August 31, 2011
"What does Dressing Your Truth
have to do with homeschooling?"
Copyright 2011 Karen Kindrick Cox
By Karen Kindrick Cox
I discovered something recently that has brought a newfound sense of joy and fun in the mundane and necessary activity of dressing, and a deeper understanding of myself and others.
I tell this story here, to homeschool mothers, because every woman wishes her beauty to shine. Since we each have to wear clothes, anyway, why not choose the ones that bring out our unique beauty and present ourselves in the best possible light? And why not have it say something deeper about who we are? Finally in this context, discover how it can affect how you understand and relate to your children.
WHAT WE WEAR HAS A RIPPLING EFFECT
What we wear has a rippling effect through all other aspects of our lives. It can affect relationships, accomplishment and our attitudes. It influences our confidence and credibility. Whether we like it or not, whether we think it should be relevant or not, whether we are even aware of it or not, it is natural for human beings to make detailed assessments of others within as little as 7 seconds of an encounter.
Does what you wear convey the truth of your beautiful heart or does it say something else?
What message does the image you regularly portray say to your family and the world?
How do your children view you?
How do you view yourself?
Do you leave your room in the morning freshened, dressed and prepared for accomplishment, success and contribution?
Do your children?
Does it influence our effectiveness if we allow ourselves, and our children to regularly wear pajamas at all hours of the day? Pajamas are great for resting and relaxing, but they do not set the stage for accomplishment and for how we feel about ourselves. What we wear affects our energy. Proper grooming before each day begins will make a tremendous difference in any homeschool efforts and set habits for children that will affect the rest of their lives.
With that in mind, let's dig a little deeper, and even have some fun with this.
Allow me to be entirely candid, and share with you a personal story.
MY DRESSING YOUR TRUTH STORY
Above - Me, the romantic soul at 19 years-old.
I've always been a deeply sentimental, romantic soul and that character definitely came out in my clothes. As teenagers my sister, Cynthy and I designed and made what we called, "Sleeping Beauty" and "Wendy" dresses. My son-in-law, Braden, called my way of dressing "costumes," as I love old fashioned styles, and by that I don't mean 80's or even 50's clothing, but rather Edwardian, Regency, and even Medieval! For many years I wore only dresses in attempt to convey my feminine nature.
With the exception of a gift of a dress made by my sister, some of her hand-me-ups, and a couple of beautiful handmade items from my daughter, Bridey, I made most of my clothes 20-30 years ago and I was still wearing them a couple of months ago. Dotted with repeated mending's, this fact was definitely beginning to show. I have a stack of fabric, and in the midst of my very busy life, I've spent the last 20 years hoping to find the time to sew some new clothing, in "my style."
In the meantime, the attention draw by the holes in the knees of my jeans had been distracted by two new tops purchased at the newsstand at Gate B 15 in the Louisville Airport, my newest fashion mecca. After all they were soft, long sleeve t-shirts that have been so comfy in the cold, winter weather!
Left - One of my "costumes." A dress I created after a picture of an 1830's dress. The collar extends in several 4" points over each wide-top sleeve.
Above - Me, last April, in my 20-year-old, dark clothes and comfy, old clogs! Note the hole in the toe of one of them. In spite of urging from others, it was to painful to think of giving up such comfortable, easy to slip on and off clogs!
Aside from that fortunate find, I dismissed the thought of shopping for clothes for years, because I KNEW I would not find MY style in ready-made items. So I continued to wait for that elusive day that my sewing machine and I would renew an old friendship. In spite of my wardrobe's sad state of affairs, I continued the delusion, in my mind, that my appearance conveyed the romantic heroine in flowing dresses emerging from a path of jasmine, roses and lavender.
Then, last April, Jeanne Bradley came to visit and shook me from this lovely dream, as she pointed out the stark reality. "Karen, enough is enough! I'm requiring you to go shopping for some new clothes this week!" "No, no!" The dreaded thought! "I'll never find anything in my style, they just don't sell Medieval at the mall, and I can never find pants to fit!" She pointed out the threadbare sections in the back of my jeans and insisted that I go shopping that week!
It was not long after that I came across an email from Carol Tuttle announcing a Mother's Day sale for her Energy and Beauty profiling and Dressing Your Truth courses. I got the profiling bundle for Mother's Day (a book, DVD, online profiling course and MP3 of the book for, I believe, around $39. I was fascinated to recognize my Type 2 nature among her four energy types.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT DRESSING YOUR TRUTH
Once my Type was determined, I could move on to one of her four Dressing Your Truth courses and translate the inner nature into outer appearance. This alignment has many interesting implications in one's interactions with others and insights into how our energy affects every aspect of our lives.
I wanted to order the Type 2 course and was deliberating one day about how to pay for it, when I went out to the mailbox and found my two years overdue tax return check from the State of California in my Utah mailbox! Yay!! I bought the course and began the fun and fulfilling adventure!
I discovered that hidden among the racks of clothes at the thrift stores and discount stores I had avoided for years was a gold mine of romantic Type 2 clothing! Jeanne and Bridey discovered they were Type 1's and as we shopped together with our daughters we began to craft our own unique creative style within the theme of our energy types.
Many years earlier I had determined that I was a Winter in the Color Me Beautiful system, but I never felt comfortable in the, what I called, "zonk" colors. In the reflection of those bright colors, I felt my face was too busy to wear accessories. Aside from a few gifts I had received, my pre-teen jewelry has remained enshrined in my jewelry box, exactly as it was when Cynthy and I "bargained" and traded with neighborhood friends.
As a California girl, who likes warmth (translate comfort), I found scarves a necessity in the snowy Utah and Kentucky weather and hence regularly wore the Pashmina my daughter Ashley gave me, my one lone accessory.
Closet makeover.
I saved the items that fit my Type 2 nature and began anew with what didn't!
With my soft, Type 2 colors, I suddenly found that I could wear accessories! They did not appear too busy! I've discovered the fun of adding my own combination of finishing touches, which as an artist, offers me another outlet for my creativity.
When I was nineteen years old, I remember an evening where I truly felt beautiful, I had a feminine-styled long gingham dress and an off-white, ruffled, lace shawl. My outer expression matched the heroine I imagined in my mind. The fact that it stands out in my memory is evidence that it was one of the few times I remember feeling beautiful -- until now.
Above - Me in August 2011
That feeling does translate into all facets of life, even homeschooling. Let's explore further.
DRESSING YOUR TRUTH
Dressing Your Truth starts with who you are - your particular beauty and energy type, and guides you to expressing your inner type in your outer beauty. It describes in depth, the four energy/beauty types and guides you to recognize your leading energy and movement through life:
Type 1 - Upward, Light - Bright and Animated
Type 2 - Fluid, Flowing - Soft and Subtle
Type 3 - Active, Reactive - Rich and Dynamic
Type 4 - Constant, Still - Bold and Striking
The online video courses offer several hours of detailed instruction, everything you need to know to help you be your own beauty expert as you learn about Design Line, Texture, Fabrication, Pattern, Color/Chroma, for your particular beauty Type. It also includes a Style and Color Guide and complete video guides to clothing, accessories, jewelry, makeup and hair to match your nature and Beauty Type. It's like having a theme for you EPIC dressing adventure, and it works beautifully! It even has a detailed class on how to do naturally curly hair perfectly!
In addition it contains lots of additional resource information and two years of monthly club night video recordings and hands on events, with new ones posting every month. If you happen to be near Draper, Utah, you can attend the monthly club nights in person. Those too far away, including the women from 48 countries currently Dressing Their Truth, attend and interact with live video-streaming online and can view video recordings later, as well. Forums and Facebook groups for each type provide even more support. Members share photos, ideas, how-to's, great deals, exciting finds and love and support.
Above - Brittany, Stephanie and I met for a craft night to make jewelry.
Above - Our final creations!
As always when I find something meaningful, I've shared, with exuberance, the Energy/Beauty Profiling System with family and friends, and wanted to share it with you homeschool mothers as well.
Carol Tuttle's Dressing Your Truth course is worth every penny and has not only transformed my feelings and newfound confidence about my own beauty, but has caused me to look at others, especially family members in a new light of understanding and appreciation for how they approach life.
WHAT DOES DRESSING YOUR TRUTH
HAVE TO DO WITH HOMESCHOOLING?
You might ask what dressing to convey our true nature and beauty has to do with homeschooling. I've previously mentioned, example and habits of success as factors.
In addition, the Energy profiling aspect also helps you to understand and clarify your approach to your homeschool days as you embrace the Type of energy that is your natural movement through life and consider an approach to your days that utilizes your natures innate gifts.
It also opens a new way of looking at your children and others. Your observations of your children's personalities and behavior will give you the clues to determining their Energy Types. This knowledge is very valuable as a guide to how to approach, inspire and understand each child. This can make a difference in how you speak to them, discipline them and understand their motivation, and view of the world.
Knowing your own energy type frees you from comparing yourself to others, as a homeschool mother or otherwise. Instead, you gain feelings of appreciation of others and yourself, rather than futile competition or feelings that you don't measure up to what you see others do. You will find a refreshing freedom and insight to approach your homeschooling in a way that brings out your best gifts, knowing your unique nature is perfect for your family. This is validating and motivating!
Knowing your husband's energy type, and also having him know yours, is also valuable gift in your relationship. I've felt an uplifting sense of fascination to recognize the energy nature in my husband and others and understand and appreciate their approach to life even more.
I could write much more, but instead I will introduce you to Carol Tuttle and her wonderful program. Click the following link for more information:
CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT DRESSING YOUR TRUTH
You are a beautiful and courageous mother. Hopefully, you already know your great worth. I simply share here a resource that enhances your understanding of yourself and others, helps you to understand and interact with your children more effectively, brings greater understanding in your relationship with husband, family and others, and even gives you a whole new way of shining your beauty to the world through Dressing Your Truth.
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Karen Kindrick Cox, creator of the EPIC Pattern of a Scholar TM, has presented Heart-Firing, Brain-Firing how-to's to homeschool mothers, since 1989. She currently runs the online EPIC Adventure Academy and offers workshops and materials to help homeschool mothers ignite passionate learning and heroic living, visit www.courageousbeings.com.
