Prepared To Be Myself

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Prepared to be myself and only myself. I have done the ground work in the previous years and now I am building upwards. Who I thought I was, I was not ( I discovered this when I turned 26 and had my daughter. But, that was all I did. A shocking truth, but it would take another 10  plus years to ACT upon that revelation). And that is the case for most of us living in this world. We really believe we are who we are. But, I am here to tell you unless you have taken a real journey within yourself you may be surprised to find out you are not who you think you are. You’re more than likely a product of what you have been taught and what life has shaped you to be. I am not saying all of that is bad, but I am not saying all of it is good either. How about it can be neither bad or good? It just “is”. You can take the journey by force or by choice. And even by force you still have a choice not to examine yourself and the situation. There is much more to you than you know. Much more authentic power. Much more than a body. Much more than a religion or not.

Question your actions, examine your choices in life, and ask what was my part in this situation? If you did that and answered yourself honestly, you may not like who you are  or you may discover something wonderful. It takes work to discover who you really are and for me it took Divine guidance from the one I call God or Creator. I am talking about REAL HARD WORK. UGLY, DIRTY WORK. GROUND BREAKING AND HEART BREAKING WORK. BEAUTIFUL and AWE INSPIRING WORK. HEALING AND REVEALING, REFLECTIVE WORK. STILL WORKING. It takes faith, courage, and strength. It’s why some don’t like me and why others don’t know what to think about me. HA! Prepared to be called not a real Christian by my peers and prepared to be welcomed into a circle by those who “get me.” Michelle Obama said in her book, Becoming, “You have to learn to live with the doubters. The great ones always do.”  (Something like that).

But let’s talk about this pretense. The ability to walk into a room without pretense means you are not pretending to me something or someone you are not. You are the same in the room as you were in your car, on the job, at home. You are not trying to impress anyone by being something or someone that you are not. The best impressions are made by being yourself. If not, you will have to be that other person each time you are around that group and it is exhausting. I’ll never forget the day in recent years I thought I knew someone and was developing a good friendship with them and was shocked to see another side of them once we were in close quarters with another group. I expected the bitchy behavior from the others, but not that one. I was more disappointed and honestly hurt. I got over it. If I don’t know who you are, I just don’t deal with you because I don’t have time to figure it out. So, be who you really are. If you are not a “mean girl” don’t become one in front of other women who are. If you are not a gossiper, then don’t become one in front of others. If you are any of those things, seek help soon. (hahaha).

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From the movie “Analyze That” 

I am prepared. Even with fear, anxiety, or what ever emotion moves through me, I am prepared to be me. Unapologetically, nice. Kind. Emotional. Sensitive. Chill. Weird. Artsy. Nerdy. Sexy. Spiritual. Open. Closed. Reserved. Wild. Quiet. And more. Dispensing those sides of me however and whenever I feel comfortable or necessary. I think that harmony with one’s own spirit is a merger that is sometimes out of focus. I hope to become completely in harmony with my spirit. I use to think that meant being a certain way all the time. It doesn’t. It fluctuates sometimes as you learn and are presented with situations to grow. And that, too, is okay. You can always come back to the core of who you REALLY are. You can always refocus or re-center and ground yourself.

~Nikki

Rain on Your Dreams

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This is a quote I don’t often hear when Dr. King is quoted. But when I think about this and what it really means is, no one should get to determine what you can and cannot be in this life. No one should be able to control your destiny. They shouldn’t have the right to limit you. This can easily go over many people’s head who are rarely affected by racial or gender biases. It wasn’t that long ago that if you dreamed of being a doctor or a sergeant in the military it was impossible because it was by enlarge controlled by white men in power specifically in the United States. And still in different countries and cultures a woman’s destiny, a certain group of people’s dreams are controlled by someone else who really should not have that much power over another HUMAN BEING.

This photo was perfect for what I was thinking. “The “audacity of hope” is the umbrella that keeps us dry from those who want to rain on our dreams of equality and unity.” -Nicole Jackson

~Nikki

Sunday Morning Coffee Musing: Physical Limitations, Anxiety, & Will They Understand?

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“Nicole, you need to get out. You need to get with people that like to do the things you like to do. You need to go places you like to go and maybe you will meet people that like to do the things you do.” -Therapist

“Sounds like a plan. I am on it.”- Me

And as I began to search for a group, so began the anxiety. “Nicole, you never come around. Nicole, you hardly ever show up. Nicole, why can’t you go here, there, and everywhere. Nicole, I am tired, too. Nicole, I have done 20 things this week and you have only done 5 and you are exhausted? Why don’t you try ginseng, turmeric, more exercise, go gluten free, try the Keto diet, the Mediterranean diet.” Oh-My-Gosh would you please leave me alone is what I think, but I just nod my head. After all, you are just trying to help I suppose.

I joined a few groups and I started a group in spite of these concerns. I don’t know how it’s going to pan out. I don’t know if they will be like most people and “just don’t get it” or if finally, someone will get it. Either way, I will still be who I am with what I have and on a continuous path to growth. Hopefully, I can make some new friends along the way that enjoy the things I enjoy, too.

~Nikki

 

 

Do You Have A 2019 Reading List?

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I am a reader. I like to read a wide variety of books and I have to be drawn to them. This year I will be finishing up some books from last year and years ago. I have two new books, Becoming by Michelle Obama and The Wisdom of Sundays from the Soul Sundays on the OWN channel. That one will sit on my nightstand all year as I will read it when moved to do so. It has excerpts from those that appeared on Soul Sunday and it’s a good to read it in the morning to start your day or at night to end your day. The book Inner Engineering is so deep and heavy you have to read a chapter and rest. Mind boggling and blowing. Sometimes you have to read the chapter over again to understand it. It’s from last year.

So, what are you reading or what’s on your list? What kind of books/genre do you like? I’ve never really had a line up of books like this before. It sort of just came to me this way. I also have two novels to read.

~Nikki

Today’s Affirmations

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Today’s affirmation:
Wealth and riches shall be in my house.
Everything I lay my hand to succeeds and prospers
I prosper, my health prospers, my relationship prospers
The more I give the more is given to me
The more I love the more I am loved
My loyalty is returned 100 fold

 

Sunday Morning Coffee Musings: Letting go of Limiting Beliefs

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Hello again blog readers! I began my day with two guided meditations from the app Insight Timer. I woke up at 4:03 and again at 5:03. I was up for a while and debating on if I should try to go back to sleep. I think the first meditation session set the tone for my second one. It was about setting your intentions for the day. She had us to repeat: “My life is good today” and she even addressed if we had resistance to this very thought.

My second session was really powerful about limited beliefs. It addressed all kinds, but what came to mind for me was a personal religious belief. I can’t say if I was formally taught this belief, but I think it was implied. This belief has held me back at times. I can’t quite decide if it’s wrong or not even a matter. In life, and in religion, sometimes we put a weight on things we shouldn’t. Sometimes, well many times, I find my religion majors in minors. But, society does this, too. We focus on the speck in others eye, instead of the log in ours. I really wanted to be free of this limiting belief. So, I sought out something from the Universe…also known as the Deep.

I will continue to eradicate this limiting belief about myself. It blocks my root, heart, and crown chakra. I know it’s crazy to hear a Christian talking about chakras. But, we are energy. Deep calls unto the deep and if you can’t understand then the deep is not calling you right now. You feel things (energy or emotions) in different parts of your body. Some say I had a “gut” feeling or I felt it in my “heart.” Some may feel it in there “head” or “forehead” and to me these things are just like chakras.

Well, after the meditation I gained a better perspective of my limiting belief and I am able to carry out my mission for the day without this negative belief about myself handed to me by religion.

~Nikki

Sunday Morning Coffee Musing: Talking to Your Higher Self

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Yesterday, I waited to pick my daughter up from taking her SATs (yes my one and only is a Senior!). Well, I got there and realized after looking at the email that she would be coming out an hour, maybe an hour and a half later than she told me. It was a beautiful fall day yesterday and as I sat on the campus of an amazing private school, I opened up my meditation app (after playing word games and surfing the web lol). I recently started back meditating last week. I found an app I first started with and my has it really developed! I chose a guided meditation which was not even an option years ago.

I chose the guided meditation of 11 minutes, “Connecting To Your Higher Self.” The invitation to connect with my Higher Self is exactly what I needed. I think maybe I have neglected my Higher Self  or just put it on the back burner. Maybe, even muting her. You know, the Higher Self means many things to many people. It could mean a higher power, the Holy Spirit, or it could mean your spirit. For me, it means my spirit. You know, I believe our spirits do know some things! I believe when we appeal to our higher selves, it’s the self that says “No, don’t do that.” or “Yes, do that!” It’s the pull within us and the shrinkage within us and I believe it’s who God or Holy Spirit and spirits communicate with. I mean, our body’s are vehicles that house our own spirits.

Well, in this guided mediation before the yogi ever got to listening to what Higher Self is saying via this session, mines was shouting with a whisper, “This way! This way!” It was like a soft lit path and then as things were in a distance you could envision a ball of soft light. “I will guide you. I will show you which way to go.” I can tell you that I knew exactly what Higher Self was talking about. I have been feeling a bit lost and uncertain about the things I love to do. The artsy, writer, crochet-er, learning to sew disabled due to Rheumatoid Disease and other issues and “at my age” has been uncertain of not what to do with what I have but HOW to do and WHERE to go and WHEN. Which way? What process? Whenever I am doing what I love or enjoy, my spirit, Higher Self is in harmony. Whenever I am doing things or when I was working at my jobs, my Higher Self, my spirit was in turmoil. If I were headed towards a bad relationship, or in one, even friendship, my spirit was in knots or heavy. It needed the Holy Spirit, a good friend, a leader, a mentor, a book, a series of sermons, dreams and visions to reach it. I also think this spirit vibrates on higher frequencies when you are in tune with the Universe or God’s Plans or Your Purpose than when you are out of synch or off path.

I was delighted to recognize my Higher Self, the Intuitive One, on yesterday.

~Nikki (43, The It Is Well Within Me Tour)

Insight Timer is the App I use and the Guided Meditation was “Connecting To Your Higher Self.”

Sunday Morning Coffee Musings: Getting to Faith by Hearing

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Our ears take in so much information from the outside world including the people we associate with. What about our internal dialogue that waters and feeds not only what we receive from the outside and how we interpret those things and the things that happen (or are happening) to us? At some point in life we began to filter out these things and if you are taking on a deeper dive into discovering, nurturing, growing the real you, you are pulling up the weeds of those things you find that stunt your growth. You are trying to use some of those things as fertilizers and others to strengthen and beautify your garden.

Now, you may have heard of the scripture that says faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God. You may have heard it interpreted many ways and you are about to “read” it interpreted in another way. This is the scripture that came to mind for me as I listened to Dr. Wayne Dyer this week via YouTube. A word, a message, at the right time in your life can build your faith, increase your strength, give you the extra life in your life to go on. To do. To be. It wasn’t a traditional message from a religious leader and I have no problem with that because one, my father is my religious leader, and two, where would I be without all of the religious leaders that have helped me to grow and heal? Some may even consider me a religious leader. I don’t know who, but I don’t see myself as a religious anything. This WORD from whom I call God, comes via many avenues for me. Choosing the right things to hear from Dr. Wayne Dyer or choosing the right things to read from my Bible or my bookshelf is pertinent to my personal growth. As well as choosing if what I hear makes it to my heart or gets recycled back into the atmosphere as useable energy (I will tell you how I am learning to do that later).

If you are feeling weak in your faith, uncertain in your destiny, I suggest you secure and strengthen your faith by choosing to hear the right things, say the right things to your self, and read the right things. Maybe, even do the right things. Tune out, discard, anything that is in contrary to what you KNOW doesn’t confirm or inform that light on the inside of you.

~Nikki

Sunday Morning Coffee Musing: I Rise with Power

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I am grateful for another morning. I rise with power (after coffee lol but really I rise with power before coffee). Power to do right. Power to love right. Power to get wealth. Power to be my authentic self in a world that wants me to “do me” but not unless I do me like them? Power to be soft and bold. Good Morning. Don’t know where all of that came from but I flowed with it.

Why I Don’t Like Arguing & Why I’m Explaining

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“I love to argue. I like getting a rise out of people.”

“I like to argue because it makes me feel like he or she loves me.”

“I like to argue because it’s passionate and it means they must really love me.”

“I like to argue and I get upset if my lover does not argue back.”

“I start arguments just to break up and make up.”

I’ve heard these things and more. I am always baffled by a person that likes to argue and even more baffled when they describe this in a relationship as “passion and love.” I have heard it so much over the years I ask myself from time to time, “Am I crazy? Is not arguing all the time, over any and everything not dysfunctional? Is there not something wrong with equivalating negative energy with passion and love?” I always thought people that like to argue are just miserable people.

In another scope of this crazy idea (well, crazy to me) is that constant arguing is a normal thing. I guess if you grew up in a house where arguing or creating division among family members was normal, either you do this or you do the complete opposite. Perhaps, it was or is a learned behavior in relationships.

I don’t like to argue. Some associate that with weakness. They associate a loud mouth or constant bickering as strength and power. Maybe, they think I don’t love them or lack passion. I won’t love you very long if you enjoy arguing I can tell you that. I won’t want to be around you much either if you argue every time we are together. Here is why:

  • I grew up in a house where there was constant complaining/nagging
  • I grew up where arguments in my younger years were traumatic for me (maybe not so much for my other siblings). IT CREATES MAJOR ANXIETY FOR ME to be in a room or near people arguing and yelling.
  • It zaps my energy to argue. Especially, over small things.
  • My temper is better than it use to be, but when you start insulting my intelligence or calling me out of my name I have a tendency to 10 up you and then I’ll be accused of going overboard.
  • Arguing in general brings about a bad energy, it takes me forever to calm down.
  • Arguing every day would wear me out. I wouldn’t be passionate about seeing you every day and I would not be in love with you long if all I did was see negative vibes coming when I saw you. You’d look better leaving than you do coming.
  • It would get old quick in relationships and friendships if every time I had an opinion, made a statement, you would want to question it, debate it, create an unnecessary heated, inflammatory argument so that you could prove our friendship is solid or our relationship can stand the great debate of the left or right TWIX.  BULL…

These are just a few reasons as to why I don’t like to argue. Do couples, family, friends, argue? Yes. Does it need to be every time we get together, or every other day?  Over any and every thing? I don’t think so. You can call it weak or sensitive. I’m going to call it sanity.  I’m for a discussion or a healthy debate, I am not for contention and contempt.

~Nikki, It is Well Within Me-The 43 Journey