by Altimese Nichole | Jan 16, 2016 | Learn + Grow
It’s a new year and it’s time to get inspired! Check out these wonderful resources that can give your focus a boost:
- ZenHabits Radio: this is a blog turned podcast, full of inspiration. If you desire a boost to live your best life, this is for you!
- Why we have too few women leaders: Facebook COO, Sheryl Sandberg looks at why a smaller percentage of women than men reach executive levels within their careers — and offers 3 powerful pieces of advice to women aiming for the “C-suite.”
- Heather Lindsay YouTube Video: Founder and CEO of Pinky Promise– preacher, wife and mother, Heather Lindsay shares many intimate sermons about seasonal friendships, spending quality time with God, and more!
- Monificent11: Co-Founder of the Single Black Female project and media-maven, Monique truly conveys her heart through her Podcasts. It’s easy to want to listen to more, especially when the message is delivered with authenticity. She’s up and coming and worth the time of listening!
- The 5 AM Miracle Podcast: Created by Jeff Sanders, The 5 AM Miracle is a weekly podcast dedicated to dominating your day before breakfast.It has been proven that those who extremely productive make use of their time in the morning. This podcast can help your create the habit of morning productivity.
Any videos or podcasts that you currently listen to for inspiration that are not on the list? Share them with us!
by Altimese Nichole | Jan 16, 2016 | Learn + Grow
We’re preparing for a new year that’s right around the corner! As 2015 comes to an end, many of us are setting our sights on what’s to come for 2016. As we prepare to to set new goals, here are a few tips to make those goals fool-proof:
Write out your goals
There is a very clear reason why the Word of God tells us to write our vision and make it plain. When we write out our goals, we plant the seeds into the earth. We begin to turn our dreams into tangible goals that can become reality. Additionally, the act of writing out goals helps us to wrap our minds around our desires and what the success will look like. We must first visualize success before we can walk into it.
Periodically check-in to track your goals
Many of us are great at writing goals once a year and calling them “New Year Resolutions” but how many of us actually look at those goals throughout the year (or attempt to push through the moments of quitting during the duration of the year). To see a goal manifest, we must develop in self-discipline and persistence. Reviewing goals throughout the year helps us to keep our end goals in mind.
Have an accountability Partner
It’s important for us to protect our goals and be mindful of the confidants we have as it pertains to our deepest dreams and desires. However, it’s also wise to seek an accountability partner– who can help push you to your success. Not only is this person a well-trusted advocate, but they’re intentions are purely the help you achieve the things you want to do in life. Tell your accountability partner your goals and be okay with them checking in on your progress! That’s what they’re there for:).
Use Fear, doubt, and Uncertainty as Motivation
Fear will happen as you strive to meet your goals. Life will bring curve balls and things will not go as planned. In the midst of these times, it is critical for us to stay focused on the coarse, shift our sail as needed, and use all adversity for motivation. Just because things happen that are not expected, it doesn’t mean that we will not achieve the goals we set out for. Be open to change and learn as your go.
What other tips can you add to the list for our STRONG family?
by Kiersten Homalon | Jan 8, 2016 | Learn + Grow
Sex Trafficking is a subject that many find, well, distant. Not the word you thought I was going to choose huh? What I think strikes me the most about sex trafficking is that it is not something that effects only third world countries. It is not something that just effects a certain ethnicity, religion, societal status or even age. It effects everyone, its right under our noses and its time that awareness is made. I started learning more about human trafficking after being inspired by Lisa Bevere’s book Lioness Arising. Her first hand accounts of meeting these girls and the destructive cycles that happen within the Trafficking world opened my eyes to something completely new, something I had never even thought about, and something that I never realized I would become so passionately driven to effect change in.
Human Trafficking is on the rise. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, human trafficking is the second largest criminal industry, falling just below drug trafficking. A lot of these victims stem from run aways, something that blew me away. As a mother, to not know where your child is unimaginable, but to know how devastating the statistics are for the young girls that do run away is, heart breaking. According to the National Runaway Safeline 80% of ALL runaway and homeless girls have reportedly experienced some sort of sexual or physical abuse, and one of every three children on the streets are lured into commercial sexual exploitation ( Department of Health and Human Services.) I believe it is so important to educate adults on this matter. People often see things such as social media, porn, strip clubs, violent or sexual movies and video games as harmless, when in reality it is adding fuel to the fire of Sex trafficking. These industries feed this mindset, and I would even say feed this sickness that merges sex and violence, and it must be stopped. On top of that, bringing awareness and education into high schools, and possibly even middle schools if done appropriately will allow young women to protect themselves and their friends from the realities of the risk that is out on the streets and on social media.
This social injustice is something that we all can play a part in to stop. There are many organizations that are working to fight against sex trafficking! There are probably multiple in the state you live in alone! I personally work diligently with Ho’olanapua to stop sex trafficking here on the Hawaiian Islands! Some of the women I work with alone have been victims of Sex Trafficking. Each organization is constantly in search for advocates, volunteers, donations and more people spreading the awareness about this atrocity! Please research the various options you have to become apart of this fight! Dressember is a large organization that is also dear to my heart and works hand in hand with the International Justice Mission. The holidays are a great time to remember the “Reason for the Season†and so to sacrifice our time and efforts for others sake is the most magical part of the Spirit of CHRISTmas. Below I have included a link to a website that has a list of International Organizations fighting against Sex trafficking. I also have a link for Ho’olanapua. We appreciate generous gifts of donations and of course spreading the knowledge and awareness! Mahalo Nui Loa, and together lets make a “Brighter Future for our Children†(Ho’olanapua).
“Our Lives begin to end the day we become silent about the things that matter.†Martin Luther King Jr.
Proverbs 31:8 “Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves; ensure justice for those being crushed.â€
http://www.humantrafficking.org/countries/united_states_of_america/international_orgs
www.hoolanapua.org
www.dressember.org
www.ijm.org
Have Grit Sweet Ones,
Kiersten
by Torrie Oglesby | Nov 24, 2015 | Family + Relationships
Dear Daughter,
I know you look at me and see Super-Mama, as that is what you call me when I fix your boo-boo’s or find your toy that you thought had gone missing forever. You feel safe in my arms as I read bedtime stories to you and pray over you before we go to sleep. You feel confident when I say “Great Job!” or “Wow! What an awesome idea.” You feel brave when I remind you that God makes you mighty and strong and you realize that you can conquer anything, even your stinky little brother. I know through your eyes I am unbreakable and super even when I have to correct you, you look at me with those forever hopeful eyes and understand why mommy got upset with you. I have a major secret to tell…are you ready?
My superhero armor is only this strong because of you. You see before you I really only thought about myself. My days were filled with what I wanted to do and when I wanted to do it. I was pretty lost, just doing what everyone else was doing and felt so empty. Then you came into our lives, forever changing it by adding more color, boldness, and truth disguised in tutu’s and singing. I feel super when I get to help you in any way. You make me feel safe when you ask to cuddle up with me or kiss my head when you know I have a headache. You give me confidence by asking me questions and truly wanting to know the answer. You fill me up with bravery every morning that we are blessed to wake up and start our days. I feel unbreakable, I feel strong and powerful because of you. All my superhero qualities are a product of you.
So I guess what I want to say is thank you. Thank you for finding me, believing in me, trusting me and molding me into this confident Super-Mama! Thank you for all the lessons and the plot twist that you often bring about and thank you for being you so fearlessly and unapologetically. Thank you for pulling out the Super hero in me. I love you daughter.
Love mama!
Torrie Oglesby
by Torrie Oglesby | Nov 24, 2015 | Faith + Expressions
These tears I’ve cried are overflowing the tub now
And yet these scars are beginning to heal somehow…
The pain is becoming lighter with each step I take…
But this journey is long and the one thing I’ve learned is everything is not what it seems
But you don’t learn that until after you’ve been naïve…
Rock bottom, you’ve hit rock bottom and you’re on your way to recovery.
Yet it’s so hard to see how God would still love bruised up, messed up, angry me?
This season has left me dead.
They say the fire refines you.
But you can’t get through it without getting burnt
Their hurtful words, metaphorical bullets, ended up being the lessons learned.
They say there’s a time and season for it all
Maybe there’s hope for these dead bones to live after the fall.
And now I sit here searching for forgiveness and all the good things
But every time I do, the nastiness from yesterday is all that my memories bring.
And then I hear a whisper, “grace and forgiveness”
And I go to the place where Christ said “It Is Finished.”
And I realize that it’s that battle that Christ fought on the cross
That allows me to continue on this long journey and though I wandered I am not lost.
“Your wounds will heal, your heart will forgive. This season is over daughter…
It’s time to live.”
®torrie 2015
![STRONG, Inc. [Simple Transitions Render Opportunity Necessary For Growth]](https://www.knowyourstrong.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/NewLogo.png)
Recent Comments