Does Motivational Apparel Really Empower Women?

From time to time we talk about motivational apparel and how it may or may not help people. Some folks think motivational t shirts are great, and others don't seem to think much about them at all.

However, we have shared a few stories with you about this topic, and interestingly enough, we are NOT the only ones that think it works and is a worthwhile endeavor.

In fact, if you have been following our blog for awhile you probably read about the tshirts worn by runners, and those that were being sold by the gal that posted fortune cookie messages on tshirts.

Simply genius.

Now, we are hearing about an endeavor to help empower women through motivational apparel, and it's catching on folks. This "Kickstarter Campaign" is what many women have been waiting for from Neva. So, what is this all about?

Motivational Apparel by Neva 

Just in case you are wondering, Neva isn't the latest sportswear brand like Under Armour, but it stands for:
Nicole + Geneva. The founder, Sacha Nana started this company due to the inspiration she got from her nieces.

Sacha wanted it to be stylish, but also to employ women from South Asia. The motivational apparel is hand-stitched by women only, employing women that would otherwise have no work. As a result, these women are getting a bit liberated, earning nearly 10 times what they would with a standard job in their country.

It's not just the apparel we think about, but the opportunity the apparel creates. It's life giving in that it is giving these women a purpose, and a sense of being able to provide for their children. That is pretty amazing, and it's powerful for those of us that take our work for granted.

In our endeavor to help inspire you and encourage you each day, we want to offer you the chance right now to check out our motivational apparel that we offer, especially right now during the holiday season.

You can click HERE to view our selection of hats, decals, t shirts and more, and you can also check out the rest of our site to find out how we are helping to empower all people. We hope that we can encourage  and inspire you to do better, to do more, and that you'll be touched by what you find in our motivational apparel here at Courageous Life!.

Inspiration from Autistic Twins in NYC Marathon

If you need a little inspiration, you won't have to look much further than Alex and Jamie Schneider, the autistic twins that ran in the NYC marathon.

Human beings have a great way of putting limitations on their own life, and if you have been looking for a glimpse of hope, then this story is what you need to read. The marathon isn't just about the twin brothers, but its a family affair.

These twins have been running from the time they were young, and it's been a great way for them to connect with their parents. These parents aren't disappointed at all, but rather proud that their sons are running this marathon despite the odds.

Have you ever experienced the birth of a child that doctors said wouldn't do much in life? Was your child limited by what doctors had to say about their physical well-being?

The twin's mother say that they are non-verbal most of the time, however, this was the one way that they were able to connect with them when they loved to be chased and chase their dad when they were little. Something so simple turned into a way for the twins to interact and connect with their parents despite their autism.

This story has brought inspiration to millions, and was aired on Good Morning America the morning of the NYC marathon. It was also made known that their was a club that has volunteers that offer to run with individuals with disabilities. What a great organization, and as you can imagine this organization is much loved by the Schneider family.

Did this story give you some inspiration as well? Have you put limits on yourself because of what others say or do to you? Do you allow the opinions of others to rule your actions in this life? It's time to be courageous!

No matter what you might be facing today, just watch this video of the Schneider twins, and be sure to share this with others too. You won't be disappointed, and you may crack a smile! Please check back often for more inspiration from Courageous Life, and if you would love to follow what we are doing to help others, you can connect with us on Facebook HERE!

PS-Want to share your courage and motivation with others? Be sure to stop by our website and check out all of the great t-shirts, hats, and decals we offer for men, women, and children when you click HERE!

Would a Superman T Shirt Help you Fly?

When you were a kid, did you wear a Superman t shirt? Did you ever grab your cape and pretend to be flying off of the couch just like Superman or Superwoman?

I can remember those days as a kid, and yes it was fun for both boys and girls!

It's funny to look back into the past and think how a t-shirt or a costume could make you feel so empowered in that moment.

Did you really believe yourself to be different? Did you really feel as though you had super powers?

I know I did. I had that cape on and believed that I could do anything at any time, no matter who said what. Somehow, that changed as I got older.

What a shame, right? We begin to lose our imagination and we start letting life get in the way and we begin to think negatively rather than believe we really are great.

How do we ever lose that? Is this why we have such a call to buy clothing that is inspirational and motivational in nature?

We may not sell you a Superman t shirt, but we do offer great motivational and inspirational apparel. We offer hats, decals, and yes, tons of t-shirts for children, men and women.

Would you be willing to wear something that you knew would make people smile? What about just having something in front of you to keep you smiling and encouraged? It's a wonderful thing, isn't it?

We have our own version of a Superman t shirt, and it's our full line of Courageous Life apparel that you can find HERE!

PS-Were you inspired and encouraged by what you read today? Are you looking for a community of people to help you be encouraged and stay encouraged? If so, you can join us on Facebook, and please feel free to check out the rest of our site while you are here!

Motivation Runs Deep but What About Your Willpower?

Motivation has to run deep, and it has to run deeper than your willpower. Recently, the Huffington Post published an article about willpower versus motivation.

The idea? Willpower can only go so far, but what happens when that doesn't work?

Oftentimes in our humanness, we believe that there is something out there that will make us do better and be better.

It's as if we think we can't do these things on our own. It's okay when we find that we can't, and we have tried everything. It's okay to recognize the need for some coaching or masterminding.

However, doesn't it just come down to making a decision and then following through with it? Today, we just want you to think about the difference between yourself and others that have been successful in life.

Why There is No Comparison with Motivation

The most dangerous thing you can do is compare yourself to others. There really is zero comparison. Chances are, if you have done this, the individual you are comparing yourself to doesn't have the same gifts and talents you do, and that can change everything.

Motivation doesn't come from believing that you are missing something that someone else has, it comes from you digging deeper for what you want in life.

For example, look at the photo of the track above. Even if you started walking on it today, would you be able to finish one full lap or even two? If you are out of shape, you may not be able to do so. What is your level of commitment? What is motivating you to start walking?

Looking at your motivation for doing something rather than looking to others is the key here. Look within. Your inner strength and your ability to make decisions is crucial! If the person you are looking to for answers has "the perfect body" in your mind, you won't see it for yourself anyhow.

Don't fall into this trap. This is about you, what you want, and what you are willing to do to make it happen. Such is the case if you are trying to change your life. Change isn't always easy!

Need a little boost of encouragement? You can connect with us on Facebook, and you can also grab one of our t-shirts to run in! (or, whatever it is you are doing for exercise!) You can check out our motivational t-shirts HERE!

We hope that you were blessed by this post. If so, and you gained some insight into your "motivation" for doing things, please leave a comment below for us on this blog. We would love to hear from you!

Courageous Life

Inspirational Clothing-Does it Really Matter What You Wear?

Does wearing inspirational clothing really matter? You might say yes, but you might also say no too. The thing is, what you wear can influence the people around you.

You know this is true if you watch TV at any time, watch the news, or any reality TV show. Honestly, could it be any clearer that the way we dress affects the way people see us?

It should stand to reason then that what we wear does impact those around us. Consider the photo to the right; how does that message make you feel when you look at it?

You can probably recall a time when you felt fearful in life and you probably felt completely powerless as a result. Right? Wouldn't seeing this message change the way you feel inside?

I know it did for me! There are tons of things I am afraid of, especially at a time when this world sees enough suffering.

Do You Wear Inspirational Clothing? 

So, now the question becomes; do you wear inspirational clothing right now? If not, why not? If you are into graphic tees, why not wear something that sends out a positive message? The way we dress does change how people see us. 

Some examples of this are:

1. Miley Cyrus- the recent twerking incident 
2. Madonna- before and after being a mother it changed 
3. Elton John-people perceive him to be a certain type of person due to his wardrobe 

With any of these individuals, it can be good or bad, but based even on media, it always seems to be more bad than good. If clothing does send a message, why not choose inspirational clothing instead? If you are interested in seeing a ton to choose from for kids, men, and women, then all you need to do is visit our website right now! 

As parents we can have a better influence on our children. What we do, they want to do. Why not take it a step further and focus on what we wear? Why not take a shot at getting someone to smile with your message on your shirt? 

Take a look at our "inspirational clothing" line, and be sure to check out our community on Facebook too! 

Live Courageously!