5 years ago, today, I found myself in Jail Cell #11. My ‘roommate’ appeared to be a regular and very aware of the fact that I was terrified. Despite shame being a feeling I was familiar with; this was a level of shame that I had not yet experienced. Up until that humbling realization that I had put myself in jail, I had been pretty convinced that I was invincible; that I could get away with anything I set my mind to. Getting arrested was a pivotal moment in my life. It was through this time of desperation that I was able to make a step in the right direction.
Despite this incident being the motivation I needed to quit my addiction to amphetamines, the big question I was left with, was why did it always take desperation for me to want better for myself? Surely, there was another way to go about how I live my life.
In this post, I talk about the two motivating factors we all tend to lean on when it comes to making a change in our lives: Inspiration & Desperation. I beg the question of, why does desperation seem to be the most popular choice, and why is it that we wait until we are at our worst to want better? I am only speaking from experience here, but I guarantee all of us have an example of when we were inspired, and when we felt desperate. Since my arrest five years ago, I have slowly but surely begun learning how to choose inspiration over desperation. Isn’t it beautiful that we always have a choice?
Thank you for reading. I appreciate you.
5 Podcasts That Have Influenced My Life!
2017 has been the year of the podcast for me, and honestly, I am not even sure what I did with myself before I discovered this free form of education, and/or entertainment. It’s kind of mind-blowing to think that I used to drive 70 miles a day, stuck in traffic, only listening to music, when I had an entire library of endless information just waiting to be discovered. I can say with full confidence that listening to podcasts has changed my life for the better, and I think we can all benefit from this beautiful resource, that quite frankly, not enough of us are taking advantage of.
In this post, I share with you my Top 5 rated podcasts, and why I think you should consider giving them a listen. Regardless of if you like my picks or not, I still think the benefit you could receive from implementing podcasts into your life is worth exploring. These picks of mine are just a good starting point for those of you that are new to the podcasting world. I would love to hear some of your own favorites in the comments so I can add them to my never-ending queue.
Thank you for reading! I appreciate you!
Stop Waiting for the 'Perfect Time'...There Isn't One!
We spend our days looking for ‘signs’ to take the next step, and we tell ourselves that the timing isn’t right, but what we are really doing, is holding ourselves back from pursuing what it is that we really want. We put our goals on hold, and let our dreams expire, and for what? Because we convinced ourselves that we would know when the timing was just right to move forward?
In this post, I talk about why timing will never be perfect, but also, I talk about why the perfect time is always right now. The ‘Perfect Time’ is a lovely idea, but in reality, it is just an excuse we tell ourselves to waste more time. Stop waiting for your life to start; just start it!
Thank you for reading. I appreciate you!
Setting Boundaries Is Not Selfish; It's Survival!
One of the hardest challenges we must face in life is learning how to set boundaries within our relationships. What makes it so hard is the fact that we have grown so used to being a certain way, that it can feel like we are learning to walk again once we decide to put our foot down. Unfortunately, most people will never learn to set necessary boundaries, and I do not want you to fall into that category.
In this post, we will talk about recognizing when we need to take a step back and reevaluate some of the unhealthy boundaries we have in place currently. It is not selfish to value the relationship you have with yourself and to notice when you may be giving up too much of who you are. Creating boundaries is essential to your happiness, and it is a means of surviving this often, cruel world.
Thank you for reading. I appreciate you.
The Company You Keep... Is It Hurting You? Or Is It Helping You?
In this post, I talk about the importance of who we choose to surround ourselves with, and I beg the question: Are there people in your life that are holding you back?
To become the best versions of ourself, the company that we keep has a lot to do with that. Their influence on our behaviors, and the way they lead their lives, will impact us either positively, or negatively. The good thing about this, is that we always have a say in who we decide to be inspired by. If there are toxic people in your life, now is the best time to start separating yourself from anything negative. So, I must ask you: Is the company that you keep, hurting you, or helping you?