequently, we get caught up in the rapid pace of life and forget to take even just 15 minutes a day for ourselves, especially during the summer months when we are more likely out and about. It’s common to put ourselves last on our priority list.
I’m currently working on a “21 Day Summer Self-Care Challenge” for my readers. It will consist of performing daily self-care activities, including meditating, talking a long walk, phoning a friend you haven’t spoken to in a while, journaling for 20 minutes, etc. I’m really excited about it, and I know it will be useful!
I take the first hour of each day preparing myself for the rest of my day. I don’t always get a full hour and accomplish all of my exercises, but if time is limited, I focus on what I need in that moment. Taking time for oneself is truly important in the hectic world we live in.
Mindfully Glad
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