SOAR EDUCATING AND MOTIVATING PEOPLE OF PURPOSE
Issue 9: Spring 2017 Edition
Upgrade These
3 Things
And Live The Purposeful Life You’re Intended To
Doing Life in
Isolation Creating a Coffee Station
Life On Purpose
How Living for What Matters Most Changes Everything!
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Find Inside Table of Contents
06
08
12
23
24
04
LISTING OF OFFICERS, Mission Statement
14
Words to Live
25
Publisher’s Pick
05
You are underestimating your life!!!
16
Creating a Coffee Station
26
This I Know…. A Last Word from our Publisher
06
The Impact of Purpose
19
Beauty Corner
08
Hashtag Living #LIVINGMYLIFEONPURPOSE
20
Get Involved, Grow, Learn and Make Friends
10
Upgrade These 3 Things And Live The Purposeful Life You’re Intended To
23
Por tu bien y el de tu familia, decide “estar”
12
Doing Life in Isolation…
22
Today I AM…
EDUCATING AND MOTIVATING PEOPLE OF PURPOSE
Soar Magazine is a Passion Center Publication. Find out more about the Passion Center at www.ThePassionCenter.org Visit Soar Magazine on Facebook or at www.SoarMagazineOnline.com Soar is a member of
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Meet some of the new Soar Team Members. Read more about them all on our site at www.SoarMagazineOnline.com Janie Flores
has joined our Advisory Team. Janie Flores is president of Buena Vida Media. She is passionate about partnering with you to bring your project, vision or dream to fruition by harnessing the power of the media and communications to transform your world.
Nicole Mason
has joined our Contributing Writers Team. s is a woman on a mission to change the lives of every woman that she comes into contact with! She has the ability to encourage women to find their voice and advocate for themselves. She encourages women to SHOW UP GREAT – authentically, confidently, competently and courageously!
Cassandra Ferguson
has joined our Contributing Writers Team. She has been described by many as passionate, bold, and results driven. Cassandra is the owner and founder of Diamonds and Pearls Unlimited, Inc. an organization that helps develop young ladies from 13 – 25 years of age into leaders. In her previous position at JP Morgan Chase, she was the Community Co-Chair for Black Organizational Leadership Development (BOLD). Her assignment was to connect with employees, senior management, stock holders and community leaders, showing a presence and willingness to partner. Additionally, she helped develop team members through training on branding and standing out as a CEO even when you are working for someone else; ultimately placing them in positions where their skill set and passion were better utilized.
Steph Stanford
has joined our Contributing Writers Team. She’s known as the Love Empowerment Coach. She is a divine connector who helps you reach your highest potential, because it’s right there waiting on you!! She transforms audiences and lives by teaching people how to reach deep inside to access the power they never knew they had. Everything you ever wanted is available to you through self-love, life-love and relationship-love.
Tracie Rosales
has joined our team as our new Beauty Editor. At an early age, Tracie developed a passion for fashion and all things makeup. As the owner of Makeup Artistry by Tracie, she’s been an award-winning artist while keeping her focus all about allowing a woman’s natural beauty to shine through.
EDUCATING AND MOTIVATING PEOPLE OF PURPOSE
Nina Recarey Obier
has joined our Contributing Writers Team. Speaker, Author, & Leadership Liaison. She is known for having the wisdom of a 90 year old with the energy of a 9 year old. Her personal mission is to be a role model and guide in Leading A Life Of Harmony. She is the founder of Success in Leadership and has 20 years experience as a Freedom Facilitator. Nina is the published author of Listen.Learn.Love.Lead - 40 Simple Messages for an #inspiredlife. The title represents more than just a book she wrote. Instead, it is a mantra she promotes.
MISSION & VISION Soar Magazine exists to help people SOAR as they live a life of purpose on purpose through articles that inspire, motivate and educate. Our vision is to inspire people to actively participate and tap into their passions so they can fulfill their purpose in the world through our coverage of people, places, health and fitness, life and faith, ministry and marketplace, all the things that make up an active lifestyle of passion and purpose.
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You are underestimating your life!!! By Steph Stanford I want to take you back to the late 90’s. I realize some of you weren’t born and some of you remember it like it was yesterday. I was in my early 20’s. I had been attached to a man for 1/3 of my life and I decided that it just wasn’t working. He had been there when my mother died, when I dropped out of college and when we had no money. He was there when we lived in basements and didn’t have a car. He was the support in my life, even if it was bad. But he also had a massive drug problem and I dealt with it by finding support in the arms of other men. We were both to blame for the mess, but I couldn’t deal with it anymore. So I made a plan. One day while he was at work I packed up my stuff and sneaked away. I’m not proud of that, but he had made very real threats that I would regret leaving him and I believed him. So I waited until he left and furiously threw my belongings into a few suitcases, closing the door on my marriage. A co-worker agreed to rent me a room. I had nothing but my clothes and a few memories, and I slept in a store room in her home. It had carpet and a mattress on the floor. I brought a sleeping bag and she gave me sheets and a pillow. When I woke up every morning the first thing I saw was one of those industrial shelving units that you find in a car shop or garage. That was my life for a year or two.
When I went back to college I was often the oldest person in class, but I was there. I did it. Sometimes it sucked. It was hard. There were days I sat in my car and cried because I was tired. I rarely had time for myself and I wanted to quit more than once. But when I woke up I told myself that… I AM WORTH MORE. I DESERVE A GOOD LIFE AND I CAN HAVE IT. I JUST HAVE TO KEEP GOING. Fast forward to today. This morning before I opened my eyes, I felt a warm leg on mine and I smiled…because the best part of my day is waking up next to my new husband. Yesterday he bought me a new car for my birthday. I don’t really care much about material things, but I remember when I walked five miles to work because I didn’t have a car and now someone else had bought me one. I was a college dropout and now I have two degrees. I grew up in a small town without many work opportunities. I moved and now I live near the sea in warm weather. I’ve worked for companies that I only used to dream about like Boeing, Motorola and Burger King. Some years ago I gave up corporate life to be a business owner and I’m still trying to figure that out. But that’s ok! It’s ok that I don’t know everything right now, because I never could have imagined my life could turn out so wonderfully. I have learned that when God is trying to lead you to greatness,
EDUCATING AND MOTIVATING PEOPLE OF PURPOSE
sometimes you spend a little time in the wilderness. Your job is to keep listening and going where you’re guided. How did I do it? I made a decision that I was worth a try. I listened to God. And I took action on ideas and gut instincts because I knew that those signs were God’s answers to my prayers. And so I have a direct message for you today. You have been underestimating your life. You are not even remotely aware of how big God’s plans are for you. You may be facing hard times, a lot of “no’s” and frustration. You may be tired and feeling stuck. I get it. But now is the time to stop underestimating your life, because there is so much than you know. It’s really simple to get started. Follow these steps: 1. Decide you’re worth it. 2. Ask for help. 3. Say YES, I’m willing to be brave and follow the path you lead me on and… 4. Work. Don’t give up. If you need a break, take it. Then get back to work. Today is your day to stop underestimating your life and begin to experience the gentle push in the right direction. Now, go. KNOW that you have been underestimating your life. There is so much more waiting.
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The Impact of Purpose By Nicole S. Mason
Everyone is born with a purpose. According to www.dictionary.com, purpose is “the reason for which something exists.” Purpose puts us on a trajectory towards destiny and gives our lives value and meaning. We all have a choice to actively participate in finding our purpose or not. Many people have potential but have not found their purpose. Finding and executing your purpose must be intentional. When a person is intentional on finding their purpose, something very powerful happens. For example, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., didn’t set out to be a civil rights champion and the icon that he is recognized for today. He was very intentional on executing his purpose as a Baptist Preacher, following in the footsteps of his father and grandfather. However, his purpose would be greater than that of both his father and grandfather. His education and preparation for ministry was preparation for his purpose. When he was approached to serve as the leader of the Montgomery Bus Boycott, he could have very easily responded with “no.” But, there was a force or an energy stirring on the inside giving him the green light to move forward. His “yes” thrust him into the leadership role of what we now know as the Civil Rights Movement.
EDUCATING AND MOTIVATING PEOPLE OF PURPOSE
This is precisely what purpose will do. When you find your purpose, the still, small voice inside of you will prompt you to move forward. However, you must understand that executing your purpose will not always be easy, but you must remember that your purpose is very necessary and it will have impact. Now, the impact of your purpose may not be on a world stage, as was Dr. King’s. But, impact is not determined by the number of people, as much as it is the depth of change in a person’s life. Purpose is always about serving others. It will take you out of your comfort zone, require sacrifice, have you speaking up and speaking out. Purpose is always bigger than you, and will outlive you. Finding your purpose and executing it is critically important. Here are two tips for finding and executing your purpose to make impact in the earth: 1. What are you good at? – Take inventory of what you really like to do and what you are good at. Most of the time, purpose is closely akin to aspects of our lives that come to us very naturally. Case in point, I have always liked to write notes and words of encouragement. As early as the 6rd grade, I was sending encouraging notes to my family members. My mother and
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My purpose is associated with women, specifically ways to empower them to help them win in every area of their lives.
grandmother encouraged this passion by purchasing supplies, stamps and providing the mailing addresses of family members. Although it was a really positive gesture, not all of my family members were so receptive, as I envisioned they would be. Of course, this was a huge blow to my young heart. On the other hand, there were many more of my family members who were elated to receive the notes! But, I, like most people, focused and directed my attention to the negative responses. I’ve learned over the years that our brains are wired to go to the negative things happening in our lives. This is why we must train ourselves to think positively. As a result of the few negative responses, I stopped sending the notes shortly after I started. It would be many, many years later before I would attempt to send an encouraging note to someone. But, wouldn’t you know, my purpose of encouraging others has been a tremendous blessing to thousands of people all over the world! 2. What keeps you up at night? – Purpose comes with a burden or a blessing. It all depends on your perspective. Purpose is most commonly associated with an issue or specific targeted
EDUCATING AND MOTIVATING PEOPLE OF PURPOSE
group that compels you to do something about it or for them. My purpose is associated with women, specifically ways to empower them to help them win in every area of their lives. I am moved with compassion for the single mom working hard to make a better life for herself and her children. Or, the married woman balancing career and family and putting herself last. Or, the widowed woman needing a new direction for her life, in the absence of her life partner. My response to each situation is slightly different, but each response stems directly from my purpose to empower women to live authentic lives, unapologetically, with boldness, confidence and courage. Dr. King’s purpose left a major impact in the earth. I’m working hard to do the same with my “notes of encouragement,” such as the one you’re reading. Will you join us in executing your purpose to make an impact on the lives of others?
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Hashtag Living #LIVINGMYLIFEONPURPOSE uson By Cassandra Ferg
Have you ever been in a place where nothing is exciting or has meaning in your life? You get jealous of others that are living in their purpose. You ask this question often, what on earth am I supposed to be doing? You go through the motions, but you have no fulfillment. Believe me, I totally understand, I was there! I grew up in church, know Jesus, and have the wonderful husband, beautiful children, nice house, and great career. But something was still missing. I felt like I was not important or significant. One Fall morning I stood in a mirror looking at myself and crying. Asking this very question, “why was I even born?” The thought came to my mind, since you don’t know why you are here go ahead and kill yourself. I then I saw my children’s faces flash before my eyes and the question now was “why would you do that to them?” At that moment, I cried out to God for help, and He answered. I was sinking deep in sin, far from the peaceful shore. Very deeply stained within and sinking. But the master of the sea heard my despair in my cry. Right there, His love lifted me! Love
EDUCATING AND MOTIVATING PEOPLE OF PURPOSE
lifted me! When nothing else could help, love lifted me. I fell across the bed in tears. I went to church the next Sunday and felt drawn to the altar. I looked back and noticed my daughters and nieces were right behind me. Four little girls following right behind me to the front. Once at the altar, the Pastor said these words to me. “We are going to grow you up in your purpose.” At that moment, I knew God was speaking to me. Why did God speak to me this way? Maybe because I asked him the question, “What is my purpose”? I am not trying to get churchy on you; I just want you to see where I have been and why I use the hashtag #livingmylifeonpurpose. This hashtag motivates me to a mindset to take action and help keep me focused. I look at everything that has happened in my life as a divine design. As I grew into my purpose. I begin to make sure I did things that pushed me towards my purpose. Sure,
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I have had people say I was not equipped, qualified or even good enough. But I did not let that stop me. Once your mind and heart have been made up to do the very thing you were put on earth to do, you then have an “Unshakeable Faith”. That’s my other hashtag. I not only began to do things according to my purpose, but I also began to study people and their actions more. The reason I did that is because I knew a part of my purpose was to encourage others to live in theirs. Often I will have questions running through my head like. What really matters to me? Do I know my actions today will determine my results tomorrow? Why do I act the way I act? What has caused me to be so insecure? When you know your purpose, you begin to attract everything you need in your life to fulfill it. You also walk in such a confidence and surety that you don’t allow nothing or no one will take you off track.
When you don’t know your WHY, you are like a person in a foreign country that has been put in the middle of nowhere and asking these words, where am I, “I’m lost and where do I to go from here?” When you know your purpose, you see and hear more clearly. This reminds me of an interview conducted by CBNTV with Dr. Munroe. The interviewer asked Dr. Munroe “why do you think you were put on earth?” Dr. Munroe always would say, “The greatest tragedy in life is not death, but a life without a purpose” and his answer showed he was confident about his. “I was born to transform followers into leaders and leaders into agents of change. I was created by God and sent to this earth to help the follower discover that trapped inside of them is a great leader – to help them reconnect to their true abilities, their true potential and to help them become all that they were born to
be and so I am very clear on what I am born to do. It energizes me every minute of the day – in fact my days are too short because I am so excited about my purpose. “ We all want to know why we were put on earth but there are reasons why we never discover it, seven are listed here: 1. You never pray and ask God. 2. You live from the outside in, not the inside out. 3. You look for a career before you listen for a calling. 4. Your eyes are on everyone else purpose. 5. You keep yourself too busy. 6. You don’t think of yourself as useable. 7. You are running and do not want to know. The world is waiting for you. Let’s be more intentional. A life on purpose is a fulfilled life, exciting and meaningful. God has a purpose and a plan for your life. All you need to do is ask.
For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. (Ephesians 2:10)
EDUCATING AND MOTIVATING PEOPLE OF PURPOSE
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Upgrade These 3 Things And Live The Purposeful Life You’re Intended To e By Sandra Almont
Our lives are sometimes surrounded by distractions that make it hard to keep focused on what’s important. You may feel that you’re being pulled in many directions by different demands. Or maybe you’re just too busy. So busy you don’t have time to figure out what’s important. Or so busy that you’ve forgotten to think about it all together. If you have been caught in the busyness of life, don’t lose heart. There’s always a way to get on track. Adopting a more productive way of living is all it takes. And that way is living purposely. Upgrading these three things will help you live a life of purpose – no matter what it is.
1
Take care of your health Your health should be a top priority. And by health, I’m talking about your body, soul, and spirit. Each needs to be properly nourished. You can’t function at your capacity when there’s a deficiency.
Make time. Not find the time. Make the time: • to exercise • choose healthy food options • to pray or meditate. Planning is key. It won’t “just happen”. Put time for yourself in your calendar if you must. It’s not being selfish. It’s being a better YOU so you can take care of others.
When you make the time to care for yourself, you’re able to: • keep physically functional with more energy and less fatigue/ tiredness • think clearly and make better decisions in any situation • hear God better as you focus on Him.
people. Be present. Give your undivided attention. Your investment is YOU. Take care of those who add value to your life and let them take care of you.
You may need to push yourself – or find someone who will to hold you accountable – but the journey will be worth it.
3
2
Invest in the right relationships Let me start by saying: It’s OK to cut toxic people out of your life when necessary. People that drain you will only pull you down with them. And let me make it clear. This does not mean avoiding the people you simply don’t like. It means not associating with people who are negative about everything and never see the bright side of things. These are the ones who are always complaining about stuff. The ones who never volunteer or step up to help with a need. Make time for those who encourage and edify people around them. Those that share the same values you do. Or compliment the values that are important to you. These are the people who help you live your purpose without selfish demands. They help you soar. They allow you to be the person God intends you to be without judgement. And don’t just spend time with these
EDUCATING AND MOTIVATING PEOPLE OF PURPOSE
Learn to say “no”. Don’t feel guilty about it. If you do things because you’re afraid of saying “no”, you’re not helping anyone – not even yourself. Kick negativity to the curb Don’t dwell on negative thoughts or emotions. Take control of your thoughts. Think on positive, good, and excellent things. Choose to forgive. Let go of any resentment, bitterness, hate, or jealousy. These things cloud your decisions in more ways than you can imagine. It may not be easy at first. Keep at it until it becomes second nature. And when it becomes “easy”, guard it like your life depends on it. So even if your goal of living purposely is one of the three things mentioned above, you still need the other two. They all go hand in hand. Living purposely may seem daunting at first. You should know that it’s not easy. Not even for the seasoned ones. It takes commitment and courage. If you take it one step at a time, you’ll get to the place where there’s more energy and clarity and less stress and anxiety. And never forget that you’re never alone. We’re all in this together.
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Doing Life in
Isolation… lo By Silvia Perez-Arve
Doing life alone is really the easier route to take. Think about it, you don’t have to hear anyone’s opinion about everything you do and better yet, you don’t have to explain yourself to anyone! Let’s face it, on the surface this type of living can seem a little tempting. However, the reality is that it’s really difficult to live out your purpose and cultivate what matters most in your life in isolation. Let’s face it, our purpose, our values and are destinies are tied to both serving and relating to one another. I know what you’re thinking…. I’ve tried to let people in my life only to get hurt, I try to connect with others only to be rejected. I try to coordinate events only to be ignored and no one attend! The list can go on and on as to why it’s better to live our life in isolation and away from other human beings. However, we forget one small detail…God is all about relationships, community and loving our neighbor! So, how is it that we can make this work? How is it that we stop allowing ourselves to feel the pain of being alone in order to live our purpose in relationship and in friendship with others?
EDUCATING AND MOTIVATING PEOPLE OF PURPOSE
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I am reminded of the beautiful story of friendship between Jonathan and David. It was a friendship that could have been hit with so much opposition. A friendship of true friends, where one had a purpose that could have been misunderstood by the other. As we know the story, Jonathan was in the bloodline to inherit the throne and become the King of Israel when Saul his father passed away however; God had already decided that the next king of Israel would be David, not Jonathan. So much tension, jealousy and animosity could have filled Jonathan that instead of spearing David’s life, he could have wanted to end it himself. David on the other hand, could have lived in fear of Jonathan and avoided him at all cost in order to save himself. He could have also resented the fact that it was Jonathan’s father who wanted to kill him and was making his life miserable. So many opportunities for misunderstandings between this beautiful friendship, however, they both decided to honor God and follow His purpose for their lives and instead encourage one another.
EDUCATING AND MOTIVATING PEOPLE OF PURPOSE
A true friend will see your purpose and encourage you to: 1. Step out in faith when you cannot see the future clearly yourselves 2. Be brave in the face adversity and difficulty 3. Be courageous when things may not seem to be going our way 4. Stand firm in your commitment to God and our purpose! When we feel bruised, rejected and even questioning our purpose—these are the friends that will pray for us when we don’t have the strength or will to pray for ourselves! So today I challenge you to stop being comfortable with living life in insolation and reach out to a few good friends who want to walk this journey called life with you. Friends that will remind you and, sometimes even confirm the purpose that God himself has deposited into your life. Cheering you on, Silvia
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Words to
Live by By Roz Humphreys
Anchor Verse: Matthew 4:4 It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.” The words you let people speak into you, influence your life. It shapes what you become. Subconsciously, you repeat words and eventually you believe them. These words shape and mold you to looking and sounding like everybody else, or to stand out. Your belief system is important and is a vital part of how you interact and respond. This is what differentiates those who live for what matters most in the positive, everforward moving way; or those who have settled because what matters most has kept them stagnant and stuck.
EDUCATING AND MOTIVATING PEOPLE OF PURPOSE
Where are you today? To live life on purpose, requires you to think. God challenges you to think! How does He do this? He expects you to live by His guidelines. Living by His guidelines means you stop, you read and you think, before you act or move forward. If you are a studier of the word, you also know that even though you’ve read a passage 1,000 times, it may somehow come back with different meaning. (Things that make you go…hmmmm.)
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Living for what matters most will change everything in your life.
Purpose, God-driven purpose, again, requires you to think. Let’s take it a step further. It may sound like a repeat but it really is not. Your thinking requires you to weigh your options and your words (what you say to yourself ) when living for what matters most. You become what you say. If you say negative things to yourself, that can be disastrous. However, when what you say builds a picture on the inside about what you want to manifest on the outside, it shows that you’re doing life on purpose and that changes everything. Greatest Discovery The greatest discovery about purpose is that when you go after it full throttle, and you have God’s full backing, you introduce change that is far, wide and deep. It is not only within your generation but for generations to come. When what you become, what you are going after with passion is fueled by God’s guidelines, your reach is limitless and your impact is eternal. When Matthew quoted Jesus and said that you also need to live by God’s word, it was not limited to life in the physical, health sense. He was sharing how to live within the abundance that you have been promised in every sense of the word.
EDUCATING AND MOTIVATING PEOPLE OF PURPOSE
What matters most to you? What is it that you’re passionate about and know without question is your purpose, your destiny, what you are supposed to do in life? When you answer that question, it opens you up to choices that can be daunting, that can distract you and that can derail you. To stay on course, you need to become compatible with the Holy Spirit. Compatibility means that you merge with Him without problem or conflict. Easier said than done! But let’s face it. Anything outside of His assistance is going to be a bust or is not going to make enough noise for notice. One may argue that there have been plenty of people who have successfully made an impact and are wellknown, but will it count when they are face to face with the Father? Imagine standing before God trying to explain how your agenda was more important than His? (Yikes) Living for what matters most will change everything in your life. It requires purposeful thinking, after checking your life guidelines, in partnership with the Helper of all helpers. That combination is explosive on many levels. Are you up for the challenge? If your answer is YES, strap into that baby car seat with doubleseatbelts. You’re in for the ride of your life!
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Creating a Coffee Station
By Maria Gonzalez What matters most in the mornings is not coffee, but let’s face it – it helps A LOT. You know how you have those days that you wake up so energized and alert that the last thing on your mind is coffee? Yeah, neither do I. The first thing I did when we moved into our home was put together the coffee cabinet. Sure, it has changed a bit, but many things have remained in the same exact spot. You know a system works for your family when it remains fairly well maintained. (Kid’s rooms are excluded from that statement.) For as much as I like entertaining and
EDUCATING AND MOTIVATING PEOPLE OF PURPOSE
cooking, I consider my kitchen to be on the small side. It doesn’t appear that way at first glance, but when you consider that a lot of the cabinetry is for pantry items, not much is left for all my other kitchen needs. One of the ideas that I love is using the cabinet doors as a place to store small items. I purchased a large adhesive bin to hold larger items, like agave or honey and also two stainless steel shakers that I use for cinnamon and cocoa. In the middle of the cabinet is a smaller bin that holds sugar packets. I also have a few holders that are smaller and hold the spoons that stir our coffee in the morning. The cappuccino spoons and a few essential oils. Many
people may not need spoons in their coffee station because they may have a utensil drawer nearby. In our case, our utensil drawer is across the kitchen. I purchased a set of spoons at Homegoods and dedicated them to this spot. No more walking across the kitchen in the morning just to get a spoon. Maybe this isn’t a big deal, but considering that we are half asleep when preparing our coffee, I’ll take the convenience! On the other side of the cabinet I place my cappuccino maker, which I don’t use as often as my coffee maker – that one stays on the counter at all times. Next to it is powdered creamer, which I rarely use but I like to have it on hand for guests. You
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may notice that I removed the wrapper and it looks like a plain white container. This little step may seem silly but keeping your cabinet as monochromatic as possible, makes it look less busy and less messy. That big label was red and yellow and now it’s just white and disappears into the cabinet. In front of it you may recognize that plastic container. It was a sweetener and I removed the label on that as well.
open and close. They are the same containers that I use in my pantry for cookies, crackers and nuts.
I used white plastic shelves throughout the cabinet, which allowed me to double up on storage for my plates and cups.
Right in the middle of the cabinet are my vitamins. I chose this stainless double tier turntable to hold all of our vitamin/pill bottles. Be sure to measure your cabinet to make sure the items will have enough clearance. I have tried so many places to store our
Then I have my two coffee containers that are really easy to access and to
EDUCATING AND MOTIVATING PEOPLE OF PURPOSE
I keep a coffee measuring spoon inside each container. Behind the coffee you will see two woven plastic bins. There I keep extra coffee and frothing pitchers. These items are all concealed inside those two stackable bins.
vitamins but if they are not in front of our face when we make our coffee, we forget them. (Confession - sometimes we still forget them.) This system has worked so well for us. I can tell you that besides some minor touch ups, I didn’t have to do much to the coffee station to get it photo ready for this post. It pretty much stays looking like that. You can customize an area of your own and even add flavored syrups with pumps, just like the fancy baristas! You can add your touches to make it perfect for you! See you in the next issue… I love you a latte!
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Beauty Corner
By Tracie Rosales
I am a makeup artist, a mother, a wife and I try to lead the best life I can. I have always had a passion for makeup even as a young girl and it only has grown stronger over the years. Luckily my skill level has improved from the 5 year-old playing in my mother’s beauty bag. I love the fun, playfulness, experimentation but most importantly for me the way a new beauty story looks in a picture and can make you feel. I learned a lot about makeup as a teen and began to find that makeup could help conceal teenage acne and help bring confidence to me. It was a tool that gave an awkward kid a stronger step navigating adolescences. Throughout my years and with clients, I have found that they have gotten the same confidence. Your face is the first thing that people see and when you can feel proud or be comfortable in the way you look it has an effect that is unmeasurable. Makeup and Beauty can also be fun and an art that sets the tone or showcase some of your style. This fun is also what keeps me excited every day to go to a set or see a client and be a part of so many of their big moments.
I am so honored to be the Beauty Editor for Soar and excited to share my passion along with tips, tricks, trends with you. I hope that my knowledge will help you be more confident or add a little sassy fun to your day.
on the apple of the cheek in brighter shade to add a little flush to the cheeks. Think Carrie Bradhaw from Sex and the City, tv show or movie. Going away is the stripe of blush placed above the contour line, from nose to the hairline.
I am an avid learner and constantly honing in on my craft as a makeup artist and finding new education and skills to be certified in and I travel to see the beauty trends. So, I am going to be taking you along with me on the ride. My goal is to give good advice, tips and help whether you are an avid beauty connoisseur or a novice.
Blush is among the easiest of makeup trends to try, because you likely already have a few in your makeup bag. Apply a candy-colored powder to the apples of your cheeks and up towards your temples for an easy everyday look. One sweep of bright blush is an instant pick-me-up, so stash a compact in your locker in case you need a between-class refresher. For a more dramatic effect that should be reserved for fancier occasions, contour your cheekbones, sweeping the brush in a C-shape. Regardless of how you wear it, there’s no reason to be bashful about this flush-faced trend.
For this issue, I thought I would share a makeup trend that I saw on the runways, from New York to Paris during Fashion Week. Spring 2017 has many beauty trends, one that is a wearable trend for every day ladies to follow is the blush trend. Chanel and Reem Acra runway models had the most beautiful blush shades and placement. It’s making a splash in make-up as well. Blush is going back to being placed
EDUCATING AND MOTIVATING PEOPLE OF PURPOSE
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Get Involved. Grow. Make New Friends & Make a difference.
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EDUCATING AND MOTIVATING PEOPLE OF PURPOSE
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For more information, visit http://www.womensempowermentservices.com/ EDUCATING AND MOTIVATING PEOPLE OF PURPOSE
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By Wendy Bello
Por tu bien y el de tu familia, decide “estar”
No fue solo la belleza del mar ni su olor cautivante, ni la suavidad de la blanquísima arena o la brisa refrescante cargada de sal en medio del ardiente verano. Sí, disfruté todo eso, y mucho… pero lo que realmente me llevé de esas vacaciones fue mucho más duradero. Esto lo anoté en mi diario en el último día: “Sin dudas uno tiene que ser intencional para disfrutar las bendiciones, jugar con los hijos, reír con ellos, y sacar lo mejor de cada momento que se nos regala de este lado de la eternidad.” Algo intencional es algo deliberado, es decir, que se hace a propósito, se decide. Y justo eso fue lo que marcó mis vacaciones aquel año: la decisión de “estar” en el momento. ¿Sabes? Podemos estar físicamente en un lugar pero no estar realmente. Nuestra mente puede divagar, la tecnología puede distraernos (¡y mucho!). Le pedí al Señor en esas vacaciones que me ayudara a ser intencional para “estar allí”, de verdad.
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¡Y qué diferente fue! Estar para ver la sonrisa de mis hijos, para nadar y encontrar bizcochos de mar, para construir muñecos de arena y levantarnos temprano en busca de caracoles. Estar para abrazar y besar a mi esposo una y otra vez, y disfrutar su compañía, y caminar de la mano. Estar para contemplar la magnificencia del atardecer, para darnos un chapuzón en la piscina y esperar que el cielo pasara de azul a negro con estrellas, matizado por el rojo y naranja del atardecer. Dios me habló mucho en esos momentos. Me recordó que en un abrir y cerrar de ojos ya mis hijos crecerán. Que el mañana no es garantía, solo el hoy. Que para escuchar su voz tengo que bajar la marcha, que las relaciones necesitan tiempo no planificado; que nuestras familias crecen hacia arriba y hacia abajo, echando raíces profundas, cuando decidimos “estar” y dejar que el mundo siga girando mientras nosotros escogemos nuestro propio ritmo. Esa fue nuestra tercera visita a esa playa, pero sin dudas, y por consenso familiar, fue la mejor. ¿Qué marcó la diferencia? Me atrevo a decir que fue la decisión de “estar”, de no apurarnos, de disfrutar la compañía mutua, de no llenar el horario de actividades, de decir sí a todo lo que verdaderamente lo meritaba y dejar pasar el resto.
Lamentablemente no podemos vivir en ese lugar para siempre, ni estar siempre de vacaciones, pero sí podemos escoger una actitud de “estar”. Una actitud intencional a favor de aquello que es en verdad importante. En ese mismo día que te comenté al principio anoté: “Señor, ayúdame para que al regresar yo pueda esconder todo esto y seguir actuando con un corazón agradecido… que pueda balancearlo todo.” Vivir con la intención de “estar” es justo eso, vivir en equilibrio. Aprender que, como dice Eclesiastés: “Hay una temporada para todo, un tiempo para cada actividad bajo el cielo” (3:1). Muchas cosas reclaman a gritos nuestra atención, pero no todas nos corresponden. Leí esto hace un tiempo y te lo quiero compartir: “No todas las oportunidades están a destinadas a ser mi tarea”. Lysa TerKeurst. Mi querida lectora, escojamos “estar”, de verdad. Busquemos una vida de equilibrio, con prioridades en las relaciones, en lo que de verdad importa. No aglomeremos tanto nuestra agenda que la vida se nos vaya de una tarea en otra, de un compromiso en otro. Recuerda, solo hoy puedes “estar” y disfrutar ese momento único que se convertirá en los dulces recuerdos de mañana.
Esa es la abundancia de vida que Dios diseñó, ¡disfrútala! (Publicado originalmente en wendybello.com)
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Today I
AM…
By Nina Recarey Obier
Almost 20 years ago I had the privilege of being certified to train the “7 Habits of Highly Effective People” by Stephen Covey. I remember going into that training honestly knowing nothing about the 7 Habits. To this day I can confidently say, going through that certification was a game changer for me both personally and professionally. Two of the habits I call my “go to” habits are; Begin with the End in Mind and Put First Things First. These two habits define for me living a life on purpose. To Begin with the End of Mind means to envision what you want in the future, that way you can work and plan towards it. I believe this concept can be used in all areas of your life. Take my morning routine, the first thing I say to myself when the alarm clock goes off is “Today I AM…” Each day I fill in the blank. The second thing I say to myself is “I Get To…” Yes, I get to choose what I am doing. I operate under the impression that it’s all a choice. I start with the statement “Today I AM” because I believe what’s most important is who we are being. Be who you want to be before ever thinking of what you are doing or having. To Put First Things First means to know the difference between important, not important, urgent, and not urgent. It’s about putting your big rocks on your calendar first. In a nutshell, I call this knowing your absolute yes’s. Too many
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people get busy doing, they fill their calendar with “stuff” when it comes time to do what’s important they are at a loss. What are your big rocks? Are they on your calendar as your most important appointments? Make the time to figure it out. Pause. Put pen to paper. Let your thoughts flow. Get clarity for what living on purpose means to YOU. It’s going to be different for each one of us. No one can think inside of your head. What’s changed in my life since I focused on beginning with the end in mind and putting first things first? I am being a powerful force for good in the world. I get to travel with my family and watch softball. I get to lead amazing women on their journey to being the best version of themselves. I get to thank God for the clarity. I get to live a life of purpose that is filled with peace, joy and a ton of laughs.
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Publisher’s Pick
If you have followed me on any social media platform, you probably know that I am very much into the study of what makes friendships go the distance. Not that I am expert by any means, but I definitely study it. One person called me the Friendship Doctor because I was so into it. I declined to use that label because for all the study and love of friendship. I don’t have many “deeper connected” friends. I can count three in my head of girlfriends who stayed and loved me through the ups and downs of life. I advocate for fighting for the friendships that matter to you and bring something into your life. Sure, many people settle for what they can get, I understand. It’s better something than nothing. But there is something about long term friendships that make my heart leap. Well this new book by Lisa-Jo Baker has been added to my collection of friendship books and I hope you would consider picking it up and perhaps hosting a friendship brunch or dinner to discuss some of the treasures you’ll learn about in this book. Here’s the Amazon.com book description: “In a world where women can unfriend each other with the swipe of a finger, how do we find friendships that we can trust to last? Maybe by first becoming those kinds of lasting friends ourselves. As the community manager at the website incourage. me since 2010, Lisa-Jo Baker has had the chance to engage hundreds of conversations with women about friendship. She’s learned that no one can make us quite as unsure about ourselves as another woman. And nothing can wound as deeply as unkind words from a friend. While we are all hungry for friendship, it’s the fear of feeling awkward and being rejected, left out, or hurt (again) that often keep us from connecting. But what if we knew we could never be unfriended? Would we risk friendship then? Starting with that guarantee from the most faithful friend who ever lived—Jesus—this book is a step-by-step guide to friendships you can trust. It answers the questions that lurk under the surface of every friendship—What are we afraid of? What can’t we change? What can we
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Pass by the SoarMagazineOnline.com site to read our Q&A with the author!
change? And where do we start?—with personal stories and practical tips to help you make the friends, and be the friend, that lasts.” SOAR along with its sister organization Passion Girl Gang will be hosting a Facebook Live event on the book. We will be giving away free copies of the book to a few folks. So make sure if you haven’t subscribed to our mailing list on our website, you do so right now, so you get the invite as soon as it is released. Let’s go and not only make deep connections, but learn how to keep them!
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This I Know… . A Last Word from our Publisher I cry out to God most High, to God who will fulfill His purpose for me. Psalm 57:2 NLT I find that the discussion on purpose always has interesting responses . Some people when asked “do you know your purpose?” answer with a firm YES! While others answer almost sarcastically, “AH! Purpose…been trying to figure that out most of my life!
start thinking about why you do what you do. Waking up every day and going through your routine, making random decisions will get you a life that on your death bed you will wonder about the legacy you left behind. That realization can be a bad one.
A few years back, the subject of purpose exploded with the release of Rick Warren’s book, The Purpose Driven Life. The book broke all sorts of sales records, skyrocketing to the bestseller list where it held its place at the top for months. It is now considered a must-read book on the topic especially for people who view life from a faith-based lens.
But here’s the thing, I think you can stop searching for that big aha. I believe that God’s purpose for all of us is to spread love and be light in a dark world. How we do that is where our uniqueness comes in. That’s where we get to have our fingerprints on our legacy. Which essentially is God’s grand story and how he let us play a part in it. The great thing about God for those of us who have a faith-based perspective on life, is that even if we did do life randomly, even if we did make mistakes, even if we did align with the wrong people or organizations that took us off course, He can still use all of that for His purpose in your life. Don’t hate the experiences that have shaped the person you are now.
Men and women everywhere had their faces buried in that book because they like many probably reading this now, were searching for answers to one of the most basic questions a human being can ask—What on earth am I here for? The discussion on purpose even stopped a desperate fugitive in Atlanta, when hostage (and church girl) Ashley Smith read portions of the book to him. He was able to make the right decision after a lifetime of wrong ones when purpose, his purpose, was made more clear in his mind. I know this topic is not an easy one and a few pages of a magazine won’t answer this question for you. However, our hope at SOAR was to get you to stop going through the motions of life and
You see, God is the creator of all things, and his creative vision is big enough to include all of us from all walks and stages of life, from different backgrounds, cultures, and generations. His will is big enough to include young girls like Rhoda, who commit themselves to prayer, and virgins like Mary, the young mother of Jesus. His plans are big enough for women like Elizabeth, Rachel, and Hannah—all of whom experienced prolonged seasons
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of infertility. His purposes include women with pagan pasts like Ruth, prostitute like Rahab, and rejected, widowed, or adulterous women like the Samaritan woman at the well. He sees marginalized and enslaved women like Hagar, and old women like the prophetess Anna. And men, aren’t left behind. He qualifies the blame shifters like Adam, the murderers like Cain, the drunken like Noah, the ones who always have questionable friends like Lot, pathological liars like Jacob, you get the picture. We compassionately embrace people like these because God’s purpose and plans include all of them. All of us. So don’t be sad if you can’t articulate a grand purpose for your life in the eyes of the world. We all already have our main purpose. Remember the grand purpose for all of us is to GO (into all the world) and be love and bring light to all those around us! In this way, people will want to follow the one we follow. How you love and how you bring God’s light is how you put your unique spin on His purpose. Yet know that no matter what has gone on in your lives… the ups and downs, the wins and loses, if you are plugged into the Creator, the Word reminds us that He will most assuredly fulfill His purpose in you, through you. This I know!
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