If you’re at a point in your life where you need a little bit of change or a shift, start by asking yourself some tough questions. Honestly, they don’t even have to be tough questions, maybe they’re just questions that will tug at your heart strings or cause self reflection.
To get the wheels turning for you, I asked DJ (resident podcast guest) to submit questions that he thought would be thought provoking or helpful to one’s life/future. I’m posting the questions as is so I didn’t rearrange the order or wording. Answer them to yourself, in a journal entry or however you see fit. I hope that the growth or change you seek, is on the other side of the questions.
Questions: 1. How long are you going to keep your gifts dormant?
2. Who am I?
3. Am I an architect or a demolition expert?
4. When people leave my presence, how do they feel?
I saw a post a few years ago that really made me pursue and understand peace.
My pursuit of peace started during an almost month long fast and a quest to grow closer to God. Peace was found in that journey, I just didn’t know it at the time. And when I saw the quote, it really helped things to click in my head. I had been told by a stranger that God wanted to speak to me and that I only needed to open my Bible and He did just that. I heard his voice clearly but it was only because I had placed myself in a position to be still, be at peace and listen for His voice.
“Know God, know peace. Know God, know love. No God, no love.”
Getting to a place of peace is a journey and it’s also very personal. The route to peace is for sure a journey but the destination is beautiful. I’m not even going to front like it was or is an easy trip to take. It’s a unique journey that we all should eventually take. It’s also different for everyone. Peace is also something that has to be maintained. You don’t just arrive there and that’s it. It’s an ongoing process because peace may not be 100% feasible in all situations for everyone and for many reasons. But once you reach it, at any level, your only goal will be to maintain it and never losing your place in it.
Finding out what peace is, will require research. Not just the dictionary version of it, but your own personal definition of peace. Google defines peace as:
Peace:
noun
Freedom from disturbance; tranquility.
A state or period in which there is no war or a war has ended.
Based on this definition, two words stick out to me, “freedom” and “period”. Really though, what more needs to be said?! Freedom. (You have to say “period” after freedom to really feel it in your bones. But seriously, at some point, freedom has to come (period!!!) because whatever the opposite of freedom is, can only last for a period. Freedom from self destruction, self hate, self harm, people pleasing, attention seeking, outside validation, boundary-less life style, etc. Your peace, peace of mind, quality of life and well being are all in your hands. No one else should have the power to control your peace. That’s your job and it’s a life long one.
The best part is that once you reach a certain level in your peace journey, maintaining peace is easy work. You will have learned your triggers and you’ll understand when it’s time to set a boundary and bow out gracefully in situations that may threaten your peace. Lets ask for peace, seek peace, find peace and maintain peace in 2024 and beyond. ✌☮
You read that right. Income season, not income tax season. I pray for the spirit of waiting all year for increase, to be removed from our minds and hearts. You can have increase at any given moment. All you need is the opportunity, expectancy and a renewing of your mind. Renewed mindsets brings about great abundance. Don’t wait all year for tax season to get a quick increase in your finances, income season can be yours all year long!
This year, try focusing on you receiving income and increase on a regular basis. Income, if we’re talking financially and increase when speaking of any and all areas of your life. Increase your self-awareness, self-control, relationships, health, peace, etc. Anything that is in coming, that you can receive is what you can train your mind to think of. I guess I could’ve named this post “Incoming Season” but it doesn’t have the same depth to it. Look up the definition of income and increase and seeing the definition might just change your mindset or life.
If you focus on lack or areas of your life where you are lacking something or there is a deficit, that lack could remain. Focus on increasing any area of your life where there may be a lack or where improvements can be made. This could range from anything like, your response when you’re mad or upset to improving your arrival time at work. Don’t limit yourself! We should always aim or desire to be better as a person not only for ourselves but for those around us.
Since it’s a new year, I have to provide y’all with money tips for the first quarter. Check out the new podcast on money with Eric Lewis from the IKG podcast.
It’s time for increase in your incoming funds. These tips are only here to give examples of how to cash in on some extra dollars. Do what works for you! Income is the key word so the goal is to have in coming funds! Lets start to cash out on some things we utilized last year.
Cash out survey or referral programs points for Zelle, PayPal or Visa Gift Cards (ex. Rakuten or Fetch )
Redeem your credit card points for cash or gift cards (ex. 25,460 points, could equal $254.00)
Any interest that you may have gained on your savings accounts can be used to keep compounding or to move to another account for spending. You earned it. (Your savings account shows $5,138. The $138 is most likely interest earned (check your bank statement for interest earned total). Cash out the $138)
Your stocks may be doing well. It’s time to check them and possibly cash out your initial investment to reinvest or use elsewhere. (You initially spent $500 on Apple stock, it’s currently worth $1,200. You could sell the shares that would equal $500(your initial investment) and keep $700 worth of Apple shares.) Remember, stocks are a long game, so only think of cashing out the initial investment if you really need the extra or if you deem it worth it.
Please note that anything that I have ever suggested when it comes to money and saving, I have done it personally or I have seen the benefits of it first hand. Happy saving, investing, cashing out and INCREASE!
