Purpose is Priceless

I sat up this past Wednesday night until 1:30 am (Thursday Morning) perfecting my PowerPoint presentation for the CHD Through Her Eyes Annual Conference. My third cup of coffee for the day was at 10:30pm. For a moment a voice in my head begin to complain, asking...Why are you doing this, it’s not like you are getting paid to be presenter? Yet this is the third year in a row you’re presenting? 

Then the other voice, the inner voice which knows me best said…It’s because you love what you do! It’s because you a have a gift and it’s only right you share it with others who work with young girls so they can be their best. You get so much, you have to give back. So I finished my pumpkin spice coffee and 3 hours later went to bed exhausted, but wired. Not from the coffee but from the anticipation I felt thinking about my workshop.  

                When I awoke 5 hours later, I had already learned a lesson, or should I say I was reminded of several: It’s not work when you do what you love! Nothing is handed to you, you want it be prepared to work for it!  When you want to give up, push harder, the finish line is right there!  As cliché as all these sound, all of these slogans were running through my mind.

            After facilitating my morning workshop “Defining Me” and performing spoken word at lunchtime, I felt I deserved some chocolate. When I whispered to my friend, she insisted I wait. In a room of at least 500 people, I’m thinking no one will miss me if I slip out and get a milk chocolate fix, but I agreed to stay. Well, it’s a good thing did, because five minutes later, I was called on the receive the EYES OF COURAGE award. Typically, people are aware they are receiving this and have time to prepare a speech. I, on the other hand, was completed clueless that I was a recipient this year. As my eyes teared up, it felt out of body to hear my bio read, to hear of my accomplishments, my qualifications, and most importantly my life’s mission. I was actually speechless. This has only occurred three times in life. This award means the world to me because I had a tough week, heck, a tough month dealing with some of the teen’s and their baggage.  This was like a gigantic road sign that says keep going, you are headed in the right direction. It was confirmation once again that I was living in my purpose and I am thankful for that. 

Ego Tripping (There may be a reason why)

It is so hard trying to do good in a world where people are always looking for bad. Judging and scrutiny can get the best of us, even me, the self-proclaimed “Queen of Self-Esteem.”But whenever I find myself pulled into the negativity I have to step back and look at two important things: Purpose and Outcome. What is it I’m trying to do and why? For me, it’s inspiring people, especially youth. Why? Because I am a product of it. Throughout my life, it’s been mentors, historical figures, art and music that have kept me going when I wanted to give up, that have forced me to see things in a more positive light. I want to do that for others because it can be life changing, literally. Inspiration can mean the difference between high school drop out and college grad, between a drug dealer and car dealership owner, between suicide and living. Why is so important because it helps us to maintain our integrity when we are tempted to compromise our standards, beliefs, and values in order to live out our purpose. It is also important because it distracts us from our own selfish reasons that may arrive. For instance, I want to sell 6million copies of my memoir to save 6million lives. Not to get rich, but to save lives. However, I would love to write professionally full time. I have to be wary of this when opportunities present themselves that may tempt me to stray. This is when I have to look at outcomes. I will know I am staying true on my purpose when I can see its effects. For me, it’s the youth I work with who flourish into productive adults who are accomplishing goals and making their mark on the world.  In the end, this is all that matters, not what other people think my intentions are, not what they feel I am doing, and not if it gets national exposure or millions of dollars. In the end, when you do what you’re passionate about, it will pay off in more ways than one.

Goals must never be from your ego, but problems that cry for a solution.

-Robert H. Schuller

SHE GOT HER OWN

So I've been reading DEEPAK CHOPRA's SEVEN SPIRITUAL LAWS OF SUCCESS. And one of them is obvious, KARMA. Well, I've always believed in karma and practiced it. But I've been really busy focusing on my book, so I have had less time to focus on others. So while my heart has been it, my body hasn't. So I've decided it's time to share some of that self-esteem I claim to be the Queen of. It's time to share some of the empowerment I have, and give some of the guidance I have been giving. I've decided to spend some time this summer doing what I 've been wanting to do for a while, and that is helping my "in between" women. You know the one's who are legally grown, but don't have a clue about what it really means. The ones who need to find themselves. So I've developed a 5 week lecture/workshop series covering self-worth, career,relationships, and health. My goal is to develop strong, powerful, fearless and goal-oriented women. The title of the series is called,"She Got Her Own." More details are sure to follow, but email me for any questions.