Overcoming Self Sabotage: Stop Getting In Your Own Way

By: Sydni Hatley

Oftentimes, we have great ideas and aspirations for ourselves. It could be a dream to be the next President, join the NBA, or even be the next big superstar. There are “smaller” dreams we have too. Things like finally starting that business we’ve been sitting on for years, or going back to school---these become our wildest dreams because we dare to see ourselves in a position that we don’t believe could really be true. 

We waste so much time treating our dreams like they are untouchable because we simply don’t believe that we can achieve them in real life. What this does is stop our dreams before they can even begin. 

The worst part about self sabotage is that you don’t fully realize it is happening until you lose or miss something you didn’t have to. A lot of times the culprit of this distracting mentality isn’t anyone else but ourselves being consumed by fear and a lack of conviction. A lot of times people swear the reason they cannot or have not reached a certain level of success is because of the world or the people around them. 

The issues are that “no one sees their potential”, or “no one will give them a chance”, but most of the time these things aren’t always true. The biggest thing someone can do to achieve their dreams is believe in themselves and put themselves out there...no matter what. Most of the time half of the people that get that major job opportunity or chance to live their dream are the ones who believe within themselves and believe that they have what it takes to succeed. 

This attitude not only fools the people around you into thinking you always know what to do and how to do it, but it radiates a magnetic energy around you of positivity and opportunity. The energy you put into yourself is the energy you attract, so if you are pouring doubt and sabotage into yourself, you will sabotage yourself out of opportunities, and people will doubt your worth. Your shot at certain opportunities will already be determined for you because you did not believe in yourself enough to show the world why you deserve it. 

Ridding yourself of the plague that is self sabotage begins with watching how you talk to yourself. Every day you have to fight the habit of self doubt. It’s understood that it may not be intentional for you to talk down about your capabilities, but you have to realize the vicious cycle YOU are creating.

Once you understand the power of your own words, you can then use them for good. It’s simple. The minute you hear a voice in your head tell you that you can’t, interrupt it with “I can”. The moment a voice in your head says you won’t, interrupt with “I will”. A lot of people have been successful by confidence and self love alone. If they can do it, so can you!

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Master Cleanse Diet Review: Surviving The Lemonade Diet

By: Lauryn Bass

Everyone always participates in affirming a New Year’s resolution. It may not always come to fruition but #NewYearNewMe is definitely a trend. I shared a goal of healthiness with my family and together we decided to participate in the Master Cleanse Diet. I kept up with my progress by documenting our thoughts as tweets and would like to share what the process was like for those who may be interested.

day 1 #detox : so it’s been pretty easy. it’s a liquid mix of ingredients that boost immunity, metabolism, and cleanse your system—purging out toxins. it doesn’t taste bad but it DEFINITELY doesn’t replace food lol. excited to see if i can make it the entire week w/ the fam😭

— ya neighborhood redhead👩🏽‍🦰 (@lauriexoxo14) January 5, 2021

update: y'all I miss food. the hunger is like a lingering feeling but the juice ultimately just doesn't satisfy me like food lol. like I want a salad or something lmaoo. but at least mIade it through the first day. #proud

— ya neighborhood redhead👩🏽‍🦰 (@lauriexoxo14) January 5, 2021

Known also as the Lemonade Diet, with a co-signer as big as Beyonce (she participated to lose weight for her upcoming role in DreamGirls), it has proven to be a serious contender in the world of fad diets. It consists of fasting your meals and replacing them with a mixture of water, lemon juice, honey/maple syrup, and cayenne pepper for an entirety of 7-10 days. Some individuals will carry on past this and go up to 2 weeks as the famous singer says she did and results vary for up to 15 pounds lost! I personally saw weight loss as well--so it’s no joke! 

day 2 detox: my family is crumbling. folks wanna give up, others can’t do it alone. the juice is not satisfying. we wanna switch it to a 3-day cleanse because we’re so hungry. half of us are encouraged, the other half wants zaxby’s. i’ll check back in soon after our meeting😭 https://t.co/yjKsoqS3Jn

— ya neighborhood redhead👩🏽‍🦰 (@lauriexoxo14) January 5, 2021

When doing research about the effects of this cleanse, it definitely reboots your digestive system, boosts your metabolism, and cures cravings for sugar. With that being said, you get SUPER hungry after day two. But what I’ve learned is that once you’ve gained control of your mind, you can successfully gain results from this cleanse. It helps to do it as my family did and try it together so that no one is eating around the other throughout the duration of the cleanse. For the start of 2021, I suggest cleansing in some kind of way to make sure that you embark on the right foot towards your goals.

day 3 detox: we’ve decided that today will be our last day. we’ve learned a lot throughout this process about our minds and bodies and couldn’t be happier. i’m proud to have made it this far and maybe we can work our way up to a longer one next time but for our 1st time? #blessed https://t.co/hb53ViCj7W

— ya neighborhood redhead👩🏽‍🦰 (@lauriexoxo14) January 6, 2021

Takeaways: My family and I were able to complete 3 days of the challenge and we learned so much about ourselves and our bodies. I believe that starting small was the best idea for us to work up to retry for 5 days next time! #slowandsteady #babysteps. Do not continue if you begin to feel weak or if you’re on medication. Also, make sure to drink plenty of the concoction (at least 6 glasses) a day or you’re going to get dehydrated or begin to lose bone mass. You don’t want to take a step backwards. Make sure to do your research and find which cleanse works better for your needs. Document your progress and be sure to share your results with me! Good luck to all :)

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5 Amazing Benefits of Eucalyptus Leaves You Need To Know

By: Sydni Hatley

When it comes to healing of any kind, natural remedies have been the go-to since the dawn of time. Some people rely more on natural and holistic healing than they do Western medicine, having stated that it is healthier, more effective, and more beneficial in the long run. One specific plant is the Eucalyptus. Like many others, you can use the plant in its natural form for health benefits or even use it as an oil. Benefits of this plant are as follows: 

1. You Can Use Dry Eucalyptus Leaves As A Tea!

Being sure not to consume the oil (as that will negatively affect your health), this tea is high in antioxidants, which are great for protection against diseases. 

2. Congestion Assistance

Similar to the function of tea tree oil or peppermint, the scent of Eucalyptus helps open up your airways, allowing you to breathe better. It is said that for this, inhaling the scent of the oil is best BUT you cannot consume it because consumption of it is toxic to the body. 

3. Keeps Your Mouth Clean

Due to its antibacterial properties, eucalyptus is used in some mouthwash and dental operations. It fights bacteria within the mouth, and is also used in gum to do the same. 

4. Wound Healing

Because of its antibacterial, antibiotic nature, Eucalyptus is also used to help heal wounds and treat infections. 

5. Spiritual Healing

Seen as one of earth’s earliest healing plants, Eucalyptus is used spiritually to remove negative energy, laziness or fatigue, and promote concentration. It is also used to promote emotional balance. One way that is becoming more common to keep the power of influence around is by keeping it in your shower. It’s own powerful scent mixed with the stream's ability to open up your pores is said to be really therapeutic and refreshing, especially when the purpose of that shower is to refresh and recharge. 

All in all, it is safe to say that including Eucalyptus into your lifestyle would definitely add a lot of benefits. Like many things natural and organic, eucalyptus can heal you spiritually, physically, and every way in between. 

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Surviving School In A Pandemic: Best Tips For Organization And Sticking To Deadlines

It’s hard enough to be a student and work full time, but to be a student and work full time in the middle of a panny?? How are we even surviving right now and keeping up with our schoolwork while trying to maintain our sanity? The majority of us are distance learning and losing that campus experience, not being able to go to the library or stop into a professor’s office hours. It’s challenging and hard to handle, but it’s not impossible.

There are so many new distractions at home that there weren’t on campus; however, we can work around that. I have a few tips to share that have helped me maintain at least a little bit of my sanity! I’d like to start by saying, these tips are created from my personal experience and may not work for everyone, but if they can help at least one person, I’ll feel so much better! 

Let’s talk about the most crucial thing: deadlines! It’s hard to stick to them in between Netflix binge sessions, six-hour naps, and just being straight up overwhelmed by all of the work! (Is it just me, or does it seem like there’s soo much more work now?”) At first, I was all over the place with my schedule and finding time to meet my deadlines, but one day, I just sat down at my desk and spent a whole day getting myself together. (It’s okay if it takes you a full day too. You still accomplished something!)

What I did was print out some calendars and taped them to my desk. I also have a sticky notes app on my computer to keep track of assignments and deadlines. I had a monthly calendar and a weekly calendar in addition to the sticky note that I separated by day. I also had physical sticky notes that I stuck to my desk for non-work and school-related things and stuff coming up in the next month. All of this may seem extra as hell but hear me out!

The weekly calendar consisted of my work schedule and weekly meetings and classes that I had. Having a weekly calendar helped me to see where I had free time that could be used to complete assignments and schedule any interviews and such. I also wanted free time just to relax and paint my nails or something. Since my weekly schedule didn’t change, at least for long periods, I always knew when I was free and wouldn’t overbook myself. (I had issues with this, too, at the beginning. Luckily, people didn’t get too mad at me!)

You don’t have to color code things as I did, but it doesn’t hurt! I categorized mine as work/work-related, school/school-related, and non-work and non-school related. An example of something school-related would be an organization meeting. I am a member of my school’s TV station, and I categorize that as school-related because it’s part of school, but it’s not a class if that makes sense. “Work-related'“ would be something such as the American Sign Language courses my job offered. It’s not a work shift, but my work provided it. That’s how I managed my weekly calendar now; let me show you my monthly calendar and why I needed two.

I followed the same color-coding system as my weekly calendar in my monthly calendar. The main reason I have a separate calendar is, so I have enough space to write. Do you see those small boxes? There was no way  I would fit assignments and weekly scheduled things in those. In this calendar, I would write the due dates and the days before it that I had time to get it done. I would also write meetings that weren’t weekly scheduled items, so interviews, meetings with my mentor, things like that. Also, the highlighted cross marks on the dates? That’s not an accident. I like to use highlighters to cross out the dates just if I need to go back and see if there was anything I missed. I also would keep the calendar for a day or two before tossing it at the end of the month. As I said, this is not mandatory, but it doesn’t hurt. 

I started using the sticky notes app on my laptop when I had a mix of online courses and regular courses and wanted to keep track of which assignments needed to be turned in on paper and electronically. I continued using it during the pandemic, so I knew what I needed to do while on my computer.

The sticky note is a weekly calendar format. Still, I used the same schedule as my monthly calendar whereas, I would write down the deadlines and the days I could do them, so there would occasionally be repeats of assignments, but that helped me. It also helped to erase things as I finished them, which is so satisfying! I like to reserve my Sundays to do ABSOLUTELY NOTHING, which also helped me keep track of where I was and determine if I would have to be at my desk on Sunday. 

One last tip that saved my butt was breaking up my assignments. I was no stranger to online courses, but taking many classes that required hours of work and being at my laptop for extended periods would hurt my head, back, and eyes (I gotta wear glasses now!) Breaking up my assignments helped with that also helps me not to hyper-focus on one task and forget all of the others that needed finishing.

For one of my final exams, I had to write a 10+ page paper consisting of multiple categories. I stared at it for a whole week before actually doing the work. I was like Spongebob when he had to write his paper for boating school! I finally created an outline, though, and I tackled each section separately. I got so focused on trying to do it from beginning to end that I panicked before I started it and then panicked some more because I was behind the schedule I set for myself. After doing all of the manageable sections first, the rest of it just flowed. The best tip is to just get out of your head and out of your way.

Don’t feel like you have to be as extra as I was with my multiple calendars and sticky notes to focus and meet deadlines. What works for me might not work for you, but maybe you take some bits and pieces and tailor it to yourself. A few more tips that help are taking frequent breaks, always having water next to me, and listening to music. I found that jazz without words helped me get in my zone! Working from home, it might be hard to find quiet but find a small area in your home, or just in your bedroom, and claim it as your workspace. Once you create a habit of only doing work there, it’ll be so much easier to focus. Happy studying, and good luck! I’m rooting for everybody black.

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4 Methods of Spiritual Cleansing and Removing Negative Energy

By: Sydni Hatley

We finally made it to 2021, and it is not too late to start purging your life of anything that should have been left in 2020. 2020 was already such a crazy year, and on so many levels people were tried to the point where the concept of reinventing themselves for the new year felt like a dire necessity.

Everyone has been talking more than ever about the need to leave negative things behind and make room for new blessings--Even though it is just a few days into the New Year, it’s okay to just be getting started on that process. Making room for blessings and purging bad energy heavily involves spiritual cleansing and setting meaningful intentions while doing so. There are various methods of cleansing out those negative vibrations, some of which are as follows: 

Saging/Smudging Your Home

This method is pretty straightforward and simple. You take a bundle of sage leaves and light them so they emit smoke. This smoke is meant to clear any negative energies from your space, and if you speak positive affirmations they can further serve as a form of blessing and protection over your area. A key note with smudging is to always have a door, window, or both open so the smoke and bad energies do not get trapped and circulate within your home. The point is to get rid of them, not keep them in! It is also helpful to note that different types of sage leaves have different functions and forms of protection---do your research on what kinds align most with your intentions, and make sure you are purchasing leaves from a VALID, earth-conscious source. 

Use Florida Water

Florida water is a form of Cologne Water and is very tonic/citrusy. It includes floral oils, spices, and herbs. People use this water for toning of the skin, to heal aching muscles and wounds, and so much more. When used to spiritually cleanse, some people mop their floors with the water (mixed with other cleaning soaps), or wear it on their body to help release tension, anxiety, and any other negativity they are holding on to. Florida Water is arguably at the top of the list of things you can use to cleanse yourself and your space of toxic energy, starting a fresh chapter. The best part is that with the right ingredients you can even make it yourself! 

Light Incense Throughout Your Space

Like sage, certain incenses have specific purposes. While incense is known for its potent scents and ability to relax a setting, it is also another form of spiritual cleansing. The scent of incense can help bring you to a calm state, perfectly fitting for prayer, meditation, and intention-setting. I personally like to light my incense when it has been a long day and I feel the need to re-center. The earthy scents bring me back to my core and usually are the first step before I go into prayer. 

Work With Crystals

Crystals are another grounding force that people use for spiritual cleansing and guidance. They have respective properties and uses that align with the seven chakras. You can use crystals in alot of ways when it comes to realigning your own energy and getting rid of negativity. You can meditate with specific crystals placed on the part of your body whose chakra they are aligned with, you can place them in various parts of your home by purpose and need, you can travel with them for protection, and you can even sleep with them nearby. A powerful aspect of crystals themselves is that like people, they too need recharging and cleansing after exposure to draining energy or being used for a lot of healing work. The beautiful thing is you can remember to reset your own vibrations with these stones, because like you they too can reach an overload of the wrong energy and become stagnant. 

These are just some of the main ways that you can begin to reclaim your energy and let go of the negative. These tools are from the earth but at the forefront of the energies they perpetuate are the thoughts and wants that you affirm when you put them to use. It all starts with you. Have faith and make time for these practices, and your blessings will overflow that much more. Always be aware of the energies you let into your space, your mind, and spirit. These methods of cleansing are there to help you reset and refocus--perfect for the new season we have just begun!

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Black Women Are Twice As Likely To Develop Fibroids, Why?

By: Emily-Ann

What Are Uterine Fibroids?

Uterine fibroids are benign lumps that grow in the uterus or around it. Fibroids are more common in African American women and Afro-Caribbean women. This condition can cause heavy bleeding during menstruation, longer periods, passing blood clots during menstruation, anemia due to large amounts of blood loss during your period. Painful periods, stomachs can appear to be pregnant, depending on the size and severity of the fibroids and location.

While some experience no symptoms, others experience constipation, frequent urination, lower back back pain, painful intercourses, and severe PMS. Studies have shown a link to low levels of vitamin D. Commonly mistaken for a vitamin, it is a hormone produced in the body naturally when the sun penetrates the skin.

The Three Main Types of Fibroids

Subserosal fibroids: These are the most common fibroids. They can push outside of the uterus into the pelvis. 

Intramural fibroids: These fibroids develop in the muscular wall of the uterus. 

Submucosal fibroids: These fibroids are uncommon. 

Some women experience an interruption of daily activities and lifestyle due to the compilation of fibroids. Women of color specifically black women seem to develop fibroids at a much higher rate than their counterparts. Roughly around 80% of women will experience this condition. Most commonly will experience this diagnosis in their 30’s and childbearing years. Others will have little to no symptoms. 

Fibroids are responsible for more than half of hysterectomies in America and sadly women of color are having them at an alarming rate. For those of us who wish to start family planning, hearing this news can be daunting, and sometimes confusing. Like many, I suffered from painful periods that I would miss school lectures, work, and sometimes couldn’t move. I would be stuck in bed and crying because of pain. Even throwing up became something that I went through. It would happen every cycle and when it did, it was horrible. Like many, I assumed having a painful period was just another part of being a woman. 

Recently, I learned that periods are not supposed to be this painful, and if you do experience discomfort it should only be little to no pain. Anything greater than this, it was highly advised that I seek professional treatment. During my research and reading different articles, I found some interesting information that I thought I would share with you all. Having fibroids is not the end of the road. There is much scientific research that suggests that the body is estrogen dominant and with build-up of toxins, your hormone level may be imbalanced. It is worth getting a hormone test done by your doctor and coming up with a plan to return your hormone levels in check. 

Your body is letting you know you have too much estrogen in your body for your liver to effectively get rid of it. Most of the estrogen is synthetic and is foreign to your body. This can be due to our diet, makeup, perfumes, and hair Chemicals we use like, relaxers in the black community.

How to Rid Your Body of the Extra Estrogen Build Up?

Do a little research on what is the effective ways to rid the body of extra estrogen your body does not need. Keep in mind it will take some time to reverse this, and remember you didn’t get like this overnight. Most likely it took years, so reversing this will take time. I learned getting your cycle in sync again is part of that battle. Here is what I learned about reducing the amount of extra estrogen in your body.

1. Change your diet, get rid of white flour, white bread, white rice, and white sugar. Get more fruits and vegetables in your diet. Fiber is your best friend, and juicing is something to also look into.

2. DETOX your body, most importantly the liver, which is responsible for balancing hormones as well as so many other important things in the body. 

3. No soy products, as they may be filled with estrogen. Fibroids love estrogen and feed on that! 

4. No more drinking out of plastic bottles or eating out of plastic items. Opt for BPA free and glass containers and cups. 

5. Take inventory of skin products and do an overhaul where possible.

6. Look for more organic materials.

7. Remove all plastic cookware in your kitchen, which could be contributing to your condition. 

8. Lower your stress level, easier said than done I know. 

9. Get in enough exercise. Try doing Yoga and pilates that are geared toward fibroids. There are plenty of videos on exercises you can do at home.

10. Think about getting messages or acupuncture to help with the womb area. 

11. Reducing inflammation in the body can also help. Please, remember these are suggestions from my research,and any changes you make to your diet or normal activities related to your health should be consulted with your healthcare provider first. The best way to find out if you have fibroids is to have your doctor perform an ultrasound and pelvic exam. This can help determine the location, how many, and size the fibroid. There are different types of fibroids and an ultrasound can help identify them accurately. The diagram below shows the common fibroid location found in the female uterus.

Before you choose the many surgery options take a moment to look at alternative methods of pain management for decreasing or eliminating fibroids. Some natural pathetic doctors specialize in women’s reproductive health. These doctors address the whole body, not just the symptoms associated with fibromyalgia. Did you know that black women between the ages of 18 and 30 have more fibroids, compared to only 6% of white women? This number increases by 60% by the age of 35, and Black women are two times more likely to have recurring fibroids, and complications related to this condition. 

Importance of Cycle Regulations 

The importance of having a regular cycle isn’t just about pregnancy, but also just to have a healthy cycle in general. Taking care of the womb, where you give birth and create the most precious gift of all is vital. It’s the place where you do the best creation in this lifetime. There are a few podcasts that I listen to for educational purposes. I have listed them below, listen to them on your preferred podcast platform. I use the Apple podcast.

• Fertility Friday Radio, hosted by Lisa Hendrickson

• Jack Food Heaven, hosted by Wendy Lopez, and Jessica Jones

• Practically Fertile, hosted Adrienne Wei 

• Get Pregnant Naturally, hosted Sarah Clark

There is still so much that we don't understand about fibroids, and educating ourselves on this issue can help us make better lifestyle choices. I will be doing part two of this post. I will discuss natural ways to address fibroids. This includes herbs and food to help heal the body. Surgery is not the only answer for addressing this problem. 

As black women we should take back our power to decide how we handle our relationship with our reproductive system and womb. It has become even more so imperative that we advocate for ourselves and loved ones. Let us know about your experiences with your period and if you’ve been diagnosed with Fibroids. We would love to hear your stories and have open discussion on the topic.

Disclaimer: I am not a health care professional, nor do I claim to be one. Please consult your doctor or health care provider before trying any of these suggestions as they know your medical history.

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21 Day Abundance Challenge: Going Within And Appreciating Life's Blessings

By: Sydni Hatley

When COVID-19 hit it took away our freedom. Staying preoccupied and grounded at home became more and more difficult each day. People found themselves bored, restless, and feeling almost useless because life as we knew it became extremely limited and restricted. We found ourselves staring at the same walls of our homes, communicating with the same people in them. It seemed great when it first began (not having to go anywhere, laying in the bed all day and wearing pajamas), but soon that excitement to stay home flatlined and the whole world was faced with themselves, their fridge, and a few (or many) family members at home. I myself got into this funk.

Being an only child, you would think I was used to having to find ways to entertain myself. Admittedly, I was a little rusty after being away at college and consistently being surrounded by people, so finding ways to constantly keep myself entertained was tough. I am a very spiritual person, and I realized that even though being in quarantine did suck because it left you alone with yourself, it still was an opportunity to either build and grow within, or sink with the parts of yourself that were still stagnant. It was a time for reflection and at 20 years old, I felt that reflection and growth during this time were in my best interest. 

One day on Twitter, as everyone was tweeting their newfound grievances about being quarantined, a girl tweeted that she wanted to be constructive during this time by deciding to do a 21 day guided abundance challenge. What caught my eye about this in particular was that you did not need to know the people in the group to begin.

The girl who tweeted started a group message full of people who were interested, and each day she would send us a sanskrit-based mantra, a task, and a guided meditation for the day. The man who started this challenge as a whole is named Deepak Chopra, and he is famous for his guided meditations, spiritual following, and his belief in consciousness and alternative medicine. He spread the challenge with the hopes that people would begin their own guided groups based on his teachings and become more grateful for the wonders of this life. 

I joined completely open minded with the want to challenge myself to stay consistent while I grow, and this DEFINITELY did that for me. The beginning part of the challenge was good. I started my days with the challenge and it gave me such a refreshing start. Overall I felt more grounded, centered, and ready to start my day.

Each mantra and task brought me closer to myself, while also reminding me of the beauty of life and everything I DO have despite the pandemic. The middle got a little hard because I got lazy some days and literally wanted to sleep all day, or simply get up and start my day with social media---that was not healthy though, and I knew pushing through would be so much better than being unproductive in my bed. So I pushed through, and was glad I did because each day unlocked a new quality to my spiritual life that I didn’t even know was missing.

One of the best parts of the challenge was the ability to pass it on by starting your own group. As I continued to grow myself I was also able to see people within the group I started begin to experience transformations from this challenge for themselves, and seeing that was extremely rewarding.

The 21 Day Abundance Challenge allowed me to slow down, go within myself, and appreciate all of the blessings that have come into my life. It made me realize just how easy it is to get caught up in what is happening around us, making us feel like we have little to nothing. The reality is that this is not the truth. To be alive is a blessing, to be healthy is a blessing, and so is having friends and family that love and support you, even if you cannot physically be with them. It is important to remember that we are blessed in our own ways, and to always appreciate the little things in life, no matter how small they may seem.

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Quarantine Christmas: 5 Tips For Staying Uplifted During This Holiday Season

By: Lauryn Bass

It’s that time of year again, The Holiday Season! 

Time for you to relax and have loved ones around you. Special time off of work gives you the opportunity to appreciate how far you’ve come and you can catch up on some rest. But this is during a pandemic. How can we still stay uplifted when things are so different? What can we do? Here are 5 ways that that you can stay uplifted during this Christmas season!

1. Virtual Family Dinner 

What a blessing to have the power of technology. Our electronics have evolved so much that even our cell phones are walking computers. With Zoom, Facetime, and other video conferencing platforms, you can still be around the ones you love. Would you normally have an itinerary? Keep it! Come up with a plan for everyone to stay engaged and finish the night with a screenshot of the gathering. 

2. Christmas Lights Drive-By 

This has always been a family tradition in my household. We love to go look at Christmas lights that others have decorated their houses with. This year, a lot of families are participating in this aspect of the holiday to continue to celebrate. So hop in the car and enjoy the view! Tip: Search up houses that have been doing the mega lights in your area!

3. Holiday Movie Marathon via Teleparty 

Netflix has given us the update of “Netflix party”, now known as Teleparty. This feature allows for you to connect with others through a link and you can watch movies and shows together in real time. Controls such as pause can be used by any user and it will pause the video for everyone and provides a chat room with cute character icons to use as profile pictures. Search up your favorite Hallmark movies and get your watch on! 

4. Switch up the Dinner Menu 

Things are different now. It’s the new-normal. Until it is safe to gather once again, why not try some new items for a change? Not used to cooking? Try it out for once! Some families love a good honey baked ham, but how about stuffed salmon this year? Look up new recipes and who knows, you might find a new addition to your holiday dinner. 

5. Stay hopeful for the future 

We need to make sure to stay focused on what the true meaning of Christmas is. Don’t lose sight of the purpose and get lost in what you don’t have. The gifts, decorations, games—none of that truly matters and they’ll be around next year, and the year after. Center yourself with positive thoughts of how you’re safe, spending time with people who love and care about you, and thank God for the good things he has done. This pandemic won’t last forever and soon, life will be back on track. 

Things don’t have to be too different to still enjoy the Christmas spirit and have some cheer. Just have to think outside the box so we can stay safe and see each other in-person again.

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Spirituality vs. Religion: Are They as Different as They Seem?

By: Sydni Hatley

People identifying themselves as “spiritual” rather than identifying with a specific religion is becoming more common. It sparks debates on what it means to be spiritual as opposed to religious, and if being spiritual is just as valid as following a religion. These questions are usually answered based on opinion, however what is missing in a lot of people’s assumptions is an understanding of exactly what it means to be spiritual, as well as an understanding of both the similarities and differences that exist between the two lifestyles. 

People forget that what connects religion and spirituality is that they are rooted in faith. The point of spirituality, like many religions, is to reach a form of enlightenment and become the best version of yourself that you can be. It is having faith in a force or being outside of yourself to help guide your journey, and believing that such intangible forces are what will divinely guide you throughout life.

In many ways they are almost the same things with very similar qualities, just called different names. The differences in religion and spirituality are that religion is an institution and depending on the kind, there are specific rules and practices that you must follow in order to be in line with your divine purpose and better yourself. With spirituality, it is not as black and white. Depending on the type of spirituality you align yourself with, there is no one specific practice that all “spiritualists” follow to achieve enlightenment.

The main thing that sets spiritual people apart from those who are religious is that a lot of the journey, practice, prayer, and end goals are focused and centered within. It is a very personal process and it normally focuses on the person’s relationship with God (Spirit, the Universe, a higher power, etc.) or within their highest selves. It usually involves a lot of meditation as well, because that is when you are the most alone and face to face with your most vulnerable self. That is where the personal journey may begin.

Another thing with spirituality as a personal journey is that a lot of the practices are self-motivated and self-executed. Because it is not an institution, it is up to the individual to find practices that give them a sense of personal release and balance. This is why a lot of people who identify as being spiritual have personal practices like yoga, mindfulness and meditation, deep breathing, and things of the like. It is the difference between a solely personal journey, done predominantly alone, vs. one predominantly influenced and practiced for/with a larger group of followers. The issue when people compare these two kinds of practices is that people get defensive of their faith, and judgemental of the other, creating divide. 

There are different types of spiritual faiths that exist as well; ones that serve as factions within the greater whole. There are spiritual people who believe in multiple Gods, just one God, or no God at all. Some believe God is not gendered while there are others who believe solely in the Universe. Some people who are spiritual believe they can co-create with the Universe through manifestation, while others believe it is solely the Universe or a God that controls their fate. The variations of these beliefs are practically endless, with there even being intersections between them. Overall it can be argued that the main quality of spirituality is the belief in the power of nature to influence life itself. 

There is even some intersectionality between certain religions and spiritual practices, where some people, like Christians for example, may believe in sageing or the power of incense to cleanse. They may also believe in the power of nature as well. The purpose in all of this is for there to be a newfound respect and understanding of the differences and similarities that exist between what it means to be spiritual and what it means to be religious. The most important thing is that both of these faiths are about becoming the best version of yourself and growing closer to your Divine Purpose. Everything is a journey, no matter what you call it, so it is important to have respect for the journey and process, no matter what label it has.

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What If Everyone Helped With Earth’s Conservation? | 12 Tips For Doing Your Part

By: Lauryn Bass

There is only one Earth. One place for us to inhabit. One place that provides us with the tools to our very existence. Only one place that we can truly call home. Yet, we’re destroying it. 

There are plenty of articles, case studies, and research that show us how the actions we are doing now are continuing the everlasting degradation of Earth’s surface and atmosphere. We can literally feel the heat from global warming keeping us from a true winter. Yet, no one believes that what they do individually can impact our future.

Plenty of companies will advertise their aid to Earth’s cause but we, as a people, have an even bigger impact. Just put it into perspective: Saving coins in a jar. If you were to put all of your loose change into a jar every day, it will surely fill up with dollar after dollar. It only takes 4 quarters to make a dollar. Imagine trash the same way. The more that pollution worsens on our land, the more it affects our waters, and eventually our air—it’s a domino effect. When in reverse, what if we all picked up trash? Or what if we all stopped using plastic water bottles and switched to refillable ones?

With more and more of us being more cognizant of our life choices and behaviors, we can stop fueling companies that are harmful to our beloved home planet.

We Need To Do Something Soon! 

It is estimated by scientists that if a major 180 doesn’t happen soon, human life as we know it will cease by the year 2050! That is cutting our lifespan in half! We just hit 2020, that is 30 years from now! Animals are facing extinction, weather conditions are worsening, you name it! The government will only start helping alongside the people if we make this a big deal and hit them where it hurts--their wallets! Changing our bad habits may not be something we can just quit cold-turkey, but once it is incorporated into our lifestyles, we will begin to see a difference.

A part of my environmental science class is that we must pledge a personal sustainability statement. Within this contract, you promise to do something helpful to the environment for the rest of the semester. For example, my professor bikes everywhere that is feasible for him. He also owns an electric car and no longer uses gasoline--a nonrenewable resource.

Some stores have added to this movement by no longer making plastic bags available for groceries. It only takes doing something 7 times until it is learned by the brain and becomes habitual. So by the end of the semester, it would be instilled into my daily routine. Isn’t my professor clever? So I extend this promise onto my readers and those who you share it with to switch things up for the better. 

Don’t have any ideas? Here’s a list of choices to get involved:

1. Use refillable bottles 

2. Stop using straws (My personal sustainability contract! #SaveTheTurtles)

3. Use cloth shopping bags 

4. Carpool or bike (Get that exercise girl!) 

5. Take shorter showers 

6. Don’t let the sink water run when brushing your teeth 

7. Switch to solar energy for power 

8. Turn all lights off before you leave 

9. Reduce, Reuse, Recycle 

10. Use real plates, cups, and silverware! 

11. Donate old food items to a local food bank 

12. Pick up any litter you see outside 

Any of these would be a perfect start to helping clean up the mess we have started. Do more to help this planet continue to provide for us so that life as we know it won’t end anytime soon. Do your own research on other ways to donate to helpful organizations as well as participate in the government to get things to change. Go to a march, protest, or even celebrate at an Earth-Day festival so that you can be surrounded by others who are like-minded and ready to save the world.

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Practicing Gratitude And Mindfulness Are Keys To Reclaiming Your Inner Peace

By: Sydni Hatley

In our world, everything is so fast pace. It all started with the Industrial Revolution and somehow we ended up with iphones and social media at the forefront of our progress? Either way, American culture values quantity over quality, work over rest, and expensive lifestyles over good mental health.

With everything moving so fast and a lack of “enjoy-the-moment” culture, losing yourself is easy. Not to mention the fact that you have constant reminders of everyone else’s rapid success in the palm of your hand. We get so caught up in what everyone else is doing, or what the newest product available for clout-consumption is, that we lose ourselves in the process of living.

Too many people walk around feeling depleted and low on confidence, energy, drive, and optimism. The reason for this is because so much of our energy and sense of self-worth is measured by what the next person is doing and what’s happening around us---it is not coming from ourselves. This is where the practice of gratitude and mindfulness come in.

When we as people begin reflecting on and acknowledging all of the amazing things that we do have in our lives, what we “don’t” seem to have becomes futile. Many times we have already achieved so much in life that gets undermined because we are too busy looking at someone else’s life and comparing, thinking what we have is not enough, or we feel we can’t enjoy what we already have because something new is always trending around us.

People also tend to think that reflecting on what they have measures up to material things like money, cars, or clothes, however showing gratitude can simply be recognizing just how lucky you are to have a loving family, and friends that care about you. Giving thanks for a roof over your head, food in your home, and even your health are also ways of showing gratitude for the things we don’t always pay attention to in our culture. Not everyone wakes up every day, or can say they have people that love and care about them. So, instead of focusing on the next person or material thing that is trending, reclaim your life by counting your blessings and not taking the little things for granted. 

You reclaim your inner peace and regain control over your life by showing daily gratitude and also by practicing mindfulness. Mindfulness is simply being aware of what you think and which thoughts you internalize. You have all types of thoughts daily, good and bad. What matters is that you feed into the good ones, and let the bad ones pass.

For instance, if you continuously compare your body to someone on instagram and think things to yourself like, “my waist is not as tiny as hers” or “I’m not as good looking as him”, you start to believe you are not of as much worth as that person or the next person to look like them---you have a bad thought, and hold onto it. This causes you to vibrate lower and lose sight of what actually matters in life. Practicing mindfulness means the minute you think something negative about yourself, you release it.

Regard these thoughts as nothing more than negative mentalities that do not serve you, and begin to show yourself love instead. Combat negative thoughts about yourself or your life with positive affirmations like “I am good enough”, “I am smart enough”, “I am worthy”, and more importantly, “I don’t have to look or be a certain way to still be successful in life”. Mindfulness will allow you to slow down and realize your truest value, while gratitude reminds you that all you have is just enough.

The moment you release the need to keep up with the crowd and internalize the social pressures of our society, the more you will put yourself first, appreciate your life, and truly flourish in it. Show love to yourself and your life because you only get one! When you stop to smell the roses and fully appreciate your existence, you’ll see your life is more abundant with goodness than you ever realized.

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3 Tips To Surviving Life As an Empath

“It is both a blessing and a curse to feel everything so very deeply”

— David Jones

By: Sydni Hatley

To be an empath is to feel and absorb the energy of people and places around you. Most of the time, empaths are able to pick up on the energy of a person before they even meet them, and whatever energy they receive gets internalized. Physically, if an empath walks into a space where there was previously a bunch of toxicity (arguments, domestic violence, drug abuse, etc), their spirit can literally feel that and unfortunately gets dragged down because of it. Knowing this, for empaths it’s extremely important to know how to balance and realign your own energy before it runs dry.

I’ve found that most empaths tend to be viewed as healers within their circles because of their ability to not only empathize with the world around them, but also offer advice to help remedy difficult situations. So, as an empath, how do you remain balanced within your own world? After all, the healer needs to heal themselves sometimes too. As one myself, I’ve come up with a few simple and easy methods to honor our empathetic ways, while still saving room for our sanity:

1. Set Your Boundaries

You tend to attract people who are broken, confused, and may come to you to be uplifted. Remember how I said most people pick up on the ability of empaths to heal? If you have had a bad day yourself, or are in a space where you don’t feel like having that draining conversation with that one friend, politely decline their request to speak to you on it and simply tell them “right now is not the best time”. Let them know you’ll get back to them, but recognize and honor your inner need to recharge.

2. Don’t Check Social Media Off the Wake Up

We are living in stressful times. With news being so accessible (and usually negative), that is just more opportunity for your day to get off to a bad start. As an empath, we don’t want any chances of absorbing negativity, especially when the day’s JUST begun. Take some time instead to show gratitude for what you do have and how blessed you are when you first wake up. Focus on the things that bring you joy. Remind yourself of all the beauty that is your life! Start off on the right foot, and you’re more likely to carry positive vibes throughout your day.

3. Pray and Set Good Intentions For Those Around You

Understand that you cannot protect, save, and fix everyone, nor is that your job. As much as we see pain in the world, it is easy to get overwhelmed by it because we want everyone to be at peace and happy. The moment you feel yourself internalizing the pain of others, redirect that energy by either praying for their peace (if you believe in prayer), or simply set positive intentions by sending loving energy in their direction. You can do so by taking the time out of your day to close your eyes, think of that person, and say aloud “this too shall pass”. This serves as an affirmation and reminder to yourself and their situation that whatever pain they are experiencing will not last---because in truth, it won’t.

We are superheroes in our own right, but it’s possible to still prioritize our peace while caring for those around us. -Sydni Hatley

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Need A Boost? 10 Ways To Stay Motivated And Energized

By: Lauryn Bass

During this pandemic, it has become easy to fall out of routine and find yourself feeling stuck in a pool of laziness. Don’t let this stop your progress! It’s okay to have cheat days; it’s always important to rest and take some time to self-indulge — but your journey doesn’t have to end there. When you find yourself lacking motivation and needing a boost, try these things to get you back on track!

1. Keep water in your space. 

Staying up past midnight and sleeping in until 3pm has become such a routine that our bodies start to miss the essential water intake during the irregular sleeping cycles. This can lead to dehydration, which then explains the sluggishness that we all are experiencing. Keeping water in your system as much as possible during the day can help you keep your energy high. 

2. Try eating fruit for dessert. 

Late night sweet tooth is REAL! But it doesn’t always have to be full of calories. Try reaching for the foods with natural sugars to tame this craving in the midnight hours. You can even search up different ways to make cool snacks out of fruit that mimic the style of a classic dessert. 

3. Find quick 10 minute workouts on YouTube. 

Going to the gym during the pandemic is a NO-GO! This has led to many families incorporating an at-home gym. If you don’t have access to this kind of equipment, exercise videos are the way to go. Many trainers have posted various workouts that target specific areas of the body that are perfect to perform right on your living room floor. I guarantee a couple laughs along the way as you listen to each trainer who are also very good entertainers as well. 

4. Commit to a personal challenge. 

Challenging yourself can bring excitement and fulfillment once it is completed. Some can be mental and others can be physical, nonetheless, results of growth are always the end-goal. Some examples of challenges found in the threads of social media are the #GallonWaterChallenge, #JumpRopeChallenge, #SquatChallenge, #YogaChallenge, and #Plexers. There’s plenty to research and try that will surely get you out of a funk. Different challenges can range from 3-30 days and of course when you’re done, try another! 

5. Try a challenge with your friends. 

It’s always more fun to do things with others! We’re all quarantining together, so invite your friends to track their progress of a detox with you. Try an oatmeal-banana facial mask, stretching until you can do a split, a detox lemon-water, and take pictures along the way. 

6. Pick up a new sport. 

Social distancing doesn’t mean that you can’t go outside. So try a new outdoor sport! Roller skating has become super popular lately and can be practiced in the empty streets of your neighborhood or in your driveway. Find that dusty hula hoop in your garage from years ago and shake those hips in the sunlight. This is sure to get your heart rate going faster than when you’re sitting on the couch. 

7. Keep records of your achievements. 

The year of 2020 will go down in history. We need to have stories to tell our children about what all we experienced during the pandemic. In all seriousness, journaling or taking pictures are great ways to express the feelings of the memories that will be with us forever from this moment. 

8. Visionboard to keep inspiration around you. 

It’s always good to keep a visual representation of your goals in eye-view. As much as hearing your affirmations is a great way to keep things positive, seeing them in their true form is as well. Get out your arts and crafts to begin creating posters of where you want to be in life. Look at your art and work towards it! 

9. Buy your dream outfit. 

This is an old trick from the book for if you’re looking for a change in your physique. Trying to fit into those pants you’ve been eyeing or that dress you’ve been dying to purchase? Go ahead and buy it in the size that you’re trying to achieve. Try it on and visualize how much work you have to do until you reach your goal, and then use it as motivation. 

10. Remember why you want to be healthy. 

Your body has been through everything with you. In order to continue this journey, you have to give it all the tools needed for success. Everyone’s version of success is different, and once you find what yours is, your health journey will feel more like one of self-love.

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Walking Into Your Purpose As A Creative

By: James Teague

Ever since the start of the pandemic for COVID-19, I’ve been focusing more on making creative content. When society decided to shut down and go into quarantine, I recognized there was more time to put my focus and energy towards working on my goals. Working towards my goals of planning and creating content during COVID-19 hasn’t been an easy task.

It has its moments each and every other week. One week I could be inspired and ready to tap in and put all my ideas together and have a plan. Then the next week I’m feeling lazy and unmotivated wondering where did all my creative energy go. One day during quarantine, I remember while working on this writing I had asked for some feedback. They asked me if I knew what my purpose was. When I started to formulate an answer, my mind was drawing a blank. At first, it threw me off for a minute. I was thinking about how even with my experience from  the last 3 years which helped shape me all around as a growing young man that I still didn't know my purpose. After about those few minutes of wrestling with my realization,, I concluded that  I still not sure about what my purpose was. 

For several years, I’ve been on this personal journey discovering who I am and what God wants me to learn while I'm still here. Living through each stage of my  life, I knew deep down there’s just so much more towards life than just simply waking up, going to work, paying your bills, and dying. The one thing that I know for certain is that God has blessed me with the gift of writing and storytelling. As a creative writer, when I put time and effort towards focusing on my craft, I can paint a real vivid picture with my writing. I would always hear about the concept “walking in your purpose,” and I would equate that towards having a job/career. I’ve been learning more recently that one doesn’t have to really equate to the other. 

 Even though at times I’m still dealing with “imposter syndrome,” I’m reminded through the messages God sends me whether from my peers paying attention to how I construct my social media or if I happen to see random messages that suddenly grab my attention. I'm working towards owning my role more as a creative content writer. Doing this I understand that it’s going to take focus, discipline, patience, and lastly faith in God & in myself. Becoming the best version of you doesn’t happen overnight. One of the bright sides about my COVID-19 experience was recognizing how blessed that I am during this time of the unknown. When I know that during a pandemic that I still have a stable job, stable income plus finally budgeting my finances and paying off on my bills, you really realize in these moments that sometimes it’s really just the simple things that matter.

But I can't help to think that even with what I've manifested and accomplished, I can do so much better on my walk as a writer as long as I can focus more on being consistent and executing my plans on making my dream life come to fruition. I’ve always been writing since childhood. I first started writing fictional dragon ball Z stories and then in high school I graduated to writing music reviews and talking about the school sports teams. I wrote for my university's school newspaper and covered important figures at my university and in the city. I also continued writing music reviews. Then after graduation, I joined Elite Daily that summer and started doing freelance writing on life topics that millennials were dealing with such as dating and my own personal experiences. And yes you guessed it, I was covering topics on music and entertainment.

Throughout the course of my time I’ve written for different publications and platforms.  The more I think clearly on the content I've done, I realize that I actually know what it is I want with my dreams. Really I can sometimes just lack the direction of really knowing how to start and where to take my ideas. I'm constantly looking and searching for the answers. It gets frustrating when the answers don't come to me at that exact moment. I’ve learned more on this journey that sometimes it just takes time for an answer to reveal its. Patience has really been a virtue to me in this process. 

The thing that keeps me committed to my journey as a creative is keeping my focus on God and allowing him to lead the way on what my options are. As creatives, when we're working towards our higher selves, it's important to understand that God is forever tied towards our gifts because he is the one who ordained us the role that we currently have with “walking into our purpose.” When you’re having a hard time wanting to know and understand what it is that God wants you to do with your purpose, the best thing to do is practice what Matthew 6:33 says. “Seek out God & then eventually God will find you.” When walking in your purpose (whether you're a creative or not), it’s important to really understand that this walk takes time.

We don’t have the answers for the questions that we ask God. Through time and devotion, eventually God will reveal his answer to you when the time comes. We all are living in seasons. Sometimes the current season that you’re in is just the “waiting season.” Until it’s THAT season, live and create one day at a time. Do whatever it takes and do whatever makes your spirit feel good. This isn't a normal time at all with COVID-19 going on. Only time will tell once we realize that we’re finally starting to walk in our purpose.

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9 Tips For Increasing Your Energy in Low Times

By: Lauryn Bass

During this rising pandemic, it can be easy to fall into a funk. With this new social isolation, a lot of us are challenged with our priorities. The atmosphere of summer is being toyed with the work that is being stacked on our heads. Students and adults are having to telecommute within the comfort of their beds which may lead to distractions or a lack of motivation. This transition has plenty of opportunity to go left or right, but it is up to you to steer the course into a successful direction. All that is needed is a shift of energy in a couple of different ways.

1. Keep Water In Your System

Staying hydrated will keep you on task. When the body gets dehydrated, the body becomes lethargic. It slows down progress when the tank isn’t full, so fill up on some h20! 

2. Set Goals

Work tends to pile up as things are balancing out. For example, with online classes becoming the predominant form of teaching for students who are used to on-campus learning, to compensate for the homework, lectures have transitioned to packets, worksheets, and other unnecessary assignments. As you try to tackle each project, plan how to reach the long-term goal with short-term goals. 

3. Take Breaks

In between each set increment, take some time to breathe. Get up and move around. Sing or do a little dance. Check on your notifications, plants, pets, or just walk around to unwind for a minute before refocusing back to your target. 

4. Get More Sleep

Now that beds are a lot more convenient to use, take advantage of power naps! Get that little wink of sleep in between the day’s duties. Also, at night, try to get more sleep. Aim for that 7-8 hour mark of shut-eye so that while you're busy with objectives, the bed won’t be calling your name. 

5. Eat Clean 

Don’t fall into a pit of unfulfilling foods. With the scarcity of food, try to snack on items that give you lasting energy over sugar-filled items that run through you. Indulge here and there, but keep your meals centered around nutrients and vitamins. 

6. Go On DND 

This alone time can open up a space for creativity. Ideas can flow and there is ample opportunity to build new things. Take a break from social media and allow your time to be used up by other interests of yours that may have become an overlooked hobby.

7. Stay Optimistic

Fake news is real honey! Trying to fish through what is made up from the darkness of the truth can be very overwhelming and begin to spread negativity. Continue to keep high-spirits by constantly reassuring yourself. Staying grounded can be achieved through reciting positive affirmations or posting them around you to keep you uplifted. Things ARE going to get better and you WILL succeed! 

8. Reach Out To Friends

Even though you’re separated physically, communication with your besties can be achieved via technology! Find innovative ways to call them as we did with Oovoo, Houseparty, and Skype. Send iPhone games, start streaks, schedule FaceTimes and truly catch up with your loved ones in an intimate way that may not have been explored when life as we knew it was on a different track. 

9. Exercise

Get yourself moving! Even if it’s for 15 minutes a day, take a nice walk, jog, or run! Stretch and use joints that would be dormant on a norm. Dance, jumprope, bike, skate, etc. The list is endless!

The coronavirus may have shut down society but it does not have to shut you down! Little by little, this challenge will be overcome with our perseverance. This reality check is only helping us come face-to-face with who we are as people and helping us use what we have learned and built for better. With these few reminders to attach to our day, society will soon return to a new way that we appreciate and we will be stronger from it.

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New Year, New Energy! Switching Up Your Work And Living Spaces Creates A Positive Vibe

By: Lauryn Bass

It is FINALLY 2020, the year we have all been waiting for! Whether it is “The year of vision” or “The year of clarity”, this new decade is sure to bring ideas into fruition! Goals are being set and everyone is ready to chase the bag, but no one is truly considering how to strategically plan for a successful year. The dream starts and ends at home, so let’s get the house in order!

It is scientifically proven that your psyche is affected by what is around you. For example, you think more clearly in a clean room than you would in a messy one. There are a few ways that you can set up your home to benefit your life in the best way possible!

Clean your space

Get rid of the clutter! Throw away old utensils, shred old files, and toss that project from the second grade. Anything that does not coincide with your 2020 success HAS TO GO! Periodically wipe down your laptop monitors and desk, dust your window sill, and lysol everything else! Things can get untidy throughout the year but taking the time to get rid of unnecessary items is key to excelling. When you are in a dirty place, you are uncomfortable and unfocused. Bring back the sense of organization and urge that grind mentality to soar with fresh new start! 

Rearrange your space

With the items that are needed for your growth and matriculation, give each one their own home. Every place should be organized in a safe way that is easily accessible for you. From your pens and pencils, to your mics and interfaces, everything should have its own destination. Also, switch things up! Stimulate your brain with a funky set up. Catercorner your desk or move something to a shelf. If we can adapt to new updates on our apps and devices, we can surely adjust to a desk being placed on a different wall and our beds turned another direction. Trying out a little feng shui can give your workspace a touch of liveliness.

Decorate your space

Now for the fun part: It’s time to spruce up your home with some eye-catching features! Don’t be afraid of color-coding, the more the merrier! Add an interesting painting to your wall, buy a new calendar, and most definitely purchase yourself a plant. Create a vision board of all the goals that you would like to achieve this year or within this new decade and pin it up as your daily motivation. Place sticky-notes of positive affirmations around the home to constantly remind yourself that everything that you wish to come true, will--there is power in the tongue!

This new year of 2020 is going to be prosperous. It’s going to bring forth so many good things for everyone who is prepared to receive challenges and overcome them with ease. To aid in this journey, keeping your work and living quarters aligned and clean will embark you into a happy new year!

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How I Learned To Manifest Opportunities With This 3 Step Morning Routine

By: Omar Cook

This is not a cliche YouTube or blog post about manifesting, this is me telling you exactly what has worked for me. Free game. As we all evolve on our spiritual journey, we learn what works for us, and one of the things I’ve learned is how to manipulate my own reality through the power of intention. 

For a long time, we’ve been given this cookie cutter ideal of life; go to school, graduate, get a job, go to church on Sunday’s, get married, have kids, and settle down and retire. Sounds good. But I want more than that. 

I believe that the world has much deeper layers than the physical things that we see, and that we can manipulate what happens in our lives with mental spiritual practices. The Law of attraction is a real thing and you can attract whatever it is that you want just by believing you can have it. The key to manifesting anything is BELIEVING IN YOURSELF, believing that you can have anything. Just imagine if every single black child in America believed in themselves with 100% supreme confidence. I believe I can have anything I want and that was the first step to changing the world around me.

I’m going to give you my 3 step routine for manifesting your desires and new opportunities. It’s a simple morning routine that will take about an hour of your time. This is not geared towards a certain religion, this is geared towards you as a powerful spiritual being. Read it below!

1. Write Everything Down

When I say write everything down, I mean EVERYTHING. I start my day off by writing first so I can see my thoughts, and set my intentions for my day. I ran into another young man at Church one day who randomly told me to start writing things down. Since then, I went and grabbed a journal. You can call this your prayer journal, manifestation journal, whatever, just know it’s going to be the key to bringing your desires to real life. You can start off by journaling weekly, or everyday, whichever suits you best. When writing things down, I write as if I’m speaking a prayer. My journal entry serves as an opportunity to release my own worries and doubts and an opportunity to call in new things. I free write where I just let my own thoughts flow and then I write my intentions and desires. 

Now here’s the key. You write your goals and desires down as something that you would like to have...and then you write it as if you already have it. Example, I may write “I would like to have to more opportunities to advance in my career field”. Writing as if I already have it would look like “Thank you for the abundance of opportunities to advance in my career field that are around me” or “More opportunities to advance in career are on the way.” This is how you call in what you want by creating a feeling of already having it. The universe works in crazy ways, but it’s important that we learn to manipulate it while we’re playing this game of life. This universe we live in is built on energy, and by projecting an energy of gratitude, you will receive more of what you are thankful for, even if you don’t already have it. Don’t believe me, try this shit.

I’ve written down every single thing that I want to happen in my life, at least for my near future, whether that’s with business ideas, career goals, relationships, and financial goals. As soon as you make your intentions clear, this Universe will begin placing people and situations around that will help support your goals. It won’t always look like how you want, but it’s up to you to recognize the signs and synchronicities that are presented to you that will let you know how to move forward. The saying be careful what you ask for, is REAL. There have been people and situations that I called into my life and when it was time for me to experience these things, I realized it wasn’t what I wanted in the long run. But it was exactly what I asked for. Be intentional, be specific, and write out your intentions. This will change your life.

2. Prayer

After I have spent my time journaling, I get on my knees and I pray. If you have a space, like a closet, this will work better. Getting into a prayer closet creates an intimate environment between you and God where you can communicate. The same exact things I just wrote about, I speak it verbally in the form of prayer. The power of prayer is real, no matter what religion you practice. This world is a spiritual realm, more spiritual than physical, whether you believe that or not. And the power of your tongue is an extremely powerful tool. I’ve gotten to the point where I watch what I say towards people and especially myself. A lot of times we are our own worst enemies by speaking down on ourselves. When in reality, we are our own best friends and we should be speaking life into ourselves.

Praying and communicating your desires to God let’s the Universe know your thoughts and desires directly. Don’t put a time limit on your prayer, just go until you have nothing left to be said. Express your worries and doubts but don’t make your prayer a prayer that sounds needy, always fill it with gratitude. Let God know you are thankful for the things you have now and are thankful for what’s to come. GRATITUDE and creating the feeling of gratitude is essential to calling in blessings. Major. By praying right after you journal, you have basically multiplied the strength of your power by 2, now there’s no question that your intentions have been heard.

3. Meditation

Mediation is just as important as the other 2. I set my timer for exactly 11:11 minutes. Why? Because 1111 is the number you make a wish on and in meditation, you are basically going into a dream world of your own thoughts, where you are creating your reality. You can meditate for however long you choose, that’s your personal time. Personally, if I spend too long meditating my mind wonders so about 10 minutes is a good time.

This time you spend in silence, you are reflecting on what you wrote and prayed about and create that reality in your head and see what it would like to have everything you desire. This is an intimate time that you spend with yourself and connect with God as well. This time in silence can result in you getting answers that you’ve been searching for. Just like journaling and praying, this is a time for being intentional. Focus your thoughts on exactly what you want and play it out in your mind. By writing, praying, and meditating, you have expressed your desires in 3 different ways to the universe in a matter of an hour. It’s extremely powerful and you will begin to feel the power within you as you build consistency with this.

I want each and every one of you to live a dope life, and this routine I gave you is a sure way to change your life. Tap into the power that you have within you and start manifesting exactly what you want.

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The Art Of Networking: 3 Easy Tips To Becoming A Master Networker

By: Omar Cook

A college degree may be necessary to get your foot in the door for a lot of professions, but the art of networking can open doors that your degree will not. Why is this so? Because people will relate to you more as a real individual rather than the accolades you put down on a piece of paper (your resume). Networking is a skill that takes practice. It’s not an easy task to walk up to a stranger and strike a conversation, but it is a necessary skill that is required for anyone that is looking to level up in any kind of way. In today’s world, communication and being able to sell yourself can take you to new heights.

I could give you a lengthy post of 20 tips on how to effectively network, but I will save that for an additional post. So I’m giving you 3 easy tips to help you become a master networker! Apply these tips and watch your circle of influence change!

1. Always Carry Business Cards

I cannot stress this enough, carrying a business card is extremely important. If you’re a person that’s in business for themselves or you have a brand that you feel people need to know about, it’s a must that you carry a business card on you at all times. You just never know who you’re going to meet. A lot of times people don’t have time to sit and wait for you to input their number and contact info into your phone, so handing them a business card is a quick and easy way to get your info in the right hands. And if you’re dealing with people who are truly professional, most of the time they will ask you if you have a business card. It took me a few times of being asked for a card to realize that this was a big deal and that I needed to have this. A true business owner and master networker is always ready with a card on deck. You can get a box of 500 cards for just $30 on vista print. Don’t miss an opportunity because you were unprepared!

2. Always Be Yourself

Don’t be that person that finally gets in front of someone you’ve been waiting to meet for the longest and blows the opportunity because you were trying to be someone you’re not. The right people will love you for who you are, so if you’re having to put on a front to impress someone, it’s a good chance that it’s not a right fit. Let’s say you meet someone but you met them with a false persona; now you have to work harder to keep up the front! Who has time for that? People will be able to tell the real from the fake and the best relationships you make will always be through genuine interactions. Just being myself has opened up so many doors for me. A person just may give you an opportunity that you may not be fully qualified for just based off your personality and attitude. Be true to yourself and you will attract the right opportunities into your life!

3. Always Follow Up

After you’ve locked in that dope new contact that you just met by exchanging business cards and being yourself, it’s a MUST that you follow up with that person. Just sending a short message of gratitude explaining how it was nice to meet them and you look forward to speaking with them soon can go a long way. Not only do they have your contact, but now they know you’re serious about working with them because you took the time out to follow up. This is where the magic happens. The follow up can lead to job opportunities, meetings, and further communication. Make sure that you’re following up in a professional manner that’s straight to the point!

I want all of you to land that dream opportunity that you’ve been hoping for so I hope these tips will guide you in building your network! Be blessed!

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Keeping A Positive Mindset During Times Of Adversity Is Not Easy, But Necessary

By: Omar Cook

One of the hardest things to do is to stay positive during times of adversity. The easiest thing to do is to look at your current situation and start to overthink all of the negativity that could be surrounding you, instead of looking at it from another angle. Sometimes life can become so overbearing that it’s hard to see the light at the end of the tunnel. There has been many times where i’ve posed the question “why is this happening to me?” (or not happening for me"). Asking this question to myself enough times, only left me with the option of changing my perspective.

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The first thing a lot of us do when something bad happens, is complain about it and sit in that energy for just a little too long, which of course attracts more bad energy. Shit happens, and there’s absolutely nothing you can do to stop adverse situations from coming into your life; it’s inevitable. Somethings are just out of our control, but what you can control is attitude and how you respond.

I mentioned perspective, and changing your perspective towards situations is a major key for a positive mindset. It’s almost impossible to keep a positive mindset at all times, but knowing that you have the power to shift your own perspective can change your own life. Imagine that every negative situation that happens to you, you looked at that situation as an opportunity to better yourself? Lost your job? An opportunity to find a better one. Wrecked your car? An opportunity to get a better car or something more affordable. Lost a relationship? An opportunity to set new boundaries for yourself to attract a relationship that better serves you. Setbacks are just opportunities for you to recreate yourself, and thats the way you need to think in order to turn negative situations into a positive.

At the end of the day, each of us are in control of our own lives and the way we think. Your own mindset puts meaning on things that happen in your life; basically you create your own reality by the way you view the world. A negative person will continue to attract negative situations because they can’t see themselves out of certain situations. A positive person attracts successful situations because no matter what, that person knows that they can turn just about anything into a situation that serves them in the end.

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One thing that has worked for me is speaking highly of my own self. Positive affirmations works wonders for your mindset and speaking affirmations to yourself daily, can change your life. Meditation is also great as it gives you time to spend with yourself in silence and process your thoughts. Being able to sit in silence and block out distractions is major for seeing things in a better light, and can help your decision making especially if you’re an overly emotional person that acts impulsively. Take time to quiet your mind each day, and do yourself a favor and speak life into yourself. Life is crazy enough, there’s no need to beat your own self up.

Every single person goes through adverse situations, but the people that are able to keep it pushing no matter the circumstances are the people that you see winning. Whatever comes your way, just keep going! Hard times will pass and with the right attitude, you can overcome any obstacle. I want each and every one of you reading this to be the best versions of yourselves, and it’s impossible to be the best you when you’re operating on a low vibration of energy. Think positive, speak positive, and watch your life take a new direction!

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Top 5 Life Lessons You Learn From Losing A Parent

By: James Teague

Growing up, my dad would always tell me, “There’s always 3 things in life thats promised; Death, Taxes, & my jump-shot.” Even though I’d hear him out, he always lost me on the last part due to our competitive basketball nature with me wanting to beat him in one on one.  As I got older, that statement revisited me on more than one occasion as I navigated through adulthood.

Death is a topic that I avoid because its tough to really analyze. There’s always a negative connotation involved with death. Oh and lets not forget the power of the tongue where you can speak something out and the universe can grant its wish. When people speak on death, God has an interesting way of sending that message to you.  All that I knew for sure about death was that one day we were all going to face it differently, whether it’s with family, loved ones, or yourself.

A lot of times when you’re constantly on go living your life, and everything just seems fine and that nothing is going to happen. However, on June 8th, 2019, my father James Ray Teague was called home to God much sooner than my family had expected due to a rare but incurable brain cancer. It was one thing dealing with the death when I lost my grandparents some few years earlier but dealing with this particular loss of a parent is a different kind of beast.

I still remember talking to my mom in full about the cancer that was slowly killing my dad. I still remember feeling as if the doctors weren’t doing enough and were just telling her that and feeling like they weren’t trying hard enough to find a cure for my father. But as time progressed, I slowly realized as I would see and hear about my dad slowly deteriorating, I had realized this cancer was in fact a real thing. I spend as much time with the family as I can because I knew we were gearing up to face a life altering change that would change our family.

Needless to say even though we diligently did everything possible to prepare, my fathers transition from the real world into heaven stills hurts some. I wasn’t expecting to lose a parent so soon at this early young age. Here I was thinking that My dad was going to still be around in time to see me accomplish my biggest dreams, build my career, and start my own family and meet his future grandchildren. But God had other plans for us.

By all means, God does not make mistakes. However some things in life we can’t help but ask “Why?” I was already still processing Nipsey Hussle’s death and now I have to deal with losing my father so soon.  It’s been some time now since my fathers passing and I’ve learned quite a bit during bereavement. In the weeks of my fathers passing and the time I took away from life, there was so much to take away from this entire experience with death. Here are my top 5 life lessons to take away when your faced with losing a parent sooner than usual.  

1. Losing Your Parent Is A Universal Experience .

From the moment my sister, mother, and I had made our social media posts announcing my fathers passing, the phone lines got busy. I cannot tell you how many condolence texts, phone calls, tweets were received within those 72 hours. We could barely keep up with everybody. What I learned firsthand from hearing from all my friends and family that was reaching out was two things: first it felt good to know that a lot of my people were reaching out with love and care to show their concerns regarding our well being. Secondly, I was so surprised at so many people who told me about their experience losing their parent, grandparent, or someone who meant something spec

ial to them. There was way more friends of mine who experienced losing their parent and shared the same sentiments I had. At that moment it helped reassure the main thing in life, we all share similar experiences. You’re never the only one. 

2. Practicing Good Karma Can Take You Far

Following up from the first lesson, so many family friends were helpful in our time of need. Whether it was helping out with caring for my fathers needs when he was still alive but sick, bringing meals to the house, or helping out financially, etc etc. I was blown away at how much support my family received. All of this was due to how great human beings my parents were. My father always had a passion for helping his community and his family through teaching and being a role model for young black boys still in school. My parents recognized that they were blessed beyond measures and always chose to pay it forward with servicing family friends and business partners whenever the opportunity presented itself. In return of all the good deeds done, everybody returned the favor when tragedy showed up in our lives. It’s always better to be a good person in life because you never know how big of the rewards God will bless you with the good deeds you commit. 

3. Life Still Goes On 

The main thing that’s helped me deal with death was understanding the concept of “Life still goes on.” Not only with death but whenever you’re dealing with life problems that comes our way, I’ve always learned through my experiences in life that even while dealing with something, life will still move whether you’re in it to win it or not. Plus knowing how my father thinks, he wouldn’t want my family to be walking around moping and depressed because he’s no longer here in the physical. 

4. Blood Isn’t Always Thicker Than Water

Growing up in my household, family is everything. Every summer, my parents would always take my sister and I to Paducah, Kentucky to spend the summers with my Grandparents, Aunts, Uncles, cousins. Those used to be the best times of our lives. Watching wrestling with my older cousin and Granddad, hanging out with my cousins when they come over, going to Dairy Queen on the weekends to get ice cream with my aunt and cousins, going to church all together, etc. 

As we got older though, all of the family activities slowly declined as we were growing apart and going on different paths in life. But our grandparents were the glue that kept our family together. We would still link at my grandparents place. It may not have been like when we were younger, but we still would enjoy our family time between then and family reunions. The passing of my grandparents and my father broke the glue of my family and it was disheartening.

Prior to my father passing, I watched and recalled several incidents between family that caused me to question all of those years we had together while I was growing up. How could the family I grew up with in my 28 years here really look like strangers to me. However, while in our time of needs we had a lot of family friends be there for us when we needed it. They would help us with bills, food, run errands for us, and help watch over my sick dad, etc. They would even give us company just to help keep our spirits up and help us remember the good times in life. I guess the moral of what I’m saying overall is sometimes family isn’t always blood. It’s the people in your life who want you in theirs. The ones you accept you for who you are. The ones who would do anything to see you smile, and who love you no matter what.

5. Legacy Legacy Legacy

You really don’t realize how much people you know until you attend a funeral. I remember while at my Dad’s funeral running into so many old faces that I haven’t seen in a long time. Heck some of those faces I’ve literally forgot still existed. MY father had left a huge impact on his community through his acts of servitude and leadership. I couldn’t tell you how many faces had at least one great story of my dad. We’re all here on borrowed time. What’s your passion? How is it that you want to be remembered? Sometimes in life we’re always on go and we don’t stop to think that it can all be over at any given moment.

Death is already our fate but we don’t know when that day is. So while we’re still here alive and breathing, what is it that you want to accomplishment while you’re here? We only have so much time and it’s our job to make sure that we make it count. Decide now and today about how you want to shape your legacy. We all are here on this planet with a purpose God has blessed us with and its our job to fulfill his purpose. You never know when your last day on earth can be.

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