Your Legacy-Dysfunction or Inspiration

In my Unstoppable You Workshop, one of the topics that I address is Legacy.

 According to Webster's Dictionary, Legacy means 1: A gift by will especially money or other personal property 2: Something transmitted by or received from an ancestor or predecessor or from the past. 

With that being said, what are people inheriting from YOU? Is it DYSFUNCTION or INSPIRATION? What personal characteristics are you passing down to your children and grandchildren? Is it commitment, love, courage, perseverance? Or is it a lack of responsibility, laziness, hatred, and dirty family secrets? If it is dysfunction, then I want you to know it is not too late to change that legacy into inspiration. How do we make this happen? We must be honest with ourselves. In order to be Unstoppable, one must realize who they truly are and methodically pave a path free of shame, guilt, and confusion. Self-awareness leads to positive change which leads to growth. This is one way we can reduce a generation of lost, self-absorbed, and uncompassionate souls.

Have an Unstoppable You day!

How to Seek Joy Through Grateful Eyes

In my growth to seek joy and fulfillment in life, I have come to realize that complaining about a problem can be counterproductive when there is no action put forth to find a solution.  I admit that I have been guilty of complaining and wallowing in self-pity because something was not as I saw it should be.  With that type of attitude, nothing will ever be good enough.  It's in these moments that I had to look in the mirror and self-reflect.  Seeking joy is all about perspective.  Is the glass half empty or half full?  There are positive and amazing things happening around me every day if I take the time to see it.  Seeing through grateful eyes allows me to be still and enjoy these opportunities.  Of course, I would like to be debt free with a wealthy bank account, bigger house, and fancy cars.   But even the richest people with these items are lonely and depressed.  However, what I do have are loving and supportive family and friends.  They are my "A Team" who are willing to come along side my vision and cheer me on as well as pick me up when I struggle to push forward.  The encouragement I receive is a blessing, and no amount of money can replace that. 

So how can you seek joy through grateful eyes?

1. If you can read this post, then you were blessed to wake up, while having the mental, emotional and physical ability to comprehend it. 

2. Put things in perspective and realize your situation could be worse.  

3. Appreciate the little things, like the beauty and scent of a flower.  If you can't appreciate the small things, how can you enjoy the big things?  

4. Love yourself unconditionally regardless of mistakes and failures.  You are fearfully and wonderfully made.

5. Find something to smile and laugh about every day.  Laughter is some of the best medicine and it doesn't need to be covered by insurance to get it.

6. Get centered with your mind, body and soul.  It is important to realize that when we are in alignment spiritually, mentally, emotionally and physically, it is hard for the devil to knock us off balance.  By being in alignment, this allows our eyes to focus and see with clarity what is true.

7. Last but certainly not least, understand that God is faithful.  His mercy and grace is more than enough.  When you look at the big picture of your life, it was designed specifically to make you stronger, wiser and polished like a diamond.

I pray these seven steps provide insight and inspiration.  Although it has taken some time and my journey has been long, I can see clearly.  I am grateful I am not where I once was.  I am grateful to share my testimony.

Photo taken by Thomas W. Foxworthy

The Purpose and Power of Pushing Forward

I would be lying if I told you challenges never crossed my path.  Or that I never thought about giving up.  Matter of fact, not only would I be lying to you, but myself as well.  Oh how I wish life was smooth and easy.  Or that everything went my way all according to plan.  But it wouldn't be realistic.  If it did, would I appreciate it?  For every disappointment, my faith was shaken.  For every setback, I get discouraged and can't see the forest from the trees.  Fear, worry and doubt set in and I become distracted.  I want to throw up my hands in frustration and yell "What's the use!"   It sure doesn't help when the devil finds me when I am most vulnerable and whispers in my ear "Why bother." 

Although, I have many reasons to throw in the towel, the reasons to keep pushing forward outweighed them.  There is purpose and power in pushing forward.  It's having faith in what I can't see and believing it is bigger than what I can see with the naked eye.  It's realizing that after the storm comes sunshine and peace.  It's appreciating every achievement because the journey to success was long and difficult.  It's believing that when one door closes another is opening wide just for me to walk through.  It's understanding that with God on my side, I can move mountains and cross the widest rivers.  Just like a mother giving birth to her beautiful child, she pushes even in pain.  She pushes when it's not comfortable.  She pushes exhausted and feels like she can't go on.  She pushes because the seed that was planted has grown and is now ready to be birthed.  



So I push even when my knees buckle!
I push with tears streaming down my face!
I push because having regrets is not an option!
I push forward because I can see the light at the end of the tunnel!
The purpose and power of pushing forward was worth it because I am stronger, wiser and abundantly blessed!   

Tomorrow My Sunshine Will Come: Memoirs of Women Who Survived Domestic Violence

Finally my newly published book is here!!  It has been a long journey with many twist, turns and bumps, but with God's mercy and grace, I survived and persevered.  If you know of anyone, man or woman, who is trapped in an abusive relationship, please share this book.  It contains six true stories, including mine, of our trials, tribulations and triumphs.  I want people to know the statistics are alarming and that you don't have to suffer alone and shame.  

You can purchase the paperback through CreateSpace.com or purchase the ebook or paperback through Amazon.com

Take care of yourself and be blessed!

Jennifer

Did YOU Miss YOUR Exit?

The idea for this post came to me while having a heart to heart talk with my dear friend Elena.  Elena admitted to being so engrossed into a conversation with her friends in the car that she didn’t pay attention to what was right in front of her.  Elena lost situational awareness on the destination she was heading to.  Once she realized her exit was coming up, she erratically veered across several lanes to get there.  In her haste, she risked not only her life and her friends, but other drivers as well.  When Elena couldn't make it to her turn off in time, she had no choice but to drive past the intended exit in hopes of quickly approaching an alternative one.  Consequently, this left Elena and her friends frustrated and behind schedule.  She was able to draw a parallel to personal missed opportunities to that of missing an exit while driving down the highway. 

 Immediately, I could relate to the comparison Elena drew from her story.  I lost count of how many times I worried about what others said or thought about me.  I was overwhelmed with the self-induced drama I allowed myself to live.   Additionally, I was in relationships with men I had no business being in.  Besides that, I accumulated "friends" to where the relationship was lopsided (I gave and they received).   Furthermore, I struggled professionally because I lacked effort and concentration.  I became absorbed with things that didn't add a positive purpose to my well-being.  Unfortunately, I lost focus to what was important.  

In other words, I desired tranquility in my life while obtaining my goals and fulfilling my purpose, but my actions showed otherwise.  By failing to plan, prepare and execute, I missed my exit.  I missed an opportunity.  Ultimately, I missed a blessing. 

Can you relate?  Have you lost sight to what is important?  Is your life in crisis and you keep missing opportunities and blessings?  Whether we realize it or not, our poor decision making or lack of planning, will directly or indirectly affect others.  Whose life are you jeopardizing along with yours?  It’s only when we get tired of swerving across four lanes only to miss our turn and have to drive out of our way to find the next exit, do we get focused and get on the right track. 

Your GPS (God’s Purpose for Self) is specifically programed for you.  God is willing to guide you every step of the way if you allow Him to do so.  Tomorrow is not promised, so stop driving aimlessly through life while expecting to reach your destination safely and on time.  Peace, Purpose and Power are waiting for you.     

Forgiveness Is the Key

Unstoppable You is being able to Forgive.  Once you put it in your mind and heart to do so, 

Forgiveness becomes the Key that unlocks the handcuffs, which holds you captive to self-destructive behavior and thoughts.  

By Forgiving, you make a conscious effort of breaking the toxic pattern that has been passed down from generation to generation.  When you unlock the handcuffs, every meaningful relationship you have will benefit.

16 Ways to Know Your Life Is In Crisis-Hoarder Style

It wasn't very long ago that I could have admitted to several of the below examples.  But I want you to know that just like those who suffer from the actual addiction, your life doesn't have to be this way.  Like most things in life, if it is worth having then it is worth the work.  To me, your life is worthy of having the quality, purpose, fulfillment and happiness you deserve.  It is time to start cleaning out the closet and sorting through the baggage or trash that weighs you down. Personal growth is not always easy, pretty or comfortable.  But when the trash is gone, your pathway is clear and your eyes can focus on the light that not only shines through your window, but on the other side of the door that leads to an Unstoppable You!! 

16 Ways to Know Your Life Is In Crisis-Hoarder Style

1.     Your house looks nice on the outside, but when you open the door, the dysfunction and chaos is exposed.  It has gotten out of control and unmanageable. 

2.     Your life is cluttered with people who serve no positive purpose.

3.     There is so much garbage (fear, gossip and drama) in your life that there is no clear path for you to reach your personal and professional goals.

4.     Trash (personal baggage) is piled up around your door, therefore blocking blessings from reaching you.

5.     Your mess (not forgiving, accepting responsibility, and moving forward) affects your health, shortening your lifespan.

6.     The smell (drama) keeps you up at night.  Above all, it keeps people away.

7.     The devil is excited your house is unkempt because he wants to finish demolishing it, serving you a permanent eviction notice. 

8.     After a while, your mess is so bad it spills over to the outside (social media).  But you don’t see anything wrong with it.

9.     You complain no one is willing to help you clean up your mess but when people do, you become lazy, watching them do all the work.

10.  You have so much stuff (unresolved problems) that it begins to close in on you.  Suffocating you from reality, society, and the life God desires for you.

11.  You have been holding on to so much clutter (pain from the past) that you find other junk (alcohol, drugs… etc.) to make you happy (fill the void or numb the pain).

12.  Your house is such a mess that it keeps visitors (positive people) from coming in.  The only company you have is the rats and roaches (negative family and friends).  They don’t think anything is wrong with the way things look, smell, and feel.

13.  You know that you’re not living right but pride keeps you from seeking the help (God) you need.

14.  Your house is gloomy and dark.  Sunlight hasn't shined through your windows in months.

15. Your house is such a mess that you misplace your valuables (self-esteem, courage, love, purpose, peace, self-satisfaction and personal growth).

16. Your house is such a mess that it literally becomes an emotional, mental and physical jail.