The Road To A Brand New You!

How many people can honestly say they CONTINUOUSLY make a conscious effort to change their lives on a daily basis? Well this phrase can be taken in many ways so I will narrow it down. In this post I am referring to mental change which influences our behavior and choices to either become productive or non-productive individuals in society. For instance, several years back I had come to a crossroad in my life. I was either going to continue to make poor choices or start making a serious change. I knew it wasn’t going to be an easy transformation but I still made the decision to work on becoming a better person. So, my long journey began. It is a journey that is still prevalent in my life to date. Here are a few pointers that helped me get a jumpstart on changing my behavior and negative thought processes:

• Isolate yourself from negative people (yes, family is included). I can tell you this step is the worst of them all because you will be shocked at how many people are left in your circle when you are done throwing out the trash! But if you can get past this step, I promise you will be a stronger person in the end.
• Expand your horizons and move to another state if needed or desired. This gives you a fresh start towards networking with new friends who are positive, like-minded, and goal oriented. Don’t be afraid of change!
• Do some deep soul searching (honestly figure if the problem is you). Speak to a therapist, spiritual leader, or visit a church if you are having problems in this area. Don’t limit your potential by ignoring the ugly truth. You cannot blossom if you keep wearing a mask.
• Detach yourself from looking for other people’s validations. Don’t worry what others think about your new found change. They will say you think your better, you’re crazy, you’re the negative one etc. Just know your purpose! Learn to love your own presence. This is very hard to do if you are used to being around a lot of people. But you need to push pass the pain!

Here are some good ideas that will help you learn to enjoy your own company:

• Grab your favorite beverage and cuddle on the couch while reading something inspirational. Take time to bask in imagination.
• Go to a park and have a nice picnic with yourself. Lay a blanket down and relax while enjoying the sounds of birds chirping, a river flowing, children playing, or just natures peaceful whispers.
• Go see a funny movie. Grab some popcorn and learn to laugh out loud!
• Learn to cook a new recipe. Share your special meal with someone later in the day.

These are just a few examples, but it is very important to learn to love your very existence. This is the start to becoming a better YOU!

• Next, don’t look back. No really, don’t look back! You can’t move forward if you are always reflecting on the past.
• Constantly remind yourself to be positive every day! (you have to literally become one with your conscience) That means watch your choice of words, thoughts, bad habits, bad relationships, music you listen to, shows you watch, parenting skills etc. Believe it or not, whatever you put into your brain is what you will get out of it.

Finally, changing patterns of old behavior is not done overnight. It is a long process that requires many years and lots of practice. Tip: Don’t think of how long it will take to notice a change, just picture your goal and work towards the finish line. Remember, you have to constantly remind yourself to be a better person every day because it is always easier to give up and revert back to your old mentality. If you fail, don’t beat yourself up, just continue to try every single day! Believe me... no one is perfect that’s for sure.


I truly pray this message came across as inspirational for anyone who is working towards changing their thought processes and/or behavior patterns. You can do it!


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Finding Strength

Most of us choose to network with others in order to gain strong relationships with like-minded professionals. By doing so, new relationships flourish, new perspectives for careers blossom, networkers are able to inspire one another, and there is endless information available for those who would like to advance their careers to newer levels. However, with these great opportunities also comes certain realities. Unfortunately, every person will not be able to accomplish exactly what they want at the exact time they would like. It is not meant to undermine an individual’s success and/or abilities, but could simply mean that God has his own timing for each and every one of us. It can also mean a person is not applying themselves appropriately or as much as they should.
As we know, the lack of feedback from recruiters can really leave applicants feeling helpless and hopeless. If this is you right now, pick your head up and brush yourself off! You are not alone and you should not choose to be defeated. So the question is how does a person find the strength to move forward and stay productive throughout the waiting process? I would like to share a few of my own personal tips:

• Stay focused! - do not become discouraged just because of what your situation looks like today.
• Continue to expand your business network- reach out, meet new people, and ask a lot of questions.
• Continue to reinvent yourself- start your own business, find a great business partner, obtain new licenses and certificates, learn a new trade, go to college etc.
• Never give up! Know that if you give up you are not only stunting your growth but you are formulating a destiny of failure. Remember, God has his timing for each and every one of us.
• Do not compare your success to others- the only person you will know full details about is you. Don’t focus on competing with anyone but the person you look at in the mirror every day!
• Continue to be productive and love what you have right now so that you can be blessed with bigger things later. If we never learn to enjoy the little blessings we have, how will we ever learn to appreciate the larger ones?
• Encourage and help others- Yes! Even many wealthy people live by this law! This is a form of giving back. (Examples: time, donations, encouragement, friendship, love, a hug, a smile, helpful information, or even a meal). Always remember that someone else may be worse off than you. Not to mention, helping others will lift your spirits. It triggers dopamine, oxytocin, serotonin and endorphin neurotransmitters in the brain. *Look them up, having healthy levels of each is very important and controls how we function and respond on a daily basis.
• Continue to keep track of submitted applications. Check your resume to make sure it is appropriate, properly formatted, not too wordy, and only includes relevant information.
• Make sure to contact recruiters after several weeks if you haven’t heard from them. Give them at least two weeks to respond before sending a follow-up email or phone call (unless advised not to). This shows ambition, enthusiasm, and motivation on your behalf.
• Learn to love and appreciate the job you have right now! If you don’t have a job, learn to appreciate the learning process you are going through. Make sure not to forget where you came from before becoming employed because just as quickly as you may rise you can fall.
• Don’t settle for less and do not sell yourself short! You are worth every bit of effort and hard work that you put into becoming a successful individual. What you put in is what your return will be.

These are a few inspirational tips for those who are working hard to stay strong while working towards their career goals. These tips can help whether employed and looking for new opportunities or unemployed and seeking beneficial employment. The bottom line is the overall process can be very long and tedious! The main key is be strong, stay consistent and never give up! The choice is yours.


I pray this post comes across as helpful to anyone who needs a little inspiration. Many blessings.


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Ridding Toxic People Out Of Your Life

Toxic people are individuals that you allow to use up your positive energy and taint your ability to excel to your fullest potential. However, toxic people are actually in your life from the time you are born. They may be your family members, friends of family members, parents, schoolmates, best friends, boyfriends, girlfriends etc. These people crowd your space, take up your valuable time (needy), are envious, manipulative, controlling, and simply negative. The reason most people will not recognize these individuals is because of young age, lack of wisdom, or not being equipped with the proper tools needed for recognizing them.

Most children grow up with parents or guardians who warn them to stay away from toxic people. At this point in life, the child feels as if they are losing friends because they lack personal life experiences. Unfortunately, it is not until later in life that the young adult will figure out their own true worth. It is then, they will start to understand life would be better off without toxic people in it. Why is this? Typically because it is human nature to learn most lessons through personal experience, and not word of mouth. Just think of how simple life would be if we all listened beforehand. It would save many people from unnecessary heartache and pain.

Obviously, personal experience is not the issue at stake, it is how you respond to the experience that will impact your life. For instance, if you are a motivated individual who likes helping others, you should to be very careful not to get sucked into spending all of your time on needy people. Here are a few ways to identify a needy individual.

• They will usually call you for every little thing (can't seem to think on their own)
• They will almost always have an issue that calls for your advice or attendance (looking for a savior in you)
• They never seem to be motivated unless they are competing or being pepped
• There is always a very good excuse for why they cannot meet you half way (manipulative)
• They are argumentative and dismissive when things do not turn out their way (controlling)
• They are never really happy for your success (envious)

Of course, these are just a few examples, but if you are experiencing any of these issues listed, I would urge you to step back and evaluate how much you can handle. You need to figure if the situation is worth the extra energy. The bottom line is you cannot save everyone. You can try... but in the end who will save you?

Final Thought Do not compromise your health, wealth or growth by keeping toxic people in your life. The lighter your load, the easier it will be for you to climb the ladder of success. I am not implying that you should get rid of any and everyone who is imperfect in your life. However, I am implying that you should think about eliminating people who weigh you down, make you unhappy, and add stress to your life on a constant basis. You are worth more than that! Once you cut these ties, you will began to see a change in your level of calamity, focus, motivation, and selection of people you allow in your personal circle.

Remember that you cannot move forward if you are always looking behind you! Be blessed!


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There Is Something Special In You!

Have you ever laid back and daydreamed about what it would be like to be as successful as you wish, hit the lotto, or even become a billionaire overnight? These dreams should be your long term goals, and later transformed into reality. No really! Your dreams are not as far fetched as you think. Yes, they may take some time to accomplish, and yes, there may be some road blocks along the way but you must remain steadfast in what you desire.

 

The major problem with most people is they become weary and no longer maintain confidence within themselves. Many people look at others success to determine their own successfulness. This is a big mistake! If you are thinking this way stop immediately. You will only become worn, unhappy, depressed, and possibly give up on reaching your goals. You are an individual with special gifts that only you can authenticate. This means you brand your skills and your work performance. This is why businesses reference your resume for skills, education and experience. Many people qualify for certain jobs but very few can execute the job in an effective and efficient manner.

Dig Deep within your self. Your self-motivation will determine your future. It will also indicate how serious you are about reaching your goals. So continue to brand yourself and work hard at enhancing each and every special skill you instill. Don't just sit back and settle for one hundred "No's". Don't rely on one skill to carry you to the top. Instead, utilize everything you have to get everything you want in life. You may not get it when you want, but you will eventually get it because of your persistence. Don't be afraid to think outside of the box. Try new things and enjoy indulging in your investment... You!

 

I am not here to sell you a dream that life is easy. Forrest Gump actually said it best, "Life is like a box of chocolates, you never know what you are going to get". This is true, but you will also never know what you are capable of if you never activate that special something inside of you. I am a living example that no matter what the situation appears to be, I will keep moving. You must have the same mindset and never forget to pay it forward. It may take a lot of prayer and willpower to get over some of the hurdles you will encounter, but I know you can do it! Many Blessings to You!


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Why Are You Looking Down?

Shelly and Lilly were two sisters who came from a very good family. They were brought up in a healthy home and given the proper tools needed to survive in the outside world. However, Shelly was known for being an overachiever. Since failure was not an option, she excelled in everything she laid her hands on. She was also a very happy person and quite the perfectionist. In contrast, her sister Lilly was the exact opposite. In fact, Lilly barely finished high school because her focus was always in the wrong place. She was miserable most of the time, liked hanging with toxic people, slacked off and never listening to good advice from anyone.

Several years into adulthood, Shelly and Lilly were noticeably on two very different paths. One sister became a lawyer and the other owned a very successful home cleaning business. I must say, both careers weren't bad at all. But which career belonged to who? Hold tight... I will reveal that soon enough.


Let's analyze: Both young ladies came from the same firm foundation but had very different experiences, personalities, goals, lifestyles, and career paths. Most importantly, being individually unique worked out in their favor. Although, Lilly chose to explore life the hard way, it didn't mean she was destined to fail. What counted most is she learned from her mistakes and applied the corrections to her future.

Now The Good Stuff: Lilly ended up channeling her energy and life experiences into becoming her own boss. Shelly used all of her knowledge towards getting accepted into the best college, and later becoming a successful lawyer. You see, there is no limit to how far you can excel in life. There is also no real excuse for allowing yourself to fail. No matter what you have gone through in the past or are experiencing to date, don't let it be your downfall! You don't have to be perfect in order to succeed.

Moral: When you stop looking down on yourself and making excuses for why your situation is not as great as it should be, you will have begun to take responsibility for your own actions. What I mean by this is you have to work hard until you receive a breakthrough. This could take weeks, months, or even years, but the real question is how badly do you want it? Remember, you will receive what you put into your life. Therefore, leave the past behind and stop looking back at what you should have done years ago. It is never too late to start rebuilding on a new foundation. Pick your head up and let's get moving... you have nothing but time and opportunity on your side! Many Blessings...

*The characters in this blog are not real. They are fictional characters used to carry out a positive message and inspire my readers.*
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Unstoppable!

Image By Fpsstudents org.

Growing up in the projects is not an easy ordeal. However, this is the only environment Kinsey ever knew. Some do not actually understand what the hard knock life is, so let me paint a vivid picture for you. Kinsey lived in high rise apartment buildings that were unkempt, smelled of urine, drug infested, and full of crime. A person being shot over foolishness was just another normal everyday activity. Sometimes, children couldn't play safely in the park without being rounded up by parents who heard the familiar sounds of gunshots filling the air. Most children were greatly affected by this environment. Some were hopeless, received poor education, did not have great role models, and had to fight everyday to prove their 'status'. Mainly because there were wolves on the streets who's only goal was to take over and control the community. As ridiculous as this may sound to some, it was a reality to Kinsey. A harsh reality that she woke up to every morning wondering if she would ever make it out.

 

Kinsey definitely didn't live in a healthy environment. This was not hard to figure out, but there was something special about her mentality and self will that made her want to excel higher than the circumstances she endured. Although, Kinsey tried to stay focused on a successful future, she sometimes felt it was just a farfetched dream. Unfortunately, she could not ignore the grueling statistical facts that proved most children who were brought up in her type of environment were already destined for failure.

 

Just imagine waking up on the verge of hopelessness with the same questions everyday. What do you do when you have no real resources to support your future? What do you do when you cannot get a job due to unfair situations? What do you do when you haven't received the proper education to succeed in life? What do you do when your circumstances are not within your control? What do you do? It is a very hard pill to swallow. Especially when you find yourself treading these deep waters alone.

 

Life for Kinsey was extremely hard. She worked a lot of odd jobs while attending college on a one class per semester basis. This was all she could afford during the time, but in her mind it was still a productive step towards her future no matter how long it took to get there. Time passed by quickly and a better job surfaced that would allow Kinsey to take care of herself much better. She was able to move away from the projects and experience life on a very different level. Kinsey eventually graduated college. It may have taken a lot longer than most, but she did it! Although, reaching her career goals was still a huge challenge, her quality of life changed immensely. Her frame of mind became stronger willed, she gained a lot of wisdom throughout the years, and she became a living example for others that were going through the same life experiences she had. Yes, Kinsey was unstoppable now!

 

Sometimes you may feel your life was designed to be awful from the day you were born(environmental factors, mental road blocks, education opportunities, lack of support, lack of positive role models etc.) but it is not true. You may also feel that no matter how hard you try, you are destined to fail; this is also not true. The truth is, you can always pick up the broken pieces and start your day anew. If you constantly worry about how long it will take to get there or how old you will be when you have reached your goals, you will always procrastinate. Procrastination only hurts you in the long run! Just like the lotto slogan implies, "You have to be in it to win it!". Don't keep putting off your goals because of road blocks, and please do not rely on others to completely support you. When you rely on people, you will surely be let down. But when you rely on God and your inner capabilities, you will always succeed. Life is about being healthy, happy, and smart about your decisions. Reverse that stinking thinking today. You can do it! Many blessings to you...


*The character in this blog is not real. It is a fictional character used to carry out a positive message and inspire my readers.*  Thank you for your continued support!


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