Trust Your Body

“Your body is like the silent talker, with the most important thing to say”- Marlisa’s Well-being and Health. As health and wellness coach, a full-time mother, and an entrepreneur it is very important that I pay close attention to my body. It is important that I am in tune with my body to be aware of all the signs that is given. It is quite natural and almost like second nature for most people to ignore the signs that our body gives us, because in the moment what we must to do is our number one priority. The downside to living in a constant chase without ever taking a moment to relax and pour into ourselves is becoming exhausted and unmotivated with life.  If we do not practice self-care and the proper maintenance as time goes on, we will run ourselves down. How do we practice self -care is also very important there is a level of consistency in order to produce healthy results? Taking into consideration these five components of wellness which are; social health, physical health, intellectual health, cognitive health, emotional health, and spiritual health. These are important factors along with rewarding ourselves with things that we enjoy, engaging in beauty care, and having much needed alone time. The fact is these things are very simple but are the things that we do struggle with committing to, in some cases time may be the reason, finances, and not knowing how to take care of ourselves. We are creatures of habit and a lot of how we operate in our day to day life is through learned behaviors.

Growing up my mother was a hard-working woman and still is, with that being my experience one behavior that I adapted was the idea that I always had to work hard. As I got older, I began to identify that there were a lot of cons as there where pros with being a hard worker. I learned that my mother was missing out on a lot of time with herself, time with my brother and I, and time engaging in a social lifestyle. The bills were paid, food was in the house, but there were moments when I sensed that this was not enough and physically my mother had no time to invest in self -care. I am grateful for the woman my mother was then and the woman she has grown into today. I am grateful for the experience because I was able to create a vision for my life of what I desired and what I did not desire. I was set on creating a life of flexibility where I worked, and play hard, meaning that I committed to investing the time I need to maintain healthy lifestyle on all levels.  The first and most important step was taking a stand for my health being mindful of the food I ate, being intentional with the people I invest my time with and refraining from taking on unnecessary stress. I made sure that I set aside time to enjoy myself doing things that I love, engaging in activities such as yoga, or going to the gym which helped me to feel more connected to my body. Lastly, I set my intentions on meeting new people and making connections with people that were doing the things that I was working hard to get to gain information that would help me to elevate by working smarter with the clues of success.

“The More Trust You Develop In Your Body , The More Trust You Develop In Your Deeper Self.”

In conclusion I began to emphasize on getting the proper rest that I needed not doing too much but not doing to little. The journey of connecting with myself spiritually and physically provided a sense of oneness and I was able to tap into what I need when I need it.  The beauty about taking these steps for myself based on an observation as a child I can now guide my mother on how important it is to take care of herself.  Everyone strives for financial freedom but there is no way to enjoy the fruits of our labor if we are not in good form. Today I want to encourage everyone reading to understand that life is a give and take, what we put in is what we receive. We must be willing to take the good with the bad but do not be defeated or consumed by the bad. Learn from the past, learn from your struggles and commit to be the best version of yourself. The best version of ourselves can only come to life when we choose to take care of us making sure that we are healthy and well in every area of our lives. Listen to your body follow your heart and execute at all that you desire for your life.  The ability to achieve all that we were created to be is determined by the quality of the life we live, not the quantity of all that we have.

Why Are You Showing

Too often we commit to things in our life for reasons that are outside of ourselves, whether it makes sense to our family, friends, or significant others. Doing things that we have no true connection or desire for is not only unfair to ourselves, but it robs of time. Time is not a guarantee and it is certainly not something we should take for granted. There are people that live their lives as if tomorrow is promised and there are people that take each day as it comes without planning or preparation. Setting goals, having a list of priority, and managing our time is how we set up ourselves to win. The desires of our hearts can only be achieved if we work for it and align ourselves. Excuses are easy and some are valid, however they are limiting to our level of progress. Everyday will not be perfect but every day is worth a hundred percent commitment to our vision. The first step is to starve our distractions and feed our focus, practice to engage in less activities and conversations that takes you away from our priorities. My definition of success will not be the same as the next person, but we all will be on a journey filled with tests and lessons.

 Having a strong foundation to build on is important in anything we do in life. I also believe and trust in having strong why’s to keep me committed and motivated, to show up even on the days I wanted to quit. Most importantly our fulfilment and happiness in life must be one of our biggest why’s for showing up. I often hear a lot of people say they commit because of their family, parents, and the list can continue, all of those are good reasons but they are not strong enough to sustain us on our journey. Why? Because committing things only for the satisfaction of others robs us of the opportunity to be happy and truly enjoy what we do. Choosing ourselves first is not selfish it is what I considered being selfless, the best display of love we can give to others is by taking care of ourselves. We are only as good to the people we love as we are to ourselves, it is impossible to give love and compassion to others that you do not give to yourself. That is what I consider to be pouring from an empty cup, if the cup is empty you do not have much to give to yourself or anyone else. I set myself up to win and achieve all my goals through first committing to self-preservation. Taking care of my mind, my body, and strengthening my spirituality to keep me grounded, only then can I commit showing up for the people I love.

In closing I want to encourage us to not be pressured to do what everyone else expects from us, we should not feel pressured to change who we are because everyone else does not understand us. We are not here to be understood or accepted by everyone we all have different ways of being and thinking. On our journey is where we learn more about ourselves, we learn who is for us, with us, and who is against us. Every experience has great purpose and lessons behind them, sometimes we allow our emotions to take control of how we apply these lessons moving forward this does not make us week it makes you human. The most important thing is being able to reset and pull yourself back together, also creating a safe space that grounds you. Having an accountability partner, and most importantly committing to growing spiritually building a relationship of trust with God. One thing I have learned is we will never have it all figured out life is a constantly changing, and we are constantly evolving and developing as a person. Every new level will require more from us and we must allow ourselves to go through the changes and grow through each test. Show up because you deserve to live a life you love, show up because the people you love deserves to experience who you were created to be.

“Show Up In Every Single Moment Like You’re Meant To Be There.”

You Matter

“By just being you; you make a profound difference. Don’t ever forget that you matter.” Do you believe that you matter, did you know that your existence here on earth matters?  As we all embark upon our own individual journey, we share a lot more in common than we do differences. The problem is many of us will miss the opportunity to connect on our journey’s due to pride. Being prideful robs us of the opportunity to be vulnerable and transparent to make connections that are in place to add value to our lives. There are so many people battling with themselves internally, they are fighting with the conflicts of their past and confused with who they are today.  The age that we first experience trauma or hurt is where we will operate from through life If we are unable to get complete with what was. The result of being stuck in an experience is to operate through fear or pride. Creating an escape to hide their hurt and how they feel about themselves, which makes it very difficult to let down their guard.  Do you believe that you are responsible for the unexpected experiences in your life, or are you responsible for how you respond to what was?

The experiences that are out of our control are not our responsibility, how we go about healing and growing after, to live life with meaning and purpose is our responsibility. Our past traumas, our present circumstances, and the choices we make today is our responsibility.  I was a victim of molestation at the age of nine and for years there were habits that I took on that were my cope mechanisms. I was very afraid of the dark because I would see the figure of him clearly as if it was still happening. I struggled with sleeping straight through the night which resulted to the need of having a night light on or the television playing. I walked around with an intense feeling of hate for men with dread locks for years until I was nineteen years old. I shared my story for the first time in a room full of people and for the first time I felt free from my abuse. Ten years I continued to relive an experience that was no longer happening, but I kept it alive through my habits, my thoughts, and the way I operated daily. I chose to let go of the feeling of guilt I was no longer ashamed of what happened, I no longer took responsibility for the act of someone else. The most important part that helped my breakthrough was when I finally stopped blaming my father for what I experienced because he was not present. I began to share my story more whenever it was necessary because I believed that my story would help others to heal and by helping others, I was able to let go. I am not my past, I am not the pain I have experienced, I am not the thoughts I created in mind, I am a woman created to make a difference in the lives of many. Through my experiences I was strengthened to with courage to step into my purpose and mission in life.

“You Matter
You Are Not A Failure
You Are Worthy Of Everything You Desire.”

In conclusion I want to remind every one of us that everything that we experience in our lives is no surprise to God. Meaning that God already has a plan for us and promises to love and protect us always, our responsibility is to be present through our journey. Losing the need to hide behind a character or an image that we feel defines us in a better light than who we are created to be. Our blessings can only be received when we appreciate where we have been, who we are, where we are, and where God is taking us. To live in complete gratitude is to be grateful for it all including the experiences that caused us hurt and sadness. You matter and you will always matter, trust the process appreciate the lessons, and understand that we were created to live in purpose. The very thing that you think was created to break you or made you feel less than great now is the time to reclaim your power and set yourself free. The past was an experience you can no longer relive or allow to be in control of who you are being and what you have to offer. You matter because you made it through the storms, you continue to grow through your trials, and most importantly staying true to who you are. We are not what we have been through we are who we choose to be.

Silent Weapon

“Be Unapologetically Bold And Confident In Your Purpose.”

I created my first blog site on December 5, 2017 a few days before I decided to take part in a vision board webinar guide with Mrs. Nicole McLaren-Campbell. I was always following her tips and guides on success and life which were very inspiring. I considered her to be my internet mentor, I will be forever grateful for December 9,2017 it inspired transformation in my life.  In the beginning I was in a different space and surrounded by people who I believed would of this new journey with me as my support system.  I was very open with sharing all my plans and hopes for Unapologetic Happiness. I shared every detail including the dates, and times for the release and completion of upcoming projects. In that moment I was so excited, and I believed that everyone would be as excited as I was. I quickly began to analyze that the more I shared the more things began to be delayed.  Naturally I began to feel a little discouraged and worried that maybe this meant that I was not supposed to pursue my dreams or maybe I was not good at what I was doing. I woke up one day and I looked at myself in the mirror and made a commitment to strengthening my spiritual life. I started each day praying more often and most importantly praying before I committed to anything. One day while I was in prayer It was almost like I heard a little voice whisper to me guard your vision and plan in silence. It was as if a light bulb went off in my head and I got to work, there was a limit to what I would share, and I was careful with who I shared information with. I enjoyed writing down all my thoughts and ideas instead of sharing them with others.

“BE CAREFUL WHO YOU SHARE YOUR PLANS WITH EVERYONE IS NOT HAPPY FOR YOU” The reality is no one really enjoys living in secrecy and it is a natural feeling to want to share important moments in your life with the people you love. The sad reality is some people can only support and love you genuinely when they can relate to where you are, the moment your growth is present some will not be able to accept who we are becoming. I experienced this with a former friend I learned that the less I had to share the more complicated it got to be around me or in my presence. I remember thinking that maybe I was thinking too much until there was a post made via social media. The post stated “when someone listens to you but never have anything to share with you, they are not your friend”. Initially when I first read it, I was a little shocked but then I received it with a smile of gratitude for confirmation that I was doing the right thing. I began to practice this art self-preservation and protecting my dreams as God continued to guide me. The sad truth is you will learn some people are just listening to hear your every move for surveillance not to support. The less I shared the more the lack of support or participation was present. I learned to accept and change my perspective the situation, their actions did not have anything to do with me but everything to do with their struggle with life. Using my gift of discernment, I learned who and when to share my ideas, build you a trusted circle of influence and rely on God. I felt something inside of me shift the atmosphere around me was pure. Things began to happen everything was in alignment and flowing.

 In conclusion I shared this to remind every that the moment we stop relying on people and begin relying on God he begins to reveal and remove the things that are not a blessing to your life. The choice is ours to make, we can either follow his lead or force to hold on to things that is not the missing piece to your puzzle. In life no matter how difficult it is to understand or accept the fact remains that everyone will not be happy for you and the people you start with won't all be the same in the long run.  It is ok to keep your plans limited to God, and your circle of influence. God is the source that keeps us all together and thriving in all that we do.  This does not mean you’re ashamed or keeping secrets it is a choice to protect your vision just like a mother would her newborn.  We cannot allow people to attack our baby not allowing any negative feed backs, comments, or advice regarding what we are up to.  Silence is the key be humbled stay prayed up and go to work without having to tell the world, work hard to show the world what you are up to. Most importantly do it for yourself work hard to create a life of fulfillment, happiness and true success. I dare you to go out into the world bold with confidence in your craft, never settling and no matter what always remain fired up for the next level. Where there is room for improvement there is room for growth.

Prepare To Take Flight

“It is possible to fly without a motor, but not without knowledge and skills.” When I was five years old “I believe I can fly by R Kelly” was a very popular song and still is today. The song speaks about someone that believed that they could fly, and he also emphasizes on the fact that this was not just a thought this was desire and vision that he focused on daily. “Spread my wings and fly away I believe I can soar I see me running through that open door.” At the age of five my understanding of the song was a little different from what the song represented. The song writer was not suggesting that I could walk outside and jump off the edge of a cliff and fly without wings. The words of the song were a representation of having hope and faith. To believe that I could achieve anything that I put my mind to or truly desired for my life. The choice to create a life that we love which brings us pure and fulfillment is what it means to fly. There is a sense of freedom and power that I feel deep within me at the thought and the visual in my head of my purpose coming to life. I do believe there is a specific power that every human being has been blessed with, but it is only when we commit to accessing that power that we will be able to recognize it and take flight. To make our dreams a reality our vision must be something we eat, sleep, breathe and think about daily it becomes a lifestyle.

 When traveling on an airplane there are weight restrictions and instructions on what items are allowed on flight to ensure safety and a successful flight. The exact same concept when flying in your purpose should be applied, we must have boundaries and limits on what we are taking with us in order to maximize our potential to achieve our goals in life. It is impossible to take flight in progress with the spirit of doubt, complaints, and no sacrifice, these are the types of baggage that should not be welcomed on our journey because the weight they hold is not worth the price to carry. We have all been guilty at one point or another in our life, having the desire to experience new places and engage in new activities.  Fear kicks in and we are afraid to stand firm in self- worth. It becomes easier to compromise who we were destined to be because of how others with perceive us. We must learn to value ourselves more than we value the opinions of friends or family. The courage to cut ties with people or habits that does not serve us in our life purpose does not mean that we are better than others. This only means that we are taking responsibility for our life and sacrificing our level of comfort in order to grow. The choice to compromise your time, and limit your focus is a recipe for failure. Everything and everyone will not be able to go with us on our journey to success the truth is everyone does not deserve to be on board. This is always very difficult transition for most. But we must remember that our new life will costs us our old life. We cannot afford to ride on auto pilot we are the key to unlocking our dreams and bringing our visions to life.

“Respect Yourself Enough To Walk Away From Anything That No Longer Serves You , Grows You , Or Makes You Happy.”

In life you will find that most people will spend a lifetime blaming everything and everyone else for the time wasted and choices they made that may not have benefited them in the long run.  Life is a big mystery filled with a lot of opportunities, but our choices can either make our break us. Majority of the time the choices that are made are based on our circumstances at the time and the space we are in mentally. We are creatures of habit in a new situation we can be very resistant to change, naturally we choose comfort in our current circumstances over discomfort in growth. Self-assessment is key evaluating our life and make decisions on what we need to change or do differently to see new results. Every day that we are blessed with life our focus and intention should be set on what can you do today to make a difference in your life and in the world. Who are you being for the people in your life and how will you make a difference in the world? I encourage everyone to get out there on that runway and keep taking the steps to prepare for takeoff and create a landing in your purpose, work hard to create the life of your dreams. Live and lead by example showing what is possible when you walk by faith and not by sight. The future is there for us to create and the only way to accelerate and fly higher is by remaining focus while always applying pressure and avoid taking any unnecessary baggage along for the ride. You do not need a motor to fly let your vision become your wings and passion be the source that guides your flight.