New Years Resolutions and why they *drum roll * work!

   Happy New Year! It is page 7 of Chapter 1 of your life in 2013 what have you written down so far? I know, I know, New Years Resolutions are here and now it’s time to figure out if we really mean it. I am a strong believer in the power of words and the power of writing.  Every time I write something down or create a checklist the items get done. For years I have written down my goals, visualized my year by creating vision boards and written letters to God about my friends, families and my future husband * giggles *. I also say who “I Am” regularly even if I physically have not become it quite yet. I say who “I Am” out loud and write it on my mirrors so that I can read it daily and just like magic I become who I said I am.

 

    When we recite and see things that we want to become on a daily basis we start to become it. The power of writing and visualization helps us to become just that. Example when we create any type of “pick up list” from the mall or the grocery store we start checking off what we have successfully completed during a short period of time, resolutions work the same way. Resolutions can be short term or long term goals however they all are intentional goals. Intentional goals are goals that we intend to have completed by a certain time frame.

 

  I have goal writing sessions with people in my circle just to see if they have a plan for their life or if they are just drifting through this world with a “whatever happens, happens” mentality.  Unfortunately, that mentality never works for those pursuing happiness. I like to see the people who cover me in my circle have the pom poms out for me cheering me on as I win this game of life but I also want the opportunity to pull my pom poms out and do splits and kicks too!

 

I love it when people say “Gods plan is my plan!” YES! God’s plan is your plan indeed. It sounds like a real powerful phrase but what does that mean to you exactly? Who do you think is planting all of those dreams & desires in your spirit lovie? Who do you think comes to you in your thoughts and gives you a friendly reminder about who you are? G-O-D. It’s time to move! Writing what is in our spirit makes us intentionally be clear about what we want to happen in our life. When we add a success date to our goals it creates action and possible opportunities to expand your circle.

        Lastly, I’m going to take it a step further and challenge you to choose an accountability partner. Give them a copy of your goals, don’t be scared.  Give your accountability partner permission to slap those cookies out of your hand, police your meals, gym schedule, review your business plan and whatever else it is that you plan on completing this year. Write it down. Map out your 2013 highway to excellence. The only person stopping you from being great is you!

We may not reach perfection but we can definitely be EXCELLENT!

   It’s important for me to know what I’m talking about instead of using big words and looking silly because I don’t know the true meaning of the word. I know you’ve seen it, I’m talking about people who use words like Ludicrous, Blasphemy, Monotony, Rigmarole and Malarkey or even simple words like Ghetto, Gangsta, Ratchet, etc… People use these words all the time because they’ve heard someone else say it but they’ve never really took the time to look up the true definition of the word to even see if they even like the word or can relate to it. I do. Almost every day I hear someone use a word to describe me and the work that I do. Some days I’m "Nice", "Sweet," "Intriguing," "Creative," "Eccentric," "Attractive," "Sexy," "Kind," Empowering," or  "Direct" to name a few. I receive what has been said as a compliment but once I get to my car I’m on my phone looking up the definition to see if I really identify with that word because people have no clue what they are saying at times. All they know is that it made that last person smile.

     My hope for the world and the people surrounding me is that we are all striving for perfection. Striving for perfection means that we are consciously working towards becoming a better person every day, every hour, every minute with every situation that you are being tested with. We all know that the probability of us becoming perfect is ZERO. If you are anything like me you mess up, have word vomit daily and wish that there was a way to use white out on your life at times. We may not ever be perfect but I promise you that by now we have become EXCELLENT at what we do in life. The definition of excellent is “to be very good at what you do.” It’s time that we begin to own what we have been created to be and be excellent at it! Hairstylist, Make –Up artist, Nurse, Pharmacist, Manager, Customer Service Rep, Counselor, Friend, Mother, Father, Coworker,  Wife, Husband, whatever you do in life BE EXCELLENT at it!

     What’s the purpose of doing something every day at 45%? Motivate and prepare yourself to leave home on 80% at minimum daily. That means by the time you refuel your system with some delicious lunch you can tackle part two of your day on 100%. Being at 45% is a waste of unused positive energy and ain’t nobody got time for that! I heard a song on the radio the other day titled “I’m Different” and yes it’s catchy, yes it has a bouncing beat but it’s a kind of “Bottom of the Barrel” way to describe yourself. I don’t know about your genre but growing up being " different” was not a compliment, it was a sweet way to call someone an "invalid”(look it up) and now we have people walking around in circles chanting this song?! Again, I think the song is…. okay but imagine a world where music was played that motivated men and women to say that they are excellent and awesome. How much would a song like that inspire people to not only realize that they have been cut from a different cloth but that they are actually great at what they do? This would end up being a mantra or an affirmation to lift you higher and higher every day. Don’t just be a different kind of person be excellent at who you were created to be.

 Today tell yourself that you are EXCELLENT at what you do and most importantly EXCELLENT at who you have been created to become.

Are you working with your connections wisely?

          Isn’t it amazing how people surround you daily from all over the world? Different places, different faces and they all have a desire to get to know you! Welcoming people into your space can be challenging if you don’t know how to manage relationships. Being confident and secure in who you are as an individual helps when networking with people that you have not established a relationship with. I have realized that connecting and building a relationship with people from all walks of life can only be a WIN/WIN situation. You are who you are and only you have the power to change that. Once we accept our imperfections and our perfections (because we all have something that we do amazing well) it becomes much easier to approach people, shake hands, hug, and smile on a regular basis. All of these actions go into the category of “shining” and when you’re shining guess what?! You are attracting people to you! The brighter you shine a higher caliber of individual begins to place themselves in your circle and remain solid contacts. Celebrities were once average everyday people until they began letting people in to their world and managing their connections wisely.

                 Think of every new connection as a link. These links can be strong metal links on a rope link that can easily be cut. Solid relationships are normally the metal links, these people are your permanent connections whom you know are more than happy to give you a “yes” and assist you with your needs meanwhile the rope links might be temporary and very unstable. Rope links are easily recognizable because the level of instability is very recognizable. Rope link connections rarely provide a work with attitude because they are too busy with the dramatics of their everyday life to be responsive to pretty much anyone on time. They’ve decided to infiltrate your zone only to see what the hype is about you, which is not a bad thing. Rope Links serve as a validation check point for others who may be interested in knowing you but have cruel intentions. The biggest lesson that I have learned in life about relationships is that ALL relationships are good relationships. Some will probably stretch us to the limit but it will benefit our growth and maturity in more ways than one. While solid relationships will take us to the top. Other associates make us stronger every day. We all have a lane and we all design our lives the way that we want it to be. Use caution when visiting other peoples world because It might be pretty stormy on their side, however don’t hesitate to invite them into the sunshine of your life.

Smile & Make an A!

Why Your Smile Will Always Buy You A YES!

Someone once said a smile is the sexiest curve on the body. What would you do if you knew that your smile might just be the end of ever hearing the word no again?  Have you ever started laughing and felt really good while you enjoyed that laughing moment? Smiling has been known to boost our immune system and release endorphins that make us feel good!  A simple full smile uses less muscles than a straight face or a frown, a smile will make your day more optimistic and create an upward spiral for your happiness and joy. It’s impossible for you to smile at someone and not receive a smile back unless the person that you are smiling at is intentionally trying to win the “butt whole of the day” award.

Smiling can also be an open door to levels of trust between you, your peers or even someone new. It’s hard to trust a “fast talker” because it seems that they are trying trick us by quickly piling a lot of information on us with hopes that we just might miss something. Meanwhile, a smiling face or even a smiling voice over the phone is calming, convincing, and trustworthy.  I don’t know about you but I personally feel more at ease if I am visiting the doctor and the nurse has great energy and a bright smile. It’s a double bonus if the nurse is a male with great energy and a bright smile * wink *

Smiling is magnetic. I smile at strangers, babies, friendly pets and even the people that stand on the side of the street waving and turning their advertisement signs to make a couple of dollars. I’m actually smiling while writing this article and guess what? I probably just made you smile too. It’s been a long time since I’ve heard the word no. My smile has been my moneymaker, not because I’ve spent years wearing braces because I have not, it’s because my smile is genuine. When I smile I mean it. I’m not a “grinner” because I was taught that some people could receive grinning offensively but there is no mistaking a beautiful smile. It’s impossible for you to not feel the energy or feel the aura behind a genuine smile.

Today I have a challenge for you. It’s not a dare or a double dare. It’s actually a physical challenge! I challenge you to a battle of smiles! Try smiling and attracting positive energy your way for the rest of the day. I can’t promise you that somebody will not try to turn your smile upside down because someone might. However, I can promise that you have the power to control what you do and how you communicate to others and if you have successfully finished this article you have officially accepted the physical challenge! Go on… SMILE!