by Nadya Logan | Aug 27, 2015 | Learn + Grow
The word ‘motivation’ is defined by Dictionary.com as, “the state or condition of being motivated or having a strong reason to act or accomplish something”.
If you look at the fourth definition of the word, it will read, “the thing that Nadya lacks”.
Motivation is a funny thing. There’s so many things that I could do, a lot of places I could be, but I lack motivation.
I know it’s not an age thing, because I’m less than two months short of being sixteen.
Scientifically speaking, there have been studies conducted to find out what motivates people, but not much has been found about what keeps people from getting motivated in the first place.
Nevertheless, when I go through my motivation-less periods, there are a few things that I do to find direction in my life, and I am going to share them with you.
1. Identify at least one goal.
Generally, I have found, that I feel the least inspired when I have the most to do. So instead of allowing myself to lie in bed and watch Pretty Little Liars reruns, I create a to-do list. The list can be filled with things that you have to do within the hour, the day, the week, or the month as whole, but in order to find direction, you must first identify what action you need to make.
2. Start planning.
Once you identify one goal that you need to accomplish, begin to think about how you are going to put it all into action. For example, if one of your goals is to buy a car within the current month, then sit down and research all of information that you need to know about purchasing a car. After you have done your research, and you have an idea about what you want to buy/where you want to buy the car from, then you need to create a budget plan, so that you can start to save/finish saving for your future car.
3. Put your plan into action.
You know what kind of car that you want, where you can purchase the car that you want, and how much it is going to cost to buy the car that you want, so what’s next? You have to put your plan into action. Put your budget plan into action. Start putting money aside because the more money you have, the closer you are to getting that car. It’s simple logic.
4. Have a small relapse
Creating a plan is great, and following through your plan is even better, but sometimes that just doesn’t happen. I can research and plan all day, but when it comes time to do said activity, I find myself back into my motivation-less mode, almost as if a switch had been flipped on a wall. What can you do? Don’t be so hard on yourself for one. You aren’t going to fail in life because you didn’t stick to your two-week project plan. In the wise words of the Aaliyah, “You can dust yourself off and try it again,” tomorrow, maybe even next week.
5. Post it!
The more we see things, the more we can acknowledge it, and the motivated we feel to accomplish it. Write down your goals, along with other inspirational quotes, and post them somewhere that you can see it daily (ie. your bathroom, your bedroom, your mirror). The more you see it, the more you will feel obligated to do something about it.
There are a hundred and more ways to renew your direction; these are just some of my favorite ones. I hope you find them as useful as I have!
XOXO,
Nadya
by Torrie Oglesby | Aug 27, 2015 | Learn + Grow
Have you ever heard the quote, we are what we repeatedly do, excellence, then, is not an act but a habit?” One thing that all successful people have in common is that they have developed habits that they are diligent to do every day in order to slowly reach success. Let’s say you want to start a business, well you don’t start a business by just one day deciding to and then working on it when you feel like it. No, you start a business by forming small habits that you do every day that will eventually get you to the big picture of owning your own business.
So many people get discouraged when they see what they want but can’t map out the way to get there. Instead of feeling hopeful all they see is a long and dark road and become doubtful. There are ways to turn your cannot’s into can to’s it just takes effort, patience and focus. Here’s some habits that you can start today to help you with your future dreams and goals that may seem too big, but are actually small if you cut them up into daily habits.
- Write it down
Write your BIG goals down and then every day also write your daily goals down. When you write it, you see it and when you see it, you start to believe it.
- Budget your time
You need to treat your time like your money and not waste it. Every day make sure you budget out your time. You need time to focus on your goals, time to have fun, time to feed your spirit and time to rest. BUDGET it.
- Map it out
From the first step of the journey to the last step of the journey, vividly map it out. This is going to give you a picture of what you need to do to get from point A to point B.
Above all, be hopeful and enthusiastic about your goals and dreams. There are plenty of resources out there to help you when you feel overwhelmed! You CAN do it so stop making excuses and get to it.
With love and big smiles,
Torrie
by Khojdeshia Denise | Aug 27, 2015 | Learn + Grow
YOU are as POWERFUL as the words and thoughts you choose to believe about yourself! Your PURPOSE is shaped by what starts in your mind and should be reflected in your words, thoughts, and actions!
Over the years, I’ve learned many things about myself and what I need to make it through this journey called LIFE. One thing I’ve found, I always need an outlet and a positive way to process my thoughts, the words that are constantly on my mind, and most importantly MY PURPOSE! As a young girl, I was introduced to journaling by an elementary school teacher. My life has NEVER been the same and if you integrate some of these exercises into your daily routine, yours may change forever as well! First, let’s address what a journal is and some its benefits.
What is a journal?
A journal is a written record that contains your observations, experiences, thoughts, and anything else you decide to write about. Many people don’t care for writing, because it can seem tedious and intimidating. However, journaling can change your life in ways you never imagined. Writing in a journal frees you from the rules of “formal” writing! Most importantly, your journal is for your eyes only, unless you decide to share! This gives you the opportunity to freely express your thoughts, feelings, and fears without judgment.
Use your words & thoughts to lead you to your purpose!
As we all know, WORDS are powerful! Imagine what could happen if you kept a record or list of positive, self-affirming, encouraging words with you at all times?
EXERCISE: On good and especially bad days, I suggest taking some time to write down all the words that come to mind that you feel GOOD about.
REMEMBER: We must remain conscious of the words we speak and accept about ourselves, our lives, and most importantly our PURPOSE.
WRITE IT DOWN: Clearly outline your THOUGHTS and VISIONS!
DOCUMENT your journey! ASSESS your progress. Once you write down your thoughts and ideas, they become goals that you can see and measure your progress towards. Having your goals in front of you is like a roadmap of the PATH to your PURPOSE! Use this to your advantage!
EXERCISE: Free Write- 30 Seconds: WRITE non-stop, don’t lift your pen or hands from the device. Just WRITE everything that comes to mind during this time!
Free Write-30 Seconds: WRITE words that are POSITIVE, encouraging, and self-affirming about your day.
Free Write-30 Seconds: WRITE the first words that come to mind when you think about your day!
Don’t worry about spelling, grammar, or punctuation. Allow your thoughts to flow & as you do….WRITE IT DOWN!
GET IT OUT: Make a record of what’s happening, what’s gone right, and what’s gone wrong! This gives you the opportunity to identify your strengths and weaknesses. It gives you the chance to review what’s happened- your LESSONS. Now, you can make corrections. Now, you can GET IT RIGHT!
EXERCISE: WRITE to get it out! Some days are GREAT, others not so much, but it’s ALWAYS better to get those thoughts and feelings out! We don’t always feel comfortable sharing with others and that’s OK, but what you write in your journal or device is for YOU!
Acknowledging your thoughts & feelings this way allows you to move them from the front of your mind and frees you to take the next step. Now, it’s time to pursue what’s on the pages!
LET IT GO: Once you write it down, it’s out there! In “BLACK & WHITE” as my mother would say! Even when it’s a ROUGH DRAFT or just a few words, it’s a start! You’ve unleashed your words and thoughts, now what?! PURSUE YOUR DREAMS, despite fear!
REMEMBER: You have EXACTLY what you NEED on the pages in front of you, use all the lessons and details you’ve recorded to guide you. Use them as the roadmap to your PURPOSE. You’ve already taken the first step, and it all started with YOUR WORDS!
EXERCISE: The path to your purpose is shaped by what starts in your mind. The words we believe and accept about ourselves are VITAL.
I suggest WRITING as often as possible. Your words & thoughts about your life matter most!
No matter how often you choose to write, make sure to ALWAYS use your words and thoughts to lead you to your PURPOSE!
LIGHT and LOVE,
Khojdeshia Denise
by Khojdeshia Denise | Aug 27, 2015 | Faith + Expressions
“Establishing, then committing to, and maintaining daily spiritual practices is crucial. They form the painful and truly necessary process of surrendering your life into God’s hands.†–Iyanla Vanzant
Here we are roaring into the third week of August 2015! Here at STRONG we have many things to be excited about and much more to share with you! With only four months left in this year (times flies when you’re fulfilling PURPOSE) have you found yourself feeling like you need an extra boost? Many of us are going into the last quarter of this year with plenty of accomplishments under our belts, but in need of a little more to make it toward the finish line of our 2015 Goals List! If you’re anything like me, sometimes you just need to switch up or add something to your daily routine to get fresh energy flowing! This year, I changed A LOT, but the most beneficial change came from my inner-work to feel stronger and more grounded within.
Recently, I’ve felt the need to strengthen my core and I don’t mean this hidden six-pack! I mean beneath the surface, on a spiritual level. I’ve always felt the need to pray, but as I’ve matured I’ve developed a need to go deeper. I started to find that bowing my head with requests and some thanks a few times a day wasn’t enough to keep me fueled spiritually and prepared to navigate the battles that we all face daily! When you want to make significant changes in life, in order to manifest changes on the outside you must first make changes within. I realized it was time to take my daily spiritual practice to the next level internally so that my life would follow externally.
Think about it, there are so many things that require our time and attention daily, but if we are not properly fortified to handle these issues and circumstances, we can find ourselves struggling through life as we know it. This is truly unnecessary and leads us to operate in a way that doesn’t support our highest good! While attending my alma mater, Central State University, I started journaling my prayers so that I would remember to pray daily. The benefits far exceeded my expectations and over the years I’ve found adding components to my routine has strengthened me in ways I never thought possible! It is my sincere hope and suggestion that you will schedule time daily to strengthen your core- your spirit.
I consider this dedicated act core strengthening, because these steps improve your life from your core outward! I use this time to spend time with God, fill my heart and mind with His Word, and most importantly LISTEN for HIS directions-uninterrupted by my thoughts and desires. Prayer, reading scriptures along with devotionals, and meditation has taken my faith and spiritual endurance to heights that allow me to focus on higher things! (Colossians 3:2) Focusing on the bigger picture and what GOD has for you will give you the strength you need to continue accomplishing GREAT things with the remainder of 2015!
Every day. Literally, every day GOD wakes you up. Stop, and spend dedicated time with Him. Pray. Read scriptures and devotionals. Meditate. This is ALWAYS the FIRST thing on my To Do List every day. If I miss a morning, then I make sure to end my night with this routine. Do you have a daily spiritual practice? If not, I challenge you to try the one outlined above and/or create your own. Commit to maintain this practice for at least 7-days and be sure to let know me how you feel afterwards!
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LIGHT and LOVE,
Khojdeshia Denise
by Altimese Nichole | Aug 27, 2015 | Learn + Grow
In today’s society, everything is about convenience. From parallel parking to everything being at your fingertips through mobile apps— we’re all about making things in life easier. But somewhere along the lines of evolving technology and self-parking cars, the concept of creating shortcuts became a perceived reality for making your dreams come true.
Don’t believe the hype. Short cuts do not exist when it comes to pursuing your dreams. Someone once told me “I’m asking God to show me my purpose in life, but I just don’t want to work weekends, holidays, and I prefer to be finished with work at a decent hour.” They conveyed their desires to go after their purpose believed that those goals should be attainable within those parameters.
This is an example of the deception in action.
Pursuing your dreams take work, effort, sweat, and a lot of tears along the way. If walking into your purpose was easy, everyone would do it. More individuals will respond to the voice within their hearts that direct them to make their dreams a reality. Truth be told, there are no short cuts or convenient pathways to achieving your goals and you have to ask yourself, how bad do you want it? If you seek your goal (let’s call it plan A) but create another just in case (consider that plan B)—you truly don’t want that original goal bad enough to invest all of your faith and effort into it.
Be honest with yourself and ask yourself how badly do you want it, trust the voice within to believe that the dream is in your heart to be shared with the world, then have confidence in yourself to push aside the fear and doubt—and go! No short cuts necessary.
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