Take a deep breath

Breathe. Take a deep breath. Inhale through your nostrils and exhale from your mouth. Do this rapidly, 5-10 times. By doing this quick exercise, you are bringing more oxygen to your lungs, increasing your heart rate and giving yourself a burst of energy. As you exhale, let it all out. Inhale good thoughts and exhale fear and doubt. Allow yourself to inhale the beauty of life entering your lungs. Exhale all of the hurt and pain. Take some time to breathe. It is well. All is well. You are well. Breathe. Breathe. Breathe

The Power of Introversion

Over the years, I have worked with some very dynamic individuals who would describe themselves as introverted. They prefer to be "low-key", operate behind the scenes and work independently.  They may prefer a walk in park, rather than front row seats at the biggest concert in town. They may or not be shy. However, they just prefer to analyze the world in more deliberate and intimate settings. The social world in which we live, particularly in the United States, extroverted individuals are highly regarded. Most often than not, these individuals are the loquacious captains of sports clubs, strong personalities in the classroom and "outgoing" personalities in the boardroom. As such, those individuals who operate more inward are considered "shy", "sneaky", "quiet" and "Debby and Darren the Downer" types. I offer, that being an introvert is truly a gift. The power of introverted people lies in their ability to process the subtle details in life. They possess an intuitive quality that has been developed and cultivated over time. Every industry in human existence has been influenced by individuals who are introverted. I would like to leave you with a TED Talk by Susan Cain entitled, "The Power of Introverts."  Enjoy!



Quote of the day~Brene Brown

 

"Vulnerability is the birthplace of love, belonging, joy, courage, empathy, and creativity. It is the source of hope, empathy, accountability, and authenticity. If we want greater clarity in our purpose or deeper and more meaningful spiritual lives, vulnerability is the path."~ Brene Brown

Value Your Time

You can gain a million dollars, lose it and acquire it again. Once you lose time, it is gone. Forever. Therefore, it is necessary to value it. Time is the only commodity that you can get back. And with that, everyone doesn't deserve your time. There are individuals who hold us up and waste our time. I encourage you to be wise with how you use your time. Value your own time and keep healthy boundaries with those who steal your time. Each second is precious. Each moment is a lesson. Each moment is such that we can never recapture it. Be intentional with how you use your time and whom you allow to share time with you. I leave you with a thought by Leonardo Da Vinci, "Time abides long enough for those who make use of it."

Thinking Thoughtfully on a Thursday

Today is new a new day. Today is a Thursday. Today is a Thursday where I would like us to think. Today is a Thursday where I would like us to think thoughtfully about a particular concept. I will pose it as a series of questions and ask you to think about it. The concept is failure. Allow yourself some time and space to consider the following: What would you do if you knew you wouldn't fail? What person would you become if you knew you wouldn't fail at becoming that person? After giving yourself some time to consider those questions, I would like you to think about this question. How significant does the concept of failure affect your life, your decisions and your approach to life? Give it some thought and feel free to share your comments below.

Out with the Outcomes

Why worry about the outcome? When your concentration is focused on the outcome, you lose sight of the process. Many individuals focus on the outcomes, like the final test results of an exam, not knowing if they are going to accepted to the school of their dreams, getting anxious about a job, post-interview. Trust yourself and trust the process. If you notice, the "process" is in the present moment. When you allow yourself to get distracted, the outcome becomes a part of your future thinking. As such, why perseverate over the future? The future is not now. You cannot truly embrace the process of reaching for your goals if you are purely outcome driven. So let me ask. Are you any less than capable if you study intently, with purpose and still do not pass that exam? Are you worthless if the school of your dreams decided not to accept you? What if that dream job you wanted, selected someone else? The reality is, sometimes you have no control over the outcome. However, most times, we do have connection to and experience with the process. If you want to establish or re-establish a relationship, become a writer or simply find peace in your life, spend less time thinking about what the outcome will look like. The outcome will be what it will be. It is in the process, where the true value of it all, resides.

10 minute Guided Meditation

We are constantly moving. We have errands to run, clothes to wash, emails and phone calls to respond to. We have jobs, responsibilities and family members to take care of.   There are 24 hours given to us in each day and in order to have balance in our lives, it is necessary that we incorporate time to be still, to be reflective and to experience the present moment. As such, I would like us to take 10 minutes and experience this guided meditation. Click the link below. Enjoy!

 

Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eVnEfC8YSp...

Quote of the Day- Brene Brown

 

"Waking up every day and loving someone who may or may not love us back, whose safety we can't ensure, who may stay in our lives or may leave without a moment's notice, who may be loyal to the day they die or betray us tomorrow - that's vulnerability." ~Brene Brown

 

Fight. Persist. Fight some more!

Life will hit you hard. You will encounter turbulence and experience some difficult moments in your life. Those moments can not be avoided. When they do come, however, you have to fight. You have dig deep and muster the courage to weather the proverbial storm and persist through the pain, disappointment and heartache. In no way am I suggesting that working through trying times will be easy or less uncomfortable. What I am positing is the notion that if you confront your pain, disappointment, heartache or whatever turbulence that is disrupting your life, you will demonstrating character and courage that you may not have known you possessed. So, fight! Fight. Fight. Fight! Persist! Then fight some more! 

Quote of the day

 

"Life is painful. It has thorns, like the stem of a rose. Culture and art are the roses that bloom on the stem. The flower is yourself, your humanity. Art is the liberation of the humanity inside yourself."~ Daisaku Ikeda

Create. Create. Create

The definition of create means: to cause to come into being, as something unique that would not naturally evolve or that is not made by ordinary processes. Given this definition, I am convinced that it is necessary to bring new things into existence. As human beings, we are consistently challenged by life and the turbulence that we oftentimes experience. As such, we can live and experience fulfillment by engaging in activities that compel us to create.  

Create ideas. Create opportunities. Create space. Create art. Create friendships. Create hope. Create love. Create work. Create greatness. Create communities. Create sustainability. 

As we embark on our mission to bring things into existence, let us create a world that reflects the beautiful gifts that we all have to offer. Create. Create. Create.

Self-Confidence by Dr. Ivan Joseph

Self-confidence is a skill that is developed over time. It is through self-confidence whereby we assure ourselves of our own talents, gifts, abilities and powers. Dr. Joseph shares his thoughts on self-confidence in this enlightening TED talk. Enjoy!

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Decide

In our lives we are afforded choices and options. Some of us have more options than others. Even so, everyone has a choice. It is in this moment, that we can decide how we want to live our lives. For some, choosing or making tough decisions can be a daunting task. I agree. Nonetheless, in order to step into your destiny, you have to be willing to decide how you intend on living your life. To be clear, a decision not to make a decision is still a decision. If that statement is true, why not make a decision to live the life that you want? What's the fear? Trust and believe. Decide.  Make that decision that you are afraid of and trust yourself.