Write the Vision...Make it Plain...

It's 2006 and everyone now knows.  Knows what you ask?...knows the secret.  This phenomenol movie comes out and let's you know how to not only take control of your life, but also  take control of your destiny.  Ask and you shall receive.  Truly believe and wait on what you know is already yours.  These are great themes throughout the film and if you haven't seen it, I urge you to get it as soon as possible.  

One of the parts of the movie involves writing down or making a collage of the things that you want.  It's actually part of the process of receiving whatever it is that you want.  You are to put the vision and yearning that is in your mind on to something that you can actually see outside of your mind.  That is in turn declaring your vision.  A man in the film did just that.  He had done a vision board years before and put it out of view.  He continued to live his life still believing and waiting on the things that he wanted to obtain.  One day, his son was sitting on and kicking a box that contained his boards.  His son asked what was in the box and he replied saying that it was a vision board.  Not knowing what that meant, he asked his father what it was and why he did it.  The man began to explain what this board was and what it meant and in the midst of that, he began to choke up with emotion.  He hadn't looked at that board in such a long time that he failed to realize the home that he placed on that board years ago, was the very home he currently lived in!!!!  Wow!  His dream had been realized!  He was living one of his dreams!  How awesome is that?!  

Something about that did something to me.  I was amazed by that!  All of a sudden, everywhere I turned, and everyone I talked to, had the same message of putting your desires in plain view.  There's even a BIBLE verse from Habakkuk 2:2 that says to "write the vision and make it plain."  No matter what you believe in, the message is still the same; Illustrating your desires will propel you into your reality as long as you truly believe.

Now, I had said to myself, and a whole slew of other people, that I was working on one for a long time and never really was.  I had tons of ideas, but never really put them into action.  I came up with a bunch of excuses and made-up road blocks as to why I couldn't complete it.  One day, I just decided to take the bull by the horns and committ myself to my dream book and  therefore my destiny.  I devoted myself to putting my all into my book, so it could really reflect me and the things that were important to me.  I not only documented with pictures, but with words.  I even wrote a letter to myself at the end.  It was a letter of encouragement, love, and motivation to myself.  At first, it felt a little awkward, but you have to be your greatest motivator, so I put my soul into it and it'll be a beautiful moment, when I can look back and see my dreams realized.

Since this is my outlet and you are here, I figured you'd be curious as to what my book looked like, so I've decided to share some excerpts of it with all of you.  Of course you can't see the words, but you'll get the jist.  Take a look....

Front Cover

Things that I like, describe me, or quotes

Photo Collage

Work and Wealth

Travel

Family & Friends

Peace

Faith

Houses/Cars

Love & Lust

I really recommend you doing a vision board and/or book!  It's so powerful!  I warn that if you do it without really believing you can get these things physical or nonphysical, don't waste your time!  It won't matter and it definitely won't happen.  For those of you who have a ton of excuses, especially the popular "I'm not creative" excuse, I've got news for you: neither am I!  Whether you think you can or not, you ALWAYS can if you really want to!  And for those who are really wanting to, but are still fighting it, I've got some tips for you in the video link below, so no excuses...just do it!....your world is waiting to see it!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uku0oGSWh3o

Until next time....keep the forward movement....

Do YOU.....

Lately I've noticed something.  I like to help out in whatever capacity I can.  I'm usually the "go-to" person for a lot of things, and I usually do it.  I'm the type of person that whether I want to do it or not, if it helps, I will.  That's one of the ways I show that I care; whether I know you or not.  It's just me.  When you genuinely do things, you don't expect it in return, but in the back of your mind, I'm sure you want some sort of appreciation.  A simple "thank you" would suffice.  I've come to find out the hard way that sometimes no matter what you do, or how much you do, it may never be enough.  For whatever reason, people won't always be as appreciative as you'd like and often times, what you don't do is what they'll remember.  

This happens in other ways too.  For instance,  I have so many ventures that I'm actively working on and of course, naturally, I just know that everyone I know will be so supportive and completely on board with it, but they're not.  If some even show interest, it's minute or sometimes ingenuine though they think I don't notice.   Funny enough, strangers can be more supportive than the poeple you know.

In my celebratory moments, there are still some that cringe or don't fully celebrate my success.  It pains them to see me reach what they have not and probably won't.

Overall. there are things that you do even with the most sincere of intentions, and unfortunately, it can be received in a completely different manner.  It's out of your control.  If you've ever argued with someone about something they were 100% sure about even if you knew it was wrong, all that mattered was what they thought.  How frustrating, huh?  It makes you not want to share your success right?  It makes you not want to continue to reach out all the time and help right?  It makes it you not want to give your all right?....ABSOLUTELY NOT!

The fact of the matter is no matter what you do and how well you do it or what great intentions you have in doing it, everyone will not always be elated for you.  Some are guaranteed to forget all the good and hold on to the bad.  Some will allow their jealousy and low self-esteem to get in the way of their potential happiness and support for you.  Does this mean you stop being yourself?  Nope!  Whether you get a "thank you"  and are remembered for good or not, continue to still do it.  Whether you have 100 people celebrating with you or 1 person, you celebrate anyway!  Whether people believe in you or not, continue to realize that dream until it's a reality!

What I really want you to keep in mind is to never stop doing YOU.  Never allow people, places, or things, to get in the way of you continuing to be you.  Don't let situations determines the type of person you are or what you become.  Don't let them take the good outof you.  Don't let anything taint you.  At the end of the day, YOU will have to be happy with YOU and if you like who you are and know what you're about, that's worth so much more than anything else.

Surprisingly, in feeling somewhat annoyed with the fact that I felt a little underappreciated, I ran into this poem or shall I say, it found me.  While waiting in my doctor's office, a nurse made a copy and handed it to me not knowing a thing about my thoughts.  Coincidence....I think not.  Tonight, it's the perfect way to end.

People are often unreasonable, irrational, and self-centered.  Forgive them anyway.

If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives.  Be kind anyway.

If you are successful, you will win some unfatihful friends and some genuine enemies.  Succeed anyway.

If you are honest and sincere, people may deceive you.  Be honest and sincere anyway.

What you spend years creating, others could destroy overnight.  Create anyway.

If you find serenity and happiness, some may be jealous.  Be happy anyway.

The good you do today, will often be forgotten.  Do good anyway.

Give the best you have and it will never be enough.  Give your best anyway.

In the final analysis, it is between you and God.  It was never between you and them anyway.

~Mother Teresa

Until next time....keep the forward movement....

On the FAST track.....

I'm a firm believer in sacrifice, especially when it comes to getting something you truly want.  I personally don't think that you can get anything that's worth something without giving something up whether it's big or small.  Keeping this in mind, I decided to go on a spiritual fast called the Daniel's fast. http://www.christ-web.com/missions/farho/daniel-fast  This fast, if you do it whole-heartedly without personal exceptions, has many food restrictions.  For the most part, all you can eat for a time span of 21 days is fruits, vegtables, wheat-flour substances, natural juices, and water.  It takes a lot of discipline because it's for a long period of time and because it restricts a lot of things that you eat or drink regularly.  For example, I love all things coffee related and you can't have caffeine.  Now that may seem like something small, but if it's part of your everyday like it is mine, it's an obvious thing to give up.  A lot of people do it for spiritual and physical reasons.

As 2009 came to a close, I reflected on the year and decided to begin my new year with sacrifice through this fast.  As I told you in a previous entry, I wasn't into resolutions this year, but I still wanted to do something that reflected where I was and what better time to begin than at the start of the new year, so that's what I did.  So while everyone was toasting, kissing, & screaming "happy new year", I was in prayer and began my fast at exactly 12:00 am.   I made sure to choose a purpose that was so much bigger than me in order for me to stay on track.  I knew, no matter what, I'd never quit, but in doing something so great, I made sure that my reasons for doing it were so much more important than what I was giving up.  

Well, I just finished it on Friday at 12:00 and I must say, I was so proud of myself.  I had done this fast before, but I felt so different after this specific time.  Submerging yourself in prayer and focus allows to enable your tunnel vision and keep out all the things that are unneccessary for you.  Even physically I felt different and my body has been yelling at anything that has not been a part of the past 3 weeks.  It's allowing me to see what I truly should be allowing into my body.  A lot of the things that I gave up on top of the fast are also making their way back and mentally, I'm not receptive to them anymore either.  The funny thing is, prior to doing the fast, I didn't realize their negative effects.

When you take a risk or step out on faith, you have to know, that you know, that you know.  It's just that simple.  The greater the risk, the greater the reward.  

When you give something up with a pure intention and a focused mind, the end result will be exactly what you need, more than you wanted, and bigger than you could've imagined.  I urge you to simply wait on it.  It may not be easy, but nothing worth having ever is and sometimes, you have to suffer now to enjoy the fruits of your labor later.  Go ahead and take a step out on faith and get on the fast track...destination: wherever you want and need to be with whatever your heart desires.

Until next time....keep the forward movement....

Labor Pains...Prepare for Delivery...

Labor.  What do you think when you hear that word?  Usually, the first thing that comes to mind is a pregnant woman.  The next thing is probably the thought of  excruciating pain that you can't wait to be over, but recently, I started looking at it in a different light.  

A friend of mine and I were having a conversation about life in general.  It was one of those "catch up" conversations where you try to jam-pack 6 months of your life into 30 minutes.  Anyway, we were trading war stories about things we've been through and our new coping mechanisms.  Mine and what I found out later was hers as well, was adjusting our focus to positivity and not "sweating the small or big stuff".  I told her that I shared this with someone I knew and they asked me "well Steph, what if I keep a positive mindset and nothing happens that I want?  Then it was a waste of time."  My friend and I both started laughing when I told her this, because we had the same thought:

"It is much better to live your life with  positivity and the faith that you will receive your desires whether it goes your way or not, than to live your life negatively and never get what you truly want."

Think about that for a minute.  If you knew that no matter what your attitude, you'd get the same result, wouldn't it make more sense to choose the happier road?  I'll aswer for you...it does!  Whether your like or not, it rains, so choose to dance in the rain.  It makes life so much more enjoyable.  

As my friend and I continued our conversation, we started listing things we were grateful for despite what we've gone and are going through and I said "our labor pains are worth it; when we deliver, we'll be so overjoyed, we won't remember the pain."  Ladies and gentlemen, I must say, sometimes I amaze myself with my own growth because literally a few months ago, I wasn't thinking this way.  It makes so much sense when you think about it.  When I was younger, I once asked my mom how a pregnant woman can go from screaming, crying, and in extreme pain one moment and in the next instant, after that child is born, she is smiling and filled with utter happiness.  My mom calmy said "when you see that perfect little face, you realize the pain was worth it and you don't even feel it anymore."  Wow!  That gave me a new perspective!

A lot of the things that people go through, especially the tough things are the equivalent of labor pains.  It hurts and it's uncomfortable.  Sometimes, you feel like it will never end, but know through the pain that you are nurturing growth.  Just like a child inside of a woman's body, is nurtured, and prepared for delivery, you through the tough times, through your labor, are being nurtured and prepared for your delivery.  When it comes, it will be greater than you imagined.  It will come when you're truly ready for it to come, not just when you want it.  There will be a wonderful newness that arrives and you will have what you've been working and/or waiting for.  The pain will have been worth it; the labor will have not been in vain. 

Embrace the pain....enjoy the gain....

Until next time....keep the forward movement...

Love those that hate you...

"Love those that hate you."  So much easier said than done.  I have heard this saying before and I'm sure a lot of you have heard it as well.  Although, we all want to be this way, in the midst of something upsetting, I'm sure it's not the first thing you think of nor is your reaction reflective of this saying.  It's usually in the aftermath that you think of this quote.

I've noticed with the recent earthquake that occurred in Haiti how much people have really come out and have pitched in to be of service to mankind.  It's a beautiful thing to see how people can come together and help those who are suffering and in need no matter race, color, or creed.  Many people have been selfless, have encouraged, and have been an example for others to do the same.  Unfortunately, even in such a horrible time, there are many people have who done just the opposite.

Hatred had reared it's ugly head throughout this disaster as well.  There have been a lot of ignorant people along with their insignificant beliefs that have tried to infiltrate the positivity that has taken place.  Instead of being of service, they are ridiculing people and things, and have completely denied any empathy toward suffering people.

This morning during my usual breakfast stop, I heard two men discussing why they felt these people deserved this and their reasons to support their witlessness.  I went to work in awe and so upset that people like this, who could watch people suffer, die, and lay on the side of the road like cattle, exist.  It was extrememly disheartening.  The end of my day was no better with an ignorant employee stating something similarly as I loaded things donated by several people to send to those who were less fortunate.  In each situation,  I thought about stopping and giving them a piece of my mind, but you can't change people like that nor can you control them.  The only thing that you can control is yourself.

Though I was thinking this, I was still seething on the way home.  I called a friend of mine and she reminded me how much better than that mindset and how much better than blowing up I was.  She reminded me not fall off of the successful path that I was on because of asinine people.  She kept saying that over and over.  After we hung up, I continued to drive and stared straight ahead into the silence when I heard the thought in my mind...."love those that hate you."  It was like a light bulb.  I recited it to myself until I calmed down and at that moment, I truly felt sorry for those people.  My anger diminished.

No matter what the situation, you can't allow yourself to be pulled down as low as some people or things.  In moments, where you can't possibly understand how someone could be so heartless, whether it's to you or someone else, you have to find the mental strength to love them still.  This is obviously not in a literal sense, but the meaning is still love and rising above.  People expect you to argue back or get offended and be upset, but whether you know it or not, this is giving them and negativity control.  Then you end up feeling bad and defeated.  Positivity is so much more powerful than negativity and when you truly know and master that, you'll forever be flying high.  I leave you will love....

Until next time.....keep the forward movement....

Check yourself....

Great travesties force us to realize how trivial and insignificant things are.  For example, a few  nights ago, my phone stopped working.  Just like that it stopped ringing and receiving messages, so in true fashion, I panicked, because like a lot of people now a days, your phone is your access to the world.  After a few minutes, I decided to just go to sleep and deal with it in the morning.  The very next day, I called, argued, and got a new phone shipped to me.  I repeatedly requested wanting a red phone.  I said it a few times to make sure that I received a red one and guess what?  I did not get the red one!  I got an ugly grayish & silver one.  I was so annoyed when I saw that!  That's not what I wanted and they were about to find out.  As I reached for the phone to call them, something stopped me.  All of a sudden, I was so ashamed of myself.  How dare I be upset about not getting the right color phone when people all over the place don't have food, water, or electricity?  With the devastation that has occurred this week in Haiti, dead bodies are laying on the side of the road and adults and helpless children are walking around aimelessly.  I felt so bad.  At that moment, I was grateful for the fact that I even had a phone.  I focused on the fact that one day I ask for a phone and the very next day I receieve it.  No muss, no fuss.  It helped me to realize that in life you have to choose your battles and in the greater scheme of things, the color of my phone is not worth it or even that important.  Sometimes we get caught up in insignificant things and forget to appreciate the good.  Don't focus on the one tiny black speck on the huge white wall.  There is so much more to see.  The next time you find yourself about to get upset over something so small, just check yourself......

Until next time....keep the forward movement....

Reflecting on the earthquake....help anyway you can!

 The sudden catastrophe that occurred in Haiti, put a lot of things in perspective for me.  I've been doing more and more learning new perspectives as I grow as a person.  Lately, I've been making sure that I appreciate everything and not allow anything to detour me from my positivity.  After submersing myself in news of the earthquake, I reached a point where I had to turn everything off.  Despite all that I heard, all the pictures of dead bodies, tear-stained faces, and ruined buildings, I forced myself to find something positive.  I forced myself to think of the good that still exists.  Do you know how hard that was?  Even as I heard my own parents cry about the state of our country, and the fact that they can't get in touch with their siblings, I had to stay positive.   That was probably the hardest part of not allowing my attitude to be derailed.  To see your own parents in pain is emotionally hard, but even still, I looked toward the horizons of positivity.  As I sent my prayers out to those suffering and the country itself, I was, in that same moment, elated to be able to be thankful for my immediate family who was safe and well.  I was thankful that I, along with many others, were in the position to find different ways of sending our help to those who are less fortunate.  You see, no matter how bad you think you have it, or how little you have, someone is always worse off than you.  You can always be a help to someone.  The mere fact that you are alive is enough to be happy, because every single day, someone loses someone they know, so when a natural disaster occurs, you can't imagine how many people are affected at the same time.  Think about it.  What if you didn't know where your family or friends were?  Of what if you didn't even know if they were dead or alive as the news continued to report an increase in the death toll?  It's so much easier to truly understand things when you put yourself in that position.  Things are alot different in your mind now aren't they?  Even though you know it's not your reality, the thought of it is disturbing.

 Today, I urge you to see what you can do and do it!  There are plenty of ways to donate and help!

Until next time....keep the forward movement....