Have you begun to turn Your INTENTIONS into Your REALITY?

                Good Morning All.  The question I posed in today blog title isn’t just for me, if you’re reading this I am talking to you too.

                Last week I wrote about setting intentions for 2013, now I want to talk about turning our intentions into our reality.  It’s great to think about what you want to cultivate in your life this year, but if you never go past thinking, desiring, or planning and into ACTION what’s the point.

                A few weeks into the New Year is when the work begins…All your resolutions, goals, and intentions are waiting for you. Are you taking action?  I AM.

                I am still eating healthier, I am still exercising, I am still writing, I am still focused.  Even better I am MORE EXCITED and MORE COMMITTED to my goals and the “Action” steps needed to get there than I was on New Years Day!!!

                For those of you that haven’t moved past your intentions into ACTION, don’t fret.  It is never too late to start, every day is a new opportunity to make your future brighter.  Remember that apathy will only keep you living in FEAR. 

                Don’t concern yourself as much with the “end point” of your journey, concern yourself with each step it will take to get there.  Step out into your future.  Walk your path with LOVE in your heart, and marvel at the GREATNESS that you will be presented with.

To The Universe

LOVE BRANDY

Don’t let Negativity INFECT YOU, Grow Stronger From It!!!

“Whenever the immune system successfully deals with an infection, it emerges from the experience stronger and better able to confront similar threats in the future.  Our immune system develops in combat.  If at the first sign of infection, you always jump in with antibiotics, you do not give the immune system a chance to grow stronger.”     -Andrew Weil, MD

                Good Morning Universe, let’s talk about why we should stay put during the storms we face in life.  The quote that I included today is specifically in reference to physical illness, but it includes a POWERFUL Lesson about life. 

Often times in my life I have referred to the saying, “whatever doesn’t kill you makes you stronger” and now I know where that saying may be based from.  I know that all the “infections” I have faced in my life like drugs, depression, low self esteem, abuse, and incarceration have brought me to where I sit today.  I sometimes wish that I could erase those NEGATIVE experiences from my life, but I also know that I have grown stronger and wiser because of them.

Unfortunately not everyone grows and learns from Negative experiences.  Many people become infected by the “negativity” and they dwell and live in their infection and often times spread that “negativity” infection to others.  I spent many years “LIVING” in the Negative Infection that had become my life, and I was barely existing. 

Don’t Despair, just like with our physical healthcare we have choices in how we care for our Mind, Spirit, Emotions, and Actions.  Are you going to “jump in” and try to treat an infection of negativity with a quick fix that will you deny you the opportunity to strengthen yourself. 

Or will you fill your medicine cabinet with emotions, thoughts, and actions meant to strengthen and heal your mind, body, and soul.  Will you “self medicate” with Fear, or Feed Your Life With LOVE?

To The Universe

LOVE BRANDY

It’s one thing to Expect Excellence, It’s Another to Require Perfection. No One is Perfect!!!

                Good Morning Universe, I need your help.  I need to let go of negativity.  I had a task a few weeks ago, I needed to arrange to have my Car (which is still in Sac) detailed so my father could photograph it for sale while he is visiting this week.  I had discussed this with my family in Sac, but I didn’t follow up.  That was my task and I forgot to follow it through to completion, but blame won’t help.

                It is such a fine line between expecting perfection and being encouraged to stay on track.  When you inflict guilt on yourself or others because you are unhappy or disappointed, that is not LOVE.  How do you encourage accountability in yourself and in others, while remembering that we are ALL HUMAN.  We ALL make mistakes, We All have memory lapses, and We All experience Fear.

                It is my responsibility to work harder to “stay on top” of things, but it is also my responsibility to “let go” of the small stuff.  My old self wants to dwell in negativity and anger, but I KNOW that won’t help me or anyone else.  Sometimes things just happen, sometimes people just forget.  Sometimes we have to remember that when you criticize yourself or others it isn’t always coming from a desire to encourage growth, we are just upset. 

It is now my job to “let go” of this negativity and move on, it may be easy or it may be difficult, but letting go of my negativity must be done.  It is also my responsibility to work harder to stay on top of things better.  I will congratulate my successes, then learn from and discard my failures.

                Remember to temper your thoughts and words with Understanding and Love.  Remember that each of us makes mistakes, and we don’t need to dwell on Every Mistake made by ourselves or others.  Don’t be too critical.

To The Universe

Love Brandy

Brrrr!!! When it's Cold Outside, we still have to Get Up and Do The Work

                Catchy title don’t you think?  Usually I write first, then come up with a title but I am trying something new today.  I try to write about things that are going on in my life on each day, and today I AM FREEZING.

                I just got back from taking my Dad and Susan to the airport, they are visiting family in Sacramento, and even though I have had the heater on for a few hours it’s still cold.  My hands are freezing, but I can’t type with gloves on.  LOL.

                What strikes me most this morning is that my “old self” would have just gotten right back into bed, not just because of the cold but because I could.  Thankfully my “old self” isn’t in control anymore.  She likes to come back and visit, but I have the tools to “put her in her place.”

                I had to put my “old self” in check because if I didn’t  I would have allowed myself to snuggle up, turn on the TV and delay the start to my morning.  That wouldn’t be good because then I would have to get motivated to start working all over again.  Better to just get up and start the day.

                Now I have one “good decision” under my belt and that is a decision I made from a place within myself that is filled with “LOVE.”  As my day progresses if negativity or tough choices come my way I can remember my first “good decision” and use that as fuel to stay on track.

                Every day is different.  Some days I have to “work” harder to stay on track and focus more on making positive decisions and operating from “love” not “fear.”  My job is to keep moving and keep working.  I must acknowledge the “good” things, and “Learn From” then “Let Go Of” the negative things.  The more I practice this, the better I get at it.

                What “good decisions” can you make this morning that you can carry with you throughout your day? 

To The Universe

Love Brandy

I REALLY WANT A COOKIE!!!

                Good Morning Universe I bet I got your attention with my title today.  Honestly who doesn’t want a cookie (or 10) now and then.  Before now I would have DEFINITELY just ate all the cookies.  Self-Control hasn’t always been one of my strong points, but that is changing these days.

                I have spoken before about my addiction to negative behaviors like smoking, drugs, and even self-harm.  Another addiction I have struggled with, and still struggle with is an addiction to food.  I partook in these negative behaviors to escape.  I was usually bored or depressed and made excuses as to why these negative behaviors were OK.  Not Anymore, I don’t want to make excuses I am making changes.

                It is very difficult to change behaviors that have been part of your life and your personality for years, but it’s DEFINITELY POSSIBLE.  The best part about changing your negative behaviors and habits is the pride you get upon success.  The hardest part is getting back on track if you fail.  Failure is common when making significant changes, but I BELIEVE the only TRUE FAILURE is never trying again.  The things people value most are things we have WORKED FOR.

                That being said, I REALLY WANT COOKIES.  I am aware that the OLD SELF wouldn’t be able to just have one serving of cookies, I would be in danger of eating half the box.  My NEW SELF has been doing really good this week.  I bought a small box of cookies 5 days ago, and still have more than half the package left today (and it’s actually a really small package) YEAH!!!  I am starting to gain some self-control, and with that comes PRIDE.

                I have goals this year and like most people weight loss is one of them.  I have had success with weight loss, but not recently.  Two years ago I weighed 316lbs, as of today I have gotten down to 242lbs.  (Wow it’s REALLY DIFFICULT to tell people my actual weight)  The majority of my weight loss was accomplished in 2011, I just didn’t gain it back. 

Last year I still had the goal to be healthier, I just got lazy.  This year it’s not about maintaining my weight loss, but getting it moving again, and I am happy to report THIS YEAR is going GREAT.  This week I have lost over 3lbs, and I am SO HAPPY.

 Now my job in the coming months is to remember this POSITIVE feeling in order to keep me motivated.  It is my job to keep working even when I hit the DREADED PLATEAU, which I acknowledge will come.  I must take my thoughts captive, thoughts like “this is too hard” or “well I worked so hard and don’t’ see changes.”  I must remember how good it feels to succeed, even when my inner quitter is SCREAMING at me. 

                One step I have taken is to tell others my goals, that way I will be accountable.  Another way is to share my struggles and successes with a support system.  The only person I have shared my goals with for this year is my Father, but now I have shared them with ALL of YOU and it SCARES ME but it also inspires me.  Let’s all work to overcome our FEARS this year and look for the POSITIVE.

To The Universe
LOVE BRANDY

Dance and Be Silly!!!

               It’s time to enjoy life, have fun, and get a little silly.  This is something that I need to remember more often.  The best part about this motto is that I don’t need anyone else to make this happen.  I can have more joy in my life, even if I am on my own.

               Don’t get me wrong, being surrounded by people you can enjoy yourself with is great.  What I feel right now is that I can enjoy myself and celebrate my life even when I am alone.  Right now I have the music up and am dancing around without worry that someone will think I look silly.  It’s SOOOO freeing, it’s fun, and it makes me feel alive.

               When I smile, laugh, and dance it fills me with a kind of freedom and happiness that I often forget about in the daily grind of life.  I realize that we all have responsibilities, worries, and things that must get done to function.  What I AM Saying is that it’s very important to ENJOY your life.

               I am sure not everyone enjoys turning up the music and letting go of their worries.  Though I am sure the majority of people do.  If your one of the people who doesn’t think this sounds like fun then just try it.  One thing to remember is to listen to UPBEAT music, don’t turn up the sappy stuff.

               I challenge you to turn up your favorite happy music and try to be sad, it’s actually really difficult.  Enjoy something small today, be silly today, dance today, tell a joke today and see what happens.  If it doesn’t make you feel good now, try it again later.  If it’s not music and dancing that makes you silly, happy, and filled with laughter try to find what works for you.

               The pursuit of happiness is never a mistake as long as you are not hurting anyone else or doing something self-destructive.  When you are happy, you attract happy people and positive things.  The Universe wants you to experience happiness, laughter, and love.  What can you do today to bring more joy into your life?  Trust me PURE JOY is NEVER a waste of time.

To the Universe

Love Brandy

Happiness or Sadness…Where Do You LIVE?

                Good Morning Universe,  I LIVE IN HAPPINESS.  Yes, I said it and I mean it.  Today I spend my days in Happiness and I am Grateful.  I don’t want people to misunderstand what I mean by Living in Happiness, I am not saying I am Happy 24/7.  What I AM SAYING is that I don’t let sadness rule my life.

                I acknowledge that Sadness may come and visit me at times in my life, but I am not spending the majority of my life IN SADNESS anymore.  To me being Sad is only temporary, I don’t have to allow my negative emotions and experiences to dictate My Life.

                I contemplated whether or not I should write about Sadness.  I want my writings to be positive and uplifting when others read them, but I don’t want to be dishonest or let people believe everything is perfect.  My words wouldn’t help anyone if they aren’t honest or relatable.

                I remember last year when I went home to visit my mother for Halloween and she was a little shocked when I confided in her that I was Sad.  At the time I hadn’t found my place in Vegas, I was lonely and confused, but she didn’t know that because all my Blogs up until then were ALWAYS Positive.  I was afraid to admit that I felt negativity at times, but in that fear I was doing myself a disservice.  I was doing others a disservice, because how could I inspire others if I myself was unrelatable.

                Today I Live in Happiness for the majority of my days, but sometimes I must work harder to find the Happy and surround myself with it.  It is my job to move forward and find ways to bring more Happiness and more Love into my Life.  I have to work to leave the Negative in the past so I don’t end up living there.  I have to forgive myself when I am sad or negative, otherwise I may use that negativity as an excuse to live in Sadness. 

I am building a “toolbox” filled with ways to Live in Happiness.  What can you do to fill your “toolbox” with Happy?

To The Universe

Love Brandy