But It’s Chanel, Darling (A Tale of Self-Worth aka Paris Part 2)

Can I ask you something? Where have you been feeling called to upgrade things in your life? Maybe it’s your wardrobe, your mindset, or something else.

A big part of manifesting like a Goddess, especially when it comes to relationships, has to do with believing at your core that you are worthy of the best. The best meaning, being treated well-with love, respect, kindness, etc.

So often we don’t feel worthy of the things we are asking for.

One day on my Paris trip, I got bored at the Louvre and left my friend to happily bemuse the floors of paintings and statues (I did make sure to whiz past the Nike goddess, Venus de Milo and the Mona Lisa-she was small!) and instead decided to find and visit the Chanel original store on 31 Rue Cambon. I’ve always been fascinated by her story and set about on my adventure.

I went in my sneakers, jeans and my hair was a mess as I tried to look inconspicuous holding up my phone and following Google map walk directions amidst all the locals.

I just meant to look at the building but I was itching to go in. There was a guard on the side door (I guess reserved for VIP’s with appointments). I just went ballsy New Yorker on him and asked point blank if I could go in and look. I think he was just amused or bored and to my delight, laughed and opened the door!

When I got through the secret door, I was greeted by three more miked and well dressed Chanel people. No, I did not have an appointment. Just looking. American. Petit, Frances. Sorry. They looked me up and down and left me alone!

As I walked around the beautiful space, and felt the gorgeous fabrics from the jackets and dresses, part of me felt soooo out of place. $16,000 for a jacket? I should just run out now. What the heck was I doing here? There were half-empty champagne flutes on silver trays on the coffee tables in each room set aside no doubt for the “appointment” people. Who was I to be in here? And yet, my inner voice told me-it’s all just a choice. You belong or don’t belong. Belong to yourself and you simply choose where you go and what you wish to experience.

Privet Rouge

I ended up somehow at the make up station.

I met a super good looking French salesperson called Bryan and it was as if some force took me over. I went into what I can only describe as the Chanel trance.

I was transported to another world. We started talking about the history of the brand, Boy Capel and the next thing I know I was consulting with him on the “perfect” red lipstick for my skin tone and he was giving me pointers and opinions and well, long story short, I ended up buying the most perfect, red, and expensive lipstick I’ve ever owned.

It comes in a glass case and is modeled after the original address (31 Rue Cambon) and of course I chose one called Privet Rouge (Private Red-very Goddess). He handed me a tiny Chanel bag (which he informed me was only given out at the original store here in Paris-everywhere else it’s black apparently), put the signature Chanel camelia flower on it.

Then, he whispered that if we were quick, he’d be happy to sneak me over to the original mirrored staircase where Chanel would sit during her shows watching the reactions of the audience members to determine whether or not she would come down. It was guarded but one nod from Bryan, and we went right through. OMG, I couldn’t believe my luck!

The Ghost of Chanel
I could feel decades of history and energy as I stood on that staircase and was overcome with emotion and this profound sense of her essence. She toiled and triumphed and failed on these steps. She faced criticism and praise. She wasn’t perfect but she demanded the best from herself and everyone who worked for her. It was such an interesting sensation that is hard to describe but I am so grateful I didn’t let my insecurities or feelings of being out of place stop me from getting to that moment.

A few lessons I gleaned:

•  Trust your intuition and desire to lead to places that may seem “out of reach” or out of your comfort zone. If things trigger you while you are there, which they certainly did for me at Chanel, know that you can use it as opportunity to witness, love and honor the feelings that arise.
• Belonging and feeling worthy are an inside job. No lipstick, jacket or VIP treatment makes me any more or less worthy than the next person. But how you feel about yourself, talk to yourself and carry yourself matters the most. Then, you can truly enjoy yourself in any environment.
• Don’t cut yourself off before you consider. Yes, Bryan was an exceptional salesperson and I didn’t “need” a crazy red, expensive ass lipstick but I checked in with myself and I truly desired it, loved how it felt on my very sensitive lips and instead of shutting myself or him down or not even trying it on, I considered it. I gave myself the full experience, took pleasure in receiving the benefit of his expert eye, tried on a few different reds and made my own grounded decision to hand over my AMEX. I also knew deep down that if none of them were right for me, it was totally okay for me to thank him and leave the store. The old me would have run away from Bryan, or not even let myself look at the lipsticks, let alone sit in the chair to even consider. I would have gone into people pleasing and bought something just because I felt bad that he took so much time with me even if it wasn’t at all right for me. Not the new Diana. And it felt great.

Q: Which one of these lessons did you need to hear this week? Hit reply or leave me a comment on the blog!

Have an amazing week!