Month: August 2015

  • Just Start Somewhere

    “Start before you’re ready.” ―Steven Pressfield

    I read somewhere that if someone wants to build a social media presence you have to create something new each day. I whole heartily agree with this statement, but the hardest thing I find is being disciplined enough to sit down and start.

    The one thing writing a blog has taught me is that you have to just simply push through the distractions. There certainly can be quite a few of them when you decided to put action behind an important task.  I had the same resistance when I started meditation.  I would sit down, get comfy and press play on my iPhone, as soon as Deepak would say close your eyes, thoughts of what I needed to take care of would pop in my head. I couldn’t stay focused.  The more I decided I was going to just sit there, I eventually got better.  I became less distracted by thoughts and gained more focus on my meditation practice. I know the same will happen on my writing.

    I have been working on a few techniques that have helped me get more focused on accomplishing some tasks. I have found that if I get still and take some quiet time with myself, the topics of what I want to write about come to me.  When I sit quietly, I ask myself, “What is the message that I would like to bring forward at this moment?” Some of the best ideas have come to me by just waiting.  They have had some A-ha moments.

    I have also found that by just writing out all of the thoughts that are in your head can be a great way to determine a topic to write about.  When you take a moment just to write out what’s on your mind, they don’t have to be organized at that moment, it’s just important to get your thoughts down on paper.  Then when you get the chance, go back and organize what you wrote.

    The last idea on finding things to write about is just pressing play on your cell phone and just record what’s on your mind.  The most important thing with this method is not to leave them in the sound recording. Take a moment to go back, listen and write your ideas down in a notebook or journal.  Again the most import thing is to get your thoughts out of your head and down on paper.

    As with most posts I write about, there is a lesson I would like to share.  This lesson is that you don’t have to things perfect to start, just simply begin with something.  I know my writing will improve the more I keep writing, but what I celebrate each time I post, is the simple fact that I did.

    Quote Source: http://www.goodreads.com/quotes/tag/getting-started

  • The Healing Power of Forgiveness

    The Healing Power of Forgiveness

    You cannot change what you refuse to confront – Unknown

    Let me tell you at least one thing I gained when I decided to forgive myself.  My second husband and I have been divorced for over 10 years.  When we divorced, it was not on the best of terms.  There was infidelity and abuse in our marriage that both of us could claim.  We had one child born out of this marriage.  My ex-husband paid his child support and maintained a relationship with our child.  We had always been cordial to each other but since I remarried shortly after our divorce I think that may have contributed to the distance in his and my son’s relationship.  Our child is now 15 years old and for the past year or so, I have wanted my son’s father to be more involved then he has been.  This is where the healing power of forgiveness really made a change.

    In 2013, I was involved in a car accident.  The car was totaled and I walked away with just a few bruises on my arm from where the airbag deployed.  It was a single car accident.  I was checked out by paramedics and then placed in the back of a police car while they did they initial investigation and the tow truck arrived.  While in the police car, a calming presence came over me and I felt that everything was going to be fine.  I was at peace for just a moment. It is a feeling that I have never forgotten.  My spiritual transformation had just begun.

    In 2014, I started meditating.  There were little thoughts that would pop into my head like “it’s not your burden to carry” or the “road won’t be easy but I’ll protect you”.  I also started reading both spiritual and self-improvement books.  Here are some books that really made an impact:

    The Power of Now, Eckhart Tolle; Discover the Power Within You, Eric Butterworth; Instinct, TD Jakes; A New Earth, Eckhart Tolle; The Gifts of Imperfection, Dr. Brene Brown; A Return to Love, Marianne Williamson; Spiritual Solutions, Deepak Chopra; The Four Agreements, Don Ruiz; The Universe is Calling, Eric Butterworth and When Things Fall Apart, Pema Chodron

    In addition to reading, I walked at the park on a daily basis and discovered a passion for photography. During that time I paid close attention to how I spoke to myself.  I looked at what I was giving my attention to.  I started to like myself and actually start to laugh at some of the silly stuff I was holding onto. I was actively checking my belief system and confronting old habits and thought processes. I would cry sometimes but I would also laugh and rejoice at the changes.

    About a year ago, the feeling that I needed to reach out to my ex-husband, a strong but gentle nudge came over me. When he called to speak to my son, I was a little more conversational and we started to talk to each other a little more and eventually I apologized for my part in our relationships demise.  It was about a month ago when he apologized to me.  That’s not where the story ends. For my son’s birthday, I suggested that may be he fly him down to Louisiana to spend some time but he came back and said that his schedule was too busy.  My initial thought that creeped in was, how you can be too busy for your son.  That was my old BS rearing its ugly head.  A few days later, the soft gentle voice spoke and said you did your part, you invited him in, let it go. And that’s what I did.

    A week or so later, his father stated he planned to drive up to Ohio and spend a few days with my son.

    Here is my Lessons Learned:

    1. Work on you first
    2. Let go and trust in Divine timing
    3. Stay open to the Possibilities
  • You are Greater Than This

    You are Greater Than This

    “Courage is being scared to death, but saddling up anyway.” – John Wayne

    The biggest step I took that changed my life was the day I quit my job. 19499673_sIt was December of 2011, I was listening to Katy Perry’s “Firework “on my way to work and was balling like a big old baby. I knew I had to make a change in my life but I was a wife and a mother of three with financial obligations. Something said you can’t keep living like this, you are miserable with you job.  I finally got the nerve up to go into Human Resources and put my two weeks’ notice in.  I had no real idea what I planned on doing but one thing for sure was I was not going to keep working the same job I had done for almost 25 years through the military and private sector.  Many people offered their opinions about my actions but for some strange reason, I felt I was where I needed to be doing exactly what it was I was doing.  At that time I didn’t know that some people would call that a “calling”.  My life hit some rough patches during 2012 through 2013. It wasn’t until 2014 that things started to fall into place. By now, I had my social media business for 2 years with no real growth.  You may be asking yourself, how is that falling into place? Let me explain.

    I had one client sign on with me in 2013. 576674_401405473235080_420286707_nDuring that time we both were in a transitional period of our lives.  He signed on with me in 2013 as a client. He had asked me to trust him and that he would do all that we could do to make his dreams come true and that if he made it, we both would make it.  I committed myself to support his dreams by doing what I did best, helping him with his social media presence.

    The biggest shift in my business was when my priorities changed.  From 2013 to 2014 my business mindset shifted from sales to service.  I looked forward to meeting potential clients with aspirations in helping them grow their business. It made such a difference knowing I had something valuable to offer.  I realized that when people work to build the relationship the money will follow. chasing_clients I know I am not where I want to be in career but I can honestly say I’m enjoying the journey.

    As I look back on that period of my life, I know that without experiencing the loss and heartache I went through, I would not be who and where I am now.  The test was in the trial.  I trust in something greater than myself and remain open to the possibilities. Here are three things I have learned along the way that I would love to share with you.

    1. Keep going no matter how hard it gets.
    2. Discover your gifts and put them to work.
    3. Everyone has a story; share your vision with the world.
  • Game Change… I have the Power of Control.

    Game Change… I have the Power of Control.

    All that we are is a result of what we have thought. – Buddha

    Did you know that you are an energy source that attracts either positive or negative energy?25758381_s  Did you also know you can control how you say something, the way you say something and even when you say something?  What you cannot control is how someone will react, what someone thinks or what the other person is feeling. That thought alone has been the biggest game changer in my life.

    For years, I heard Oprah say that when someone gets angry or mad at you, it really has nothing to do with you. She was absolutely right. My A-ha moment was when I realized that all you truly do is trigger an issue within them. How I learned was by working on my own issues. When I used to get mad, and after I realized I got mad, I asked myself, why is this bothering you? Many times, when someone said something, it was an issue that was weighing somewhere in the back of my mind and they just happened to “pick at it”.

    For a long time, I used to get mad at my 22 year old daughter for buying new clothes. She works in a clothing store and on many occasions when I picked her up from work (key phrase…pick her up from work) she would either have a new bag, dress, shoes or something. I was getting tired of her lack of interest in getting her own license.  When I would “blow up”, I was actually frustrated with myself and feeling like I didn’t prepare her properly to move out and get her life together especially on the task of getting her own license. I felt like I let her down but instead of addressing my concern, I just got mad. I learn that it was her choice not to get her license, just like it was my choice to pick her up, or not from work.

    Let me share with you a more recent issue where, I had to be more mindful in the choices I make. On my last trip from LA,DSCF6285-001 I had a layover in Dallas. The plane was late taking off in LA which of course would affect my time in Dallas.  When we arrived in Dallas, I had about 30 minutes to make my connecting flight. Low and behold, the plane was not able to pull into the gate because there was still another plane parked at it.  By the time we were parked and the gateway was in place, I had about 15 minutes to get off. By now, reality was setting in and there was a very high probability I wasn’t going to make my connecting flight.  Got off the plane had to go to another terminal and so, I knew I wasn’t going to make it in time. I missed my flight to LA just days before.  Got to the gate, boarding had ended.  I knew I wasn’t going to make it and I still got mad.  Here is where mindfulness played a big role in how I quickly was able to get a handle on my emotions.  I realized, I didn’t want to attract any negative attitude from the ticket agent. It wasn’t her fault I missed the plane but I needed her help to resolve my issue.  I was able to quickly get a hold of my anger. I realized by missing the flight, I had a chance to relax and grab something to eat before my next flight. I also took advantage of the yoga area. All things worked out. I had a pleasant flight into Cincinnati.

    Most of the time, we can control our actions and reactions if we are willing to step back from the situation, breathe42155386_s and process what’s important.  Most of the time the situation is not really as bad as our minds makes it out to be.  Since, I have been able to put my game changing insight to work, my relationship with my daughter has also improved (despite the fact, she still doesn’t have her license). I know all things will work out in the end.

    Quote Source: http://www.thelawofattraction.com/quotes/