Monthly Archives: August 2021

Future > Past = Your Future Is Always GREATER Than Your Past

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There are many people who are stuck thinking about their past or wish they could go back to a certain time of their lives. I suppose that it is normal to feel this way at times; however, we have to understand that life is always in motion and that it is always moving FORWARD. I thought of an easy equation that applies to life:

Future > Past

Your future is always greater than your past…

If you understand this golden rule of life, you will always feel invigorated thinking about your future–as you should! I want to emphasize that I am not promising a perfect future or saying that there aren’t going to be setbacks along the way. Of course, there are ups and downs within everyone’s life but understand that sometimes you need to go through the bad times to get to even greater times. The reason being is that you grow from these experiences and become stronger along the way.

Personally, I never get stuck in the past. Why? As I mentioned, I genuinely believe that the future is always greater than the past. There is so much to look forward to during the course of our lifetimes and many life experiences we have yet to experience. Isn’t it exciting to think about the FUTURE and where it could lead? 🙂

Why Modesty Is Attractive and How to Practice It

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I find modesty to be an incredibly admirable and attractive quality to possess and something that people should really try to practice more. Why? When someone is modest, they are not showy (aka a show off) and do not find the need to boast or brag about anything. I also truly believe that most people who are modest genuinely have a strong inner confidence and self assurance about them. Think about it, if a person is smart or good looking or some other desirable trait, they KNOW this already–so why do they need to outward say so? In other words, why state something that is obvious to themselves (and perhaps the outside world)? Whenever I hear someone have to literally state, “I’m really intelligent” or “I’m very successful,” there’s a high chance that this person actually isn’t or doesn’t think other people feel this way about them so they need to sell this idea in hopes that others will buy into it and perceive them as an elevated sense of self even though it is probably far from the reality. The other alternative is that this person feels they are lacking in other areas of self so they only want to focus on boasting about their positive attributes to compensate for what’s missing. Regardless of the underlying reason as to why a person feels the need to brag or show off, it just is NOT attractive nor is it necessary because as I said, people who are modest will not declare their positive qualities so explicitly.

To practice modesty, I recommend being mindful of how you portray yourself to others. I am not saying that you need to hide your achievements or how awesome your life is or that you can never talk up something that you are proud of. Of course it is natural to do this and I encourage you to do so when you feel it is justified; however, it is important to NOT constantly do this because it comes across that you are in constant need of validation or that you just like to brag about everything. In addition, it can sometimes make you appear like a narcissist–which I don’t think anyone finds attractive. A good example of this is when you see someone post a risqué photo on social media. Now on the one hand, if someone is proud about how they look, I don’t have a problem with that whatsoever. However, if these are the only types of photos that this person chooses to post then it just shows that this person not only needs a lot of attention to feel validated but that this person is far from modest. If someone already KNOWS they look good, then there’s no need to constantly sell this to the outside world. They know it, they own it, and they don’t have to over expose themselves to get the point across. Again, this all comes back to the point that it is important to be conscientious of how you display yourself and I don’t mean just physically but in all aspects of your life. You can still be a high value individual without being a show off about it. If you are modest, you actually heighten your value and attraction level because you convey a high confidence level which is always attractive.

Create Happiness by Chasing What Makes Your Soul Happy

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While there are those who may have more naturally happier temperaments than others, I think it is up to us as individuals to generate our own personal happiness. The things that make me happy are probably going to be different than the things that make you happy. So rather than trying to do what it appears everyone else is doing or doing things that generically are supposed to create happiness, I have a better idea. Take a moment to really ask yourself: What makes your soul happy? I mean seriously think about it. Whatever that comes to mind and I am sure there could be quite a list of things that make you happy, it is now time to take it a step further and actually chase the things that make your soul happy.

To this day, I will never forget a moment of solitude I had in my apartment at some point during my last semester of college where I was experiencing happiness on a really deep personal level. I remember I was completing an art project in my room while listening to some really good electronic music (as FYI, this is my favorite genre of music). I just remember thinking to myself, “Wow, I am truly in my happy place–being in a state of creation and listening to really good beats.” Amazing how the simplest of joys are the greatest joys, isn’t it? 🙂

For me personally, going through college on an academic level was very mentally draining. I always enjoyed going to school but when I hit college, I always felt as though I was out of my element and quite frankly–I was tired of having to constantly study and take tests. The thought of dropping out was never an option that crossed my mind because I was committed to finishing my Psychology degree despite what my plans were after college. I discovered the best way for me to get through college was to fill up all of my free electives with art classes. Although it would most have “made sense” for me to go to graduate school upon my undergraduate studies if I wanted to continue my academic path of pursuing Psychology, I decided I was going to go to makeup school instead right after graduation. I had no idea if I was making the right decision but what I did know at that time was that this decision ignited excitement as to where my future was going to go. I also knew that my soul was very happy choosing to go in this direction although I was unsure if I was going to like makeup artistry on a professional level, let alone be good at it. Circling back to that moment in my apartment working on that art project, despite any feelings of uncertainty I had in regards to radically changing my professional path in life, I knew at the same time that I was making the right decision because it just felt so good inside to be doing at that very moment what I loved most–CREATING. It was the validation I needed in knowing that this was a step in the right direction because I knew that I was pursuing something that would ultimately make me happy.

Everyone’s road to happiness is going to vary but you should always be in the driver’s seat to determine where your personal road leads. I think people are very often concerned with what they feel they “should be doing” or what others are doing but you should really just be focusing on what you’re doing and chasing all the things you love to ensure you are happy because that’s what matters most! On a final note, I look at it like this: We all have one life to live, so why not make it a happy one? 🙂

3 Benefits of Blogging – Why Everyone Should Consider Writing a Blog

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Although writing is not for everyone and many might feel they are not good at it, I think people should really take the time to reconsider. Blogging gives a person the opportunity to express themselves and share their personal content with the world–which could be about anything! I believe everyone has something to say and our thoughts are valuable enough to share with an audience. Even if people are not necessarily going to always agree with what you have to say or have a different outlook, it’s still worth putting it out there. There are endless benefits to blogging but I will just share a few that apply to me.

Positive Impact on Others – For me personally, I think it is wonderful to have a digital space in which I could impact others in a positive way. If even one person is touched by something I had to say, I am happy I took the time to write it. To have a platform where I could promote positive messages brings a tremendous amount of personal fulfillment and intrinsic happiness.

Connect with the World – It fascinates me when I look at my daily blog statistics through WordPress (that is where I created this blog website) and to see that readers from all over the world find my blog. Now when I say, “connect with the world” I didn’t just mean literally with people from various countries but I also meant it in a more general sense of just connecting with different people. I think blogging can bring people together by allowing people to share their comments and insight with each other.

Writing is a Great Hobby – I always loved to write so it comes natural for me to write in my spare time. It feels good to express myself through my words and even good knowing that people take the time to read what I have to say. Although there are times I might hit a few challenges of finding the time to write or a writer’s block where I am not sure what I want to write about for the week, once I get into writing mode, I enjoy the process of writing! Luckily, there is always something on my mind and I love to create, so there never is a shortage of topics! 🙂

[Final Note – Are you an expert on something? Are you passionate about something enough to write about it? I always say that, “thoughts become things” so if you think of something that you really want to write about, develop the idea and go with it! That’s honestly how I got started with this blog. I thought about it enough where I just had to make it happen–and you can too!]

Staying Healthy and Fit – 5 Things I Recommend Most

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Before I share some of my healthy habits, there are a couple things to first recognize when it comes to health and fitness. For starters, everyone’s personal standard of what’s “healthy” is going to vary and secondly, what works for me might not necessarily work for you in its entirety as there are various contributing factors such as your body type, age, current health, etc. So please keep this in mind as you are reading because it’s easy to follow advice and then wonder why you are not obtaining the exact same results. As I mentioned, it’s because every body is different but at the same time, my general health tips are ones in which anyone can pick up at any time to achieve their very own personal success–so that means you can keep reading. 🙂

To me, staying healthy and fit is not only a LIFESTYLE but it also is a COMMITMENT to self. Chances are, my personal health standards are probably much higher than the average individual which is why it seems like I put in a lot more effort than most people. I’m sure I probably don’t need to put in as much work as I do to obtain results but I look at it like this: Why settle on mediocre results when I can opt for the very best results? I do what I know works for me and if that means extra workouts or a little extra focus on what I am eating, then it definitely is worth it.

Put in the Physical Work by Lifting Weights and Adding Cardio – Sometimes people are scared to lift weights because they think it will make them appear too bulky. Again, everyone’s body is genetically built differently but generally speaking, lifting weights will give you a desirable body composition and tone you up in all the right areas. Personally, I try to lift weights for an hour a day. I’ll switch up the moves each day to target different muscle groups but each day will be a mix of moves so that I can do a full body workout as opposed to isolating certain muscle groups on certain days. In terms of cardio workouts, I think it’s helpful to incorporate cardio workouts to burn a few extra calories in the day and that it is also good for your heart. With cardio, I try to fit 30-60 minutes of cardio about 5 days a week. (If I don’t have the time to do both in a day, I would choose to lift weights given the choice).

Eat a High Protein Diet – In order to keep the muscle and stay strong, it is important to make sure you eat enough protein in a day and ideally at every meal. If you consistently lift weights but are not feeding your muscles, then all the physical work could go to waste which is why you need to make sure you have enough protein built into your diet. Some forms of protein that I eat on a daily basis include: chicken, fish, eggs, and whey protein. I will also eat turkey and red meat on occasion.

Pay Attention to Portion Control – When I say “portion control,” I do not want this to ever translate as starvation because you absolutely need to fuel your body with enough high quality foods and nutrients in order to stay healthy and build your muscles. What I simply mean is to be mindful of how much you’re eating during each meal and to really listen to your body when you are full–no matter how good the food is (depending on what it is, you can always save it and eat more of it at a later time).

Stay Consistent with Both Your Exercise and Diet – “Getting” in shape is one thing but “staying” in shape is another. When people are determined enough, they can easily get fit but often times they cannot stay fit. The reason is that there is not enough consistency. In order to obtain any type of long lasting results, you need to stay consistent. For me personally, I consistently go to the gym in the mornings, usually 5-7 days a week. If you are just starting out a good fitness regime, I would say a minimum of 3-5 days are needed to build up consistency. You can’t expect to stay in shape when you workout sporadically or you skip weeks of any form of physical activity. The same also goes with your daily diet. While it is okay to indulge and enjoy a good meal here and there, it is important to stay focused on eating healthier and higher quality foods on a regular basis.

Track Food and Physical Activity – While many people might not see the benefits of writing down what they eat and their physical activity for the day, I personally think it’s extremely important for staying focused and holding myself accountable. That is not to say that if I wasn’t writing this down that I’d skip going to the gym and just eat whatever I want but I do think I’m extra mindful of my actions when I know I’m tracking it everyday. It also is a helpful tool to track progress over time which is another reason why I recommend taking the time to record what you eat along with your workouts.

Don’t Ever Become a Beggar Within Your Dating Life

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There might be many instances in life where the expression, “Beggars can’t be choosers” applies but your dating life should never be one of them. People make excuses as to why they should settle or just date someone for the sake of having someone. I don’t care if you just got out of a relationship or marriage because failed relationships do not define you–finding love again can still be within your future. I don’t care how old you are because no one has an expiration date or a deadline as to when they find the love of their life. I don’t care if you’re currently unemployed, out of shape, have kids from a previous relationship, etc. Whatever the excuse is, it is time to throw them out the window because they are simply just excuses and do not have to stand in the way of you finding your very best relationship–whether that be with self (as there is nothing wrong with being single) or with a romantic partner.

It blows my mind when people apply these limitations because the result often leads to one settling for an undesirable relationship due to the belief that there are not enough options or a better suited option. Again, this is a scarcity mindset which prevents the creation of abundance in life. If you truly believe your options are limited, then guess what? Yeah, they unfortunately will stay limited because your inner most thoughts determine your reality.

In my opinion, choosing a life partner is one of the most important decisions you will ever make in life and not one you should ever take lightly. No matter what your current circumstance is, you should never feel pressured to settle or go through the motions of staying in a long term relationship if you do not feel it is the right fit. You need to set the bar high and keep that bar high because you are deserving to be with someone who you choose to be with and in return this person chooses you back. Remember, it has to go both ways because it is a lost cause if you choose someone who doesn’t value you in the same exact way.

I remember once hearing on a television show many years ago that you should be with someone in which you feel like you hit the lottery. In other words, you want to be with someone who makes you feel incredibly lucky to have in your life. The only difference is, winning the lottery is based on luck whereas with finding love, you essentially CHOOSE your luck which is why you need to be a CHOOSER in your dating life, not a beggar who is willing to take any person who comes their way. True love is always worth the wait so remember to choose very wisely! ❤

Even During Times of Misfortune – Still Count Your Blessings

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It is very easy to overreact or for your emotions to run high when something doesn’t go your way in your life. This can range from anything that might be very small or a big problem you are faced with. Personally, it is during these times that I try to remain as cool, calm, and collected (aka neutral) as possible. It is natural to react negatively but it is important to control your emotions and have the mindset: Everything is going to be okay. Usually in the grand scheme of things, everything is okay and whatever the trouble is will subside.

The next time something seemingly bad happens to you, I want you to reflect on a deeper level and actually find a way to count your blessings. Be thankful for the inner strength you are building and for the lessons that you are learning. It is during times of discomfort and misfortune that actually build your character and allow you to become a stronger person because it forces you to have to develop coping skills along with better managing your emotions.

Rather than focusing your energy on complaining or any type of negativity, it is much wiser to invest your energy towards GRATITUDE. Take a moment to be grateful (things easily could have been worse) and remember that everything in the long run will be okay! Life will not always be sunshine and rainbows on a daily basis but it still is important to look on the bright side simply by reacting as positively as possible despite whatever it is that you are going through right now. There is always a greater good at the end, don’t forget that! 🙂

“I Always Get What I Want” – A Manifestation Mantra That Works and Here’s Why

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When I think about what is stopping people from manifesting their desires, unfortunately, many people possess mental road blocks that get in the way or have a strong disbelief from the start that what they want can actually turn into a reality. People are also very much shaped by their past so if they have had any type of negative experience (ex: a failed marriage, getting fired from a job, etc.) then they might stay emotionally stuck in these moments which makes it incredibly difficult to actually move forward in life.

Despite anything you previously have experienced or any negativity that you might currently be holding on to, the good news is that life very well is always in a state of motion and best of all, you get to control the direction it goes in. So let’s apply a manifestation mantra that will reset your state of mind and guide you in the right direction: “I always get what I want.” I don’t know about you but I do not think it can get any more reassuring than that! By genuinely believing that you always get what you want, you actually are conveying to the Universe that you are deserving, fully capable, and ready to receive everything that your heart desires. On a subconscious level, you will also find that you will automatically do whatever it takes to make it happen while attracting infinite abundance in the areas of your life which you are looking to progress.

What happens when you don’t get something that you wanted? Do you lose hope? Do you then think to yourself, “The Universe failed me.” ABSOLUTELY NOT. Of course there are going to be instances in life where you aren’t presented with what you wanted or you are faced with rejection. That is all part of the journey and life will have its challenges along the way which might leave you feeling discouraged but my counter to this is: Something better is on the horizon. You need to remain focused that you are still in the process of receiving what you want and although it might be taking a very long time–trust me, it is on its way and will be worth it once it is received. It is important to not only trust the process but to be patient with the manifesting process. So please do not develop any doubts in your mind when you don’t receive something immediately, just remember to continue to repeat to yourself: I always get what I want and if it appears to be taking longer than expected, something much better is in the works–you have nothing to worry about! 😉

Don’t Just Know Better – Actually Do Better

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Often times we know what is best for us and what the right thing is but we don’t always follow that advice or listen to what we know is better. The first step is to gain knowledge but from there, we need to actually take the time to do better. In other words, taking the execution steps needed or the action required of us to make improvements, get ahead in life, and overall just better ourselves. For example, we know the importance of implementing a healthy diet paired with exercise to obtain optimal health. That is great information to know but the real question is, what are you doing about it? Are you putting wise knowledge into practice? My point is, knowing simply isn’t enough. We need to DO the things we KNOW is BEST. Nike said it best, “Just do it.”

Some people are more motivated than others which makes it far more easier for them to take action in life because they naturally have a high drive to want to do what is necessary to get to their end goals or simply be their very best in whatever it is that they gravitate to. If you aren’t the most motivated person, it actually is something that you can work on over time and not something to be discouraged about. How so you might ask…

Time and time again, I preach the importance of building a strong and positive mindset. When your mental foundation is working at its peak, only extraordinary things can come out of it. You will find that you can increase your motivation, determination, focus, and many other important attributes needed to then apply what you know into ways in which you can make it all happen. Remember, it is a great start to “know” but let’s not forget the “do” part!