We are almost at my favorite time of the year (sarcasm): gyms filled to the rafters, people carrying long list of New Year resolutions and cheerleaders with pom-poms cheering: “You can do it”! Sadly, many will soon return to the same old habits and failures of 2015. That last sentence is what many of you fear but this message is not designed to take the wind out of your sail. If you want 2016 to be your year of peace, blessings and favor, you must answer the following question: What are you taking with you in 2016? This is not a multiple choice or 10 second response question; one of the main reasons people fail is because they do not identify the roots of what is holding them back. (Selfless plug: I wrote an entire book on this, Sometimes all you Have is Happy—this would be a great place to start; Kindle version also available.) This is a serious, heart to heart you need to have with yourself continually; in our darkest hours we often allow things to attach to us unknowingly. (We can discuss the things we knowingly allow to attach to us and refuse to let go some other time; even those things can leave roots that we are unaware of.) We fight to come out of darkness but often refuse to dig deeper and make sure no residue remains. In laymen’s terms: why put on clean clothes without taking a shower? You might like good but it won’t be too long before you begin to stink! Yet that is what so many of us do, robbing ourselves of true success and achievement. I do wish each of you a blessed and prosperous new year; one where you stop carrying those things that no longer fit you. Life is too short to be bound by your past or imprisoned by fear. --Alesha Brown, The Joy Guru Author/Motivational Speaker/Media Personality/Joy Enthusiast thejoyguru.net President, Alesha Brown LLC Amazon Published Author
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When I say I'm proud of this next author, I am PROUD! I love what I do because I help amazing people make their dream a reality; it's so much more than just publishing a book! Author L. Town was discouraged and actually put her book down for over two years. She was looked down upon because she is a #custodian and was told perhaps she should pursue an English degree or higher education before trying to publish a book. The sad part was she really is a gifted writer with a writing style that keeps you in suspense! When there is a plan for your life, expect the #naysayers, #distractors and #discouragers but DON'T STOP! We were connected by her goddaughter who attended a networking brunch that I spoke at. The following week they both drove over an hour to have a double consultation with me. When I read Rented Hands, I was speechless; what an awesome book to speak into the lives of #men, #BabyBoomers, those in #NursingHomes and anyone who #regrets some of their past decision and wants to #StartOver. BONUS: she now understands her gifts and is actually a prolific writer. She went from thinking maybe she just doesn't have what it takes to realizing that God has birthed a tremendous #writing, #teaching and #healing #ministry within her. As a matter of fact, she was ordained as a minister two weeks ago! Please do me a favor: please purchase her book at the link below; it will bless your life and the lives of those around you. For those of you who have aging parents and family members, know those in nursing homes or just want to give a gift of #encouragement and #spirituality, you definitely should purchase this book. https://www.createspace.com/5924776 I stay busy with the LLC but I'm always looking for the next person that wants to step out and launch their masterpiece. If you know you were designed for more than this, let's talk: thejoyguru.net! -Alesha Brown, The Joy Guru Author/Motivational Speaker/Media Personality/Joy Enthusiast thejoyguru.net President, Alesha Brown LLC Amazon Published Author I know some of you missed it, and believe me you told me about it, so I’ll recap this Periscope episode. Did you forget you had your Spanx on? What did I mean by that? This Periscope episode aimed to bring awareness to the illusions that many of us create and hold onto in our lives. Trust me, I am not saying there is anything wrong with wearing shapewear; for many of us it is a necessary enhancement. The problem comes in when we wear this garment, or façade, to the extreme. For example, some people wear their shapewear so much that they practically sleep in it! There are so many variations that can make you look three or more dress sizes smaller. If wearing these garments are a part of your daily ritual, it is so easy to forget what size you actually are. For people who feel they cannot go out in public for a second without these garments, I can only imagine how defeated you feel once you take them off. Those people easily forget their actual dress size but extreme use can cause damage to your internal organs. Long term confinement—pressing, squeezing and binding—can have an irreversible, damaging affect. Now if that is true of a material garment, imagine the effects of the mental, emotional and physical ties that bind us: lies, pain, hurt, shame, failures, broken relationships, lust, sex, food, alcohol, greed, arrogance, envy and so forth. Today, ask yourself, What things have I used to alter my appearance and the way others perceive? The image I present to the world, is that the same person I see when I look in the mirror? Just like with shapewear, articles of adornment/accessories can be wonderful enhancements that increase our self-esteem, sharpen our image and allow us to put our best foot forward. Caution: if your sense of worth, value or purpose is diminished when you remove those articles, you might want to think about the tie that binds you and if you should eliminate it. If not, the world will love the image you set before them while you are left to live with the broken, diminished authentic version of you. In the words of songstress Lauryn Hill: How can you win if you ain’t right within? -Alesha Brown, The Joy Guru Author/Motivational Speaker/Media Personality/Joy Enthusiast thejoyguru.net President, Alesha Brown LLC Amazon Published Author Follow me on: http://www.periscope.tv/abrown8434 As a media personality, I believe it is my duty to be a responsible journalist; I strive to avoid glorifying subject matters just because they are trending. However, I believe it is important to stand up and speak out for the edification of our community.
I plead with you to watch Donald Trump’s latest remarks regarding his suggested ban of Muslims; watch this video in its entirety. I don’t care what your political affiliations are or whether you are a fan of Donald Trump; this is supersedes that. I could not help but listen to his recent commentary and instantly think of Hitler, the KKK or plantation slave owners. We have to stop ignorantly listening to the media: don’t think his views don’t concern you if you are not a Muslim. If he had said black people, Latino people or white people, would that have made you mad or concerned you? Remember, Hitler didn’t start with 100% anti-Semitic, hate filled rhetoric either; it progressed to that over time and increased popularity. The same is true of the KKK and a lot of other hate-filled groups; they initially came out with the angle that they were concerned about our world and wanted to help make it better. So what does this mean to you? First, and your spiritual life is your business but, this is indicative of why the Jesus said, in Luke 18:1b (KJV) that that “that men ought always to pray, and not to faint”. We cannot survive this world, present day and future, without the power of prayer and guidance of God. Second, be grounded and rooted: we have to stop being so easily swayed by public opinion, media and whatever other distractions and manipulations that are strategically designed to diminish our awareness and take us off focus and mission minded action. Thirdly, and this is so important, stand up and be accounted for: these are perilous times and action is required; the season of being a shrinking violet or standing up against the wall are OVER! Your world demands that you stand up, know the power of your voice and use it RESPONSIBLY! Don’t buy the hype that you necessarily need to be on a picket line or protest unless that is required for your position of influence. So, instead of being outraged or just idle chit chat, ask yourself today: how am I using my voice, my life and my testimony to transform my world? If you can’t answer that, pray and seek guidance. --Alesha Brown, The Joy Guru President, Alesha Brown LLC Motivational Speaker, Editor, Author and Authors’ Consultant/Coach Helping people to “Write the vision and make it plain” thejoyguru.net |
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