Giving Meaning to My Journey

Today I went for a run on the beach and caught myself reflecting; I was thinking a lot about all of the things that have brought me to where I am today. Grateful is an understatement, to have been able to move away from home to a beautiful city with the ability to exercise on the beach with such a beautiful view, much like today's. I couldn't help, but think about how blessed I am.

I moved away not knowing what life would have in store for me, but I was optimistic for nothing short of a great college experience. I left thinking I knew who I was, as I've always been confident in my identity. Little did I know, life had so much more in store for me & I hadn't even become the person I'm meant to be, yet.

My entire life I had always been confident in my actions, which I felt didn't always match up to what others' did. I took pride in being different, by just being myself. Now that I've become aware of them, I realize that there were all of these social constructs that surrounded us and still do--telling us how to live, what to wear, what to eat, what it means to be "cool", trying to mold our identity into a normalized state, discouraging us from being who we truly are. Ultimately, I had to lose myself and everything I thought I was in order to find the meaning for my life. Thankfully I had a few people who catalyzed growth and curiosity within me, and opened my mind to perspectives and a higher levels of consciousness that were never once there. Although where I am now is filled with peace and acceptance, that wasn't always the case.

There have been pivotal points in my life that were filled with fear, sadness, anger--many emotions that I didn't enjoy feeling, but I felt like I had no control over them. They were controlling me, but only because I was allowing them to. These feelings were so different from what I was used to feeling. Where there was once happiness, joy, love, and confidence---laid the opposite. Today walking on the beach, seeing hundreds of people laughing and full of life, I couldn't help but feel so much love and good energy around me...I was listening to music and walking observing everything around me, from the flocking birds in the air down to the toddlers building sand castles, this is what life is...all of the little things that don't make noise.

For the longest time I had thought life was about going through the motions and dealing with things as they came. But after searching and learning from every single experience, I realized that everything I was doing felt robotic, and that there had to be more to life than this constructed world we live in. I began questioning the 'normal' things, like the activities we partake in, the food we feed ourselves, the things we are entertained by, the clothes we buy, the way we treat and judge people based off of insignificant factors, etc. None of it made sense, and all of it served nothing but temporary and illusionary self-fulfillment.

After awhile, I was beginning to find answers and signs that were significant and necessary for my growth. I learned that life isn't a destination, it's a process, a journey. A journey, that you create and decide what you want to manifest. I wanted to know everything, but I now know that I didn't need to understand, I just needed to accept. What I learned to accept is that hard times are gonna happen. I overcame situations I thought would once keep me from being complete, or from finding happiness. I found myself wondering and wanting answers, explanations, closure, understanding. I had then realized that there was no such thing. Everything that I'd ever experienced was meaningless, until I decided what that meaning was.

I began seeing synchronicities everywhere and meeting people that kept elevating me for the better. Throughout the past three and a half years, I isolated myself for the sole purpose of really finding myself, and figuring out what that phrase meant. I made a promise to myself to find my meaning and help others do the same along the way. I didn't expect anybody to understand, and a lot of people didn't. I lost a handful of friends, some of them by choice, some of them not. Nothing was personal, but it was all about elevating myself and surrounding myself with like-minded people and friends who accepted my honesty and who truly understood me. It was time for me to be selfish. Something we all need to be when it comes to our growth and well-being.

I no longer accepted that life just "happened" to me, I decided to face my fears and master my mind, body and spirit in the best way that I knew how. I was thirsty for knowledge and peace. I also became more aware that all of these are the silent truths in life. Meaning, these are the only authentic things that go on, things that nobody likes to talk about because it's "weird" or "uncomfortable." But I didn't care about that, after awhile I started paying attention to nothing, but those three parts of me. I began living in my mind and started observing everything around me, my experiences, my emotions, my thoughts, all of it. The things that teach us about who we are, that nobody ever tells us to pay attention to. I began to find the things that made me feel at peace. Meditation is and will always play a vital role in my growth, along with reading, writing, creative expression, yoga, fitness, anything that brought me to my natural state without any distraction. These are the things I live for. It's sometimes difficult to remember that the present is all that we need to focus on, but that is my daily mantra that reminds me of who I am again, or perhaps of who I'm not. Life isn't about attaching yourself to things or people, but instead detaching and unbecoming who you once thought you were. Don't limit yourself with boundaries or labels, you are limitless, we all are. We just need someone to remind us. Give meaning to your journey because at the end of the day, you get to decide.

Life Can Change in an Instant

Friday night I was driving back into San Diego from my hometown. It was pouring rain, but I had driven in the rain many times before so I didn't think this time would be any different. After almost 6 hours of driving I had finally arrived, passing the 'San Diego City Limit' sign. My back was already bothering me, along with my badly sprained ankle which I hurt almost a week ago playing basketball. I was listening and rapping along to one of my favorite songs, "That's How I Knew" by Nipsey Hussle. That's when a huge puddle of water hit my windshield (which is frightening in itself when driving in the pouring and windy rain) and immediately, the car driving to my right swerved so hard into my car it caused significant damage and caused the door airbags to deploy pushing me into the other lane. I was thrown to the left side of my car, literally comparable to being tackled by what felt like a 200 lb person. At the quickest moment that I was able to form a thought, it was 'this is it.'After that, I honestly can't remember how I managed to drive to the median wall, my mind and heart were racing so fast, I was in shock. 

The only thing I kept thinking was how blessed I was to be alive and how there was no doubt I was being protected. I consider myself to be very aware and understanding of many things. But there was something about having my life flash before my eyes that allowed me to dig deeper. My perspective changed in what seemed like, no time. At that moment, everything that once seemed to matter no longer did. All the little silly negative things that we give importance to became insignificant. All of my fears became insignificant. Everything that was holding me back became insignificant. We always hear "Life is short", but last night I didn't realize just how short that meant. 

I have never been so happy to be alive. In one night I learned something worth a lifetime. I felt like after this happened I needed to spread that message to you all. Stop allowing fear of things to hold you back, do what makes you happy!!!!!!!!!!! Make the move, start something new, show the world the authentic you, take the job, go on that trip, fall in love, make time for yourself, get better at things you enjoy, get out and enjoy nature, connect with those you love, laugh more, complain less, search inside yourself and find your purpose, and follow your heart. It's time to start living. Eliminate things in your life that don't contribute to your growth, reach your goals, have fun in everything you do. Do everything and anything, because why not? Choose happiness. Choose to love. Choose to encourage, embrace, shine light, and find the beauty and blessing everywhere you go. Tonight I am more thankful than I have ever been for everyone and everything in my life. I'm ready for anything. I am living in the present moment, now more than ever before. The world is truly ours. Peace out for now. 

Love, 

Me. 

New Year Vibes

With the new year comes many emotions, but most of all, excitement! 2016 was definitely a year of growing, learning, reflecting, and transformation-- which are all blessings on their own. Now that we are entering a new year it is important that we shed all of the past to create more space for peace, love, abundance, and our desires. This means forgiving those who you hold ill feelings towards, quitting bad habits, changing your perspective on situations that cause you stress or negativity, and eliminating anything else that doesn't contribute to your peace and happiness. Leave all of the drama, negativity, gossip, and bad energy in the past where it belongs. If you choose to harbor hate or any type of negative towards yourself or others, it will continue to follow you until you decide to learn from it and move on.


For me, the new year always brings in this strong wave of positive energy allowing me to reflect on the past year and take the lessons learned and apply them into the new year. However, this is something I do throughout the year, not only when it's celebrated. It is important that we learn to become more mindful of ways we can improve ourselves so that it can become a habit of checking and balancing ourselves. I love the idea that the new year brings transformation with the "new year, new me" trend, but too many of us only use this one day and forget about the other 364 days. You should be able to embrace change throughout the year, allowing yourself to shed parts of you that no longer serve you good. Essentially, this means being able to hold yourself accountable for the things that happen in your life and for your actions. The only way you will be able to improve and elevate your life is by taking responsibility for the state of your life, as that is a reflection of the state of your mind.

The other day, I was thinking a lot about how we live our lives completely blind to the fact that the only real enemy you have is yourself. I think it's silly when people talk about having enemies because the only reason they are your "enemy" is due to the fact that you are allowing them to hold that title and you're giving them that power over you. At the end of the day, the only person that truly defeats us, holds us back, speaks negatively to us, and controls the way we feel, is ourself. Once you realize this and apply it to your mind, you will begin to see just how much we battle with ourself when it comes to emotions, beliefs, and actions. However, knowing this is and actually living by it are two different things. When you live your life knowing you're the only person that can hinder your growth, you will never allow yourself to go back to your old ways of thinking. You begin living life the way it's supposed to be lived, a life undefeated. This isn't always an easy thing to do because it requires taking accountability for everything in your life and constantly reflecting on how to better yourself in almost every aspect, but in the end you realize it's one of the best things you could ever do for yourself. So before we go through some new years' resolutions, at the top of the list should be acknowledgment that life is only, ever, You vs. You!

 In 2017 let's strive not to become someone different or to change who we are, but only to become the best version of ourself. Sometimes we set goals for ourselves that aren't reflective of who we are or that are unrealistic. It's important that we know ourselves well enough to be able to create intentions that will only better ourselves physically, mentally, spiritually, emotionally--all within range to be achieved.

Moving forward and living by this in the new year, we are now able to manifest our intentions and do anything we set our mind to. Let's not even refer to them as resolutions, but instead as intentions. To resolve something means to find a solution to a problem. We must not see our life as needing to be solved or as problematic. The way you experienced the past year was necessary for your growth in life. Now is a time to reflect on the ups and downs, lessons and blessings, and to learn from your accomplishments and from your mistakes. I encourage you to create achievable and realistic intentions, positive transformations, and to realize the power you have in creating the life you want to live just by turning on the mental switch of becoming more aware and mindful. We don't need to wait miraculously to make a change only when the calendar flips, we should have intentions (resolutions) every single day, intentions can be small decisions that we make to enhance the way we live. Visualize yourself better everyday and you will slowly begin to reflect that with ease and comfort.

Furthermore, it's vital to our growth this year that we become more confident and open-minded to new opportunities that come our way. Let's try to step out of our comfort zone and do something different that we would have never done before, those are often the decisions that lead us to greater heights. We can no longer allow fear of failure or embarrassment to linger in the back of our minds, like they often do. Find gratitude in all that you have and everything you are, only then will you be able to achieve the intentions you set forth. Desire, ego, or greed should never be at the center of our intentions because those are not qualities that are representative of positive manifestations. In addition, take the time to write down the things you would like to wash your hands of from 2016--things about yourself or within your environment that are keeping you from being the best you. Now write down all that you can do to improve yourself as an individual; implement consistent actions in your life that will reflect a conscious effort towards your intentions.

Let's no longer be bothered by the little things, but instead appreciate and fall in love with them. Let's choose to view our problems from a different perspective, transforming them into tools for growth. Let us value and love ourselves so much that we no longer allow toxic relationships to thrive. Stop spending your time envying or hating on others, because that only magnifies your insecurity. Trust yourself and your intuition to guide you only to things that serve a purpose in your life. Allow others to teach you and don't be hesitant in learning new things. Practice mindfulness, as it is something that will truly change your life it you let it. Pray more, worry less. Practice meditation. Read more books and do more research on things that matter. Connect with nature. Express gratitude and unleash your creativity. Spend your money on experiences. No longer take things for granted. Realize needing nothing, attracts everything. Be more health conscious as to what foods you put in your body and drink more water. Take care of your mind first, then your body and spirit. Our mind is at the center of everything we do and comes first in all--it's essential that we know this and pay attention to our thoughts and cultivate positive mindsets in any given situation.

May this year be filled with nothing but peace, love, positivity, financial abundance, good music, good food, friends and family, new opportunities, and everything good that life has to offer. I hope that you all take the good that came from 2016 with you on your journey this new year. Remember, at the end of the day we are all on the same mission, to be happy. So do what makes you happy and continue to shine your light on those who come in and out of your life. Do not dwell on the past and do not worry about the future. Live in the moment because that's all that ever is. Let's make 2017 one to remember! Happy New Year!

 P.S. Below I have included an intention exercise for the new year, try it out!

Stop Living in Fear & Embrace Change

Hey everybody!!! I'm back! I haven't blogged in awhile and I really haven't come up with an excuse for my writers' block. But I will begin by saying, I am thankful to all of you for actually reading my posts and really hope I am able to get through to at least one person with my blogging. I began this blog for multiple reasons. First, for me. One of my goals was to share my experiences and lessons with people in life--and it just so happens I also enjoy writing, so here we are! However, second and most importantly, I did this for you...yes YOU! Why, you ask? Well simply because I believe we are all put on earth to help each other, care for each other, and share our lessons and experiences with each other, all in order to grow. There is not one person on the planet that has acquired the same amount of knowledge and facts as another person--so why don't we use that to our advantage and share the love, lessons, and experiences so that we can all live to become the greatest version of ourselves?!

Recently, I conclude that I have just been observing and note-taking the things that go on in my life, in others', and all around the world. There is so much going on around the globe and domestically, it is sometimes hard to just sit back, take a breath, and remember we are alive. There have been many troubling events that have happened recently that have invoked fear in millions and even more fear in those who already concur. In regards to these events, I just want to say, don't be afraid. Of course fear is justified under these circumstances, however that is the easy way out. Anyone can be afraid. Not everyone has the willpower and mindset to look past fear and break down the wall in order to accomplish change and awareness. In addition, when we are afraid, we often react off of emotion and many times we regret our reaction. When we are afraid we hurt people, we don't allow ourselves to be vulnerable, we don't see the bigger picture, and in the end the person we end up hurting the most, is ourself. I'm not saying it isn't okay to be scared, all I'm saying is that we need to step up and be the change--be that person that those in fear can look to for peace, compassion, and logic in tough situations. If we were all living in fear, the world would be crazier than it already is. Fear invokes war, insecurity, pain, anger, and a handful of other emotions that don't serve us well.

Although fear is something that instinctively makes associations to keep us from harm, it also is something that we have been conditioned to feel in MANY circumstances. There is much science behind the psychology of fear that I won't get into, but is definitely something you should educate yourself on if you haven't already learned about it in school.

There may be many of you who deny your fear of certain things, but the perfect contradiction to that argument is your action and reaction to situations that involve necessary change for growth. Many who continue to proclaim, "I'm not afraid of anything" are most often the people who are AFRAID to admit that they are afraid!! Isn't that ironic??? However, it is nothing to be ashamed of. If anything, you should be glad to know this and instead work towards a solution to this little misunderstanding. The best thing to know in times of fear is that you are not alone. There a millions of people who are afraid of millions of things--few out of our control, but many in our control! Often times getting rid of fear involves one simple act, however we refuse and won't allow ourselves to take that first step towards change and progress.


There are infinite fears that exist within our world. Some people are afraid of death, which is very plausible if they are in a life or death situation. However, many of the fears that we hold involve disrupting our "happiness", but if you've learned anything from me you know that happiness comes from within and that not one thing or person can truly bring you happiness unless you allow it. Many of us are afraid of getting out of an unhappy relationship because we are afraid nobody else will want us. We are afraid of: moving somewhere new, meeting new people, falling in love, having people dislike us, sharks, eating healthy, learning new things, getting in shape, spending money, getting hurt, the list is truly never-ending!

Now, some of these things don't sound all that bad, but people really live their entire lives afraid to step out of their comfort zone. I've been there and I bet many of you are too. By living in fear, you only attract more fear into your life because that is the energy that you have chosen to focus on. This is why those who are afraid, have been afraid of many things for most of their existence--the same way negative people continuously attract negative things into their life, there is no exception with any other emotion. What you focus on grows in your life, and if you choose to focus on the fear of things rather than all the growth, change, and progress--then you aren't doing it right. Life is too short to be afraid.

It is essential for our happiness, health, wealth, freedom, and mind that we unlearn all of the things we have been conditioned to fear in order to live a happy and limitless life. We must break down the walls we have put up for ourselves. Be the leader and let people know that fear only holds them back from what could be. Fear defeats more people than any other one thing in the world. Don't let fear defeat you and all that you want in life. Hope is the only one thing stronger than fear, so have hope. Replace any fear you hold with the desire for something better. Many of your fears may be subconscious, so figuring them out may involve some looking in the mirror and a little soul
searching--but that's okay because that is the only way you can truly grow as an individual.

Whenever you find yourself afraid, that is the perfect moment to make a change. Change should never be feared, but instead welcomed. Without change, nothing in the world would ever grow or blossom and nobody would ever move forward. Stand up for yourself and don't fall for the tricks your mind plays on you. Be aware of your thoughts and how they make you feel. Emotion is impossible without first, a thought. Therefore, fear is impossible without first, a thought to manifest it. Embrace change and allow it to mold you into the person you want to be.

There is no progress without change. So we must no longer fear the unknown, me must live in the moment and not fret about what may go wrong. It is important that we have hope and confidence in what will be because everything always works itself out the way it's supposed to as long as you're taking the necessary steps and making a change along the way. Always do the right thing for yourself and for others. Not everyone is strong enough to get past their fears, they need to be reminded and encouraged-- be that person in someone's life. Be that person for the world and make a change that people can look up to. This world is designed for us to be afraid, but there is no illusion greater than fear itself. Once you conquer fear, it no longer has power over you--it shrinks and vanishes and then you become who you are meant to be. You change the world because you have changed yourself.

Treat Your Body Like a Temple

Philosopher Jim Rohn once said, "Treat your body like a temple, not a woodshed. The mind and body work together. Your body needs to be a good support system for the mind and spirit. If you take good care of it, your body can take you wherever you want to go, with the power and strength and energy and vitality you will need to get there."

Throughout my twenty years of life, I have learned that taking care of my body is one of the most important things I can do in life. Not everyone has this mindset, considering the way we destroy our bodies and treat it like a waste basket. Think about it--I mean, we are alive and are given this unique body to live in throughout our existence here on earth…don't you think we should pay a little more attention to it and treat it with the care it needs to survive? Essentially, it is what is keeping us alive, after all.

I've decided to share with you guys ten things you can do/don't do, to treat your body right, which will lead to a happier and healthier lifestyle.

1. SLEEP! I can't stress this enough, something we spend half of our lives doing, yet many of us refuse to take advantage of. Sleep is vital in maintaining good health and well-being throughout our lives. Most importantly, sleep helps our brain function properly and give it the rest it needs in order to prepare us for another day. Studies have shown that a good night's sleep helps in learning, paying attention, creativity, and problem-solving. On the other hand, when you don't get enough sleep, it can lead to problems with all of the benefits I named above and has also been linked to depression and suicide. In my opinion, this is a given. We always feel better when we get enough sleep, am I right? In addition, sleep helps our physical well-being in growth and development and healing our bodies, as the immune system relies heavily on sleep to stay healthy. Sleep deficiency has also been linked to increased risk of diabetes, high blood pressure, stroke, heart disease, etc. So next time you think about pulling that all-nighter, think again. 

2. If you smoke tobacco, please STOP! We've all been made aware of the negative effects of smoking cigarettes, yet it seems like I see a handful of people doing this everyday *sad face*. That's like someone telling you to jump off a cliff, and then you actually doing it. You're literally intaking chemicals that aren't meant to be in your body--there are over 7,000 chemicals, 250 which are known to be harmful, and 69 which are cause cancer. Smoking tobacco also causes over 470,000 premature deaths in the U.S. each year! 470,000!!! WTF! Also, not only are you hurting yourself, but also those around you from secondhand smoke. There's over 7,000 lung cancer deaths each year among non-smokers as a result of secondhand smoke. It's also addictive, which can be hard to overcome--but there are so many ways to get the help you need to quit. And I'm sure it's easy not to think about these things while smoking, but it truly is killing you and those around you.

3. Another popular, yet damaging activity--drinking alcohol. Take it easy, pleeeasseeeeeee. I mean, nothing is wrong with having a few drinks every now and then, but damn, some of you just act like this stuff is water! If nobody's ever told you to tone it down on the drinking, well here I am! I used to think drinking was soooo fun, until I became more conscious of what it does to us and our bodies, which definitely outweighs the "benefits". If you're a drinker, then I'm sure you already know alcohol causes blackouts, memory loss, anxiety, vomiting. In the worst cases, it causes cancer, brain damage, heart attack, stroke, etc. It also makes you gain weight, makes both men and women infertile, gives you bad skin, and ruins your mental health. A lot of people I know say they drink to cope with difficult situations and emotions, and that it reduces stress or relieves anxiety, BUT alcohol is actually associated with a load of mental health problems including depression, anxiety, risk-taking behaviour, personality disorders and schizophrenia. Also you don't feel good when you wake up the next morning, if anything alcohol itself let's you know it isn't good for you, but we always go back for more. Honestly, if nothing good comes from it--I stay away. These days, I'm all about bettering myself and trying to reach my goals, and even though drinking may not seem so detrimental, it definitely isn't helping me get to where I want to be. 

4. If you drink anything, it should be that good ol' H2O! Water is a major key to living a healthy life. Over half of our bodies is made up of water, which is why it is so important to drink. Drinking water helps maintain our bodies fluids and functions, helps control calories, energized muscles, promotes healthy skin, gets rid of toxins, and without it you can become dehydrated. Dehydration isn't fun at all, I actually passed out once from being dehydrated--not the greatest memory. I don't remember who it was, and even if I did it wouldn't mention their name, but this girl once told me she didn't like water. It made me laugh, at first I thought she was joking but soon realized she was being completely serious. At that moment, I knew we weren't raising our children right LOL. How can you not like something that you're about 60% made up of AND that keeps you alive…I was so confused, but I'm sure she learned to like it eventually. In high school, I actually made the decision to stop drinking soda and other processed drinks that we often replace for water. One of the best decisions I've ever made! I'm all about that high quality H2O.

5. Eat smart. "You are what you eat, so don't be fast, easy, cheap or fake!" Not sure who said that one, but it sure is true. Ann Wigmore once said, "The food you eat can be either the safest and most powerful form of medicine or the slowest form of poison", which has stuck with me for the past few years as I've made a more conscious effort to eat only what serves me good. Most of us can decipher which foods are unhealthy and which are good for you. Overly processed foods, which are high in saturated fats, salts, refined sugars, preservatives, additives and chemicals, with names you can't pronounce, are not the good guys! Unfortunately, the Western diet consists of most of these things. Many people make the excuses that it's too expensive to eat healthy or they could never do it--but if you truly care about your health and well-being, you will spend a few extra bucks to eat good and feel good. I no longer eat meat (almost a year) and rarely ever indulge in candy or sweets, but I feel the best that I have ever felt, while bettering my health and consuming more fruits and veggies! There are many health risks and cons to eating meat, but that's for another time--I'll let you research it yourself. Overall, I know I have brought my health to greater heights and don't constantly feel disgusted by what I put in my body, like I used to. As an athlete, I used to eat soooo much, probably more than I needed to. I mean, I used to have thirds of every meal, used to eat fast food, candy, chips, sweets, everything under the sun that wasn't good for me. Once I stopped playing sports like I used to, I began to actually see and feel how this food affected me. I learned that I had to start paying attention to what I was putting inside my body, for that is what fuels me. Every now and then I'll have some of my favorite chips, candy, or ice cream feeling no regret, but never like I used to. Some of us eat these things everyday and are unaware of how these "foods" affect our bodies in the long-term. Do some research, learn what's good for you and what isn't. Being more conscious as to what you put in your body is only beneficial. 

6. Take the time to meditate. Everyone I always suggest meditation to never actually tries it, but I promise it will truly change your life if you allow it to. We often find ourselves "too busy" or "stressed out" in life and we fail to recognize our mental health is probably one of the most important keys in keeping us sane. We get so wrapped up in the physical world and forget that there's so much more to reality than what's on the outside. Meditation grounds us in ways that nothing else can and there are so many benefits, it's hard to believe all the good it does and nobody has ever taught us to do it. However, if you think about it, nobody has ever taught us to do many of the things that are beneficial to our well-being-- something to ponder on. Meditation fills us with more energy, while at the same time bringing our brainwave pattern into a relaxed state that promotes healing in our body, mind, and spirit. Meditation makes us aware that our inner being and attitude is the thing that actually determines our happiness. It induces a mode of consciousness where you acknowledge that you can actually control your thoughts, rather than letting them be apart of you. When I explain meditation I tell people that our whole lives we are constantly thinking, no matter what you are doing there are thoughts going in and out of our minds and we were never told that we can actually control the thoughts we have by training our minds to observe rather than react with emotion to those thoughts. One way to stop the flow of thoughts that many of us believe is 'uncontrollable' is by focusing on your breath; while you focus your attention on nothing but your inhale and exhale--it is actually impossible to think of anything…and if you do find yourself thinking about something it's because you have stopped focusing on your breath. Imagine how cool that is, to think of nothing. It's probably one of the most liberating feelings I have ever experienced. Also, it didn't just happen in one try or overnight…just like anything else meditation takes practice, so it's important not to get frustrated. By meditating (being mindful) you will experience a plethora of scientific benefits such as increased energy, decreased stress/anxiety, reduced need for alcohol/substance, improved attention/info processing/decision making, higher pain tolerance, pain relief, memory, mood/psychological well-being, creativity, reduced blood pressure/disease/inflammation, improved relationships/love/empathy, increases compassion, and decreases worry…JUST TO NAME A FEW! Can you believe there are so many more benefits than all I just named off AND they are actually scientifically proven?! One of the coolest benefits in my opinion, is the increased grey matter concentration in the brain, which includes regions of the brain responsible for muscle control, hearing, memory, emotions, speech, decision making, and self-control. 

7. UNPLUG. These days we are so connected to technology with our TVs, phones, tablets, and forms of media right at our fingertips 24/7 that we often become unconscious to the world around us. Technology does have some great benefits that we use everyday and I would never argue against responsible use of it, but it's becoming increasingly obvious that we are developing an unhealthy attachment to it--that some of us don't even realize, which is the sad part. Technology does indeed have a power-off button, we just need to learn how to use it. Unplugging helps decrease feelings of jealousy/envy/loneliness, combats the fear of missing out, gives us time to actually focus on our existence and of others, and brings us back to living in the moment. If you're not living in the moment, you're not living at all. We are constantly missing out on authentic, real, experiences that are happening in front of us everyday and many will never repeat themselves. Also, we are losing our sense of social connection with each other because of the social media world. These days it's hard for people to keep eye-contact or even have a conversation because they don't know how to. It's important that we recognize the need to unplug and however often, is up to you. 

8. Listen to your body. Take the time to have some 'me time' regularly. We rarely allow ourselves the chance to unwind and spend the time doing the things we love because we constantly feel the need to be doing something else. Schedule some regular 'me time' for yourself every so often to de-stress and regroup. This is essential to our happiness and is a chance to refocus on what really matters, you. It could be as simple as meeting a friend for dinner, going to the beach, watching a movie, taking a bath, or spending a relaxing day at the spa. Anything that makes you feel good and allows you the time to relax and have a good time is definitely worthwhile. 

9. Exercise!! This is one of the best things you can do for your body, all you have to do is move it. Yoga is one of my favorite ways to exercise because it's relaxing and it is also a form of meditation. First exercise helps control weight, which is very important to maintain. It also helps combat health conditions and diseases if done regularly. In addition, exercise improves mood and boosts your energy, which is why you always feel so good after working out! It also helps us get a better night's sleep and as long as you have a positive attitude about it, it can be fun! A lot of people I know also workout to release stress and get their mind off things, which is another one of its great benefits!

10. Lastly, keep a gratitude journal. Once you become more aware of your body you will become more aware of the mindset within. Having a positive outlook on life is the foundation for a happy life. Be grateful for everything that has brought you to where you are today. Once a week, or every night (which I suggest) think about all the things you're grateful for and write them down. They can be as small as the sock on your foot, to as big as the home you live in. When you sit down and force yourself to think about and write out all the things you are grateful for in life, you will begin to focus on these things more than you focus on the things you complain about. Gradually you will get to a point in life where you no longer think about things you're without, but rather appreciate all that you have. Too often we choose to focus on the negatives in life and complain about things that are so insignificant in the bigger scheme of things. A gratitude journal will help ground us and help us to be more thankful for the many blessings we have, yet often forget about. 

These are ten things I do to treat my body like a temple! There are countless more you can try, which all lead to a happier and healthier life for yourself and those around you. It is important with all the negativity in the world, to be a person that spreads light, positivity, and to overall be a proliferator of good vibes. Start today, make a change, start treating yourself the way you deserve to be treated! Love yourself, take care of yourself, for you are the most important thing in your life! 

Know Yourself

Who are you? A question we so rarely ask ourselves, yet has such a defining impact on our lives. What are your goals and aspirations? What do you enjoy? What are your fears? What are your strengths and what are your weaknesses? What makes you smile and laugh? What makes you cry?

We often go through life labeling ourselves to a particular group or culture and we let ourselves become influenced and pressured into being someone we're not. Be yourself--such a cliche statement however, vital to your mental, physical, and spiritual well-being.

Though, sometimes it is difficult for some of us to be ourselves due to the fact that we are so unaware of who we are as an individual. And you may think you know yourself so well, but I'm here to tell you that you don't. You don't know who you are--you may know who you have become based off of outside influences, people, and environments...but this is different from who you are.

Getting to know your true self requires a deeper level of desire and understanding within. Who you are, is everything about yourself, minus anything and everything that you use to identify yourself with. Furthermore, many times we define or identify ourselves relative to our experiences. However, experiences aren't meant to define us, but rather teach us lessons and help us to grow and evolve to a 'better' us. For example, when you ask the question "Who are you?" to most people, you will get answers like "police officer, mom, basketball player, CEO, student, actor" and sometimes you'll even come across some such as, "rape victim, alcoholic, orphan, criminal." Those are just some examples of how some people choose to identify themselves, based off of experiences. Some people take pride in these labels or are shameful, however getting to know yourself isn't about being prideful or shameful, it's about being truthful and allowing yourself to live honestly.

If you live your entire life based on these identities you confine yourself to self-built walls. When you place these labels on yourself, you are completely throwing out the window, the opportunity of finding out who you are. You place limits on yourself, when in fact, you are limitless. These boundaries you allow are ultimately hindering you from reaching your full potential. In my opinion, one shouldn't identify with your experiences; you are then only going to continue to let them define you. I'm not saying experiences are bad, but they definitely aren't all good. An individual who may have once been a victim in the past, although pain endured, should not let their past and victimization lay the path for their future and who they are as a person--which many people do. However, it is important to acknowledge it and use it as a tool to grow and move on. Now, let's spin it the other way even if you are the most accomplished individual in the world, that doesn't necessarily define you as an individual. If all of these things on the outside were taken away, who would you be?

Knowing yourself requires much more observing and seeking, above just the physical. A lot of us pass through life unhappy because we don't consciously choose who we are or what we are, we rather just allow ourselves to be framed by the outside world. I'm sure you've heard people say "I need to find myself" or "I need to figure out who I am"--which isn't as cliche as it sounds. The majority of us truly don't know who we are, and that's not a bad thing--but it definitely doesn't work against you if you try and figure it out. Benefits only.

Observing the way your mind and thoughts develop is the first step of getting to know who you are. Many people think who you are is that 'little voice in your head'--but contrary to popular belief, you are actually a step above that little voice. And the reason I conclude to this is because many, many times that little voice in your head tells you bad things, thinks bad thoughts, gets depressed, isn't motivated, and often takes us down the wrong path. That little voice in your head is the voice that's been conditioned by its environment and lives to impress and appease others. That little voice sometimes doesn't speak to us in our best interest--for example, I don't know about you, but sometimes that little voice in my head thinks scary things or bad things that I definitely don't agree with or want to manifest. That is the moment I realized that the little voice wasn't me. The real me doesn't want to be afraid or want bad things to happen. The real me wants to be happy and feel good 24/7. The real me is the consciousness that observes this little voice--it observes these negative thoughts and doesn't allow them to snowball and make me feel bad or sad, the real me makes the effort to be myself, do good things, and be happy.

The most liberating thing I have experienced in life was the moment I finally realized I wasn't the person I thought I was my entire life. Something we all are gifted with the opportunity to do. I was someone brand new. Someone different and someone who is able to do, be, and think whatever they wanted. So often, we feel like we are obligated to stay the same to make people happy--but that is so far from the truth. We are not obligated to be the same person we were a year ago, a month ago, or even a few minutes ago. The whole point of life is to grow, change, and better yourself. I realized that I am shapeless, formless, and no longer confined to the walls I had built up around me. I no longer had an expectation of who I should be, rather I just was. I no longer had the aim to please anyone, I now put myself first and appreciate the ability to know I can live without feeling like I am living up to an expectation. Once you learn that you are capable of living like this, you no longer deceive yourself or try and hide the way you feel or things you think--instead, you acknowledge them and observe them without judging yourself for it. You become transparent and therefore, allow yourself to grow. You're able to evolve because you are now aware and conscious of your existence, which consists of the actions, thoughts, and beliefs which once shaped who you thought you were. You are now able to improve yourself in every aspect and you actually have the desire to do so because you now know that you can.

Before this realization, I was completely blind to the idea that I was able to control everything about myself; I used to let people have power over me, something that many of us don't realize we allow. I let people guide and influence my actions, decisions, and feelings. I allowed them to make me mad, sad, irritated, and even happy. And you're probably wondering why I threw happy in there, but that's because you can't give someone or something power over your happiness. I have learned that you are the only person who can allow yourself happiness, as it is something that manifests from within. We live our whole lives searching for things to make us happy and when we get them, we believe we are finally happy--but only for a short period, until we desire something else. It then becomes a cycle of constantly seeking happiness from outside things and labels, when all this time it comes from internal and not external factors. It is your natural state of being. That is the real you--the one who wants to be happy, not the one who tries to be something you're not.

Getting to know myself was definitely a process and it didn't happen overnight. But, it all stemmed from the desire of wanting more in life for myself. I knew there was more to the life I was living before. Previously, I was just going through the motions--now, I create the motions. Who am I? I am everything and anything I want to be. I am happy. I am blessed. I am motivated. I am me and nobody else, and that's the greatest thing about life. There is nobody else like you, so be yourself and don't feel the need to identify as somebody you're not. That is what makes us all great.

Now, who are you?

Confidence is Key

According to Merriam-Webster confidence is defined as: a feeling or consciousness of one's powers or of reliance on one's circumstances.

Confidence is the feeling or belief that you can do something, succeed at something, that something will happen, or that something is true.

Confidence is key is any situation. It's a frame of mind that allows you to reach your highest potential. When you are confident in yourself and of your journey, you are optimistic--and when you are optimistic you are invincible to nothing, but yourself.

Having confidence is yourself is truly the foundation of success. Believing that I am capable and of highest regards keeps me motivated to do anything I desire.

When you are confident, you have no fear of the unknown. You refuse to create fear in your mind of what doesn't serve your best interest. When you are confident, you pay no mind to what others think of you. We often allow ourselves to fall victim and throw our confidence out the window because we are afraid of the outcome or fear the judgement of others.

However, this lack of confidence ultimately does NOTHING for us, except hinder our growth, success, and optimism.

Learn to trust yourself. Believe in yourself. You are the most important person in your life, so it's necessary that you have faith in everything that you are and will be. If you can't trust yourself, who can you trust?

Recognize that you are the shit (when it comes to figures of speech). You were perfectly created to be exactly who you are and equipped with everything you need to succeed at anything you pursue in life. You just have to allow yourself to find that confidence within.

Be confident in your own skin. Don't compare yourself to others; we do this so much as humans and it really makes no logical sense. It is impossible to be anyone, but yourself--so stop the envy and jealousy, for this is only an illusion we create in our mind that serves us no good. You are you and that's all there is to it. You are beautiful and capable once you see yourself as such--not because someone says so.

You are smart because you trust your intelligence, instinct, and seek knowledge--not because you score well on a test or get good grades.

You are successful because you are continuously meeting your goals in life--not because there is a measurement for success in life.

Someone can tell you these things and feed you compliments over and over, but if you don't believe them yourself,
they have no value. You have to believe that you are everything wonderful, and you will be.

We get so caught up in doubt, fear, and uncertainty within ourselves that we forget all the greatness we are truly capable of

We forget how we are unique in every single way. There is literally no one person out there who is you, but yourself. Nobody has the same DNA, genetic makeup, features, qualities, knowledge, wisdom, experience, or perception that you do. Now, in my opinion, that's a pretty big deal. Appreciate that you are 1 of 1.

Instead of focusing on your fears, flaws, and fumbles in life--focus on how those things have shaped you and allowed you to grow into the CONFIDENT person you are today.

Only you have the power to award yourself with confidence and it all starts with the way you look at yourself and your circumstances.

I am everything that I am meant to be. I am perfect in my own way. I am capable of anything.

Your mind will believe anything you tell it. Nourish it with faith, truth, and love.

Do Good, and Good Will Come Back To You

I am a firm believer in the truth that if you do good, good will come back to you. And to clarify this phrase--not only do good, but also think good thoughts and say good things. And the reason I refer to this as the truth is not because I woke up one day and decided it was, but because I have realized that through experience and lessons learned that there is no other way to live.

I have been thinking about this a lot lately because so many people fail to realize that this is truly the only way to attract good and positivity into your life. Through the observation of many people such as: strangers, friends, and family--I have realized that those who judge, hate, criticize, speak negatively, complain, and continue to think and do 'bad' things, are those who continuously lead unhappy lives. This is because they have chosen not to allow themselves to do good, think good, and speak good. When someone decides not to do such, they are essentially denying themselves the opportunity to live a happy and prosperous life. A flower cannot grow, if you choose not to water it.

When you begin to live in alignment with love, positivity, and compassion through your actions, thoughts, and words--your life becomes to reflect as such.

Start complimenting people, be happy for their success, help others, essentially DO GOOD. You will begin to see that in doing so, you attract all the energy that you put out into the world. The moment you start to eliminate negativity from your mind, heart, and words--you immediately start to cultivate a space within, where your happiness can't be shaken because everyone knows 'you reap what you sow'.

If you are someone who feels like they have nothing going for them and thinks that they are unworthy or incapable of living a good and happy life--you must first and foremost, IMMEDIATELY eliminate that thought and feeling from your space. For that thought and feeling of pessimism only continues to attract such--that negativity you are giving life through those thoughts and emotions is ultimately the thing keeping you from even beginning the process of living a good life.

Once you change your perception, a space within opens up for more good to grow eventually leading to greater opportunity. You will gradually learn that all you had to do was live in alignment with what you desire--that being, all good things life has to offer. It's really simple, yet some of us have such a hard time because we are unable to see that we can control our thoughts and actions in order to mirror the life we want.

Some can agree that the quote, "Learn to see the good in everything" is cliche--but it couldn't be any more true. Once you teach yourself to look at the positives instead of the negatives (something we've been conditioned to do the opposite of), you will notice that as your perception shifts, you are allowing yourself to now see them and act upon them. They have been there all along, we've just been blinded by the idea that we have no control in attracting the good that comes to us.

Many people believe in the ideas of luck or coincidence. However, I have learned that there is no such thing of either. Good things don't happen to you because you got lucky or because 'it just so happens' that this perfect event occurred with no logical reason. Rather, good things happen to you because you consciously made a decision to do good, see good, and think good thoughts--ultimately, resulting in an
abundance of good for you to be happy about!

Love Yourself and Get Rid of Insecurity

Having insecurities is a blessing and a curse. They are a blessing if you know how to grow from them, but a curse if you only stay a victim to them. In my opinion, most of us are victims of our insecurities. In addition, they often don't serve us any good because so many of us are unaware as to how to alter the way we feel about them.

Too often we let our insecurities get the best of us. We let them ruin friendships, relationships, jobs, opportunities--the list goes on. They cause you to continuously have a sense of void or needing to be something, somebody else, or to be validated for your actions. However, instead we need to learn to embrace our insecurities in order to better ourselves and learn to love ourselves unconditionally. Once we are able to identify them as they are, we then gain the ability to turn those weaknesses into strengths. 

Furthermore, many people can't admit or are often unaware of their lack of love for themselves, which is a very important aspect of being insecure. Everyone always says, "love yourself" blah blah blah. However, nobody ever really sits you down and tells you exactly what that means. They don't teach you in school how to love yourself, and I'm sure if they did many of us wouldn't even take the course because a large percentage of us are unconscious to the fact that we actually, don't love ourselves. Why? Most likely because we aren't even sure how to.

Loving yourself means refraining from judgement because you know you're not perfect. Loving yourself means being comfortable with the actions of others and not letting their words or actions disturb your peace. It means that you are filled with confidence and strength in everything that you do. When you love yourself unconditionally, it means that you want nothing, but love and greatness for yourself as well as others. So in turn, you reject anything or anyone that doesn't value you, the way that you value yourself. It means that you are so comfortable and secure with yourself in all aspects that you don't desire anything or anyone to make you feel complete. When you learn to love yourself, you learn that you are deserving of all good things life has to offer and that nothing has the power to get in the way of your happiness. 

So often, we as humans enjoy pointing out other peoples' flaws or mistakes, but always fail to look in the mirror and recognize our own. This is a huge sign that many of us aren't yet capable of loving ourselves. We get extremely caught up and so distracted by this, that many of us don't even realize that we're guilty of it. 

Just imagine if we spent the same amount of time that we do worrying or talking about other people--and rather focused that energy on ourselves. Can you imagine how much better we would be as individuals? If we loved ourselves so much that we focused more on how to fix and better ourselves, rather than on others we would all have the potential to be so great. 

A lot of the time, insecurity becomes a huge subject when it comes to relationships. If you are in a relationship, I'm sure many can relate when I say, we often blame our partner for everything or make them feel bad about things that they probably already recognize--rather than take responsibility for the way we feel. 

However, just like everyone else-- including you, they will also make mistakes and shouldn't be criticized and judged by someone who loves them. When you learn to love yourself, you begin to want the same for them. Wouldn't you love to see your partner embrace their flaws, mistakes, and insecurities in order to grow and learn from them? When you begin pointing the finger, you do the complete opposite and instead hinder their growth rather than promote it. Although it may be coming from a place of no harm, recognize that you don't enjoy the feeling of being criticized by someone who doesn't have all of their shit together either. 

When you're constantly criticizing, arguing, and blaming others for your unhappiness--you have let yourself become a victim of your own insecurities. You, and only you are responsible for your thoughts, actions, and ultimate happiness. Loving yourself means allowing yourself to be happy, which can only be accomplished by letting go of all the thoughts and feelings that don't promote that happiness. Once you begin complaining, reacting off of emotion, and pointing the finger--you have forgotten what it means. 

Start by forgetting what others think. Forget what they think about you, your job, your appearance, your financial situation, your relationship, the list is never-ending. In the end, you have no control over the way people view you. There are always going to be those who don't like you or judge you from afar, but you can't live your life worrying about what others think of you. So many people live their lives trying to be a people-pleaser in hopes that everyone will like them, only to find out that in the end it caused them to be everything, but happy. 

In addition, focus more on yourself from now on. Learn things about yourself and lessons from yourself. Begin to be aware of your emotions. Learn what types of things or which people trigger you to be happy, mad, sad, or otherwise. Once you begin to recognize and learn these things about yourself--rather than be a victim of your emotions, you will instead learn to control them and understand the importance of consciously recognizing them and the reason they arise. This will further lead to your ability of gaining a higher emotional intelligence.

For example, let's say something someone does makes you very angry. First of all, I'm sure we can all agree that we don't enjoy being angry. So if you have no choice, but to be around this person all the time and they continue to make you mad--once you become aware that whatever it is that they do makes you mad, are you going to continue to let it anger you every time? Now that would just be crazy, to be aware of something that makes you mad, only to continue to let it bother you over and over again. Most people would say that instead of handling the situation within and learning to let the anger go, they would choose to confront or scold this person for their action. 

However, this goes back to pointing the finger and blaming others for the way you feel, when ultimately you are the only person truly capable of controlling your emotions. Now the same goes, when I say you also won't like everybody--and you don't have to, it's natural to not get along with everyone. But you can't live your whole life sitting around waiting to nag everyone about something they do, and at the same time expect to live a happy life. The two aren't in parallel, it just doesn't make sense. 

Another thing we should all learn to do is to try and stop complaining so much. We love to complain about anything and everything; the weather, our job, our money, etc. Complaining is a sign of insecurity in ANY situation. Try and be more conscious and aware of when you are in an uncomfortable situation where you feel the urge to complain. Now, rather than complain--just recognize it and evaluate and reflect as to why you feel uncomfortable with it. Notice how much better you'll feel and how much happier you become when you learn to eliminate complaining from your life. If you can control it, change it or do something about it--if it's out of your control, let it go and don't worry about it anymore. 

Once you rid yourself of insecurity and instead turn it into a tool for growth, you will be better suited to love not only yourself unconditionally, but others as well. Although it is still an ongoing process, nobody told me these things, I had to learn on my own and from my past. 

Not all of us will mirror the same insecurities or situations, however these are some important lessons I have learned from observing my own, as well as other peoples' experiences--as I find them the key to living a happy and peaceful life. 

Once you learn to see the beauty of everything about yourself, you will also begin to see the beauty in everyone and everything surrounding you. 

Spend Time Doing Things You Love

If you're anything like me, you feel like you always have to be doing something. I'm always trying to figure out the next task I have to finish or I momentarily stress over deadlines I have to meet. It takes a lot for me to just sit back and chill.

However, I have learned that is sometimes exactly what I need to do. I love being productive and doing things that better myself, but after taking some time for myself I realized that I actually need to put aside some time to enjoy life and spend time with people I normally wouldn't have time for.

It's important that in the process of meeting your goals, you spend time having fun, living life, and surrounding yourself with people who are just as goal-oriented as you are. Although I love working towards my bigger picture, after spending so much time doing so, I slowly recognized my need for a little fun.

Now, there's nothing wrong with going out and having fun--but for me, I just don't always like being around people or doing things that aren't looking out for my best interest. Now, not all people enjoy doing the things I have learned to appreciate, but the few that do are definitely friends for life.

Traveling is one of the things that I have learned to love. Although I love being in the comfort of my own home, I have also learned that it's important to step out of my comfort zone--see things I haven't seen, go places where I've never been, meet interesting people that I wouldn't have met otherwise. These are the little experiences that add that much more to this thing we call life.

I'm pretty good at balancing my work load, but I know some of us get really stressed out over things we have to do, or worry about things that are out of our control. During this time is when you need to make time for yourself, because you are your biggest investment--so, invest in a little time for yourself, even if it's only for an hour. Let yourself take a break, relax, have fun, travel.

We often get so caught up in work, relationships, finances, and the countless other things that we should never have to worry about. All of these things should serve you, not the other way around. Don't let these aspects of life control you. Once you get to the point where you're being affected negatively, no matter at what level--take a break. All of those things don't become important anymore once your happiness, health, and peace become disturbed.

However, some of us take a break to distract ourselves from the things we have to handle. It's important to recognize the difference of distraction and vacation. I personally don't do things to distract myself from what I have to do. I like to handle my business, put in some work in whatever it is that I have to do--then I reward myself with some time for myself. For those who do this a little too often, distracting yourself then becomes a habit--and therefore becomes detrimental to your progress. Push through whatever it is you have to do, then present yourself with some time off.

Anything I do in life must add some sort of benefit to my life and if it doesn't, I eliminate it--no matter what or who it is. Once you begin to take control of your life, including taking the time to better yourself, as well as spending time doing the things you love, you'll better appreciate the time you spend working.

I found that when I take a little vacation or break from all that I have to do, I come back even more motivated then I was before.

Be Patient, You Are Where You Need To Be

Sometimes I feel like I have so many things that I want to do and I let myself become stressed out, as I become impatient and dissatisfied with the position I'm in.

However, I have to constantly remind myself that I need to be patient and that everything is a process with a successful outcome. Although I have failed countless times, all my actions I recognize as successes. They are successes not because they turned out the way I wanted them to, but because they turn out the way they needed to in order for me to grow, improve, and learn. And if in every circumstance I grow, improve, and learn--that only makes me a better person and only furthers my evolution in all areas. And when I become a better person, that is a success in every aspect of the word.

Only when I was able to learn to appreciate the process of my work and everything else, was when I truly realized I am exactly where I need to be. If anything in my life were any different, if I would have rushed anything, or changed the way I had done a task, I wouldn't be exactly where I am right now. I wouldn't have learned the things I know now, I wouldn't have been put in the places that God and the universe wanted me in. I wouldn't have met all the wonderful people who have been put in my life at random and unexpected moments, who have learned from me and vice versa.

However, if you are a person who feels like they aren't where they should be, or if you are unhappy with the place you are in
--switch up the way you look at things. Be aware of the way you feel and why you feel that way. You can't blame people or circumstances for this, but instead take responsibility for not letting yourself be happy in the position you are in. Rather than seeing everything as negative or hindering to yourself, see these things as positive and necessary for your growth and happiness. Instead of creating negative energy that makes you feel shitty, let it go. Let the bad stuff go, and now try and only focus on the good. Become grateful for them, rather than hateful of them. Once you change the way you look at things, the things you look at will change.

Being patient isn't always easy. Patience comes with the necessary action of trusting yourself--and unfortunately, many of us don't trust ourselves. That is one of the most important and vital components of being happy and succeeding, is being able to trust that you are capable, committed, and motivated enough to accomplish your goals. Without having trust in yourself, how can you have trust in the process of your actions? You can't. It doesn't add up. You must first establish the trust within yourself, which will then carry over into having trust with the process of everything that comes your way.

Often, I become very anxious because things don't go my way, or don't turn out exactly the way I expected them to. But I had to learn to appreciate the art of uncertainty and learn to see everything as a success, no matter how I felt about it. Sometimes we let our emotions control so much of ourselves, but what we don't realize at that moment is that emotions are just temporary states of being which we often act upon. I have learned that no real decision can be based off of emotion. Often times when we act off of emotion, we regret it or ponder on whether it was the right thing to do. We often say things or do things we don't mean based off of anger, sadness, or even temporary excitement and happiness. We don't take enough time to evaluate the process and consequences of the way things may turn out when we decide to do things differently then we are supposed to.

I have learned that I have to see things as a map, rather than just a pinpoint or destination. When I look at things through the layout of a map, it gives me the chance to see the bigger picture. I am able to see other roads I may take, shortcuts, roadblocks, and things that may get in the way of where I'm trying to go. I am able to better appreciate and see the process of the journey from a different perspective, rather than just focusing on the destination. When you focus only on the pinpoint of your destination, you are blinded to all the good and bad things that come along with the journey. You are unable to see the signs, pitstops, or detours along the way, that are ultimately there for your benefit.

Being patient has made me appreciate the little setbacks that come with everything. Rather than hating them or becoming irritated or anxious with them like I used to be, I now see them as necessary for my growth and improvement overall. I see them as tests and evaluations that remind me that everything, no matter what it is--is a process that involves twists and turns, ups and downs, that will eventually get me to where I need to be in life. Sometimes unfortunate events mask themselves to be negative, but they are only a test where you are the person who gets to decide whether or not you turn that negative into a positive. Furthermore, with every negative, there is a positive waiting to be seen from an alternate perspective.

We are all so desperate to understand why things don't go our way, or why things take longer than we expected them to. But we are the ones who actually fail to be understanding of the process. It's no surprise that expectation leads to disappointment, and I feel like I am constantly reminding myself and others that we have to be absolutely comfortable with having no expectations. We must learn to be patient and comfortable knowing that not everything will go our way, and that's OK. Once you master this and the art of patience, nothing will ever disturb your peace. And when begin to control that one aspect of yourself, you will slowly realize that you will always succeed, regardless of anything that comes your way. You just have to remember that you are exactly where you need to be. Everything happens the way it's supposed to.

My Uber Driver, Hannington.

So usually with Uber drivers, a conversation can be a very weird, silent, or awkward encounter. But today, Hannington picked me up & little did I know we would have such an in depth conversation about life. With a little small talk to begin, I learned that he was from Zimbabwe, Africa and he learned that I was a journalism major. 

He then continued in saying that I HAD to help him with a plan that he has to revolutionize , aid, and empower the African people with a new economic system. He told me he was dyslexic and had a hard time writing and reading--which then hinders him in pursuing and sharing his plan with others. We then continued in talking about why Africa is the way it is, which can also be relative to the human race as a whole. 

They don't understand anything more than what they've been presented. All they know is the tradition, culture, and oppression of their people in simply trying to survive in poverty. We agreed in that, all people's truth is imbedded in their perception and that individuals are incapable of reaching their full mental capacity and consciousness because of the framework they've been conditioned to. 

Hannington also shared his ideas about how we are so money driven in this world which creates a void in many people's lives--the market (who will always be making money) makes us think we need the perfect house, the perfect car, material things and they give us the opportunity to gain these things, but only if we take out loans or let ourselves fall in a hole of debt, while the rich get richer in the consumption and purchase of these things which we truly cannot afford. 

We also talked about the universe and consciousness, as well as the ability to manifest your desires based on a liberating and open mindset. He said the energy that you put out is what you will receive and that ultimately, thoughts become things. Which is one of the main ideas I live my life founded on. Immediately within our conversation, I explained to him that our paths had crossed for a reason (all because I needed an uber driver) but also because he needed my help in pursuing this plan of his, from me, a journalism student with a capacity to understand his passion and perseverance to create a better world. Our energies attracted to positively make a difference and to help each other further our evolution as a human race. 

It's very rare to come across a person to passionate about helping other people. In today's world, like I mentioned, people have a hard time having a conversation with someone who's helping them get a ride somewhere. Meeting Hannington was so motivating and empowering; to know that there are people like him trying to inspire and pursue their dreams while at the same time trying to help others is such a remarkable thing. His understanding of the world and ability to see things through different perceptions truly makes him a more liberated person, than any other. People like Hannington give me hope in our people to make the world a better place, regardless of where you come from--with a positive mindset and passion to pursue your dreams, anything is possible. 

Play Your Cards Right

Too many times we know the consequences of our actions, but still choose to take a wrong turn.

Eventually, you have to take accountability for the position you're in and if you aren't exactly where you want to be, then you should probably make some sort of change. Turn your circumstances around and put yourself in the position to succeed. Some of us are too complacent with being unhappy or don't mind the feeling of dissatisfaction.

I don't know about you, but I am the only person responsible for motivating myself. Although I do have a supportive group of people surrounding me in all aspects of life-- nobody ever told me what to do with my life, nobody ever held my hand throughout every part of my life. There isn't always going to be someone there for you every step of the way to tell you what to do and where to go. Things change when you grow up. Often times you feel like you have the weight of the world on your shoulders, but what nobody told you is that all you have to do is get a little stronger and after awhile it doesn't become so heavy.

Has anyone ever told you that you are capable of doing/being whatever/whoever you want to be? What do you want? Who do you want to be? What do you want out of life? Whatever it may be, go get it. Many of us have the answers to these questions, while some of us don't. If you don't have the answers, then take the quality time to figure out what truly brings you happiness. And, if you do have the answers, then start living your life in parallel to manifest those desires.

Everything you do is founded on a decision that YOU made. So, why don't we decide to start doing things we know will pay off in the future? Think about it--you are exactly where you are because of the decisions you made. They might have been subconscious decisions you made out of emotion or routine, but they were still based off of choice. Now instead of being so passive in our decision making, how about we try to become more aware of our actions and the decisions we make? Only then, are we are able to ponder on whether or not they will serve us good in the future.

A question I repeatedly ask myself throughout the day is, "What are you doing at this moment in your life that is going to get you to where you want to be in the future?", and if I'm doing something that isn't in correspondence with that, then I make a change. At that point, is when I give myself the power to change my life at will and hold myself accountable for the circumstances I'm in. In doing so, there is no way for me to make excuses or point the finger at others for where I am in life.

It is the most liberating feeling to know that you are capable of achieving everything you've ever wanted to. To some of us, this is a frightening thing. Some of us are scared of making changes because we are all too comfortable with life and see change with fear in our eyes. Or, some of us are just too lazy to put in the effort and hard work necessary to get to where we want to be. And instead, we decide to settle for something less than what we desire.

What good ever came from settling? Why not go the extra mile? Not everyone does, and at times it may be a little lonely. However, once you understand that you're allowed to be a little selfish in this way, you won't have a problem with being alone. Try not to depend on anyone too much, as you are the only person you truly need to be happy.

It's not always easy to take the road less traveled, but it certainly takes you places where others have never been. Play your cards right, and you'll realize that everything that once seemed so far out of reach, is now at your fingertips.

Don't Give Anything Too Much Importance

Throughout our lives we let ourselves worry and stress out too much over things that are temporary parts of life. We create this story in our heads about the past and then worry about what may happen in the future. All this time, many of us fail to realize that no matter what happens we have no other choice but to be OK. We can't worry about things that we have no control over. So why don't we instead, choose to be happy? Why don't we stop thinking so much? Why don't we stop giving so many things the importance that they really don't deserve? It's essential that we learn to let go of these things.

The only truly important thing in life is yourself, but isn't it ironic that we pay so little attention to us and instead worry about everything else around us? You would think we would take a little bit more time caring for ourselves, loving ourselves, and listening to ourselves--but instead we let our environment and the outside world distract us from the bigger picture. We are that bigger picture.

Nobody ever teaches us to really look deep down into who we are without letting our surroundings and experiences define us.

"Who are you?"--one of the most difficult questions people come across and many often have a hard time answering it. We let so many outside and insignificant things define us as an individual and many times they aren't positive influences.

We have to detach ourselves from these things that we give so much importance to. We hold these things up in our mind; whether they be people, material possessions, relationships, events--we hold them up to an expectation and when they disappoint us (just like we already know they will) we let our whole world crumble before us. And then we decide to blame everything/everyone but ourselves for our unhappiness. Now, that doesn't make a lot of sense.

So why do we give this power over ourselves to things that truly have shouldn't have the importance that we entitle them? We put so much of our energy and happiness into things and then wonder why we end up sad, mad, or disappointed so many times. In order to truly be happy we need to be comfortable living a life knowing that anything can happen. We need to get rid of expectation and give up attachment in order to live a happy life.

Take the time to write down the things that you give so much of your time, energy, and thoughts to and truly ponder on whether or not they have the power to alter your happiness. If they do, let them go. You don't have to delete these things from your life--but you must let them go, let them be, they don't belong to you, they are all temporary things that we let ourselves be affected by. Enjoy them, appreciate them, love them, see the beauty in them, find the humor in them, but don't let them control your happiness--there is a huge difference.

Find humor in the situations that cause you to question your comfort. Life is pretty funny if you think about it--you are reading this right now. You are in the moment. Regardless of how many years you've lived, how many things you thought would ruin you or make you unhappy, all the things that once made you mad, and all the people that once made you sad--are not important in this very moment. That is because they are all temporary things we let our minds grab onto and run with. At that moment we let those things make us who we once were--but contrary to popular behavior, you should always be YOU no matter what happens.

 There should be nothing in the entire universe that should ever make you anything but happy. It's all about what we give importance to.

Surround Yourself with Positive People

Positivity is the best thing you can surround yourself with--as it is the foundation for peace, love, and happiness.

The most important things that influence our actions and emotions, are often people. That's why it is essential to our well-being that we surround ourselves with positive people who love us and look out for our best interests.

Haven't you ever noticed that after hanging around someone you begin to feel the energy they give off?

Many times we let the behavior and words of others destroy our inner peace. Although it may seem like we have no control over it, you have to believe that you do. Frequently we give the excuse that "we're only human" or that we are "too forgiving" or "too nice".

But, there has to be a point in your life where you make a decision to start controlling your own happiness and make the effort to rid your life of toxicity and bad energy. After awhile, we begin to let people take a toll on us, which ultimately leaves us with the feeling of discomfort and unhappiness.

We have to learn to keep our distance from pessimism and people who assume the worst of most situations. It becomes an unhealthy environment to be in and a feeling of discouragement and negativity often lingers.

Many times we are our own worst enemies--in our minds and in our hearts. We don't need any other outside influence of negativity to keep us somewhere where we don't want to be in our lives.

Isn't it a great feeling when you have someone who is so full of positivity and encouragement it starts to rub off on you? These are the kind of people we need to have in our lives--people who are encouraging, drama-free, and those who will lift you higher. Those who refuse to let negative energy flow their way and those who recognize and appreciate the positives, are people who help us grow and improve.

We tend to keep people around that don't elevate us in any way, shape, or form. And most of the time we don't realize that this is keeping us from reaching our highest potential in any relationship--family, friends, or romantic. It is vital that we keep people in our life that truly motivate, love, inspire, and care for us. If you have people in your life that don't fulfill any of those, then it's okay to let them go.

I have learned from my own experiences that I am only going to be as good as the people I surround myself with, so I am comfortable with making changes to better myself as an individual and to let go of those who weigh me down.

The less you respond and engage with negative people, the more peaceful your life will become. We are the most important things in our lives, so we have to protect ourselves from what doesn't better us. Be with those who bring out the best in you and love yourself enough to know that you deserve everything good life has to offer.