It’s Day 238 of the Pink Collar Savvy & Chic on Purpose Project, and despite dealing with the  Ds -more dastardly, despicable deeds from a persistent hater – I’m feeling calm, cool, and collected in coral. There’s a Maya Angelou quote that The Lattes (comprised of myself and two other African American women + one Caucasian = coffee with milk) adhere to: “When people show you who they, believe them.” Because she’s without guile and doesn’t detect it in others, one of the women, Delorise, got burned by someone full of it and amended the words of wisdom to include: “And adapt accordingly”. The bad news is while I’ve seen who this individual is for over twenty years and believe them, I failed to adapt accordingly to protect myself. The good news is, another one of the Lattes, Terri, reminded me that I’ve been delivered from all of my Ds. Therefore, I can still be cool, calm and collected in coral despite dealing with the Ds.

If you’re anything like me, style and color can impact your mood. Knowing I had a trying day ahead of me, I opted to wear bright, cheerful coral that contrasts with the dreary (another D) winter landscape. Seeing how much I enjoy fashion, I’m not surprised that this colorful style made me smile. Dating back to when I was a child, facing any situation dressed in a color I loved (usually pink or some soft shade like peach or coral) made it easier to get up and out the door. It lifted my mood and I’d find myself smiling. The challenge or negative situation didn’t go away; it just shifted my focus from it to something positive. I suppose that was my way of minimizing barriers and maximizing beauty and my best life – even back then.

In case that sounds a bit fanciful, according to research from the University of Kansas, smiling (even if it’s caused by colorful style) not only helps you “grin and bear it” psychologically,  it can help your heart health too. I loved discovering this piece of scientific information because it confirms the link between style and smiling, as in the “You’re Never Fully Dressed Without a Smile” lyrics from Annie! And it means, even if style is not your thing, as long as you’re wearing a smile, you can still deal with any D that gets thrown at you.

As a Pink Collar Savvy & Chic on Purpose self-proclaimed clothes horse, I’ve always viewed them as a means of self-expression. But knowing dressing in a way that makes me smile can also help me deal with my Ds psychologically, perhaps they’re also a means of self-preservation…Thankfully, though I was able to remain calm, cool and collected in coral despite dealing with the Ds today, ultimately, I’m most equipped to deal with them because I’m wearing the whole armor of God (Ephesians 6:10-18), provided by my heavenly Father who delivers us from the all.

How can you be Pink Collar Savvy & Chic about the Ds you’re facing in your personal or professional life? How does your personal sense of  style help you to deal with them? What can you do that makes you smile more?

Be savvy & chic,

~Pink Collar Coach