In our latest interview, we chat to Milly Smith (@Selfloveclubb) about motivating others through social media, and finding inspiration through a powerful online community.
What is your mission statement?
My mission statement is, “I want to make the world slightly brighter. If one persons life is helped by my posts and they then go onto help someone else then that’s all I can ever ask for”.
What sorts of things motivate you personally and professionally?
Personally, I’m motivated by my son, he’s the future. I want him to grow up in a better environment than the state the world is in now. I want him to be free to express himself without fear of judgement, I want him to live his life to his truest form and be happy. I’m also motivated by past struggles and the urge to not let anyone feel alone through there’s. I believe tiny ripples can create amazing things, I want to stamp my foot in the puddle and create those ripples. I don’t want to sit by and watch others suffer when my voice has power to help.
Professionally, I find myself motivated by the love and support I get from my followers and friends. I couldn’t do this without them. There are some days I get to the point where I want to quit it all, the hate gets too much, the pressure gets too high and then I receive a sweet message of encouragement and I’m back on my feet and running. It’s truly incredible what a tiny bit of support can do.
What are the biggest challenges you face, and how have are you working to overcome them?
The biggest challenges lie within my mind. Some days I wish our brains worked like clocks and we could just change a few cogs and have them up and running again but other days I am grateful that they aren’t. I’m grateful for their vast and beautiful intricate workings. I try so hard to try and make my brain work as a ‘normal’ persons. I try to think in the way others do. My biggest challenge is realising the way I think is me. The way I think is perfectly okay. It’s unique and who I’m supposed to be.
What are your goals for the future?
I want to keep pushing my mission for as long as possible. There might be a day when my online presence is no longer there to the extent it is now, so I want to create something more solid eg a charity or foundation. I want to expand in as many ways as possible.
What advice would you give to others going through similar struggles?
It’s okay to feel this way. It’s not permanent and it will pass. I think in the midst of our struggles we forget that it’s not a permanent feeling, we lose sight of the fact that this feeling will blow over. Reach out and get support from friends, Drs, online forums. Seek it and extend your arm. Asking for help isn’t weak.
What are your Top Five Tips for a good Self Love strategy?
1 – Let yourself feel. Whatever that may be, don’t suppress.
2 – Don’t be afraid to listen to your body, find it’s Rhythm in what it wants to eat, the ways it wants to move.
3 – Seek whatever makes you happy, whatever thrills you and makes you want to live.
4 – You can’t pour from an empty cup. Put you first, help yourself before you help others.
5 – You’re powerful, but sometimes it’s okay to sit back and give some of that power up.