I woke up this morning prepared to finish my Christmas shopping today....until I looked outside and realized it was raining and cold. Now it is one thing to be cold...but does it have to be raining too? I thought NO, NO, NO! I don't want to get out in this weather. But then I thought to myself an affirmation that my mentor taught me to say "I will do today, what others wont, so I can live tomorrow like others can't."
So I will move forward and complete the things that are on my list for today inspite of the weather. It reminds of me hope and courage, which is what I want to share with you today.
Is there something in your life that you know you need to do, but you just don't want to go through the "whatever it takes" process needed to get the desired results? Sometimes I wish that I could just wiggle my nose like Samantha from the television series "Bewitched." If you know what I mean? But it takes courage to take action even when you don't want to. Courage means "of the heart" which is where we women know how to live from...our hearts.
I believe as we become courageous we can continue to hope. A french proverb states, "Hope is the dream of a soul awake." Hope fills life with meaning by creating attainable goals congruent with reality. Sometimes hope might need to be redefined. Maybe your marriage has ended in a divorce or you lost your job recently, hopes held by you as a couple or an employee will need to be evaluated as you define yourself as a single woman and perhaps an entreprenuer instead of an employee. Attainable hopes could mean deepening your relationship with God, reconciling the past with forgiveness, re-inventing your work skills and connecting with whatever brings you joy.
Hope and courage does not need to be difficult. They can be as simple as seeing the sunrise and welcoming a new day....even if it is cold and rainy outside.
Friday, December 18, 2009
Monday, December 14, 2009
What's In Your Hand?
In 1994, I found myself divorced with three children to support. My husband had left, taken all the money out of savings and checking. He even took the car that I drove. I had no money, no food and only a business that was not producing too much money.
At that moment, I looked at my 3 kids and I knew I had 3 reasons to make it. I was reminded of Moses when he offered God excuses for why he could not lead the children of Israel out of bondage. But God asked Moses one question that would change the course of his life forever. He asked “what’s in your hand?”
In other words, we can moan, groan and find many reasons why we cannot do something in our lives. We can complain about not having enough money, not being able to speak, write or get up in front of an audience or even start that new business in the middle of a recession. But what’s in your hand?
Sometimes we allow external circumstances to paralyze us with so much fear that we cannot see what is staring us right in the face. I answered that question at a time when I had no money, no husband and no transportation. Within sixty days, I had replaced my husband’s income through re-inventing my business. I traveled places I never dreamed of and I never once received public assistance of any kind.
Within 2 years I purchased a home, two cars and even took one year off to stay at home and spend time with God and developing myself personally and spiritually. I even sent two kids to college.
Over these years, I have realized dreams I never even thought possible. I’ve worked with people I’d seen on television or read in magazines, but more importantly, I have helped thousands of people all over the world transform their lives onto new levels. I don’t' say these things to brag or boast, because that is not the realm which I live. I say them to share that with God all things are possible.
Yet, recently I have been asking God about making my life count for something more. Not because of any ego or pride, but because I long to leave this planet better than I found it. I know there is more to do and more to be done.
What more can I do to make this world a better place? How can my life count for something? What am I willing to give my life for?
Again, God asked me that question, "What's in your hand." Moses used the rod that God had placed in his hand to make a huge difference in the lives of so many people and an impact on history.
We all have been given talents and abilities to use on this planet in a way that no one else can. We can all use what is in our hands to make the difference, to make our lives count for something!
I want to encourage you to look very closely to what you have in your possession right now and identify how can it be used in a bigger way to benefit humanity.
What's in your hand? Write it down, create your own blueprint for 2010 and take action now!
At that moment, I looked at my 3 kids and I knew I had 3 reasons to make it. I was reminded of Moses when he offered God excuses for why he could not lead the children of Israel out of bondage. But God asked Moses one question that would change the course of his life forever. He asked “what’s in your hand?”
In other words, we can moan, groan and find many reasons why we cannot do something in our lives. We can complain about not having enough money, not being able to speak, write or get up in front of an audience or even start that new business in the middle of a recession. But what’s in your hand?
Sometimes we allow external circumstances to paralyze us with so much fear that we cannot see what is staring us right in the face. I answered that question at a time when I had no money, no husband and no transportation. Within sixty days, I had replaced my husband’s income through re-inventing my business. I traveled places I never dreamed of and I never once received public assistance of any kind.
Within 2 years I purchased a home, two cars and even took one year off to stay at home and spend time with God and developing myself personally and spiritually. I even sent two kids to college.
Over these years, I have realized dreams I never even thought possible. I’ve worked with people I’d seen on television or read in magazines, but more importantly, I have helped thousands of people all over the world transform their lives onto new levels. I don’t' say these things to brag or boast, because that is not the realm which I live. I say them to share that with God all things are possible.
Yet, recently I have been asking God about making my life count for something more. Not because of any ego or pride, but because I long to leave this planet better than I found it. I know there is more to do and more to be done.
What more can I do to make this world a better place? How can my life count for something? What am I willing to give my life for?
Again, God asked me that question, "What's in your hand." Moses used the rod that God had placed in his hand to make a huge difference in the lives of so many people and an impact on history.
We all have been given talents and abilities to use on this planet in a way that no one else can. We can all use what is in our hands to make the difference, to make our lives count for something!
I want to encourage you to look very closely to what you have in your possession right now and identify how can it be used in a bigger way to benefit humanity.
What's in your hand? Write it down, create your own blueprint for 2010 and take action now!
Monday, November 16, 2009
What I Really Know for Sure!
My computer shut down on me the other day and I panicked. I panicked because I thought I had lost everything on my computer. When I say that I panicked, I really lost it. After finally realizing that I couldn’t fix the problem, I began to remind myself of the things that I really believe.
I know this happened to teach me something and I needed to find out what was the lesson here. When I surrendered to the possibility of losing all of my files, I felt a sigh of relief enter into me. I began to ask myself what would happen if I lost everything on my computer. Would the world come to an end? Would I have to close my business? Would someone die from me losing my files? The answer to all of those questions were no.
So why was I getting so upset about losing my files? I had to go deeper to discover the answer. And the answer I did find. I was upset because it was something that I didn’t have the power to fix. In my quest on this spiritual journey, I needed to be reminded that there are just some things that are totally out of my control. Yes I believe we can live our lives by design. Yes, I believe we have the power to change our lives. But we do not have the power to prevent life from happening to us.
Where my power lies is in my ability to response correctly to life’s problems in order to create the results I so desire. And that always happens by remaining on God’s ground…..Love! How can love enter and heal this situation for me? By me beginning to focus on the good that will come from my computer being down for an entire weekend.
I began to look for ways to spend more time with my family. Actually I was really forced to do it. I also went to visit a friend whom I haven’t seen in quite some time. I spent some time watching some comedic television and I laughed my socks off. My husband and I spent some real time together and I wasn’t rushed with the fact that I had a deadline to meet. I had one of the best weekends ever.
When my computer guy finally arrived on Sunday night, I was almost disappointed that he fixed the problem within twenty minutes. What I realized in that moment was I was too attached to my computer and my work. I needed to spend more time doing what is most important to me. I got it...I really did get this lesson. My husband told me that he was so happy the computer was gone. Now, I am grateful that my computer was down. Why? Because what I gained in this situation was worth so much more than any income I would have generated through my online businesses.
Sometimes when we think we are in control, but God has a way of letting us know what is really real and what is not. It is when we surrender the control that we can begin to step up in our full power!! And that’s what I really know for sure!!
I know this happened to teach me something and I needed to find out what was the lesson here. When I surrendered to the possibility of losing all of my files, I felt a sigh of relief enter into me. I began to ask myself what would happen if I lost everything on my computer. Would the world come to an end? Would I have to close my business? Would someone die from me losing my files? The answer to all of those questions were no.
So why was I getting so upset about losing my files? I had to go deeper to discover the answer. And the answer I did find. I was upset because it was something that I didn’t have the power to fix. In my quest on this spiritual journey, I needed to be reminded that there are just some things that are totally out of my control. Yes I believe we can live our lives by design. Yes, I believe we have the power to change our lives. But we do not have the power to prevent life from happening to us.
Where my power lies is in my ability to response correctly to life’s problems in order to create the results I so desire. And that always happens by remaining on God’s ground…..Love! How can love enter and heal this situation for me? By me beginning to focus on the good that will come from my computer being down for an entire weekend.
I began to look for ways to spend more time with my family. Actually I was really forced to do it. I also went to visit a friend whom I haven’t seen in quite some time. I spent some time watching some comedic television and I laughed my socks off. My husband and I spent some real time together and I wasn’t rushed with the fact that I had a deadline to meet. I had one of the best weekends ever.
When my computer guy finally arrived on Sunday night, I was almost disappointed that he fixed the problem within twenty minutes. What I realized in that moment was I was too attached to my computer and my work. I needed to spend more time doing what is most important to me. I got it...I really did get this lesson. My husband told me that he was so happy the computer was gone. Now, I am grateful that my computer was down. Why? Because what I gained in this situation was worth so much more than any income I would have generated through my online businesses.
Sometimes when we think we are in control, but God has a way of letting us know what is really real and what is not. It is when we surrender the control that we can begin to step up in our full power!! And that’s what I really know for sure!!
Monday, October 12, 2009
What's Love Got to Do with It?
The internet is inundated with lots of information, such as how to create wealth, the newest health craze, the latest fashion trend, relationship issues and even religious stuff.
But one subject that seems to fly under the radar is “Love”, yet this is the message of my soul. In a world where folks are losing their jobs, their homes, struggling to pay bills, get health care, or battling a bad relationship, the last thing they want to hear or talk about is love. While this is not a popular topic, it is the answer to every problem you have in your life. Love is the greatest answer to the world’s problems.
Perhaps that is why it gets so little attention. Really, how could love be the answer to your problems? As Tina Turner said, “what’s love got to do with it?” Love has everything to do with it.
The real reason we don’t embrace love as the solution to our problems is that it will force us to begin to take 100% responsibility for our own lives. It won’t allow us to play the victim any longer. But more importantly it will make us look within ourselves for answers instead of externally.
How can love pay my bills, find a job, or make my husband treat me better?” you may ask. We all live by two different driving forces, love or fear. Whatever force we allow to govern our lives, produces the results that we are currently experiencing.
Fear produces lack, scarcity, chaos, want, confusion, sickness, depression, fatigue, violence and etc.
Love produces abundance, increase, joy, health, energy, ease, harmony, peace, happiness, fulfillment and etc. It's not the devil that is playing havoc in your life. It is where you have chosen not to love. Fear produces a vibration in our being that summons or attracts all that fear represents to us.
But when we choose to love, embody love, become love, then it will begin to call forth or attract all the things that love produces. Learn to love at a new level now!
But one subject that seems to fly under the radar is “Love”, yet this is the message of my soul. In a world where folks are losing their jobs, their homes, struggling to pay bills, get health care, or battling a bad relationship, the last thing they want to hear or talk about is love. While this is not a popular topic, it is the answer to every problem you have in your life. Love is the greatest answer to the world’s problems.
Perhaps that is why it gets so little attention. Really, how could love be the answer to your problems? As Tina Turner said, “what’s love got to do with it?” Love has everything to do with it.
The real reason we don’t embrace love as the solution to our problems is that it will force us to begin to take 100% responsibility for our own lives. It won’t allow us to play the victim any longer. But more importantly it will make us look within ourselves for answers instead of externally.
How can love pay my bills, find a job, or make my husband treat me better?” you may ask. We all live by two different driving forces, love or fear. Whatever force we allow to govern our lives, produces the results that we are currently experiencing.
Fear produces lack, scarcity, chaos, want, confusion, sickness, depression, fatigue, violence and etc.
Love produces abundance, increase, joy, health, energy, ease, harmony, peace, happiness, fulfillment and etc. It's not the devil that is playing havoc in your life. It is where you have chosen not to love. Fear produces a vibration in our being that summons or attracts all that fear represents to us.
But when we choose to love, embody love, become love, then it will begin to call forth or attract all the things that love produces. Learn to love at a new level now!
Saturday, September 12, 2009
Creating a Space for Personal Growth
In this fast pace life of noise and chaos there doesn’t seem to be enough time in the day for personal growth. We are living in some perilous times, yet there are answers to today’s problems inside of each us. We all have the potential to create, invent and solve many of society’s issues if we simply take the time to discover or uncover them.
There is an old saying, “Become the change you want to see in the world.” I believe as we begin to grow personally and change ourselves for the better, we can and will create lasting change in the world. I realize the bills have to be paid, the baby has to be fed, homework has to be done, and dinner has to be prepared. But what about time to seek God; to seek answers; to grow; and to evolve? These things are just as essential to our lives as food and oxygen for our bodies. They are our Life Force.
As you begin to plan your daily schedule, be sure to create a space for personal growth and change. Give yourself permission to grow and change. We all can afford to have our lives fine tuned. I challenge you to pursue change for yourself, your family and the world. Who knows, you may have the answers inside of you that the world is waiting on.
There is an old saying, “Become the change you want to see in the world.” I believe as we begin to grow personally and change ourselves for the better, we can and will create lasting change in the world. I realize the bills have to be paid, the baby has to be fed, homework has to be done, and dinner has to be prepared. But what about time to seek God; to seek answers; to grow; and to evolve? These things are just as essential to our lives as food and oxygen for our bodies. They are our Life Force.
As you begin to plan your daily schedule, be sure to create a space for personal growth and change. Give yourself permission to grow and change. We all can afford to have our lives fine tuned. I challenge you to pursue change for yourself, your family and the world. Who knows, you may have the answers inside of you that the world is waiting on.
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
I See You!
There comes a time in our lives when we must face the truth. The truth of who we are and the truth of who we are becoming.
Our dance begins each morning when we awaken unto our day. We do this dance very well. We dance for our kids, we dance for our spouses, we dance for our bosses, and we dance for our parents and even the church. But when do we dance for ourselves?
We dance to entertain and please everyone around us only to become invisible to ourselves.
But I see you. I see you when you look into the mirror each morning to do your hair and face while fighting the urge to break down and cry. I see you when you put that lipstick on the same lips that so desperately wants to shout to the world "I am so tired...I'm just so tired!" Not in the physical sense, but you are tired and weary from the inside...from your deeper parts.
I see you when you realize what is happening and you regroup, square your shoulders, take a deep breath and grab your purse to walk out the door. You are on your way into the world to dance all over again. Oh, did I mention that before you left home you had gotten the kids ready, fixed breakfast, made some beds, loaded the dish washer and folded that basket of laundry? You did that dance before anyone in your house woke up this morning.
Now it's time to dance for your micro-managing, never can please boss and that noisy, jealous, aggravating co-worker who just won't shut up.
I see you when you smile while wanting to break down and cry. I see you when you work all day on a job that brings you no joy or gratification. I see you when your mouth curves out a slight grin as you imagine what it would be to own that business you've wanted to start. But I also see you when you rationalize that thought away because you believe it is only wishful thinking. I see your grin disappear along with your hope.
As you drive home, I see you plan your next dance of what to cook for dinner, how much homework you have to assist with and what time you got to go to bible study. I see you when you grab your bible for church and adjust your dance just a little because your swagger may be too much for the sisters. Because you don't want them to know that you have not had time to pray or read your bible for 5 days. And you dare not act like you have any un-answered prayers. No, this dance....the one you've learned to do so well says to everyone, including the preacher,that all is well and everything is perfect because you love God!! Right?
But I see your pain, your hurt, your disappointments, your regrets and your unhappiness with your life. I see your desire for life to be more and I see your need for more. I see that you're stuck because you've brought into the false illusion that your life has to be this way.
You've learned to dance the dance of making everyone a priority above yourself. Your illusion gives you permission to believe this is okay.
Yet, I see your dance is getting weaker, I see you miss a few steps and turns only because you are getting older and think it's too late to change the music or your dance.
I cry for you, my sister and I pray for you. Why? Because I know this dance all too well, I've dance it for years. But I also know it can be different. Life can be different and it can be for you. I am now dancing a new dance with new music and it is wonderful!! I long to have all my sisters dance with me.
I invite you to join me in this dance, but until then I will dance for you... because you have forgotten to dance for yourself.
Our dance begins each morning when we awaken unto our day. We do this dance very well. We dance for our kids, we dance for our spouses, we dance for our bosses, and we dance for our parents and even the church. But when do we dance for ourselves?
We dance to entertain and please everyone around us only to become invisible to ourselves.
But I see you. I see you when you look into the mirror each morning to do your hair and face while fighting the urge to break down and cry. I see you when you put that lipstick on the same lips that so desperately wants to shout to the world "I am so tired...I'm just so tired!" Not in the physical sense, but you are tired and weary from the inside...from your deeper parts.
I see you when you realize what is happening and you regroup, square your shoulders, take a deep breath and grab your purse to walk out the door. You are on your way into the world to dance all over again. Oh, did I mention that before you left home you had gotten the kids ready, fixed breakfast, made some beds, loaded the dish washer and folded that basket of laundry? You did that dance before anyone in your house woke up this morning.
Now it's time to dance for your micro-managing, never can please boss and that noisy, jealous, aggravating co-worker who just won't shut up.
I see you when you smile while wanting to break down and cry. I see you when you work all day on a job that brings you no joy or gratification. I see you when your mouth curves out a slight grin as you imagine what it would be to own that business you've wanted to start. But I also see you when you rationalize that thought away because you believe it is only wishful thinking. I see your grin disappear along with your hope.
As you drive home, I see you plan your next dance of what to cook for dinner, how much homework you have to assist with and what time you got to go to bible study. I see you when you grab your bible for church and adjust your dance just a little because your swagger may be too much for the sisters. Because you don't want them to know that you have not had time to pray or read your bible for 5 days. And you dare not act like you have any un-answered prayers. No, this dance....the one you've learned to do so well says to everyone, including the preacher,that all is well and everything is perfect because you love God!! Right?
But I see your pain, your hurt, your disappointments, your regrets and your unhappiness with your life. I see your desire for life to be more and I see your need for more. I see that you're stuck because you've brought into the false illusion that your life has to be this way.
You've learned to dance the dance of making everyone a priority above yourself. Your illusion gives you permission to believe this is okay.
Yet, I see your dance is getting weaker, I see you miss a few steps and turns only because you are getting older and think it's too late to change the music or your dance.
I cry for you, my sister and I pray for you. Why? Because I know this dance all too well, I've dance it for years. But I also know it can be different. Life can be different and it can be for you. I am now dancing a new dance with new music and it is wonderful!! I long to have all my sisters dance with me.
I invite you to join me in this dance, but until then I will dance for you... because you have forgotten to dance for yourself.
Thursday, June 18, 2009
It's Your Time!
There is creative genius inside of each us. Someone once asked the question, “what is trying to emerge in my life to express itself through me?” All of us have a creative genius inside of us. We have gifts and talents that we are not even aware of. Yet we sit by and allow these gifts to go un-noticed, un-used, un-tapped and lie dormant. But the world is waiting on you.
There is a paradigm shift that is taking place in our world. We saw proof of this by the 2008 Presidential election of Barak Obama. There is a shift taking place and everyone feels the emergency. Something is happening in our midst, in our world and we must all participate and do our part in this new birth. Most of us sit and wait on life’s emergency to happen which forces us to do things differently or make changes. However, we can have an emergence without an emergency when we realize how much the world needs our help. God cannot do for us, what He cannot do through us. Your gifts want to emerge now. You are full of possibility and potential.
You don’t have to wait until you lose your job to start that new business. You don’t have to wait until you get sick to begin living and teaching healthy living seminars; your teenage daughter does not have to become pregnant for you to start a personal development program for young girls.
Don't wait until life's emergency forces you to emerge, do it now. You can start right now, right where you are today. Whatever your hands find to do, do it now. If you are waiting on the perfect time, I stopped by to tell you that this is the time, this is our moment and we must move quickly and swiftly. It’s Your Time!
One Love,
Angela Carr Patterson
www.lovestorywomencircle.com, Founder
Let Angela coach you to discover your purpose and passion through her Lifestyle Coaching Program. Contact her at 803.920.6853 or angela@mlmglobal.net.
There is a paradigm shift that is taking place in our world. We saw proof of this by the 2008 Presidential election of Barak Obama. There is a shift taking place and everyone feels the emergency. Something is happening in our midst, in our world and we must all participate and do our part in this new birth. Most of us sit and wait on life’s emergency to happen which forces us to do things differently or make changes. However, we can have an emergence without an emergency when we realize how much the world needs our help. God cannot do for us, what He cannot do through us. Your gifts want to emerge now. You are full of possibility and potential.
You don’t have to wait until you lose your job to start that new business. You don’t have to wait until you get sick to begin living and teaching healthy living seminars; your teenage daughter does not have to become pregnant for you to start a personal development program for young girls.
Don't wait until life's emergency forces you to emerge, do it now. You can start right now, right where you are today. Whatever your hands find to do, do it now. If you are waiting on the perfect time, I stopped by to tell you that this is the time, this is our moment and we must move quickly and swiftly. It’s Your Time!
One Love,
Angela Carr Patterson
www.lovestorywomencircle.com, Founder
Let Angela coach you to discover your purpose and passion through her Lifestyle Coaching Program. Contact her at 803.920.6853 or angela@mlmglobal.net.
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