I Spoke Death... and Almost Shook His Hand

We hear it often: “Life and death lie in the power of the tongue,” or “Your words create your world.” How about this one: “As a man thinks, so is he”? At some point in our lives, we are told that we have to be mindful of what we are saying and speaking over our lives, because it can birth amazing things or horrible things in our lives. These amazing thought provoking and true quotes took on an entirely new reality for me recently. At the beginning of this

month, I celebrated my 28th birthday. This year, I have experienced some amazing, but uncomfortable, transitions. The most recent started with being terminated from my job back in May. It was definitely a huge blow to my ego, but even with a wounded ego, I decided to look at all this time, which was now all mine, as an opportunity to do all I wanted to do. I decided to start my virtual support business, where I help entrepreneurs get organized and productive, minimize stress, and increase revenue through project management and social media management. In the midst of this new entrepreneurial journey I was embarking on, the blows of life started hitting me harder; bills began to pile up, and I was about to lose my car and my home. I overcame those obstacles, but then depression started to set in. I started second-guessing myself and questioning if I could even run a business. Fear set in and anxiety rose.

Recently, I reached the darkest moment along my journey on August 6, 2015. I opened my eyes about 6am, and my first thought of the day … “I just want to die.” In that moment, I felt like there was no hope for me to make it as an entrepreneur. I felt like I just wasn’t cut out for life. I felt like I was in sinking sand, and I was slowly drowning in the mess I created of a life. I couldn’t see a way out; I didn’t want to see the way out. I just wanted to die. And little did I know, in my meditation on this desire to die, I was birthing it. The next day, my birthday, I felt a little better, but not 100%. I went out that evening with friends; we laughed, we ate, we drank, and we were merry. Then suddenly, I blacked out. From what my friends say, I started vomiting uncontrollably and kept requesting to go to the hospital. I got in the ambulance, and the EMT kept trying to give me water, and I kept refusing it. I got to the hospital, and I was told that I had alcohol poisoning. My veins kept collapsing, because I was so dehydrated and malnourished. All during this time, while I was passed out, all I could hear was God saying to me, “C, you have to trust me with your entire your life. If you don’t, you will lose your life.”  I kept saying to Him, “But God, I’m afraid, I’m afraid. Help me not to be afraid.” Then I woke up to my mom at the foot of my hospital bed. Upon awakening, with vital signs back to normal, I was cleared to go home. It hadn’t dawned on me, until after I reviewed my lab results and toxicity report, of how close to death I really was. You see, the toxicity level of ethanol in my body was 163 (normal levels are 0 to 3). After my friend explained to me what that meant, I realized I really could have died. It was all because I was not being intentional and immediately responding to the thoughts of wanting to die that I was thinking the day before. Not only did this experience reteach me the valuable lesson of being intentional with my thoughts and words, but it also reminded me of what a merciful and loving God I serve. Even in a dark moment, where I was thinking destruction and speaking it, He did not allow me to destroy myself!

I challenge you to take a moment and think about the world you are creating with your words.  Think about who you are allowing to create your world with their words. Think about what mindset you have at this moment. Is it a fixed mindset stuck on what seemingly can’t be changed or a growth mindset using your obstacles as an opportunity to overcome and win? My final challenge to you is this; after every statement you make, say aloud, “And that’s just the way I like it.” For example, you would say, “I am great, and that’s just the way I like it!” or “I am tired and broke, and that’s just the way I like it.” Notice the latter statement. I’m 100% sure NO ONE likes to be tired and broke! So, I implore you to stop saying it! Stop saying “I give up.” Stop saying, “I can’t do it.” Just stop.  If that’s not how you like it or how you want your life to be then you shouldn’t speak it (whatever IT is for you). And the moment you start to think it, shift your mindset by speaking aloud something positive over yourself. Did you know you can’t think and speak at the same time? So, any time a negative thought comes, open your mouth (yes, talk to yourself) and speak a positive statement over your life and/or situation.

Don’t allow the trial(s) you are experiencing to break you, Sis. We are victors! We persevere, we fight, and we win! Let’s purpose to win mentally and emotionally so that we can ensure we are not creating our chaos because of what we are thinking and speaking.

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 Ciera J. is a worship leader and motivational speaker. Ciera launched two of her own ministry assignments, one called, Radical Worshipper Ministries, the purpose of this ministry effort is to ignite a fire in God’s people to boldly go out and do what He has called them to do effectively and freely; without allowing anything to hold them back.  The other, Ms. Ciera J. -The Empowerment Chic; this endeavor serves as the avenue of which Ciera will present books, blogs, and music for the uplifting of God’s Kingdom.

Ciera is currently working on her first book entitled “Breaking the Chains of Insecurity,” which is set to be released Fall 2015. She is also a member of Heal a Woman to Heal a Nation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to train women leaders to serve women and young girls around the world. Ciera currently resides in Baltimore, MD and has recently started her own virtual assistant and marketing management company entitled, Your Genius Support. 

Stay Encouraged- Follow Your Dreams

Stay Encouraged- Follow Your Dreams

For all the sad words of tongue or pen, the saddest are these: "It might have been!" - John Greenleaf Whittier

Changes in the season typically make me harsher on myself. That raise, promotion, or business deal did not materialize. Do not fret. If you are in a rut or struggling to find a way out of a bad situation, stay encouraged. This time last year, I was not excited. I was too focused on what did not happen the previous year and how little I seemingly accomplished.

Learn from my past mistake. Stop worrying. If you have done all you know to do, continue to be diligent. Do not be afraid of patience. Patience is one of those overlooked virtues that is essential to building a business, dream-chasing, and achieving goals. Good things come to those who wait. Without patience you may jump the gun to a false start and penalize all the hard work you have invested. What comes quick and easy, will be gone just as quickly as it arrived. You want your dream and business to have staying power. 

Dream-chasing is like baking. You cannot force a cake, bread, or pie to cook fast. It is one of those things that needs the right temperature and ingredients. This Easter was my first time making homemade yeast rolls. It was trial and error. First, my yeast would not bubble. I called my mom. Instead of lukewarm water, I added hot water effectively killing the yeast. Second, it matters that the eggs and butter are at room temperature and you do simple things like sifting the flour. Even after the yeast turned into dough, it had to sit in the refrigerator for a couple hours. Afterwards, I had to knead it and let it rise for another two hours before I could finally bake it. Baking is not for the faint of heart. I cooked lamb chops, roasted broccoli with tomato and feta, corn succotash, mashed sweet potatoes, and a carrot cake with a rum cream cheese frosting. My Easter meal was delicious. However, by far the best dish was the oatmeal molasses rolls. It took a lot of work, but they were the star. 

Likewise, in dream-chasing, attention to detail and knowing when to walk away to let things rest is part of the recipe for success. Sometimes you might be ready, but other people that need to cross your path are not ready. Every closed door is not a missed opportunity. Maybe, it is a bad deal you dodged. Ever listen to accident survivors? "If I left a minute earlier that would have been me"? Sometimes although it seems like doors are slamming, it is actually a blessing in disguise.

I know this does not sound good when you are struggling after years of investing emotionally, mentally, and financially in a dream that is seemingly about to flat line. However, hold on. "Let patience have her perfect work." In the middle of frustration, do not faint. This is a marathon not a sprint. You have come too far to give up now!

Trust me. I have been in the pit of despair, wondering why I risked it all to pay triple in housing for a third of the space and see rats and trash in the street. I know what it is like to feel that there is nothing left in your tank. I am not where I want to be, but I have moved closer to the goal. Now, I am not as easily frustrated. Sometimes you stand alone. Other times, you have secret angels in the form of friends, family, and kind strangers pulling for you.

Don't Quit - by John Greenleaf Whittier
When things go wrong as they sometimes will,
When the road you're trudging seems all up hill,
When the funds are low and the debts are high
And you want to smile, but you have to sigh,
When care is pressing you down a bit,
Rest if you must, but don't you quit.
Life is strange with its twists and turns
As every one of us sometimes learns
And many a failure comes about
When he might have won had he stuck it out;
Don't give up though the pace seems slow--
You may succeed with another blow.
Success is failure turned inside out--
The silver tint of the clouds of doubt,
And you never can tell just how close you are,
It may be near when it seems so far;
So stick to the fight when you're hardest hit--
It's when things seem worst that you must not quit.

 This originally appeared on Ronda's blog, Ronda-isms: Good Bad & Ugly. Follow Ronda Lee on Twitter: www.twitter.com/Rondaisms

10 Things Every Unlimited Absolutely Knows

There are many roles and attributes that describe the unlimited woman. She wears many hats and sometimes finds herself being as much as she can be to everyone. Yes, she is strong, sometimes weak, she is hopeful, sometimes a little unsure, and yes she is fearless but at times she lacks a little courage. Regardless, of the  emotions she experiences in life, the unlimited woman is sure of the greatness that she possesses.
She's unlimited not because of her titles, but because of the greatness that she is and is destined for. The unlimited woman is unlimited because she has developed and maintains a mindset and a spirit about herself that carries her gracefully through her journey.
There are specific truths that the Unlimited woman is absolutely sure of as she maneuvers through her journey in life and business.
Her purpose, gifts, and mission in life are non-negotiables because she knows how impactful they are to her family and community.
Here are 10 Truths the Unlimited woman believes:
1) She is purposed to lead, nurture, build, and heal others as she is empowered and healed.
2) Despite loss, brokenness, or tragedy, the unlimited woman knows she can overcome and is not designed to be a loss. She recognizes that oftentimes pain from these experiences can produce purpose and give way to healing that is greater than the hurt.
3) The unlimited woman recognizes that her greatness is within her, so is her gift, and that she is greatness.
4) She knows that her mission is not only for her but for others to assist her in moving her mission forward.

5) The unlimited woman knows that she must be aligned with like-minded, forward thinking, mission driven, community-conscious individuals.
6) She knows that she must balance her hard work and commitment with rest, retreat, & restoration.
7) The unlimited woman knows that her actions, requires goals, which require a plan, which requires accountability, intention, and partners who support her in reaching those goals.
8) She knows that her personal and professional development are ever evolving and that growth is always essential.
9) The unlimited woman doesn't stop at "NO" and doesn't use "I Can't", but she uses challenges as an opportunity to evaluate her strategy, for improvement, and to forge ahead. Purpose is a driving force in her life.
10) The unlimited woman does NOT believe that other women are her enemies, in fact, she embraces the uniqueness and strengths of other women.
The unlimited woman ultimately embraces all of who she is and the gifts she is blessed with to use in the world. This woman whether she realizes it yet or not is the woman deep down inside of all of us.  She not limited by any thing that seeks to disturb her from her highest level of greatness. The unlimited woman has replaced the the "I Can't" mindset with a "I Can & I Will" mindset. Everything that the unlimited woman sets out to do will teach her something of value. Are you ready to take the limits off of your life?!

If you are looking to align with other unlimited women and continue to evolve personally, professionally, & take your actions to another level --- Join Heal a Woman to Heal a Nation.
About the Author: Cassandra N. Vincent is the creator of The Cassie Brown Project and loves to inspire women to live their most liberated lives. Connect with Cassie at Unlimited You Weekend April 10- 12, 2015 www.unlimitedactions.com for more.

The Science of Being Great

**excerpt from The Science of Being Great by Wallace D. Wattles

Wallace D. Wattles

Wallace D. Wattles

There is a Principle of Power in every person. By the intelligent use and direction of this principle, man can develop his own mental faculties. Man has an inherent power by which he may grow in whatsoever direction he pleases, and there does not appear to be any limit to the possibilities of his growth. No man has yet become so great in any faculty but that it is possible for someone else to become greater. The possibility is in the Original Substance from which man is made. Genius is Omniscience flowing into man. 

Genius is more than talent. Talent may merely be one faculty developed out of proportion to other faculties, but genius is the union of man and God in the acts of the soul. Great men are always greater than their deeds. They are in connection with a reserve of power that is without limit. We do not know where the boundary of the mental powers of man is; we do not even know that there is a boundary. 

The power of conscious growth is not given to the lower animals; it is mans alone and may be developed and increased by him. The lower animals can, to a great extent, be trained and developed by man; but man can train and develop himself. He alone has this power, and he has it to an apparently unlimited extent. 

The purpose of life for man is growth, just as the purpose of life for trees and plants is growth. Trees and plants grow automatically and along fixed lines; man can grow, as he will. Trees and plants can only develop certain possibilities and characteristics; man can develop any power, which is or has been shown by any person, anywhere. Nothing that is possible in spirit is impossible in flesh and blood. Nothing that man can think is impossible-in action. Nothing that man can imagine is impossible of realization. 

Man is formed for growth, and he is under the necessity of growing.

It is essential to his happiness that he should continuously advance.

Life without progress becomes unendurable, and the person who ceases from growth must either become imbecile or insane. The greater and more harmonious and well rounded his growth, the happier man will be. 

There is no possibility in any man that is not in every man; but if they proceed naturally, no two men will grow into the same thing, or be alike. Every man comes into the world with a predisposition to grow along certain lines, and growth is easier for him along those lines than in any other way. This is a wise provision, for it gives endless variety. It is as if a gardener should throw all his bulbs into one basket; to the superficial observer they would look alike, but growth reveals a tremendous difference. 

So of men and women, they are like a basket of bulbs. One may be a rose and add brightness and color to some dark corner of the world; one may be a lily and teach a lesson of love and purity to every eye that sees; one may be a climbing vine and hide the rugged outlines of some dark rock; one may be a great oak among whose boughs the birds shall nest and sing, and beneath whose shade the flocks shall rest at noon, but everyone will be something worthwhile, something rare, something perfect. 

There are undreamed of possibilities in the common lives all around us in a large sense, there are no “common” people. In times of national stress and peril the cracker-box loafer of the corner store and the village drunkard become heroes and statesmen through the quickening of the Principle of Power within them. There is a genius in every man and woman, waiting to be brought forth. Every village has its great man or woman; someone to whom all go for advice in time of trouble; someone who is instinctively recognized as being great in wisdom and insight. To such a one the minds of the whole community turn in times of local crisis; he is tacitly recognized as being great. He does small things in a great way. He could do great things as well if he did but undertake them; so can any man; so can you. The Principle of Power gives us just what we ask of it; if we only undertake little things, it only gives us power for little things; but if we try to do great things in a great way it gives us all the power there is.

3 Steps to a Powerful Workshop

At HWHN, we've hosted workshops, conferences and retreats for over 10 years. If you're interested in building the capacity of your business or non-profit to serve more people, then hosting live (or online) events is an excellent method.

However, many of us have attended boring or poorly run programs. Hosting a successful workshop or training is a worthwhile way to build your team, develop new skills and effectively impact your community. Here are our top 3 tips for a powerful experience when your group comes together.

1. Start with the End in Mind

Seems like a DUH, right? However, too many of us miss this step. It is crucial to work with your team to envision the end of your program right at the beginning. Work with your team to answer the following questions:

• What are our goals of the workshop? How many people do we want to serve?
• How long of a session will it take to accomplish these goals?
• Who will this workshop benefit?  How will we get our participants to trust our session over a similar one? 
•  Are these the skills, tools and information that’s most important to our participants?
• What is our budget for the workshop?

Once you have the answers to these key questions and your vision is clear, it’s time to solidify the details for a strong foundation.

2. Build an audience

In our live events trainings we share that we are all in the business of the 3Ms. Marketing. Marketing. Marketing. To ensure motivated and engaged participants in your target audience it’s important to provide them with the benefits of working with your team before they ever enter the room. 

The number of attendees should have been determined in step one. So during your marketing and promotions time frame, educate your audience on the benefits of the program. What will they learn, why your staff is capable of educating them on these skills and what other top of mind problems would your session solve. Now, using many mediums to reach your audience is key. Flyers aren’t enough. Social media isn’t enough. Use it all! Email marketing, social media, gorilla marketing, calls, speaking engagements and the whole nine yards. 

3. Create the Experience

Now that your logistics are together and you’ve prepared your participants by allowing them to self-select, it’s time to ensure your time together is a memorable experience. Participants use all their senses to experience an event. Consider this as you plan and execute your workshop session. Consider this: 

 Ask your participants:  survey your participants to see what they want most to prioritize learning, and keep your finger on the pulse of their needs 

Build in breaks: Try not to go over 90 minutes without a break of some kind. Free time, breaks, and socializing help your participants bond and to keep them focused when in the learning environment.  

Also, take into account the space in the room for activities and hands on learning, the materials offered to support the different learning styles and last but not least what signature moment can you organically create to support making the experience memorable for your participants.

Our most important step is to have a great time! Remember to breathe, and spend time getting to know the people who are present in the room – they’re who you’re serving! 

Liberate Your Inner Awesome

You have such an awe-inspiring power.

Many remarkable things have happened in the last month. Some families have suffered the loss of loved ones and role models. Others have celebrated the blending of families through marriage and the addition of new births. Our careers have shifted. Our faith has deepened and our bonds have been tested. As is our birthright and responsibility as women, we continue to endure and rejoice.
As you move through each day, I encourage you to keep an open mind and heart while you gather information that will arm you as a woman focused on being “Part of the Cure”. What are we working to cure? We are working to cure each other, our nation and ourselves. Yet, the first step is to remember, reclaim and nurture your GREATNESS.

It’s simple really. Being “Part of the Cure” is you being your natural, beautiful self. It’s your desire to continue to learn and grow into the confident, healthy, fun-loving and informed woman that lives inside each of us. The cure has no age limit or barriers other than those we create for ourselves. Often times we struggle with many personal attributes. These things may include our weight, skin complexion, relationships, educational level, financial status and if many of us are honest, our self-esteem. In reality, as women we are expected to, “Take a licking and keep on ticking”. Well sister, it is ok to be tired, but it is not okay to give up. It is not easy but it is necessary and you are NOT alone.

As women, we have the power to invoke change, promote healthy relationships, and demand a standard of excellence from each other and all who cross our paths. It is our right. However, we must first heal ourselves. I believe we all need constant reminders of this fact. What’s you reminder to continue on this journey of self-empowerment and the creation of a healthy nation?
In the words of Dee Marshall, Do You! Be You! Love You!