Confidence Challenge

Hi!!

I hope that everyone is happy, healthy, and abundant!

I don’t have much to say at this time. (I’m working quietly and manifesting things that I will speak on later.) but, what I did want to reiterate is the absolute power and importance of affirmations!

We are all divine souls encased in human bodies, right? Well, as human beings, we forget our purpose and mission in life as we become accustomed to earth and programmed by society. Things happen to us and we learn certain behaviors as a result. There’s not much we can do about the way we were raised. But as adults; we can fix this!

That is the beauty of technology! If you have a problem and are looking for a solution to it- you can easily find it by doing a little bit of research.

This being said; during the course of my life I had developed some very low self esteem. I felt unattractive, unworthy, and overall unsure of myself on multiple levels. I didn’t want to live the rest of my life this way; so I knew that I had to do something about it!

So I began my plan of action. I was practicing the law of attraction and things started to improve, but I needed more. I looked into hypnosis to clear my subconscious of negativity. That felt great! But I aspired to even greater levels.

I began saying affirmations. Make no mistake- I had been affirming the entire time but after a while; I needed affirmations more catered to the issues that I sought to improve. I researched and found some confidence affirmations. Now, this hit the spot!

I began to say them everyday. I modified some of the affirmations and made them my own. I only kept the affirmations that resonated with me. Now, I’m getting somewhere!

Right?

Well, somewhere isn’t quite there. I felt good, but truth be told; I wasn’t really getting out of the house much because of the pandemic.

I returned to social media. And that’s when I saw that I needed yet more work in the confidence department. I went to take a selfie and I completely froze. I had taken multiple selfies and could not find one that I deemed worthy of posting. I hated each one! I struggled with the sight of my own face.

I felt broken. I thought those affirmations were working! I thought to myself. How disappointed I was. But then I realized that with some lessons, there are tests. It’s pretty easy to say ‘I am beautiful’ in a room by myself. It was time to actually believe it.

So, I created a #ConfidenceChallenge for 45 days and began taking selfies everyday. Each day, I post a picture of myself along with an affirmation. As time went on, it became less difficult to find a picture of myself that I deemed acceptable. I even starting doing short videos (I didn’t really like my voice either).

And now, here it is 31 days later and I can see and feel the difference in the way that I view myself. It wasn’t all about looks- looks only get you so far- but I realize that as I practice all of this self care and self love, that I am able to speak my mind and look at myself instead of cringing.

I began the challenge on social media thinking that maybe it would catch on and make me famous…lol. It may still do that- who knows? But I realized that I’ve already gotten something valuable out of this experiment. I didn’t post any selfies hoping for likes. My aim was to validate myself. And I did that.

That; my friends, is priceless.

Until next time, much love. Be blessed and be free!

Love and Light- Mimi 💜✨

Try New Things

Hi!

I just wanted to share some things that have been on my mind lately.

First, I want to acknowledge Pride Month because I feel like people should be able to love who they want to love. They should be able to be themselves authentically.

I want to acknowledge Juneteenth because I’m a black woman and I wouldn’t be where I am without it. I also feel that freedom is a right and not a privilege.

And last, but not least, I want to acknowledge Father’s Day. This was the first time that I was not able to hug my father or call him and tell him happy Father’s Day. To all the father’s out there- you are loved, you are valuable.

And now that I have addressed those things, I just want to say: go for it!

If you find yourself wanting to do or try things that you usually wouldn’t- go for it! Do it. Live out loud! Smile even though your teeth aren’t perfect. Sing, dance, love!

Rediscover yourself.

That’s what I’ve been doing lately and it’s been really rewarding. I’ve always enjoyed writing. And learning. But since I’ve been on this journey of enlightenment, self confidence, and self discovery; I find myself wanting to draw, color and paint.

I took animation in high school (many moons ago lol) and it was pretty cool. But after I took the classes, I didn’t draw anything. And now here I am, drawing again. I’m not great at it but I enjoy it. And that’s what it’s about.

Life is about enjoyment. We work and pay bills to maintain our livelihoods, but enjoyment is key.

Here’s one of my sketches that I outlined. And until next time; much love. Be blessed. And be free! 💜

Trust your Intuition

Hi!

I didn’t write last week because I didn’t feel like I had anything particularly helpful to blog about. Maybe next time, I will share a poem instead of not writing at all. We shall see…

Well, this week, I wanted to share something that happened to me that actually had me a bit out of sorts. I share this to emphasize the importance of trusting your own intuition.

About a week ago, after I meditated, I was on YouTube and I saw a pick a card video posted by The Gem Goddess. (I subscribe to her channel and I think she’s awesome and gifted.) So, I pick a card and proceed to listen to the reading…it was on point! I mean; spot on! She told me some great things as well as truths that I needed to hear.

I was reignited! I felt good.

About 10 minutes later, I noticed a YouTube notification and so I checked it out. It was a comment from Gem! I freaked out. It said, “message me on WhatsApp I have a vision for you.”

My mind was reeling. I was thinking ‘Wow. She actually responded to my comment, I wonder what she has to say…‘ ya know; things of that nature.

I don’t even have WhatsApp, but I downloaded it onto my phone and set it up so that I could message Gem.

She asked a few basic questions and I answered. She let me know that I needed a private reading; to which I said, okay. She then told me the price. It didn’t feel right to me, but I shook it off. After all, she’s The Gem Goddess!

She said that I needed to send her ‘a deposit’ so that she could schedule my reading via video call. I thought to myself, Let me stop being cheap. This is an investment. I’m investing in myself.

So I shrugged off that uneasy feeling and proceeded. I asked if she had cash app and she said yes. She sent me the info, and I looked up the name.

Wait, what?!

So I stopped in my tracks. That should be the end of the story, right? Wrong!

I got another message from “her”, asking if I had made the payment. When I responded that I didn’t because of the picture, she explained that he is her assistant and that her account has limits. Okay, I guess that makes sense…

All of this is happening while I’m running errands. I was driving up to my daughter’s job and received a WhatsApp video call. My sister answers it for me and I see the guy pictured. And then for a few seconds, I saw Gem Goddess on the screen. She was saying something but I couldn’t make it out. The signal dropped, but I figured it was because I was driving through the mountain area.

Seeing her on the screen; my skepticism faded. There was another message. Something to the affect of ‘see, I told you.’ Well, my mind was eased and I sent the payment through cash app.

After a little while of messaging back and forth, a began to feel like things weren’t right again. After a couple more basic questions, I noticed that the person’s speech patterns weren’t like hers at all. I realize that I don’t know her personally, but she didn’t at all come across how she does on the videos. And the things that were being said in this chat didn’t line up with the original reading. These things didn’t resonate with me at all!

And then I realized that I had been scammed. I don’t know how this con artist got access to her YouTube channel (I’m assuming that he hacked it) but this was not Gem Goddess.

At the risk of sounding dramatic; I felt violated. I had spoken to this person in confidence about things that were personal and private because I believed that they were someone else. And what’s more, this person took money from me!

I was upset, embarrassed, and hurt. But I’m okay now. It was a lesson learned, and now; more than ever I know to trust my intuition. We all have intuition. We all have light in us, and it is our duty to cultivate it, use it, and let it shine.

Trust yourselves beautiful people!

Until next time; much love. Be blessed and be free. 💜

Don’t Stay Down

Hi!

I just wanted to create a post for people who may be feeling down right now, or maybe you’re doubting yourself for one reason or another.

Know that you aren’t alone.

Know that you are loved.

Know that it’s okay to be down sometimes- just don’t stay there.

I personally have had some mixed feelings this week. There were some incredible highs: my daughter graduating from high school, finally meeting and making peace with my ex husband’s wife. (She’s actually a sweetheart!)

And there were lows. The graduation itself made me think of my father and how proud he would’ve been to see my daughter walk across the stage. When my ex husband and his wife offered their sincere condolences for his passing- I almost crumbled. It hurts so much that he didn’t get to see that. He was always so proud and supportive of us all.

But I couldn’t stay in that sad place. I had to be present. Of course, that’s not to say that I immediately was happy again, but I knew I couldn’t stay in that sad place.

I thanked them for their condolences, focused on some of the good times with my father and let gratitude for this event take me back to a positive place.

It’s important to process emotions rather than cover them up. Don’t be in a hurry to ‘be okay’ if you genuinely don’t feel that way. It’s also important to know the difference between processing and wallowing. If you get too comfortable in that sad place, you could spiral and make it so much harder to raise your vibration again.

Here are some methods I use to regain positivity: listening to positive affirmations, meditation, journaling, drawing, playing with my dogs, going for a walk or drive.

I really hope that this will help someone.

Until next time; much love. Be blessed and be free!

My daughter and my father on her 17th birthday

I am/Gratitude Merger

Hi!

Some time ago, a thought occurred to me while doing my affirmations. I don’t know if this is something that you’re already doing: if so, great! But I thought that I’d go ahead and share it because I feel that it’s a more powerful way to affirm and manifest your desires.

I learned while reading; that “I am” affirmations are more powerful as it is also a direct reference to God and the God inside of us.

And then I read The Science of Getting Rich and learned that gratitude brings us into closer relationship with Source (God).

So I thought to myself…🤔

What if I paired the two together? Wouldn’t that make a powerful affirmation even more powerful?!

Yes. Yes; I believe it would! For example: instead of saying “I am wealthy.” Try saying; “I am grateful to be wealthy.” Not only are you affirming wealth, but you’re expressing gratitude as well.

So, I began to blend affirmations with gratitude and sincerely; they resonated with me on a different level!

So much so, that I believe it caused me to manifest a nicer car for myself. I went from “I have a better car.” To “I am grateful for a better car.” (I wasn’t very specific; I just wanted a better car than the one I had.) And guess what?!

I went from this car (with over 250,000 miles on it. It used to be a cab.)

To this car! (With under 100,000 miles on it.)

And while I’m grateful for Marie and always will be; I’m really grateful to have Mariah.

I didn’t tell him that I wanted a new car. I just gratefully affirmed and allowed it to come to me. And he surprised me with this lovely vehicle last night.

So I decided to share with you. I hope that your greatest of dreams come true. Until next time…

Much love. Be blessed. And be free. 💜

Hair Evolution

Hi!

Today marks a special day in my hair evolution. Hair evolution, you say? Yes! Yes I do.

For some people “it’s just hair”. But in my opinion, my hair is a crown. It is a form of self expression that I handled (and sometimes mishandled) in different ways.

As a child, my mother styled my hair. She would do braids and beads which I loved for both the color and the clacking sound they made. She also did twisted ponytails with barrettes at the ends. I loved this too, but I had to play more carefully for fear of losing my hair ornaments.

And then I was “old enough” to do my own hair. Oh, the independence! I thought of all the wonderful and courageous styles that I would come up with. But when my time came to style my own hair, I didn’t do such a great job.

I used relaxers and far too much heat. I was trying to have my hair ‘bone straight’ as they used to say. I suffered from split ends and breakage. So then, I went to my next hairstyle- braided extensions.

This style became my comfort zone. While it did lend versatility and protection for my hair, I became too reliant on it. Even when my hair was healthy again, and had grown; I still continued to wear them. After many years, I realized that I was hiding behind them. It gave me a length and texture that I didn’t naturally have at that time.

Years ago, after my lupus diagnosis, I suffered from an extreme episode of hair loss. It came out one day in the shower. I still remember it like it was yesterday! Massive clumps of my hair were splattering on the floor of my bathtub. I was devastated. And it look away the little bit of confidence that I felt like I had.

Momentarily…

After that devastation, I actually felt liberated! I came to realize that it was just hair. No big deal. It’ll grow back. I said to myself. (And it did!) But with that new realization, I was open to do something different. Something so not me. I had it cut!

This haircut was everything! My sister is a cosmetologist and she gave me the initial look…which evolved into what you see above and other derivatives of that. I felt so exciting, edgy, sexy. I felt brand new.

…but after a few years of the short style, I was ready to move on. I felt really proud and empowered by the natural hair movement- especially when my sister and daughter chose to “go natural”. If they could do it; so could I. So I did.

I stopped using harsh chemicals and heat on my hair and began to just let it grow. Naps and all! But it was okay, because I was infatuated with the magic of the Afro.

Over two years into my natural hair journey, (and one year ago today) I decided to take the evolution one step further. And guess what? I locked my hair! For a moment I doubted it; thinking, is this really the last hair style I want to have?

I decided that the benefits outweigh any risks and I have no regrets. I can still add braided extensions for variety if I want, and sometimes I do. But I am really enjoying cultivating my hair with our oils and watching it grow. My hair is evolving as I evolve and it’s a beautiful thing.

So, happy “loc-iversary” to me!

Much love to those of you reading…be blessed. Be free.

Don’t be afraid to…

Don’t be afraid to dream.

Don’t let anyone tell you you’re not good enough, because you are!

Don’t be afraid to live out loud! No one has the power to stifle you but you.

You are the star of the show.

You are the keeper of your own dreams.

You are the King/Queen of your domain.

You are strong enough, you are smart enough, you are good enough.

You are enough!

Remember that. Always.

Be blessed. Be free.

Here to be happy

When a middle aged man would leave his firm where he’s junior partner to live in a small apartment as an artist- he was said to have had a mid life crisis.

When a suburban housewife and mother of four children files for divorce, gets her own place and becomes a social media influencer-the popular opinion may be that she’s crazy. Or selfish. Or maybe even a bad mother.

But maybe, just maybe; the world of courtrooms and PTA meetings just wasn’t for them. And that’s okay. Sometimes the social norms are just that.

At times, these norms can be quite restricting! While some of them are necessary for structure, the rest of them are a demand. A chore. An unrealistic mandate that is daunting to a soul that desires adventure and excitement.

People grow and change every day. As we evolve, there’s sometimes a pull. An urge. A longing to do and be something or someone different.

The truth is, aside from harming others, there is no wrong answer when living life.

Don’t stay in a career you hate because you make good money. Find a way to monetize what you love to do!

Don’t stay in an unhappy or unfulfilling marriage ‘for stability’ or ‘for the kids’. There’s nothing stable about going through the motions half heartedly because you really wish you were doing something else.

I’m not saying quit your job with no job to replace it. Neither am I saying that you shouldn’t take care of your kids. What I’m saying is, find your bliss. Your destiny and purpose is wrapped up in those longings!

If you feel that urge…lean into it. Decipher if it’s legitimate and if it is, make the required moves- responsibly of course-to satisfy your soul’s longing. Because that is your destiny. That is why you’re here and who you’re truly meant to be.

You are here to be happy.

Be blessed, and be free…

Create Your Joy

Today is a great day!

I firmly believe that for myself as well as you. I was doing my morning meditation, and decided to check out this app I just heard about called Shine. In honor of national women’s day, it was featured in the App Store. So I said, why not?

The meditation for me today; referred to as my “Daily Shine”; was titled “Create Your Joy”. This really resonates with me because I’m into positive thinking, gratitude, and creating my reality. So, after I listened to Fearless Soul (I swear by them too!) I dove into my daily shine and…

This daily shine was really helpful! It put into perspective even more how easy it is to create your own bliss. I realized that there were small and/or simple things that bring me joy and by doing those things; I can make a better mood for myself thus, building better thoughts. And as they say- thoughts become things.

Thoughts Become Things. These three words, like Create Your Joy; are simple yet profound. They unlocked a new way of thinking for me. It made me realize that although unpleasant things may happen in life, that doesn’t make my entire life unpleasant. Yes, pain is painful. But with some positive thinking, that pain can teach a lesson, and maybe even create joy later.

For example: losing my father is the most insanely painful thing that I have experienced in my life so far. But that loss opened my eyes to a lot of things. After I grieved my loss and climbed my way out of depression (it’s a daily process) I began to focus on things that make me feel good. I really dug my heels into the Law of Attraction, meditation, affirmations, and gratitude.

These thought patterns reverberated into my daily life, my relationships, and my outlook on life. I am beginning to focus on my energy and my purpose. I have become a ‘curious seeker of what makes me light up’ (Fearless Soul)

And it feels great!

So, I challenge you to create your own joy. Take some time to think about things that bring you joy. And when circumstances start to go in a direction that doesn’t serve you- stop and reflect for a moment.

Ask yourself: what can I learn from this?

Think about a small thing that brings you joy…and then go do it! If you can’t do it right that second, take a deep breath and visualize yourself doing it.

We are Creators. So…

Create Your Joy!

Be blessed 💜

Grief..

It’s been a while.

I couldn’t bring myself to blog consistently – try as I might- due to recent circumstances in my life.

On November 17, 2020 I lost my father. And that has been difficult for me and my family. I briefly touched on it in a blog post, but I didn’t mention my inner turmoil.

Losing my father sent shock waves through my entire household. We have always been a family oriented group of people, but moving out to Arizona together made us that much closer. We were family, friends; we were our own little community. Each member was important, and each person played a role.

His passing was like an explosion followed by an earthquake. The people near him got hurt first in the explosion, and then during the earthquake which; in my opinion, was a 9.5 on the Richter scale. And then, we had to spread that hurt.

…and now, it’s been three months and one day and I still mourn his loss. But I guess that’s what grief is- it’s an earthquake. You suffer the initial damage, and then randomly, there are aftershocks.

I’ve learned that grieving is not linear. It’s a cycle. No one can tell you when or how to grieve. No one can tell you how long to grieve either. You may have some good days- do not feel guilty about them! And unfortunately, some days may feel like you’re back at day 1.

All I can say is this:

1. Take your time and actually process the loss. If you bury it; it will only hurt more later.

2. Cry as much as you need to. (Yes, it’s okay.)

3. Don’t let the loss consume you! (This is a tough one, but it’s very important.) When we lose someone close to us, it can affect us in many ways- some people get angry, feel lost and/or hopeless, some get depressed. Or maybe a combination of those emotions and others. It’s important to identify your emotions and deal with them accordingly.

*I personally felt a mixture of these emotions, and because of COVID-19, grief counseling is not available. But, I am coping with my grief through meditation, and therapeutic activity that I enjoy such as writing and drawing.

4. Take care of yourself! Be kind to yourself and others. Remember that you are still here because you have work to do. Get reacquainted with yourself and discover/rediscover your purpose.

5. Remember your loved one “out loud.” I plan to keep my father’s memory alive by remembering the moments we shared, the things he taught me, and the man that he was.

In fact…

My father was an awesome man. He was funny, kind, loving, smart, supportive…he was one of my closest friends. My father was the kind of man who would go to work with broken ankles and hide his crutches from his employer so that he could continue to provide for us. He was a hard worker; a man of integrity, and a great listener with wisdom, creativity, and charisma.

I love you and I will always remember you out loud.