Since you all are my besties or soon to be BFF’s, I just want to tell you that I went Bra shopping yesterday. Not only did I feel “lifted” up in more ways than one, I had an AHA moment!
By the end of the year, we are all dragging and feeling overstretched…much like our boobs and bras. I thought I would take advantage of the year-end sales and stock up on a few new bras. Imagine my surprise at how I felt, inside, after putting a new one on!
- I had a surge of sexiness! The silhouette under the clothes was refreshed and ready to step out on the town! I was inspired to dress up and find the right outfit to complement my latest wardrobe addition. Wearing the new bra added spice to ordinary clothes and rejuvenating my spirit!
- Not only did I look sassy, but I felt it too! When you feel it from the inside, your head automatically lifts itself higher and your carry your body with strength.
- Maybe a guy can’t relate to this, but I felt supported. There is something about the freshness and comfort that makes one feel put together. The elastic straps weren’t loose, sliding down my shoulder, distracting me. The back wasn’t stretched out and sagging. Everything was in place which seemed to bring a little bit of order to my chaos.
- When a bra is done, there is no keeping it together or contained. There is no confidence that you aren’t going to fall out of place just bending over. It makes you feel self conscious and insecure about your appearance, thereby, leading to less self confidence. The knowledge that you can bend down to pick up a newspaper and remain held in place always make you feel more confident in how you move and dress. You don’t have to think to yourself “is there a corner that I can go to tuck everything back in place before someone notices?” anymore. You got this, and can now concentrate on more important things.
- Stand up and feel strong. Wrapping itself around you is support, it totally has your back and it telling you to stand tall and walk with confidence because you have yourself together!
- There are times when your bra can be your best friend – that little reminder that support is always close by to give you a boost. Appearance and clothes do not define the person, but enhance the inner glow that just needs that spark of confidence to shine.
- Be daring and bold by wearing a pop of personality under that suit! Your flair for creativity and adventure will naturally carry over into your work. Creativity + Confidence = Divergent thinking. Divergent thinking will stimulate new ideas, concepts, and solutions enabling you to perform at a higher level within your work environment.
Those are my Seven Steps of Support that a new bra can bring to you and help you navigate the New Year. I remember when a recently divorced friend asked me what is the first thing she should do for herself now that she was on her own, I jokingly said “Go get fitted and buy a new bra!” It seems so indulgent and selfish to go shopping in the midst of change. I am here to tell you it is not selfish to dedicate time and $$ for self care. It is essential. Old patterns and habits need to be shifted. The first step is to buy a bra that actually fits and supports you. It affects your health to not have a properly fitting bra. An ill-fitting bra affects the shoulders, the neck, the upper and lower back, and may give you headaches due to weight and strain. Statistically, 80% of women wear a bra that doesn’t fit properly. Not only does it affect posture, tight straps affect blood flow, tight backs affect breathing and digestion, and tight cups may produce rashes under the breasts. I am going to say it again: It is not indulgent to buy yourself a new bra every 6-8 months.
I did take the time after my divorce to get measured and fitted. Imagine my surprise that for the past 15 years, I was wearing the wrong size. I was off a whole cup size. The new bra (and proper fit) made all the difference in the world. Were my headaches due to improper bra size? I don’t know for sure, but I know that I rarely get headaches now or red rashes from the underwire.
Take care of yourself. It’s a new year. It’s your year to stand strong and step out in style.