The Pleasures of Forever STAND IN YOUR POWER!
Contents
THIS MONTH DECEMBER
The Editor’s Note
5 Ways to Welcome Success into Your Life
Kristie Kennedy Ward
Nina Tomaro
04
05
Twelve Simple Pleasures of Forever
Inspiration Emerges from Within
Kristie Kennedy Ward
Rashida A. Marshall
06
07
How to Find Stress Relief in Difficult Times
Top 6 Limitless Fitness Training Tips
Alex Bratty
Lamont O. Ward
08
09
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10
How to Become a More Organized Entrepreneur Serena Fordham
11
It’s Time to Clarify Your Vision of Success! Keshelle Davis
12
The Beauty in Self-Esteem Teresa L. Holmes
13
The Empowered Relationship Mindset April Asher
15
Decisions, Decisions Crystal Rae Morrissey
16
10 Ways To Write A Jaw Dropping Newsletter! Andrea Lindal
17
Believe in the Beauty of Your Dreams! Lakisha Corbett
18
Free to Be Me! Tammy Tarell
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WELCOME
The Editor’s Note I would like to take a moment to celebrate the beauty of your life, the powerful lessons you have learned this year alone and the laughter stirring in your soul from the joy that is to come. I am intentionally here to breathe words of affirmation into your thirsty soul. In spite of the challenges your spirit is MASSIVELY GREATER than the cocoon that has held you captive. It’s time to spread your wings and dare to dream because the power of momentum is driven by your ability to not only see but to act on what you believe. Early one morning I was sifting through a folder with collected stories and stumbled across this simple yet powerful message. “In old wars, an English drummer boy was taken prisoner by the French. They amused themselves by making the lad play on his instrument and asked him to sound the retreat! The drummer boy answered proudly that he had never learned how to play that sound.” As we draw near the culmination of this year, it is time to rise up and refuse to retreat into the shadows of defeat. I dare you to run wholeheartedly into the arms of triumph and victory! A special thank you to our new contributing writers, magazine designer, cover photographer who is a precious friend, every reader, my heavenly Father, family and friends. This magazine is dedicated to my knight in shining armor, my prince charming and wind beneath my wings who supports all of my dreams and challenges me to be a better version of myself day by day. Happy First Anniversary! I cherish you, my heaven sent treasure!
Magnificently, Kristie Kennedy Ward, Publishing Editor
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5 Ways to Welcome Success into Your Life Success is like building a friendship. To keep it around you have to put time and energy into cultivating the relationship and learning what keeps it around in your life. Here are 5 ways I’ve learned to keep success in my life:
feel happy. When you have a “crazy” idea, write it down instead of dismissing it. Allow yourself to reconnect to creativity and it will begin expanding into the way you think about your business.
Learn to cultivate empathy within your communication style.
3) Stop using the word “failure”. It’s all about being open to trying new things, taking out what doesn’t work, and having the resiliency to try again.
We all know what it’s like to talk to the person who “knows it all”, talks at us, and when we do have a second to contribute to the conversation we can see the words going in one ear and right out the other. People want to feel heard and important. We relate to people who have been where we have been, and talk to us, not through us. When you are speaking with a client, or meeting someone at an event, using empathy in your communication will be immensely helpful in building trust with whom you are speaking to. Examples of how to implement empathy include:
Asking questions, and simply listening.
Talking about a similar situation you’ve been in and how you pushed through. (Side note: NEVER tell someone you “know how they feel”. You don’t, and they will immediately become defensive.)
Look at a topic putting yourself in the other person’s place.
Validate others feelings as often as you can. Instead of saying “You shouldn’t feel that way!” or “Stop worrying about that!” instead consider saying, “How can I help?” or “I can see how you would feel that way”.
People will often give the advice of “failing fast” in the business world. Why are we telling people to fail at all? Fail has a negative connotation to it, and I believe instead of learning to “fail fast” we need to tell entrepreneurs to become better at discovering what isn’t working. Try new ideas, test them, and get rid of the ones that aren’t working.
4) Always schedule time for growth. Whether this means joining professional organizations, going to conferences, attending seminars, or reading books, make sure you are surrounding yourself with people and ideas that will take you to where you want to be. If you are the smartest person in a room, you need to run and fast!
5) Embrace technology.
2) Channel your inner child, and schedule time to create. Creativity is a necessary skillset for success that is dying in our culture. Creativity is like a muscle, and it needs to be trained daily. There is no other time you were more creative and carefree than when you were a child. To train your creativity muscle, do things that bring out your inner creator such as painting, coloring, crafting or whatever makes you
Ecommerce is growing, the cloud is here to stay, and if you aren’t on social media you are missing a huge opportunity to grow your business. Technology will continue to advance, and it’s your job to keep up with it. Bring people on to your team that love technology and keep up with the latest trends to ensure your business continues to rise on the cutting edge.
Nina Tomaro, is a ridiculously passionate writer, content strategist, speaker, mid-westerner, and entrepreneur who gets out of bed because it’s her mission to help people and companies share their stories in a way that allows them to be heard. http://www.ninatomaro.com/
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TWELVE SIMPLE PLEASURES OF
By Kristie Kennedy Ward
FOREVER
1 2 3
Long walks in the park, your hand holding mine...
A soft kiss hello and goodbye...
The caring look in your eyes and the words everything will be alright...
4 5 6
Date night, in or outside...
Limitless conversations especially pillow talk...
Uncontrollable laughter about the most outrageous things...
7 8 9 10 11 12
Three words, I love you...
Dreaming new dreams together...
Two strong arms to lean on...
Road trip adventures...
Terms of endearment in my heart to stay...
A beautiful friend who is there always...
Happy first year anniversary to the love of my life and man of my deepest dreams, Lamont Odell Ward...I still do!
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Inspiration Emerges from Within These powerful words represent an approach to life which is so pivotal to our joy and contentment in life. Living out our passions, following our heart, and doing what makes us truly happy are actions that some of us take full advantage of while others hesitate or never take that first step. Going after our dreams is about more than fulfilling our heart’s passions. It also allows us to relieve ourselves from the mental and emotional stressors which may tug at our spirit and diminish our peace of mind. We live in a society where we are constantly told who to be, how to live, what to eat, what not to wear, how to look, etc. The list could go on, and it still wouldn’t include all of the standards we are so inconveniently held to. While there is nothing wrong with considering the suggestions provided to us and hearing what others have to say, it is so important that we know and embrace that which is right for us and also, that which is wrong.
“DON’T LET ANYONE ROB YOU OF YOUR IMAGINATION, YOUR CREATIVITY, OR YOUR CURIOSITY. IT’S YOUR PLACE IN THE WORLD; IT’S YOUR LIFE. GO ON AND DO ALL YOU CAN WITH IT, AND MAKE IT THE LIFE YOU WANT TO LIVE.” –Mae Jemison
When we are being pulled in so many directions based on the expectations, suggestions and recommendations from others, we are not able to focus on ourselves. We begin to ignore that little voice in our head that seems to always have the right answers. Simply put, we fall off balance—we stumble off the course that is right for us and become steered in the wrong direction.
to identify what things or people are pulling us out of our element. What actions do we routinely partake in which don’t sit well with our spirit? Are we satisfied with the destination to which we are heading? When we give ourselves the permission to explore these areas, we are able to see how the
While it may sound like an example of simply having a lot on one’s plate, this constant feeling of being overwhelmed can take a toll on us mentally. We must always remember that our health is a holistic and continuous cycle that requires us to devote attention to all of its components. Our mental health affects our emotional health which affects physical health—all are integral parts of our complete wellness. Ignoring our desires to do all of the little things that make us happy may lead us to develop mild feelings depression. Over time, this can cause issues such as an irregular appetite, lack of energy, irregular sleep patterns and abnormal body aches and pains. Often times, we focus so much on the importance of physical activity and healthy eating that we neglect to address the state of our mental and emotional health—both of which are just as vital. Our bliss depends not only on the external things that bring a smile to our face. We must also take a moment
answers are affecting our lives and the lives of those closest to us. The things in life which satisfy your spirit are well worth your time and energy. Be encouraged to listen to your inner voice, be bold enough to say no to those things which don’t make you happy, and be deserving of your mental and emotional care. Allow yourself to take this path so that you may infuse your life with the fulfillment and joy it is worth.
Rashida A. Marshall is fitness trainer with Skillfully Sculpted through which she offers personal training, group fitness classes and health education. She is also the Editor-in-Chief of AFIYA Magazine, a digital publication offering holistic well-being for today’s cultural and professional woman. www.skillfullysculpted.com
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How to Find Stress Relief in Difficult Times Ever find yourself in a heated conversation or in situations where you feel tensions are running high? Yes, we all have these experiences from time to time and it can be easy to get pulled along on the wave of stressful energy. You might find yourself ready to snap at someone or maybe you start feeling defensive or anxious. You may say something in the heat of the moment
you can practice it in 4 easy steps to bring you stress relief. Press the pause button. When you find yourself in these situations, simply pause, take a deep breath and step out of yourself to take on a new perspective – become an observer of what’s going on. That’s right, imagine yourself as a neutral onlooker of the situation that’s occurring. Evaluate the situation. Without judgment, just take a moment to understand what’s really happening – with you and with the other person. Observe what you are feeling – the actual emotions you’re experiencing and where they may be manifesting in your body. For example, you may feel stress or anxiety which can present physically as tightness in the stomach or chest. Observe how both you and the other person are behaving. It may be that the person you’re interacting with is coming from a place of pressure or anger, which is contributing to the tension.
that you regret and have to walk back or apologize for later. It doesn’t always have to be this way. There is a different approach you can take to help calm and center yourself so you can respond with control. It’s called taking on the role of the observer and
Calm yourself. Now that you are more aware of the dynamics of this interaction, take a few deep breaths so that you can begin to center your energy and create some distance between the tension in the situation and how you want to feel and behave.
like this, so ask yourself what you do want. As you take on the role of the observer, you can more clearly see the energy each person is emitting and as you calm your own energy, you are better able to make a deliberate and controlled response. It may be as simple as suggesting the conversation be postponed until you are both feeling calmer. Or you may assess that it would be helpful to empathize with the other person’s concerns to acknowledge the context so you can both move to a shared resolution. Each situation is different, and only you will know what’s best for you – but, when you are in that neutral role of the observer, you can much more clearly identify the optimal path to take. You may be reading this and thinking, “Why should I have to do all that work if someone else is imposing their stressful energy on me?” The answer is simple: you get to choose your thoughts and behavior, and you get to choose the outcome of the situation if you use this technique. If you don’t, you can get swept away in the other person’s energy and you may lose control of yourself and/or the situation. Practice slipping into the role of the observer so you can stand in your own power and make deliberate choices about the situations in which you find yourself. And, you don’t have to just use it for stressful encounters; you can use it anytime to become accustomed to the technique of monitoring your thoughts, feelings, and responses in any given situation.
Assess the outcome you want. Most of us do not enjoy stressful situations
Alex Bratty is a certified coach, professional speaker, and best-selling author of the book, From Chaos to Clarity: Getting Unstuck & Creating a Life You Love. She is committed to helping people transform their lives and make lasting change so they can truly create the life they want, instead of a life they think they should be living. Connect with her at www.alexbratty.com and get her FREE eBook, 5 Steps to Reclaim Your Life & Make it Work for You.
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Top 6 Limitless Fitness TRAINING TIPS Getting in shape is not for the weak at heart, you’ve got to want it. In fitness everything is about controlled movements. You can’t rush results, short cuts rarely produce permanent change. It is better to err on the side of doing too much rather than not enough. You must constantly and consistently strive to raise your own personal bar of excellence. Greatness is about chasing and conquering the impossible.
Lamont O. Ward, Body Sculptor for cutting edge and elite athleticism.
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How to Become a
More Organized Entrepreneur
Ever feel that you are overloaded with work and don’t know how to go about reducing that big pile of stuff which has been building up for days, weeks, or even months? Ahhhh! Maybe it’s about time you conquered that ‘Mount Everest’ of tasks and paperwork with our top 10 tips on how to become a more organized (and hopefully a less stressed) entrepreneur:
for the next day.
Use this to clear your mind and focus on each task in hand.
Write a ‘to-do’ list
Use a scheduling or diary system to organize your time Plan tasks ahead of schedule to allow you to dedicate suitable time for each one.
Schedule email mail-outs and social media posts in advance so they happen automatically Set aside time to schedule as this will save you time in the long-run (you can also use a social media management tool to be even more efficient at this!)
Clear your work space so it is free from loose papers and clutter After all, an organized space creates an organized mind!
Set aside designated planning time Spend one evening (usually a Sunday works best) to plan and prepare your week ahead.
Outsource anything you can to free up your time to run and grow your business E.g. by using Virtual Assistants, Marketing Experts, Accountants, etc.
Turn off your phone and stay logged out of your email while competing each task Less distractions mean you will complete tasks quicker, and you can reply to urgent calls and emails during coffee breaks in between tasks.
Use headings and subheadings to narrow down exactly what needs to be achieved within each task.
Create a mind-map of all the ideas that are crowding your head space
Check emails at the end of every day rather than at the beginning Use a small amount of time at the end of the day to plan and prepare
Constantly review your progress Assess what is working well at keeping you organized and focus on doing these things (and remember that what might be working for another person may not work for you – and vice versa).
Basically all of the above boils down to the fact that: “to fail to prepare is preparing to fail.” This is very true both in life and business – setting aside a little time to prepare your diary and plan your time in advance will be extremely worthwhile in helping to organize your life, work, and most importantly your mind. So, don’t wait until tomorrow to start planning your strategy to become more organized – give yourself that ‘phew’ feeling and start taking action now (you might even get a better night’s sleep and thank yourself for it!) Sigh of relief!
By Serena Fordham Director of Serena Fordham’s PA Services www.serenafordhamspaservices.com
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It’s Time to Clarify Your Vision of Success! If your vision of success includes creating wealth, building a brand or growing a business, read on. Imagine yourself in a race. You, the runner takes off full of energy and enthusiasm - intent on winning. For the first few moments you enjoy the breeze in your face and the feeling of progress. After a while you think ahead to the finish line and wonder how far it is. You realize that you have no idea. In your excitement to get going and win, you never thought to get a map- there’s no clarity.
Clarity comes from having a strong mental image of your preferable future –call it your SMI. Most people want success, we want to win but we’re not clear on exactly what that means. However this clarity of vision is an absolute prerequisite for success, Dr. Myles Munroe stated in the book “The Principles & Power of Vision” that “no matter who you are, if your vision of success isn’t clear, this busy world will distract you by everything in it.” In my opinion the following statement is true: People stay on jobs they hate and/or fail in their entrepreneurial pursuits because they have no strong mental image of their preferable future. When you’ve gotten clarity, you’ve gotten what you want. If you desire to achieve any significant and continuous level of success in life, having a strong mental image is the first step. This takes
answering three questions:
Question 1. Who are you in the world? This is the clarity and connection to your inner leader. Many have not yet discovered their unique leadership role in the world and have unfortunately become what other people want them to become. They take labels from others without really considering who they uniquely are or truly want to be. To resolve this, Danielle Laporte, bestselling author says to simply “give yourself a label”. Labels are really powerful — if you choose the right one. It doesn’t have to be grand or unique at this first stage but it must clearly define who you are or want to be. This is not necessarily a job title either. Your label could simply say, “I am the writer” or “I am trainer” or “I am entrepreneur.” Start by jotting down everything that comes to mind then narrow it down to no more than three. This is your core. Everything you do or want to do in life should resonate with these three.
helps you to identify what makes you standout. When you find your value and attraction to others you can easily articulate and amplify them, to your advantage.
Question 3. What’s your path toward success?
Question 2. What value and attraction do you bring to everyone you serve?
The most motivated person in the world will lose momentum without certainty of where they are going and how they will get there. According to Roger Hamilton, the author of Your Life, Your Legacy, “the men (and women) who have succeed are those who have chosen one line and stuck to it.” He compares success and wealth creation to different games on ESPN. Each has different rules, different team, and different strategies. Only by understanding the games can we listen to the soccer player say “kick the ball, don’t pick it up”, and the basketball player say “pick up the ball, don’t kick it,” and realize that they aren’t contradicting each other. They are simply playing different games.” Each of us have a path that is most suited to our natural talents and habits. Success comes from knowing which game to play and then playing that game.
While question number one helps you to get clear on how you want to be in the world, this question helps you to get clear on how the world sees you. It is what you bring to the table. What is your signature value? What makes you most engaging to others? As a writer, is there a style of writing that’s unmistakably unique to you? Sally Hogshead, author of the book “Fascinate” has an amazing system that
A strong mental image of your success comes when the answers to these questions are clearly given. Like many people on the same journey, the answers may take some time and guidance but will make all the difference in the race toward success. The bottom line is this: The most motivated person in the world will lose momentum without the clarity of vision toward their dreams.
Keshelle Davis is a corporate skills facilitator, business trainer and multi-passionate entrepreneur in the Bahamas Her roles include Executive Director of the Chamber Institute, the education arm the Bahamas Chamber of Commerce, President of Creative Wealth Bahamas and founder The Training Authority. Keshelle was listed as the Nassau Guardian’s Top 40 under 40 for the 40th anniversary celebrations of The Bahamas. Contact Keshelle at keshelle@keshelledavis.com
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The Beauty in Self-Esteem How you view yourself affects everything you do in life. It affects how you communicate, how you perform on your job or business and the service you provide to others. It also affects your level of motivation and the rung you reach on your personal success ladder. High self-esteem can be a thing of beauty, when it does not result in arrogance. It can not only make you feel good about yourself and the things that you accomplish, but also give you the confidence and desire to help others. With high selfesteem, you set the bar high and strive each day to reach it no matter the obstacles or setbacks. You accept each challenge as a learning experience and an opportunity to grow, without being concerned about what others might think should you not hit your mark or should you falter altogether. With high selfesteem you become a magnet for positive opportunities and others love being in your company. They want to hear about your past adventures or your next great idea. Some even want to know how you can help them along their journey. On the other hand, the effects of low self-esteem can actually be devastating. If you have low self-esteem, you likely see yourself failing before you even begin. You constantly compare yourself to others and no matter what you do; it is not good enough. You are afraid to be a risk taker and, therefore, rarely step outside of your comfort zone to do anything new and exciting. With low self-esteem, your level of negative energy is often unbearable to others, including friends, family and coworkers. The sad and ugly part about this is you usually spend the majority of your time alone in a negative frame of mind or
dwelling on what you are lacking. However, there is a bright side. The good thing about low self-esteem is that the cycle can be broken. One of the ways is to change the manner in which you speak to yourself. Do not say, “I cannot change. It is too much of a challenge,” say “Change is scary, but I am going to step out of my comfort zone and give it a try.” Rather than ask yourself, “Why should I even take that risk?” say “I do not see this as a risk at all, but as an opportunity for growth.” Another way is to stop living your life comparing yourself to others. Strive to be your own unique and beautiful self. No matter what someone else is doing or how successful they appear, their success...their life is not for you to copy. Search within to find your own blend of uniqueness, the gifts, talents and abilities that are for you and only you. Embrace them and all of the other parts of your personality, all of the things that make you who God designed you to be! Never forget that true beauty is not your physical attributes; it is your joy, your confidence and your exuberance for life. The journey to high self-esteem may not be a fast one, but it is definitely one worth taking. Start today to see the world as one big possibility for you and accept that roadblocks and failures are a part of the process. No matter the setbacks, stay on track to become a new and more beautiful version of you. It is how you hone your own gifts and talents and deal with your life challenges that will determine how you grow to value yourself and how far you will go in reaching your visions and dreams.
Teresa L. Holmes, Executive Director of Full ‘Steem Ahead Life & Career Coaching and the Bounce Back DNA and Igniting Your Passions Globally Movements. www.thewomensesteemologist.com
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The Empowered Relationship Mindset Mindset work has grown in popularity in recent years. You might be familiar with the idea that your mindset affects your results. You may have even tried different types of “mindset work” and experimented with how to get better results in your life by using positive thoughts & affirmations. Our thoughts are indeed powerful. They shape our experience. Our thoughts can affect our present moment, such as our mood. They also help create our future, such as getting the job you kept seeing yourself get, despite not being the most qualified candidate. What a lot of people often seemed surprised by is that your mindset regarding relationship and love matters a lot when creating your ideal relationship. Many of us like to think we’re positive people with positive thoughts and yet, we often still have negative thought patterns that we don’t notice or that sneak in when we’re not operating at our highest levels. We create from those disempowered thoughts, giving us results we’d prefer not to have.
however, as source we get to decide to either continue the downward spiral, or choose our thoughts deliberately. What you focus on expands, and with practice your brain will be better trained at leading with a positive mindset. When I first started practicing mindfulness I noticed something destructive and I called it a Stress Loop. Stress Loops are recurrent, spiraling, disempowered thoughts. They often happen when you’re in a disagreement with your partner and your brain starts talking trash like “this always happens…”, “they never….” “we can’t do this….”, etc. It’s an extremist way of thinking, putting negative spins on what’s happening and making things worse than they are. Stress loops happen as the nervous system heightens and this can leave you feeling out of control. It’s like a mindset attack and it can feel hopeless.
My go to disempowered thought used to be “this isn’t going to work, it will never be what I want it to be”. My marriage had a breakdown at ten years and we successfully shifted everything. And five years after our revamp I still no longer have these mindset attacks. I rarely go into any negative thinking about my relationship or my partner and if it begins I know how to quickly nip it in the bud. What changed? My mindset for starters, and my relationship as a result. Think it, feel it, do it, see it! How to create an Empowered Relationship Mindset: Get clear on what you want and create a vision. Focus ONLY on what you what (don’t entertain or indulge fear thoughts). Practice shifting whenever you have a disempowering thought.
T. Harv Eker references the mindset in his work and I couldn’t agree more: Thoughts create feelings. Feelings create actions. Actions create results. Or my quick version: Think it, feel it, do it, see it. If you aren’t getting the relationship results you want, pay close attention to your thoughts. Be mindful of your thoughts regarding yourself, your partner and your overall relationship. Notice if they feel empowering or disempowering. It’s understood that negative thoughts sometimes pop in,
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Keep your commitment level high (recommit when needed). Whatever happens, don’t stop going for what you want! Even if you feel like your mind is an unfriendly place & you fear you won’t be able to shift certain habits, remember that others have done it, YOU can do it too! If there’s one premise that’s served me all my life, it would have to be this one: “You have the power to change your experience.” It’s in you, and it’s in your partner. In EVERY human being lies the same potential. There is so much believe we can’t change, but in reality is actually changeable. And, even if there are certain circumstances you can’t change, you CAN change your experience. By committing to what we desire & by continuously moving forward towards that goal we create momentum. Then in short order, change occurs!
April Asher is The Love Catalyst, she helps coaches and entrepreneurs bulletproof their romantic relationships and create habits for lifelong love. She’s been in personal growth and developme nt for over 18 yrs. Her specialty and passion is the improvement of intimate partnerships. April recovered from the brink of marriage disaster to create a bulletproof foundation for her relationship and now teaches couples how to set themselves up for the same remarkable success. When she isn’t rockin’ relationships she enjoys nature and spending time with both her human and furry family members in sunny California. She’s currently working on her grand plan to create peace through widespread connected and secure relationships. You can learn more at aprilasher.net/launchyourlove/
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DECISIONS, DECISIONS
Truth be told, I get stressed over making decisions—of course the big, life changing ones (moving, marriage, career transitions) but also the silly, low-impact ones (blue or green, chicken or shrimp). It’s not that I’m unhappy with the results of my decisions; on the contrary, I have very few regrets about anything I’ve done in life. Rather, it’s that I get bogged down with an awful internal pressure to make “the right” decision. The best decision. The perfect decision. I get rattled by the responsibility of making an intentional choice, versus accepting a default decision, made for me by somebody else. For me, that’s my codependence, my avoidance and my immaturity peeking through.
to relax, to breathe, to trust and WAIT patiently (rather than spinning myself into a frenzy), I DO hear that voice telling me exactly what to do, often with stunning clarity and powerful details. Echoing over my best attempts at inner stillness, that voice cuts straight through my clamoring doubts, ambivalence and insecurities. When I wait for that “two thumbs up” vote of confidence (one thumb from within and the other from Above) my fears dissipate quickly and my stress dissolves immediately. I’ve rarely felt a more beautiful sense of relief and inner peace! It’s freedom from my obnoxious, self-imposed anxieties. And it’s comfort in knowing that I’m not navigating life on my own.
But with all that stress and struggle to make decisions, there’s one routine that has never, EVER failed me—the one reflected in this passage from my two faith traditions: “Your own ears will hear Him. Right behind you a voice will say, ‘This is the way you should go.’” (Isaiah 30:21)
STILL NOT SURE?
When I respond that stress by choosing
There’s a handy little trick I’ve learned to separate the anxiety I feel about my decision-making process (in general) from the anxiety I feel about the specific decision to be made. When torn between two ambivalent options, I simply pick one—either one, on a TRIAL basis—then sit with that
decision for 24 hours. With the decision making PROCESS put to rest behind me, I’m better positioned to evaluate the decision independently, on its own actual merits. If my decision feels right after 24 hours, I can consider it done and move into action. If not, I can repeat the process, by “trying out” the alternative position. If neither decision gives me what I’m looking for, I’ll make a list the “pros” I experienced by trying on each position—and from THAT list, I’ll often discover a third option, one I was too distracted to discover earlier in the process. Of course, making a decision puts me at the starting point, not the finish line. Knowing what’s right for me, I next need to rally the power to make it happen. But for me, follow through is the easy part. After I’ve got the decision-making drama behind me, I’m happy to do the footwork that ultimately follows. Crystal Rae Morrissey Women’s Life, Relationship and Divorce Recovery Coach www.womeneverafter.com
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WAYS TO WRITE A JAW DROPPING NEWSLETTER!
1
KEEP IT SHORT. You have less than 7 seconds to capture your reader’s attention and get them to perform the way you want them to.
2
SUMMARIZE. In an effort to keep it short, summarize with enticing headings that then ‘click through’ to the whole story (your blog!). 3) STRONG CALL TO ACTION. Be clear. If you want them to click into your site, tell them, BIG and BOLD.
4
EXCELLENT DESIGN. Design matters and you will be judged by it so make sure you invest in great design that supports your brand and makes your newsletter stand out.
5
TARGET YOUR AUDIENCE. Know and understand who’s reading your newsletter and write what they want to read. If you don’t know, ask them.
6
IT’S NOT AN ADVERTISEMENT. Unless, your staples or Pier 1, make your newsletter worth more than just another advertisement.
7
OFFER EXCLUSIVE EMAIL ONLY SPECIALS. Every once in a while, offer something of value to your email list only.
8
GROW SOCIALLY. Let your email list know that you’re on Facebook, Twitter and/or LinkedIn and ask them to join you there for MORE!
9
KEEP IT FRESH AND RELEVANT. Provide helpful information that is relevant to today’s trends and your audience’s interest.
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UNSUBSCRIBE. Always, always, always give your audience the option to unsubscribe. Don’t take it personally, things change.
BONUS TIP: Make sure your email list is permission-based. These days there is simply no room for spam and, quite frankly, I don’t even understand how people think it will work for them. All it does is anger people and get you flagged. Create a clean list with great content and you will most certainly have a JAW DROPPING NEWSLETTER that converts readers into loyal custom
Andrea Lindal is a successful Digital Marketing Specialist. Her passions include social media, email marketing, graphic and web design. www.lexabi.com
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Believe in the Beauty of Your Dreams! I read a t-shirt that said “You believed in Santa Clause for eight years, I know you can believe in yourself for 2 minutes.� I decided to be as dedicated to my writing as I was when I was a little girl, writing my letter to Santa every year. The universe never promised us that all of our dreams would come true. There are people who believe if they jump some imaginary net will catch them. I was never one of those people. I make promises to myself that even if my dreams do not come true I will be happy continuously trying. I promised myself I would be a writer. I fell in love with writing because it is freeing, similar to an outer body experience. I have the power to imagine anything. I desired a new life and writing gave me that! It was also the most inexpensive vacation I could
afford. One day I had a bright idea to start an online blog, Our Lips Are Moving is my personal diary. I am able to communicate about any topic under the sun. Blogging is my chance to be published, self-published but published nonetheless. I can create a new life for myself, and I am aware that it will not happen immediately, yet nothing worth having comes easy. In order to develop greatness, it takes practice, and patience! I possess both. We all have to figure out what we truly want and how far we are willing to travel to accomplish our goals. Before I started blogging, I hit rock bottom. I lost my job and my significant other! As bill piled up, my only release was writing. Once I started to receive positive feedback, I finally pulled myself up by the bootstraps and obtained
employment. It may not be the most ideal job but I still have free time to write, and that is what is most important to me. I made the decision that writing would be worth every sacrifice. No matter how hard it gets, I will remain committed. I will keep writing. Between work and school, I have to get up two hours early just to have time to write. Even if I never post it, I must write for the day. I am my biggest motivator because I know I will not be fulfilled unless I am working towards my dreams. What do you love so much that you’re willing to wake up two hours early to make sure that it will become your reality?
Lakisha Corbett Founder, Our Lips Are Moving www.ourlipsaremoving.com
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Free to Be Me! Being a single mother of three, sometimes life seems to just pass by. That’s the issue that many women in general have. Often, we as women get so caught up in the routine of life that we forget that we are not living, just existing. The time is now for us to stop sleep walking through life. In a day to day observation of friends, family, as well as complete strangers, it’s as if we as women are required to conduct ourselves in a particular way. If a woman dresses, speaks, or behaves in a certain manner she is often misjudged by others. The sad part is that women tend to judge one another rather than uplifting each another. We must seek to reflect who God created us to be above societal expectations. The scriptures expresses in Psalm 139:14, “I am fearfully and wonderfully made”. We were not born to blend; we were born to be extraordinary. We all have fallen short, but each possess the power to rise up and try again. The ability to endure increases our strength. When society tries to kick you down and confine you to a box of limitation: break free and go forth. Now is the time to walk by faith and not by sight. Don’t allow past hurts and pain to keep you imprisoned because we are greater than any circumstance. Together we stand tall and in unity declaring as one powerful voice: that no weapon formed against us shall succeed. No more shackles, no more chains, we are truly free to be whatever we desire to be!
I am a child of God I am woman I am daughter I am sister I am wife I am mother I am dreamer I am entrepreneur I am free to be who God called me to be Most importantly, I am FREE TO BE ME!!!! Tammy Tarell, is a certified personal trainer and author of the Unorthodox Mom.
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Kristie Kennedy Empowerment Enterprises, LLC “Delivering the Keys to Limitless Possibilities!� CONTACT US: DBA Magnificent Living Magazine P.O. Box 6464, Tallahassee, Fl. 32314 www.kristiekennedy.com info@kristiekennedy.com Magnificent Living Magazine | 19