Girl, Wash Your Face Summary and Review | Rachel Hollis
Life gets busy. Has Girl, Wash Your Face been gathering dust on your bookshelf? Instead, pick up the key ideas now.
We’re scratching the surface here. If you don’t already have the book, order the book or get the audiobook for free on Amazon to learn the juicy details.
Do you feel like everyone has it together, and you’re the only one left in the dark? Newsflash: you’re not the only one.
We all hold misconceptions like these as truth, which leads to a lot of confusion and anger.
Rachel Hollis is here to reveal these misconceptions while stacking up some funny perspectives behind them in her book, Girl, Wash Your Face: Stop Believing the Lies About Who You Are So You Can Become Who You Were Meant to Be.
If you’re feeling lost, Girl, Wash Your Face should be on your “to be read” list.
Rachel Hollis’ Perspective
Rachel Hollis has made waves over the years as one of the only online influencers who isn’t scared to share intimate details about her personal life. Founder of TheChicSite.com and CEO of TheHollisCo, Rachel Hollis has built a widespread online community.
Hollis has a background of Christian faith and less traditional spirituality, which she shares throughout her community and books.
In Girl, Wash Your Face, Hollis shares unprecedented humor while discussing the messiest problems in life. And, she unpacks all of those lies you’ve been believing.
After reading Girl, Wash Your Face, readers will feel uplifted, motivated, and confident. We can’t help but absorb the passion and hustle that Hollis shares every day of her life.
StoryShot #1: Your Happiness Is Up to You
We often feel that the world has us figured out. We may think there’s nothing we can do to change our paths. But, Rachel Hollis wants us to know the truth: we are the only ones who can map our journeys.
The things we want are some amount of energy and work away. The question is whether we’re willing to put that energy and work into it.
We must wake up every day wanting better for ourselves to find the motivation to change. We should have such a good idea of what we want for ourselves that we’re willing to put everything we have into it. You need to find your burning desires.
If you mess up, you have tomorrow to try all over again. And, it’s okay if it takes multiple tries. We’re only human, after all.
During these times of trial and error, we may learn more about ourselves than ever before. Then, we’ll be more motivated to get the things we need to make a better future.
To lead a happy, joyous life, you must surround yourself with positivity and stop comparing yourself to others. Spend less time focusing on things that take away your energy and more on things that give you energy.
Spending more time on things that give you energy may involve taking certain people out of your life or transforming your day-to-day routines. But, you’ll be a better person for it.
Girl, Wash Your Face is one of the types of books that pushes us out of our comfort zones so we can grow into better versions of ourselves.
StoryShot #2: Ignore the White Noise
Rachel Hollis titles each chapter in Girl, Wash Your Face as a lie that women tell themselves. Each of these lies contributes to a complicated narrative we’ve been telling ourselves.
In one way or another, we think we aren’t worthy or capable of building the life we want. Hollis tells us to ignore those thoughts. She calls them white noise.
They’re something to drown out, not focus on. It’s background noise that shouldn’t affect our stories.
As we read Girl, Wash Your Face, Rachel Hollis pleads with us to replace lies with truths.
Do you think no is the final answer? Maybe you need to pivot.
Do you keep telling yourself you’ll start tomorrow? Maybe you need to start now.
Have you settled for someone you don’t love? Maybe you need to think about your happiness.
One of the biggest lies we tell ourselves is that others are better than us. They have a bigger house, a better car, and a more fulfilling life. We know because we see it on Instagram.
Wrong.
Instagram and all other social media sites aren’t reality. We don’t know about the mountain of debt some people have hiding on their credit cards. We don’t know about other people’s struggles with depression and anxiety.
The truth is that we don’t know much about anyone. We only know about what they show us.
Most people aren’t going to air their dirty laundry on their page for everyone to see. So, you’re only getting a small percentage of who these people are.
They are not better than you. They’re different.
StoryShot #3: Focus on Forward Momentum, No Matter the Speed
No one said we had to achieve all our dreams in a day. No one said that, and we still believe we have to.
If we don’t cross off everything on our to-do list, invest in the next great thing, and make a million dollars in one day, we’re not achieving our full potential, right?
Again, wrong.
Girl, Wash Your Face is one of many new books working to squash this toxic productivity culture. People have told us time and time again that we aren’t worth much if we aren’t producing a year’s worth of work in one week.
Get this out of your head.
Hollis tells us to focus on forward momentum, no matter how fast we move. The best way to do this is by setting smaller goals in addition to your big goals.
Using these small goals, we can make day-to-day changes that will set us up for success.
For example, let’s say that one of our goals is to get 5,000 followers on an Instagram account. We’re trying to grow your brand and need to work on outreach.
In this example, we have your larger goal of building our business with the small goal of gaining more followers. But, how are we going to get followers? There are even smaller tasks for us to accomplish.
We could research hashtags one day, follow similar brands another day, and work on making Instagram Reels another. These small actions build up with each one you complete.
To gain forward momentum, you should be doing one thing every day to help you move towards your larger goal.
StoryShot #4: Create Your Future
We live in a world where anything is possible. We have the entire Internet at our disposal if we want to know something. As Rachel Hollis says, get on Google and figure it out yourself.
If we need help from specific people, why not ask? Look for gurus in your field of interest and see what advice they may have for you.
Many of us get stuck in blaming our past or present situations. Maybe we don’t have a lot of resources. Perhaps we got a bad hand.
Rachel Hollis tells us that these excuses don’t work these days. She says we must find purpose from our pasts and use that as steam to move us forward.
We can create the future we want. We have to find the motivation and purpose to do so.
We need to start by assessing our barriers. What is keeping us from accomplishing our dreams? What needs to move or resolve before we can begin working towards the things we want?
Challenge these thoughts and move barriers out of the way.
Take the family to your local library if you need childcare while you work on your business. You can work on the computer while your children enjoy reading time (Some libraries even host special events for younger age groups).
If you need more time, make it. It may be exhausting, but we must make sacrifices to make dreams come true. Putting in some extra work now will pay off in the end.
StoryShot #5: Your Standard Is Your Outcome
Life’s what you make it, and Rachel Hollis wants us to make it great. She tells us that we set the standard for our lives. We’re the ones who dictate where our lives are going.
The standard that we hold ourselves to leads to the outcome we get.
If we’re dogmatic and unchanging, our lives will remain the same. But, if we’re making changes for the better, our lives will evolve to reflect those changes.
The first day is the hardest, so just get started.
Large goals may seem overwhelming. So, stick to those small goals we talked about before.
Think about what actions you can take every day to get you closer to accomplishing your dreams.
Do you need to save money, make a social media post, or call a loved one every day? Are you looking to read more often or start a skincare routine?
No matter the goals, we need to start with habit-forming behaviors. Pick a small goal and go from there.
You may need to take 30 days to add each goal into your daily routine. But, at least you’re moving forward and creating a better life for yourself.
Each goal will help us create the life we’ve been waiting for. By conquering these small goals, we’re making tackling the bigger goals easier.
These small goals may not seem like they’re adding up to anything at the time. Be patient and wait it out. These small things add up and lead to significant changes you may not expect.
Even if you only improve by 1% daily, you’re improving 365% in one year. That’s a lot to celebrate!
StoryShot #6: Practice Intentional Living
Live each day intentionally.
Don’t fall into your old routines or get stuck on things you’ve already done. Make each choice intentional so that you can build the life of your dreams on your terms.
More often than not, we perform the same day repeatedly, expecting different results. We think that dreaming is enough. Without application, dreams are just dreams.
As you approach each part of your day, think about what you can do at this moment to better your life. It could be watching television or practicing a new language.
That’s the point: it’s your choice to do what you want. The decision you make doesn’t have to be groundbreaking. Intentional choices can help us live with grace and joy while trying to do the best for ourselves.
As we practice intentional living, we must remember that we manage our dreams. We dictate how small or how large they are. We say what they are and why they’re essential to us.
We also determine whether a ‘no’ knocks us down or not. Too often, we think that getting ‘no’ as an answer is the end of our dreams.
In reality, each ‘no’ acts as a pivoting point. Each time someone tells you ‘no,’ you can use it as an opportunity to change the plan.
Notice that we’re not changing the outcome. Rather, we’re changing how we’re going to get to that outcome. We may need to reevaluate different strategies that can help us get to the same end goal.
Reframing how we receive rejection can help us continue with our dreams despite any challenges that we may encounter along the way.
StoryShot #7: Goals Don’t Expire
According to the SMART goals formula, we should set a time limit for each smaller goal that we have. This will make it more likely that we’ll follow our goals and get them done in a timely manner.
While this is true, it does not mean that we have to give up after we’ve reached that date. Too often, we think that failing to meet one goal sets off the entire plan. This isn’t true.
If you miss a goal, adjust your plan and try again. Set a new date that you can strive for with your new, revised plan.
By approaching our goals this way, we’re giving ourselves room to make mistakes. We may not like them, but they’re going to happen. And, we have to have a plan of attack each time they do.
In Girl, Wash Your Face, Rachel Hollis makes it a point to tell us that our goals don’t expire. We can chase our dreams anywhere at any time, no matter how many times we’ve tried previously. No matter how many times we’ve failed in the past, we should keep pivoting and move forward.
Oftentimes, we find that what we want pops up when we least expect it. Your dreams may come true the 50th time or the 500th time. If you give up now, you could have missed striking gold on the next try.
Hollis also explains that these principles apply to any goals at any time. Even if we change our ultimate dream, we can still keep chasing it, no matter the time or place.
StoryShot #8: Live in the Fruits of the Spirit
The fruits of the spirit are characteristics that promote peace and positivity. Here are the ones that Hollis mentions in her book:
- Joy
- Patience
- Peace
- Kindness
- Goodness
- Faithfulness
- Gentleness
- Self-Control
Rachel Hollis swears by these personality traits and asks us to follow them intentionally.
The next time you’re feeling overwhelmed by anger, choose self-control and gentleness. Rather than yelling, find understanding.
When you’re feeling overwhelmed with depression, choose joy and patience. Rather than wallowing in your misfortune, find positivity.
It’s easier said than done, and it may take a while to adopt these ideals. But, your life will be much better for having included these attitudes in your everyday life.
The fruits of the spirit are virtues to live by. You should intentionally act with each of these fruits every single day.
“Intentionally” is the key word here. If we act unintentionally, it’s likely that we’ll follow the exact opposite of each of these. We have to stop ourselves each time we’re overrun with raw emotions.
Feeling our emotions is good, but that doesn’t mean that we shouldn’t respond positively to those emotions.
If you’re having trouble stopping and thinking about these personality traits, you may need to set reminders. Try saying affirmations throughout the day or journaling when you’re feeling negative emotions. You may need to place sticky notes around the house or practice meditation to learn more about yourself.
Practicing the fruits of the spirit may not come naturally, and that’s okay. Like with your goals, you need to persevere through the negative and learn to act positively in return.
StoryShot #9: Find Your Formula for Motivation
A lack of motivation is one of the main reasons that many people don’t follow their dreams. They may stop after a few days or never get started in the first place.
In order to find your motivation, you may have to look in a few places. Use your imagination to find what lights your fire.
We may want to listen to podcasts or watch YouTube videos about the things we love. We may want to read books or write in journals about the things we’re interested in.
Some people write motivational quotes on their mirrors or repeat affirmations to themselves until they believe them. Others listen to motivational speakers or go for runs out in nature.
In Girl, Wash Your Face, Hollis tells us to find our gurus. These are the people who are experts in the things we want to know more about.
To become these people (or at least learn more about what they’re experts in), we have to hear more from them. Read their books, watch their videos, and go to their conferences.
The more we interact with these gurus, the more we’ll learn from them, and the more we’ll be like them.
For some of us, it may take a lot of imagination and visualization. You may need to create a vision board or imagine how different your life will be.
Hollis herself has “cardio fantasies.” Every time she doesn’t want to work out, she thinks about how her body will change for the better afterward.
StoryShot #10: It’s Not Our Business What Other People Think
Many of us think that we need to please other people. In fact, we were raised that way.
We should listen to our elders and pay attention to the room around us before doing anything. We should sit with our shoulders high but not so high that everyone thinks we’re full of ourselves. We should speak up but never so loudly as to disturb everyone.
Rachel Hollis breaks these standards. She tells us that it doesn’t matter what others think of us. In fact, it’s none of our business what’s running through their minds when our name pops up.
She wants us to create what we want to create, despite what others may think. If our hearts are into whatever we’re creating, we’re going to be able to do what we want to do just because we want to. We can’t not do it at that point.
When we’re bettering ourselves, other people may think we’re bragging or showing off. They may think we’re full of ourselves or trying to prove that we’re better in some way.
Who cares?
If you know what you’re doing, why does it matter what other people think you’re doing? You have an art form, a purpose, and a drive for everything you’re posting, sharing, making, and doing.
Don’t let what other people say ruin your dream.
If you want to post videos of yourself singing every single day, do it. If you want to post pictures of your home decor every single day, do it. If you want to make a YouTube channel and promote it on your Instagram, do it.
Nothing should stop you from following your dreams. Someday, you’re going to have a community of people thanking you for doing what you want to do.
Join Rachel Hollis and Rise
Girl, Wash Your Face by Rachel Hollis is one of the top book recommendations we would make if you’re having trouble following your dreams. It should be at the top of your “books to read” list so that you can start going after your goals sooner rather than later.
With all of the confidence and motivation Hollis has to offer, you’ll have to follow through.
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