New year!

New Year's day is like every other day; there is no pause in the order of things, no breathless moment of silence among created things that the passage of another twelve months may be noted; and yet no one has quite the same thoughts this day as they would on any other day (revised).

We don't have to wait for January 1st to make adjustments and changes in our lives. Goals are or should be set often and adjustments are made even more often. The first of the year comes with a lot of pressure, especially since 99% of the whole world is pretty much thinking about the same thing.

If you have already set your goals, don't change or feel the need to add some more to them; instead stay focused and continue achieving them. If you haven't set your goals, don't panic! If you can, try to enjoy these next few days and forget about making any drastic goals. It'll take the pressure off. Then in a few days/weeks in; revisit the idea and get some solid goals in place.

Remember, it isn't just about making resolutions; it's all about keeping them. So it really doesn't matter when you declare them, but it absolutely matters how you perform them!

Happy new year!

Extend love

Extend to each person, no matter how trivial the contact, all the care and kindness and understanding and love that you can muster, and do it with no thought of any reward. Your life will never be the same again - Og Mandino

None of this "if you did that for me, then I'll do this for you." Or "if you weren't there for me when I was down and out; don't expect me to show up for you." Or "since I was the one that called you the last time; then you should be the one calling me this time."

Whatever happened to missing someone and you pick up the phone and call. Or blessing someone with some cash; but not expecting it back or back with interest. Or just exercising some good ol' fashioned kindness and friendliness.

If you have ever tried loving someone else and giving of yourself freely; then you know how rewarding it gets. On the other hand, if you do not practice this often, then you are unfortunately living a life that isn't very pleasing to God and is hence limiting you of heavens blessings.

This is a big one ..... Meditate on it ;)

Happy Monday and New Years Eve!

Laugh

Laughter is the shortest distance between two people - Victor Borge

Don't be so mean-looking all the time. Things are just not that serious. It's ok to laugh a little, and a lot :) - try it!

One of my mentors would say "smile a while and give your face a rest"!

It's good to have a sense of humor. You can be much more approachable and friendly if your attitude isn't so tight all the time!

Happy Sunday!

Vision

When one door closes another door opens; but we so often look so long and so regretfully upon the closed door, that we do not see the ones which open for us - Alexander Graham Bell

Don't get too caught up in life's challenges. Learn to pick out the good from every situation, wipe your tears and prepare to reboot! Clear your thoughts of negativity and press on forward to better things.

But, know when God says no, nobody can say yes AND when God says yes to another possibility, trust Him and live it out!

Happy Saturday!

You

I always knew I wanted to become somebody when I grew up. Now I realize I should have been more specific - Lily Tomlin

If you continue in life with an "undecided major"; you will always be labeled as a part of the masses. Nothing different, nothing extraordinary.

You have got to decide how special and different you want to be. You don't have to be a public figure; but you should be a person of great influence.

If you don't set this goal and follow it through, you will find that you will blend right in with everyone else, nothing will distinguish you from the other person and you'll be just an anybody!

Be specific and become the you you need to be!

Happy Friday!

Offense

You can't avoid offending people from time to time. When you don't mean it, apologize. When you do mean it, accept the consequences - Eric Zorn

Of course, there are some people that can't help but be offended by everything you do but as leaders, be conscious to them and sensitive to feelings.

It's not worth having to always apologize if you can control your responses to them and it's not worth always being over sensitive if you can avoid it all together.

Mercy triumphs over judgement.

Happy Thursday!

Plans

Just remember that if you're not working at your game to the utmost of your ability, there will be someone out there somewhere with equal ability who is. And one day you'll play each other, and he'll have the advantage — Ed Macauley

Last night, my brother shared with me how he stayed motivated and focused in his early years with going to school and getting it done! And how friends from the past who had the same opportunities like him made a decision (back then) to party, go out with girls, drink etc while he made the decision to stay-in studying.
Sadly, the same friends who did "other things" now call him for monetary assistance.

If you continuously neglect what needs to be done, you'll end up always looking for a hand-up.

Prioritize well and success will be yours!

Happy Wednesday!

Merry Christmas

It was about this time in 2009; I was preparing to have my first "Righteous Woman" brunch. Tho, I was extremely nervous, I am glad that I got over it and made it happen.
For that I have to thank my wonderful and really amazing hubby - Gene Quiocho for always encouraging me to keep doing what needs to be done. I also want to acknowledge a few specific people who with much prayer and great motivation, propelled me to "just do it" - Gene Quiocho Lynn Emma Shimuli Hoskins Liz Oseso Erika Price, Shelia Spencer, Amani Love, Mel Drake, Marcy Lawani, Verisedale Green Treva Reid, Lori Archie Priscilla QuiochoSandra Uwa (to name a few).

Because of this, we reach about 100 women and men daily with words of encouragement via blog, text, email and other forms of social media.

Thank you to all the readers (here in the states and abroad) and to my awesome mentor Margueritte Champion for keeping me focused and in the right direction. Lots of love !!

I appreciate everyone for all of your support over the years; you too have been a blessing to me!
Remember, "Righteous Living" is a deliberate action to live a life that pleases God not man. And that, my friends is worth living for.

Merry Christmas to you and your families.

Giving

Some of the biggest challenges in relationships come from the fact that most people enter a relationship in order to get something: they're trying to find someone who's going to make them feel good. In reality, the only way a relationship will last is if you see your relationship as a place that you go to give, and not a place that you go to take - Anthony Robbins

It can be frustrating if you are always the giver in any kind of relationship; and on top of the world if you are always the receiver.

Relationships (or any type of commitment/covenant that you go into with another person) have and always will be two-sided. One person isn't emotionally able to sustain the needs, care and attention that both people need and desire.

So, do your part and learn to be a giver; and a good one too! Don't worry about what you get in return; God will take of that ;)

Happy Monday!

Mistakes

A man must be big enough to admit his mistakes, smart enough to profit from them, and strong enough to correct them - John C. Maxwell

You may be able to get away with covering your wrong doings for a little while. But there will come a time when you will not be trusted for anything you do or say if you don't start admitting to your mistakes.

Admitting to your mistakes keeps your integrity, makes you respectable and allows you to be trustworthy.

Happy Sunday!

You

The way you treat yourself sets the standard for others - Dr Sonya Friedman

People will only do to you what they see you do to yourself. If you honor yourself and respect yourself, folks will do the same.

And on the other hand, if you de-value your opinions and your self worth, then that's what you will get from others.

There are definitely some people that will try to dampen your joy for sure BUT if you are solid in your frame of mind; nothing will shake you.

Remember, your ultimate standard is God's love for you. If no one comes anywhere close to that; then they aren't worth your time :)

Happy Saturday and be safe out there!

Pray

Don’t settle for anybody just to have someone. Set your standards. What kind of love do you want to attract? List the qualities you really want in the relationship. Develop those qualities in yourself and you will attract a person who has them - Louise Hay

Being desperate will lead you to a deadly relationship. It's important that you reflect on your intentions to "date"; because if it's just to have a bf/gf because supposedly everyone else has one....then you are in trouble.

Listen, please pray hard, think carefully, get counsel and listen to what you have to say about you; before such a serious decision.

You will be glad you did! ;)

Kind

Be kind for everyone you meet is fighting a great battle - Philo of Alexandria

Think about how many folks you walk by, pass by, bump into, talk to on the phone etc.

Then think about you.... And how somedays are tougher than the last. Or how you could often use a good Samaritan. Or how a single phone call could make things better. Or how a "hi, I'm checking on you" from a friend/family makes all the difference!

In that respect, try your hardest to express a bit more compassion and sympathy when you meet others.... You too might need it someday.

Happy Thursday

Strength

Toughness is in the soul and spirit, not in muscles - Alex Karras

Sometimes we look at people and how they look and we immediately assume that they are weak or can't handle challenges in life.

You never know what someone can handle until you see them come out of it or hear them talk about it.

Often times, the "tough" sounding and "tough" looking are actually quite fearful and un-brave.

Strength is within, not on the outside.

Happy Wednesday good people!

Love

Love your neighbor as yourself - Bible

We have all heard the saying - "do unto others as you will have them do unto you". This is very true.

You can only do what you know. The way you treat others, is a reflection of how you think about yourself.

This is not something that happens once a year, it's something you practice for a lifetime.

Love yourself, and take that same love (100fold) and extend it to the person next to you - with no reservations.

Enjoy your Tuesday!

Something different

Look for the good and praise it - Unknown

How often do we find yet another reason to avoid someone? How many times do we continuously judge someone by what they did to us yesterday, 3 months ago, 5 years ago?

Here's our challenge for the week: don't find someone new...but go to or call someone we already know that we have judged (maybe rightfully so); and try something different.

Find something good in them, because everybody has at least one; and praise them for it.

Yep.... Let's try something different to a familiar person :)
Can we do it?

Happy Monday all!

Help

The love of our neighbor in all its fullness simply means being able to say, What are you going through? - Simone Weil

Yes... And if you do say it, mean it!

Imagine how many people we pass by each day with no idea as to what they are facing and going through.

Every now and then, slow down. Think of someone else and really care about where they are in life. If you can help - make no excuses, don't hesitate - go right ahead and extend a hand.

Because one day....regardless of how rich, popular, important, or confident ... you too will need someone to do for you the same.

Happy Sunday!

Efforts

Enthusiasm is the mother of effort, and without it nothing great was ever achieved - Ralph Waldo Emmerson

If you are excited about something, you will easily achieve it. If its something you aren't passionate about, then it'll be equally as difficult to accomplish it.

If its important, you will find a way to make your efforts match your enthusiasm.... Right?

Happy Saturday!

Excellence

Excellence is never an accident; it is the result of high intention, sincere effort, intelligent direction, skillful execution and the vision to see obstacles as opportunities - Anonymous

Yea.... I wish we could just snap our fingers and excellence arrives!

But yup....sorry, you actually have to put in the work! :)

Good Friday!

Children

A child needs both to be hugged and unhugged. The hug lets her know she is valuable. The unhug lets her know that she is viable. If you’re always shoving your child away, they will cling to you for love. If you’re always holding them closer, they will cling to you for fear.” ~ Polly Berrien Berends

Children are our full responsibilities. The way they turn out as adults is a combination of how we raise them and the choices they will make.

With prayer, love and a balanced upbringing, let's make sure that the choices they do make are governed by the way we raise them.

Happy Thursday!

Ruler

Its always a good thing to thank God for being the Lord of your life.

We do this often especially when something is going good for us .....but can we say that He is the lord OVER our lives?

Who or what do we go to for direction, guidance, counsel, faith or our needs? Whatever your answer is is the ruler over your life.

Matthew 6:24 - No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other.

Happy Wednesday!

Pain or praise?

There will come a time when you believe everything is finished. That will be the beginning - Louis L'Amour

We often feel, when we go through something, that the end has come; and if it hasn't, then surely it's near.

What's really happening is that we are growing up and while the pain is excruciating, it's not going to kill us!

Think of the situation as the end of a chapter; and tomorrow, the beginning of another - a brighter one!

Happy Tuesday!

Decisions

I had a frustrating moment yesterday cos it's been hard getting my workout schedule back to its normal routine since baby #1 BUT I decided today, with the help of my Beachbody coach, Gene Quiocho that I am going to continue to make it a daily priority, plan it in and work it out.
With a combination of the best meal replacement drink out there - Shakeology, my workout partner and my consistent choice of healthy eating; l am confident and well on my way. What about you?

Wanna know more about how I'm doing it, what I'm doing and where I work out? Send me a message and you'll see how easy it is!

Weaknesses?

Do not let what you cannot do interfere with what you can do - John R. Wooden

My husband always says "if you spend a lot of time working on your weaknesses, you are wasting time on your strengths". Meaning, if you are constantly trying to make your weaknesses strong; you'll find that you are doing absolutely nothing with your strengths.

His strategy - surround yourself with people that are strong at the things you cannot do; get them to do that work and you focus your energy on what you are good at. Coincidentally, you will find that your strengths are their weaknesses.

It's a win-win situation..

Happy Monday!

Fight

Don't wait for extraordinary opportunities. Seize common occasions and make them great. Weak men wait for opportunities; strong men make them - Orison Swett Marden

If you want it to mean something to you, you've got to get up sometime and get it!

You will never fully understand the weight of the victory if you never personally experienced the blood and sweat that comes with the battle.

Therefore, no more sitting back and getting lazy..... Get up, grab a hold of life and start living - for you!

Happy Sunday folks!

Abuse

Abuse as you know comes in different forms.... And the more you abuse a person, the less and less their confidence, identity and self esteem drops.

But there comes a day that it'll reach its full capacity. A person can only handle so much pain, getting pushed away, and forgotten about until they have just about had enough. And as soon as they gather the strength to, they'll very easily walk right out of your life as fast and they came into it.

Don't be taken for granted, don't settle for crazy, don't submit to less than you are called to be. It's just not that serious!

Happy Saturday good ppl!

Family

After all, what is a pedestrian? He is a man who has two cars-one being driven by his wife, the other by one of his children. ~ Robert Bradbury

Hahaha

Happy Friday all!!

Happy or jealous?

We all want to be the kind of people who are happy for others when they experience success or a cause for celebration in their lives, but it isn’t always easy.

Sometimes other feelings come up that would try to make us feel the opposite. Instead of reaching out and celebrating with our loved one, we may feel the rising up of our own pain.

This pain may arise because we feel jealous of our friend for having something we don’t have (even though we may not want to believe that it is a little bit of jealousy). It may arise because our friend’s success will lead to us losing them in some way. And it may arise for reasons we don’t yet understand.

The important thing is not to brush it under the rug, but to take it seriously and look at it; suppressing it may make it worse.

Extending ourselves to celebrate the happiness of others requires a generosity of spirit that will pay off in your time of success.

Hang-ups

Life appears to me too short to be spent in nursing animosity or registering wrongs —Charlotte Brontë

I know a few people like this who completely enjoy harboring issues and take mental records of the hurt they just so there is something to be mad at someone about! They absolutely refuse to forgive, they don't even want to address the problem (if any); but choose to stay angry.

What good does that do to you if all that resentment is eating you up inside, and not causing you to grow emotionally?

People will always aggravate you .... (thats life) BUT how often will you aggravate you? (that's a choice of self-control).

Happy Wednesday!

Friends

“I value the friend who for me finds time on their calendar, but I cherish the friend who for me does not consult the calendar.” - Robert Brault

Yes, we get busy BUT it's nice when you call up a friend and they go ahead and find the time to just "kick it". And not having to call the secretary to schedule "hang out" time or wait for them to check their calendars first.
Real friends are still into the kind of friendships that are "reliable".

There are other ways too to maintain relationships if time doesn't permit you sooner (calling, texting, sending pictures, emailing etc). So no excuses ....

Meditate on this :)

Wise choice ;)

The just is close to the people's heart, but the merciful is close to the heart of God - Khalil Gibran

To be just is to demonstrate sufficient legal reason for (an action taken); to demonstrate or prove to be just, right, or valid.

To be merciful is to be full of mercy; having or exercising mercy; disposed to pity and spare offenders; unwilling to punish; unwilling to give pain; compassionate.

As you enter this week, think on these two definitions; as you may be faced with a choice to exercise one of them. The question is, which will it be?
Choose wisely ;)

Happy Monday!

Friendship

Friendship must never be buried under the weight of misunderstanding - unknown

You know friendships face all kinds of ups and downs and everyone knows if and when a friendship can be saved .... No matter what challenges you face.

Sometimes we can work towards re-building broken friendships and sometimes we choose to walk away from them.

Whatever you do, make sure you heal from the hurt or you reconcile with your friend. The friendship part may not go the way you imagined but don't walk away not making peace :)
Or at least try....

Happy Sunday!

Same person?

Do not grow overconfident following a few victories. Should you not rely upon the Holy Spirit you will soon be thrown once more into a distressing experience. With holy diligence you must cultivate an attitude of dependency - Watchman Nee

It is truly by the grace and mercy of God that we get through these different life challenges that we face.

Remember how humble, prayerful, quiet, trusting, and full of faith you were during the hard times? Well, don't change now that you've come over some of those hurdles.

Be consistent in the condition of your heart because it's really what's inside that manifests itself on the outside ..... AND that my friends, speaks a lot about a person and that is really what counts!

Happy Saturday!

Woman

Hey woman, you are a precious gift from God to the world. You are creative, compassionate, intelligent, and, according to the Bible, equal to men.

But years of abuse and wrong views of women have caused many of us to lose the confidence God wants us to enjoy. You may feel that you're somehow "less" than men. Less valuable. Less worthy. The truth is, you are very valuable - to society, but more importantly to God. God wants you to be courageous, respected, admired, promoted, sought after, and most of all, loved. And you can be! You are entitled to will a confident life filled with love, laughter and His acceptance. Write on your life. Highlight it. Make the journey your own - Joyce Meyer

Resentment

As smoking is bad for the lungs; so is resentment. Even one puff is bad for you - Elizabeth

The dictionary says "to resent" is "to take strong exception to (what is thought to be unjust, unfair, etc.),". I feel that resentment goes much further than that.

Resentment is a poisonous emotion that eats away at a person's peace of mind, their mental well-being, and their ability to treat others well. It is a lack of acceptance and a lack of forgiveness.
It says a while lot about the person who resents, but very little about the people or actions that are resented.

I pray that we will have the strength of character that'll give us the ability to overcome resentment against others, to hide hurt feelings, to forgive quickly and move on.

Happy Thursday!

Education

If someone is going down the wrong road, they don't need motivation to speed them up. What they needs is education to turn them around - Jim Rohn

It's good to tell someone not to do something wrong or bad but telling them why definitely opens their eyes to your advice.

That way it doesn't seem like you are a constant opposition (I've been there) ...... but helps them see that you care .... That you are a friend.

Happy Wednesday!

Temptation

Resisting Temptation: Avoid places, people, and things that tempt you.

"Make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts" (Romans 13:14 NKJV); "Do no think about how to gratify the desires of the sinful nature." (NIV)

You already know your own weaknesses.
If you often give in to a certain sin when you are in a certain place, don't go near that place.
If certain friends pull you down, don't go with them. If you regularly buy something that is destroying you morally, spiritually, physically, or financially, shop at a different store. If something in your home tempts you beyond your ability to resist, get rid of it.
If your debt is out of control, cut up your credit cards.

Sounds easier said than done but it's as simple as that. You have to make a mental note to resist it so when the temptation arises, your memory will remind you of your promise/covenant with yourself and God.

You can do it..... I believe in you!

Happy Tuesday!

Attitude

Attitude is the way you look at things around you. A positive disposition towards experiences shapes you for the rest of your life. Success and happiness largely depends on your attitude. Needless to say what the results will be if you keep a winning attitude.

Attitude is the way you mentally look at the world around you. It is how you view your environment and your future. It is the focus you develop toward life itself.

Be conscious of your attitude. Work extra hard at keeping your attitude positive in all kinds of weather and through all the challenges that life brings.

Happy Monday!

Priority

We are prone to judge success by the index of our salaries or the size of our automobiles, rather than by the quality of our service and relationship to humanity - Martin Luther King, Jr.

Yea...money is good and riches help but no one will remember you by how much money you make.

What lasts longer ALWAYS is how you treat people. If relationships are important to you, then how people feel when they are around you should be a priority.
And that doesn't cost a thing! :)

Happy Sunday!

Time

Be on time: better three hours too soon than one minute too late - William Shakespeare

Yes.... People will always remember you for being late, or a procrastinator, or someone who doesn't meet their deadlines. But you will always be appreciated if you prepare ahead, show up early to help, are on time and reliable.

It is true that time is what we want most, but what we use worst.

Whether its your time or others', use it wisely and respectfully.

Happy Saturday!

It's time

Being nice to someone who did you wrong in the past is kinda like a mature way of getting revenge because it sometimes confuses them & brings them to the realization that they no longer can manipulate your emotions with their actions...something they thought they'd always be able to do - Unknown

Sometimes, in your mind, you feel that the time is now right to do something more or equally as wrong to that someone who had no mercy on you in the past and treated you mean.

Hopefully, when your revenge-mindset kicks in, you are able to step back and re-assess your action plan.

Almost or all abusers don't quite learn to say sorry quickly. So most likely, he/she is walking around doing them and not caring (naturally). You wanting to get them back isn't going to make them sorry.... It'll make you feel good for the moment but then you'll still feel mad.

Remedy: choose today, to forgive..yes....forget the date of the abuse, try to disconnect the abuser from your anger and ask God to teach you to love them anyhow ;)

It's going to be tough but liberating and definitely maturing (for you) in the end.

Happy Friday!

Thanks!

Thanksgiving Day is a jewel, to set in the hearts of honest men; but be careful that you do not take the day, and leave out the gratitude - E. P. Powell

As you gather with family, remember to thank God, and thank each one for the vital part they play / played that makes you who you are today. Make sure you thank them for their lives and for who they are.

Happy thanksgiving all!

Balance

There is no such thing as work-life balance. We only have one life and every moment should be about living out our values and balancing our priorities - wherever we are.

Know that you were not created only to work, but to rest, laugh, play, and have proper leisure and enjoyment.

In order to develop an all-around personality that you and others can enjoy and hang with ... you have to have interests outside of your regular vocation that will serve to balance your other responsibilities.

Don't be stuck in your own world.... No one else lives there! Every now and then, come out and balance your life with other folks!

Happy Wednesday!

Captain

Giving up doesn't always mean you are weak … sometimes it means that you are strong enough to let go - Unknown

Giving up is taking your hands out of the equation and allowing God to direct the ship of your life.

A lot of times we start things on our own and when it crumbles, we look to God for help. God directs, guides, and protects our heart. We have to be able to trust Him from the start.

If you have already started something w/out seeking His guidance, that's ok, because its never too late to allow the real captain run the ship.

Happy Tuesday!

Better days

There are far, far better things ahead than any we leave behind - C.S. Lewis

Yesterday had its troubles, so no matter what you faced....it's a brand new day and I pray that you pray that God gives you a fine perspective for today and tomorrow. Remember troubles don't last forever.

Keep your head up; it's a good Monday :)

Persevere

What I admire in Columbus is not his having discovered a world, but his having gone to search for it on the faith of his own opinion - Turgot

Ever had a grande idea? Ever faced major criticism because of that idea? ...... Well, that's life!

People will always have some negative thing to say and/or their personal feelings to express. The question is: will you persevere? Will you let the nay-sayers destroy your passion? Or will you let it be as fuel? Hence, fighting for what you believe in and trust.

Do not allow anyone to kill your joy, passion and drive in achieving what you know that you know. Go for it! But make sure that it is found on good ground with some faith put into it.

Happy Sunday good people!

Positive attitude

A positive attitude may not solve all your problems, but it will annoy enough people to make it worth the effort - Herm Albright

Yes! Staying positive is healing to the soul. It also keeps you worry and stress free AND it influences the people around you for the better - hopefully :)

Happy Saturday!

Value

To feel valued, to know, even if only once in a while, that you can do a job well is an absolutely marvelous feeling - Barbara Walters

If you are a supervisor, it is very important to appreciate your staff as often as you can. It doesn't make you professionally inferior; but it let's your staff know that you understand, you value their work and you are human. It'll actually make them want to work for you more and longer.

If you aren't a supervisor, then you ought to be appreciating your colleagues often for the part they play in making your job easier. It's called teamwork.

Let's do it today ;)
Happy Friday all!

Tragic

Do not anticipate trouble, or worry about what may never happen. Keep in the sunlight
- Benjamin Franklin

It's amazing how many of us really live like this; always waiting, expecting a tragedy to happen.

We've got to shake off this fear and start living in complete freedom. This is the way God operates - in victory and freedom.... Not failure and fear.

Get a hold of your emotions and start living in faith ;)

Happy Thursday!

Start

In the dim background of our mind, we know what we ought to be doing but somehow we cannot start. -William James

What is it, for you, that you know you need to be doing? Or where is it in life that you want to be? And what is holding you back?
Are you waiting until the conditions are perfect to begin?

Keep in mind that everything takes time. Make your decision to start, then start wherever you are and start small.

Ready, set, start!

Patient or Grumpy?

We all know people who have been made much meaner and more irritable and more intolerable to live with by suffering: it is not right to say that all suffering perfects. It only perfects one type of person...... the one who accepts the call of God in Christ Jesus - Oswald Chambers (My Utmost for His Highest)

What type of person will trials and testings turn you into? Are you going to embrace the message in life's challenges (patience) or are you going to be bitter about life and what you are going through (grumpy)?

Allow life and its journey to bring out the best in you; the character of Christ.

Happy Tuesday!

Jealousy

Jealousy is simply and clearly the fear that you do not have value. Jealousy scans for evidence to prove the point - that others will be preferred and rewarded more than you.

There is only one alternative - self-value. If you cannot love yourself, you will not believe that you are loved. You will always think it's a mistake or luck.

Take your eyes off others and turn the scanner within. Find the seeds of your jealousy, clear the old voices and experiences.

Put all the energy into building your personal and emotional security. Then you will be the one others envy, and THEN you can remember the pain and reach out to them. ~Jennifer James

Feel up to it? Happy Monday!

Circumstances

In the long run, we shape our lives, and we shape ourselves. The process never ends until we die. And the choices we make are ultimately our own responsibility - Eleanor Roosevelt

At the end of the day, you will be held responsible for ALL of your actions.

No one is going to ask to question the dead-beat dad; or the absent/runaway mom; or the family member that abused you; or that colleague at work that keeps harassing your faith .... etc

The way you respond to life's chapters is a reflection of your maturity level. If you are still living in a victimized state of mind, then this is how it'll manifest in your life.

Let's get better ;). Happy Sunday!

Career

The biggest mistake that you can make is to believe that you are working for somebody else. Job security is gone.
The driving force of a career must come from the individual. Remember: Jobs are owned by the company, .... you own your career! -Earl Nightingale

Direct your career on a path towards the things you enjoy most. That may very well be your current job or you may have other desires like to be self employed and work from home.
Whatever your situation is, focus on the things you enjoy most about your work NOW and your career will surely take you where you want to be in the future.

Happy Saturday!

Faith

I prayed for faith and thought that some day faith would come down and strike me like lightning. But faith did not seem to come. One day I read in the tenth chapter of Romans, "Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God." I had up to this time closed my Bible and prayed for faith. I now opened my Bible and began to study, and faith has been growing ever since - DL Moody

It's as simple as that!

Happy Friday everyone!

Behind

Things happen in life that you can’t stop, but that doesn’t mean you should shut out the world

There comes a time in life when you’ll have to leave everything behind and start something new but never forget the ones who stood by your side, especially the ones who never gave up on you.

This isn't necessarily leaving a physical location. It could be leaving a painful thought behind, or an angry feeling behind or a dead-end dream behind.

Whatever it is, keep close to your heart the relationships that you have now and have had during the hard time(s). It'll help you realize that you are really never alone.

Keep your head up... Happy Thursday!

Pain

Pain is your friend; it is your alie. Pain reminds you to finish the job and get home. Pain tells you when you have been seriously wounded. And you know what the best thing about pain is? It tells you you’re not dead yet! - G.I Jane

No matter what you are facing right now, know that tough times never last, but tough people do.

I heard a preacher say "your problems do have an expiration date". So keep that in mind as you get through your hurdles :)

Happy Wednesday!

A year later

Let us strive to improve ourselves, for we cannot remain stationary; one either progresses or retrogrades - Mme. Du Deffand

Think back - a year ago. Any drastic changes? Are things kind of the same?

If there are changes, are they better or worse? If no changes, what kind of adjustments were you hoping to see?

Something to think about....
Happy Tuesday!

Decision

If today were the last day of my life, would I want to do what I am about to do today? - Steve Jobs

Everything you do is an addition to your life history. Each decision leads to an action that can either improve you or affect you.

Now, take a moment and really think about what you plan on doing today. What kind of improvement will it make for your present self and your future goals?

Happy Monday good people!

Resentment

When you hold resentment toward another, you are bound to that person or condition by an emotional link that is stronger than steel. Forgiveness is the only way to dissolve that link and get free.

When you resent someone, it's like taking poison and then waiting for the other person to die! Don't be that person that loves staying angry; as anger is one letter short of danger.

Forgive, release the hold and be free!

Dating

The reason why some girls get with the Bad boy type is because they think if they get with the guy they'll become cool. The guy ends up using her and treating her like she's nothing, and still she wants him so badly. Until one day she grows up and realizes that the Bad boys are not so cool after all. That's when she looks for a good guy but what good guy wants a girl who's been ran through more times then a finish line? Not me! - written by a guy....

To the single or dating ladies, this is definitely food for thought!






0

inShare

Redemption

No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it (1 Corinthians 10:13 ESV)

Sometimes we feel that we are beyond help; that we are so far into our sin that there is no turning back. Newsflash: you can be redeemed as soon as you proclaim it! BUT you have to want it! For real!

Busy, busy

Instead of saying “I don’t have time”, try saying “it’s not a priority,” and see how that feels. Often, that’s a perfectly adequate explanation. For example, I have time to iron my sheets, I just don’t want to. If these phrases don’t sit well, that’s the point.

Changing our language reminds us that time is a choice. If we don’t like how we’re spending an hour, we can choose differently ― Wall Street Journal

Make your time useful for you!

Listen

We should never pretend to know what we don't know, we should not feel ashamed to ask and learn from people below, and we should listen carefully to the views of the cadres at the lowest levels. Be a pupil before you become a teacher; learn from the cadres at the lower levels before you issue orders - Mao Tse-tung

Listen sometimes. You never know what you'll learn when you aren't doing so much talking.

Happy Wednesday!

Giving

We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give. - Winston Churchill

Giving is a part of life. You cannot escape it; but you do have a choice to be a part of it.

Never get tired of doing little things for others, sometimes those little things occupy the biggest parts of their hearts.

Happy Tuesday!

Focus

You have to be willing to accept the information, you have to be willing to work hard. You have to be motivated to go to practice with an open mind. You have to be willing to be criticized. Only you can do those things - Brandi Chastain

Its Monday morning and it's the beginning of a busy week. As you begin, remember to keep motivated and stay focused on what you need to do. Be comfortable with learning new approaches but stand firm on your beliefs.

Let's go!

Payment??

Holding a grudge and never forgiving someone we care about isn't healthy.

We’ve all been hurt by another person at some point – we were treated poorly, trust was broken, hearts were hurt. And while this pain is totally normal, sometimes it lingers for way too long. We re-live the pain over and over and have a hard time letting go. And sometimes, we purposefully decide not to let go so the pain stays fresh for the days we want to bring it up.

This creates major problems. It not only causes us to be unhappy, but it can strain or ruin our relationships, distract us from work and family and other important things, and make us reluctant to open up to new things and people.

We end up getting trapped in a cycle of anger and hurt, and miss out on the beauty of life as it happens. Listen, grudges are a waste of perfect happiness.

If there’s someone in your life who deserves another chance, give it to them (for free). If you need to apologize, do it. Its time to stop making people pay you for the sins they committed.

Start afresh ;)

Hypocrisy

Every woman/man alone is sincere. At the entrance of a second person, hypocrisy begins. ~Ralph Waldo Emerson

I can and I will

Fear is a habit, so is self-pity, defeat, anxiety, despair, hopelessness and resigination.

You can eliminate all of these negative habits with two simple resolves," I can! and I will!"

Perspective

Failure is a part of life and there is no person in this world who hasn't come across it.

It is not a sin, but rather, the best way of achieving success. In other words, a person who has failed to achieve something can work harder, without committing the mistakes that he/she did earlier and convert their failure into success.

However, most people view failure negatively and hence, when a person fails to achieve something, they become sad and sometimes, even go into deep depression. This can be dangerous if the person does not come out of it.

Hence, it is important to learn the ways of coping with failure and motivate yourself to view failure in a positive way.

"A limit on what you will do, puts a limit on what you can do"- Anonymous

Joy

Don't rely on someone else for your happiness and self worth. Only you can be responsible for that. If you can't love and respect yourself - no one else will be able to make that happen.

Accept who you are - completely; the good and the bad - and make changes as YOU see fit - not because you think someone else wants you to be different.

You hold the key to your joy. Don't leave it in someone else's hands.

Happy Wednesday!

Life

One day your life will flash before your eyes. Make sure it’s worth watching – Unknown

One of my mentors once said "is there anything that you do in private, that you cannot do in public?".

In other words, what kind of life are you living? Are you proud of it?

Keep in mind that people around you watch you and take notes. Therefore, live well.... Not for others, but for the reputation you maintain and the legacy you'll leave behind.

Happy Tuesday!

Monday

Every day I get up and look through the Forbes list of the richest people in America. If I'm not there, I go to work. ~Robert Orben

Takes a lot of work... Time management, commitment, devotion, compassion and drive to get to the top.

Riches and wealth come from days and days of hardwork and most importantly, getting up and going to work on Mondays.

Happy Monday!

Learn...

Quite honestly, most people are quick to “write someone off.” But our God is a God of the second chances. Learn from One who is patient with you, and you’ll learn to be patient with others. – Woodrow Kroll

It doesn't take a special type of grace of anointing to do this; it really just takes an incident at a time to practice this kind of patience and forgiveness.

Teach us Lord, your definition of patience, love, mercy, and grace and then discipline us on how to exercise these traits.

Happy Sunday!

Family

The family - we are a strange little band of characters trudging through life sharing diseases and toothpaste, coveting one another's desserts, hiding shampoo, borrowing money, locking each other out of our rooms, inflicting pain and kissing to heal it in the same instant, loving, laughing, defending, and trying to figure out the common thread that binds us all together. - Erma

A typical family is composed not only of children but of men, women, an occasional animal, and the common cold. Your family members don't mean to get on your nerves. They don't even mean to be your family, they just are. :)

Have a great weekend ;)

Friday

A bus station is where a bus stops. A train station is where a train stops. On my desk, I have a workstation ... and today is when it stops!! - unknown

Well, here we are! Its finally Friday .... the last working day of the week (for most of us). Hopefully, the beginning of a fun, filled and relaxing weekend. Today is the day when new movies get released, and of course, it is the only day when we can say, "Thank God it's Friday"!

Considering all this.... Have any plans yet? ;)

Feelings

The Christian life is not a constant high. I have my moments of deep discouragement. I have to go to God in prayer with tears in my eyes, and say, 'O God, forgive me,' or 'Help me.'”
-Billy Graham

The biggest challenge that I have found amongst some Christians is that they don't feel comfortable being human; meaning, they don't want to have normal feelings.

Feelings are part of being human and it is completely normal to feel about your feelings. For example, if you are sad, then it's ok to say that you are sad. If you are frustrated, it's fine to be a bit mad about it.

Suppressing your feelings with "Christian lingo" doesn't make you holy; it makes you religious.

Don't be strange about what you feel, God placed a heart in you for that reason.

Happy Thursday!

Integrity

Whatever you are, be a good one - Abraham Lincoln

There is nothing worse than being a fake someone else, bring a fake you or being someone different every single time!

I always say that if you are going to be something (whether negative or positive), be good at it, do it with all your strength and might, stand by that decision and do it big.

When the time comes to hold you accountable for your actions; it shouldn't be a problem since you have been consistent with your choices. You should take full responsibility.

Now, if you are wishy-washy and ashamed to sign your name by your words, then this is how people around you will always treat you.... You won't be trusted and no one will believe anything you ever say.

Be a person of integrity. Do as you say. Stand your ground and be consistent in all your ways!

Let's win big today, it's Wednesday!

Leading

A true leader has the strength and confidence to stand alone, the courage to make tough decisions and the compassion to listen to the needs of others. She doesn't set out to be a leader, but becomes one by the quality of her actions and the integrity of her intent.

As a leader that you are, your actions should inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more.

Your all-time test is that you leave behind in others, the conviction and the will to carry on.

In the end, leaders are much like eagles because they do not flock; you find them one at a time - Unknown

Yay for Tuesday!

Attitude

Nothing can stop the man with the right mental attitude from achieving his goal; nothing on earth can help the man with the wrong mental attitude - Thomas Jefferson

Where does your passion lie? If your perspective is always set on being the victim and being victimized, then this is the way life will happen for you. But if you are full of vision, focus and becoming successful, then this too is the way life will happen for you.

You have to figure it out for yourself if you will walk through life with the right or wrong mental attitude. This my friends, will determine your outlook on life.

Selah :)

Courage

Love is a verb, not a noun. It is active. Love is not just feelings of passion and romance. It is behavior. If a man lies to you, he is behaving badly and unlovingly toward you. He is disrespecting you and your relationship. The words “I love you” are not enough to make up for that. Don’t kid yourself that they are ― Susan

Do not, I repeat... Do not put yourself in such a situation and if you find yourself in that situation, then I pray that deep inside... You will find the courage to speak up, grow up and stand your ground!

You are awesome....
Happy Saturday!!!

Be happy

Happiness is:
Falling in love; Laughing so hard your face hurts; A hot shower; No lines at the supermarket (YES!); A special glance; Getting mail; Taking a drive on a pretty road; Hearing your favourite song on the radio; Lying in bed listening to the rain outside; Hot towels fresh out of the dryer; A milkshake; A bubble bath; Giggling; A good conversation; The beach; Finding $20 in your coat; Laughing at yourself; Midnight phone calls that last for hours; Running through sprinklers; Laughing for absolutely no reason at all; Having someone tell you that you're beautiful/good looking; Laughing at an inside joke; Friends; Best friends; Accidentally overhearing someone say something nice about you; Waking up and realizing you still have a few hours left to sleep; Your first kiss; Making new friends or spending time with old ones; Sweet dreams; Hot chocolate; Road trips with friends; Swinging on swings; Holding hands with someone you care about; Running into an old friend and realizing that some things (good or bad) never change; Watching the expression on someone's face as they open a much-desired present from you; Watching the sunrise; Getting out of bed every morning and being grateful for another beautiful day; Knowing that somebody misses you; Getting a hug from someone you care about deeply; Knowing you've done the right thing, no matter what other people think; and your birthday.

A lot of things to be happy/grateful for ;)

Happy Friday good people!

Hang on

Perseverance is the hard work you do after you get tired of doing the hard work you already did - Newt Gingrich

Perseverance is not a long race; it is many short races one after another. It is how we respond to the pressures of life that counts.

When faced with a difficult situation, don't give up just because it's a little hard or you can't see the end. Hang in there, fight it out and you will come out victorious!

Almost there.... Happy Thursday!

Grow up

If you've been out of high school for more than 2 years and you still participate in all that meaningless he said she said and continue to spread lies about people.....you need to GROW UP.

You should be out worrying about bettering your life rather than trying to hurt people's reputations - Brian Zilinek

And don't say you are praying about it, cos all you are doing is gossiping.....right?

It's time to grow up :) and stop the countless back and forths.

Happy Wednesday! :)

Free

Don't ignore the past, but deal with it, on your own pace. Once you deal with it, you are free of it; and you are free to embrace your life and be a happy loving person ......because if you don't, the past will come back to haunt and keep coming back to haunt you - Boris Kodjoe

Some people deal with the past as if it never happened. You really can't avoid it because guess what, your past is exactly how you see the present and the future.

If you don't tackle those hurts and disappointments, your perspective is pretty narrow.

It's time to stop running from your yesterdays....and time to start living freely!

Happy Tuesday!

Leaders

A leader is not an administrator who loves to run others. A leader builds character and creates consistency in his/her circle of influence.

If your people know what they can expect from you, they will continue to look to you for leadership (John Maxwell)
It makes trust possible, and this is the foundation of leadership.

Be the leader that people look up to, trust, aspire to be and find confidence in!

Happy Monday!

Secrets

A secret between two is God's secret, between three is all men's - Proverb

It doesn't matter how close some people are to you; but the minute you share a "secret" with another person, you might as well accept that your secret isn't safe.

So don't get all worked up when your deep "please-don't-tell-anyone secret is out in the open; remember that you started it! ;)

It's "Selah" Sunday! Meditate on productivity.

You, again

Don't you dare, for one more second, surround yourself with people who are not aware of the greatness that you are ~Jo Blackwell-Preston

If you're wearing a disguise to cover up that greatness, it will become more and more difficult for the mirror to recognize you.

We are like stained-glass windows. Sometimes we sparkle and shine when the sun is out, but when the darkness sets in ... our true beauty is revealed ..... but only if there is light from within.

At the end of the day I hope you become the person they didn't expect you to be. Be proud to be you

Happy Saturday good ppl!

I believe

I've never met a person, I don't care what her condition, in whom I could not see possibilities.

I don't care how much a woman may consider herself a failure, I always believe in her, for only she can change the thing that is wrong in her life any time she is ready and prepared to do it.

Whenever she develops the desire, she can take away from her life the thing that is defeating it. The capacity for reformation and change lies within - Preston Bradley

Well said!!!! Happy Friday!!

Love

In everyone's life, at some time, our inner fire goes out. It is then burst into flame by an encounter with another human being. We should all be thankful for those people who rekindle the inner spirit — Albert Schweitzer

Sometimes, you are the person that rekindles the fire in someone else. It is not always about what we see and touch or that which others do for us which makes us happy; it is also and equally that which we think and feel and do, first for the other person, and then for ourselves.

Love is a two-way street. You shouldn't always be on the receiving end. Give some too...

Have a great Thursday folks! Almost there :)

Eating right

The best six doctors anywhere....and no one can deny it....are sunshine, water, rest, air, exercise and diet.
If only you are willing, these six will gladly put your mind at ease. They will mend your will and charge you not a shilling.
~Nursery rhyme quoted by Wayne Fields

To eat is a necessity, but to eat intelligently takes self control and discipline.

There has to be a balance of course - if you take medicine / vitamins / weight loss pills and neglect diet, then you waste the skill of the physician.

The power of nutrition is profound, you can control your quality of life with the food you put in your body.

Remember you are always in control .... So, enjoy eating right and your body will thank you in so many ways.

Let's win today! It's mid-week!

Get it done!

Nothing is so fatiguing as the eternal hanging on of an uncompleted task ~William James

Procrastination is the art of keeping up with yesterday. It really is. It helps you stay behind. And the more you fall behind, the more time you have to catch up.

When there is a hill to climb, don’t think that waiting will make it smaller. You've got to start climbing or it'll always be there, and you here.

Enjoy your Tuesday!

Reputation

Your reputation is in the hands of others. That's what a reputation is. You can't control that. The only thing you can control is your character."Dr. Wayne W. Dyer

We always feel that our reputation is something that we created and have to continuously maintain. But it really is what we present to the world....and the world relates to us by that presentation.

For some, it's the first time meeting you; and for some, it's the same person they always meet.

It's therefore important to stay consistently good for that's what we will remember.

Happy Monday!

You

This life is what you make it. Not matter what, you're going to mess up sometimes, it's a universal truth. But the good part is you get to decide how you're going to mess it up.

People will be your friends - they'll act like it anyway. But just remember, some come, and some go. The ones that stay with you through everything - they're your true best friends. Don't let go of them.

Also, most people are going to disappoint you but you can't give up because if you give up, you'll never have any friends and you will never build on any relationship.

And just because you fail once, doesn't mean you're gonna fail at everything. Keep trying, hold on, and always, always, always believe in yourself, because if you don't, then who will?

So keep your head high, keep your chin up, and most importantly, keep smiling, because life's a beautiful thing and there's so much to smile about ― Marilyn Monroe

Date

Dating is not a great way to "really get to know someone." Why? Because everyone is on their best behavior during a date. If you really want to get to know someone, watch the person at school every day, or both of you get a job together at McDonald's. Eight straight hours over a hot greaser full of fries will tell you the real tale.

Hahahaha!

Dating is full of pressure and tension. What is a date, really, but a job interview that lasts all night? Or like you are auditioning for mating (and as you know, it means you may or may not get the part).

It is about finding out who you are and who others are. If you show up in a masquerade outfit, neither is going to happen.

Happy Saturday!

Beauty

Beauty is only skin deep, but ugly goes clean to the bone - Dorothy Parker

Sometimes people are beautiful. Not in looks. Not in what they say. Just in what they are.

What you do, how you treat people, the way you think, the kindness of your heart is what makes you a beautiful person; not all this outward stuff that changes by the month.

Happy Friday good people!

Burdens

What makes loneliness an anguish is not that I have no one to share my burden, but this: I have only my own burden to bear - Dag Hammarskjold

If you are like me, it's natural to carry on the load of a friend or family. You want to go to war for them and knock out whoever is standing in the way of their freedom and progress. ;)

While this is a good part of being a friend, it is also a dangerous disease for the carrier.

The lesson is to take everything to God in prayer; for the battle isn't ours anyway, it belongs to the Lord.

FYI: this is a very difficult one for me....

Impressive!

We are what we pretend to be, so we must be careful about what that is! - Kurt Vonnegut

A great mentor once told me that in any kind of relationship that we choose to engage in; that until there is an evident commitment, both parties are still very much dating. Hence, still putting on their "be impressed by me", "I'll do anything for you", "I like to dress really nice" face on!

Listen, we all wear masks, and the time comes when we cannot remove them without removing some of our own skin.

Be yourself and let the world deal with it!

Let's win some today!

Time

Managing multiple projects is like being the parent of a large family that you have to feed. Each aspect of your job can be like another child that needs nurturing. You can’t neglect any one of the ‘children’ and expect to have a healthy family - Peter Turla

Time management is literally learning how to manage time. It's important to give each piece of our lives its full-deserving attention.

We produce better this way!

Happy Tuesday!

Don't stay down

It doesn't matter how many say it cannot be done or how many people have tried it before;
it's important to realize that whatever you're doing,
it's your first attempt at it.
-Wally Amos

So do not be afraid to make a mistake at your first attempts of anything.

And if you have made mistakes, there is always another chance for you.
You may have a fresh start any moment you choose, for this thing we call 'failure' is not the falling down, but the staying down.

It's no use in staying defeated....get up and get back out there!

Happy "Mighty" Monday!

Really?

"A happy marriage is the union of two good forgivers." - Robert Quillen

There is certainly no love without forgiveness, and there is no forgiveness without love.

Forgiveness is giving up your right to hurt someone else for what they did to hurt you. We tend to hold on to things even though we say we have forgiven; just so we have something to bring up again at the next misunderstanding.

That is a terrible choice-habit and a hell-weapon that destroys many relationships.

Forgive, truly let go, move on and be happy.

Friends

“I feel like you have to learn how to keep your friends when you’re dating someone.” —Audrina (to Heidi)

True, but I also feel that your friends do need to learn how to keep you when they aren't dating...

I have found that the latter is more common than the former.... Unfortunately!

Friends?

There comes a point in your life when you realize who really matters, who never did, and who always will - Unknown

What's scary about this quote is how we categorize our friendships. Are they based on circumstances, our reactions to certain conditions, others reactions to our conditions or do we take people for exactly who they are and what their friendship brings?
.... No expectations....


We have to be careful that we don't box people into our own definitions because they aren't always accurate either.

I'm just saying..... :)

Trust

Letting go doesn’t mean giving up, but rather accepting that there are things that cannot be – Unknown

It is difficult to let go of something that you have put a lot of heart, soul and energy into. However, you have to trust and believe deep in your heart that the Lord knows what's best for you.

In your favor, the lord will strategically remove you from a place that wouldn't bear fruit AND position you in a path that will produce much fruit.

When you let go of something that could be, you become open to the possibility of what will be.

Happy Thursday!

Motivation

Motivation is what gets you started. Habit is what keeps you going - Jim Rohn

If you are able to get your feet off the ground, great! But the bigger challenge is knowing how to sustain your momentum after taking off!

Be cautious of what your momentary habits are so you are not dampening the initial zeal in your journey!

Let's win today!

Move on

I have memories - but only a fool stores his past in the future. ~David Gerrold

It's amazing how much of our yesterdays that we physically, emotionally and mentally carry w/ us into our future.
Do not let your shadow walk you. You are not a slave of and to the past.

Begin to step out of the victimized mindset and walk in the victory and freedom that you possess.

Happy "Thriving" Tuesday!

Listen

One advantage of talking to yourself is that you know at least somebody’s listening."
— Franklin P. Jones

A lot of conversations that are held between two people are one-sided. Often times, the person talking just needs a listening ear, NOT a judge, jury or teacher! They just need to vent; they just need to be heard.

Don't be that person who always has something to say about what someone else should do about the situation that they are in. Be the person that always has an ear to listen ;).

Happy "Mighty" Monday!

Mountains

It isn't the mountain ahead that wears you out; it's the grain of sand in your shoe. - unknown

The journey may be hard, the road may be long... But the strength of God will carry you through the heavy times that feel unbearable and difficult to walk out.

If you can see your mountain, focus on that and try hard to neglect the feeling of the weight of the momentary challenges. It all will come to pass!

Happy "Selah" Sunday!

Focus

Every now and then go away, have a little relaxation, for when you come back to your work your judgment will be surer. Go some distance away because then the work appears smaller and more of it can be taken in at a glance and a lack of harmony and proportion is more readily seen. - da Vinci

It's healthy to clear your head while working; as it sets you up on focusing on what's at hand.

Friday

Television's perfect. You turn a few knobs, a few of those mechanical adjustments at which the actors are so proficient, and lean back and drain your mind of all thought. And there you are watching the bubbles in the primeval ooze. You don't have to concentrate. You don't have to react. You don't have to remember. You don't miss your brain because you don't need it. Your heart and liver and lungs continue to function normally. Apart from that, all is peace and quiet. You are in the zone. And if some bored minded person comes along and says you look like a fly on a can of garbage, pay him no mind. He probably hasn't got the price of a television set.- unknown

Haha.... Thought this was funny! Happy Friday !

Don't give in

“A silly idea is current that good people do not know what temptation means. This is an obvious lie. Only those who try to resist temptation know how strong it is.

A man who gives in to temptation after five minutes simply does not know what it would have been like an hour later.

That is why bad people, in one sense, know very little about badness. They have lived a sheltered life by always giving in.”
C.S. Lewis

Good character

If you want the truth to go round the world, you must hire an express train to pull it; but if you want a lie to go round the world, it will fly. It is as light as a feather, and a breath will carry it. It is well said in the old proverb,'a lie will go round the world while truth is putting its boots on - unknown

Keeping your word and maintaining the truth is probably one of the easiest ways to build credibility. Its also one of the simplest ways to show character and integrity.

Show some good and trustworthy character today!
Happy Wednesday!!

Jealousy

Jealous people are like crickets; they make a lot of noise .... you can hear but never see them, then you walk right by them and they’re quiet. Cowards!!!

Your life is yours and governed by the hand of God. No apologies for the blessings of the Lord upon you. Instead, praise, be thankful, be grateful.

Those who can't handle your success and prosperity can take up their issues with God!

Enjoy your Tuesday!

Motivation

It’s always up to you and the choices you make. Work on the things you can change and never dwell on the things you can’t. You choose… ‘results’ or ‘excuses’ it’s YOUR choice! No one has ever given their BEST and regretted it. GO HARD NO EXCUSES.

Of course it will not be easy...No one said that it would, but just know that nothing beats the feeling of accomplishment.

Do not give up! Once you learn to quit, it becomes a habit…. so KEEP GOING!!”

Happy "Mighty" Monday!

Worry-Free

Stress is an ignorant state. It believes that everything is an emergency. ~ Natalie Goldberg

Do not get caught up in the stress of things.....the trash of modern life — we all generate it but if you don't dispose of it properly, it will pile up and overtake your life.

Learn now how to dispose of stress, and keep your territories worry-free!

Happy Sunday!

Your worth..

Know your worth. It makes no sense to be second in someone’s life, when you know you’re good enough to be first in someone else’s. -unknown

As long as you look for someone else to validate who you are by seeking their approval, you are setting yourself up for disaster. You have to be whole and complete in yourself. No one can give you that. You have to know who you are - what others say is absolutely irrelevant.

Know your worth!!!!

Happy days

Enjoy everything that happens in your life, but never make your happiness or success dependent on an attachment to any person, place or thing - Wayne Dyer

It's important to find what makes you cheerful....and when you do, cherish it. Keep it sacred because in challenging times when you need it, it'll be there for you....within reach.

Never depend on anyone or anything for your joy!

It's Friday!

Example

How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world. ~Anne Frank

It's the little things that you do daily that make a difference.

Meditate on your thoughts so your actions can be an example

Happy Thursday!

Right....!!

Wouldn't you like to have a magic phrase that would stop arguments, eliminate ill feeling, create good will, and make the other person listen attentively? Yes? All right. Here it is: "I don't blame you one iota for feeling as you do. If I were you I would undoubtedly feel just as you do." - unknown

Yea.... If only this worked for everyone! Haha

Happy Wednesday!

Family

“We could learn a lot from crayons; some are sharp, some are pretty, some are dull, while others bright, some have weird names, but they all have learned to live together in the same box.” - Unknown

And so it is with your family, friends and colleagues. All different but with the same address (of some sort).

Learn to live respectfully together, reason sensibly together, and work well as a team.....despite your differences.

Happy "thriving" Tuesday!

Sorry?

An apology may be a sign of weakness, but having the courage to go up to someone and say sorry is a strength!

And when you do, don't say sorry because I'm hurt. Say sorry because you're hurt.

Relationships are personal (or should be) in that when the other person is feeling blue over something you did or said; the way you handle the situation will determine your state of remorse!

Have a great Monday!

Faith

Faith is like a seed; plant it in your heart and God will give you the harvest at the appointed time.

It isn’t the ability to believe long and far into the misty future..... It is simply taking God at His Word and taking the next step.

Faith begins where the will of God is known..... And believing that God is going to take you places before you even get there.

Faith is all about who you trust in.

Happy Sunday ;)

Stick through it

"Stick to a friend a little in the wrong." — John Randolph

How often do we walk away from a friend when they have made one, two, three or even fifteen mistakes?

How often has God turned his back on us when we have done one, two, three or even fifteen things wrong?

We are so quick to set boundaries around our relationships and forget that our model is based upon God's love on us ...

Selah!

Money-wise

Live strictly within your income and save something for a rainy day.

Incorporate in your lives the discipline of budgeting that which the Lord has blessed you with.

As regularly as you pay your tithes, set aside an amount needed for future family requirements. Include your children while planning for the future.

Go out in your garages and look over the unused bicycles, toy cars, athletic equipment, skis, roller blades, etc, and calculate what the return would have been had the cost of these items been invested properly.

How many of you have seen garages so full of things that there is no longer room for the car?

Avoid unnecessary debt. We need the discipline to stay well within our ability to pay.

Avoid debt as you would avoid the plague!

Be money-wise!

Courage

Do not let your fire go out, spark by irreplaceable spark, in the hopeless swamps of the approximate, the not-quite, the not-yet, the not-at-all. Do not let the hero in your soul perish, in lonely frustration for the life you deserved, but have never been able to reach. Check your road and the nature of your battle.

The world you desired can be won. It exists, it is real, it is possible, it is yours.

Keep moving forward!

Fear or Freedom?

When you say or do anything to please, get, keep, influence, or control anyone or anything, fear is the cause and pain is the result - Byron Katie

There is nothing worse than being controlled constantly by a person or something. You, the controlled, is completely silenced and full of guilt and shame. You, the controller, is absolutely living in fear of seeing the controlled blossom into their full potential.

To the controlled: find your inner strength and give yourself the respect you deserve.

To the controller: find your inner fears....deal with it and get help.

Let's get better y'all!

Your job....

Every time you suppress some part of yourself or allow others to play you small, you are in essence ignoring the owner's manual your creator gave you and destroying your design - Oprah

It's important to know what you are worth. Because, if you don't, you will get mistreated time and time again and your inner strength will get weaker and weaker.

Be strong. Walk in confidence. Be grounded on God's will over you. Do not settle. Treat your heart, your life and your emotions with tender, loving care.

Happy "thriving" Tuesday!

It's here...

If only one of the presidential candidates would make it part of his platform to do something about making Monday part of the weekend. I think he would get a lot of votes - Thomas Wayne

Lol

Just once, I would like to wake up, turn on the news, and hear…Monday has been canceled, go back to sleep!

:) I love dreaming!

Be good out there y'all! Happy glorious Monday!

Family

No success in public life can compensate for failure in the home ~Benjamin Disraeli

Your family (whether biological, extended or adopted) need nurture and care to grow strong and be rooted deep.

Money cannot buy love - we have heard the saying - it's true. No matter how heavy your bank account feels, it will never keep you happy. If you don't give your family the attention it needs and deserves, you will feel empty and poor.

Don't replace your family with work. Start pursuing them with love and care.

Fun times

Man has always assumed that he was more intelligent than dolphins because he had achieved so much...the wheel, New York, wars and so on...while all the dolphins had ever done was muck about in the water having a good time. But conversely, the dolphins had always believed that they were far more intelligent than man...for precisely the same reason - Douglas Adams

:)

Learn to enjoy yourself, have a good time and get some laughs in.

Happy Saturday!

Victim?

“How would your life be different if…You stopped validating your victim mentality? Let today be the day…You shake off your self-defeating drama and embrace your innate ability to recover and achieve.”
― Steve Maraboli

The problem that we have with a victim mentality is that we forget to see the blessings of the day. Because of this, our spirit is poisoned instead of nourished.

Listen, you can only be where your thoughts take you. If you always think, feel and act defeated....guess what, that's what you will be. But, if you start speaking life and victory over your mind, your emotions, your thoughts....then your actions will align and you will begin to walk in and enjoy God's blessings!

You can do it!

The proud...

“The proud person always wants to do the right thing, the great thing. But because he wants to do it in his own strength, he is fighting not with man, but with God.” ― Søren Kierkegaard

You will find this to be true if you are like me, sometimes :).

Absolutely nothing will give you more peace than surrendering all of your freedom; thus, letting go and letting God.

Be good out there today ;)

Open up....

Blessed is he who expects nothing, for he shall never be disappointed. ~Attributed to both Jonathan Swift and Benjamin Franklin

In everything you do, say or give, let it be with an open heart and a closed transaction.

Expecting something in return for everything you give, say or do doesn't make you a giver..... But makes you a lender!

Keep your hearts open and God will pour into you 100fold!

Hi world!

"I am afraid to show you who I really am, because if I show you who I really am, you might not like it--and that's all I got.” - Sabrina Ward Harrison

There is nothing wrong with being yourself and being exactly who you are. There shouldn't be fear associated with that either. If things need to change in you, hence your hesitation, then you need to focus on those changes And get better. Some of us love having continuous weaknesses so we can choose to hide behind the "issues" and use it as a way out!
On the other hand, if it isn't by your orchestration to keep your "issues" alive :), then do what you can and get some help. Don't settle for that either!

Come out of your shell and let the world.....let us meet you :)

Chill.....

It's never a good idea to make decisions when you are extremely emotional. The choices we make in the heat of emotions would be better if left for some other day.

If you can, chill out a little, rest on it a few days and see how you feel about it; and then you can make a sound decision.

Don't make quick decisions this week, pace your emotions!

Happy "Mighty" Monday!

Talk about a blessing....

Not what we SAY about our blessings, but HOW WE USE them, is the true measure of our thanksgiving — W. T. Parker

You know how it is... we get blessed and we share it as a testimony but how often do we share that testimony with someone else, with a stranger, with the world out there?

To have the miracle is halfway through the journey. To take it to the full measure of its capacity, you have to share.... You just have to :)

Happy Sunday people!

Kindness

In life you can never be too kind or too fair; everyone you meet is carrying a heavy load. When you go through your day expressing kindness and courtesy to all you meet, you leave behind a feeling of warmth and good cheer, and you help alleviate the burdens everyone is struggling with.

Enjoy your Saturday and be kind out there :)

Done??

“Consider the postage stamp: its usefulness consists in the ability to stick to one thing till it gets there.” - Josh Billings

Of course we have a lot of dreams and aspirations; of course we want a lot and want to do a lot. But the real test is of all the things we have started, which one have we actually brought to the finished line?

Don't have a whole lot of unfinished items hanging around. Get things done!

Happy Friday!

Live already!

Do not be bothered by what other people think of you or say about you, no matter how negative these are. Remember that in the end, it is only between you and your Creator. And only He knows who you are, what you are made of an what's best for you!

So ignore the haters and live big!

Happy Thursday folks!

One more try...

“Courage doesn’t always roar. Sometimes courage is the little voice at the end of the day that says I’ll try again tomorrow.” -Mary Anne Radmacher

What is that one thing that you think you cannot do, you think about all the time, you are most passionate about, that you feel everyone else is good at, that makes you smile, that you have played out in your mind over and over again.......What is it?

Take a deep breath, believe in yourself, settle it in your heart and let's see if you can walk it out :)

Happy "Winning" Wednesday!

Gift it

It is always a pleasure to lend a helping hand, to care without reserve, and to give without expecting something in return...this is the essence of true friendship that will thrive the test of time - Unknown

One of my mentors would say "if you can afford to lend a friend some money, then you can afford to not expect it back". In other words, if you have it and you can give it, give it as a gift ;). It's the hand that is always open, that receives most!

Happy "Thriving" Tuesday!

Rise up

“You must make a decision that you are going to move on. It will not happen automatically. You will have to rise up and say, ‘I don’t care how hard this is, I don’t care how disappointed I am, I’m not going to let this get the best of me. I’m moving on with my life.” ― Joel Osteen

Decisions are difficult to make, especially when your heart has been broken or your dreams crushed. It is in that moment that you need to decide to rise above the pain and re-live again!

Don't let disappointments destroy your vision; but let it motivate you to achieve greater things.

Happy "Mighty" Monday!

Prepare

“If you believe you can accomplish everything by "cramming" at the eleventh hour, by all means, don't lift a finger now. But you may think twice about beginning to build your ark once it has already started raining” - Max Brooks

Preparation is essential if you want to achieve full success. You cannot just slide into the finished line; you have to be a part of the building process.

This is where your patience is tried, your faith is tested and your character is built!

Happy "Selah" Sunday!

Leaders

Leadership is not a magnetic personality—that can just as well be a glib tongue. It is not "making friends and influencing people"—that is flattery. Leadership is lifting a person's vision to higher sights, the raising of a person's performance to a higher standard, the building of a personality beyond its normal limitations. ~Peter F. Drucker

Ask your dad....

A little boy was having difficulty lifting a heavy stone. His father came along just then. Noting the boy’s failure, he asked, "Are you using all your strength?"

"Yes, I am," the little boy said impatiently.

"No, you are not," the father answered. "I am right here just waiting, and you haven’t asked me to help you." - Author Unknown

Just recently, I had the same feeling. I was fighting carnally and didn't even bother asking my father (God) to help me. I realized that I was incapable of helping myself when I ran out of strength in the first hour! Lol... Was actually quite funny trying to do things on my own and then being reminded that I don't have it in me ;)....

When you come to that point, (hopefully you are much smarter than I am), ASK God for the help you need right from the start. It's a beautiful thing to stand back and watch Him move on your behalf.

Happy Friday!

Small, and then big!

Enjoy the little things, for one day you may look back and realize they were the big things (afterall) ~Robert Brault

Life goes on and time waits for no one; therefore it is important that we cherish each moment - whether big or small. Memories are built upon such things and are kept because they add volume to our stories!

Don't live absent-mindedly; be present so you don't miss anything :)

Can you?

You have trusted Him in a few things, and He has not failed you. Trust Him now for everything, and see if He does not do for you exceeding abundantly above all that you could ever have asked or thought, not according to your power or capacity, but according to His own mighty power, that will work in you all the good pleasure of His most blessed will. You find no difficulty in trusting the Lord with the management of the universe and all the outward creation, and can your case be any more complex or difficult than these, that you need to be anxious or troubled about His management of it? - Hannah Whitall Smith

Trust God, knowing that He can do all things! ;) ALL!!!!

Do you feel it?

“If you don't feel it, flee from it. Go where you are celebrated, not merely tolerated.” ― Paul F. Davis

No one should make you feel less than you really are. And if you ever get that feeling of not being wanted around or being mistreated; then, by the grace and strength of God, you need to have an exit strategy!

You are created uniquely and wonderfully and ought to be respected as such!

Be celebrated, not tolerated!

Focus, Focus....

“Don’t let what you can’t do interfere with what you can do.” ~ John Wooden

A lot of us spend a whole lot of money, time and attention on our weaknesses; hoping that we can strengthen them so we can be whole. One great lesson I have learned from my hubby is to focus all of your energy on the things that you do best a.k.a "your strengths". And align yourself with people that are stronger in the things you aren't good at and there....you achieve what you want.

In other words, if you spend all your time on making your weaknesses stronger, then you are actually doing absolutely nothing with your strengths!

Happy "Mighty" Monday!

Check, check!

We should every night call ourselves to an account; What infirmity have I mastered today? What passions opposed? What temptation resisted? What virtue acquired? Our vices will abort of themselves if they be brought every day to the shrift. - Seneca

If we could apply this to our whole lives, our work, our relationships and our attitudes; I feel like it'll probably help us go through life with a lot more caution, sensitivity and awareness of what's in us and around us.

Don't be somewhat manipulative, as I can get ;)

It's always a good thing to check ourselves daily!

How to Give Yourself a Break Physically

1. Allow yourself a little extra sleep, whether it’s by going to bed a half-hour earlier or by sleeping in an extra fifteen minutes and then skipping your usual morning coffee stop.

2. Take a day off from exercising if you usually run, go to the gym, or participate in some type of aerobic class.

3. Skip the stairs and take the elevator or escalator—sometimes it’s perfectly OK to choose the path of least resistance! :)

4. Replace strenuous exercise with something less intense, like stretching.

5. Relax in a sauna or steam room to relax your muscles and sweat out chemicals that build up in your body.

6. Utilize a detoxifying cleanse to clear out toxins and give your digestive organs a break.

7. Take a break from processed foods and sugar if a cleanse feels too extreme.

8. Get a massage or trade massages with someone you love. Massages are not only relaxing; they’ve also been proven to minimize anxiety, boost the immune system, and reduce depression and anxiety.

9. Take a long, hot bath to take weight off your weary muscles and joints.

10. Be mindful of your posture at your desk at work and take breaks to walk around and stretch. This one is smart on any day—hunching over our computers can cause major back and neck pain!

Happy Saturday!

Friday laughs!

“I've always thought that a big laugh is a really loud noise from the soul saying, 'Ain't that the truth.'” - Quincy Jones

It's Friday and it has been a very long week. As you close your week; take sometime and enjoy a good loud laugh! :)

Inner challenges

“There are two big forces at work, external and internal. We have very little control over external forces such as tornadoes, earthquakes, floods, disasters, illness and pain. What really matters is the internal force. How do I respond to those disasters? Over that I have complete control.” - Dr. Leo Buscaglia (1924-1998);

Yes, how do I respond to my inner challenges? It's important to have control over our emotions and feelings as they cause our personalities to manifest.

Trust Factot

A little girl and her father were crossing a bridge. The father was kind of scared so he asked his little daughter:
"Sweetheart, please hold my hand so that you don't fall into the river." The little girl said:
"No, Dad. You hold my hand."
"What's the difference?" Asked the puzzled father.

"There's a big difference," replied the little girl.
"If I hold your hand and something happens to me, chances are that I may let your hand go. But if you hold my hand, I know for sure that no matter what happens, you will never let my hand go."

So it is in any relationship, the essence of trust is not in its bind, but in its bond. So hold the hand of the person whom you love rather than expecting them to hold yours...
- read it somewhere

100%

Before water generates steam, it must register 212 degrees of heat; 200 degrees will not do it. The water must boil to generate enough steam to move an engine. Lukewarm water will not run anything. Lukewarmness will not generate life's work. - Anonymous

For everything that you set out to do, give it 100%. Anything short of that will unfortunately be a poor representation of your full potential!

Don't hold back... Be brave and bold to show all out!

Monday Monday

“Always Remember to take your Vitamins: Vitamin A for Action, Vitamin B for Belief, Vitamin C for Confidence, Vitamin D for Discipline, Vitamin E for Enthusiasm!!” ― Pablo

Monday morning always comes with the feeling of getting things done! You feel positive, excited, motivated, focused and driven....hopefully. :)

What you don't remember is that you will soon feel tired! .... Yes! Even on a Monday!!!

Solution: Take your vitamins as you will need them for strength and endurance!

It's Mighty Monday! Pace yourself

Relax for 5minutes

No matter how much pressure you feel at work, if you could find ways to relax for at least five minutes every hour, you'd be more productive - Dr. Joyce Brothers

This actually works for me. I try to get my 5 minutes in at the end of each hour, in preparation for the next!

You can use this technique for life in general. It's a great Selah moment.

Happy Sunday!

Morning!

If you have only one smile in you, give it to the people you love. Don’t be surly at home, then go out in the street and start grinning ‘Good morning’ at total strangers. – Maya Angelou

The people at home, your close loved ones are the ones who know you best; so it's only fair that they should get the best of you, right?

Reflect good character and tremendous integrity; for it'll go a long way (on your behalf).

Happy Saturday!

Forgive

"Once a woman has forgiven her man, she must not reheat his sins for breakfast." - Marlene Dietrich

When you hold resentment toward another, you are bound to that person or condition by an emotional link that is stronger than steel. Forgiveness is the only way to dissolve that link and get free. Basically, it is me giving up my right to hurt you for hurting me.

It is time!

And the day came when the risk it took to remain tight inside the bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom - Anais Nin

Sooner of later, you will need to come out of that box of yours! Step out in faith; one step at a time. The people around you, your family and the world are waiting patiently to meet you and all of your potential.

Do not be afraid to be you! It is time ;)

Mid week

“Getting over a painful experience is much like crossing monkey bars. You have to let go at some point in order to move forward.” -C.S. Lewis

This is true!

For some of us, its easier to stay in the past because we can honestly justify our wrong actions to EVERYONE. For others, it's just not easy to shake it off.

Though we may battle with our pride, self esteem and egos, it's time to shake those yesterdays away..... :)

And start winning :)

Hang on....

When you come to the end of your rope, tie a knot and hang on. ~Franklin D. Roosevelt

Even at the end of the end, lies hope....(only if you choose to see it that way).

No matter what your season is, remember that God is in the midst of all of it! Be encouraged and hold on.... Your breakthrough awaits!

Monday decisions

"You don't have to be great to start, but you have to start to be great.~Joe Sabah~

Start your week with prayer, discipline, intention, dedication, integrity, faith and passion.

Stay the course and you'll see greater things happen in you. Also, the people around you will be equally blessed because of your decision to stay the course. 😉

Rest

“Every person needs to take one day away. A day in which one consciously separates the past from the future. Jobs, family, employers, and friends can exist one day without any one of us, and if our egos permit us to confess, they could exist eternally in our absence. Each person deserves a day away in which no problems are confronted, no solutions searched for. Each of us needs to withdraw from the cares which will not withdraw from us.” ― Maya Angelou, Wouldn't Take Nothing for My Journey Now

Get some "rest" time. It's been a long week and you deserve it!
Selah

Happiness?

Happiness is an attitude. We either make ourselves miserable, or happy and strong. The amount of work is the same. ~ Francesca Reigler

I plan on being and staying happy; and doing whatever it takes to maintain that attitude.

As you experience your Saturday, think on these things and determine what route you will take.

How much work are you willing to put in for the condition of your state of mind?

What's a friend?

What is a friend?

A friend is one who walks in when others walk out.

A friend is one to whom one may pour out all the contents of one’s heart, chaff and grain together, knowing that the gentlest of hands will take and sift it, keep what is worth keeping, and with the breath of kindness blow the rest away.

A friend is one with whom you are comfortable, to whom you are loyal, through whom you are blessed, and for whom you are grateful.

A friend is someone who is always there and will always, always care. A friend is a feeling of forever in the heart.

A friend is someone who understands your past, believes in your future, and accepts you just the way you are.

Friends: people who know you well, but like you anyway.

A friend is someone with whom you dare to be yourself.

My best friend is the one who brings out the best in me.

Friends are those rare people who ask how we are and then wait to hear the answer.

Friendship is the inexpressible comfort of feeling safe with a person, having neither to weigh thoughts nor measure words.

Do you have a friend?

Thx!

Praise the bridge that carried you over. ~ George Colman

Why not? ;)....
We applaud the pilot when we land; we are thankful after a long journey; and we are grateful for a good deal/sale when we get one!

Shouldn't be difficult then, to thank God for taking you through the little things and bringing you out safely and in your right mind.

Amen!

Winners

"If you will call your troubles experiences, and remember that every experience develops some latent force within you, you will grow vigorous and happy, however adverse your circumstances may seem to be." — John R. Miller

It doesn't matter what you are going through, or what obstacle you faced or are facing; know that none of those troubles are permanent and the situation is there to grow you up and make you strong, strong, strong!

It's winning Wednesday; go get some wins!

Press on!

"Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts." Winston Churchill

Sometimes, in the midst of all the running around and wanting to catch on the right opportunity, we find ourselves taking the wrong turn and missing the mark...
A mis-take.....!

Thank God that in these times, we can easily get up, wipe our tears, stand up tall and take another try at it!

Persevere in tough times, stand strong in stormy weathers, be bold in anxious moments and see how easy God makes it for you in the end.

Happy "Thriving Tuesday"!!!

Planning to live!!!

I find it fascinating that most people plan their vacation with better care than they do their lives. Perhaps that is because escape is easier than change - Jim Rohn

Do not let this be your story!!!!

This week, let's focus on setting some realistic, practical and feasible goals. Let's do everything we can to accomplish them too! Disregard the tiny distractions, stay focused, maintain your integrity and values, be yourself and get the job done!

It's Mighty Monday"!
Plan your life with the intention of living it!
I believe in you!