The Age Old Question: Day 2 IFTL Mind, Body & Soul Challenge

image

Are you happy? (Deep Breath) … Generally, this is my thought process and emotions when I’m asked this question:

• Blank Stare: Seriously?
• Defensive: Uhm, Why am I being asked this question?
• Confused: Where is this question coming from?  Happy with what? My hair? My man? My career? My life? Etc.
• Judgmental: This question coming from someone who doesn’t seem remotely happy in his or her own life!
• Annoyed: Oh gosh here comes the lecture on love and life, again.
• Calm: Yes I am happy, no I am not, sometimes
• Lost: I truly don’t know

The “Are you happy” question, seems to be one of those "life’s cycle" questions that will continue to come up in conversations over the course of your life on earth (lol).  It’s just something that’s observed by people.  This question is kind of like a magnetic force that somehow finds it's way to the surface of a discussion, a chat, a lecture and my favorite advice, just to name a few.  It's a question that could come in 10-year intervals, or in three-week increments; dare I say it can be something asked on even a day-to-day basis.  Some may never here these words ever, and others simply run from the thought of having to answer it. 

I don’t think it's possible for a person to feel or even be happy 24/7, 365 days of the year, but I do believe that one can strive to live a happy life overall.  I find that people often conform to their environmental lifestyle, and settle for routine and comfort rather than work towards a customized existence that exudes the mere essence of who you are.  I believe that happiness is attainable.  It's there right in front of you, but you have to reach for it, hold on to it, and live it!   

Day 2:

Challenge: Physically stand in front of the mirror, and ask yourself, out loud, are you happy?

Journal Entry: Define what happiness is to you? Identify what is currently lacking, needs improvement, needs deletion or needs to be added to your lifestyle to increase your happiness factor

 Have a great one!

IFTL: Mind, Body and Soul Challenge!

Ladies welcome to the IFTL 30 Day Mind, Body and Soul (MBS) Challenge! I have been contemplating doing something like this for quite sometime now, but for some reason I always managed to veer away from it.  That’s the funny thing about the mind, it constantly prompts one to have ideas about doing something, but it can’t physically force you to do it.  To be honest, I was surprised that I even wanted to facilitate a challenge, because I have never successfully completed one that I have participated in, in the past.  There have only been two that I can recall, and the irony is that I started them; only to have them finish me, both times quitting before I could ever really commit.  Both were fitness challenges.

The motivation behind launching an MBS challenge on my blog simply comes from observing everyday life.  So often we find ourselves bombarded with daily tasks, not to mention fully engaging in the other roles we’ve signed up for in life; whether it be our careers, relationships, families and friends.  Sometimes it all can just get so overwhelming.  It is my firm belief that with self-improvement we can enhance the management of our day to day lives and activities.  This challenge is unique because it allows you to reconnect with yourself.  It forces you to take time out of your busy schedule and make some choices regarding your individual being.  By far it’s not complex, but it does require focus, commitment and honesty.  This challenge will not work if you’re not open to change.  Some may find that they are happy and have no improvements to embark on, and to that I say that’s awesome! But to others revelations will be made, and with those revelations will come decisions; undoubtedly, for the better. 

Ladies, you will need a journal for this challenge.  This journal will serve as a record for your thoughts, and hopefully create a visual map towards reaffirming a few of your goals.  There is no requirement on how lengthy your entries should be, at the end of the day you are your own audience.  This is the perfect time to take this journey.  So grab a pen, and kick off this challenge with me….

Journal Entry:

Page One:

Write out your personal commitment, and what you hope will be revealed through this challenge

Page Two:

DAY 1: Create a "to do" list. What does your list consist of? Break it down into three parts:

• What do you want?
• What do you need?
• What do you have to do to get things checked off?

*Be conscious of the need vs. the want and prioritize according to your means; whether it be emotionally, physically or financially.

Have a great one!

The Pro Active Approach...Today!

Good morning Ladies!  I extend an Official IFTL welcome to the year 2014, and cheers to all of you!

I’m sure, like many around the world, the coming of a New Year brings forth hope and a desire for new inspiration and motivation.  I will be the first to admit that this year I have been stung by the “new year, new me” bug, which is quite ironic because I’ve always viewed that statement as a New Years Resolution cliché.  I have purposely tried to avoid making that statement every year, and here I am today smitten by those very words.  There’s just something about the thought of starting anew that brings a foreign glimpse of hope to current trials and tribulations, which breathes life into your ambitions, and triggers motivational cells in your body that you probably thought had long expired. The kind of hope that accompanies change.

Ladies, it’s ok to want, to search, to find and execute change in your life.  It's encouraged.  Change is good; change is great…especially if you’re changing for the better.  When I look back at my 2013, I see so many missteps, and clearly marked paths that I should’ve taken, but chose not to; primarily due to the fear of the unknown I guess.  That’s ok though, because it’s now the past.  All that really matters is today.  The day you are living in now.  The moment you are breathing in at this very second.  What will this day become for you?  How will the decisions you make in the next hour, affect you for a lifetime? Those same goals you wrote down a few years ago, but never got a chance to make them happen…is it time to breathe them into existence now?  How can working on the little things cause a lifetime of changes? These are some of the questions I have asked myself in the last few days; My answers: Don’t look back, and don’t push forward without getting all that you can right now.  Today only comes once and it’s a key aspect that leads to tomorrow.  Seizing the moment, seizing the day, it really, truly matters.  What you do today, make sure you do it for you.  Push yourself, your goals, your interests and your desires to the top of your "to do" list.  You’re the motivation to the change. None of it can happen without you! Dreaming is for when you’re asleep…wake up, and live it!

2014 can and will be AMAZNG if you want it to be. It all comes down to what you want to get out of it. All your resolutions will not equate without a pro active you.

Have a great one!

Hashtag...LIFE!

image via

Ladies....it's been way too long.  I must say that I have missed all of you!  I have wondered about your paths, and have been curious about the choices and plans you all have been making.  I can't even begin to imagine all the exciting things that have been going on in your lives, all the accomplishments and goals you've reached and just how you all have been handling your day to day woes.  I know that there are always ups and downs in life, but all in all the most important thing to keep in mind is we are all still here to testify that we're making it!  Soooo, on that note, where do I begin?

 I guess the biggest news I have to share is that I am now a mommy of two.  YUP! That's the highlight of my 2012/2013! Yes...my household now consists of two boys, and a forced schedule of double the mommy duties.  My morning breakfast menu is a split of pancakes/bottles ...mid afternoon naps have taken over the hour that I used to get my General Hospital fix... my evenings are a race to finish homework in between crawling sessions...just to sum the day up in a queen sized bed with 20 toes, 20 fingers, two heartbeats, and unlimited LOVE!  Oh, but wait, did I forget to mention my 9-5 and the boo? Yup, that about sums up the last year and a half of my life.  I don't have a clue how Mrs. Cosby did it all those years ((LOL))!  On a serious note though, I took some much needed time away from my daily routine, just to transition some things in my life and prepare for my beautiful new addition.  It's definitely been a learning process, and I must confess I'M LOVING EVERY MINUTE OF IT...except for that half of one percent of the time when I'm like WTH was I thinking?! 

It feels good to be back ladies, I can't wait to chat it up with all of you! I have a feeling this time around is going to be a good one.  Let me know what you all have been up to...

Have a great one!