What did I learn today? Lessons on the Journey to Unconditional Self Love

Life doesn't play tricks on you, your mind does Iyanla I'm back in Port of Spain and I'm moving house so today was as we say in Trinidad, pace! In between that I had 2 gigs to speak at! The first one was my toughest I think ever! 15 to 17 year old teenagers who have some real life stories that sadly still exist! In the middle of the talk a fight broke out and they all got up to rush to cheer on the fighters! A serious fight, police and all! After the fight they all sat like nothing happened and tested me! I tapped into everything that I know and God to spend the next hour with them in a way that could make them feel seen ,heard and loved! I am grateful for this opportunity and plan to go back (truth be told only because they asked me too!!) I have a responsibility and work to do! I'm ready!! After the event, I missed my second gig!

"Be daring, be different, be anything that will assert integrity of purpose and imaginative vision against the play-it-safers..." — Cecil Beaton, photographer Highlight of my day, the roving rasta man that makes organic smoothies! He came and out and presented a pitch for his business and then returned with a blender fruits and vegetables and handed me one wicked smoothie! Oh man! the thing was heavenly! Don't know what he put in it but beet and carrots were mentioned! Loved his whole vibe! And what made it even better is the story behind it! A second chance in our so called civil society! Like who among us have never made mistakes? Like who among us wouldn't want a second chance when we have atoned and decided to do a positive thing? The judgement and finger pointing, so ego filled and  a waste of time! So yea, that was my highlight!! The market was interesting as well but the smoothie and story sealed it for me! What is it that they say? Who among us can c...

Perhaps today I can find one thing that seems dark and remember to say, "Where I see darkness, I choose to see the light." Perhaps I can remember to look for love instead of condemnation and judgment. Perhaps I can look on something that seems like a curse and learn to count it as a blessing. Let me begin in small increments, and in lessons close to home. ACIM We are off to the craft market to conduct an all all day exercise today. We are supposed to chat with the entrepreneurs there and find out what works well and what is not working too well! Then turn it into a report!Looking forward to it, meeting new friends and being outside! After that, its time for some sightseeing! Yesterday was quite inspirational, worked with some juvenile offenders and school"dropouts" who are now running their own business! What I will always remember is the light in their eyes when they spoke about their business. The passion, the love! One young lady spoke about how "societ...

Look at what you are afraid of. Only the anticipation will frighten you ACIM I woke up really early this morning and ran to the beach! Now, I  was born in the Caribbean, however white sands and blue waters and me alone on it was never part of my history, the island that I grew up on was more on the commercial side as we have oil and gas! So, to run and hit this beach was a new experience! Totally awesome! I was overflowing with gratitude and joy. After that, we drove for about an hour to the GARD center where young aspiring entrepreneurs come for training, mentor-ship, advice or just to hang out and talk! It's quite impressive! Saves a whole lot of lives and improves a whole lot of communities Roberta the founder has been doing it for 25 years and I'm really proud of her achievements, something for us to aspire to, not perfect but perfection is not a requirement for this, willingness is! Peace! Akosua

Today I will let someone give to me. Whether it’s a compliment, an offer to help, or even a gift, I will stand there and take it joyfully. I know that I’m deserving of good things, so I will simply say, “Thank you.” Louise Hay Finally got online! I am in Mercers Creek in Antigua, the Internet access here is patchy so giving thanks for getting online now! I'm at the GARD Center, a wonderful place that focuses on mentoring and developing youth entrepreneurs! Today I have been meeting them, chatting, seeing what they do, learning and sharing! So this starts my week, back here tomorrow with the women and youth entrepreneurs! Giving thanks for the opportunity! Oh I digress a bit, I woke up to run and the pipes in my room burst and there was literally a waterfall in my room, I was soaked! I ran out the room, the owner of the place was there she ran in screamed and ran out! I was rushing around trying to save all clothes and laptop for the waterfall! After the lady calmed down s...

You’re always on your way somewhere. The key is: find a way to be happy wherever you now are on your way to where you really want to be. (We’re speaking of the state of being you want.) It does not matter where you are; where you are is shifting constantly—but you must turn your attention to where you want to go. And that’s the difference between making the best of something and making the worst of something. Excerpted from the workshop in Detroit, MI on Saturday, September 27th, 2003 What a pleasant surprise! The Grenada gig did a really nice video, take a look! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FSfXom8ez8Y&feature=em-share_video_user Getting ready for my flight to Antigua, will touch base when I am on the other side! Peace!!

“Hello, sun in my face. Hello you who made the morning and spread it over the fields…Watch, now, how I start the day in happiness, in kindness.” ~ Mary Oliver I wake up in the morning and say to myself, after giving thanks of course, life is delighted to bring me the unexpected, and I am delighted to receive it! Every day, I say ok let me plan the day and what happens? The unexpected! And I am now loving it! Every day its an adventure, the good, the not so good, the twists and turns! This week brought me a load of unexpected events, some good, some not so good but saying to myself there is value in this, I am able to chill out from the meltdown a lot faster! Tonight I am the feature speaker at an event at the Graduate School of Business and that was one of my unexpected events this week, I am really looking forward to it, it is called An evening with HR Professionals (Human Resources), wish me luck! Expect the unexpected and handle it! Peace!

You have to go through the labor pains to give birth to the life you want... Iyanla Vanzant It's part of growth and change! and things may be uncomfortable! Why fight it? Here's a bit of advice, don't fight it, you will get beat, it will bear you up! Get your mind in gear that changes, growth and differences will involve some sort of discomfort! That's just the way it is! Peace!!!

The interview was a lot of fun yesterday! Check it out, let me know what you think http://www.blogtalkradio.com/onlinewithandrea/2014/10/21/what-did-i-learn-today?fb_action_ids=10152499983173178&fb_action_types=og.comments Comments so far include " Very uplifting and empowering interview. Just as honesty and simplicity are woven throughout the book, those characteristics also rang through in this interview. Go on ADE! Keep inspiring!"

. Learn to center yourself in your true being - Deepak Chopra (he's a boss!!) Andrea, the radio host, called me this week to chat! She wanted to chat with me before we went on air today! What a wonderful conversation! We chatted like ole buddies! I told her if this is what your show will be like I am stoked!! excited as ever! She said " You promote authenticity, so that's how I came to you" What an absolutely wonderful thing to say! Show up as yourself, every single time! The fakeness nope, no no no, it is too much work let me tell you I have been down that road! People see through you anyways! there is nothing that you can hide, nothing! And when you encounter people who know! they just know! Now, I can smell in-authenticity a mile away, I just smile and pray for them to realise how awesome it is to just be you! Just be you boo! Peace! http://www.blogtalkradio.com/onlinewithandrea/2014/10/21/what-did-i-learn-today

Your story can't begin until you begin it...it's in your hands and it has been for quite some time.... Elizabeth Gilbert, author I went to a Buddhist meeting yesterday, first time I have ever been! I didn't even know that there was a following in Port of Spain, by now I know things always happen when they are supposed to! A few years ago I went to India and a lady told me about the principles and how it helped her in her life's journey and at that time I was really interested because I thought the principles were really universal and incorporated people living a better conscious life, here I am now minding my own business having lunch alone one day last month who should walk into the place but the lady I met in India! We sat chatting and catching up and she invited me to the meeting this Sunday! I am so happy that I went, to share in their expression of love and making the world a better place, it really reminded me that there is really only one of us here and if ...

We choose to grow by letting go of what’s no longer working. Sometimes this requires some mourning. Go there with your full heart and soul. Danielle La Porte My grandma was a grandma at my age, she was a young hip lady who told her grandchildren at least the three she had at the time to call her "mummy" in public! She has always been the one running the show. She's considerably older now well into her 80's and we have always wondered how she was so strong, she plants her own food, still drives and is involved in community groups. She's ill now and its been tough for me to accept, I have been pulling out all the lessons learnt this week, so much so I sometimes cannot even go and visit her or talk on the phone! I sat down with her this week and she asked me "How you really doing Yak?" I just looked at her, you are ill and you asking me! She said, have some principles in your life and stand on them and when you do everyone will benefit whether they ag...

Reality is never frightening. It is impossible that it could upset me. Reality brings only perfect peace. When I am upset, it is always because I have replaced reality with illusions I made up. ACIM The key to living the truth of who you are (read: no fear, except the fear that keeps you out the way of moving trucks etc) is to unlearn what you have been taught in fear.   Hold on, it's going to get rough for a bit... And yes, it can take time (usually always) to unlearn. And yes, it's may not be easy (usually not) to unlearn. And yes, you will want to go back to what you know. And yes, some people will have something to say about it - in protest or joining. And yes, you will have a battle in your mind for a while as you reshuffle. And yes, you will jump back and forth between fear (insane) and love (sane) for a time, because fear doesn't leave the building easily when asked. And yes, you will need to discipline yourself. And yes, you will need do...

Why you? Because there’s no one better. Why now? Because tomorrow isn’t soon enough. — Donna Brazile I have learnt that I grow when I take risks! When I do things that push me out of my comfort zone I consider it taking risks! I do something small daily to get me into the habit of taking risks and pushing myself! It may be as simple as a phone call to someone who may tell me NO! I do something daily to push me out of my comfort zone which is where the magic lives! I like magical living! What do you do to push yourself? Get into the habit of doing something at least once a week, you will see how it becomes easier and easier to take steps to living the life that you really want How many times have you said I want to do this but....  to make that leap start with the small things and drop me a line letting me know how it goes Push yourself! Peace!

Do you have a vision for your life? Can you without a doubt say how you want your life to be, how you want to feel, what qualities are important to you? If you cannot, take some time to think about it and write it down, again- take some time to think about it and WRITE IT DOWN! See yourself as the ideal you and move towards that every day! I think this was one of the best lessons and piece of advice I received over the past 3 years What do you want for yourself? and I am not talking about a car, a house, a new flat screen TV! Sure you want those things and to live a comfortable life but I mean How do you want to feel? How do you want to show up? How do you want to serve? Do you want to be courageous, authentic, honorable, powerful? I remembered that in a meeting yesterday and it became so easy when they asked me to do something and I said, I'm sorry this does in no way fit into the vision that I have for myself! There was no hesitation on my part to say it and it felt pret...

The ego tries to convince you that what you have seen is something you lack instead of something you already have . "In You is everything I hope to find already given me" (1:6). You are what you have been looking for . ACIM Just when I think I have to search for something, have a situation under control or feel I am missing something so I set out a plan to strive for it an event comes along to put me back on track! I love The Course in Miracles, it is one of my favourite pieces of work, it says I am already what I have been looking for! So to me that says,. hey you, stop searching for the proverbial it! You're it! Tap into it! Tap into you! And I just exhale! The treasure never does the hunting. Do you know you are the treasure? Yes you are! And don't you forget it! There is nothing lacking in you! It really is just that simple! Believe that!  Peace!!

"Turning pro changes how people perceive us. Those who are still fleeing from their own fears will not try to sabotage us. They will tell us we’ve changed and try to undermine our efforts at further change. They will attempt to make us feel guilty for these changes. They will try to entice us to get stoned with them or fuck off with them or waste time with them, as we’ve done in the past, and when we refuse, they will turn against us and talk us down behind our backs."   - Steven Pressfield Everything is transient! One of my favourite teachers tell me, do not get bogged down by time and what you should be doing by when, nothing in life is linear! That's your own perceptions! She says it all the time! So things are changing every day and we get fearful because they are, we get comfortable with one thing and the fear of the unknown pushes us to believe that if it changes it will be doomsday or we may not be able to handle it! The sun sets and the moon comes up...

I'm sharing  a story from one of my favourite teachers Danielle La Porte- enjoy! We do it for “love,” we do it for spirituality, we do it to polish our halos. We do it because some relationship books tell us to. We do it to look good. We become more …   accepting . You KNOW I’m all for Love. The unbridled kind. The pure, bright Love that melts it all to rapturous clarity. That. And… I want to Love with my eyes open — eyes on my self worth, eyes on my dignity, eyes on what I deserve. So I’m way less “accepting” of… way less. If I seem less tolerant, it’s because I am. It may look “less loving” on the outside, but my love of life and all the people in my life runs deeper than ever — and I express my love more freely than I did when I used to put up with more crap than I do. What are you “accepting” right now because it’s the ethical thing to do, or the harmonious way to go?   Ethics, harmony, real love — so divine. So much goodness can go in the “healthy ...

“In every community, there is work to be done. In every nation, there are wounds to heal. In every heart, there is the power to do it.” ( Marianne Williamson author) This week's NiNa Young Entrepreneur's Programme was for me, totally inspiring, the entrepreneur who came to talk to the ladies had a message of "You can do anything" based on her life story from living in a shed with nothing (well what we call nothing) to an entrepreneur! Her beliefs were one of making a difference, being happy to have life and letting nothing pass her by. She said she would "go after it" whatever it is she wants! Now she has her own business and gives back to other women with joy and open arms! I am always inspired by those who find a way! She gave of her time and energy to spend with the girls with a huge smile on her face, and a willing spirit!  

This is one of my favourite pieces to read by Danielle LaPorte and I read it ever so often like today when I need a reminder! Life is looking for you. Cosmic brigades are scanning the horizon to see who is lighting up. They are looking for hungry hearts, unbridled passion, audacity, courage, RADIANCE — glimmers of sincerity and daring. This is how it works: You need to show up to get found. You send out homing signals to the cosmos by being your true self.  Blurt stuff out, send the letter, wear that shirt, dance!, make the song, meditate with your eyes open, do what it takes to feel the way you most want to feel . Make a joyful noise. Jump up and down. Love out loud and say, “Life! I’m here, right over here!” Then life can see you in the fog of repression, and heaps of unnecessary purchases, and escapism. And scanning, searching, trusting, an angel will see you trying to live your truth and that angel is going to alert the universe: “There! Over there! She’s claimed ...

Until today, you may have been paralysed by when, if, only,or because. Just for today, remember that now is the time! Make something happen in your life and for your life Iyanla   Attachment is a way of saying “ I don’t have faith in anything else! I can handle this!” You want to control your experiences and responses. You see, rather than fight with you for control, life will send you into the pit of stagnation. This can be extremely painful. Attachment reflects a lack of faith in your ability to learn, Learning takes place in three ways. You learn by choice. You learn by force. You learn by being forced to make a choice. When you are attached to what you know, what you can control, chances are you will be forced to make a choice. You can stay attached and be stagnated in pain and confusion or you can let go in faith and your next experience will be exactly what you need, but did not know you needed. Catch this? Open your heart to the possibility that there is someth...

In our deepest hour of need the creator asks for no credentials .  Iyanla (the boss!) My best lesson for the day, stop judging people, you have no authority to do so! When the sun shines, does it shine on the "good" ones? Or does it shine for all? Can the mango tree stop a "bad" person from picking and eating the fruit? We spend so much time judging rather than living our own life! I digested that today and just said hmmmmmm

Responsibility. What does responsibility mean? Responsibility means not blaming anyone or anything for your situation, including yourself. Having accepted this circumstance, this event, this problem, responsibility then means the ability to have a creative response to the situation as it is now. All problems contain the seeds of opportunity, and this awareness allows you to take the moment and transform it to a better situation or thing. Deepak Chopra I have been reading the Spiritual Laws by Deepak Chopra this week! I read it before but you know sometimes you re read a book and it resonates with you again and you see things that you somehow missed! As I was reading, the focus was on responsibility and his definition jumped out at me!He talks about acceptance, finding creative responses and not blaming! Now, I thought this was absolutely sobering given the lessons that I picked up on the journey thus far because all the teachers taught me about making another choice, about takin...

most of our energy goes into upholding our importance. ... If we were capable of losing some of that importance, two extraordinary things would happen to us: One, we would free our energy from trying to maintain the illusory idea of our grandeur; and two, we would provide ourselves with enough energy to catch a glimpse or the actual grandeur of the universe.. The art of dreaming A really great teacher told me if I remember anything that she told me remember this "there is only one of us here" so when you are "putting someone in their place" remember its one of you so do it in a respectful way, out yourself in the other person's shoes! Yesterday I remembered that. I was in the supermarket car park minding my own business with my mother and aunt and a lady thought I had hit her car, truth be told the car door opened and touched her car She ran up to us screaming at the top of her lungs, the woman was even trembling! She couldn't believe we hit her car, ...

I've been having a really scattered week, overthinking as my friend tells me! I wanted to come to Trinidad to work, to promote the book, to work with rural communities, to do meaningful service to Trinidad and the world, to write to speak, to serve. And I didn't have a clue where to start but as the Universe is such a miracle machine I have been blessed to meet some amazing awesome people who have been very supportive and now I've been slipping into frustration mode, why is it moving so slow, how will I support myself financially when things slowdown , how can I increase my income and service. It's been, yeah, that type of week and then I let go. I said, "self, let go, just chill and sit still for a moment and regroup" So as the self was chillin, self heard a whisper to go and read and I kid you not, I opened my laptop and here it was! I wanted to share this for anyone who can identify with this feeling, it really helped me Thank you Mastin Peace! Going...

If everything within you advises that you leave, and the only reasons that you can think of to stay are superficial and material in a manner that doesn't support the true quality of your lifestyle, then I say go. Move on. No matter what the circumstance may be, if the path chosen is a spiritual one, every milestone reached shall embellish the soul. I came to the realization that that was truly my goal. The Floacist  A friend of mine asked me the following questions about a decision I have to make 1. Which will make you happier? 2. What will make you happier than today I told my friend I can be happy just watching football! His response was Ahhh Simplicity! Simplicity is to me the most important quality I live by! And this was further reinforced by something I read from Steve Jobs " focus and simplicity. Simple can be harder than complex: You have to work hard to get your thinking clean to make it simple. But it's worth it in the end because once you get there...

My friend Maxine is launching her second book via a Webinar on Friday! Congratulations to her! Please join her in this amazing event! Highly recommended for leaders, managers and thinkers! (Details are below) Nice one Max! "The Safe Space is the place to explore organizational issues, challenge the status quo, ask questions and create solutions. This is the place for effective planning, fine-turning details and decision-making. It is a place to prepare for the big meeting, presentation, job interview or whatever your next big moment is.” (Excerpt from “Lead Your Team to Win,” the excellent new book from @AttongMaxine.) Are you tired of hearing – or saying – “because we’ve always done it that way” whenever a new idea is proposed? Does rocking the boat make you quake in your boots, or do you welcome new ideas like a drowning man welcomes a life preserver? In a Safe Space, there is no status quo, only the present – evolving, changing and growing into whatever the team desires. Re...