Monday Morning Mindset – Knowing Who You Are and How to Get There

It is important to understand who you are. Who you are is more than your physical being, what you wear or what you look like. Knowing who you are involves understanding where you want to be. Understanding who you are and knowing how to obtain positivity within any situation is an intrinsic skill of Spirit. We all have everything we need within us. We are all like trees. A tree understands exactly what it needs from beginning to end from the spirit within. Nature provides us the ability to go within and become everything that we need without anything that we need. Going within must come from without. Knowingly starts with understanding what you are not. The truth is, you are everything that you ever could be for now, for the present and for the future. It all starts with knowing and accepting who you are and how to get there. Spirit knows all things, but our human experience must possess the ability to take action and become one with knowing.

Jenice

Monday Morning Mindset – Happy New Year 2016

We are officially into the new year. The new year brings new aspirations, new resolutions, and new things that we want to do that we forgot to do last year. The good thing about the new year, is with the new year you get new opportunities and new ways of being. If you have been reading my articles from past years, you will know that the common denominator of many of my articles is “more being and less doing.” Today’s Monday Morning Mindset focuses on not only more being and less doing, but how you are being and how you are doing it. Resolutions are great, the important thing to remember is that while you are accomplishing your resolution – who are you being is just as important. Are you becoming a new person and implementing new ways of eating or exercising? Or have you decided to take a more holistic look at your life and decided to focus on personal growth? All these items are great, but resolutions fail when one loses their ability to be more in their ability to let go of who they’re not. Being more is just that simple, deciding to be more of yourself. Either way, in this new year take the time to “be more and do less.”

Forgiveness Friday – Residual Mistakes

Today’s Forgiveness Friday focuses on “Residual Mistakes.” We as humans have a tendency to residually make the same mistake over and over and over. Learning from one’s mistakes is healthy, rather than continuously making the same mistakes without learning from it. The growth comes when you realize the residual mistake is not only a mistake, but also a lesson. Residual mistakes can impair our ability to grow, learn and develop. But they also allow us to take a self reflection of what’s actually important to us. The intrinsic nature of mistakes is to learn and grow from them. It is time to come up higher, grow and learn from our mistakes and no longer blame them for lack of ability to be happy or successful. Today, take the time to reflect on your residual mistakes and see if they are working in your favor or against your ability to grow.

Monday Morning Mindset “Taking Responsibility for Where You’re at.”

This week’s Monday Morning Mindset focuses on “taking responsibility for where you’re at.” We all have challenges that we all will face at one time or another in our lives. The way you handle your challenges will determine your ability and maturity for growing past your past. We all come from different backgrounds, cultures, environments, family dynamics, and financial abilities. The one thing to focus on when taking responsibility for where you are is to understand self accountability. There are situations that are out of our control, things we can’t do anything about and situations that can get out of hand. With all that in mind, it’s important to remember that you are overall control of your life, your purpose and your destiny. Taking responsibility for where you’re doesn’t mean there’s going to be any immediate changes, but it will provide you with a outline or roadmap towards how to better yourself and improve your situation. The first step is to take responsibility for where you’re at, not blame others for your obstacles and to embrace change as much as possible.

Monday Morning Mindset – Excepting Your Flaws and Moving Forward

In life we have the ability to be our worst enemies or our own best friends. We can push ourselves to no degree, or we could be our best comforters. In all, we have flaws either visibly or non-visibly that we share in times of deeply connected relationships. The more intimate the relationship, the more visible your flaws. We often have a tendency to treat those closest to us the worst. One of the reasons for this is because of the comfort of knowing that you will be loved regardless. Regardless of your flaws, regardless of your background, regardless of your physical ability or regardless of who you betray yourself to be – flaws are parts of you. Eventually, those intimate relationships become solidified in knowing that your flaws are not just a part of you they are you. Choosing to accept your flaws and moving forward requires great strength, admiration and the ability to want to grow. Today, take some time to review and accept your flaws and then move forward knowing that your flaws do not make you who you are. You are who you are innately by your purpose. Your purpose is what sustains you and provides you with the understanding that tomorrow your flaws may not be as visible to you as they were to you yesterday.

Forgiveness Friday – Knowing Who You Are

This Forgiveness Friday we focus on “knowing who you are.” Knowing who you are involves an awareness of your past, your present and how you plan on moving towards your future. Often we live our life forward, yet we only can understand it backwards. Reflecting on past obstacles, challenges, dilemmas and oversights are all part of growing your self-knowledge of who you are. When you’re able to reflect on your past, you are able to understand yourself the full aspect of your personal growth and development. It’s important to set aside time each day to reflect on things that you’ve done, said and plan on doing or saying. When you’re conscious of your thoughts, words and deeds you’re able to affiliate positive change towards future events. Truth be told, many people do not know who they are and rarely take the time to self-reflect. Forgive yourself this and you take the time to get to know yourself. You may be surprised at who you come to find yourself to be.

Dr. Jaye

Two-Cents Tuesday – Growth

Taking the time to grow requires the ability to understand oneself from a deeper level. Growing requires struggle, challenges, understanding and the ability to realize that time is of the essence. With growth comes pain, and happiness. The pain is outlined in one’s ability to realize one’s weaknesses, and decide to come up higher in the strengths. In life’s, weaknesses there are the appearances of flaws in oneself. The truth is; weaknesses teach us more about ourselves than being perfect does. With growth comes change, with change, comes uncertainty and with uncertainty comes a decision to come up higher. Today, decide to take a deep self-reflection of who you are and who you want to be in this life.

Dr. Jaye

Monday Morning Mindset – Who Are You?

It is time to wake up. Have you decided to make a drastic change in your habits? Have you decided to go back to school and become an influential person in the community? Are you ready to be the person that you know you ought to be? These questions and more are becoming common conversational topics among each other. We are all searching for purpose, understanding and unconditional love. This Monday take a look at your overall self and decide who you choose to be in this moment. Making the choice could be a continuing factor of who you should be and who you will be in life.

Wisdom Wednesday – Life Sources

The life source of the human body is sustainable food. If you eat food loaded with sugar and high in fats, it will not sustain you. You will be hungry all the time and gain weight. Eating highly fatty foods will cause you to have bad health in the long run. Understanding and growing your health knowledge by learning what food is actually good for your body. Healthy food will increase your focus, your ability to think clearer, and improve relationships with people. Yes, it’s true – eating nourishing and sustainable food will provide a lifestyle change that will ultimately increase your ability to have a better overall life. Take small steps, make a list of what you currently eat and then decide to implement more fruits and vegetables into your diet. You’ll be surprised at what small changes will do for your mind body and your soul.

Dr. Jaye

Monday Morning Mindset – Keeping Your Word

Keeping your word is important. The average person means to keep the word, although there are situations where a person may have to break a promise or the word in reference to something they said they would do. Back in the day, keeping your word was as good as a contract. If you broke your word, you broke contract. In many instances, breaking your promise to do something meant losing notoriety and credibility in the community. It’s important to do what you say and say what you do. This week think about being honorable in what you say and in what you do.

Dr. Jaye

Monday Morning Mindset – Being Creditable

This week’s Monday Morning Mindset focuses on “Being Creditable.” Being credible implies that you are a person of virtue and substance. When you think of the word credibility, what do you think of? Credibility implies that you are honorable and understand the value of keeping your word, keeping your promise and keeping track of your own ethical purpose. Although there are times in life where we are unable to keep a promise, being credible adds to the conversation by explaining the reason for changes. Within situations, it is important to be honest when changes arise. In today’s world, credibility is lacking. In order ensure you were being credible, take note of how you were being, how you were acting, and how you respond in adverse situations. Being credible is more than just doing something, it’s about being a certain way on purpose.

Dr. Jaye

Forgiveness Friday – Excepting Imperfections

Today’s Forgiveness Friday focuses on “excepting imperfections.” We all have the ability to strive for perfection. In striving for perfection, we must also realize that is ultimately impossible to do anything perfectly. It is time for the acceptance of imperfections and to allow our imperfections to enable us to be better today than yesterday. Our ability to strive for perfection comes from the notion that we must be better than somebody else. The realization that everybody has innately natural gifts which allow for everyone to bring a little bit of something different to the table. This enables us to appreciate other people’s gifts, abilities and thought patterns. Imperfections are not weaknesses, and rather they are a reminder of our need for one another. It is time to forgive yourself for the imperfect thought of perfection being necessary. Take some time and examine your imperfections, and then find the best parts of the imperfections and use them to grow. It’s important to remember that everybody isn’t good at everything all the time. Embrace your imperfections, share them with people that can grow and learn from them. The truth is you are imperfectly perfect just the way you are, live and grow in that truth.

Monday Morning Mindset – Inevitable Change

This week’s Monday Morning Mindset focuses on “inevitable change.” Change is something that we all have to deal with at one point in our life. We change careers, relationships, clothes, we even our minds. In today’s global market, it’s important to understand the changes in your profession as they relate to professional growth, development and sustainability. Organizations go through changes in management, policy and other significant factors to stay competitive. Individual change works in the same way. It’s important to make constant changes in working habits to clarify and define expectations for efficiency and practical actions. Many of us avoid change as much as possible, and this can cause anxiety and an inability to move forward in life. Although change can be unsettling, it can also be an empowering experience to embrace. There are many ways to prepare for change, manage change and reinforce change. Preparing for change can be adopted directly or indirectly by gaining education and experience in your field. Managing change can be effective in setting goals and creating detailed plans to manage the changing environment. Finally, reinforced change involves data gathering and corrective action to take action. No matter your environment, change happens. It’s important to embrace change and find positive ways to deal with your ever-changing circumstances.

Dr. Jenice Armstead

Forgiveness Friday – Validation

Today’s Forgiveness Friday focuses on “Validation.” There is a constant need for validation in today’s world. We have the tendency to look for validation from friends, family, work and even ourselves. Validation often disguises itself in the form of approval. As children, you may recall the first time you sought out the need for validation. Validation often comes up in conversations with strangers when trying to make a point or decipher information. Many people see validation as a part of life. The real truth is, validation is necessary when it comes to basic human rights. Today the U.S. Supreme Court has finally validated the basic human rights of the LGBTQ community. Today is a day that will go down in history books as a day of validation. All of our love and commitments are now truly equal.

Happy Pride 2015

Dee & Jaye Wedding

Dee & Jaye Wedding Nov 14, 2013

Monday Morning Mindset – Challenges

This week’s Monday Morning Mindset focuses on “the conqueror within.” In life, we all encounter opportunities for growth. The differences between those who succeed and those who accept defeat is the ability to push forward regardless of circumstances. We are innately built to conquer, overcome and strive. Challenges enable us to decide the type of person we choose to be in life. When one receives an opportunity, a challenge is not far behind. The decision on whether to accept the challenge can be life-changing. Life-changing moments happen at the most opportune times. It is important to stay aware of your ability to do all things, knowing that it may not necessarily be easy to obtain. The sooner one realizes the challenge assists in establishing one’s character, the easier it will become to overcome the challenge. The real question lies in the ability to understand that struggle is not always necessarily bad. Challenges and struggles often provide us with the capacity to reflect and see how strong and resourceful we are. Take some time today to reflect on past challenges that you have overcome. Then make a list of current goals. Challenges are difficult, but you have everything you need to conquer and overcome within you.

Dr. Jaye

Earth Day: Plastic is Everything

Earth day has vastly changed over the years. When I was younger, Earth Day consisted of picking up garbage, recycling bottles or reusing items found around the house. On this day, it is time for a human awareness about what really needs to happen in order to save our earth. As humans, we must take responsibility for our actions. The human awareness of the harmful affects of using plastic has reached an all-time high. The chemically engineered product has interrupted the health of the earth. We use plastic for cups, bags, clothing, hair products, hair extensions, technology, cleaning products, bottles, eyewear, straws, windows, flooring, baby products, food products, lawn decorations, dental replacements, lip sticks, tires, cars, audio equipment, construction, paint, toys, guns, eye contacts and any other item that you can think of. Plastic is not biodegradable. In order to reuse plastic items, they must be recycled.  But, most plastic items are not considered recyclable.

The truth is, plastic exists forever.  Plastic pollutes our oceans and causes some types of cancers. We use and rely on plastic as a convenience factor without thinking about the negative consequences it has on the earth. Instead using a several plastic disposable cups for your morning coffee, bring a cup to your local coffee shop. Instead of using several plastic bags for groceries, bring reusable bags. Be mindful of purchasing clothes that are made of polyester and reuse plastic items around your home. Being mindful of the harmful affects of plastics is just one way we can improve the earth and become more aware of the affects. Remember, there are small things you can do to make a big impact on decreasing plastic consumption.

Jenice

Reference information: Mother Earth Living

Monday Morning Mindset – Accepting Miracles

This week’s Monday Morning Mindset focuses on “Accepting Miracles.” We have heard the old saying “Miracles happen everyday.” This can be true for you if you so choose it to be. Where we fail in our understanding is what constitutes a “miracle.” A miracle for you may not mean the same as what it may mean for me. I choose to “see” and “experience” miracles everyday, for instances waking up. Waking up is a miracle; we slumber all through the night without any awareness of what it takes for the human body to function without our being awake. We tend to think of things being a miracle when we “can’t believe it.” Isn’t that just the opposite of what a miracle is supposed to be? We need to revaluate what we consider a miracle. Food for thought, actively think and look for miracles you can believe in – then be thankful for the experience.

Forgiveness Friday: The Forgiveness Formula

Today’s Forgiveness Friday focuses on “The Forgiveness Formula.” Forgiveness takes time and efforts. Once you realize that you will never be able to “press a button” and forgive and forget the easier the path toward forgiveness will be. It is important to realize that you are a part of a larger “Forgiveness Formula.” The book “The Forgiveness Formula” talks about the “pathology of forgiveness which you were born into.” Yes, you have our own ways of forgiving, but you also have family dynamics which have shaped how you forgive. How does your mother forgive? How does your father forgive? How do your siblings forgive? How does/did your grandmother or grandfather forgive? These are patterns have shaped your “Forgiveness Formula.” Take some time and write out the forgiveness patterns you have and those of your close family members. Then connect your forgiveness patterns to those that you have similar forgiveness patterns. Do you see a pattern? When I completed this exercise, I noticed huge similarities. The good news is you can change your “Forgiveness Formula” with time and efforts. Focus on who you want to be and the part forgiveness plays in your own life.

Barnes and Noble Book Reference: The Forgiveness Formula 

Monday Morning Mindset: Compassion for Others

This week’s Monday Morning Mindset focuses on “Compassion for Others.” Compassion starts with the ability to have self-compassion in any given situation or moment. Often, we equate compassion to the ability to relate to somebody else, compassion is also the ability to understand when another is disappointed with something or someone whether the action occurred purposeful or indirectly. It is common practice to want others to feel how we feel about a situation, but the related aspect of emotions has a tendency to misdirect our intentions to show compassion. With practicing of compassion, I’ve come to realize that it first starts with the ability to have compassion for self. Being that each situation will be different with different people, it’s important to understand that compassion is an active aspect of every relationship you have. It is important to remember that just because you may practice compassion towards another, does not necessarily mean that your compassion will be received equally. Instead of finding excuses for why something isn’t or is, find a relatable factor to show compassion within the situation and then except the fact that your compassion may or may not be by the other person(s). The real growth comes when you have the ability to exercise self- compassion and then transfer it over to compassion for others.

Thankful Thursday – New Beginnings

Today’s “Thankful Thursday” focuses on finding and being thankful for new beginnings. New beginnings are the birth of brand-new things that manifest in your life. With new beginnings comes the realization of understanding the efforts of hard work and self-motivation paying off. New beginnings are a time for celebration and reflection. With every new beginning something else must end. The optimistic mind focuses on new beginnings as a plateau for new adventures, new journeys and new relationships. Instead of focusing on the past, focus on new beginnings of your the future.