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WhyDid Wisdom: Just the Right Dose of Delusion

By |November 15th, 2013|WhyDid Wisdom|

We’ve all heard the phrase, “Fake it til you make it thrown around.”  Maybe you’ve looked more deeply into what the sentiment implies or perhaps you’ve chocked it up to just another cliché.  Being someone who has a very difficult time faking just about anything from feelings to a simple smile, I didn’t put much weight into the saying until this past year.

As I watched people basically “dumb luck” their way into success after success, I started to wonder how it was all happening and why the heck was I having such a hard time catching a break?  Looking logically at these various situations as an outsider, it seemed there was no possible way that some of these fairly ordinary people had done much to achieve such extraordinary results.  (Please note, this is by no means me being a “hater.”  I love a happy ending more than a businessman in a massage parlor).  So, I put on my detective hat, which I always have handy, and started to look into this phenomenon more closely.

As I studied these success stories, I started to notice a similar thread between all of the individuals who had hit the dreams do come true jackpot.  Each and every one of them appeared to have no sense of reality.  I don’t mean that these folks were full blown wackadoo’s, but unlike many of us, they didn’t seem to have any inclination towards failure.  There’s a reason people who don’t see any type of barriers or roadblocks are so successful.  The thought of defeat or the possibility that they are completely off their rockers never comes to mind.  They absolutely believe their own delusion and while the rest of us stand there shaking our heads in disbelief thinking they must be mad, they’re hitting it out of the park and realizing their greatest fantasies.

Have you ever listened to rap music?  Rappers don’t seem to have any concept of what most of us consider “real life.”   It’s all beemers, bitches, blunts and beats.  I have yet to hear a rap song about making a late payment on a credit card bill or working an extra shift at Burger King to make rent this month.  I mean, do you think Lil Wayne ever worries about clipping coupons or buying the generic store brand to save cash?  (Spoiler alert: he has a song entitled “No Worries”).  Hell, 2Chainz has already made more money than you and I will probably ever see in our lifetimes.  (See, a rapper would never have that negative thought- and that’s perhaps why I’m still not yet a millionaire.).  They see what they want, start living the lifestyle, and like a self fulfilling prophecy, it all becomes their reality.  It’s quite evident that many rappers have mastered the art of self delusion- or as some might call it, positive thinking.

There is much to be said about the power of thought and there’s good reason why books like The Secret are bestsellers.  As powerful as a positive thought is, conversely, a negative thought can be just as powerful.  We become what we think most about and if your mind is full of doubt rather than delusion, you may be the very reason why you have yet to catch your maverick.  We psych ourselves out with our own feelings of inadequacy and let society’s standards keep our own hopes and dreams anchored down here on Earth.  One can’t be successful when his or her beliefs are heavier than a lead balloon.

Of course, all of this positive thinking is easier said than done.  You don’t have any idea the number of times I’ve become completely and utterly discouraged with my own work.  On more than one occasion I’ve wanted to just throw in the towel and quit trying.  It’s incredibly difficult to work hard day in and day out only to watch others succeed while you are still struggling- a feeling which I’m sure isn’t alien to many others out there.  But here’s the thing.  Despite how delusional or how much lean Lil Wayne is on, he’s probably never sat around being a hermit or crying crocodile tears on his leather couch.  He put on his skinny jeans, hopped on his skateboard and got back to work.  Delusion alone won’t get the job done.

Sure, some people seem to catch the first wave that breaks and ride that sucker right on back to success shore, but not everyone is destined for the same success. You certainly aren’t going to catch your big break pouting under the covers in your ratty sweats.  You’ve got to keep working hard, putting one foot in front of the other especially when it feels like absolutely nothing is going your way.  Rather than focusing on the struggle, think about the everyday successes.  And every time one of those pesky, fretful, negative thoughts creeps into your head, envision yourself where you want to be- like on a yacht surrounded by puppies, rose, and bags of gold coins being hoisted by magical unicorns.

Moral of this story?  You’ll never get what you don’t ask for and no one is going to believe in you or your dreams if you don’t believe in them yourself.  So, dream big, keep your chin up and maybe, just maybe, being just the right amount of delusional is the key to great success.

xx,

WhyDid

Beauty Buzz: Hide… Don’t Seek.

By |May 30th, 2013|Beauty Buzz|

For years, I’d basically given up on finding a good concealer.  When a not so friendly facial visitor would set up shop on my face, I just tried to blend it as best I could then play a little game of smoke and mirrors by piling on the Benetint and upping the eyeliner.  I found that most concealers ended up making blemishes look that much more noticeable– like, literally making a mountain out of a molehill.   Then one fateful evening before a first date, I peered into the mirror in horror.  I was either growing a pimple directly between my brows or I was finally turning into a unicorn.  Turns out it was the former.  I didn’t really have time to perform “surgery” on it, so I checked to see what samples I had lying around.  Well, as luck would have it, I had a teeny tube of Miracle Skin Transformer Treat & Conceal.  A tiny dab on my pesky pimple and au revoir!  No one would be the wiser.  So, next time another blemish decides to make an appearance, I’m fully armed and it won’t set me back a month’s rent like the cult favorite from Cle de Peau.

Miracle Skin Transformer Treat & Conceal Eye & Face

And for the record, the only one who got lucky that evening was me… for finding my new favorite concealer.

xx,

WhyDid

image via

Setting the Mood: Jonesing for January

By |January 7th, 2013|Setting the Mood|

january snowFor some of you, the party is over.  For others (ahem, yours truly) the party is just beginning… and you’re obviously invited.  But in case you can’t make it, I understand that January can be a bit bleak, what with the blizzards and below freezing temperatures.  It might be quite tempting to barricade yourself inside until the nightmare that is Valentine’s Day passes.  In the off chance that you’re looking to be a functioning part of society and perhaps secure a date for V-day, it might be necessary to self medicate in the form of shiny accessories, a heavenly scent, and the perfect shade of red lipstick.  Hey, just because I have plans to drown in a pint of Haagen Dazs with How To Lose a Guy in Ten Days’ credits rolling doesn’t mean you have to.

hot items for january 2013

1. Brian Atwood Hamper Leather and Velvet Platform Pumps, $1,795, 2. Alexander McQueen Embroidered Unicorn Skull Bag, $2,455, 3. Blue Life Twisted Sleeveless Jumpsuit, $115, 4. Byredo Gypsy Water, $220,  5. CC Skye The F-U Ring, $52, 6. B Brian Atwood Cassiane High Sandal, $425, 7. House of Exposure Helmut Red Lipstick, $25, 8. Paige Paloma Leather Leggings, $299, 9. Boulee Suri Blouse, $187, 10. Fleur du Mal Leather Silk Lined Triangle Bra, $350

Cookies and Cream or Mint Chocolate Chip?

xx,

WhyDid

 

 

Friday Frocks: Playing Dress Up

By |October 26th, 2012|Friday Frocks|

candy ghost halloweenOkay, so for any of you other ladies who are doing the ultimate stall on selecting a Halloween costume, I have some quick, easy, and not so slutty ideas for you.  If you’ve opted out of the “costume in a bag” but you don’t want to be a total wet blanket, here are five ideas using the frocks you may already own.  I think these are all so brilliant, I may very well wear one of them myself (okay, I’ve already done the mime thing).

And here are last year’s suggestions too (also genius)!

 hot dateSplendid Stretch Tube Dress, $46, Sharpie Brush Pen Permanent Marker Set, $6.99

runaway brideSparkle & Fade Lace Trompe L’oeil Dress, $69, Forever21 Chiffon Rosette Headband, $5.80SUPRA Society Glitter Panel High-Top Sneaker, $95,

 

 carmen miranda halloweenReverse Cut Out High Low Dress, $79, Melissa and Doug Playtime Produce, $17.99, Adia Kibur Layered Beads Necklace, $31.50

mime halloween costumeSparkle & Fade Zip Front Peplum Dress, $54, Oasis Sequin Beret, $23, Adult Insane Clown Posse Makeup Kit, $16.49

unicorn halloween costumeLouise Gray Flas Burst Sequin Dress, $150, Patricia Field Unicorn Headband, $26, Makeup Forever Glitter Eyelashes, $16

xx,

WhyDid