Sowing into brands. #KnowYourBrands

Where is your money going?

A lot of the time when we get paid most of us have a budget for certain things and usually we fling our money into brands and products without necessarily thinking too deeply about it (I am guilty of this!). These are brands that have worked for us in the past that we are loyal to.  Let’s put it this way if something works for you, looks great and has proved its efficacy why should you change it? This is the same mentality that I had for a while and I'm still getting over for certain brands!

Investments:

“Investment is time, energy, money or matter spent in the hope of future benefits actualised”

Money is a blessing from God, you need to be accountable for where you're sowing into and what brands you're sowing into. I do believe that you reap what you sow and we need to identify what exactly we are sowing into. When you buy a product from a brand you are investing into the company and their business, as a consumer you should be given good reason for such an act.

When going into investments such as houses and cars people invest a lot of time to see whether it will be worthwhile and there is no investment bigger than your own body. Are the products you're putting on your skin really adding or are they taking away?

Meanings and Values:

Since starting this natural beauty journey my perspective has really changed! Now meanings and values are the driving force of everything I do. 

What do you mean by meanings?

In everything in life you need to know your ‘why’ to identify the reason behind what you're doing in all actions, as all actions have consequences. There is meaning in every verb therefore you need to stop and really have a think about that, it will help a lot of things come to light! Also identify your motives; this will stop you doing the status quo, robot, monumental things over and over again! Break the cycle!

It is important to identify them otherwise other people/brands will do it for you!  If you don’t know your meanings and values you need to find them as they make up who you are.

This was my old way of thinking:

•  I was driven by senses (sight and smell) with certain products. So let’s imagine I am looking to try a new face wash. If the packaging looked pretty I would buy it and if it smelled great then even better! Bonus points!

•  I was driven by popularity- Well this celebrity uses it and this blogger uses it and she looks good so I’ll give it a try.

New ways of thinking:

•  Driven by meaning: What is this product intended to do?

•  What is in the product that will achieve this?

•  What ingredients are in these products, what are these ingredients and what do they do?

•  Driven by values: Who is this brand? What do they stand for? What are their brand values? How do they source their ingredients?

So before you buy and invest into that cosmetic (or anything in life really) first identify your whys:

Why are you buying this face wash?

•   Do you need it?
•  What do you want to get from it?
•  Are you really getting that from this brand?
•  Do you know the values and promises of this brand you are giving your money to?

 What to do?

•         Research into companies and their brand values
•         What does the brand stand for?
•         Do they have the consumer’s best interests at heart?
•         How do they show their values?
•        Do they list their ingredients/toxic ingredients that they do not use?

These are all they types of questions you should be asking when you are buying products and you may ask whether it is really that deep? Yes! It is! If everyone has this mentality then imagine the millions that are being sown into brands with no true values and with profit being their only focus.  Some might say that business is business but true businesses that make it to the end are grounded in universal and timeless principles such as integrity!

Brands will sell what people buy into so let us as consumers take control of our destiny!

Product junkies- what this actually means and actually is this good idea?

This is when you try out and invest in lots of different brands and products in order to find the ‘right one’ or just have lots of products to choose from. I am definitely guilty of this but I am learning, praise God. People throw around this term like it is nothing! Guys we can’t keep doing this (lol).  Okay SO there is nothing wrong in trying out new things to find out which actually works for you but make sure you do your research first so you can avoid unnecessary spending and again identify your meaning, values and your whys!

How to AVOID being a product junkie (from a recovering PJ):

•  Be aware- brands will sell you what is there and with brands selling through bloggers as well you need to identify those who have the same values and meanings as you do. Remember that a lot of bloggers are being sent these items so if they seem like they are product junkies the chances are they can afford to be because a lot of it is free!

• Make use of bloggers, YouTubers and their reviews but again know their brand values? (because they are basically brands too! #believethat) Do they match up with yours?

• Even though we try and hide from it in this day and age it is still true Quality>Quantity. Don’t be a hoarder!! Simplify your life (lol I love that! Blog post coming soon with that title #yas)

Let's take control and powerfully influence the brands we sow into!

Lots of Love xx

Photo credit: Google