poem ~ the sea of life

In the sea of life,
will I choose to be
Entangled and weighed down
by everything bothering me?

In the sea of life,
will I choose to be
Broken to pieces
or able to be healed freely?

In the sea of life,
will I choose to be,
Living washed out and tired
dreading the life around me?

In the sea of life,
will I choose to be
Destroyed by the storms
or captured by their beauty?

In the sea of life,
will I choose to be
Built up by words of hope
or torn down by my surroundings?

In the sea of life ,
will I choose to be
Riding the waves with ease
or drowning in doubt continually?

In the sea of life,
will I choose to be
Silently considering the truth
that abounds so openly?

In the sea of life,
will I choose to be
Living from the heart
knowing I've been set free?

In the sea of life,
will I choose to be
Alive and connected,
fully able to be me?

In the sea of life,
will I choose to be
Filled with hope and love
for everything in and around me?

In the sea of life,
will I chose to be
Growing in freedom and grace
living authentically?

In the sea of life,
will I choose to be
Blinded by nothing but love
sharing so all can see?

In the sea of life,
will I choose to be
Pursuing what matters most
or hiding intentionally?

In the see of life,
there are options you see
For nobody is forced
to be anything lovely.

In the sea of life,
the choice is up to me
Whether I live abundantly
or die ever so silently.

© Misty W Gilbert
#Poems #AuthorLife #MistyWGilbert #TheSassyVoice #TheSeaOfLife #CreateTheLifeYouWant

what does it mean to be vulnerable?

Being vulnerable and sharing your heart doesn't mean you are weak...it means you are being honest. You are willing to quit living in a mask and be open, authentic and truly live in reality. It means you know you have dark deep work to do. It means you aren't willing to be like everyone else and just accept status quo. It means you are willing to face your FEARS and do the difficult process of digging deep.

Just because you have fears and false perceptions doesn't mean you have self pity for your situation or that you are a negative person because you have fears. Having fears allows you to develop your courage and press through them.

LiveBIG friends!
#CreateTheLifeYouWant #LiveIntentionally #Authenticity #LiveBIG #ADifferentPerspective

the process of becoming new

The Cross is a symbol of becoming NEW in Christ.

This means there is a process to letting go of old ways, old stories, old behaviors, old thoughts, old feelings, old experiences, old beliefs.

To create new means you have to Stop. Undo. Change. Release. Transition. Create or Build. Embrace. Focus.

This week it has become clear to me there is still too much from the "old" that is still a part of my life. Too many things trying to still attach themselves to my life. Some things that I haven't released that need to be released for appropriate growth. There is a need for further pruning. More onion layers to be uncovered and removed. Necessary Endings that need to take place for New Beginnings to even start. More focus on New Chapters.

Sometimes we don't know what all these revelations are to us as we go into ourselves and uncover the still small voice inside of us. Sometimes the answers that come throughout our day aren't where we think we are going to get them. Sometimes the ways God shows up in our lives to put the pieces together leave us in awe.

But it is our choice on how we will work with the old and create the new. It is our choice whether we embrace it or fight it. God gives us a free will. But if we seek Him, He will guide us.

I will be focusing on what all this means and how to implement it. But I am determined to forge ahead. Removing those things that hold me back. Pressing on towards the mark that God has set for my journey. Not wavering in my faith. Rising up when I am taken down. Continuing on in dignity, strength, without fear of the future. In laughter. Focused on taking the next step to press on to be who I am called to be.

It is a journey. It is a process. I welcome this New Chapter.
#TheSassyVoice #NewBeginnings #NewChapter #HaveFaith #StaySTrong #RiseUp #DontQuit #OutWithTheOld #InWithTheNew

be an overcomer in dark ugly days

When life squeezes you deeper then you have ever been squeezed...When it sucks all the juice of life out of you...When it leaves no air to filter through your lungs...When it punctures your heart and makes it bleed open again, a wound that still hurts to the touch...When salt is added to an existing wound...

Then what? Is it okay to pray: Really Jesus, how much more do you think I can take?

Yesterday was one of those days for me. 

And I did just that.

An unexpected medical diagnosis that has set me back leaps and bounds. Pain. Frustration. Tears. Intentional methods applied to regroup and get on with my day.  Conference Calls. Meetings.  Paperwork. Then off to a first time Consultation Meeting with a Litigation Attorney to discuss my testimony in a clients lawsuit with a court date set for February 22nd.  As if those two things in and of themselves weren't enough, I got the reminder of two close girlfriends who've turned their backs on me and shut me out.  One through a picture on Facebook of a girlfriend that is very dearly loved celebrating a very special chapter in her life that I am missing out on, but not by my choice.  The second, when I went out for my weekly date night alone, my closest girlfriend of 18 years who asked me to never contact her again, was sitting in a booth at the same restaurant I was at. 

Life is squeezing me, sucking the juice out of me, leaving me no air in my lungs, puncturing my heart open, again, adding salt to an existing wound.

I think it is okay to pray things like that to Jesus. He knows when you feel like you are coming undone. He knows we are thinking those thoughts, so why not express it? He hears my cries, through my tears and questioning why. He knows I am frustrated, so why not tell him I am? He knows I am hurting, my heart is bleeding, I am exhausted, that I don't feel I have it in me to keep fighting the good fight. I see no use in keeping it a secret.

But in the midst of your pain, what will you focus on?

It is in the times of desperation that you have to remember what is important. You have to remember the preparation you have done in previous hard challenges and trials that enables you to handle this one too. It is in these moments when you have to focus on the good things, remember the beautiful moments you had with these girlfriends and not focus on the fact that they are not in your life now. You have to renew prayers of forgiveness and say out loud "Forgive them, for they know not what they do to me".  Even if they do.  You have to choose to believe that they do not realize they are intentionally hurting you, again.  You have to choose to ask for prayers, help, love, support and be willing to accept it from those who choose to have you in their life.  By those that really are true friends.  By those that give a damn what is going on with you.  It is in these times that your true character will be displayed in how you show up, what you do, and how you respond.  You have to remember to breathe and tell yourself that it's all going to be okay, because it is not over yet!  You have to find strength to press on. To remember why you are not going to quit. You have to stay very focused. You have to choose not to loose heart.  Because you are an overcomer!

Will you stand your ground? In a place where hope can be found? Do you believe that God will make all things right?  Do you believe that you have the strength to make it through this too? 

The only way I can vulnerably share with you how to get through dark ugly days like this that you want to obliterate off the calendar, is to walk out what I talk. The only way I can tell you it works is when I practice it in my own life and see for myself that it works. The only way I can encourage you is if I encourage myself.

We each have a choice. What will yours be today?
#TheSassyVoice #BeDifferent #CreateTheLifeYouWant #ThePowerOfChoice #BeAnOvercomer

walking out the tension in life

There are times in our lives that it seems easier to just start over. To cut all ties with something or someone that is making life difficult.

To scrap the project and throw it away. To not fix what is broken. To put it out of sight on a shelf, or better yet, just hide it. To just walk out.

But most things do not resolve themselves this way. You can attempt to do this, but the problem will fester and resurface. The ramifications to such actions generally follow you. The lesson that you need to learn will come back another time, over and over in different situations until you learn it.

Yet, there are sometimes you have to burn the bridge. You have to run and not look back. You have to wipe the slate completely clean leaving no trace of chalk.

Sometimes, you can't spend time or energy trying to figure out what parts are needed and how to fix something. You can't look for clues to figure out what was written on the chalk board the day before to figure out the formula to the problem. You can't keep trying to find the right key to fit the lock you just got to get a new one.

This is the tension in life.

Knowing when to let go and when to hang on. When to try harder and when to quit. When to keep forging on ahead being patient and when to shout mercy, I can't do this.
You will always be asking the question when to start, when to pause, and when to stop...this is life.

Sometimes you just have to ask the question to find the answer. It is there. And every day it awaits you with a choice: Will you let today be a brand new day?
#TheSassyVoice #ThePowerOfChoice #Start #Pause #Stop #CleanSlate #BrandNewDay

how is your faith journey?

The journey of life takes faith.  

It takes faith to uncover your next step.  It takes faith to be willing to ask for help.  It takes faith to be disciplined to do the things you know to do.  It takes faith to say no to the things that aren't meant for you in this chapter.  It takes a faith to stay focused, strong, and persevere through every season that comes your way.  It takes faith to take care of your body.  It takes faith to ask empowering questions.  It takes faith to have courage.  It takes faith to believe.  It takes faith to create hope.  It takes faith to be who you are called to be.  It takes faith to feed your purpose.  It takes faith to see your potential.  It takes faith to share love.  It takes faith to not stay stuck in pain.  It takes faith to create a vision.  It takes faith It takes faith to move beyond today.

Will you increase your faith?
#TheSassyVoice #HaveFaith #Faith #LifeIsAJourney 

expectations or grace

What are your core values?  What are important characteristics to you in a relationship?  Are you acting in alignment with these in how you relate to other people?

If you want a client to pay you on time for services you rendered to them, do you pay your vendors on time?

If you desire to be treated with respect, even when there is a disagreement, conflict or challenges, do you treat others with respect when you disagree, have conflict or challenges?

If you hate being interrupted in a conversation, do you make sure that you do not interrupt someone you are talking to?

If you really dislike people who screen their calls and make you leave a voicemail, do you screen your calls and make people leave voicemails?

If you want someone to return your text messages promptly, do you return text messages promptly?

We are mirrors of the very things we approve of, like, disapprove of and dislike in other people.  Looking at our own lives and addressing the things that we don't like, that irritate us, and bother us is the only way we can change.  Asking myself, is this thing that is irritating me something I do to others?  Is critical in helping me look at myself and either change or give more grace.
#TheSassyVoice #ADifferentPerspective #Authenticity #Expectations #Grace

the puzzles of life

I grew up putting together jigsaw puzzles with my family. Typically, the pieces were put out on this special table my mom had refinished and we would work on them as a family during the winter months. It was something we were required to do to create family time in the evenings and on the weekends. We would be allowed to go do our own thing after spending at least an hour working on it with everyone else. If we wanted to continue doing it after that, we could. We sometimes were given tasks to sort the pieces by color, get them all right side up, put corners & edges together, etc. We didn't always have discussions when we worked on them, but sometimes we did. My dad rarely talked. He always had headaches, was always irritated and frustrated. My mom would either be very chatty or she was angry or she was feeling sick.

In thinking about putting puzzles together, and I had these thoughts: Sometimes you don't understand what the picture is supposed to look like until you get all the pieces together. Sometimes it takes longer to put together then you originally thought it would to assemble. Sometimes you spend time looking for the right piece and you can't find it, no matter how hard you look. Sometimes you have to realize you have spent enough time searching for the puzzle piece and you just have to walk away and give your eyes a break so you can come back later and make more progress on it. Sometimes the puzzle is harder then another one you have done because so many of the pieces look exactly alike. Sometimes you pick out a piece and are sure it is just the right one and will fit perfectly only to find out that it is totally off. Sometimes you end up with a missing piece to the puzzle and you can't complete it. Sometimes the puzzle just doesn't seem fun to put together, it seems to be taking a lot of work and this wasn't what you had in mind. Sometimes you zone out as you are putting the puzzle together and you wonder how long you were sitting there looking at that piece and it isn't even the right one. Sometimes once you get the puzzle all put together, you see the bigger picture, the beauty in all the pieces and can experience the feeling of a job well done.

I think life is like a jigsaw puzzle.

Sometimes life just doesn't make sense and you get to the next chapter and start seeing all the chapters come together. Sometimes situations takes longer resolve then you originally thought they would. Sometimes you spend time looking for the answers and trying to get help, and no matter how hard you look you can't seem to figure stuff out. Sometimes you just have to walk away and give things a rest so you can come back and have renewed energy to do the work. Sometimes it seems like the harder you try to figure out the truth and what is a lie, the more it all just looks like a big mess. Sometimes you make a decision thinking it will be the best one, and find out later that it created more problems then it helped. Sometimes things just go missing and you never find what you need. Sometimes life doesn't seem fun, and in fact it is just a bunch of grind, day in and day out. Sometimes you stare out the window, lost in thought, or you are sitting at a stop light, starring into the sun and someone behind you honks because it was way past time you got yourself moving. Sometimes once you get past a few chapters, you see the bigger picture and the beauty in all the challenges and trials you have faced, how strong you were to make it through them and just really what a beautiful life you have.

Yes, sometimes life is like a jigsaw puzzle. But we have a choice in how we look at the process of putting a jigsaw puzzle together just like we get to enjoy the journey of life. Sometimes it simply comes to shifting our focus and choosing something different in that moment that gives us the energy to get through the situation.

How will you apply the strategy of a jigsaw puzzle to your life today? What lessons do you feel a jigsaw puzzle has for you?
#TheSassyVoice #LifeLessons #PracticalApplication #ADifferentPerspective #PuzzlesOfLife #ThePowerOfChoice

there will be people

You will have people who like your positive spirit until it infringes on their way of life. You will have people that are inspired by your story until they realize to change means they have to rewrite their story and get out of their victim mindset. You will have people that want the results you have but are not willing to do the work. You will have people who think that you are a really great person until you change in ways they no longer agree with and so they cut you out of their life to be able to deal with the fact that "you've changed". You will have people that comment and say they love you, they are proud of you, and how much they support you, and they mean it, as long as you don't ever disagree with them on anything. You will have people that won't even attempt to like you because you rub them the wrong way. You will have people that are intimidated by you. You will have people that will be jealous of you. You will have people who get offended because of things you do or say. You will have people who are upset because you are vulnerable and share so much. You will have people who don't like when you don't give details and keep things to yourself. You will have people who want you in their life as long as you provide them something that feeds their need, the minute that no longer exists, they have no use for you. May I encourage you to love them and let them go? People who really want to live in their message and beliefs will face their own internal demons. We all have them, but it is a choice to be controlled by them or to be released from them. Life is short. Focus on the people who add value to your life and who want to work through conflict with you. The people who will openly share when they are hurt and talk about it. The people who won't let petty things, or really even big things, stop a friendship. The ones that are okay with building walls under a pretense of boundaries, let them. They are ultimately hurting themselves, not you. I get it is hard to see that. And I get it may hurt you deeply in the process too. I've been there, more times then I wish didn't have to remember, but I can tell you, when you focus on those around you that want you in their life, when you keep staying the course and being diligent in the areas you need to be, you will see results and it will change what matters to you. You most likely will come away with a different perspective as you will see the mask and fakeness the friendship really had because love never fails. Remember, it all starts with love. #TheSassyVoice #LoveOnPurpose #CircleOfFriends #RelationshipsMatter

your battles in life

I am not better then you.

I have faced the same challenges you face.  Defeat. Discouragement. Rejection. Pain.  Fear.  Anger.  Confusion.  

I battle the same battles you battle. 

No, maybe not with infidelity of a spouse.  Maybe not with the loss of an unborn child. Maybe not with a physical body handicap that you can see.  Maybe not with being homeless like you have been.  Maybe not with addiction to cigarettes.  

But I have my own battles.  They might be bigger then yours at times, either in the past, currently or in the future. They might be smaller then yours, either in the past, currently or in the future.  It doesn't matter the size of the battle, we each have them and sometimes the small battles are enough to do us in if we are emotionally, mentally, physically or even spiritually drained.

I have a lady who used to clean my house that won't return the key she has to my house for weeks on end.   I have made requests for it to be returned to me.  Her promises to bring it by such and such a date have come and gone.   It isn't a priority to her.  I am frustrated as the new cleaning lady starts tomorrow and I do not have an extra key to my house.  My old cleaning lady feels I am being demanding.  I am tired of the battle.

I saw a movie the week before my 40th Birthday with my singles friends.  It disturbed my world.  It wrecked havoc on my emotions.  It took me back to memories and trauma that I don't like to have to face.  It has caused emotional post traumatic stress on my health and I am suffering from residual effects to this with lack of sleep, fatigue and exhaustion at a high level even just doing the simple daily tasks, criticism from others for being vocal about this, and some people say I am not healed or this wouldn't bother me. It has made me question things I shouldn't question.  Yet I know the truth.

I have clients who like to push getting me information to be able to complete the deadlines that we face with taxes and payroll reporting periods.  They seem to think that I am able to do magic every year at the last minute for them and everyone else I serve without considering the time it takes to prepare and do these tasks.  

These things and more are current battles I am facing.  

Yet, in these battles, I have a choice.  

I can look at what is going wrong or I can reflect on what is going right.  I can look at past results that are causing me concern, anxiety and frustration or I can create a vision for the future.  I can stay stuck in fear and depression or I can move forward doing the next best thing I can do.  I can think about negative things or I can capture my own thoughts and think about positive things.  I can be irritated and frustrated with myself or I can show myself more love and grace.  I can tell myself life is hard and not worth it or I can believe that the hard things I am facing will get easier and that I have the strength to deal with them.  I can act like everyone is out to get me and take advantage of me or I can believe that each one of these circumstances are being used for a purpose in my life to help me have stronger boundaries, to remove the unwanted stress from my life and to spend time creating the life I really want.

It is up to me to face the truth in these things.  To demolish the lies.  To face my fears.  To have courage.  To not just  make it through the day.  To gather people into my circle of influence who can help me when I do not have the strength to help myself.  To be resilient through all challenges.

Today, will you choose to fight your own battles?

Today, I simple want you to know, that the challenges you face are to help move you to the next chapter, to create clarity on what is the next step, to connect you to your purpose, to help fulfill your vision, to help you remove what is unnecessary from your life.  Asking yourself today, what can I learn in this moment will help you to refocus and not blame others or hate life for what you are experiencing.

But the choice is yours.
#TheSassyVoice #ThePowerOfChoice #LifesBattles #DontQuit #CreateTheLifeYouWant

if you cannot...

If you cannot forgive yourself for a mistake, a decision or an action, you won't be able to forgive others.

If you cannot love yourself for who you are, you won't be able to love others for who they are.

If you cannot give yourself grace in the moment, you won't be able to give others grace in the moment.

If you cannot accept that what happens is for you, not to you, and that it is all for your good, you won't be able to accept all that happens in life.

If you cannot remove performance of your daily activities as being what defines you, you won't be able to let the performance of others not define them.

If you cannot love without conditions, you won't be able to accept love without conditions.

If you cannot see things differently or through another perspective, you won't be able to accept others differences or perspectives.

If you cannot let go of and face your fear, you won't be able to live without fear.

If you cannot work through conflict or always avoid conflict, you won't be able to grow through or resolve conflict.

If you cannot get outside of shame, guilt and regret, you won't be able to live without shame, guilt and regret.
#TheSassyVoice #Reflections #WhatYouResistPersists#CreateTheLifeYouWant #LiveIntentionally

Your Look On Life

You have been trained to look at life as though you will always have speed bumps and struggles. That you have to be afraid and live in fear. That you can only handle so much. That you will always get disappointments. That you can't trust others. That love is hard. That there are limits on well being, love, and that life is such a challenge.

Have compassion for yourself.
Have love for yourself.
Have grace for yourself.

For the life experiences that have trained you look at life this way. For the life experiences and circumstances and people that have molded you to believe this is all there is to the journey. For the choice you have to push beyond this and have gratitude and appreciation.

You get to choose love.

You get to choose gratitude.

You get to choose trust.

You get to choose appreciation.

You get to choose to believe you are not alone.
#TheSassyVoice #CreateTheLifeYouWant #LiveIntentionally#LoveOnPurpose

how to choose when your heart is hurting

My heart is hurting. Deeply. I feel crushed.

Yet I'm not, it's just a feeling. Because His Word tells me I will feel crushed, taken out, torn down, destroyed, forsaken, rejected, BUT He has overcome my battles! He has already provided a way through it! So yet, again today, I'm asking God for strength and direction. I believe in Him. I trust Him.

These aren't empty words. They have power. And I say them with ownership of them.

I get to walk out my Faith. I get to choose to Believe. I get to choose Love.

Even in the dark moments. Even in the waves. Even in the emotional pain. Even when life has its moments that make you question why you have Friends. Even in the ugly situations.

And as always, I will choose to find Gratitude in ALL things.

What will you choose?
#ThePowerOfChoice #PainIsAGift #RelationshipsMatter #TheSassyVoice

Single with a Purpose

Being single isn't for the faith heart. It is a choice to wait for the person we believe God is bringing to us. It a choice to not give into the hookup culture. It is a choice to continue to believe in Marriage even if we do not have a guy or girl of our own. It is a choice to continue to have faith and trust that God has a plan. It is an opportunity to work on ourselves, trying to be our best each and every day, to work extremely hard, to be diligent in our goals and plans for the future, to not be a victim in our circumstances, to not grow bitter when others seem to have the love of their life and make you feel like a 5th wheel for your single status, it is a choice to remain positive, it is always an option to seek to be an overcomer, to love ourselves through all of it: the good, the bad, the pretty, the ugly, knowing that we are happy single because we know that being married isn't our identity and shouldn't be our main life goal, but we continue to believe that loving relationships make life even more beautiful and so with that we have hope that someday we will post Facebook statuses like you do that shout to the world who the love of our life is!

[I had to create my own version of what is going around Facebook for Married Couples because at almost 40...well, I got a lot of Single Years Experience!!!]

#MistysDatingJourney #SingleWithAPurpose #BeDifferent #GodsPlan

affirmations ~ 08.11.2016

I love You.
I'm here.
I'm listening.
You are safe.
I'm not going anywhere.
You are not alone.
You are cared for.
You won't be abandoned.
You can trust me.
‪#‎Affirmations‬ ‪#‎SeekTheTruth‬ ‪#‎LoveOnPurpose‬

Today I Will

Today, I will learn to trust solutions rather then be victimized by problems. I will not use problems to prove that I am helpless, picked on, or martyred. I will not point to my problems to prove how awful life is. I will learn to trust the flow of problems and solutions. God, help me solve the problems I can solve today. Help me let go of the rest. Help me believe in my ability to tackle and solve problems. Help me to trust the flow. For each problem, there is a solution. 
‪#‎SeekTheTruth‬ ‪#‎YouGetWhatYouFocusOn‬ ‪#‎TodayIWill‬

YOU are beloved...

YOU are beloved. I wanted you to know.

Let it soak into your soul. Forget the lies you've heard. Rise above the hurt.

Don't be afraid. Don't let hope fade. Keep your eyes fixed on the light above.

Nothing can separate you from LOVE!
‪#‎TruthInMusic‬ ‪#‎Beloved‬ ‪#‎YouAreLoved‬ ‪#‎ThereIsAPurpose‬‪#‎LetLoveFindYou‬ ‪#‎DontQuit‬

poem ~ follow your heart

I'm just a girl on a journey
embracing the moment
experiencing each day
with vibrance and life.

My path is different
then yours on most days
because I believe
in the uniqueness of ways.

Yet as much as I am different
I am also alike
you and your vision
in this thing we call life.

My heart is for courage
and connection through love
To become a woman of virtue
built on the foundation of truth.

Some days it is clear
what this looks like to me
Some days it is muddy
beyond recognizable belief.

My experiences may differ
and beliefs may look wrong
but if you trusted in love
you would believe in the song.

Through pain I have found
new ways to have hope
for in it I discovered
my calling and purpose.

No matter the difference
you see in my life
one thing you can't touch
is the freedom in Christ.

I want to encourage you
to see beyond pain
to find hope in dealing
with healing and rain.

To be the person
God called you to be
you must choose to live
through moments like these.

The power of choice
remains yours to use
the gift in each blessing
intentionally you choose.

Embrace all that life
has brought you today
for in each encounter
you must choose the way.

Don't live in regrets
just follow your heart
flowing open with love
in every part.
~ written by Misty Gilbert 04.03.2016
‪#‎LovePoems‬ ‪#‎AuthorLife‬ ‪#‎MistyWGilbert‬ ‪#‎ChooseLove‬‪#‎EmbraceTheJourney‬

Fear of Failure and Rejection

Fear of failure and rejection is a universal feeling. Everyone experiences these fears at some point in their lives. As long as we use fear as a drive to overcome, to get back up and keep moving forward even when it seems impossible, or to open up our hearts and trust again, we can achieve the success and acceptance we have been searching for in business, love or whatever it is that is important to us.

When we fail or experience rejection, the tendency is to close ourselves off by putting walls up around us, tell ourselves we aren't talented, capable or worthy enough to have what we want and sadly...give up on our dreams and aspirations.

The rationale is that if you protect yourself in this way, you ensure that you will never get hurt again by another person and if you don't get back up and try again, then you won't experience failure. But isn't that failure in itself? As adopting this attitude absolutely ensures you NEVER have what it is you had always envisioned you would. Shutting everyone out and resigning yourself to the fact that you will stop trying so as not to taste the bitterness of failure seals your fate of never being able to connect with another or achieving the goals you once had.

The courage to allow ourselves to become vulnerable again is actually the key to having any chance at reaching our goals, whether they be business, personal, or relationship related.

Most people see vulnerability as a weakness, when it is in fact indicative of how strong, courageous and determined you are to get what you know you want and deserve. Allowing yourself to be completely vulnerable and opening yourself up 100% no matter what pain or rejection you experience in life is the only way you are going to be able to connect the way you want to to someone, if that is your goal, or land that business opportunity you likely would not have otherwise, if you hadn't put yourself in a situation outside your comfort level. That is the risk (or courage) it takes to enable you to meet that person that could give you the opportunity of a life time as they are able to see your ambition and drive to succeed, and recognize that what you have to offer is exactly what they have been looking for!

Don't be intimidated by fear, but rather be courageous IN fear. When you fall, get back up, staying in your vulnerability. After all, if you don't have what you have always wanted, you have nothing to lose right? You are absolutely here for a purpose and deserve whatever it is you are willing to work for. So live with passion and purpose and go get what it is you deserve! But it's up to you! Kick fear to the curb! You can do it! - Holly Kempton
‪#‎NoFear‬ ‪#‎BeCourageous‬ ‪#‎LiveWithPassion‬ ‪#‎PursueYourDreams‬‪#‎CreateTheLifeYouWant‬ ‪#‎LiveIntentionally‬

the things YOU can control

The things YOU can control...
1. Your beliefs 
2. Your attitude 
3. Your thoughts 
4. Your perspective 
5. How honest you are
6. Who your friends are
7. What books you read
8. How often you exercise
9. The type of food you eat
10. How many risks you take
11. How you interpret situations
12. How kind you are to others
13. How kind you are to yourself
14. How often you say "I Love You"
15. How often you say "Thank You"
16. How you express your feelings
17. Whether or not you ask for help
18. How often you practice Gratitude
19. How many times you smile today
20. The amount of effort you put forth
21. How you spend/invest your money
22. How much time you spend worrying
23. How often you think about your past
24. Whether or not you judge other people
25. Whether or not you try again after a setback
26. How much you appreciate the things you have
‪#‎CreateTheLifeYouWant‬ ‪#‎ThinkGrowProsper‬ ‪#‎LiveIntentionally‬‪#‎YouGetWhatYouFocusOn‬ ‪#‎SuccessfulLife‬