Dr Sharice

My Word for 2018

manifestation

So every year, I try to come up with a focus for the year. If you have been following me, you know that I do not do resolutions, I believe in results (Resolutions or Results Masterclass). Long ago I stopped making resolutions that I failed to remember before January was over and I began to work on creating and moving towards the things that I wanted out of life. So for the past few years my focus has been finding a word for the year to focus on and making it happen. This year my word happens to be MANIFESTATION.

Over a year ago I was introduced to the work of Ernest Holmes and his teachings and books have drastically changed my life and my approach to life and business. Science of the Mind specifically has helped me to structure my year and MANIFESTATION is the word that I found most suited where I am at this time in my life. In 2018, I plan to MANIFEST everything my heart desires.

Last year, for me, was about transition and planning for the next phase of my life. It included resignation from my job of over 12 years and the quest to become a full-time entrepreneur. While the task has definitely not been an easy one, it has definitely been rewarding, it has been a learning experience and it has helped me to embrace the work that I truly want to do in life.

So my question to you is what is your word for the year? What is it that you want to have in your life in 2018? What are your wildest dreams and what do you need in order to make them come true? How can you be reminded daily of what you want to achieve this year. Be specific. Be clear. Be intentional. Life the life of your dreams this year.

Living the Life of my Dreams!

Don’t Forget about You

Recently, I went through a period where I had chronic insomnia and for more than a week was unable to sleep more than 3-4 hours per night. We all know that sleep is necessary for you mental, physical and emotional health, so ultimately my lack of sleep was affecting ever area of my life. It took me awhile to figure our why the insomnia was so out of control, I occasionally deal with insomnia, but this was starting to get out of control. I realize that I needed some rest.

I had to realize that I had been pushing myself, the entrepreneur life is hard. Up early, late nights, hours in front of the computer or writing, emails, phone calls, webinars, learning, developing content, you name it. Then there are the life things that you have to do, cook, clean house, run errands, an entire set of different obligations. You can lose track, you can lose focus and you can lose sleep.

Not only that, when I would get in bed, the thoughts and the ideas kept coming. I can do this, I should do that, that would be a great workshop idea. Then there were the worries. I need to make sure that this is paid and that gets paid and did I remember to turn off the kitchen lights. The stream of thoughts were endless. And again there was no sleep.

Finally I decided that it was time to put my foot down. Not only did I need some sleep I also needed a day off. A few weeks ago I decided that I would let Sunday be rest day. That I would move the writing that I typically reserved for Sundays to throughout the week. However on Sundays I also cook, deep clean and shampoo my hair, so much for rest on Sunday. I was attempting to schedule minimal work for the last two weeks of the year. It was going to be my ‘vacation’, but the way my lack of sleep was set up I realized if I didn’t do something immediately, there would be serious consequences.

So during the week I took a day where I just sat on the couch, watched some TV, read a little, just allowed my body, soul and spirit to relax. And it felt good. I realized that in my haste to build and grow my business and my brand, I was starting to neglect myself. I was starting to neglect the thing that meant the most to me. ME. I even ordered take-out and just sat and did not think about work. I have to add that I did check a few emails. However, other than that it was essentially a ME day and I do not apologize for it.

After just spending some time recharging, I was about to go to bed that night and really get some sleep. I slept more than 4 hours, I didn’t have to fight my trail of thoughts and I slept restfully and peacefully. I cured my chronic insomnia and honestly, I felt much better, more energized and I was even able to put some coherent thoughts together.

I had to remind myself that rest is important. We can’t use our cell phones forever without ever recharging the battery. We can’t use our minds and bodies without recharging them either. It is vital to remember that no matter what we do or how important we think the next project or proposal is we still need to rest. Rest allows us to present a better version of ourselves and our work.

So I just want to remind you to make sure to take some time for you. Don’t let business or the pursuit of your dreams interfere with your ability to rest. Rest is important and serves as an opportunity for your to recharge and an opportunity to provide a fresh perspective. There is no value in overworking yourself, as a matter of fact, that often leads to sickness and ill health. Take control of your health and well being today. Get some rest. Don’t forget about you.

Invest or Divest?

Years ago my mother said to me “The best lessons we learn are the one’s you pay for”. Many people think that this is a financial lesson. You purchased that car that turned out to be a lemon or you have buyers remorse over something you purchased. However we need to realize that not all of the lessons are financial. We sometimes pay for lessons in other ways, such as our emotional or relational currency.

We often invest out time, our talent our heart our soul our attention and intention into others. We go into relationships with open and sincere hearts only to be hurt and let down. We go into relationships happy and whole only to leave bruised, battered and bewildered. We question ourselves and at times blame ourselves for what went wrong. We find ourselves on the losing end of what was the thing we most valued.

When you know that you have done all you can and that your intentions were pure and genuine, but the relationship for whatever reason is no longer serving you, it is time to divest. When you divest it is for your own well being. There is nothing wrong with walking away from people, from circumstances and/or situations that no longer serve you. There are times when divestment is necessary because it protects your mental, emotional and spiritual well being. Divesting can also protect you physically if the relationship or situationship has become that toxic.

Know that you do not have to stay in relationships or situations that no longer serve you. It can be difficult at times to break those bonds or ties, but at times it is necessary. Have you ever found yourself in a place that you knew you needed to be out of but found it hard to move away from it? We stay in marriages long after the ‘thrill’ or respect is gone. We stay in relationships where we are degraded and disrespected. We go to jobs faithfully that are killing us literally and slowly. Yet we stay. We remain. We justify the behaviors and the treatment. We even justify our responses, we are in love, it would be too hard to move on, will anyone else love me like they did? I need this job.

While there are some things that you cannot just quit cold turkey, just as when a person decides to divest money, there are times when a plan is necessary. And just like the saying goes “if you fail to plan, you plan to fail”. So what do you do, and most importantly how do you do it?

Make a plan. If you fail to plan you plan to fail. Sometimes it’s not just as easy as walking away. If walking away is that easy then just do it. But if not make a plan. If you are leaving that job, save some money. Check the balance in your retirement accounts or savings plans you may need that money to live off of after you leave. If you are leaving a bad marriage, check your finances. Can you afford to live on one salary? If you are co-habitating, can you afford to keep the residence without the other income, or do you have to move to a place that you can afford on your own? No matter what the situation or circumstance is Make a plan. If is a breakup, what are you going to do when you get lonely, who can you call? Who will you be accountable to? Make our plan and be ready to stick to the plan.
Ask for help if needed. Too many of us are afraid to ask for the help we need. Whether it is out of pride, stubbornness or just plain foolishness, get over it and ask for help. If you need a safe, comfortable place to stay while you get back on your feet, ask. If it is for accountability, to have someone to talk you off the ledge in those weak moments, ask. If it is for help moving, ask. If it is simply for moral support and a smile and occasional lunch or dinner, just ask. Help is usually available, we just refuse to ask for it ask for help!
Be ready and willing to execute. After you plan, and after you ask for the help and assistance you need, do it! Make the change. Divest from anything and anyone who is no longer serving you. Don’t be afraid, be courageous, be strong, be brave! Make your plans known and make your vision your reality. Follow your roadmap to healing and success.

Life meant for you to live and live abundantly. Know when to move, know when to invest yourself and know when to divest. Not everyone deserves your time, attention and love. Not everything or everyone is worthy of you love and/or your time. Don’t pay for unnecessary lessons. Know when to invest and when to divest.

Do IT NOW!

One of my favorite movies is the Wizard of Oz, you know the story of Dorothy who gets sent to Munchkin Land, after a tornado hits her house. She goes through the adventure of trying to find her way home by journeying to the Emerald City to meet the Great and Powerful Oz who will help her find her way home. Along the way Dorothy meets a cast of character, a wicked witch, a scarecrow, a tin man and a lion. All in the attempt to find her way home.

We often journey our way through life trying to find our way ‘home’, whatever or wherever home may be from us. We look for it in people (relationships), in jobs, in our possessions, anywhere but inside of us. We often spend this journey, just as Dorothy and her companions did, encountering obstacle and ‘wicked witches’ on our way to success. And just as Dorothy did we have people who help us along this journey and people who take the journey along with us. The problem is that we don’t always recognize or realize our help.

Another thing that Dorothy did not realize is that she had the power to go home all along. The shoes she was granted for the Good Witch, were the key to her ultimate way back home. And we too have the tools we need to get where we need to go in life. In Jeremiah 29:11 the Bible lets us know that God’s plan for our lives is for us to prosper and for us to have a future and hope. The Bible also reminds us that God knew us before we were created (Psalm 139). I believe one of my favorite hymns says it best “all I have needed, THY hands have provided”.

Essentially, everything that we need God has already supplied us with. All of the tools we need are at our disposal and all we need to do is simply activate our potential and our power. The truth of the matter is we spend too much time looking for someone else to tell us we are great, we are powerful, we are smart, we can do it. They are not providing anything to us that we do not already have. We simply need to stop being afraid and JUST DO IT!

For Dorothy, she had Glenda, the Good Witch of the North to tell her that she had the power to go home all along, but that she had to journey through the Emerald City because if she was told she had the power she would not have believed it. What is it bout you that you don’t believe. I am sure we have all had our journeys that led us through difficulties just to get to the point where we believe in ourselves.

Don’t wait any longer for someone else to affirm you. Affirm yourself. Believe in yourself. Encourage yourself. Do it for yourself. The world is waiting for you.

What Are You THANKFUL For?

Life presents many challenges. As a teenager and young adult I remember going through challenges and my grandmother providing this adage “Keep Living”. As I have grown older and as the things that she has instilled in me stay ever ready in my mind, I am reminded that no matter what happens in life my job is to keep living.
During this time of year, people become reflective. They think about the trials and tribulations they have faced throughout the year as well as the good things. In my experience as a coach, it is often the bad things that are remember more than the good. My advice to them and to you as well is to remember what you are thankful for. So I ask, what are you thankful for?
Let’s begin with the simple everyday things, breath in our bodies, activity of our limbs, life, health and strength. We can keep it going with food, shelter… and for those that may be missing some of the things on the list, we all at least have about three (3) of those things covered. So if some of the big things are not yet actualized, the big bank account, the perfect spouse, the dream job, I say to you keep living.

Remember to be thankful for what you have. Remember that everyday you wake up and walk this earth that you have a blank page and new opportunity to create the life of your dreams. Remember to be thankful for the hard times because they make you appreciate the good times even more. Be thankful for what you have little or much because you still have the ability to do more to be greater.
Don’t think that this is a season that is all about the food or the shopping or the material things that the world offers. This is a season to be thankful for those little things, for the things we take for granted for the things we do without thinking or without concern. This is the time to be thankful for the breath you just took. Thankful for the eyes that allowed you to read this post, thankful for the meal you had today or the hot water that washed your body or cleaned your clothes. This is a time to be thankful for the people that you can call in the middle of the night when all seems to be lost in your world. This is the time to be thankful for those your poured wisdom into us, who left us with their words of wisdom that we now carry in our hearts. So this season I ask you What are You Thankful For?