One of my life lessons remembered this week: Don’t let things snowball. Not even a little. Really.

“Most unhappiness in life is due to the fact that you are listening to yourself rather than talking to yourself.” -Martyn Lloyd Jones

I don’t like to talk about negative things on my blog, but I really put myself through the ringer this week.  And when I’m at my worst, the little things look immense.  I lose perspective. I overreact.

We’ve got a surprise coming for you next month! And no, it’s not this adorable robot, who is apparently named Surprise Bot lol (Photo credit: Jenn and Tony Bot)

In short, we’re in the midst of revamping the blog, turning it into a site with…let’s just say, extras…things I’m pretty sure our readers will love.  And we’re releasing our time-release microencapsulated retinol 0.5% on August 16.  The pressure is on.  From requirements for a label to setting up an ordering system to finding box suppliers, it’s thrilling and stressful at the same time.  Somehow, this week, I let the stress snowball.

And it’s so funny:  when you’re focused on stress, you just attract (and create) more of it.  For instance, in my whirlwind state, I was very tired and slept in past my alarm this morning.  In turn, I was late traveling to the airport, and got stuck in traffic to boot.  And then I realized once I got to the airport, I didn’t have my phone with me.

Sadly, I have become iPhone-dependent. Perhaps this weekend in NYC sans phone will free me of it…

No worries, I thought, I’ll be OK.  I’ll just get to my friend’s apartment.

Except I went to the correct street number, but the Street instead of the Avenue, which in New York put me in an entirely different neighborhood.  (I must admit, though, I am enjoying the free Wifi and cupcakes here!)

Deep breaths…

I think part of my personal journey in life is to learn how to deal when little obstacles get in my way. As Richard Carlsson, one of my favorite writers, once said, “You have to be grateful when you’re feeling good, and graceful when you’re feeling bad.”  So true, especially when it is my natural tendency to be like a bull in a china shop when I’m feeling bad.  Or, rather, a hurried bull in a coffee shop typing away on her laptop…

21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership: highly recommended for anyone actively looking to improve their life, whether personally or professionally.

But I do think that I’m feeling more centered, much better right now.  (Blogging makes me that happy!)  Just yesterday, I bought John C. Maxwell’s 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership, and that quote above about talking to yourself rather than listening to yourself all the time spoke to me so much.  It’s so funny – if I listen to that higher voice we all have, I know everything is OK and will work out just fine, so long as I maintain good character, a strong passion for what I do, and an amazing work ethic.

But man, you really have to work not to let things snowball.  :-)

Well, with that said, here is our Follow Friday!

• Carleen of Beauty and Fashion Tech recommends 5 Beauty Products to Try this Summer
• MyBeautyBunny talks cruelty-free toners and beauty mists
• TheBeautyBrains reviews the PaloVia laser (our FutureDerm review is coming next week!)
• Curly Nikki (nope, not me) shows off Alicia Keys’ new short ‘do!
• Blush Mamas loves Chanel Rouge Coco (not that I can blame her)

How are you?  Wanna chat?  Let’s talk in Comments below!