As 
A day or two later I received an insightful email from a friend in New York (who happens to be a meditation expert). Maybe it was her choice of words or that I received her message at the perfect moment; but for whatever reason, I was able to easily take her advice and make a conscious decision to give myself a break and basically just chill out. Almost immediately, I felt a positive shift take place. (I realize this sounds a bit crazy but it’s true.) The moment I exercised self-compassion and accepted the situation, I felt less stressed, happier and more self-assured. It was as though there was a little switch in my brain that I thought was on but had been accidentally mis-set to off. Over the last week I’ve also noticed a more effortless flow taking place in my personal and professional life.
Stop judging yourself for what you see as imperfect; your ‘flaws’ are part of what make you beautiful. Working out is good for you on sooo many levels; when you view it solely as a means to weight loss (and when you weigh yourself too often) you’re tragically missing out on a lot of joy and awesomeness. Meanwhile, you’re doing the opposite of loving yourself; as horrible as it sounds, you’re kind of loathing yourself. Avoid anyone (even if it’s a fitness instructor) who is focused on the mirror rather than on authentic connection and positive inspiration. This is serious business between you and your heart. Another upside is that you’ll actually get more fit in the long run because you’ll fall in love with the process rather than just attaining a short-term goal.
3/ Avoid processed foods. Your body is meant to be fueled in the most natural way possible. Eating processed foods (those that have been chemically processed and made solely from refined ingredients and artificial substances) is dangerous to your health. Many illnesses and weight gain are caused by eating a large quantity of processed foods; they tend to be low in nutrients while being high in simple sugars, refined carbohydrates and trans fats. Eating real food is the key to good health. Show your body the love and care it deserves by avoiding processed foods altogether or as much as possible. Your body will thank you for it.
5/ Stop looking over your shoulder. As a track and field coach once warned, “The runner who looks over his shoulder is never the winner; she’s already defeated.” This applies to personal happiness and business as well. To be successful in life (regardless of your definition of success), you can’t worry about what everyone else is doing. You need to listen to and trust your gut, to appreciate what you have, and (if this applies) to work your butt off to achieve whatever your heart is set on. Life is way too short to waste precious time and energy focusing on someone else’s path at the expense of your own.
“Fashion isn’t really what feeds my soul. But turning a hobby into a job has been amazing.” This isn’t too surprising, considering her company’s manifesto reads, “We believe that everything should be done with a higher, more meaningful purpose – including fashion – and that everything counts, big or small.” Reflecting this tenet, 
Taking Power Into Her Own Hands. Since managing a boutique in Calgary at 18, Jia has known she would like to “launch something” some day. At the time, the industry was vastly different (online shopping was pretty nonexistent) and her business would have required a completely different setup; however, the seed had been planted. Years later, a personal realization at work prompted Jia decided to step away from her corporate career and to begin building a business that unites her experience in the fashion industry with her desire to create positive impact. Jia had proposed to her employer that over the winter holidays the company donate the proceeds of an internal project to a nonprofit. “They were making a lot of money and this would not have meant a loss for business, as this was all internal — but the moment I proposed something that would benefit others, I received a cold response. This didn’t sit well with me and was a signal. Soon after, I quit – cold turkey. No job, no nothing.” 
Baby Steps + Beta Test + Launching 
Muhammad Ali’s life story is as compelling as his personality. As a two-year-old, he knocked his mom’s tooth out and as an eight-year-old he told the neighborhood kids he would be champion of the world. When others called him arrogant, he responded that he wasn’t conceited, he was convinced. And being the greatest boxer of all time is only part of what made Ali so exceptional. Growing up in segregated Louisville, Kentucky, Muhammad Ali experienced a great deal of oppression that took years to overcome; yet he never succumbed to bitterness or violence. He legally abandoned his “slave name” of Cassius Clay and converted to Islam, not because anyone else was doing it but because it’s what he believed in. He was an unapologetic game-changer and a messenger of peace. For refusing to fight in the Vietnam War, Muhammad Ali faced federal prosecution, was stripped of his title and license to box, and was even sentenced to prison. He stood by his unpopular decisions and faced their consequences, and years later won back love, respect and admiration from the world. Muhammad Ali’s authenticity is nothing short of awe-inspiring.