Do You Have 2022 Leftovers?

 

Some of us stepped into 2023 with leftovers from 2022. That’s not necessarily a bad thing and if you accomplished all your goals, congratulations. You are most likely in a class of your own.  If you missed the deadline to reach your 2022 goals, you are certainly not alone, and opportunities still await you.  The door is not closed, but it’s time to gear up and begin again. 

Here are a few suggestions to consider.

·       Evaluate your goals and develop a plan of action.

·       What did you do right in 2022?

·       What were some of the things you could improve on?

·       What should you retain?

·       What should you delete?

·       Stay committed to your personal and professional development without overstepping boundaries.

You don’t have to wait until Spring to clean the cabinets and closets.  You can begin right now.  We tend to leave some things in place that we know should have been thrown out, not just from last year, but from years before.  I’m not just speaking about tangible items.  There are other areas in our lives that have expiration dates, egos, bad attitudes, selfish ambitions, skeletons, baggage and relationships.  All those blessing blockers that blur your vision and keep you from moving forward.

As we move forward in 2023, ask yourself this question.  Who can I serve and what should I not be serving?

Your New Year success will be predicated on your Obedience.

 

 Sheila Agnew

 

 

 

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In this season of love and matters of the heart, it’s important we don’t forget to love and care for our bodies.  Self-love and preservation do not mean you have to be perfect, but we can feel a keen sense of accomplishment if we understand the dynamics of incorporating a Wellness Lifestyle.

A Wellness Lifestyle is a mind, body and soul commitment for a life-changing experience.  It’s a declaration that you will make changes that improve not only how you look, but how you feel for your mental and physical well-being.  When you feel good, your confidence level elevates, which helps you to incorporate positive changes that enhance your life.

Turning your mind to the concept “It’s All About You” is not selfish, it’s self-care. This involves making an allegiance to go within and discover an inner you who appreciates him or herself.

If we lack the confidence to see ourselves healthy, take a journey through memory lane and reflect on a time when you loved (or liked) your body, at least some parts. Hair, breasts, waistline, legs, eyes, hips, there was something you appreciated about you. As you reflect, replace those thoughts with your heart, your mind, your body, your strength and you will find a deeper loving of yourself. While some physical features may be buried in the past, don’t allow your body changes to dictate your health and happiness.

Consider these self-awareness questions.

1.    What do I love about my body?

2.    What don’t I love about my body?

3.    Can I make changes about the things I don’t like?

4.    Am I willing to put in the work to make those changes?

5.    Am I willing to change my Attitude?

Making a decision that supports your health and well-being will create a more successful, vibrant and balanced lifestyle.

Your divine light will shine regardless of the physical evolution of our bodies. Don’t be a prisoner to society which contributes to mental stress and takes you further away from loving you.

Make a declaration today, “I Love My Body and I’m Falling in Love with My Body, All Over Again.”

 

By Sheila L. Agnew

Step Up to Fitness

http://www.sheilaagnew.com

 

What God Expects us to Resolve in 2017

Over the years, I have gone through various transitions when it comes to making new year resolutions. Years ago, I made resolutions mentally because it was a year-end tradition I thought I should follow even though having no clear understanding of the concept.  As I grew older, I began to look at my new year resolutions more seriously and wrote down goals I felt most important for each coming year. Eventually realizing I was writing the same goals each year and seemingly not accomplishing significant results, I turned to my spiritual life and focused on what God would want and approve for my life.

After significant research on the origin of making new year resolutions, I was encouraged to become more grounded in preparing my goals. Once knowing the religious origins and practices of starting the new year on the right foot had its beginnings over 4000 years ago, I understood God is the reason to make resolutions for the coming year as opposed to relying solely on my self-centered needs and limited actions.

The opportunity to make a fresh start is very exciting.  Like most people, I eagerly await what God has planned for me in 2017. I believe phenomenal things will happen and I understand there will also be challenges. I am at peace with new year resolutions because I know at the beginning and throughout the year I rely on God to guide me to actions that would serve him, my family and my community. My goals now have a higher purpose than as a very young adult. As I take time to reflect on 2016, the accomplishments and the challenges, I know without a doubt that resolving to have a better relationship with God has exceeded everything I could never have done on my own.

Happy New Year and May Your Relationship with God increase in 2017

RISING ABOVE ADVERSITY TO FIND SUCCESS

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Tracye Smith - From the Boardroom to the Jazz Room!

Check out the April Spotlight 50! Tracye Smith has smooth jazz vocals and smooth moves at the executive level in corporate America.

She Left her Profession to Seek her Promise!

                 When the signs become evident, it's time to follow our hearts. This woman saw the signs
                 and followed the path, which lead to healing and miracles.

                 

A Celebration of Freedom

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c. Sheila L. Agnew McCoy 2015

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I will be a guest on The Empowering Women Series for Changing Lives Online this Thursday, October 1, 2015, 9:00 pm EST (8:00 pm CST). The subject is  "What to Do When We Need a Confidence Booster?" Tune in or call  (949)203-4763
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/changingmindsonline/2015/10/02/empowering-women-series--what-to-do-when-we-need-a-confidence-booster

Taking Your Faith to the Extreme

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We know that having even a little faith can move tall mountains, but what happens when you take your faith to the extreme?

•  You become thirsty and your desire to quench this thirst exceeds the pain you may endure during the transition.  This tremendous thirst perceives the triumph you are about to experience.
• You get hunger pains and no amount of food with feed this hunger until you feed on the word of God.

Taking your faith to the extreme is more than a simple request for God to fulfill our basic needs, it is thirsting and hungering to fulfill the purpose of God’s word. It is the point at which we become bold. It’s the level when we reach our breaking point.

The breaking point is the time which you endure through all barriers to complete your assignment, purpose and calling. Your extreme and unbreakable faith has prevailed. 

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The LeBron James "Success Factor"

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I believe we can all learn a lesson by following the LeBron James “Success Factor.” He is a man with a plan and delivers on the WOW every time. His greatness is demonstrated in his ability to focus on essential goals to achieve results that many of us only dream about.

Not only has LeBron worked extremely hard and long to develop his skills, he has the mental capacity to block out negativity and surpass his harshest critics’ expectations. It takes an incredible mind to remain focused on the one goal, the one thing that you want achieve in your life plan and make it happen in spite of trials and tribulations.

We see athletes get distracted all the time with drugs, relationships, injuries and poor life choices. These are young men and women who have worked hard to become the best of the best, yet miss the mark by taking their eyes off their goals.

In our everyday lives we become distracted from our goals and dreams by taking our eyes off the focus. You don’t have to be an athlete to create a WOW factor in your life, but we would be well-advised to study how great achievers become successful in their endeavors. Focus is imperative in finding and mastering the art of living your purpose. Whatever your goals, stay consistent and diligent to cultivate a life centered on achieving success.

Lastly, I want to qualify, I am not a savvy sports fan and truthfully, I am not even a big LeBron James fan. However, I am a student of studying and learning. When I watch sports, I look beyond the game and focus on the strength, will and determination.  Don’t be mad because your team didn’t win. Don’t give up because things did not work out on your personal endeavors. Get up and start over again. Be committed to be the best of the best.  Divine order contributes to right outcome. 

The Other Side of Valentine's Day

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I received a distress call the other evening from a dear friend. The gentlemen she had been dating for a couple of months and become quite fond of, text messaged her that he wanted to end the relationship. He said that she was ninety percent of what he was looking for, but the ten percent was a deal breaker, which was travel distance between their homes. His maximum allowance was twenty-five miles and their distance was thirty-six miles.

Honestly, I kept my comments short and brief, suggesting she should simply move on. I saw no point in wasting time and energy on someone who does not feel you worthy of ten extra miles past his cut-off distance and texting a breakup.  While I certainly understand her devastation in believing their relationship could be more long term, at some point, we have to move beyond drama, particularly when there is not a lot of time involved. I truly believed she did a lot of the right things to grow the relationship, just with the wrong person.

In actuality, while I was sorry about the situation, the point of this story is not my friend’s breakup. It was something she said during the course of the conversation that struck a chord with me. She expressed that she was now going to spend another Valentine’s Day alone. While I certainly understand her sentiments particularly in a situation where the break up is fresh, I encouraged her not to get hung up on one day. If you are not in a relationship, there is really no need to acknowledge or celebrate a day that has no benefit to your current situation. Also, recognizing more serious situations such as loss of a loved one, divorce and separations due to military service can cause intense feelings of depression, there are other ways that may be helpful to cope with the loneliness this day may bring about. Most important is to look for ways to spend the day that is not focused on what someone does for you, but what you do for yourself. Some suggestions include.

• Make someone else happy. Consider ways you can bring a smile to others including the elderly, children, domestic violence victims, sick and shut-in. Volunteering will also provide you with a sense of gratitude for what you do have in your life.
• Host a family and friends get together. You will be surprised at the people who would rather not go out to restaurants for dinner.  The theme does not have to be Valentine’s Day and ask everyone to bring a dish or beverage.
• Make plans to start or finish a project you have wanted to do for a long time.
• Do something you may not ordinarily do such as book a glamour photo session, get a complete make-over or take a fun art class to stimulate your creativity.
• Don’t look at old pictures, love movies and songs that bring memories to make you feel sad. Watch funny movies or read inspirational books.

It’s important to remember that you have to live beyond one day and should always focus on things and people that add value to your life. Above all, my most endearing suggestion is to spend time with God. With God’s presence we are never alone. Happy You Day!

Turn Your Vision into Reality!

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A Lesson on Focus from President Barack Obama

     “One of the most difficult challenges in pursuing or living your calling is to remain focused.  At times, life itself may be filled with diversions that distract your focus from your goals. You may encounter many obstacles in starting and finishing even a simple household or work project.  Imagine the difficulty in remaining focused with a project as large as your calling!  It is difficult, but certainly not impossible.  In fact, remaining focused to achieve your life purpose is imperative.”

     While watching President Barack Obama delivery the State of the Union address on Tuesday evening, I was reminded that chapter four of my book, Dear ____, Are You Missing Your Calling? was inspired by his unique ability to remain focused in the midst of challenge and adversity. During his two campaigns, I was most intrigued by President Obama’s self-control and capacity to stay centered on the issues, which eventually won him the presidency twice. “We can only imagine the complexity of how God placed the vision in his mind that he could run for President of the United States of America and even succeed against unimaginable odds.”

     While most of us will not likely run for President of the United States, we are all in a race to pursue our callings and purposes. Each of our gifts, skills and talents are unique. In order to reach our God-given potential, we must remain focused.  Focus is not a gift or calling, it is a discipline designed to guide us on a clear path by setting priorities to vigorously pursue and reach your goals.

     We have come to know a few things about President Obama in the eight years he has been President, but we know less of the intimate twenty-two-year journey that he walked while pursing the directive of his vision. It took patience, endurance and confidence to believe he could achieve a position larger than himself and create a legacy.

     It is possible for all of us to reach success with our individual callings. There is a roadmap for each one of our journeys. In order remain focused, we must place priority over the things that are most important and have the most value to our purpose. Essentially, focus requires consistency and diligence in cultivating your vision. Focus is not an easy task. I often remind myself to keep a focused attitude by following some of the suggestions I shared in the book.

• Stay spiritually inspired.
• Reduce or eliminate things and people that distract you.
• Boost your energy with healthy foods and exercise to remain mentally alert.
• Make a commitment to limit distractions (phone, social media..) to 1-2 hours a day.
• Pray and meditate day and night.

     "If you continue to find yourself having difficulty remaining focused, ask God to reveal your path, look for the signs and pursue them passionately. If your are committed to doing your part to remain focused and willing to obey the voice of God, he will fulfill your requests. Divine order contributes to right outcome."

Dear ____, Are You Missing Your Calling? is on Amazon Kindle and Paperback. Check out a sample chapter free at CLICK HERE

      

    

Do You Need a Nudge?

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We all need a nudge to get us moving at some point. Whether a goal, vision, project or a simple everyday task, sometimes we sit back as if we were in a daze and allow time to pass without action. I admit there are days it’s a lot easier to do absolutely nothing rather than execute the tasks at hand. After all, it feels so much better to think about our assignments then actually put in the work involved to get them done.

When I am in that mode of thinking which encourages a lack of action, I can rely on God for a power dose of inspiration by listening to his inner voice. The insight obtained from listening and following those most valued instructions guide me back on track. With your mind focused on God’s guidance, you can make the absolute best decision about moving forward and then act on it. The messages can come through various sources providing inspiration. It may be a preached word, motivational tidbit, or a kind gesture from a total stranger. The realization that acting on the call to finish a task becomes a priority when you understand completion is a benefit to your success.

If this brief post provides you with the nudge you may need to proceed with your tasks, consider it inspired by God through my morning meditation.

 

 

 

Five Points for Moving from Conflict to Resolution

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     I assume at some point all of us have struggled with inner conflicts that restrict us from moving to a positive resolution in our lives. Perhaps that is you right now? You may be struggling with fear, anxiety, difficulty in making decisions due to life situations, past experiences and hidden rationals.

      Most psychologist, medical professionals and life coaches would agree that the operative action word in resolving inner conflict is “Release.” Sounds simply, but inner conflicts are more complex because the forces that control the battles within are intricate.

     While advanced counseling is suggested for those who suffer from more complex cases of inner conflict, most people are able to conquer and resolve their fears with a willingness to navigate through the issues that allow conflicts to exist. This action would require a cleansing of the mind with an intense desire to lift heavy burdens and exchange them for lighter and healthier experiences. The following points of action may help you move to your desired outcome.

1. Our inner conflicts must be unlocked before we can resolve them.  First, you must recognize and identify there is a conflict.
2. Second, acknowledge you are the only one who can go within and unlock the door of resolution.
3. Identify those past issues that prevent you from moving forward. This requires complete honesty. Your focus must be on you and not the people or things you believe caused the problem.
4. You should be willing to align your life with what’s important today. Focus on the NOW!
5.  Establish what you want to accomplish? You have to be extremely clear about your WHY and disciplined to focus on those goals and objectives only.

      Once you are clear about where you want to go, what you want to do and your WHY, you are on your way to creating an environment that will allow you to release those inner fears if you remain focused. The willingness to change is an invitation to experience new and different avenues that allow us to move from fear to freedom.

Are You Headed in the Right Direction?

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Since relocating to Atlanta, I rely heavily on my Global Positioning System (GPS) because I am now driving in unfamiliar territories.  I have become so reliable on my Smartphone; sometimes I know my route, but program addresses in advance just in case I get off course. If there is even a small indication that I am off track to my intended destination, I immediately press start on my Smartphone without having to stop and add the address while in route.

Recently, while trying to find my way out of a large sub-division, I stopped and placed my address in the Smartphone and was out of the maze within sixty seconds. After giving my GPS all the credit, it occurred to me how much we put our faith in these man-made devices to direct our course and considered if I was placing the same faith in my God guidance.

As we chart the course for our life assignments, our life directions, do we trust that God will get us there? There have been a few occasions when the Smartphone has taken me off course, but I know that God will never take me off course if only I put my trust and faith in his word. It’s the times when we don’t give our plans and actions to God before setting off to our destinations that take us off course.

We get so excited about a goal, career or business opportunity, new relationship, educational pursuit; we sometimes miss the one important step in the planning process that provides us the most value in our ultimate outcome.   We may get off track with our life destinations, but God’s guidance will lead us even in the most remote locations of our life journeys.

Years ago, I got around quite well using a paper map to get to my destinations. This reminds me that even though my Smartphone is more convenient, I could get where I am going without it. In contrast, I could never get anywhere in life if God was not there leading and guiding my every step. With God, I am always headed in the right direction

Maya Angelou One of Those Women

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I admire successful women, not necessarily financial success, but women who have pulled themselves from nothing, meager beginnings or adverse situations, and emerged from those adversities to achieve what some only dream about. 

Maya Angelou was one of those women. Every time she spoke I listened with great anticipation of being inspired. Her words were so elegant and full of substance, provoking me to stand firm and stay on course with my goals.

Even though I was not honored to have personally met her, she was part of my path and growth through her writings, good deeds and actions. She proved that you don't always have to come from something to be something. Great people can come from unknown places. She was not without fault, but rather than hide the misfortunes of her youth, she wrote about it in the award winning autobiography, I Know Why Caged Birds Sing. Opposed to living her life as a victim, she rose to become a prolific writer, author, teacher and activist who educated and inspired millions.

Through her widely popular poem, Phenomenal Woman, Maya taught women that true beauty is not on the cover of magazines, but beauty eludes from your body language with attitude and confidence. She encouraged men to look beyond our external features and discover our inner mysteries.

I give honor to Maya Angelou. It's beautiful when you touch someone's life and your legacy is a gift to future generations. That gift should not be taken for granted. If Maya touched many, surely we can touch a few. It only takes one to touch another. Imagine the boundaries we could cross with an arm's reach. 

She died quietly in her sleep. Her voice is gone, but her light will shine forever.

Maya Angelou was one of those women.

Mirror, Mirror Please Tell Me The Truth!

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While walking down the street a few years ago in my hometown of Chicago, I noticed a man coming towards me with a decorative wall mirror in his hands. As we approached each other, he stopped and asked, “Do you want to buy a mirror?” I replied “no” as I continued to walk past the man. To my surprise he shouted to me, “You are vain.” I chuckled to myself and without any preconceived thought, slightly turned my head (while continuing to walk) and spoke back, “You need to take a look into that mirror.” Thankfully, he did not reply and I kept walking until I was a block away realizing I had stepped out of my comfort zone and made a comment to a strange man who had the appearance of being addicted to something, quite possibly drugs.

     I was slightly agitated that a complete stranger had the nerve to call me vain, but more hopeful that he took my advice and looked in the mirror. Mirrors come in all sizes, shapes and forms. Some are plain with no distinct features and others are quite elaborate with decorative finishes. Regardless of the outward garnishes, mirrors have one thing in common. They tell a story. Some stories are youthful where others show signs of aging. A mirror will show a transformation of our bodies over the years and when we decide to make significant changes, the same mirror will reverse the transformation. We can depend on mirrors to cut, style and curl our hair, put on make-up or sashay in front of with a fancy new outfit.  Businesses rely on mirrors to help us make decisions about making purchases and mirrors are installed in cars with front, sides and back views to guide us while driving, which helps to save our lives. Yes, mirrors tell lots of stories, but most of all mirrors tell the Truth.

     The truth is we all need to look in the mirror of our lives at some point on the journey. We can learn a lot by studying and examining our life experiences. Each day we look into the mirror of life, we may discover something new. Imagine when looking in the mirror if a line reveals you are on a journey. A bump says you have overcome the blocks on the road. Grey hair is an indication of wisdom and loss of hair means you have shredded those heavy loads.  Mirrors can be encouraging and at times discouraging. You can make the mirror your friend or your enemy. My point in the analogies is some things we see in the mirror we cannot change and others we can by making a commitment to transformation.

     Now days when I think about the man walking down the street selling a mirror, I consider if he looked in the mirror and made a life change, but I also take my own advice. Each day I look in the mirror of life and encourage myself with the thought, “You can do better.” As a life coach, I encourage you to look in your mirror of truth and move past the things that time won’t change to focus on the things that really matter, the things you can change.

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