Do What YOU Love!

I didn't get around to posting on Monday this week because I've been on set for the last few days working 15-18 hours a day on the new movie TAG starring Isla Fisher, Jeremy Renner, Ed Helms & Leslie Bibb.  I'm sitting on set right now taking it all in.

This is my first time back on a major motion picture since I had my baby and there's a million things going on in my mind I want to share with you... but I suppose for the sake of time I better pick one so I can get back to work.

I was just sitting here enjoying just being in the presence of what I love.  When something is your passion, it doesn't matter who else likes it or understands it, it's yours and you just couldn't imagine yourself without it.  After being on a maternity hiatus for a while, I'm just so happy to be getting back in the swing of things and basking in the presence of the chaos that is #setlife.  I had forgotten how much I needed this.

Sadly, not everyone becomes an entertainer because they feel the way that I do about the industry itself.  In fact, most people become entertainers for two reasons.

THE FAME & THE FORTUNE.

What's ironic is that neither of those is usually accomplished by most aspiring actors and artists yet they keep striving in hopes to soon own a mansion on a hill or have people running up asking for their autographs and making them feel more important than they are.

Personally I don't believe in doing anything for money or social status but rather because it is what you absolutely love to do.  If you don't love it, you can manage to have all the money and popularity in the world and never truly be happy.  Your happiness won't come from owning things or maintaining a social status.

I just want to encourage you all that whatever you do, do something you love.  What is it that wakes you up each morning?  What job would you go out and do every day even if it didn't pay or even if you never got credit for doing it?

If your goals are solely money and power you will end up unhappy and feeling like you've failed in life.  You'll never get that feeling of success because the thing you use to measure your success is not what's in your heart, but what's in your wallet.  The feeling of completion is not something that is tangible or anything that money can buy.

Your job shouldn't feel like a job but a privilege and an honor.  I'm so honored to be here on set today!  My role is that of Susan's (Leslie Bibb) friend and Bridesmaid in her wedding party.  It's not a big role.  I don't even have a name... just "Susan's friend".  But the way I feel inside just partaking in what brings me joy, you would think I'd landed the lead role in the movie of the century!  I'm that elated to be doing what I love.

How many of you can say that about your jobs?  If you can't, it may be time to reevaluate where you are and start today really following your heart.  Life is too short to just work for a paycheck and be miserable.  Find what brings you joy and go after it, whatever it may be.

Until next time friends!  Have a blessed week!

Silence is a Virtue

“Be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry.” 

James 1:19 (NLT)

That scripture pretty much says it all.  There really isn't any need for me to write a full length blog because I honestly couldn't have said it better than the Bible itself. 

This message is something that's been on my mind for quite some time now and I've been focusing my energies on helping my children understand this concept as well.  It's my hope that I'm able to teach them some things now that many adults haven't fully grasped yet so that by the time they're older, hopefully things will be a little less of a struggle for them.

I'm being honest when I say that although I've known this scripture since my youth, I've just recently learned how to obey it, and am still perfecting the craft.

God knew how important it was that this message be a part of his instructions as I'm sure he knows how difficult it can be for the human race to listen to others, know when to be quiet, and control their tempers.

I admit that on a daily basis I've probably failed at at least one, if not more, of these simple tasks.  However, over the last couple of weeks I have made it a primary focus to get in a habit of all of the above and I have found that the most important of the three is also the hardest... being able to keep your mouth shut.

In these past few weeks, I have proven to myself that if you are wise enough to know when to be quiet, all the other requirements will fall into place.  For example, if you are quiet and don't respond to someone who is arguing with you, it is much harder to get angry or for that feeling to escalate as it would if you decided to participate with your own verbal abuse in return.  And naturally, if you are not speaking, you're going to be more inclined to listen.

Not only are we humans inclined to always have to say something, defend ourselves, share our opinions, etc. but I believe that it has become a misconception that the quiet person is the weak person, especially when it comes to matters of speaking up in order to defend yourself.  This is a misconception that has been planted in us since childhood when we were often told to "speak up for yourself" as if we were failures when we did not.

As an adult, it's important to realize that quiet doesn't mean weak at all.  On the contrary, it actually shows great strength and wisdom.  It's not easy to choose your words wisely, pick and choose your battles, listen rather than being heard.  Everyone wants to be heard.  

You may be reading this and thinking that this small set of instructions is foolish but I challenge you to go until next week actually following them.  The next time someone cuts you off, accuses you of something you didn't do, gossips about you or even yells at you, rather than responding with your usual words, try just smiling and thinking what you want to say instead.  If you must speak, say something positive rather than what you may actually be feeling that way you fuel the peace and positivity rather than the anger.

You could even try writing in a journal so that you feel like you're getting it out and gain some relief but still you remain silent.  Or simply take time to get away and go talk to God about it.  He's the only one who truly understands what you're feeling at the time anyway so why bother trying to explain yourself to anyone else.  

It's going to take some practice but I think eventually, if you can master these characteristics, you'll see how much more peaceful and joyful your life will become despite anything that may come on any given day.  Besides, being quiet and listening is the best way to hear direction from God, which is what most of us are seeking from one day to the next.  

I wish you much success should you choose to accept this challenge.  I am on this journey with you and I'd love to hear more about yours.  If you have any tips or advise you'd like to share with others to make it easier, any word of encouragement, please leave a comment or shoot me an email.  I'd love to hear from you!

Until next Monday... XOXOX

Get Back on Track... Someone Needs You!

Tonight I'm going to keep it short and sweet.  It's been a long weekend and there's so much on my mind I want to share but I'm just so tired I can hardly think straight.

I do have a word of encouragement for you that I cannot fail to share though!  As I like to say, it's better to write a little something than nothing at all.  You never know when someone will need your words more than you could have ever imagined... and I guess that's really my message for this evening.

SOMEONE NEEDS YOU!

We all have a purpose and calling on our life.  Every day that we wake up again we can be sure we are here for a reason whether big or small.  Sometimes you never realize exactly how you've helped someone but you have faith that you did because you understand that your reason for being is for someone else rather than yourself.

So what do you think happens when you get distracted from your purpose?

How often have you let things like fear, insecurities, even other people slow you down or distract you from what you know you are supposed to be doing?

How many times in your life have you had to pick the pieces back up and start again, each time getting more and more disappointed realizing how much precious time you've wasted?

I just started back in full swing working on my book that I began more than five years ago.  I just might win a record for world's longest book that has ever taken anyone to write.  The thing is, it's not because its a terribly long story, but because I've allowed life to distract me way too many times.

It's difficult when you get distracted or knocked off track.  I heard it compared to exercise once... The hardest part is getting your exercise routine started back up, but once you do you'll be on a roll.  You just have to sort of force yourself those first few days, and that's exactly what I had to do to get back to writing.  Someone NEEDS to read my book, "The Homeless System".

If you've found yourself in what seems to be a never ending circle of distractions and can't seem to step forward into your destiny, you've got to make the decision to overcome this cycle today.  It's not an easy tasks and there's no guarantee you won't be thrown off another time or two, but once you realize that the bigger your destiny is, the more distractions will come and you remember this when they do come again, you get stronger at pushing back.

I can't tell you how many times it will take or when you will reach the point of fully walking in God's purpose for your life, but I can tell you that if you start right this moment, pressing forward through every distraction and keeping your eyes on the light at the end of the tunnel, eventually you will arrive there and who knows how many lives you will touch along the way.

No matter where you are in life... your age, gender, whether you are rich or homeless, you are here for a reason... So stay focused and watch your destiny unfold.