I have said it once and I will say it again: life is full of lessons if you will take the time to listen and are willing to be taught. Resurrection Sunday, right before church, I tripped over a package and fell on my knees. The fall was awkward: typically I have time to catch myself but this was one of those type falls where there was no possibility of prevention. I remember saying to myself, “Dang, that was awkward and you bumped your knees hard but it was as if something braced your fall or took the brunt of it”. I even stayed there for a minute, scared that immense pain would be result from any pressure applied. Immediately, the Holy Spirit replied: “no, I braced your fall; just like anything else in life, I always catch you and take the brunt of everything”. No, I am not trying to be super spiritual but even I couldn’t argue with that. If an atheist had saw that fall, he or she would declare that luck had nothing to do with it. The only way I can describe it was it was as if I fell hard on a trampoline and bounced out so minimal impact resulted. I thanked God and proceeded to head to church. Returning home, I relaxed some and worked briefly while planning to leave for an evening event. In our quiet time together, the voice of God returned and planted the following thought in my mind: Alesha, you always like the story of the Pool of Bethesda and reflect on my words on positioning and shifting. So many, including yourself at times, are scared to take that next big step. Do you remember when I use to ask you to do something and you instantly hesitated because you were afraid of falling or failure? In your mind, it was as if there were only two or three more steps before you fell off the ledge and fear told you to air on the side of caution. To you, it was better to stay where you were/the “known” than to take a leap of faith and fall to your death.
This season, you think differently and now you don’t even peer over to see where the ledge is or how many steps before you fall. You trust me and you know that I will lead you to the path of glory and success. That is because indeed there has been a “shift” as a result of “positioning”. I AM that I am: not only will I brace, shield and protect you from the enemy including every fall, disappointment and danger but I have done something else. I have repositioned the “clift”. That means, where before you had a few steps before you would fall to your “death” or fail, I have repositioned the clift BEHIND you. That means, as you continue to walk forward while being led by my spirit, you will prevail. However, if you step back due to fear or holding onto the “known”/what is comfortable, you will fall to your death; the tide has turned and there has been a “shift”. What I learned in this quiet time was, this season’s occurrences that have me in awe, the blessings and favor that money can’t buy, only occurred after I was obedient to His commands to let go of certain things and clear my “plate. This season of purpose living required me to stopped looking or asking for signs and start listening for instructions. That doesn’t mean that I don’t experience anxiety, stress or have 100% peace in all situations. What I do have is 100% confidence and peace in knowing that He is in control and will not let me fail. Indeed He will brace every fall and always has. You ought to try it sometimes: life is much easier this way. --Alesha Brown, The Joy Guru Empowerment Coach, Motivational Speaker and Author CEO, Alesha Brown LLC & Joy University
0 Comments
Disclaimer: I’m taking off my MBA, business professional and Joy Ambassador hats for this Motivational Monday. How about some real talk with no chaser? When people ask what inspires me, these days my reply is often “counterfeit, thirsty entrepreneurs”. When I see the number of so-called “business professionals/specialist/experts” who prey upon the inexperienced, passionate ones, I become sick to my stomach. I often scratch my head in disbelief when I see people offer “packages” to services at premium prices that are FREE! Worse than that, they are delivering sub-par, “bootleg” results and leaving consumers angry and remorseful. Now, I do understand that people will pay you to provide services because they do not have time. I also understand that there are some people, many who are my clients, who don’t care to learn the how to and will gladly pay me to do it. In many situations, this is smart and these are not the examples I am referring to. What I am referring to are those “specialist, experts and strategists” who basically are peddling a Business 101, watered down system to those who don’t know any better. Too many fall victim to the glossy showmanship or city slicker speeches and take them at face value. I could operate my business that way to make a quick buck but that is not who I am. Despite my feelings about this situation, there is one glaring message I’ll share for this Motivational Monday: See, even something undesirable can spark something good if you know how to leverage it. Spot the failures, breakdowns and gaps in the system: those are YOUR opportunities. Know your calling, relentlessly pursue your passion and let nothing stop you from making an impact on those you were uniquely designed to serve. If you can learn anything from the fraudulent, manipulative and deceptive practices of others, you can learn that there is money waiting for you and your gift as well as an audience that is hungry for it. Be the difference maker and offer results-driven, authentic alternatives. That is something that branding alone will never buy you. Happy Monday and get to work!
--Alesha Brown, The Joy Guru Empowerment Coach, Motivational Speaker and Author CEO, Alesha Brown LLC Yeah, it’s been a minute since I’ve done a good old fashion blogpost so . . . why not come back in rare form with this one?!! Although both images were released today, I can tell you which one will probably receive more coverage. Unfortunately, this is indicative of the society we live in and one we partially created. All I am going to say is this: be mindful of what persona you create in life, in pictures, in spirit and in private. You have the creative license (free will) to design your greatest masterpiece and present it to the world: just understand that, once launched, there is no way to delete that masterpiece or the impact it causes. Both parties are highly successful, have family and lucrative careers. Both mothers recently gave birth to their second child. Yet, which one do YOU want your life to resemble in the way you want to be remembered? Now that’s food for thought on Motivational Monday. --Alesha Brown, The Joy Guru Empowerment Coach, Motivational Speaker and Author CEO, Alesha Brown LLC BREAKING NEWS: Join me and Danielle Boose on Thursday, March 10th, at 7:00 pm to learn hall the information that you need to go from idea to published author in 90 days (or less). The event will be live streamed on Facebook Live/Blab.
This is going to be #epic! #Author #thejoyguru #authors #bookRelease Call it telepathy or understanding people but I felt a “tell us more” in your spirit when it comes to today’s motivational picture post. Well, I am all too willing to oblige :o)!
This concept is the same as being right vs. righteous; if you understand that paradigm then you understand why life is too short to exhaust your time proving you are RIGHT. Consider this: great wars have been started, promising relationships and marriages ruined and great torment and pain inflicted from the quest to prove who’s right. Truthfully, when you meet someone hell-bent on proving that he or she is right (and you are wrong), at least one of the following scenarios is at play:
Do we all feel insecure or powerless at times? Sure we do and that reality is nothing to be ashamed of. Will there be times, spaces and situations that upset us and make us feel hopeless? Yes. The difference, however, is whether we have a mindset to keep pressing forward and create a plan of action for success versus playing the “blame game”. My ability to extend mercy and grace was birthed by the hatred, malicious and mean-spirited actions of others. Surviving childhood abuse were lessons in power and strength: when no appear to come to your rescue God will and that’s more than enough. (Honestly, that is the main power source you need anyway and the foundation on which everything must be built upon.) People come and go and you must know how to embrace that fact instead of being bitter over it. Trust me on this one, it is a blessing when people say no or vindictively taunt and attack you, your brand or business. While it may not be a welcomed invitation, their actions are priceless gifts of clarity; you cannot take everyone with you for the next phases of your dreams, vision and life’s work. Everything that has been predestined for your life is impacted by those connected to you; manipulators, distractors, naysayers and leeches cannot have center stage and promotion. Bonus “joy” tip: please don’t waste time trying to “show them” or take the “they’ll be sorry one day” stance. Your time is best spent building your future, walking into your destiny and making an impact while preparing for next dimensional living. After all, if you allow the “I’ll-show-them” spirit to reign, you might end up with nothing to show at all! --Alesha Brown, The Joy Guru Empowerment Coach, Motivational Speaker and Author TheJoyGuru.net This is my truth: I won’t get into all the particulars but, to this day, this employer has no idea the positive impact its denial had on my life (and the lives of others as a result). Sometimes you need a NO to propel you: a person’s No often tells you how they measure your worth and how much they are willing to invest in you. Note: I didn’t say their denial DETERMINES your worth, I said it is how they MEASURE your worth or your value to them. This is where so many of us get it wrong and struggle. Rejection occurs in life and it’s meant to; everyone should not be connected to you, aligned with you or a part of your vision. “An entire sea of water can’t sink a ship unless it gets inside the ship (Goi Nasu).” You will always have supports and cheerleaders; Hitler did! Regardless, you have to focus on your vision, how to make that happen and then launch right where you are. This is another sensitive area that so many of us have a problem with. Think about the Super Bowl or the Olympics: you don’t get to play on the grand stage with fly by night, instant success--much work, dedication, training and aches & pains has to occur FIRST. In laymen’s terms: you have to build up to that! How many star athletes tell stories of how they always envisioned playing in the Super Bowl or major leagues but all the failures, disappointments and obstacles they experienced on the road to success? Truthfully, some of the best inventions, discoveries and impact have been birthed from failures and obstacles. So, on today, be inspired and empowered; you ARE NOT struggling, failing or barely making. You are launching, overcoming, building, establishing, creating and setting the stage for incredible opportunities that will meet you at various stages of your journey. Remember: one NO could propel your purpose and a destiny that you couldn’t imagine or dream of. Now, on that note, have a joy and purposed filled day; your audience awaits you! --Alesha Brown, The Joy Guru Empowerment Coach, Motivational Speaker and Author TheJoyGuru.net P.S: Some of you have heard me talk about it but, we’re just weeks away from the official launch of my online coaching and course curriculum. There will be many exciting courses and coaching packages offered to help you get back into the driver’s seat of your life. So, please visit TheJoyGuru.net/Services to find out more information or sign up to be on the announcement list.
Let me say this: as a media personality including as a radio host, I understand the need to leverage trending topics to your brand. I also understand the importance of a general awareness of what is going on in the world around you. However, on this Motivational Monday, I would encourage you to be mindful of how you spend your time. Time spent, just like money, will demonstrate what really matters to you. Life is full of distractions: emails, texting, cell phone calls; please don’t get me started on social media (tweets, instant messages, timeline posts, etc.). All these things have their appropriate uses but, without balance, you will soon find yourself consumed and overwhelmed. So how do you refocus and make you, your mission, brand and a business a priority? As the late Steven Covey said, “begin with the end in mind”. Or, as Alesha Brown The Joy Guru likes to say, “start with your why”. If you could click a wand and have anything you want, what would the top five be? What goals have you made for 2016 to achieve these things? Why do they matter to you? Once you have answered these questions, then you can work on a plan of action to make them happen. One of the keys to fulfilling your desires is strategic, forward movement. In laymen’s terms, your time is limited so, can you really afford to waste 30 minutes in Facebook conversations on why the Oscars have no black nominees this year? Do you really have 45 minutes to spare to read all those posts on your timeline since the last time you checked in? If you struggle with distractions, you might have to turn off your Facebook notifications and set a daily 30 minute time limit for checking and responding to social media posts. Sounds too strict? Well, if you begin with the end in mind or start each day with your why, you will understand why the above suggestions are necessary. Wealthy, successful people operate very differently from the poor; they just have discovered the strategic moves necessary for them to meet their goals and objectives. So, as you start off this week, begin with your why and craft your plans to fulfill every goal you have for 2016. Plan your day around that and let nothing distract you or knock you off course. I can tell you one thing for sure: whether the Oscars are all white or all black, Jada Pinkett and Wil Smith will continue to be successful; Chris Rock will still get his paycheck for hosting and the Oscar winners will still get their awards. What will you or your brand get in return for all the time you spent on social media expressing your views thereof? Exactly; that’s why strategic planning is NECESSARY! Spend your time wisely and fulfill your dreams instead of promoting someone else while ignoring yours. –Alesha Brown, The Joy Guru Author/Motivational Speaker/Media Personality/Joy Enthusiast thejoyguru.net President, Alesha Brown LLC Amazon Published Author “ . . . there’s a lot of Destiny and Purpose in the grave.” When my Pastor uttered these words in Sunday morning service, it reminded me of a story told by platinum speaker Les Brown. On a recent Periscope video, he talked about a friend of his that was a great cook. That friend had told him that he wanted to get with him and write a book with his special recipes. Upon his passing, the spouse was talking to Les Brown and asked if they ever got together and wrote that book. Unfortunately, the answer was no. Les Brown talked about that experience and how he was working on his upcoming book; he didn’t want to die with a book within him. Pause for a moment and apply this to your life. If you let go of your fears, doubts and what-ifs and dared to dream again, exactly what would you do? There is another saying: If you knew you couldn’t fail, what would you be? Here’s the reality; life and its challenges often silence the dreamer and increases our fears, doubts and insecurities. If you step out on faith and take risks, you will fail. You will experience some wins as well as great loss. Why bother? If you never take the journey, the path of least resistance, you will die. You will die from a passionless life of mediocrity, you will die by the weight of conformity. The real death occurs when you die with some of the world’s greatest answers, inventions and gifts that your life and purpose was designed for. Imagine living a life of poverty only to discover that you were a royal heir and could have enjoyed a life of abundance. (Side Note: you are a royal heir and there is a great inheritance with your name on it; will you choose to enjoy it?) “ . . . there’s a lot of Destiny and Purpose in the grave”—will you allow the same to be said of you? –Alesha Brown, The Joy Guru Author/Motivational Speaker/Media Personality/Joy Enthusiast thejoyguru.net President, Alesha Brown LLC Amazon Published Author Disclaimer (and I’m laying down my MBA for this post): I am a young old head: young enough to not be considered old but raised “old school” so the “old mind” shows itself. Therefore, the old head side feels pretty hip using a recent slang term “thirsty”; sometimes slang is just necessary. Back to the point of this article: Are you a thirsty entrepreneur? The slang term thirsty is defined as someone who is desperate or overly eager. You know, the one that well sell their mama if it meant a profit; that person with the used car salesmen appeal. Now that you understand the term thirsty, is that the type of entrepreneur that you are? Are you cheapening your business, brand, product or service by wearing the thirsty wardrobe? There is nothing wrong with being passionate about what you do and eager to connect your vision with those who you think need it. There is nothing wrong with showing people how they can benefit from what you have to offer. What is WRONG is not understanding that EVERYONE does not want what you have to offer. Here is an example I like to use in my presentations: Starbucks Coffee. Regardless of whether you think they are the best coffee in the world, for this exercise, let’s assume they are. If I am a Starbucks brand ambassador, I would tell you how delicious, bold and robust our flavors are. Show you a steamy, hot cup of coffee with swirls that seem to energize you while taking away all the stress of the day. I would show you a relaxed, inviting atmosphere and an actor or actress that sits down and enjoys that rich, tantalizing cup of gold. (If you’re a coffee lover like me, this depiction just took you to a happy place.) But there is one problem; one BIG PROBLEM: What if the viewer doesn’t like coffee? Hmmmm . . . See, that is where a thirsty entrepreneur or marketer might go wrong. If your focus is on sales, sales, sales--we must sale more coffee, regardless of how it is marketed—you will lose if I am not interested in what you have to offer! If I don’t like coffee, don’t make purchases for those who do or ABHOR coffee with a passion, you’re barking up the wrong tree! Remember: in business and in life, you do not have time to waste! In 2016, if you are thirsty entrepreneur, STOP IT! Stop focusing on trying to sell the bridge and focus on making a connection. Don’t lose the 80% by focusing on the 20% or vice versa—the 20% might actually be your target market. If you are serious about your business or brand, there is a target market/demographic for it; there are those outside of that market that may patronize you but, overall, there is a specific audience that you should be marketing to. Okay, I’ll go old school on you in conclusion: “all money ain’t good money”. Trust me on this one, you really don’t want to work with EVERYBODY. There are some clients—either because of their tactics, spirit(s), attitude, drama, messiness, (you fill in the blanks) —that you are better off not doing business with or taking a loss; no money replaces your sanity or peace of mind. As one of my favorite Brand Manger & Publicist, Nikki Curry, loves to say: “You are not the Walmart brand; you are not for everybody”. She’s dead right about that: seek to make an impact and connection with your target audience and you will be successful. --Alesha Brown, The Joy Guru Author/Motivational Speaker/Media Personality/Joy Enthusiast thejoyguru.net President, Alesha Brown LLC Amazon Published Author Three kinds of people that made your life better in 2015 (that you don’t necessarily need to keep in 2016):
I am a reflective person—a New Year has nothing to do with it; I just believe that, as we grow in various areas of lives, there is a constant need for reevaluation. When I woke up today, I thanked God for a life that is draped in success, love and favor unimaginable (money and things come and go—don’t solely use them as measurements). One of my takeaways from last year was maturity: God literally showed me how there were new blessings and favor that He released to me because I was ready. Certainly maturity was required to see how the following three groups of people blessed me (and YOU) in 2015: Okay, I’ll save the Encouragers/Supporters for last: they are self-explanatory and provide a great contrast to #2 and #3. See the real problem is, too often, the Manipulators, Liars & Frauds come disguised as Encouragers/Supporters. Oh they are the first in line and appear to eat you up with a spoon; truthfully, they are just looking for the right opportunity to kill, steal and destroy. Yes, I said kill, steal and destroy: they bear the fruits of their leader and do not understand the full extent of their acts of deceit and manipulation. They have different levels of impact: some are like leeches that are determined to hang on until they suck the life out of you, your gifts, talents, abilities, resources, etc. Others are more strategic and have a specific purpose for what they intend to rob you of, nevertheless, they can be just as deadly and draining. This is no trivial or laughing matter; you have a specific mission to achieve before you leave this earth and you DO NOT have time to waste. Getting caught up, wrapped up and consumed by the actions of #2 and #3 will leave you depressed, frustrated, disgusted, disheartened and questioning your value and worth. Thank God for intervention and realignment—But God; don’t lose the essence of who you are or delay your achievements (let alone your peace and joy)! Why did I say that you needed all three in 2015? I’ll share my personal example to illustrate: 1.Encouragers/Supporters: not only are they the ones that initially saw my greater potential before I did but, late in the midnight hour, they are the ones I can call and who cover me in prayer. Oftentimes, they are the ones that call me to see if I’m okay because the Holy Spirit placed me on their minds. (Those are the people you need to invest in and cleave too; not those Fly By Night types.) Your mission will have twists and turns, exhaustion, disappointment, extreme labor and much travail; you will need a team of people that will grab you, redirect you and refuse to let you give up. BONUS: they will also be a breath of fresh air when dealing with the type of folks below. 2. Doubters/Naysayers: if you know my platform, you can visit thejoyguru.net, you know that I have endured a lifetime of rejection and abuse. When I arrived at the do-or-die turnaround point in my life, a “NO” suddenly became the fire that I needed to prove them wrong. With maturity, I learned that the only one I needed to prove wrong was me, my worst enemy. SECRET: I wasn’t forthcoming with this in 2015 but, what the doubters/naysayers and manipulators never realized was, every time they spoke maliciously against me or my mission, God would bless me at least twice as much. Every time they tried to smite me, God would come right back and give me what they should have and more. Not only did He restore what they refused to give me that was rightfully mine and what they promised, He would do it openly before them. So, I learned to thank them and just laugh at their attacks and ridicule; if they had known the secret, they would have cut it out A LONG TIME ago. (Then again, they probably would have proceeded to do what they did; people can only operate in the spirit in which they are under.) You need to pray for them and do so with a spirit of compassion and urgency; they will reap what they sow and even your prayers may only prevent but so much. 3. Manipulators/Liars & Frauds: now I’m not going to say that none of their acts didn’t sting or hurt at times; believe me they did. What I will say is that, and here is another lesson in maturity, God protected me and made one thing crystal clear: if it wasn’t for His grace, I could have operated in the same spirit and committed the same acts they did. When you look at things from that lens, it is easier to forgive them and move on (note: I didn’t say you had to keep being manipulated, lied to or defrauded—sometimes it is best to take a loss and move on). Whatever they promised, offered or extended isn’t worth the headache, heartache or time wasted; move on knowing that you will get that and much more if you don’t abort the mission. With that being said, I thank God for all of them in 2015 and glad that I am alive to see the beginning of a new day (and a new year to boot)! Literally, it seems like there are more opportunities, visions and ideas in my spirit than there is time in the day for. I no longer worry about so much about perceptions or expectations of others; I am on a mission and you cannot please everyone. I know there are additional separations, departures and hurt to come but it’s okay; I don’t fear man, I fear ignoring the voice of God and not fulfilling my assignment. The loss, risks and cost of not moving when He say move are too much to bare; the rewards for obedience are ones that we truly do not have room to receive! Here’s to an abundant and peaceful New Year, --Alesha Brown, The Joy Guru Author/Motivational Speaker/Media Personality/Joy Enthusiast thejoyguru.net President, Alesha Brown LLC Amazon Published Author 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 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 I've read it somewhere: "your haters are normally your biggest followers who purchase front row tickets". For the most part, I have always despised the term haters; I perceived it as an illusion of grandeur complex. However, the older I get, the more I realize it is just updated slang for backstabbers or your Judas.
Whatever you want to call them, it should come as no surprise when you encounter those who despise you, pray for your demise or are envious at the least sign of blessing in your life. Remember, Judas was one of the famed 12 and there is nothing new under the sun. Yeah it hurts, it's painful and truly unfortunate, especially when you are caught off guard, but don't lose focus. You have an assignment and divine mission to carry out; do the work of the Lord and let him handle the rest. -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 If you’re like me, the above title takes you back to the old school church hymn and you’re singing and tapping your foot right now. Honestly, I am a lover of music and spoken word so, it doesn’t take much to make me to find a song to match any phrase, title, word or situation. Okay, let me get off of my soapbox and get straight to the point. Everyone has a story to tell and, I encourage you in THIS SEASON, to go RUN & TELL IT! No, I am not encouraging you to be a blabber mouth or a gossiper; however, if you are one, YOUR STORY needs to be the only one you speed your wheels to run and tell. [In laymen’s terms: mind your own business and worry about yourself. I mean that with the upmost respect and love though, lol.] As a writer, editor, media personality/radio host and author’s consultant, I am always interviewing other people and creating ways for them and their business to tell their story. Some clients label me as The Book Whisper: I hear sonnets, titles, chapters and book series in the most basic conversations. As an author’s consultant, I find so many people that possess pearls of wisdom and keys of transformation for thousands but they have yet to share it! Often I am taken aback and excited in the first few minutes of conversation and my creative juices start flowing as I envision their platform & expansion possibilities. I said all of that to say this: DO NOT waste one more second of your time, life and potential sitting on your goldmine, wealth, power and purpose by NOT sharing your story. I realize everyone will not be a published author, although I am on a quest to make that a reality. Real Talk: creation is dying—emotionally, spiritually, physically and often unnaturally—creation NEEDS YOU! You are a subject matter expert in the journey of your life; even if others tell you that you are insignificant and ordinary. There is nothing ordinary about you or your existence and there hasn’t been since the day you were born. Would you have the cure for cancer or aids and not share it? Of course you wouldn’t but you do it every day when you don’t share your story. The song says, can’t nobody tell it, like I can tell it: so, why are you quiet? I have people approach me all the time and ask if Alesha Brown LLC* offers ghostwriting services. Sure, if necessary, but my talent is in showing you how you can write, publish and share YOUR story effortlessly and inexpensively. I don’t mind pulling it out of you; I just don’t want to write 100% of it for you because then your story loses its power, authenticity and possibly its intended purpose. So, on this Motivational Monday, I encourage you . . . no I beg of you . . . to share your story. Don’t worry about the proper grammar, word choice, usage, catchy taglines; there are enough people like me that can assist you with that, if needed. Rather, operate in the realization and authority that you were created to be a powerful force to be reckoned with by transforming power found in your story. Now I do encourage you to use wisdom and seek the Creator’s guidance in who, how and where to share your story. So, I’ll leave you with the question depicted in the opening picture: What is your story? Whatever it is, write it, make it plain and go run and tell it! As I always say, “Don’t just survive; be determined to thrive!” --Alesha Brown, The Joy Guru President and CEO, Alesha Brown LLC* www.thejoyguru.net [email protected] *Alesha Brown LLC offers author/writing consultation services to help people write their story and share their testimony. As an advocate on a mission to reverse the damage of abuse, she encourages others to write their story to pay it forward and create a circle of healing.
I went to write/type in my journal and was amazed; a perfect discovery for a Motivational Monday. I had a hard time finding where it was on my thumb drive; exactly how long had it been since I wrote in this thing? 11/3/14 and that was to announce my excitement over my first book being published on Createspace. Which started me thinking . . . A dream, over 20 years in the making, finally came true; then what? Well, a dream that came to fruition forced me to put my purpose in motion and turned into a platform. Almost a year later, I write for magazines, radio broadcasts, social media groups and clients—none of which were a part of my initial vision. I write so much for others that I have to ask myself, when was the last time you wrote anything for you? Passions, as well as pain/struggles and heartaches, are the fuel to ignite your fire so that you can walk boldly in your purpose. Indeed you will find yourself in places that you once only dreamed of and in dimensions that your eyes never envisioned. Sounds wonderful? Here’s a reality disclaimer: to whom much is given, much is required. I have no regrets especially when I look back over my life and the things I have survived. I am blessed to have the support and company of some amazing people as well as pour into the lives of so many while helping others achieve their greatness. I have interviewed celebrities, millionaires and noteworthy individuals that most pay to interact with. The most exciting part about it is I have only just begun; the true measure of what I have set out to accomplish has yet to be reached. Yet, I always remember God’s admonishment as I started out on this journey. You’re going to accomplish some amazing things and go to places you once only dreamed of. You will be in the presence of influential people that you never thought you would. People will seek your company, advice and knowledge. Just remember, the more success you achieve, the greater the strongholds, vices, enticements and demonic influences that will encounter, especially in the lives of those around you. You will be tempted but, be strong and, remember that I am God. At first I was a little baffled; how did we go from me accomplishing things I never imagined to heightened demonic influences? I didn’t know whether I should abandon ship or press on. A few months later, the message was clear. How easy it is to get wrapped up in the doing/busy work while forgetting the reason for the mission. I am not exempt and struggle to find consistent balance frequently. However, one of the things that saddens me greatly is witnessing the brokenness and insecurities of so many highly esteemed people. True, just because you’re successful doesn’t mean you don’t have problems. I just find it amazing how you can be so well loved, revered and inspire the masses, to only return home feeling insignificant and unsure. I WAS amazed until my seat was upgraded and my viewpoint was higher; my understanding increased. So, as you start another work week and busy day, ask yourself: am I listening to my heart’s cry? What is my soul or spirit saying? The longer I live the more I see that we often refuse to take the time to silence the world in order to listen. No wonder we often struggle with issues of fulfillment and unrest. -Alesha Brown, The Joy Guru Author/Motivational Speaker/Media Personality/Joy Enthusiast thejoyguru.net President, Alesha Brown LLC Amazon Published Author I had some exciting moments last week and, as usual, I talked to God as I reflected on them. Some of them made me chuckle; some of them surprised me and others were long awaited promises. Nevertheless, I started off my conversation with God with the words, “Isn’t it ironic . . .” Before I could finish, he stopped me mid-sentence. His reply was simple but profound: It isn’t ironic; I’ve always envisioned these things for you. The irony comes in your taking this long to finally see what I see. No one can hug you and slap you in the face simultaneously like God; no one. Now you meditate on that and see where it applies in your life. --Alesha Brown, The Joy Guru Author/Motivational Speaker/Media Personality/Joy Enthusiast thejoyguru.net President, Alesha Brown LLC Amazon Published Author Yes, I enjoy my writing/blogging life; no, I don't always enjoy how I arrive at the lessons and inspirations I share. In laymen's terms, the teacher has to go through first before he or she can give the lesson to the student. But I digress . . .
Whether on my radio show platform, motivational speaking endeavors, workshops or author & celebrity interviews, one theme reoccurs: authenticity. At times it is glaring, other times it is subtle and appears in the most unusual ways. Nevertheless, authenticity is as complex as most men say women are. [For my male readers, I think of you from time to time so that one is just for you.] Living Authentically--we see it in hash tags, article taglines and talk show topics but what does it really mean? Even more intriguing, what does authenticity look like and how is it applied? Let's take a brief walk to the dictionary: Synonyms for the word authentic are genuine, real, veritable and share the sense of actuality and lack of falsehood or misrepresentation. Authentic carries a connotation of authoritative certification that an object is what it claimed to be:
See the problem? . . . authoritative certification . . . Who have you given the authority in your life to certify an object's authenticity? In other words, what measurement tool(s) are you using? For some of us, we use our gut instinct: if I feel you're trustworthy then you are. That might not always be the best indicator especially at times when we are too close to the subject or scarred by our past to make the proper assessment. Many Christians would say they use God's word as a frame of reference. Although I strongly encourage that, our interpretation or understanding of certain biblical precepts can also be flawed. Misinterpretation and misrepresentation of the Bible is problematic because too often we readily accept what is taught versus studying the word for ourselves as we are instructed to. The synonym veritable also captured my attention and is where I believe a lot of us get stuck on the authenticity chain. Veritable is often used as an intensifier or metaphor; so it may be true, resemble truth, is close to truth or only true as a statement or tale. If you examine certain areas of your life, this is probably one of your biggest problems.
I could expound upon this from various angles and perspectives but I think you get the gist. So many events in the world today and in our personal lives cause us to regularly question if anything is real anymore. We are often forced to question others' intentions, truths and meaning in our lives. I am not suggesting you abandon this process but I am suggesting that you minimize your frustrations/confusions by searching within first.
I am not going to attempt to address how much you should share about your personal business in order to be authentic. That would require an entire book series and perhaps not yield any solution. Now do you understand why I used the rubix cube picture for this discussion? --Alesha Brown, The Joy Guru Author/Motivational Speaker/Media Personality/Joy Enthusiast thejoyguru.net President, Alesha Brown LLC Amazon Published Author I am guilty of it and, if they were honest, most successful people are—being unaware of the full power and authority you possess. I will share what God placed in my spirit during my morning meditation: you are not Mephibosheth and David is not coming; arise and take your rightful place at the King’s table.
Hmmm, at first that sounds quite simplistic and humorous; it reminds me of the song Someday my Prince will come. Society has all types of jokes for how single women are waiting on their prince and waiting and waiting and waiting . . . However, that is what a lot of us are doing when it comes to our success; we are sitting around waiting, and waiting and waiting as if miraculously the answer will one day fall from the sky or knock on the door. I hate to burst your bubble but you are wasting your time because God gave you the answer long before you entered this world. Let me explain . . . The story of Mephibosheth represents so many of us; he referred to himself as a dead dog. He was dropped by his nanny at age 5 which resulted in him being lame or unable to walk (2 Samuel 4:4). How many of us have been scarred, hurt or had pain inflicted upon us due to no fault of our own? A parent, former lover or spouse, family member, business partner, etc.; instead of propelling you to greatness, they left you damaged, wounded and broken. As a result of his brokenness, Mephibosheth felt useless. Oh I am so glad that I serve a God that masters in brokenness; actually in my weakness, is made strong! 2 Cor. 12:10 Mephibosheth’s life started out great: his father was prince Jonathan, his grandfather was King Saul which made him royalty with all the privileges you could imagine. However, at five years old his life changed drastically with the death of his grandfather; he suddenly was in a position where he had to run for his life (when the accident occurred). Sound familiar? Now fast forward to his middle age; the same man that his grandfather tried to kill, King David, is now requesting to see him. This could have been a potential setup; certainly Mephibosheth suspected that perhaps David was looking to kill him in an act of revenge. However, I imagine that in his disappear and current condition he felt he had nothing to lose since he was worthless anyway. He simply gave up, did not arm himself and cooperated even if it meant he was walking to his death. Can God get a yes from you today? Will you stop warring against Him and just surrender especially when you do not understand His plan? Well, you can go to 2 Samuel 9 and read the rest of the story; actually King David, because of his great love for Jonathan, was actually seeking anyone left from his lineage that he could bless. Mephibosheth was placed before the King, scars and all, given a seat at the royal table and spent the rest of his days in the lap of luxury at the palace. Where does your life fit in with this beautiful portrayal? How soon we forget: we are part of royal priesthood and our inheritance and dominion has nothing to do with an earthly father or lineage. Despite our difficulties, obstacles, challenges and even defeats, we are destined to win. Sure, God works through others and, as we pursue our destiny, there will be many who partner with us, invite us in and open doors that we only dreamed of having access to. Do not get caught up; you do not need to wait for an invitation from a certain circle or attribute your potential success entirely to any one man, woman or group. You do not need an invitation to be great, successful or take dominion; you were given permission/authority at birth and no demon in hell can take it from you. [Gen 1:26-27; Isa. 40:29-31; Luke 10:19; 2 Tim. 1:7; Philippians 4:13; Eph. 3:20; 1 Cor. 6:14] We are the greatest destroyers and deterrents to our own success. Some of us sit in the corner when we should command the attention of the room. Others shrink from the spotlight because they are not quite ready for the recognition that ironically they prayed and asked God for. (Remember? If you can use anything Lord you can use me; Lord release me, enlarge my territory. You sing it but do you really believe/mean it?) Oh, and I cannot forget those of us who are simply arrogant and think we deserve everyone’s attention as well as reverence whenever we walk into a room. (Do you know who I am? They should switch to this song: It’s not about you, it’s about Jesus.) The fallacy in all these approaches is that none of them result in us working at our full capacity for the glory of God. This is very dangerous because, as I am often told as I move forward in my launch, there is a dying world out there waiting on you and what you have! The more obedient I am, even in the baby steps, I realize that many are reenergized as I share from my heart especially in my weakest moments. So I encourage you today, you are not Mephibosheth and David is not coming: Arise and take your rightful place at the King’s table! [P.S: I’ll be working right alongside you; this is a continuous work and sometimes we all need to be reminded. I pray for you, you pray for me, I love you, I need you to survive . . .] --Alesha Brown, The Joy Guru*** President, Alesha Brown LLC Author/Motivational Speaker/Radio Personality www.thejoyguru.net ***Don’t just survive; be determined to thrive!*** Visit Supernaturally Fabulous Magazine for the full article:
Pay it Forward—a good tagline but how many of us really do it? As a benefactor today, I am using this blogpost as an effort to do just that.
We have 24 hours in a day and many of us fill it to the brim. Some are so busy with being busy that they are no longer effective or working according to purpose. Others know their divine purpose and are busy fulfilling it; regardless we are all busy. Sometimes we are so busy with being busy and operating in our usual realm, that we overlook the impact we have on others. I was having a casual Facebook conversation with a beautiful spirit that started with Good Morning. By the time she shared her inspirational writings and I shared my testimony . . . let’s just say we both could have preached a sermon and collected an offering! However, at the end when the prophet blessed me with her words, I stopped everything I was doing and my spirit leapt! She had no way of knowing the occurrences of the past 48 hours; the favor God gave me nor the leap of faith I took in a recent endeavor at His urging. She had no idea that the exact words she used were what the Lord repeatedly crowns me with and tenderly drapes the mantle of my spirit in. If I wasn’t already overwhelmed by the favorable responses from my recent endeavor, her words from God’s lips definitely melted my heart and strengthened me beyond imagination. So, for this Monday’s Motivation, who has the Lord laid on your heart, or had come to mind, to deposit a word of encouragement to today? No, you do not have to walk in a prophetic anointing or have an award winning speech prepared; your smile, a simple good morning or even sending a Facebook inspirational might be the word that someone desperately needs. Sometimes a simple text or phone message to someone you haven’t spoken to in a while does wonders. Today, will YOU pay it forward? --Alesha Brown, The Joy Guru Author/Motivational Speaker/Radio Personality/Joy Enthusiast thejoyguru.net So often God gives us a vision and says go forward without providing step by step instructions. Oh yes, we are so pumped up and enthused until . . . roadblocks, detours, no’s, monkey wrenches; is it time to throw in the towel? NO and I’ll tell you why using my example from today: I have been planning an event for a few weeks now but toying with it for longer than I can remember. Leaving your Legacy by Writing your Story—RSVP & find out more information here if you are in the HamptonRoads, VA area. One of the blessings of my life today is the remarkable people God allows me to meet and partner with to inspire and encourage others. Ever prayed that God would enlarge your territory? Good but, when He does, that means you have to USE IT and include OTHER PEOPLE—it’s not all about you! Anyway, featured speakers and the venue are confirmed; now comes the nerve wrecking part of tying up loose ends. One of my loose ends was an essential personal promotional piece to the event and my anticipated delivery was largely miscalculated! I learned a few hours ago that there was absolutely NO WAY it would be available in time for Saturday’s event. I refused to have this event and not have that essential piece but, my spirit immediately said: don’t panic, pray and trust God for the solution. Before I could close my eyes and go into prayer, the Holy Spirit reminded me: think of the whole reason you are doing this and the featured speakers. You have come too far to give up now and of course the Devil does not want to see this happen or for the messages of hope to be delivered. After that I immediately went into prayer with calmness and laughter; at that point prayer was just sealing the deal. I did not see a way but I knew one was going to be made and that was good enough for me. After a few, quick searches yielding astronomical prices, God provided a business just minutes away from my home that was reasonably priced and able to deliver by close of business tomorrow. True to the title of my second book, . . . BUT GOD (available within 24-48 hours on Amazon)! I share this to encourage you today, whatever it is/whatever monkey wrench has been thrown in your life, keep calm/pray and know that God WILL MAKE A WAY! --Alesha Brown, The Joy Guru Author/Motivational Speaker/Radio Personality/Joy Enthusiast President, Alesha Brown LLC www.thejoyguru.net P.S.: I know it has been awhile since I blogged but, I promise, so many great things are in store; stayed tuned! Of course, you can listen to me every Sunday night at 8:30 pm EST on Let's Face It w/Wil Strayhorn and Friends Internet Radio show. Click on the link now to listen to past episodes and for this week's show information: Being Black in America. I was so moved this morning when I was watching the Today’s show coverage of Autumn Veach of Bellingham, WA, the teenager that survived the plane crash (http://www.today.com/news/autumn-veatch-teen-plane-crash-survivor-shares-harrowing-48-hour-t32836). As she told her story, there were so many lessons that stood out for us today.
1. Life and death is in the power of the tongue. In the beginning, when the plane hit some turbulence, Veatch sent a joking text to her boyfriend: Veatch sent a text to her boyfriend, joking that, "If I die, remember I love you." Don’t get me wrong; I am not saying her words caused the accident but I am saying that so often in life we speak things in existence and do not recognize the power our words have. So if you say things like, I am going to always be broke/I’ll never get married/No one in my family was ever successful so I guess I won’t be either, then . . . YOU’RE RIGHT! Whatever you say and continuously speak and feed your spirit is exactly what comes to past. For many of us, if we examine our words, thoughts and life up to this point, we will see a pattern. Be alarmed but PRAY: For the Lord giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding (Proverbs 2:6, KJV). 2. Sometimes it’s a choice between your life or theirs. "I couldn't get to Grandma at all. Grandpa, he pulled himself halfway out. I was reaching, trying to pull him out," she said. I realized there was nothing I could do and that they were gone," she said. "My instinct was just to go straight downhill." As I teach in my book, Sometimes all you have is Happy, in your battle you have to make the choice to pursue what you want and eliminate those things that weigh you down and hinder you from achieving what you desire. Nothing proves this more than this teen’s dilemma at that moment in time. She attempted to save her grandparents; most of us intuitively would have made the same choice. Yet she used wisdom: first she recognized her grandmother was already gone and there was nothing that she could do. Second her grandfather pulled himself halfway out and she attempted to reach him and help him survive. Ooohhhh, I got chills when I heard her speak on that and I offer you what I gleamed from that part of her story: let the dead bury the dead and, if you’re going to attempt to help someone, help those that have proven they are trying to help themselves! Bottom line (and I have learned this over the years in trying to help others): you cannot help anyone that refuses to help themselves REGARDLESS of how much they SAY they want to change or need help. (Don’t you start me preaching on this one but you know I will!) So today, especially for my helpers out there, save yourself first so you can truly be a help to those around you. There are numerous ministers, for example, that will tell you all the great work they did for their church members at their family’s expense resulting in the loss of their marriage, family and home. Be wise and proceed by the leading of the Holy Spirit! I encourage you to take the time and read the above link for yourself and see what the spirit has to say in your life regarding its application and lessons taught. Truly it is a powerful story and one that proves how much we have to learn especially those of us who are older (and suppose to be wiser). Do not sleep on this young generation; too many of them are getting the revelation that we were suppose to teach them and God had to teach them because we were sleeping on our job! I’ll close with this: Autumn said that after three days in the unforgiving cliffs, waterfalls and extreme cold she resolved to just give up and die. Many times in our lives we have the same thing. However, she started thinking about the things she would miss or “never have the chance to do” if she died. She couldn’t live with the idea of never “hugging someone again”; that motivated her to keep going and not give up! What in your life today have you always dreamed of doing and have yet done? Instead of looking at your current situation, how far you are from achieving that thing, all your past failures/missed opportunities/could’ve-should’ve and would’ve, take another look! Look at that dream/goal or vision with the new lens of what if I did? What if I stepped out and was successful? What would happen if I believed and just did it? Yeah, that is how like Autumn Veatch, you get your second wind; now GO GET IT! --Alesha Brown, The Joy Guru*** Host of Let’s Face It w/Wil Strayhorn and Friends on Blogtalkradio Author of Sometimes all you have is Happy (available on Createspace, Amazon and Kindle) ***You can now follow me on Periscope*** Whose table are you eating from? Be careful who you connect to: Launching out, whether starting a new business/a new relationship or reinventing yourself, is a rewarding but daunting process. There are so many uncertainties, unknowns and an overabundance of information. You finally took that leap of faith . . . now what?!! I offer you one nugget of advice/warning: be careful who you connect to! We were not designed to navigate this world alone; God even instructed Noah to bring the animals into the ark in pairs or multiples. We are wonderful creations individually but together we create synergy: we are better together than apart. However, we must proceed with wisdom and pray for discernment; we cannot connect to any and everything regardless of what perceived value is attached. Why do I say that? Have you ever watched an episode of Hoarders? There were guests on that show who walk out of their garbage, rat infested homes looking pristine, clean cut and wealthy. You would have no idea from their outward appearance just how filthy and disgusting their homes were. Can you imagine eating the food they bring to a potluck? That is a perfect example of the type of people that we interact with every day and sometimes connect to. Oh they appear so together, compassionate and concerned about your future, well-being and prosperity. Some of them are genuine; others are like sheep in wolves clothing and sizing you up as their prey. They are out to manipulate and use you to fulfill their dream/vision and aspirations; you are just a means to an end. Beware: some of them are good and come with flashy endorsements, accessories and an “impressive” track record. [A good branding/marketing skillset can make the most basic and seedy individual look legitimate.] So what can you do? Seek God and ask Him to guide and direct your steps and go before you in all that you do. [Good news: according to the word of God, He does that anyway.] 1 John 4:1, KJV: Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. |
Archives
March 2016
|