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

I'm off to the beach today, I have been attempting to go there for the past two days, there was so much rain and thunder yesterday that I turned back, today the sun is out in full force and I am going! Now the reason I mentioned this is that last week I was talking to a friend of mine and she said " You spend too much time alone in your head and sometimes out of your head, why not try something else" I did not answer I just smiled, I wasn't ready to answer yet So I met this lady from Canada who is working with me on the NiNa Programme for the past three weeks now until she leaves next month. This morning she sends me a message to come with her to yoga then to the beach. My automatic response was "Na, there's football on the telly, there's no way I am leaving my house" Then I thought wait, I  am going to the beach, how did she know that I didn't tell her! After five minutes I remembered what my friend said about trying something new! So in ...

People just act on the outside they way they feel on the inside  T.Mcmillan 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 acceptance” category. But…What on your “tolerance list” is   lifting your life up , vs. what’s   weighing it down ? What occasions of acceptance are   expanding your being with love , v...

Hang out with people you can easily adore, or at least respect. Danielle La Porte One of my best teachers said "Life will accommodate you in any way you choose, do you know what that means?" I rushed to write it down because I thought it sounded so profound. My grandma came to visit me and she sat talking and talking and talking ok honestly at first I was like "Lady you talk a whole lot you know?"  totally ignored me and kept talking and I decided to listen! "Life will accommodate you because you get to choose so much of what goes on in your life whether you chose it by default or not. Almost everything in your world write now, is life accommodating you and your choices, you feel me?" "Yea mummy I do!" Chew on that for a moment! Then we started to talk politics and laugh! Peace!

Have an idea, or two or three, about how to get more. Act on that idea over and over again Danielle La Porte One of my daily requests to the Universe or prayer is for discipline, I have a note stuck on my wall that says, practice Discipline today! I ask for discipline because in my mind it is a bridge to take me from where I am to where I want to go, it sends a rocket up my bum to act! and more than that to act consistently. Lately I have been noticing that I have been resisting against it, and I realized it is because I started associating it with something bad, something that I can be punished for. That then prompted me to look up some definitions of the principle of discipline and I found one that I am so loving and I dig it so much!! I thought I would share it with you! "Discipline eliminates procrastination. Discipline - repeated actions that demonstrate internal and external cooperation in alignment with a specific intention. Discipline - not to be confused wit...

You have to believe that the power is where you are Iyanla Vanzant Its been a mad rush to get my book in by Monday, yesterday, didn't make it! Somehow, everything that I did wasn't enough! Hey so life go, I start again today and do my best! I've been talking to the NiNa Participants about doing their best in every moment and letting it go and here I am, with an opportunity to practice what I shared and I get to stressing! naughty me! So here I go again, I start NOW doing my best in the moment! And moment by moment it unfolds as it ought to! Have a super day! Peace!!!

K eep slaying what's  not  working. ("Thank you and goodbye, I'm focused on incredible.") Danielle LaPorte What Did I Learn Today? When you know you are thinking, saying or doing things that are unhealthy or unproductive, you must so more than know. There must be genuine, loving support for the 'self' to make a change. Change does not mean replacing one bad habit for another. It does not mean beating up on yourself or feeling guilty or ashamed. Change means voluntarily removing yourself from the people and environment that support you in remaining unhealthy. Change means identifying what you are doing, recognizing when you are doing it and gently guiding yourself to do something else. Change means not  making excuses for yourself, but doing exactly what you say you will do. When you support yourself in making needed changes, you are supporting your own growth. Growth is the commitment to being, doing and having the best Peace!

"You can't outwit fate by trying to stand on the sidelines and place little side bets about the outcome of life. Either you wade in and risk everything to play the game, or you don't play at all. And if you don't play, you can't win." --Judith McNaught I was asked to do a talk at a school on Thursday, I was really looking forward to it! Woke up on Thursday and I was feeling pretty ill! I can't remember the last time I was ill! I thought ok maybe it was something I ate! I will still drive down and do my thing! By the time I got there I swore I had fever, sore throat the works! I did the talk and it was so much fun! It actually made me feel better for that time but as I was done and sat down I started feeling ruff again so I made my apologies and left drove straight home and went to my bed, later that night a friend of mine, Erica, an angel on earth! Passed by with a box of organic produce and in there was coconut water and citrus! perfect!!! (told y...

Excerpt from Nyabo Why are you here?  Coming soon ... Affirmation: I am safe, it is only change Journal Entry 22  I had to bend down to enter the hut! Thatched roof and no door, this one was surrounded by four other huts in a circle. I entered, it disoriented me and I stumbled, it was dark, although the sun was shining brightly outside, the inside of the hut was cool. I stood crouched and I bet I looked really awkward. I just stood there! Walked a few meters and we were standing tall together! There was nothing on the inside but a hand woven mat. I felt a little embarrassed to ask if this was all in the hut, she seemed proud to show me her spot, her crib! “Madam, I live here, this is all for me.” I smiled. We  them went outside, I stood up straight and I followed her. She showed me the kitchen hut and the “hang out” hut. There were separate huts for the kitchen and to chill out, maybe have some tea and talk. We sat outside and drank a warm coke, they...

Before you choose to do anything, ask me if your choice is in accord with mine. If you are sure that it is, there will be no fear . A Course in Miracles ACIM (one of my favorite things ever!)  What did I learn today? .......that nothing has to happen immediately, this minute , or "right now." It's okay to pause for just a moment. Just take a breath. Then go quietly inside. Ask Life Itself to lead you to your best outcome. There's nothing you have to do, really, except get out of your own way. ... know what I mean? Peace!!

Share what you just got with others . Danielle La Porte This is some advice that I will always cherish! I have it on my bookshelf out of plain sight (can you imagine???) anyways, this morning I was looking for something and it popped out, just how the Universe works! It always brings tears to my eyes every time I read it because this was not even prompted, I didn't even ask a question and boom! Straight at me with so much love and concern for me I was dripping with gratitude! I listened, walked away and wrote it down right away- what I remembered and then I just cried when I read it as I felt an so  blessed! I can't even begin to explain....... I'm sharing it, “Akosua, remember these lessons – you must integrate and use what you know, you must act like you have learned what you have learned! Love the messages, even if the messages are about you, as you love them more, your sense of vulnerability and resistance surrounding them will decrease. As you love every aspec...

"You have sole ownership of your vision. And the Universe will give you what you want within your vision. What happens with most people is that they muddy their vision with “reality”. Their vision becomes full of not only what they want but what everybody else thinks about what they want, too. Your work is to clarify and purify your vision so that the vibration that you are offering can then be answered." - Esther Hicks (Love this lady's work!) The Universe just wants a YES! Pay attention to how  much of your words, thoughts and actions have the energy of NO! No, I don’t want to do this job anymore! No I don’t want to procrastinate anymore! No, I don’t want this type of relationship anymore! No, I don’t want to be here doing this! NO, NO, NO! Everything you want is on the other side of the No! What’s the YES? What’s your YES? Not waiting for the Yes to show up, standing in it, standing in the YES, it’s already there! Let it come through you. Flip it! Fl...

Excuse me if I sing My heart has found its wings, ohh yes Searchin' high and low And now at last I know Mornin' Mr. Golden Gate I should walk but I can't wait I can't wait to set it straight I was shakin' but now I am Makin' it fine Here in my mind Al Jarreau! Everything is just fine.... here in my mind! I love this song, it is one of my favorites I play it almost every daily before I go out to do any event or talk! Once my mind is fine, hey what else matters? I realise I used to torture myself with "stories" about what if's but they were really only "stories" so I sing "everything here is just fine, here in my mind" and I rock out with that! I wanted to ask a friend of mine a question for a week, procrastinating all the time, why? fear of course and making up stories! I sat there thinking, ok just do it, it's all good! I popped on ole Al Jarreau belting out everything is just fine....in my mind and boom!!! done it,...

  A big, luscious life comes from small, daily actions Danielle La Porte Every single day do something that brings you joy or puts a smile on your face and soon enough you will see a difference! Some small thing, just for you, just for you to smile and feel joy and happiness But then, do you know what brings you joy? Do you know what makes you smile, that you can do without validation or prodding from anyone else? Write a list to remind yourself and when you want a smile go back and check it! Go for the joy... Peace!

Reality is never frightening. It is impossible that it could upset me. Reality brings only perfect peace. ACIM  Today I had to speak in front of 250 teenagers! That scared the brown out of me! trust me! Turned out, that when I face my fear it really isn't all that bad! Made me wonder, what else am I running from because of fear! Truth be told, when they asked me to talk I swore I heard 25 participants! When I got there it was like whoaaa! where did all of these people from from? They told me this is who you will be speaking to today! Oh! I see! Too late to run! I did it I was happy and they were happy! And I got a free ticket to a party tomorrow! All's well that ends well!! Do it, do the thing you fear to do, trust me it's not all that bad! In fact, its all good! Peace!!

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 The NiNa Programme in Penal is really dear to my heart, all the areas are, but with Penal, it gives me even more of a lift. Despite all the odds and limited resources they make a huge effort I want to salute them today Yesterday there were road blocks and protests, yet they were there! There have been thefts and break ins yet they are there! I really learn about persistence and using what I have to get what I want when I am with this team! So so blessed and grateful! Thank you Penal! Peace

Arrogance left and wisdom and humility came in - LAW Watkins Yesterday at the NiNa Programme I was happy and humbled! The room had sayings and words and phrases I told them and even forgot that I did, stuck up as posters on the wall! I was just smiling all the time, like wow! that is so cool! I saw it when I walked in and I thought hmm these guys pay attention! Which is a good thing because for me, I get to teach what I need to learn and I know one of the things that I have challenges with is paying attention to the signs and then acting - like not being in denial in a sense! So on to the Southland today for another school! I give thanks for the ability to be of service and to do what I like in the world!

Personal power is         the presence of your divinity and nobility within you that allows you to stand as who you are without defense, judgement excuses or question who you are- Iyanla Vanzant (love this!!) Today I resume my NiNa Programme, two schools are involved, one in the south of the island and one in the east! I was thinking about it today, while boxing, of all places, maybe that is why the coach was screaming at me saying "you dropped your guard, the fight is over, you lose! knockout!" anyway I digress, I was thinking that the main reason I wanted to do this was for the ladies to know that they possess an innate personal power and sometimes when I am there at the program I get to be reminded that I have it too, because trust me I need to be reminded at times when the humanness gets to me! Power meaning that they have within them the ability and knowledge to dream big, to do anything they want to do, to persist, to get back up and to forge ahead ...

"I gave myself permission to feel and experience all of my emotions. In order to do that, I had to stop being afraid to feel. In order to do that, I taught myself to believe that no matter what I felt or what happened when I felt it, I would be okay." - Iyanla Vanzant   Do you run from your feelings? Like for example you feel so happy and light and free and awesome and you pull pack and say oh oh this is just too much it's not real and you suppress it? Or you feel like people around you will get a little ticked off at your happiness and joy?  Hey, guess what! Feel the feelings! Feelings are there for a reason and no one has to give you permission to feel them! And if they are ticked off you are happy then they need to come off your bus!  And the opposite also works, if you feel sad and crappy sit in it for a bit, it will pass and its a sign, pay attention to the sign! Feel the feelings, feel the joy, feel the pain, feel the awesomeness, feel the hur...

In order to realize and utilize your personal power, you must be willing to eliminate all habits that do not move you closer to your desires and to consistently engage in behaviors that move you forward Iyanla The way to eliminate stress and pain is to stop doing the things that contribute to it! Simple right? Yea most things are and we make them complicated! What are some of the things that help contribute to stress and pain that I can identify with, take your pick and if you can identify holla! 1. the need to always be right 2.how we think others see us 3. trying to fix the world 4. dishonesty with self and others 5. accepting someone else's truth 6. doing it alone 7.my way is the right way 8. fear of the future 9.trying to prove yourself to others 9.anger over the past Stop it! Peace!

When you're laying on your back watching the stars some very rare night, you won't be thinking about the car you worked to buy or the blog post you stayed home from the party to write. You're going to recall the people who got woven into your heart and helped you paint your apartment. You're going to long for the magic of knowing so much without saying a word. You're going to wish you had taken more holiday time to hang with them. You're going to wish you'd stayed up later and extended your stay to ask them more questions about anything at all. You'll wish you'd gone out dancing . Danielle La Porte I have some really great people in my life, my circle of friends, its a small circle but none the less, I really do appreciate each and every one of them for their honesty, their support and acceptance of me and my "ways" as my grandma says! I sat thinking about this today and thinking about them and I felt really happy! Having that suppor...

I move beyond “playing nice” into getting real So I decided to go to the boxing gym last night after not going for ages!!! I get there and my old coach is no where in sight! There's a new kid on the block! We spoke and somehow I am now training to get back in the ring starting on Monday! An actual fight OMG! When the yes flew out of my mouth I saw it past by and said oops! I did start with yes didn't I! Me! In a ring! Boxing! I looked at the other ladies there and thought  did I just say yes?? Yes I did!! Coach went on about how we have to train 5 days a week and it is going to be tough! That yes was long gone and not returning any time soon! I messaged my friend "Guess what I just did?" So a new journey starts on Monday! (They call me Sugar!) I will let you know how it goes Peace!!

I 'm done with draft one of the book! Look, truth be told I am excited and scared all in one! This book is different from the first one. It's about me learning about following my purpose, setting a vision for myself and what it means to serve! Not subservient serve I mean, but I mean doing what you do for the sake of loving it. This is the highest work you can do in the world. The principle of of service is to give of self(time, knowledge, resources) without an attachment to the expectation of reward and recognition. Working with a consciousness of love (unselfish giving) these women showed me all of that and I will always cherish the moments. So yea, a new type of experience that I felt a responsibility to share! This is my story. This is a story of returning to me. This is my story of travelling to Uganda – Africa. This is my story of how I left my island of Trinidad and Tobago to go to Manchester United Kingdom to complete a PhD programme and ended up working with wo...

" Thought is the real causative force in life, and there is no other. You cannot have one kind of mind and another kind of environment" Emmet Fox What were you thinking?? Have you heard that before? Especially when you do something not so smart? What on earth were you thinking?  This now means a whole other thing to me, it is no longer a "buff" as we call it where I'm from or a scolding! One of the best thing a woman told me on my travels is "stand guard at the door of your mind" She explained to me that my mind is one of the most powerful tools that I have and its not a free for all where anything and everything can enter and take up residence because what is in my mind will manifest in my life! For me it was like a kind of aha moment and an indication that I was thinking thoughts that need to be reigned in and redirected!  I tested it out and it works! Listen, I focused on a few things and thought with action behind it and it manifested its...

Jump into the center of YOUR own life and get comfortable being there. I was doing my early morning reading and I came across something by Danielle LaPorte (note to self, these things are really messages so maybe you didn't just come across it?) anyways, this reading was sent to me directly because it was exactly what was required this morning. It talked about  "swallowing your words, paying rent in hell and maintaining appearances. Why we make (unhealthy) compromises" So there are two types of compromises, one that expands you, make you feel joyous, growth and not yucky!! Comes from a place of love and grace Then there is the type that dries you up, makes you feel like crap because it is driven by fear and people pleasing! So why do we do it? We do it because of fear that we will not get what we want! Yea, that's it in a nutshell right there fear! whatever excuses you make for bruising your soul in the name of compromise is just plain ole fear! We fea...

What did I learn today? I am extremely humbled, grateful and excited to have the opportunity to share the lessons I have learnt on my journeys,  its a funny thing  that happens when I pay attention and be fully present! This month  I want to share the lessons learnt on authenticity! Feel free to share yours! Authenticity – the creativity, the love, everything of value is really about finding one’s authenticity and giving it expression! You always fear that your authenticity will not be appreciated by those whom you love. And you are probably right. Authenticity is rarely appreciated by anyone other than the author. So what will be your measuring stick? – your own internal valuation of yourself of the price tag others place on you? Why do you cheap yourself up, and why do you place everything given to you on an action block for the bidding? Are you so consumed with your materialistic point of view that nothing is of worth unless it has an exchange value placed on...

I ntention: An intention is a declaration of expectation to the Universe of life that brings your mind into alignment with the desires of your heart. When setting an intention it is important for you to state exactly what you want to experience without any attachment to how that experience should manifest. Honesty is the key element. Do not ask what you are not willing to work for .Iyanla Vanzant One of my favorite teachers always says "Madam, what is your intention?" I always laughed and said I don't want to marry you! That was a private joke between us because I somehow associated the word intentions with courting and getting married! My grandfather would ask any young man who came around me "Young man, what are your intentions?" Now that I have been exposed to so many teachers and experiences I know and understand the importance of intentions and setting them! Key thing for me is to "get out of my own way" once I have done the work and have the ...

Dear 2015 It’s me, Akosua, some call me Yaki! I am ready for you! I am ready for the infinite abundance that is in me that I forget and many times fear to claim! I am ready for the light and to know  and know and know that light can also come in through the cracks! So don’t fret about them cracks them! I am ready and willing and open to use my super powers which were given to me by the Universe the day I was created! I am ready to  be done with the mediocrity, the excuses, the inauthenticity, the arseness, the pretense.  Nope, not round here! I am ready to love with my heart wide open, my eyes wide open and my intuition whispering to me every day when the sun rises! I will remind myself daily that there is nothing that exists that is too good for me and I come from a long line of successful living beings. I will remind myself to call on the ancestors whenever I need to and listen for the answer I am ready to reclaim the power when I forget that I have ...