I need to admit something to you. My inner voice has been projecting onto other people an awareness, or, actually a question that goes exactly like this: why are you wearing that? Seriously, to the doorman in my building, sweet people who work at the local market, neighbors, potential dates and even friends in conversation over the phone. Now, I have wondered what this is about to the point of considering of enrolling in fashion school (which is just not viable after 15 years of yoga and nutrition training). So, I brought it up with dear friend and brilliant artist, Rachel Kice, who translated it into Deepak terms and brought the question back to my soul.
What is the symbolism of what we choose to wear? And beyond that, what makes us decide to become who we are and how we represent ourselves in the world? If you think about it, just like our body is energy vibrating a certain frequency, so also is the size, shape and color of our clothes. Now, like in what you may choose to eat, there are practical reasons we decide to wear what we are wearing. From the season, the event, the place, person or quality you would like to represent, as well there are levels of awareness you may have about what you are wearing. Also, I notice, my mind changes about my closet depending upon the respect I have for it, which depends on the cleanliness and organization, both of which lead to greater clarity and efficiency when it comes to decide….why am I wearing this? or that?
I am not suggesting you put more worry or obsession into deciding what to wear. No, not at all. I can’t promise you I know why I am wearing what I have on now…or most of the time. I do know that logic leads us to decide to become who we are based on past, present and future interpretations of who we think we are and this is where and how we can have a sense of control over who and what we are. So, if you want to become more, better than you are, I don’t know how it happens, but I do believe that there is something to the principle of dressing for success. I’ll never forget when I was asked to speak at graduation for the Institute for Integrative Nutrition. Nothing could have felt more appropriate. The fact that I had practiced a near-perfect macrobiotic diet which led me to trim all fat off of my body and all sense of who I was beyond a diet out of my mind, it felt right on to be able to stand up in front of 1200 people and talk about why we needed to arm ourselves for inspiring the world to change their diets. Yet, in hindsight I would have started by being honest and saying, don’t be extreme about it, but come to me when you need help, because I know what it takes. That day, I was wearing my best…Hugo Boss white and wood heels and a gorgeous white and brown naturally floral designed dress. I was tan and gorgeous. I knew I could do it. I was asked after that talk to work for the school. A true miracle given my desire to be employed beyond my self and the level of opportunity being offered in a move to New York City and enough income to thrive on, while being supported by a community of like-minded health-obsessed cool people.
So, any day, when you walk out of the house, you may know why you are wearing what you are. What if you chose to be just a little more conscious of it? What if people started to comment on why you are wearing that, by saying, “You look good”. Or not commenting at all. It is not about what they think. It is not even about what you are wearing. It is about what you think about how you are wearing it. I had a client in town for New Year’s 2012 who works for a fashion company called Alabama Chanin. She reminded me to invest in my clothes and not go out and buy as much as I can from TJ Maxx because I need something to wear now.
Doesn’t it feel better to love what you are wearing? I can name the people in my life who love what they wear. From that, I can imagine that it takes a level of consciousness, as does maintaining a healthy weight, to love yourself in your clothes. I know for me, that is going to take some work. I grew up with a closet my friends wanted to live inside, and it dwindled with every item that left it’s doors and never came home because I never knew the importance of what was inside.
The same thing happened with my weight. I was thin. I got too thin. I lost control and had to find my way home when I woke up inside of a body that was not comfortable in it’s own skin. I now question why I am eating and pray to have the willingness to be aware when I am eating. When I get dressed, these days, as a single 30-year old female entrepreneur. I want to feel sexy, gorgeous, alive, confident and expressive inside of the clothes I choose to wear. My question to you is: why are you wearing that?
I leave you with a quote from Donnie Darko:
Donnie: I promise, that one day, everything’s going to be better for you.
Frank: Why are you wearing that stupid man suit?
