Hi かわいい + creative family!
Happy KWANZAA!
What’s the news?!
I’m so happy this Kwanzaa season and overjoyed with my own growth ❤
This post isn’t to be braggadocios, but sometimes you gotta be your own cheerleader to give yourself the boost you need to keep going ~
Especially when you can spot those IMPORTANT lessons.
You know … the one that’s gonna be THE move for the next year and year’s coming ^.^
That’s where I am as I reflect on 2018 ~
‘CUZ I’M SUPER PROUD OF MYSELF!!!!!
My Most Important Lesson
This year my inner self was screaming for space …
But what does that even mean?!
Since I was still fighting to stay focused and above water, mentally, I made a conscious decision to learn what I needed to feel less anxious & depressed ~
I knew that to I’d need to reconnect with my creative self to finish the year strong ❤
And my toughest lesson to date wasn’t how to treat my customers …
But more in how I treat myself!
Which can (admittedly) feel weird as an innate helper and a business person. You’re taught it’s about the customer. Be there for your customers. There would be no business without customers.
Which is true. BUT …
In business, there aren’t many times that a mentor / sherpa / parnter or whoever will remind you that you also have to be just as kind + caring to yourself ~
Kawaii Self Care
A major win – it became my super power in business ^.^
and this practice of self-care has does wonders for how I negative talk myself.
Instead of negative talking myself to add pressure to get sh!t done …
I tried something different and journaled plenty “Me Today” moments to check-in on myself. I also hugged myself daily (literally) and dedicated Sundays to myself – a day to unplug, un-business, and unwind ^.^
More important, I committed to being transparent with customers if I was mentally unstable ~
(I may have overheard a bit this year but I’m ok with that 😅)
Since this practice is new for me, I can’t lie that I felt guilty like I was doing something wrong to step away from customers / marketing / being helpful to others.
In fact, I felt selfish.
But then I read somewhere that a bit of selfishness is ok. I explored it and got over that feeling QUICK! 💃🏽
The Verdict’s In
Changing how I operate within myself has definitely been my biggest win
(+ woe really)
Learning how I treat myself in this space of owning and operating my business
As well as how I operate my business
are both equally as important ~
Because without good business there’d be no customers (new or returning)
But certainly without me …
There’d be NO business.
No ipukekawaii.TATTOO + tattoo therapy, Afro Kawaii style ~
No Little INKPLAY Shop and all of it’s colorfulness with DC KawaiiStyle ~
and no IP Brand, overall.
2019 may be my journey of how to find balance between the two.
Who knows! 🤷🏾♀️
For now tho, I’ma leave you with this pic of my 2018 reflections ^.^
🙌🏾 ALL GOALS MET! 👊🏾💢
Oh! By the way ~
I DO have lofty wishes + hopefully dreams for 2019 but I’ll share those soon enough ~
In the meantime, comment below and share your most important lesson of 2018?!
Gambare, minna
🎨☀️🌈💗💕✨
Love, Imani (イマーニ)
Let’s keep in Touch! 
Reflections in Business + Meeting ALL of My 2018 Goals was originally published on Kawaii Creative Corner
DC to Japan 