The Main Allure
The Main Allure podcast is inspired by the need to tackle the big questions with a healthy dose of humor and authenticity.
Her goal is to inspire and motivate you to embrace who you are in order to attract what you want, because you are the main allure.
The Main Allure
Ep. 10 | The Intentional Magic of Romanticizing Your Life
Have you ever caught yourself going through life on autopilot, treating each day like just another box to check? Today's episode offers a paradigm shift that could revolutionize your everyday experience without requiring more money, time, or resources than you already have.
🎶 Lavern, Francis Lai - La Leçon Particulière
Welcome to the Main Allure podcast. I am your host, Laura, your unofficial mentor and motivator. Do you ever feel like you're just going through the motions, like life is a checklist instead of a journey? Well, what if I told you that there's a simple, powerful way to inject joy, meaning and a little bit of magic back into your everyday life, no matter who you are or what your circumstances are. So get ready to transform the ordinary into the extraordinary, because today we're talking about how to romanticize your life. By the way, I wanted to take a minute before we begin to say that this is my officially my 10th episode. So I am super excited, very happy. I you know I'm so happy that you guys are here with me and you've been sticking with me. So thank you so much, and glad I got that out of the way, all right. And now on to today's episode. And glad I got that out of the way, all right. And now on to today's episode.
Laura:Romanticizing one's life is far more than just a fleeting trend or a superficial way to feel good. Romanticizing your life is a deeply impactful way to significantly contribute to better health and happiness through interconnected mechanisms that can help you improve and at least adjust the way that you think of your everyday life, and the benefits include cultivating mindfulness and presence At its core. Romanticizing your life is an exercise in mindfulness. It is really encouraging you to be present in the here and now. It is the way that you can forget about your past and stop worrying about your future. You have to be intentional about being present. By intentionally noticing and appreciating the details of your life, your daily life the warmth, coffee, the sunlight through a window, the comfort of the bed you know all of the 200 pillows you have on your bed right now. You actively pull yourself into the present moment, and so this mindful awareness is known to reduce a great amount of stress, anxiety and depression. I mean, how often do we stop and really pay attention to all the little wonders that we have around us, things that the universe has created for us? I know that sometimes we tend to notice the bad things, like the potholes that we have to drive through every day, but what we don't necessarily tend to focus on are the beautiful things that are around us. Take a moment and really notice the good things as well, because if you're walking around and you're only noticing the negative things, chances are that you're either focusing too much on the past because it's something that you either had and no longer have, or it's something that makes you worry because you can have or aren't able to have at the moment. So you're worrying more about the future, but that is the whole premise of thinking about the present. So, regardless of how you're feeling, regardless of where you are in your life, take a moment to enjoy all of those little things that add so much beauty to our surroundings. Little things that add so much beauty to our surroundings.
Laura:Romanticizing your life is fostering a sense of gratitude and appreciation. Romanticizing inherently involves finding beauty and value in the ordinary. You don't have to wait until something is truly amazing and wonderful and rare even for you to enjoy it or for you to think that there's beauty in it. Sometimes the ordinary is even more beautiful because it exists, simple as that. This naturally leads to an increased sense of gratitude. When you consciously seek out things to appreciate, no matter how small, you shift your focus from what you lack to what you do have. And, believe me, this attitude of gratitude is and has been extensively linked to improved mental health. It is a way to feel that sense of satisfaction. It is a way that you can build stronger relationships, because not only are you just not nitpicking at each other's flaws, you're really taking the time to enjoy, or at least to acknowledge that there is something to admire, whether it's at a person, a thing, a place. Always find something that you could say hmm, I never looked at it that way. Let me take a closer look and spend some time really enjoying it. It also provides even better physical health outcomes, like lower blood pressure and even an improved immune function, because your body is working from a sense of peace, if that makes sense. You're not feeling or sensing or reacting from a place of tension or anger or disappointment. You always find those little blessings, those little things that make you feel that, after all, after everything, regardless of whatever is going on in your life, you are blessed.
Laura:Now I know you're probably thinking well, I don't have the resources, I don't have the money to spend on romanticizing my life. Well, I'm here to tell you that just because someone has plenty of money, plenty of resources, it does not necessarily mean that they really get to enjoy the luxuries that they have. Some people tend to work long hours and they may have a beautiful porch in the backyard right now and it sits empty because most of the time they're out working or they're traveling all the time because of work or whatever responsibilities they may have. We always tend to think that other people have it better than us. There's always something that you feel is missing, but the reality is that people who have them may not get to enjoy it as much because they have to work, they have to be away from home all the time.
Laura:With that, I want to give you some tips on the positives of having that ability to romanticize your life, and the number one is it boosts positive emotions. When you think of dopamine and serotonin, when you engage in activities that bring you joy or when you actively appreciate what's around you, your brain releases these neurotransmitters like dopamine and serotonin, and they are these feel good chemicals that impact the way that you feel, the way that you sense things, your emotions, your well-being, your mental health, and so by intentionally seeking out and savoring these little, small moments of pleasure that could be anything that you enjoy, you create a more consistent flow of positive emotions throughout your day. Romanticizing your life also increases your sense of resilience and coping skills. Life always comes with challenges and adversity and different hardships. So when you romanticize your life, you're not just ignoring these difficulties. You're really creating a way to allow yourself to better navigate your problems by focusing on the positives and finding meaning even in those little challenging circumstances, the problems that you may face, and you will be able to also handle stress in a more positive way, which I know sounds crazy, right, but again remember, romanticizing your life is about changing your mindset to knowing how to approach your life. When something does go wrong, you should always leave some space for ease and comfort, because you deserve that. So it doesn't matter what you're going through. We all deserve peace and comfort.
Laura:Romanticizing your life enhances self-perception as well. It is seeing yourself as the main character of your own story, of your own life. It is about taking ownership and agency, recognizing that you have the power to change your experiences and how you perceive them. This is why it is so empowering. It helps boost your self-esteem and your confidence, counteracting feelings of helplessness or even feeling like you're a victim of circumstance. Because, at the end of the day, it also helps reduce stress and by improving your mental health, those psychological benefits directly translate to physical improvements. It reduces stress and anxiety. You cultivate a sense of gratitude by having lower levels of cortisol, which is a stress hormone, right? But you also feel elevated, and we all know how cortisol can wreak havoc on our bodies. The more and more you hold on to the stress, the more and more that cortisol will end up. I'm telling you that's the last thing you want to do is hold on to stress, because once you start feeling that in your shoulders, in your neck, you could potentially start getting headaches and you won't be able to sleep as well. You know, acknowledge that, acknowledge that stress can take over, and by romanticizing your life, you build that appreciative mindset that can contribute to better heart health, to better quality of sleep and, as a result, it encourages you to build healthier habits.
Laura:When you feel good about your life, when you're walking with a pep in your step is that how they say? Pep in your step You're more likely to reject things that do not align with that feeling, and this could include seeking ways or different activities that bring you joy. And this could include seeking ways or different activities that bring you joy, spending time with nature or pursuing hobbies that fulfill you eating healthier, getting enough rest. It is about those daily little habits where feeling good leads to doing good for yourself and ultimately creating a more fulfilling, resilient and healthier existence, regardless of anything that happens in your life, all right. So now we're getting to the fun stuff, because I want to give you some tips on ways that you can romanticize your life, and here are simple yet effective ways for anyone to romanticize their life, regardless of your gender, your wealth, your circumstances.
Laura:Find a space for yourself to enjoy being alive, to enjoy your existence, regardless of whatever happens on the outside world. Are we ready, all right? So the first one is curating your immediate surroundings, and what I don't mean is, you know, I don't want you to go and sell your house because it's too small and you can't put a sauna inside or whatever. What I'm saying is doing small, little things to make your space more peaceful, and in doing that, it could be making your bed, decluttering a place where you want to spend more time arranging a few items aesthetically. It could be moving furniture. It could be something as simple as that. It could be lighting a candle right After you clean. Right, because we want to have a clean, organized and inviting space, no matter how tiny it may be. That one simple step can significantly impact your mood. Find a cute corner where you could say, okay, I'm going to put this cute chair, this is where I get the sunlight Again. Make it so that this is your haven, this is your safe space, so that anytime you want to feel like you want to relax, this is where you'll go.
Laura:The next thing is to elevate your everyday rituals. So think about the things that you do every single day. Maybe, when you wake up every morning, do you just rush, take a shower and then turn on the coffee pot and all of a sudden, you're like getting dressed, rushing to get out of the house, and you chug your coffee down and rush at the door. Well, let's change that a little bit. It's about turning those mundane tasks into moments of pleasure. And so, instead of just drinking that coffee and like rushing out the door, why don't you wake up 10 minutes earlier and say, okay, i'm'm gonna put a pot of coffee while I take a shower, and I, you know, I don't know if you guys have a robe, so whatever it is that you can afford, just get you a robe. And after you shower, before you start getting ready, give yourself enough time to just go downstairs or wherever you live. Just walk over, get yourself a pot of coffee, sit in your cute little chair and just savor that little moment. Think about how wonderful it is to just be able to do that. Enjoy that nice mug and enjoy that quiet morning.
Laura:Same thing when you're cooking. Cooking doesn't have to be boring. You know, you can put on some music. I mean, I love putting on music when I cook and dancing around. Find that favorite song that just makes you light up. Instead of using the same tired ingredients, those little packets of powder everywhere, go to a farmer's market if you can afford it, and find ways to bring in fresh ingredients and touch them and cut them up and feel them right, like this is nature. Some people could grow them in their own backyard. Some people do that even in their own kitchen. The idea is for you to really make that moment magical, and so it doesn't matter where you are. So the whole idea is to appreciate that process of creating something nourishing that it's going in your body and, regardless of whatever you can afford, try ways to make that feel like you're eating. You know, a five course meal, because maybe that's what a five course meal means to you. Enjoy that Now.
Laura:Going back to that chair in the corner right, or whatever you you know, maybe it's a couch, whatever. I want you to take some time to enjoy your sensory delights. Pay attention to your senses, notice the way it's raining outside and take time to cherish the sound of the rain. If you can go outside in your yard, do that. Touch grass with your feet, let your feet touch the ground and allow yourself to feel. Allow yourself to look at the sky, see the beauty that there is up there. Take some time to taste a piece of fruit, a piece of candy. All of these things will make you feel more present and appreciative of those small details, even that annoying fly that could be flying around your house. Yes, it's quite annoying. You wish it would die a sudden death, but when you think about it, you know this is a creation from nature. Right, like this is something that somebody's piled up trash and brought to your house. Maybe the neighbor didn't cover the trash, but guess what? The noise of the fly is a reminder that you can hear the sounds that a lot of people are not able to hear. The minute that you start to notice just how blessed you really are is the minute that you're going to appreciate everything around you. All those small details that we tend to overlook and not really notice are going to start to look like little wonders.
Laura:Now, one thing that I love to do is creating your own personal soundtrack, and to me, music is absolutely essential. Music is such a powerful tool. Music can change your mood, the way you feel, the way you react to different things. It helps boost your mood. What I obviously will recommend is making a soundtrack of music that can uplift you. Now, if you're listening to Jagged Little Pill by Alanis Morissette, you know chance is already going to walk away feeling a little angry and enraged. What we're trying to do is really try to beautify the way that you feel. Create playlists for different activities. Maybe you have a playlist for when you're winding down at night. Jazz is wonderful for that. Classical music is great too. Maybe there's music that you need to listen to when you're getting ready in the morning, and it could be music that makes you want to dance. Right, it helps boost your mood so that when you're walking out and you're encountering people who are mean and crazy, you know you take it in stride a little bit. Why? Because you're already feeling in a good mood. Let music enhance your daily experiences.
Laura:When romanticizing your life, the goal is to find beauty in the ordinary, and so make sure to look for those small and often overlooked beautiful things around you. It could be a vibrant flower that's growing through the concrete, or an interesting architecture that's in your community. Maybe it's a park that you walk by every day, that you see kids playing around. Find the light in all those unique things that happen every single day. When it comes to romanticizing your life, using your imagination is never out of the question, so think of ways where you can transform your space whatever space that is that you find that you seek comfort in and transform it into a place where you want to escape, where you feel like you are in a place of comfort and peace.
Laura:And so, for example, for me, I would love to visit the south of France, maybe one day. But the idea is that, if it were up to me, I would create a space in a corner of my home. You know, maybe I would find pictures on Pinterest or something. What does it look like to live in the south of France? I would probably paint it similar colors. I would find cute little furniture, or, if I already have two chairs and a cute table with a nice vase and some little flowers, right, like again, it's just creating that same ambiance so that anytime that I feel like I want to, I want to feel romantic, I want to feel like I want to escape or take some time away from my current world, then I know that I could go there. If I could open up a glass of wine, listen to some French music Wait, am I saying that right, or is that Italian? Anyway, the whole point is to find a space and make that the one place where you may not be able to be there in person, but you can make a part of your home. Just that, and wouldn't that be lovely.
Laura:To dress up like you're there to do your hair, you know, wear the jewelry that you would wear like you're in France, or the whole idea is to create a place where everything is just lovely and wonderful and inspiring. And I guarantee you like, even if you're a creative person, doing these little rituals will definitely boost your creativity. It will boost your motivation, because you're feeling brand new when you're doing these things. And to experience in the comfort of your own home. Wear whatever makes you feel alluring and special, sexy, fabulous. It could be anything. It doesn't need to be something dressy. Even it could be your favorite cozy sweater, your favorite hoodie. It could be a stylish outfit that it's been sitting in your closet for years, that you haven't been able to wear because there hasn't been an occasion for you to wear it. Put it on, take some pictures, put on that perfume or cologne on.
Laura:It's really about feeling good in your own skin, and so do not wait for the right moment to come, because it may never come. And so, while we wait, make sure that the fine china is being used. The nice jewelry doesn't matter, even if you're just wearing it around the house, who cares? Enjoy the things that make you feel good about yourself. And, as far as staying home, make sure that you're scheduling me time specifically. We get so busy and we forget that we need to take time for ourselves. We may be overextending ourselves by helping everybody else, and then we forget that we also need time to feel good, to rest. So designate specific time for activities that you truly enjoy, that are genuinely yours. Enjoy that are genuinely yours. And it could be reading, listening to this podcast, it could be journaling, it could be meditating, or it could just be doing absolutely nothing, because doing absolutely nothing is great too.
Laura:All right, it means that you're resting. It means that you're giving your body time to recuperate from all of the hustle and bustle. It's grounding and almost romantic, right. Treat this time as sacred and protected from any interruptions. If you have children, make sure that if they go to sleep at nine, tell them to go 8.30,. You know, change the time. Give yourself an extra 30 minutes at night so that you could have some me time, because we all deserve it. You know you don time. Give yourself an extra 30 minutes at night so that you could have some me time, because we all deserve it. You know you don't want to spend your days just going and going and going and you figure out with time that you're just exhausted, burned out and it's a result of that it's not really how much you do, right? We all need that special time to feel like we deserve rest. We have a right to rest because it will help us recharge and feel like we are ready for the next day.
Laura:Another thing is to engage in a simple creative outlet, and it could be a hobby that you enjoy. Maybe you love to sing, to paint. Maybe you just love doodling with pen and paper, to write poetry, whatever it is. Find something that is truly yours, that you can enjoy, that you can spend time unwinding from all of the responsibilities that you have. And the act of creating, no matter how small, can bring you so much joy and accomplishment, because it's that one thing that is truly yours, that is truly connected to who you are. So always make time to create.
Laura:Lastly, I want you to reflect and appreciate your everyday moments. So, at the end of the day, take a few moments and think about something good that happened, no matter how small it could be, that the coffee that you drank today was amazing, could be a kind word, a beautiful moment or something that you accomplished. So cultivating gratitude will help you see the positive aspects of your life. No matter what happens in your life, there's always something to appreciate and to be grateful for. I hope that this episode has sparked a little magic for you, so consider this your gentle reminder that a more joyful, present and healthier life isn't just a dream. It is a series of small, intentional choices that you make every single day, and I want to ask what is one thing that you will do today to add a touch of romance to your reality. You can start small, stay consistent and, in the end, watch how the ordinary transforms into something truly extraordinary. So go out there and romanticize your beautiful life. Out there and romanticize your beautiful life.
Laura:And, by the way, in the next few episodes, I am planning to create a few challenges so that we can follow through together. Yes, I'm going to challenge myself as well to different ways we can become our better selves. So stay tuned, because the next few episodes are going to be all about that and I will be documenting my experience as well. So it's not going to be just telling you what to do and I'm just going to sit back. No, no, no, I'm going to also be doing the same thing. So tune in.
Laura:And well, actually, let's talk about next week's challenge. Since we're talking about it now, guess what what we're going to do first, our first challenge is going to be about detoxing from social media and don't worry, I'm not going to ask you to disconnect for an entire week. What we're going to do is to disconnect for 48 hours. So you pick the 48 hours. We're going to talk about how it felt, the challenges faced and what the benefits are. So I know it's going to be hard, but I hope you join me in my pain and suffering, because it's a good challenge. I think, overall, we're going to learn a lot from this experience. So make sure you stay tuned and follow up with me next week. Make sure you stay tuned and follow up with me next week. Again, thank you for listening to the Main Allure podcast. Don't forget to like, share and subscribe, and until next time, bye.
