“what kills dreams more than anything is this thought, ‘what will they think of me…’”.
Someone out there needs and is waiting for your idea, your perspective, your plan, your project , etc., you have to believe that! You are being relied on and you don’t even know it yet. The person out there may not even know it yet. But someone or someone’s is waiting for YOU.
You were born here. That’s miraculous in itself. Now show who you are.
Our voices are so powerful. Our ideas are powerful and can influence change in countless, possibly infinite ways!
The world is your oyster has more meaning with age and experience, but how true this statement is.
Whatever it is don’t give up. Welcome any pushback with open arms and use that to fuel your fire that lingers inside your soul.
Share your ideas with trusted individuals and hear their opinions but don’t take everything to heart. Sometimes the ideas in our heads are so tangled up, and be challenging to articulate to others.
Sometimes unweaving them is only something you can do and MUST do by yourself.
So be patient with yourself. Give yourself grace daily. You know your vision and you can’t let others or yourself hold you back.
What are you waiting for? I’m cheering for you. It doesn’t matter what they think. Seek your reason and the nothing else at all will matter.
“Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content”
Philippians 4:11
If we define the word worry, it reads; “give way to anxiety or unease; allow one’s mind to dwell on difficulty or troubles.” Think about that for just a moment. When we can’t control something, it causes us stress and anxiety. It leads us down the path of worrying where we end up in a field filled with fear.
How often do you worry? Many times I’m sure. About all sorts of things, right? We worry about the future, we worry about our children, we worry about bills being paid, we worry about our health, we worry about our family, we worry about many, many things.
We all worry. What you should know though is worrying is natural human survival instinct. Ultimately we worry to protect us from harm. Maybe you’re thinking, “how is worrying about my family protecting me? I’m worry about them.” Yes, that is true, however you worry to protect yourself from feeling pain. If something happens to someone in your family, you know you would suffer too. And who wants to suffer? Again, we worry to protect us. *Humans are pretty selfish, we think about ourselves a lot.*
Now worrying and living in fear is giving in to a very powerful force. Too many times we allow these emotions to completely control us and prevent us from truly living and feeling joy in our hearts. This also prevents our relationship with God from growing. Why? Because we aren’t trusting God. We aren’t trusting the creator of the entire universe. You’re not alone my friend, and you’re not on your own.
We have to lean in, we have to surrender, and we have to trust our Heavenly Father. He knows way more than we do. But, like a three year old, we are stubborn children. We want to do things on our own. Like children, we don’t want help. We don’t want to believe our Heavenly Father knows more than we do. Maybe we aren’t children, we kinda sound more like teenagers.
The spirit within us is like a muscle. As we strengthen our spirit muscle, it becomes stronger. The seed of love that God planted in all of us becomes stronger. God is love my friends. But we gotta water that seed! And we have to water others! As we continue to work on your relationship with God we become stronger than the flesh, we become stronger than those feelings and emotions that act like a wall preventing us from living in peace and harmony.
When we continue to seek God, the walls of fear and worry begin to crumble and dissolve like a soaked cookie in milk. We begin to feel peace within ourselves.
No matter what state we are in we aren’t worried or in fear because we know God loves us. We know no matter what, it’s going to be okay. We begin to understand God is in us, he surrounds us, he is reaching out and rescuing us.
But to be in that state, we have to reach our hand out. Gods hand is already present, we are the ones holding back. And once we grab ahold of the hand of God no matter what happens you’ll know in your heart God has got this. No matter what you know in the end Gods going to make everything right. God loves you. He loves you, He loves you, He loves you.
“And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance;
And perseverance, character; and character, hope.”
Romans 5: 3-4
This earthly life is full of inevitable hardships. Which is what a tribulation is; a hardship. However, as the scripture says, with hardships come lessons in determination, which gives us strength, which gives hope and encouragement to others and to yourself.
Some of you may already know this to be true and the pain is still lingering. You may be in a storm right now. But you also know what comes after a storm. A beautiful rainbow.
Sometimes in life you see great ordeals approaching, other times, those hardships will unexpectedly knock the air out of you the way a car spits out an airbag. Nobody wants to go through pain and suffering and nobody wants to see those especially close to them endure such things. They break our heart and crush our soul. But we are strong and courageous.
We have such things because we live in a world that is ill. However what we are being told to do when we encounter a hardship is to be still and rejoice. We are being told, don’t worry, something good will come out of this if you allow it. You have to seek the good. But think of those hard times for a moment, what did they teach you? What are you doing now and sharing with others to prevent anyone from suffering what you may have endured. Hard times happen to bring us closer together, not to separate us. Which is what God and truthfully all of us want. We want unity and peace.
So let’s hold hands and embrace these hard times together.
“So he answered and said, “ ‘ You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind,’ and ‘your neighbor as yourself .’ “
Luke 10:27
If you study and pay attention you will begin to recognize how we are all interwoven creating life itself. We lean on one another without realizing, we depend on more than we believe or even know, all of us representing a small piece that make up a grand infinite masterpiece.
We are one. When you love someone, some thing, you are loving not just that something but yourself. Made up of the same universe. All in this life and unknown together. God is all around you, in every thing that you see, touch, smell, hear, taste, God is in you, God is in us.
Everything is deserving of love and every thing needs love. We must accept and appreciate the cycles and have faith in all that is. Have faith that no matter what, love will always grow through the mud the same way a lotus does. Love will grow through the suffering and the obstacles.
“And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance”
Romans 5:3
Let’s define some of these words first to grasp a better idea of what this scripture may mean. A tribulation is a cause of great suffering or trouble. Perseverance is defined as “continued effort to do or achieve something despite difficulties, failure, or opposition.”
Back to the scripture, our pain brings out the will to not give up. It pushes us, it makes us stronger. It continues to say that our troubles are what give us hope and shape our character.
When hard things happen we must have faith. It’s the love in our hearts that persevere. May this scripture encourage you to dig deep into your pain and to find out what it has taught you. What has it made you realize? What has it made you wonder? Pray about it. Ponder it. Sometimes we have to go through a dark forest in order to see a beautiful sunrise. And when we see that sunrise we give hope to those who are still in the forest.
Believe that you will come out on top, no matter what life has and will continue to throw at you…..God is with you, always. You just have to look around.
Whatever you want in this life, I hope what I have to say can motivate or encourage you in some way.
Don’t ever stop being a dreamer.
“Set impossible goals”. I actually heard that quote on The Ellen DeGeneres Show. It was one of her greatest holiday giveaway ones.
A man had been swimming in the ocean, he did a flip, and broke his neck. Just like that, his life changed in an instant.
Life as we know is full of those kind of moments.
He was told that he may never walk again. A nurse told him something that gave him strength and determination. “Set impossible goals.”
Over time, he did learn how to walk again, he is one of the lucky few. He didn’t allow being told that he wouldn’t be able to walk again stop him or hold him back. He dreamed that impossible dream. The beautiful part of this story is he walked his wife down the aisle. And I’m willing to bet they danced too. All because he didn’t give up. All the frustration, the tears, the try after try were absolutely worth it.
(This isn’t them btw, I’m just providing a visual so you can truly try to empathize with this couple and to gain perspective. Hope it works.)
Now……
Everyone has something that they desire.What is your dream? I know you have one.
I’m willing to bet some of you reading this have never really been asked that question. Or you haven’t shared it with anyone.
I want this post to get you thinking about what you want in your life. To take a moment to identify what you seek.
When I was younger the only dream I truly desired so much was to become a mom. I’m not even kidding, that was my dream. It was a dream and it felt like a calling, I can’t really explain it. I wanted to be a mom so bad and my greatest fear was that I wouldn’t be able to have children.
When I became a mother my dream literally came true. Words cannot describe how much joy motherhood gives me. However, what’s crazy though, when I became a mom I also lost myself a bit.
Losing a bit of myself was very bizarre to me. I became something that I wanted so badly, yet, here was I not feeling completely fulfilled.
I went on a serious soul searching journey. And 3 kids later I feel the most confident, courageous, that I have ever been. And I have grown so much.
Motherhood has been the best thing to ever happen to me, because I found a different part of myself. New dreams are being born and new goals are being formed because of my first dream. My daughters inspire me. I have started dreaming ‘impossible dreams’ because of them.
I share this because I don’tever want you to feel discouraged. The feeling of reaching something but not quite feeling the way you thought you would will happen sometimes.
I saw an interview with Tom Hanks on The Today Show and he said something along the lines of, “The good things you feel from an accomplishment don’t last, and the same goes for the things that bring you down.”
I’m grateful for my dream of motherhood coming true. Greatest, hardest thing ever! This blog exist because of my girls! I have no idea where this blog will take me, but so far it’s probably helped me more then it’s helped any of you.
Trust the Timing of things. And trust your path. Each path provides some type of lesson to get you where you need to go next.
It can take time trying to figure out what you really want.
The point is, don’t give up. Keep trying, keep experiencing, keep doing! And stop being so concerned with what others think. Otherwise you’ll just become stuck and you will settle. If you only knew that just a few feet more you’d see that something greater was waiting for you.
If you’re afraid to fail in front of others, you’re going to have to suck it up. I say that in the nicest way possible.
I personally would rather keep trying new things and experiencing failure to find what really lights my spirit up, then to just settle because I’m in a content position.
You can’t be afraid of dead ends, u-turns, or any paths that lead you into a roundabout.
The pitfalls, the mistakes, the redos are going to happen and they have to happen in order for you to learn and grow and to get where you want to be.
4 THINGS TO CLOSE THIS UP
(Thanks if you read this whole thing!)
Be patient.
Don‘t forget the reasonwhy you’re doing what you are doing.
Write your goals down and work towards it everyday.
Stop limiting yourself, set yourself to be free and to express who you really are and who you want to become.
Who wouldn’t mind a little extra money in their pocket?
Some of these tips take discipline and may be difficult at first to implement into your life. But I can assure once you get in these habits you’re going to wish you started a long time ago.
When I had my first daughter my husband and I decided that I would stay home. It was something that I really wanted to do and we knew if we made some sacrifices and be frugal with our spending we could make it happen.
I’m not saying it was easy cutting back, because it wasn’t.
Before I had kids I was making decent money working at the bank. Making my own money I never really thought twice about how I was spending it. It was my money and my thought process was, well I’ll make it up when I work tomorrow.
I use to get my hair colored, manicures and pedicures often, eat out A LOT, go shopping and buy whatever was appealing pretty much. Money wasn’t too much of an issue because I was working.
However being on one income has forced me to get creative and cut back on my spending lifestyle. However I think to myself all the timejeez, if I could have installed these habits while I was actually working I’d have so much money now!
But it is what it is, you live and learn.
Anyways folks, these tips below are what have personally helped me and my family live on one income. We have 3 kids, take family trips often and own more then when we had 2 incomes.It’s been an adjustment but totally worth it!
READ BELOW!
25 Money Saving Tips You Can Start Now-Whether It Be Getting Out Of Debt Or Saving For More Experience’s
1. Cut Your Own Hair (there are plenty of YouTube videos on how-to)
If you’re like me, and typically only get a trim when getting a haircut then this can be a super easy money saver. As much as I love the treatment of having my hair washed and blow dried while I just sit there, it can be expensive. I have cut my hair, added layers, and gave myself bangs all through watching how-to videos on youtube. If you’re thinking of going from long hair to short, well then, I would suggest a professional. When you begin cutting your own hair getting your hair done by an actual professional can feel like a real treat and more deserving.
2. Pre-plan Your Meals
When you begin pre-planning your meals you only begin buying what you actually need to make those particular meals. Look through your fridge and pantry and ask, “What can I make with this?” If you can get in the habit of doing this there will be no more things sitting in your fridge or pantry going bad or becoming expired.
3. Wait Till Movies Come Out On Redbox/Netflix/etc. VS. Watching Them At The Theater
If you go to the movies often this can really add up. With the tickets, snacks, and popcorn, it’s very easy to spend more then 20 bucks every time. Especially if you enjoy the theaters with the reclining chairs. Save going to the movies for special occasions or for movies that you really really want to see. Most of the time you can wait and you can put that money towards something else.
4. Embrace Your Natural Hair Color Instead Of Coloring It
How often do you color your hair? Color can be very expensive. I think most of the times I have colored my hair it has always been 80 dollars or more. But since I’m saving money I have embraced my natural hair color and my hair hasn’t been colored in almost 2 years (around that time anyway) If you just love color then I would suggest going with highlights vs. a solid color. That way when it does begin growing out it looks a little more natural and won’t need as much retouching.
5. Do Work Outs At Home Instead Of Paying A Gym Membership
Typically gym memberships are 20 dollars a month or more. From what I can remember anyway. I use to love having a gym membership but when you’re saving money a gym membership is more of a luxury than a necessity. There are some great at home work outs all over the web. You may need to get a little creative but you’ll soon learn you don’t need the membership to stay fit and strong.
(YouTube has great work outs you can do in your home. I personally love ‘bohobeautiful’. Her videos are yoga related.)
6. Cancel your cable (with smart TVs now and Netflix who really needs cable?)
My husband and I had cable for years. We always had the cheap package but we still had cable. We are so busy doing other things that we hardly watch any TV. The only people that really watch TV are the kids but when they do watch TV its something they enjoy on Netflix or youtube. SO, we went ahead and canceled it. We figured if we wanted it back we will just call and get it back. It’s been a few months now and still no eagerness to get cable back. If anything it has given us more time back to do more things that we enjoy.
7. Shop The Clearance Racks Or Try Thrift Stores
Whenever you need something always check the clearance section first. Have you ever bought something and then in two weeks you see it in clearance? The worst right! Check clearance, or wait for sales. I personally am going to begin checking out thrift stores. When I was younger my mom and I absolutely loved thrift store shopping. And now, I hardly ever go. If you have the time you really can find some amazing treasures that would definitely be more expensive elsewhere.
8. Try The Generic Brands, You May Be Surprised
Not all generic brands are great, however you may come to find you enjoy the generic brand or style better. It’s typically a good chunk cheaper and works just as good.
9. Eat out less
Going back to tip number 2, pre-planning meals can definitely help with eating out less. I personally love love love eating out! So if you catch me eating out its because I am treating myself. But if you’re buying your lunch everyday or going out for dinner or drinks with co-workers every other night a lot of money is going to waste. If you’re a person who feels they do this I challenge you to add up your receipts, the number may be shocking.
10. Avoid Buying Expensive Clothing Or Accessories
Particularly name brand. We all know how expensive name brand clothing or accessories can be. So much sometimes it’s absolutely ridiculous. My mom, bless her heart absolutely loves Michael Kors. One time it was my mom, my husband, and myself and for whatever reason I asked her how many brand name purses she had. I was expecting like 5 the most. She said maybe 20 (which we know she has more then 20) my husband and I looked at each other in shock. We began discussing how else all that money could be used. A purse here, a watch there, 2 or 3 pairs of heels there….it adds up. I personally rather put that money on a vacation. If there’s something you really want, save it for a birthday or maybe an anniversary.
(some clothing and accessories are very pricey, how else could you be using that money?)
11. Review Your Bills And Create A Budget
Sometimes you look at your bank account(s) and you ask yourself, where the heck is my money going. Take the time to figure it out. Identify the problem and concur it. A big issue that most of us face is we spend more money then we have coming in. Learn to live within your means and be happy with it.
12. Review Any Monthly Subscriptions (do you really need those magazine subscriptions?)
There are monthly subscription’s for just about everything it seems. Take the time to review what you are paying and how often you really use it. What I’ve seen lately all over social media are subscription boxes. You pay a monthly fee and you get a box of goodies of whatever you signed up for. They have make-up boxes, dog boxes, book boxes, etc. You name it, I guarantee there’s a box for it.
However, do you really need it?
13. Create A Limit With Holiday Spending (especially with gift buying)
Many of us go into debt when the holidays come around. We charge it on a credit card then spend the new year paying it off. Your kids probably don’t need all those toys and is that what so and so really wants. Create a budget with your holiday spending and find out what people want or need so you don’t end up overspending or wasting your money on something that could be cared less for. Also, stick to the budget. I will say it again, stick to the budget.
14. Figure Out If You Can Consolidate Your Debt- Work with a Financial Advisor
If you have a lot of debt it doesn’t hurt to speak with an advisor or banker. A debt consolidation or refinance could save you more then you think. Just make sure whoever you are working with you really trust. You don’t want to end up with even more debt.
15. Do It Yourself Projects Are Big For A Reason (most of the time you can DIY and it’s cheaper)
We hire people for this and that when in reality, you could probably do it yourself. OR, we see things online or in the store and it can easily be made.
You can make the quality better and will save you money! The benefit of doing things or making things yourself is you end up appreciating it a lot more and saves you money.
16. Make Things Visible-get organized
So many things we forget about because we can’t see it. It becomes expired or we completely forgot it even existed and we’ve bought multiples. Take the time to go through your things and make it noticeable so you don’t catch yourself buying something that you already have, you just probably forgot about it.
17. For Everything That You Buy Ask Yourself, “is this a necessity or a want?” (Be strong)
I love retail therapy just like the next person, but truth be told most of the things we buy we don’t actually need. For everything you buy I challenge you to ask this question and most of time you will find it’s a want not a need. And if it is a want, you could be saving that money and using it elsewhere.
18. Make Meals At Home And EAT THE LEFTOVERS
This is somewhat related to tip number 2. It’s not enough to just pre-plan your meals you have to actually stick to it and make it. And eat those leftovers! Honestly, I’m not the biggest fan of leftovers. However if that food ends up in the trash then I just threw away money. So in this house we eat leftovers.
19. Give Yourself Manicures And Pedicures
If you’re getting your nails done every two weeks then those little pennies are adding up. I love getting my nails done. But it’s now become a reward to myself or something I enjoy doing before going on a trip. Doing your nails yourself is rather simple, you just need to make the time to do it yourself.
20. Tweeze your Brows Yourself
Another thing I use to do back in the day every two weeks was getting my brows done. If I wasn’t getting them waxed I was getting them threaded. But once I became a stay at home mom I decided to not do it anymore. So not doing that one thing for the past 3 years has saved us $1,080. Holy crap! That’s the first time I’ve done the math on that.
Since then, I’ve grown them out more and just tweeze now. I stick with my natural shape and let them be.
21. Save Your Gift Cards
I’ll be honest I have re-gifted gift cards. That, or I have used gift cards to buy other gifts for parties or whatnot. It’s a very simple method to provide gifts to others without touching money from your bank account. I don’t do this all the time but I definitely have when I am saving money for whatever reason.
22. Brew Your Own Coffee (SO.MUCH.CHEAPER.)
If you’re spending 5 bucks on coffee 5 days of the week you’re spending about 25 dollars a week, which is 100 dollars a month on coffee. WHICH, is 1,200 dollars a year. You’ll spend less money buying a decent coffee maker and making it yourself.
(If the barista knows your name, you’re probably spending too much money there)
23. Rent Space In Your House (if you have an extra room, get a roommate.)
This may not work for everybody but if you have an extra living space consider getting a roommate or allow a family member to move it. Charge them monthly and put that money towards your mortgage, debt, into a savings, etc.
24. Be Cautious Of Little Expenses (a dollar here and there really adds up)
We’ve all been to Target or TJ Maxx and get in the trap of those little cute things that you had no intention on buying but now they are in your cart. They are seen at check out, once you walk into the store or maybe in the middle of an aisle. Those are traps. Eventhough sure it’s just a dollar, or two, or three….well, they begin to add up and if you are doing this every time you shop you’re spending more then you think on pointless things. Be aware and cautious.
25. DO YOUR BEST NOT TO STRESS
Money makes us stress. But do your best to not allow it to control you or even upset you. With these saving tips you will have more money in your pockets that you can splurge elsewhere (on trips for example) or you will be on the road to getting out of debt faster.
Hope these tips help! I’d love your feedback!
Are there any money savings tips that you can share?
Our mornings are what set the day for success, they set the pace for positive results, and they set our mood for optimism. Have you ever heard the quote, “Win the morning, win the day.” By Entrepreneur Tim Ferriss.
It makes a difference when things are running smoothly versus getting a late start and then constantly feeling rushed.
When we can win the morning we are setting ourselves up for productivity. You are more likely to feel a sense of accomplishment through out your day when you have a great morning.
Think for a quick moment, what do your mornings look like? How are you shaping them daily.
Would you describe the start of your day as relatively consistent or a tad sporadic? I guess it kind of depends if you went out for margaritas the prior the night before or not. But on a daily basis what’s your routine look like?
If you don’t have a morning routine I highly encourage you to develop a morning routine. Don’t feel bad if you have difficulty sticking to your routine, the important thing is to have one in place and to work towards the good habits daily.
It can be super easy to get distracted but don’t let that stop you from getting these morning rituals done.
To be honest sometimes I have difficulty sticking to this routine because my children are my huge distraction but if I can cross off at least 3 of these things every morning I typically feel pretty good!
Now if you feel your morning is consistent, what is it that you do every morning and do you feel like it’s helping with your personal growth in some way?
And who doesn’t want to start their day with a positive attitude and in a positive mood every day!
It took me some time to develop a morning routine. But I’ve found when I’m consistent in all 5 of these habits my mornings are better then ever! A great kick start to the day and feeling motivated to get stuff done.
Here is what I do just about every morning!
Start Off Everyday With These 5 Simple Morning Habits
1. Stretch
One of the first things to do is the morning is stretch. (It’s usually after I’ve had my coffee) You don’t need to perform any crazy yoga stretches first thing in the morning just stand up and move your body.
Reach for the sky, reach for your toes, move your head side to side, you get the idea. Get the blood circulating and get your energy levels back up. While stretching to a few deep breathes. This is the perfect way to wake the body and get it ready for the day!
2. Wash Your Face/Take A Shower
I feel like a good, cold, splash to the face is rejuvenating and refreshing. I feel like my puffy eyes instantly go down and I become more awake in an instant.
A cold shower is another quick way to get those energy levels up and a great way to kick start any day! I usually shower at night but if I need an extra pep in my step I put on this watermelon shower cap and take a cold body shower. I’m more alert then ever, and I just feel good.
3. Drink A Glass Of Water
One of the first things I do every morning and put into my body every morning is I drink a glass of lukewarm water. Not cold, water needs to be warm or I would say room temperature. I have been doing this forever now. The best reason to do this is to cleanse your digestive track and to help eliminate toxins from your body.
4. Read A Devotional/Watch Or Listen To Something Motivating
This is one of the best things to do every morning to get your mind right. Reading a devotional, listening to an uplifting podcast, or watching a motivational video is a great way to gain some perspective and to motivate you. There’s nothing like feeling inspired every morning. I can’t even begin to describe the impact of doing this every morning!
5. Make A To-Do List
Making a to-do list is a great way to hold yourself a accountable on tasks you want to accomplish. Creating a to do list every morning increases productivity and did you know it even relieves stress!
With life being so chaotic at times this is a great way to have some control and to remain organized.
Share your morning routine! What is it that you do every morning that gets you going?
“Strength and growth come only through continuous effort and struggle.”
-Napoleon Hill
I have always enjoyed writing. Not always anything specific, but just simply writing. It’s very therapeutic and relieving for me. I have tons of notebooks laying around with the most random things written in them as we speak. I get a good chuckle here and there when I rummage through and read them, and other times, lets just say I find myself blushing from embarrassment. What would my husband or kids think if they read this right now….lol oh gosh.
Something I really, really, REALLY, regret doing is throwing away my teen journals. I was so taken back, a lot of the things I wrote were very personal and not the fondest memories when I would re-read my entries. They brought back pain or humiliation that I didn’t want to re-experience every time I re-read them. So like a dummy, I threw them away.
However, now that I am older and more “mature” I would really love to go back and re read what I was feeling in those days and compare to where I am now in my life.
But unfortunately those journals are long gone. It truly breaks my heart, but the lesson I learned in that is don’t throw away your writings. No matter what pain or grief some of your writings may bring, don’t toss them.
Your writings are your own little time capsule and it’s a great way to reflect on how far you’ve come. You may even learn a thing or two from well, YOURSELF.
With all that being said, a couple of days ago I was exploring all the notes I had stored in my phone. When something comes to mind I like to write it down so I don’t forget.
I stumbled across a list of my own lines that are ‘life advice’ related that I feel like sharing. After reading my ‘life advice’ I was wondering what the hell I was reading at that moment of writing these lol. They surprised me a little.
I consider myself pretty silly, but sometimes I can get pretty deep.
These are a few of my own little life lessons that I have learned through my own experiences. Maybe you can relate or you can apply my words into your life somehow.
Wishing you happiness and many blessings
Some life advice by yours truly
You can’t unscramble an egg once it’s been scrambled. But you know what you can do…..throw it into a burrito with some potatoes and cheese.
You are going to make mistakes in your life. Mistakes and failures are inevitable. But that’s part of living. I’m sure you can think of a thing or two you wish you could take back but you can’t go back and hit any type of rewind button. However, you can control your reaction to the matter and how you plan on handling it. Think before you act, and hear the words in your head before you speak are to name a few. Remember, you can’t unscramble an egg once it’s been scrambled. But again, just because it’s scrambled now doesn’t mean you cant make a bad situation a good situation.
Don’t let every decision be like picking a paint color.
First of all, have you ever picked paint colors? It’s a little bit of nightmare, especially when trying to agree on colors with your significant other.
Don’t allow little simple decisions in your life to cause you any type of stress or anxiety. Whatever you pick may not be what you wanted, but be open to surprises and open to embracing something new. And always be confident in whatever you choose. It may not be what you thought…it may be better.
If you were granted a new life you would soon realize it’s not at all what you really wanted.
You are exactly where you need to be. Everything that has happened in your life thus far has been apart of the shaping of where you are now and will continue to shape you through the rest of your life. You would be surprised how much would be taken away in your life right now if you were to have a different life. A different path taken in the past wouldn’t lead you to where you are now. Look for the things in your life right now to be grateful for. And if you’re wishing for a new life, you’re spending too much time comparing your life to someone else’s. Especially…..ESPECIALLY someone on social media.
Plan on things not going according to plan.
Isn’t this how the cookie always crumbles? It’s usually in your favor or against your favor. It ends up going better then planned or maybe worse. Accept that that is just how it is and laugh at it. Continue to make plans in life and don’t ever stop but if something changes along the way welcome the surprise whether it be good or bad. Whatever happened or happens, has a reason…..whether you know the result of it or not.
Your heart will always lead you in the right direction. It’s up to you to listen to it.
Our hearts are often ignored. We humans are very fragile, easily manipulated, and very persuasive. Whatever is going on in your life should always be reevaluated from time to time. Our lives get so busy it’s important to pause, take a step back, and recognize where you are. Are you where you want to be…what is it that you truly want in this life.
Allow yourself some alone time with no distractions and listen to what your heart is telling you. You may not be happy with what is saying. No one else knows what your heart is saying but YOU. You are also the only one that can obey it. Whether you listen or not, it has a voice for a reason.
But how does it make you feel?
This is a question to ask yourself often. This question can be asked with almost every little thing that you do. If whatever it is, is making you angry, sad, hurt, bored, frustrated, etc. anything negative basically…it’s time to figure it out. Those types of things in life that aren’t providing happiness and joy are only going to hold you back from reaching even more happiness and joy in your life. Doesn’t necessarily mean you need to “let it all go” but it’s time to look for a solution to change that feeling. It is possible to turn the most dull tasks into pleasant ones. Get creative and open your heart and mind to inspiration.
Scars are medals of obstacles conquered.
We are often ashamed of our scars. Doing our best to hide them so no one knows the truth. For some, the cut has been so deep they have a difficult time even acknowledging it’s existence.
Be proud of your scars. Your scars tell a story that no one else can. A scar is also something no one else can take away from you. It is yours and you should be owning it. Don’t be afraid or feel a need to hide your scars. Inspire others with your story. You are strong and courageous. You are still here.
Cry with your wounds, for one day the sun shall shine bright again.
Hard things are going to happen in your life. Really hard things. Hard things that leave you gasping for air and leave you feeling alone and confused. When those things happen, cry with your wounds and broken heart. Let your tears fall and feel all those emotions that are ripping through your soul.
Through this horrific rainstorm remember the promise of the rainbow. The sun will shine bright again, it will. Even when it feels like it never ever will. The sun will shine bright again.
Always say thank you, ALWAYS.
First of all, it’s just good manners to say thank you. Second, nobody owes you anything. I know that sounds a little harsh, but no one owes you anything in this life. Everything is earned and worked for.
People do nice things because they want to, not because they have to. Saying thank you often will take you farther then someone who does not appreciate nice gestures.
You always have enough to give.
Whether it be your time, your energy, or even your last dollar…..you will always have enough to serve another person. You get what you give. Plus, it’s proven that giving to others provides more happiness in your life.
There is more then one right way to do something. Be confident in YOUR WAY.
We don’t live in a black and white world. We live in a world that is full and colorful. No one in the world is you, and no one can do things like YOU do. Rather then trying to follow the crowd, discover your own way and be confident in your own direction or method. Be willing to share that way with others. But encourage others your way isn’t the only way. Help others find THEIR way. The destination may be the same, but the path doesn’t have to be. Find the path that matches YOUR needs.
You don’t always get what you want, but you get what you need.
Things happen in life that are unpredictable.
These types of incidents are a blessing in disguise. You may realize it sooner or you may realize it ten years later. Maybe even later. Be grateful when you can recognize it.
We are always provided the tools we need to help us and guide us in this life. May not come in the prettiest wrapping but all things are gifts. Some things have to happen in order for other things to happen. Please remember, that God loves you. He can see the whole picture, we can’t. Trust him.
I would love to hear from! Share your growth!
Do you have any life advice to share or maybe something someone told you that you never forgot!
Please comment with any thoughts or concerns! Have a great day! Thank you for stopping by!
“The More That You Read, The More Things You Will Know. The More That You Learn, The More Places You’ll Go.” Dr. Seuss
He has a point……….doesn’t he?!
Below are 5 amazing books that I feel have either strengthened my mindset, allowed me to view things in life in a different perspective, encouraged me to be more aware of my surroundings or lifestyle, and, overall, I would say have helped me with struggles with personal growth or change that I have been seeking in myself.
If you are ever in a standstill in your life, read a book! There are so many lessons to be learned!
I PROMISE YOU WILL GAIN SOMETHING FROM READING THESE BOOKS BELOW
Grab a cup of joe, a warm blanket, and create a space that is comforting. And start reading!
“…you have hidden treasures within you.” – Dale Carnegie
I LOVE all of these books and I look forward to sharing another 5 BOOKS TO READ soon!
If you have read any of these I am curious on your thoughts, if you agree or disagree! I want to hear from you!
Knowledge is power my friend.
tip: Have a highlighter near you, when you come across something that really stands out highlight it! It’s nice to go back and re-read what caught your attention in some way!
1. THE FRED FACTOR- EVERY PERSONS GUIDE TO MAKING THE ORDINARY EXTRAORINDARY BY MARK SANBORN
This book is short and powerful. It’s only 80 pages! However, it withholds SO much value! Who’d of thought of a mailman being so inspiring, YOU WILL WANT TO BE LIKE FRED, I guarantee it. I believe many of us think you need money to make a difference but that is so not the case. This book underlines how you can create value in other peoples lives without paying a dime! It is eye opening and will help you to appreciate where you are right now in your life. If you need help having a positive attitude this is your book to read! I have highlighted so much in this book!
2. HOW TO WIN FRIENDS AND INFLUENCE PEOPLE- DALE CARNEGIE
Dale……Dale. My man, Dale. This book is absolutely AMAZING and I have learned so much from reading this book. It’s small print with a little over 200 pages. I cannot wait to read more by this author because of the helpfulness and new visions that I have gained from reading his book. This book is so well written and provides such great direction toward having a happy life and being successful in whatever you are doing! If you are in business I would definitely recommend reading this book!
3. EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE- DR. DAVID WALTON
This was an interesting and self reflecting read, I really enjoyed getting my mind to think outside the box. This book allowed me to observe myself how others may see me. Not only that, this book helped me to develop more self awareness in myself and how to empathize more with others. We can be so quick to judge sometimes. Not just with others but with ourselves. We are constantly telling ourselves things that aren’t true. We need to be more respectful, mindful, and more patient with all things.
4. RICH DADS CASHFLOW QUADRANT- ROBERT T. KIYOSAKI
Money can be a sensitive topic to most people. To some, its a forbidden subject or not proper to talk about with others. However, this book just lays it all out there which I love. This book helps you to understand the game of money. It helps you to identify which cash quadrant you fall under, and how to get where you want to be financially. Many of us have bad habits with money or we just really don’t know how to handle it. This book will teach you discipline. Hopefully after reading this, money issues will be a thing of the past. I still have a lot to learn! But this is a great start!
5. THE FOUR AGREEMENTS- DON MIGUEL RUIZ
I feel this is a pretty popular book but I can understand why! It is powerful and soulful. You will be transformed with a new way of thinking and living. This book is great for self growth, strengthening your spirituality, and opens the doors to new opportunities. One of my favorite things it talks about is the power of our word. Our words are so powerful and can do so much. You will become incredibly mindful with so many things after reading this book. I highly recommend this one!
SO there ya go! This is a small list but holds such great power if you allow yourself to learn and grow!
“Free Your Mind, And The Rest Will Follow.” – En Vogue
I am currently reading some great books right now that I look forward to sharing soon! IF YOU WANT TO DO AN ACT OF KINDNESS……SHARE THIS FOR ALL THE BOOK LOVERS!
SIDENOTE: If there’s a book you recommend, please comment or message me! I love books that challenge my way of thinking or can promote self growth in any way!
Mmm….coffee and donuts. Have a blessed day! PEACE & LOVE.
The Wild Gems 