Before I really get into this blog post I want to let my educated, driven, ambitious, hustle girlies know that it’s okay to feel peace. You don’t have to be perfect and you don’t shit to prove. You deserve to feel at peace always. You are worthy of peace always. Soft living will not get in the way of your goals and if you find a way to incorporate this soft mindset you’ll see yourself flourish in ways you never have. Now lets get into it.
The soft life movement has been quasi-cancelled due to its tendency to overlap the term “soft life” with abundance, wealth, luxury, and their respective associations. To me, soft living resembles face masks and wine; it carries the taste of lavender, the scent of vanilla, and the sound of flipping through the pages of a favorite novel – these elements define peace in my mind.
Soft living is a mindset; it’s about how you choose to receive, react, and respond to your circumstances and that’s really what my blog is about: cultivating a mindset that allows us to embrace a soft life.
Soft living is a lifestyle centered around choosing peace.
Soft living and a life of abundance are not mutually exclusive, yet they are distinct, with one being able to exist without the other.
Like many trends, the soft life movement was taken too far. It began as a response to the pressures of hustle culture, championed by women, but it morphed into a persona that demanded a specific appearance and behavior. What originally allowed women to embrace their feminine energy and express themselves without the weight of overachievement transformed into another confining stereotype. The movement became a well-intentioned, yet overbearing, figure that dictated how one should appear, sit, talk, and dress – akin to a well-meaning yet restrictive stepmother. Modesty should not be confused with soft living.
Soft living is founded on cultivating inner peace. Often, we wrongly believe that achieving peace requires an abundance of resources. Thankfully, that’s not the case. Being at peace is a decision we make daily. Peace is not something external to attain; it’s an internal choice that already resides within us.
Growing up, my life was marked by difficulties. From living in a fatherless home to struggling to afford basic necessities, my childhood experiences toughened me. I had to raise my voice to be heard, gather knowledge to feel intelligent, excel at various skills to feel confident, and consistently overachieve to find self-worth. While these qualities aren’t inherently negative, my peace of mind was unduly tied to them. The world told me not to change, but sticking to who I was started to hinder the life I envisioned. I faced a choice: continue as I was and receive the same outcomes, or change and seek different results. My desire for change surpassed my attachment to an identity that no longer served me, so I embarked on transformation, a journey still in progress. Every day that I embrace evolving my mindset, the process of choosing peace becomes more natural and effortless.
And remember living a soft life doesn’t mean forgoing abundance; rather, it’s about harmonizing tranquility with the pursuit of fulfillment. It’s entirely possible to navigate a path of abundance while staying true to the principles of soft living. The key lies in aligning your pursuits with what brings you genuine joy and contentment. When your chosen path resonates with your values and aspirations, it becomes a means to enhance your overall well-being. Striving for abundance is not contradictory to soft living; it’s about ensuring that every step you take is in harmony with your inner peace, allowing you to achieve both material success and a serene state of mind.
CONCLUSION
In a world often dominated by hustle and the relentless pursuit of external markers of success, the soft life movement serves as a poignant reminder that peace and tranquility are not commodities to be chased after, but rather choices we make each day. It’s a call to embrace simplicity, find solace in the little things, and prioritize our well-being above societal expectations. As we journey through life, let’s not shy away from pursuing abundance; rather, let’s infuse our pursuits with the essence of soft living. By making deliberate choices, aligning our actions with our values, and prioritizing our inner peace, we can forge a path that’s both abundant and serene. The soft life is a lifelong journey, an exploration of balance and contentment, and a testament to the power of choosing peace amidst the chaos. So, as you navigate your existence, may you find yourself embracing the soft life, fostering inner tranquility, and reveling in the abundant fulfillment that comes from living authentically and with purpose.