Ready, Set, GO!

So many times we are in the dreaming and planning stages that we are never in the implementing stage!  What I mean is that we have desires and dreams but we never move from that dreaming stage to actually beginning.

Many times we are either overthinking it, to scared to start, or just keeping it in our heads.  I want to encourage someone out their to move your plan from paper to actually doing it!  I read this quote by Francis of Assisi, "start by doing what's necessary; then do what's possible; and suddenly you are doing the impossible".  Things happens in stages not over night.  Nothing has every been accomplished without a process.  Your dreams that you are aspiring for will be a process.  Understand it is going to take time and you will need to be patient.  You will need a long term view to face the everyday challenges.

You will never know how far you can really go if you don't begin.  Majority of the time you don't have to have it all figured out to begin.  Once you have your plan, resources, and faith you have a recipe for starting the process.  Most of us allow the conversation in our head to delay our "ready, set, go!"  Remember the life you live now is simply made of the stories you have told yourself previously. What is your story you are telling yourself today about your ready, set go!?  Today is the best time to start.  You are either producing excuses or you are  producing results!

Lastly, God has blessed you with the dreams, skills and talent that only you can use to transform the world.

On your mark, get set, GO!

See you again real soon. Remember to live, love & share.


Lo

Persisting through your passion

As always, another week, another post to feed your soul.  This week I want to talk about persisting through to your passion.  There will be times that you begin to question if you can make it or if it is worth it!?  It most certainly is worth it.  

The first thing you have to realize is that you have to mentally gear up.  The mind is a powerful thing. When you fill it with positive thoughts, your life will start to CHANGE.  We are what we think and speak.  What are your thoughts around your current situation or about yourself?   The Universe has a way of projecting what we speak as our truth. Visualize yourself achieving your goals.   Positive thoughts create positive outcomes.
  

Second, there are lessons that you have to learn during every season,that lesson is, stay humble.  While you are waiting for things to change, waiting for promises to come to pass, we should not become disconnect with our Creator.  During this time you are patient and humble.  Timing is everything. Sometimes it is just not your time yet.  Remember not to rush the process. Nothing good comes out of rushing God's plan for your life  (sidenote...I am working on this).

The next thing that is tied to patience is being discipline during your journey.  Many of of you follow the brother named, @Raeholliday on Instagram.  He recently posted this, "whenever you find yourself doubting how far you can go, just remember how far you have come. Remember everything you have faced, all the battles you have won, and all the fears you have overcome."  When you feel like throwing in the towel, throwing up the middle finger (y'all know what am talking about) remember to stay disciplined.  Discipline is an aspect of knowing what you must do and following through.  Disciple is learning how to do the next best step.  

Lastly, you know when you are chasing the right purpose because you are granted everyday with favor and grace. "The more you are thankful, the more you attract things to be thankful for." God would not have brought you this far to let you down.  Thank Him for the mini victories and watch Him bless you.  Graduate is the foundation of blessings.  Being grateful where God has you. Your blessing is on its way.

I look forward to sharing again this week.

Remember to live, love & share

Lo--

Going to the chapel

Going to the chapel and were gonna get married....

Yes, so I am officially engaged!  I can hear all my girlfriends say, "it's about time".  I have know Njeru (my fiancee) for over 10 years.  A lot  can happen in 10 years of learning someone.  You get to see someone pick their nose, hear them snore, and share the best laughs with.

We are currently taking our pre-marital classes at church with our pastor who will be marrying us this Spring of 2016.  

The classes have really revealed how much work we will have to put into our marriage.  It also has revealed the importance of God in our relationship and future family.

Here is what I know for sure:

I am marrying Njeru as a whole complete woman.  He is getting the best version of Lolade.  Now, I am not saying I am perfect but he is getting me as someone who has learned to love every part of myself from my toes to my hair follicles.

I am also learning patience and listening is important in a relationship.

My relationship and walk with God has strengthen and I am so happy to have found my equal who loves God more then me.

I realized that love will fizzle and we both will need to call on God for guidance ("Jesus, take the wheel").

We are also establishing friendships with other married couples and looking at good examples of marriage.

Lastly, we have decided that divorce is not an option. We have committeed to God being apart of our individual lives as well as our marriage 

I am looking forward to having many more years with this man and a life time of journeys.


Thank you for letting me Share :). Remember to live, love & share

See you again on Thursday!

Lo

This is us a year ago.  We traveled to TN to hike the Smokey Mts. 

Not for rent

Who are you renting your space to? Is it people's opinions? doubt? fear? is it the opinions of those closest to you?  Your mind is your sacred real estate.

That's right...unless they are a good tenant, otherwise shut out the extra noise.  When I chose to leave my job last year I did not tell many people about this transition.  Why?  Because I did not need to solicit anyone's opinion on what I valued to be true for myself

Some people felt like I kept a secret from them.  The truth is that when I am alone with my thoughts and with God I can not turn to anyone  and ask "should I do this or not?" When I am with God and myself  I am not seeking consensus but seeking clarity.  Being alone with God in prayer teaches me to TRUST Him alone.

In the mist of life happening you have to be intentional about spending time alone and with God.

Til next week,

Remember to live, love & share.


Lo--

You are your BEST investment

Someone that I recently talked to left her job.  She shared with me her dissatisfaction about her job

and with her co-workers.  Many of you can relate with her about being unhappy with your job.  She mentioned being unhappy about several things but one thing that came up in the conversation was that she did not feel valued and  no one invested in her. Read on to see what I shared with her:

Jim Rohn said, "you don't get paid for the hour, you get paid for the value you bring to the hour".  Many people outsource the responsibilities of their life's outcome to others.  If you want to change your outcome or the results you are producing in your life then you must add value to yourself.  

You are able to press your reset button.  Now make good use of this new opportunity.  Understand what you want out of this experience that you did not have with your previous experience.  Don't blame anyone but what is the experience you want?  How are you willing to create that experience for yourself?  Who can help you create this experience for yourself?  People don't grow and develop by accident.  You must be intentional about your growth and develop. Remember that you are your BEST investment.  You must always continue to sow into your destiny.  

 Now for all of those reading this: I want you to write down your schedule for the week and weekend.  If your schedule does not  create time for personal growth then, you need to start to become more INTENTIONAL about your time.  Now I am not saying you quit your job.  What I am encouraging is that you substitute your time with reading a book, listening to a pod cast, networking, or creating your growth plan.  Whatever it is make sure you are working at it everyday to get you closer to what you want (be intentional).   

See you on Thursday!

Lo--

Ps.  This does not only apply towards a job.  This is also for those out there trying to lose weight or eat healthy.  Let this speak to your unspoken truth (speaking to myself now).  

What's Your Focus?

Midweek check- in!  I hope that you have been working on your assignment from Tuesday.  If not visit the link  from the last post here and get started today!

Tony Robbins, a motivational speaker and author recently shared a post on FB that, "In life, most people focus on what they don't want instead of what they do".  Wow, this is so true.  I can give you a list of what I don't want or what I don't like and what I don't have.  Also this list is NEGATIVE.  Our focus should be on the positive because it is more empowering and focus driven.  

How do you switch your habits?  Start with writing down your goals.  Write down what you want and tape it around your house, in your car, behind your desk at work. You need to  focus and develop what you want in you life (claim it)!

Tony ended the the post with, "if you resist your fear, have faith, and discipline your focus, your actions will naturally take you in the direction you want.  Release your fear, and focus now on what you truly desire and deserve." Well said.  Remember to live, love & share.

xo,

Lo

Ps. what are you focusing on this week and over the weekend that will bring you closer to your goals?  Share with me in the comments section on the blog or on Facebook.  I can't wait to read!

Defining YOUR own success

Top of the hour, to everyone!

I hope that everyone had a restful weekend and the week is looking promising.  Thank you to

everyone who read the post on listening to your inner voice.  I am so humbled to hear that it spoke to so many of you.  That is the point of Lo's Notes, it is meant to encourage and have you to either continue or create the life you were born to live.

A psychologist friend of mine asked me, "what does success look like to me? " At that time I had really been working at what success looks like for ME.  It looks different for everyone.  I wanted to clearly define it for myself because I always wanted to be in a place of growth and peace around success.

I replied to her questions with, " success to me is when I love what I do, I can share it with others, and I can replicate it."  Once you define what success looks like for you, you can stop making other people's meaning of success dictate your life and this perfectionist syndrome which has defined your view of success.

This week everyone has a homework assignment from me. Journal what your definition of success is to YOU.

Then, share what success looks like for you  with me and the people in your inner circle.   Remember success is not about balancing everything, no one is looking for wonder woman or superman. Success is about the journey and less about the destination.  

Til next time, remember to live, love & share. 

Peace, blessing and much success (the way you define it)!

Lo--

Our Godmother said it best.  Don't you think?