Last year, I watched for many months as a friend struggled with
finding a nanny for her two sons, so she could tend to her fulfilling
but hectic work schedule. I read one agony-filled FB post after another,
as she literally seemed to have a new nanny trauma every month. I'm a
Life Consultant and Self-Mastery Catalyst. I help people move past all
kinds of challenging situations—but I can only help them if they're
willing to do the work needed to move forward. Most of the time, the
work is uncomfortable because I don't let people get away with lying to
themselves, so not everyone's ready for me and my system.
As the
months passed and I watched NaTasha become more and more enraged with
her circumstances and express various degrees of disapproval for the
nannies she had hired, she and I finally discussed doing a Life
Challenge Consultation. I told her I could definitely help her find the
right nanny, but that she would have to understand one thing first: the
problem wasn't the nannies she was hiring; it was HER. I could tell she
wasn't feeling that answer! LOL! But I asked her to trust me. I told her
that what we were about to do would probably be really uncomfortable,
but if she would be open to doing the work, afterward she would be able
to find the best nanny. I should also mention that when we finally did
the consult, she only had 4 days to find one, as her vacation was about
to end and there was no one to take care of her sons.
That was
November 2015. She did the work. She found the perfect nanny. In 4 days.
I presented her with the tools, and she built a new scenario. She still
has that nanny. Below is her testimonial:
"Our nanny, Lili, is
PHENOMENAL and is just getting better! [In our Life Challenge
consultation], you made me say the things I already knew, OUT LOUD,
which in turn made me fess up to myself about what I didn't realize was
affecting my judgment in choosing a nanny. I had to take self-inventory
and apply 'me' to my situation. I was being VERY picky in the wrong
areas in choosing a nanny; I had to see myself as the nanny as opposed
to the employer. I needed to find myself in the woman that I wanted and
needed for a nanny. It's amazing how all this came to me because the
self-inventory and looking for myself happened DURING the interview with
her! Thank you again!" ~NaTasha Smith
If you're ready to build a new scenario, then let's get to it. You can find all the info you need at www.honorthespirit.com.
Tuesday, June 28, 2016
Monday, June 27, 2016
HOW CAN I HELP YOU HONOR YOUR SPIRIT?
I wanna take a moment to remind you of the ways I can help you move forward in your life, through the work I do with Hustle Diva Speaks and Honor the Spirit.
I have many products and services that will not only help you push through challenging scenarios but also give you the tools to take your thinking and actions to a higher level (and keep them there), so you can continue moving through those rough patches with greater ease on your own.
Let's start with my poetry and self-help books, which are the foundation of all of my motivational-speaking services. Whether you're struggling with general life challenges or if you're trying to find your purpose and passion so you can be engaged in work that fulfills your spirit while you help others, I've got you covered. Check out You Are What You Say You Are: Claiming Your Life's Mission & Living Your Dream and Building Faith and Character Through Life Challenges for detailed info on how to tackle those scenarios. Grab a copy of Wisdom Nuggets for that quick but potent mental boost you sometimes need as you're confronted with the many faces of the day. And, of course, my poetry, which you've been introduced to here (and many of you have heard me perform live), is full of both subtle and in-your-face messages that help guide you through those tight spots. You can even find inspiration on my spoken-word CD She Is Poetry.
For a more in-depth spiritual journey, I have Life Challenge and Life Mission consultations, which were borne from their [partial] namesake books, mentioned above. These two services are geared toward working with people one on one, for short or extended periods of time, to knock down the walls that are keeping them from "the other side" of their scenarios, where they really wanna be.
For an equally inspiring yet fun and interactive way to walk the path of self-improvement, I have a special poetry workshop that I created, where my self-esteem-based poetry is used as the foundation for critical thinking, private introspection, and group discussion, which is ultimately designed to give the audience members a new perspective on themselves and the selected topic (presented through a live spoken-word performance by me), and hopefully inspire them to take healthy new action based on what they learned in the workshop.
Lastly, I've got a quick but great way for you to start and end your day on a positive note: my daily mantras that are sure to invigorate your mind. In under two minutes, you can set the tone for a successful day and a peaceful night.
As you can see, there are many ways I can help you "do you" to the best of your ability. Take a look around. See if there's anything you'd like to partake in. If you know people who might be interested in or would benefit from my services, then please feel free to pass the links on to them. I'd love to walk with you (and your friends and family) on your journey to peace and happiness, whether on paper or in person.
Take care, and always remember to honor the spirit.
I have many products and services that will not only help you push through challenging scenarios but also give you the tools to take your thinking and actions to a higher level (and keep them there), so you can continue moving through those rough patches with greater ease on your own.
Let's start with my poetry and self-help books, which are the foundation of all of my motivational-speaking services. Whether you're struggling with general life challenges or if you're trying to find your purpose and passion so you can be engaged in work that fulfills your spirit while you help others, I've got you covered. Check out You Are What You Say You Are: Claiming Your Life's Mission & Living Your Dream and Building Faith and Character Through Life Challenges for detailed info on how to tackle those scenarios. Grab a copy of Wisdom Nuggets for that quick but potent mental boost you sometimes need as you're confronted with the many faces of the day. And, of course, my poetry, which you've been introduced to here (and many of you have heard me perform live), is full of both subtle and in-your-face messages that help guide you through those tight spots. You can even find inspiration on my spoken-word CD She Is Poetry.
For a more in-depth spiritual journey, I have Life Challenge and Life Mission consultations, which were borne from their [partial] namesake books, mentioned above. These two services are geared toward working with people one on one, for short or extended periods of time, to knock down the walls that are keeping them from "the other side" of their scenarios, where they really wanna be.
For an equally inspiring yet fun and interactive way to walk the path of self-improvement, I have a special poetry workshop that I created, where my self-esteem-based poetry is used as the foundation for critical thinking, private introspection, and group discussion, which is ultimately designed to give the audience members a new perspective on themselves and the selected topic (presented through a live spoken-word performance by me), and hopefully inspire them to take healthy new action based on what they learned in the workshop.
Lastly, I've got a quick but great way for you to start and end your day on a positive note: my daily mantras that are sure to invigorate your mind. In under two minutes, you can set the tone for a successful day and a peaceful night.
As you can see, there are many ways I can help you "do you" to the best of your ability. Take a look around. See if there's anything you'd like to partake in. If you know people who might be interested in or would benefit from my services, then please feel free to pass the links on to them. I'd love to walk with you (and your friends and family) on your journey to peace and happiness, whether on paper or in person.
Take care, and always remember to honor the spirit.
Monday, June 20, 2016
AVERAGE IS A BLESSING, TOO
A couple of years ago, I was walking down the street on an average,
sunny day—so average that I found myself complaining that "nothing" was
happening. I pouted for about thirty seconds about my perception that
the day was boring and nothing exciting was going on in my life at the
moment (read: some of my goals and dreams hadn't come to fruition). As
soon as I finished the complaint, the "good voice" in my head told me to
acknowledge the fact that what I had noticed was actually a blessing—it
reminded me that I was complaining about something that wasn't a given:
a completely peaceful day where there was absolutely no drama,
accidents, or chaos to deal with, when, somewhere in the world, probably
not far away, someone was not having my harmonious day. Even
though I was still working on accomplishing this-and-that goal, the real
benefit was that I was able to enjoy a fulfilling walk in the sun
without any real upset in my life or immediate environment.
At the time, I was in the middle of a writing challenge my colleague started on Facebook, where, for 30 days, we would write at least one Haiku a day. Haiku is a Japanese form of poetry with three lines and 17 syllables total—first line 5, second line 7, third line 5; and it usually centers on nature or perspectives on everyday subjects; but the idea is to arouse the reader's senses or evoke a certain feeling. Because I was in creativity mode at all times during that month, always thinking of the next Haiku, my mental juices were in full swing when I had that revelation, and a great Haiku came to me that I really connected with on a deep level. I titled it "THANKLESS":
Days without mishap
are stepchildren of blessings:
ignored and unloved
As I thought more about it, I realized there are so many people who move through their days with complete disregard for the fact that they're making it through without incident—just step right over it like smooshed gum on the street. It's like no one cares about those days, like they don't deserve recognition. In fact, it's as if the perception is that if all's quiet on the Western front, it's a problem. The real problem is that we just aren't grateful enough for those quiet days. We're always looking for or expecting the excitement, the joyous moments, and even the unhealthy drama. It's like the day is a total bust without them. But in reality, a quiet, "uneventful" day is a huge success. It reminds me of Ice Cube's hit song "It Was a Good Day." Sometimes, preferably regularly, you gotta take time to give props to those days.
Well, I liked the sentiment so much that I decided to put it on a T-shirt and wear it frequently, as a reminder to praise easy days. Later, I decided I'd like to put more of my Haiku poems on shirts. I didn't actually do it until last week, along with a few empowerment quotes I came up with (right now they're faith-based, but others are on the way), and I'd like to share them with you.
If you see something you or someone you know might like, then please feel free to put in an order (they make great gifts!). And, of course, "Thankless" is among the options. (Please note that if you're using an iPhone or Android, the page is best viewed with your screen rotated vertically.)
Let's try to remember that every day won't be full of fireworks and rah-rah. Sometimes it's good to just enjoy the comfort with which you move through your circumstances, and toast to that victory at the end of the day.
Always remember to honor the spirit.
At the time, I was in the middle of a writing challenge my colleague started on Facebook, where, for 30 days, we would write at least one Haiku a day. Haiku is a Japanese form of poetry with three lines and 17 syllables total—first line 5, second line 7, third line 5; and it usually centers on nature or perspectives on everyday subjects; but the idea is to arouse the reader's senses or evoke a certain feeling. Because I was in creativity mode at all times during that month, always thinking of the next Haiku, my mental juices were in full swing when I had that revelation, and a great Haiku came to me that I really connected with on a deep level. I titled it "THANKLESS":
Days without mishap
are stepchildren of blessings:
ignored and unloved
As I thought more about it, I realized there are so many people who move through their days with complete disregard for the fact that they're making it through without incident—just step right over it like smooshed gum on the street. It's like no one cares about those days, like they don't deserve recognition. In fact, it's as if the perception is that if all's quiet on the Western front, it's a problem. The real problem is that we just aren't grateful enough for those quiet days. We're always looking for or expecting the excitement, the joyous moments, and even the unhealthy drama. It's like the day is a total bust without them. But in reality, a quiet, "uneventful" day is a huge success. It reminds me of Ice Cube's hit song "It Was a Good Day." Sometimes, preferably regularly, you gotta take time to give props to those days.
Well, I liked the sentiment so much that I decided to put it on a T-shirt and wear it frequently, as a reminder to praise easy days. Later, I decided I'd like to put more of my Haiku poems on shirts. I didn't actually do it until last week, along with a few empowerment quotes I came up with (right now they're faith-based, but others are on the way), and I'd like to share them with you.
If you see something you or someone you know might like, then please feel free to put in an order (they make great gifts!). And, of course, "Thankless" is among the options. (Please note that if you're using an iPhone or Android, the page is best viewed with your screen rotated vertically.)
Let's try to remember that every day won't be full of fireworks and rah-rah. Sometimes it's good to just enjoy the comfort with which you move through your circumstances, and toast to that victory at the end of the day.
Always remember to honor the spirit.
Monday, June 13, 2016
THE LIFE-CHALLENGE SERIES: IF EMOTIONS COULD TALK
How do you think you would go about making life decisions if regret were
a person who had an agenda and could actually tell you what it is?
Think about that for a minute. If regret could talk to you about what it
really does to you when you make decisions you wish you could change,
do you think you would try to make better, healthier decisions so you
could avoid it in the future? Would you be as true to yourself as
possible, nicer to people, more prudent in your moves?
I'm speaking more so of the choices you make when you're pondering options, and there's that part of you that knows deeeeep down that you should go Route A, but Route B sounds better, seems easier, may get you what or where you want faster, etc., but probably isn't the wisest choice. I'm not talking about when you make a choice and you truly have no idea that it's gonna turn out bad or that you shouldn't do it. Sometimes, we do things based on limited knowledge and information, and we don't know of any other options so we go with what we think is right, and it turns into a "thing" that we wish we had known all the ramifications of. I'm also not talking about doing something completely logical that turns into a "thing" because of someone else's actions, which you can't control.
For example, a friend was telling me that when she was in college and trying to get into business school, she had a slew of tests coming up that she needed to pass in order for that to happen. Long story short, she had a ton of notes and books, and she left her backpack in a car, and someone broke into the car and stole it. She failed all her classes because she didn't have her notes or books. She didn't get into that school. She felt like a failure because of it, and said it was one of her biggest regrets. I told her she didn't do anything to regret. Someone stole her bag out of a car. People leave stuff in cars all the time. The car was locked. It's not like she carelessly left it in a cafe or in a store or out in the streets somewhere. Was it devastating? Sure. But there wasn't anything she could do about that person's actions.
I'm talking about the stuff you do that involves the dark side of your ego, the side that convinces you to do things that aren't good for you or others, and when it's all said and done, you kick yourself for the next decade because it turned into a fiasco that you may not be able to fix.
So, back to my question: What do you think you would do if regret could talk to you? Well, I happen to know exactly what it would say (sort of, hee hee). I'm in a writing group, and we have daily writing prompts. Day five of this month was to write about regret as if it had human qualities. I chose to write a poem in first person, from Regret's point of view, and I'd like to share it with you right here. I hope you heed the message. I had no idea what I was gonna write, but as I took on the challenge, I realized I was coming up with what felt like a pretty accurate description of how regret takes over. The poem is even making me think about how I'll proceed with decisions in the future.
I'd love to hear your take on it and how it made you feel. As always, I hope you enjoy the work, and I hope it helps you advance in your life in some way.
For information about my life consulting services, please visit www.honorthespirit.com.
I'm speaking more so of the choices you make when you're pondering options, and there's that part of you that knows deeeeep down that you should go Route A, but Route B sounds better, seems easier, may get you what or where you want faster, etc., but probably isn't the wisest choice. I'm not talking about when you make a choice and you truly have no idea that it's gonna turn out bad or that you shouldn't do it. Sometimes, we do things based on limited knowledge and information, and we don't know of any other options so we go with what we think is right, and it turns into a "thing" that we wish we had known all the ramifications of. I'm also not talking about doing something completely logical that turns into a "thing" because of someone else's actions, which you can't control.
For example, a friend was telling me that when she was in college and trying to get into business school, she had a slew of tests coming up that she needed to pass in order for that to happen. Long story short, she had a ton of notes and books, and she left her backpack in a car, and someone broke into the car and stole it. She failed all her classes because she didn't have her notes or books. She didn't get into that school. She felt like a failure because of it, and said it was one of her biggest regrets. I told her she didn't do anything to regret. Someone stole her bag out of a car. People leave stuff in cars all the time. The car was locked. It's not like she carelessly left it in a cafe or in a store or out in the streets somewhere. Was it devastating? Sure. But there wasn't anything she could do about that person's actions.
I'm talking about the stuff you do that involves the dark side of your ego, the side that convinces you to do things that aren't good for you or others, and when it's all said and done, you kick yourself for the next decade because it turned into a fiasco that you may not be able to fix.
So, back to my question: What do you think you would do if regret could talk to you? Well, I happen to know exactly what it would say (sort of, hee hee). I'm in a writing group, and we have daily writing prompts. Day five of this month was to write about regret as if it had human qualities. I chose to write a poem in first person, from Regret's point of view, and I'd like to share it with you right here. I hope you heed the message. I had no idea what I was gonna write, but as I took on the challenge, I realized I was coming up with what felt like a pretty accurate description of how regret takes over. The poem is even making me think about how I'll proceed with decisions in the future.
I'd love to hear your take on it and how it made you feel. As always, I hope you enjoy the work, and I hope it helps you advance in your life in some way.
For information about my life consulting services, please visit www.honorthespirit.com.
Monday, June 6, 2016
THE LIFE-CHALLENGE SERIES: ARE YOU THE GREATEST?
By now you probably all know that yet another celebrity has left the realm: Muhammad Ali. One of the things that made him so memorable was that fact that, at every chance he got, he publicly proclaimed that he was "the greatest" in his craft of boxing. That was a pretty bold statement to make, especially as often as he did. But I've been thinking about it: He really was phenomenal, and he not only took on but also defeated many opponents that probably should have done him in. A prime example is former heavyweight champion George Foreman, whom Ali snatched the title from during their world-famous fight. Foreman's punches were compared to that of a sledgehammer, and Ali was fully informed of his reputation prior to their fight. Still, he won.
But what makes a great truly great? In Ali's case, it was more than just boxing skills; it was also savvy. He realized that in order to beat Foreman, he would have to use a special strategy. Being great at something doesn't mean you'll automatically prevail without certain efforts. Ali was prudent enough to understand the fact that George wasn't someone he could go into the ring with and easily take out. The consensus was that if he wanted to win, he would need to wear George down physically before he could really make a move that would matter. Ali's body and mind were prepped for the heavy punches he would have to endure. He had a level of fortitude that George wasn't anticipating. As you can see in the video above, it took eight rounds to accomplish his KO mission, and George was devastated by the loss. Ali's combination of skill, wisdom, confidence, ability to accept the reality of the situation and work around it, and his determination was crucial to his victory. It occurred to me that in any situation, those are core elements that, if utilized regularly and together, can take you from average or good to great—and keep you there. (I would also add humility, but Ali wasn't really famous for that! LOL!)
This brings me to you: What are you great at? Can you even be audacious enough to proclaim your greatness at something? While you don't have to go as far as Ali, in the cocky way he trash-talked and boasted, I do think it's important to know what your strengths are, or even find one great strength, and play it up, use it, express it, take pride in it, hone it to the best of your ability. Being great at something is fabulous for your self-esteem, especially if you get to showcase that greatness to the world, and possibly use it to help others. Personally, I think I'm a great writer. I love my work; I'm happy with what I do with my writing. Could I be greater? I'm sure I could. And I strive to be greater. I can tell you right now that I'm not in the frame of mind to run out into the streets and call myself the greatest writer of all time, but I remember when I didn't think I was great at anything, and it made me feel very mediocre as a person. When I stepped into my role as a writer—I mean really embraced it as who I am—and began to work at it, study it, get better at it, and share it with the world, then I started to notice other things I was good and great at. My esteem shot up exponentially. The best part is that these traits and skills are things that no one can take from me, so I feel good about being happy about them, and I feel good about myself because of them.
If you haven't discovered your greatness, then I encourage you to ponder the subject. Everyone's great at something. What's your claim to fame?
Take good care of yourselves, and always remember to honor the spirit!
But what makes a great truly great? In Ali's case, it was more than just boxing skills; it was also savvy. He realized that in order to beat Foreman, he would have to use a special strategy. Being great at something doesn't mean you'll automatically prevail without certain efforts. Ali was prudent enough to understand the fact that George wasn't someone he could go into the ring with and easily take out. The consensus was that if he wanted to win, he would need to wear George down physically before he could really make a move that would matter. Ali's body and mind were prepped for the heavy punches he would have to endure. He had a level of fortitude that George wasn't anticipating. As you can see in the video above, it took eight rounds to accomplish his KO mission, and George was devastated by the loss. Ali's combination of skill, wisdom, confidence, ability to accept the reality of the situation and work around it, and his determination was crucial to his victory. It occurred to me that in any situation, those are core elements that, if utilized regularly and together, can take you from average or good to great—and keep you there. (I would also add humility, but Ali wasn't really famous for that! LOL!)
This brings me to you: What are you great at? Can you even be audacious enough to proclaim your greatness at something? While you don't have to go as far as Ali, in the cocky way he trash-talked and boasted, I do think it's important to know what your strengths are, or even find one great strength, and play it up, use it, express it, take pride in it, hone it to the best of your ability. Being great at something is fabulous for your self-esteem, especially if you get to showcase that greatness to the world, and possibly use it to help others. Personally, I think I'm a great writer. I love my work; I'm happy with what I do with my writing. Could I be greater? I'm sure I could. And I strive to be greater. I can tell you right now that I'm not in the frame of mind to run out into the streets and call myself the greatest writer of all time, but I remember when I didn't think I was great at anything, and it made me feel very mediocre as a person. When I stepped into my role as a writer—I mean really embraced it as who I am—and began to work at it, study it, get better at it, and share it with the world, then I started to notice other things I was good and great at. My esteem shot up exponentially. The best part is that these traits and skills are things that no one can take from me, so I feel good about being happy about them, and I feel good about myself because of them.
If you haven't discovered your greatness, then I encourage you to ponder the subject. Everyone's great at something. What's your claim to fame?
Take good care of yourselves, and always remember to honor the spirit!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)