Week 26 Taking Time To Reflect

What is reflecting? Taking the time to think deeply or carefully about something. To think about or give thought to, give consideration to, mull over, contemplate or meditate over. All things we encounter in life can be a teaching and learning moment. Ms. Kionna Perry hosted Monday’s call and posed this question and definition to the group. Reflection is a key part of our learning experience. It allows us to know ourselves and come to terms with what an experience actually means. When we reflect, we should always start with ourselves so that we have more self-knowledge. When we do this, we gain and are able to 1) accomplish more; 2) be more productive in the workplace; 3) become a better leader; 4) build self-confidence; 5) build better relationships and; 6) help us grow.  We should reflect on past performances and compete with our own personal best record. Ms. Perry challenged the group to envision ourselves as a top performer in business or area of expertise. She challenged the group to go back and reflect on the topics from the blog. When you take this time, you will find the silver lining. You owe it to yourself! Finally, Ms. Perry shared some reflections that included some questions from each facet of life and giving honest answers regarding the material, spiritual, physical and social aspects of life.

It’s Time To Reflect!

20 Questions To Help You Reflect The Past Year

Ms. Ruby Jackson hosted Wednesday’s call and shared with about using other experiences to reflect. She shared from Monday’s call that reflection is the tool to unearth lessons and it enables us to come into a place where we know ourselves and gain self-knowledge. If we aren’t good to ourselves then we can’t be good to other people. By three methods we may learn wisdom. First by reflection, the second by imitation and third by experience which is the most bitter. Self-reflection is one of the ways to obtain clarity and you gain an immense amount of power. There is power in clarity. It is important to get into the right state or environment, find out what is the best time for you, and ask the right questions which help to answer any inner conflicts that you might have.  Ms. Jackson shared about having more how questions which are more solution and action oriented versus why questions where you simply get a confirmation of why you can’t do something. Ms. Jackson also shared her personal story about coaching athletes and how she was able to teach on self-reflection.

The Power of Self-Reflection

Asking The Right Questions

The final Women’s Inspiration Circle call before the break was hosted by Ms. Tiffany Prince. She started the call off with a quote by Iyanla Vanzant, “everything that happens to you, is a reflection of what you believe about yourself. We can’t out perform our level of self-esteem. We can’t draw to ourselves more than we think we are worth.” Every moment of your reality is a reflection. You get credit for how the person that lives with you speaks to you and how they treat you. Learning to pause allows growth to catch up with you. Ms. Prince shared with the group on how you can reflect with intention and that this includes: 1) what was the best thing that happened; 2) what would I want to repeat; 3) what do I want the lesson or growth process to be; 4) what do I want to take away from this experience; 5) what would I like to enhance. We get the credit or blame for our own reality. We have so many checkpoints during the day and we give off energy. If you are getting a reality that you don’t want, then think about the reflection and how you feel about yourself. Either you are bringing this to them or you feel this way about yourself.  Ms. Prince encouraged the group to change their reality. Use your reflection or whatever it is to change the reality. This can also be done when interacting with others but you have to be clear on one thing you like or love about the person 2) focus on only that and; 3) wait for a change in reality. Ms. Prince also challenged the group to take some quiet time and sit in your reflection chair during this recess.

 

 

Week 20 Finding Your Life’s Purpose

The Women’s Inspiration Circle, kicked off the week with the topic, “Finding Your Life’s Purpose” hosted by Ms. Kanika Gilmore. Ms. Gilmore started off by sharing that she prays to God for her life’s purpose. She provided scriptures and nuggets from the book, “Confident Woman Devotional” by Joyce Meyer about praying first and how this is the most important part of life’s preparation. Ms. Gilmore shared an analogy, “Discovering Your Purpose” which highlighted a man that encouraged the fish to like the grass. A little boy told the man, “the fish can’t be all they are created to be outside of the water.” The man recognized that no matter what he thought they could not be “fish out of water.” You were created for a purpose. Think about the road signs that God shows you. Ms. Gilmore encouraged the group to take a moment to answer the 15 Questions to Discover Your Life’s Purpose. Do this and shut off all of the distractions. Also, she mentioned the book, “7 Habits of Highly Effectively People by Steven Covey which highlighted how to create your own personal mission statement.  An important thing in gaining confidence is that you must know your strengths. Make a list of what you are good at and read it out loud to yourself. Thinking about this is not being conceited but recognizing what God has equipped you with…make positive affirmations to yourself daily!

 Life On Purpose: 15 Questions to Discover Your Personal Mission

The Confident Woman by Joyce Meyer

Discovering Your God-Given Purpose

The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey

Finding Your Purpose 9

Ms. Ruby Jackson hosted Wednesday’s call and posed the question to the group, “why are we here?” We have all asked ourselves this question in our personal journey. We might be all in different places on our life’s journey. Transparent on the call, Ms. Jackson shared that after completing her degree she also asked herself what is my purpose. Even in looking for answers, they didn’t all come at once. But rather she believes that God did it this way for her, because she wouldn’t have been ready to for all these things. Four Things To Finding Your Purpose – 1) define it; 2) document it; 3) declare it and; 4) do it. God gives us a destination of our purpose and wants us to walk in it! Ms. Jackson referenced the book, “The Purpose Driven Life” by Rick Warren which highlighted points that you are not left in the dark to find your purpose. The book also provides insight into the easiest way to discover the purpose of an invention is to ask the creator of it. It is the same with discovering your life’s purpose: Ask God! Ms. Jackson left WIC with a visualization tool and asked the group to take 2 deep breaths, close your eyes and to visualize yourself at a door with a strong desire to get there. How did you get lost finding your purpose? But on the other side is the answer. Look down at your hands, if you have any bags you have permission to drop them. You won’t need them where you are going. Everything you need for your purpose is inside of you. Now in your hands are the 4 keys – all of these are necessary to unlock your journey. Unlock the door to your purpose!

Any idea, plan, or purpose may be placed in the mind through repetition of thought. – Napoleon Hill

There is no greater gift you can give or receive than to honor your calling. It’s why you were born. And how you become most truly alive. – Oprah Winfrey

Ms. Tiffany Prince shared the inspiration for Friday and mentioned that we are all here for a purpose. She provided insight into her journey of wanting to be a fashion designer at an early age and was always at her happiest point in spreading love! Ms. Prince also mentioned that when there were award shows and the recipients received their awards, she would always cry when they gave their acceptance speech. She shared the R&B singer, Usher’s speech in particular in that, “you can achieve your dreams…and you can do it!” The problem is that you don’t know your purpose but the way you are trying to find your purpose out. We have to take steps toward what we want and removing the things you don’t want. Ms. Prince mentioned controlling your frequency and doing the happy exercise (listen to Controlling Your Frequency playbacks and visit week 16 of the blog). If you are looking for your purpose and passion, then stop looking and start doing! Ms. Prince provided 5 tools that you can carry through the journey of life:

How to Find Your Life’s Purpose and Make Yourself a Better Person

Also, Ms. Prince provided the group with 10 questions to ask if yourself if you are looking for your life’s purpose:

10 Questions To Ask Yourself If You Are Looking For Your Life’s Purpose

Finding Your Purpose 2

Finding Your Purpose 5

If you missed any of the calls this week or you’re interested in recapping some great inspiration, feel free to playback the calls at your convenience!
Playback number: 605-477-3099
Access code: 1063557#
Reference numbers: Monday- 130, Wed-131, Fri-132

Week 18 Embracing Change

There are two things guaranteed to happen in life — change and death. Ms. Kionna Perry, shared on Monday’s call this drastic but very true statement on “Embracing Change.” Ms. Perry shared many transparent moments regarding motherhood and this being “on the job training.” She highlighted there were extreme challenges in grasping a pattern and acknowledged there was not a blueprint provided for motherhood. When you really think about it, there is not a blueprint for any situation in life.

 
When you experience extreme changes, this leads to growth which might sometimes be uncomfortable. However, this is a part of development. There can also be pain associated with change. But be willing to change and take this step by step so that this will become a habit! Remember your change can lead to growth and empower you to do and be more!

 
Finally, Ms. Perry concluded with discussing the metamorphosis of a caterpillar to a butterfly. This is a beautiful process and shows growth and evolution.

Why Change Is Always Scary And How To Embrace Change

 

 

Charles Darwin

 

“I really do not like change!” Ms. Kanika Gilmore hosted the call on Wednesday and started with this honest statement in sharing a personal story dealing with change. However, she also recognized that change is a part of life and you can always derive something out of change. Realize that nothing last forever but remember the best way to go through the struggle is to know that change is a part of it. When you find yourself going through change, there are positive ways to handle it. Make your response to it an affirmation. Change can be a beautiful thing but it is one aspect of life that people resist.

 
Ms. Gilmore encouraged the group to know that change is a part of your purpose in life! It’s not uncommon to resist change because things might not go the way we expected or anticipated. But see change as an opportunity to react. Remember that people have gone through similar changes in life so you are not alone. And you never know how you can encourage and support someone in their “change process!”

Embracing Change

Embracing Life

Embrace Change In 4 Easy Steps

How Can I Learn To Embrace Change

 

Ms. Tiffany Prince, hosted the call on Friday and shared a quote by Bill Clinton, “the price of doing the same old thing is far higher than the price of change.” There is nothing more constant than change. Why do we fear it? We fear it because we are more comfortable in what we are doing rather than finding a way to adjust. Just remember if you are going through change — and this too shall pass! Learn to enjoy the good times while you, and the not so good times are only temporary. The light will appear at the end of the tunnel but you must be patient.

 
Ms. Prince posed the question to the group, “why are you resistant when change comes?” Reprogram yourself to say what if it does work versus what if it does not work. Take a moment to look at the change as an opportunity to grow. Change almost always leads to something good. It might not happen overnight but remember to embrace the opportunity. Finally, Ms. Prince shared a personal testimony of her experience with change in moving to a different location. The rose bud was able to be in full bloom by simply saying yes to change!

10 Ways To Embrace Change

Embracing Change

Embracing Change 1

Embracing Change 2

Embracing Change 3

Embracing Change 4

If you missed any of the calls this week or you’re interested in recapping some great inspiration, feel free to playback the calls at your convenience!

Playback number: 605-477-3099
Access code: 1063557#
Reference numbers: Monday- 124, Wed-125, Fri-126