"The only way to have peace in a relationship is to know how to butter your own bread."- Ra-Ha

Usually at the beginning of the year, we make resolutions and think about how we want our lives to look in the upcoming year. Around Lent, we have another opportunity to make a list of things that are not good for us that we need to let go of. But then what happens at the rest of the year? Do we not continue to reassess those things in our lives that we are allowing to prohibit growth?

Realistically, we should make sure that we are always conscious of cleaning the closet. A good rule of thumb is to do assess your goals and your relationships at the start of every season. Decide what is working for you and what's not working for you. Decide what you are willing to put up with and what needs to go. It's amazing how many of us will clean our closets of clothing or uneccessary items that have been stockpiled by the end of the season, but we don't make the same dedication to setting personal development and career goals or assessing relationships.

Here's how to get started:

Relationships:
Are there people in your life that don't give but are always ready to receive?
Are there people in your life that bring uneccessary drama and negative or draining energy?
Are there people in your life that are not supportive or are a friend only when it is convenient for them?

Personal Development:
On a scale of 1-5 (5 is highest, 1 lowest) how satisfied are you with your job/ career?
How often do you set and reassess your goals?
Where do you envision yourself in the next 5 years? What steps do you have to take to get there?

Today's challenge: Answer the above questions and start to recognize those things/ people that are positive in your life and those things that need to be removed.

Peace and Blessings,

Want to read more on how to Live Your Best Life?
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Haters Everywhere We Go

Have you ever met someone who never really has anything positive to say? The type of person who always shoots down an idea or can't quite understand why you think so far outside of the box.

You probably are at the point where you don't even share anything with them. You may avoid spending time around them. Don't be too hard on them. They are allowing the spirit of jealousy and envy to take over.

If you recognize that, its easier to choose to not deal with the person at all, or just keep them at a comfortable arm's length distance. Don't let their spirit have power over you as it has power over them.

Today's challenge: When you recognize negative spirits in others, give them only positive vibes, no matter what. You can't fight hate with more hate.

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Finding The Peace Within

 

"If you cannot find peace within yourself, you will never find it anywhere else."- Marvin Gaye

Many people look for others to make them happy. The truth of the matter is that other human beings will disappoint you, hurt you physically or emotionally, or they won't quite measure up to your standards. If this is the truth about people, how can someone else make you happy?

You will never be happy with someone else if you are not happy with yourself. It's an old adage, but take some time to think about it. You should still be able to be happy or content when another person lets you down. You're emotional well being should never be tied up into the well being of another. What happens when that person leaves you, because they ultimately will. You will need to keep living past their absence.

So if you are able to be happy with who you are and where you are in your life, you are on your way to finding out the true meaning of peace. Otherwise, you will spend time looking from person to person trying to discover what you should already posses within yourself.

Want to read more on how to Live Your Best Life?
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Peace and Blessings

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Sitting alone with your Self

"No one can see their reflection in running water. It is only in the still water we can see." - The Wisdom of the Taoists

The other day, I rode in the car on my way to see clients with no radio- just my thoughts. I've been doing it a lot more lately and I'm finding a sense of clarity. I used to hate to hear silence. It always made me think that something was about to happen because I was used to hearing a lot of noise. Silence made me uncomfortable. As I get older, I understand that there is something valuable about sitting alone with your Self. All of the noise and clutter around me was like going on a first date to the movies- you never get to concentrate on getting to know one another because you are focused on the distraction purposely set there between the two of you.

How often do you set aside time to sit alone and get to know yourself. It's a scary thought, but if more of us did so, we would have to be honest about who we really are. The internet is full of personality tests, career tests, tests that tell you who the perfect mate would be for you. The reality of taking those tests are that we sometimes fudge on how we would really answer those questions. We answer those questions based on how we would like to see ourselves, not always based on who we truly are. Then we continue to walk around in this fog of who we would like to be and risk hurt, rejection, and unnecessary disappointments that we inflict on ourselves. Why? Because we don't spend time alone with our Self to understand who we truly are.

Today's challenge:

Take time out to get to know your Self. Go to the movies alone. Go to dinner alone. Understand that you may experience discomfort you may feel being alone with your Self. Find peace with being alone to think clearly and become honest with yourself about who you truly are.

Peace and Blessings

Achieving My Dream As An Author

About 4 years ago, my husband convinced me I should publish the kind of books I like to read. I thought he was crazy at first, but he was on to something.

I've published 3 paperbacks and 3 ebook short stories. I've endured a publisher that didn't keep good records and give me monthly statements without me asking, and an ebook publisher that vanished like Houdini. I also found a great publisher who provides a wonderful home for my books.

I've had the chance to edit for new authors as well as do publicist duties for authors. I realized I prefer the creative space of writing and using the talent God gave me.

Writing has given me a chance to let my readers enjoy literature as much as I do. I've learned so much about business and how to manage the creative side as well.

The literary world is not for the timid, the weak, or those with thin skin. But then and again, going after your dreams involves risk, determination, and ability to endure rejection.

Today's challenge: Go for your dreams as if rejection could not be a factor.

Follow me on Twitter @tgrantlifecoach

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Live Passionately

If you could wake up tomorrow morning and do whatever you always wanted to do, what would that be?

Many of us do what people think we should do and not necessarily what we always envisioned ourselves doing. Maybe you always wanted to go into fashion design, but you instead got a master's in business. You may have a knack for decorating or organizing. What are your talents? What are your interests? Always wanted to take a trip to Paris or Barcelona? What's stopping you?

Sometimes you are your own worst enemy and you spend your time doubting yourself and giving into fear and worry. Then time passes you by and you're left with regret and the ever troublesome "What if?

Live passionately. Make sure you take advantage of opportunity. How much happier would you be if you lived a life fulfilling your dreams?

Today's Challenge: Create a bucket list and enjoy the sense of accomplishment you feel when cross the items you've done off the list!


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Peace and Blessings

Take Time Out

This is the day and age of multi-tasking. So many of us are learning how to do our work, listen to music, and click back and forth to surf the net all at once. Then we go home and have to cook dinner, check homework, and run bathwater simultaneously.

How often do you take time out to walk through your day slowly and take notice of all of the positive things and people in your surroundings? Are you moving too fast to do so?

Your challenge is to take time in the next 24 hours to stop and smell the roses. Appreciate the little things. Pick up the phone to call someone instead of texting. Read a bedtime story to your kids instead of letting the television tuck them in. Eat dinner with your family and talk about how your day was instead of coming home and going through your routine and going straight to bed.

When we take a second in time to really pay attention to life, we will find more positivity in our day than we anticipated, making it impossible to complain or focus on what we don't have.

Peace and Blessings,
Tamara

Follow me on twitter @tgrantlifecoach

Check me out on http://www.iamrenaissance.com/blog/2011/06/28/Health-Forum.aspx posting in the Mental Health and Spiritual Forum!

The Simple Life

I've recently started work with a company that provides mental health services at nursing homes. Working with the geriatric demographic is different for me. I'm used to working with children and families and having a lot of drama when I go out for a visit. Now when I go see my geriatric patients, their needs are totally different- very simple.

Some of the oldest patients I have are in their 90s. By that time, they've seen and done so much. When I come to see them, they often talk about wanting to hear from their families twice a day instead of once a day. Not knowing how to work their cell phones can cause stress. All they want to do is have something else to do besides play Bingo today. I talked to one of my patients and she began to detail some of the problems she's had because of her diabetes. She cut it short saying "Baby, what am I complaining about. I'm 91 and I'm still here. No complaining is necessary, darling. God is good and I'm here to see another day."

I walked out of her room amazed. I'm over here thinking about how to spread my paycheck around to pay all of our bills. I'm over here worrying about how to work extra hours to catch up with bills. My days are now 12 hour days because the work doesn't end when I'm home. I'm blessed enough to work from home as well as the field.

After visiting my patients yesterday, I woke up this morning asking God for some peace. Trying to figure out how to be calm in the midst of the storm. How to effectively ignore negativity and see it coming when negativity is coming my way.

I'm a work in progress. My goal is to live the simple life. And I pray that I'm blessed to see 91 years old and have clarity and peace of mind.

What's your purpose?

My grandmother used to say that there is a season and a purpose for everything. I get it now. To understand the importance of walking in one's purpose is a huge challenge. It involves you being uncomfortable for a little while and understanding why you are here on Earth.

Each of us has a purpose. There is reason and purpose for our lives. We are all spiritually connected and the sooner we figure that out, the better.

I've been in the midst of a storm for at least a year now. Just recently, I've gained the clarity that I've been praying for. I now see that God had to lead me through some things to prepare me for what was in store. I also had to see my way to understanding my purpose.

I'm a dreamer and I sometimes miss the point that is right in front of me. I'm also a planner and I tend to plan things to the point where I may miss taking the first steps when God wants me to. So now I'm at the point where He has dropped it all right in my lap, and the light bulb has finally come on. My husband pointed out to me that I was struggling with some of the ideas that I had because they were not aligned in my purpose. Things finally got to the point where God had to give me a wake up call by leading me by my hand to the place where I needed to be, only for me to recognize that I had used my talents before in the same way because it's what I'm good at.

Your challenge:

What is it that you do that people always ask you to do? Recognize your talents and use them regularly. When we use our talents, we are a blessing to others and we walk in our divine purpose.

Peace and Blessings

Follow me @tgrantlifecoach or on Facebook facebook.com/serenitystrengthconsulting

All in due time

I'm a worrier by nature. I'm always worried about how things will turn out. The reality is that some things are in your control and some things are not. As much as I know that, I still worry. I'm always trying to fix things and maybe some of the worry comes from the control freak in me that wants things to turn out the way I envision them.

This week I had a life lesson that God is burning the midnight oil and working things out, By the morning, there was no need for me to worry because He was moving and working while I should have been calm and asleep. Things do work out and they work out in divine order.

Remember all in due time. Remember that when it seems that you are applying for jobs and it you are not getting calls back or landing the job after the interview. God is preparing you. All you can see is that you did not get the job, but maybe that job was not for you because you are not ready or there is something else in store for you.

Remember all in due time. Remember that when it seems that your journey to finding the right man or woman seems to wind up in dead end relationships. God wants you to learn from these relationships because he is molding and shaping you for the person that He is sending for you.

Remember all in due time. Remember that when it seems that everyone around you is acheiving their goals and they seem to be where they want to be in their careers and in their personal lives. God has carved out a road ahead made just for you. And yes that road has bumps along the way, but we need those bumps and bruises to remind us to not look back and focus on what's ahead.

Remember all in due time. What God has for you is for you and no one else. Stop looking over at what the next person has. That person has walked their own path to get to where they are. You will get to your destination all in due time.

Peace and Blessings,

Serenity and Strength Consulting

You too can Live Your Best Life. http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/50448 Download your copy for only $2.99!

Are you operating in ego or spirit?

"The ego needs recognition. The spirit does not need to thank itself."- Stuart Wilde

My mom used to do a lot for other people. She would do so both financially and by giving her time. To this day, I'm not sure how she did it financially. She was the sole source of income in our home, and she didn't receive assistance from anywhere else. Money was tight, but she would always find a way to give to a friend in need.

I remember asking her once how she could find a way to give even when it was tight for us. Her reply was that she was blessed to be a blessing to others and she did so because she was moved to do it. So for her, it was like second nature. She gave with no questions asked. And she also gave unselfishly. She wasn't looking for anything in return. She told me that you should give to others with no expectations.

There was no ego involved. She didn't want any recognition. She didn't ask for anything back. Too often we do for other people while keeping tabs in our minds. We do for others with the expectation that they have to give in return because of what we've done for them. We are operating then in ego and not in spirit. If we operate in spirit, we give unselfishly of our time, money, effort and become a blessing to others. When we operate in spirit, we give because it's the right thing to do, not because we are going to look for something in return from others.

Today's challenge:

Be the type of person you would want others to be toward you. Operate in spirit when you connect with others. Operating in ego results in unnecessary competition and unwillingness to compromise. Operate in spirit with no expectation of recognition, applause, or reward.

Here's hoping you live your best life,

Serenity and Strength Consulting

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Letting go of hurt and pain

Letting go of hurt and pain. Tip #2 to Live Your Best Life. Why should you let go? You've been hurt before and you would like to think that the person that hurt you actually cares enough to feel bad about it.

Truth is, most people don't intentionally hurt you, and some of the hard feelings we feel are based on our own perception of the situation vs the reality of the situation and what the other person actually intended. Our temperament and our experience shapes our perceptions and our perceptions are the lens through which we view life.

There are times when you are intentionally victimized ie being robbed, assaulted, or abused. And those instances are unfortunate and also shape the way that we see our lives.

The good news is, you don't have to hold on to all of that hurt and pain. You're not supposed to hold on to it. It may feel comfortable to hold on to it, like a badge of honor. It eventually becomes a crutch. "I've been hurt before, so I don't have to be faithful in relationships." "I've been hurt before so I don't have to give my all or form strong relationships." "I've been hurt before so I can hurt other people."

None of that is true. You've been hurt before, but you don't have to wallow in the pain. Pain is a short term need. It serves to help you protect yourself briefly. You touch a hot stove, you feel the pain of the heat to notify you to move your hand. But did you realize that there is pain involved in the healing process? While that burn is healing, there will be some pain, some scabbing, some peeling until there is new skin.

Isn't that amazing? You too can come through pain in the same way. There will be pain, scabbing, peeling, but in the end, you should come out a new person. A person ready to let go of the past and live life in the present. Learn to forgive not for the other person's sake, but for your own. Leting go is not a sign of weakness, it is a vision of strength.

Peace and Blessings,

Serenity and Strength Consulting
Twitter @tgrantlifecoach

Purchase your copy of Live Your Best Life the ebook for only $2.99 and discover more tips on how to let go of hurt and pain, live life passionately, and find balance.

http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/50448

21 Signs of Stress-Belief.net

If you have been fortunate enough to live a life with no stress, you just haven't lived long enough! We all will endure stressors at some point in life. The good news is, there is a such thing as good stress: moving to a new home, graduating from high school or college, having a new baby. The bad news is that negative stressors are a part of life: enduring loss of any kind, divorce, finances. Some of us are better than others at dealing with and recognizing stress. It's an important skill to learn.

Click the link below to identify some signs of stress.

21 Signs of Stress- Beliefnet.com

Peace and Blessings,

Serenity and Strength Consulting

 

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With Serenity and Strength, you will find weekly inspiration and empowerment.

Peace and Blessings,
Serenity and Strength Consulting

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Imagine That

When you are a child, your imagination is pretty active. You may not have had imaginary friends, but children often imagine what they are going to be when they grow up or spend time zoning out while thinking about their favorite movie.

What happens to our imagination as we grow older? As an adult, you probably don't imagine yourself as a fairy tale princess or a powerful robot that can destroy the earth. You most likely imagine yourself on vacation at the beach when you are feeling over worked or imagine yourself driving in that new luxury car- more practical things.

What if we went back to the childlike innocence that tells us that there are no limits on what we can attain? Realistically, if you are not born into royalty, you will not become a princess, but ladies wasn't that dream about being the ultimate diva that has everything that she wants? And yes fellas, you probably won't become a powerful robot that destroys the earth, but wasn't that dream really about being in control of your destiny?

Children have the capacity to dream with no limits. When they imagine things, nothing tells that they can't have it. What if you imagined what you want your life to look like 5 years from now and you knew that it was attainable? What if you let your imagination run wild and it was free of doubt, fear of rejection, and negativity? What would life be like for you then?

Today's Challenge: Think back to your childhood and where you imagined yourself to be at this point in your life. Are you where you imagined yourself to be? Let yourself think beyond the limits that you allow others to put on you, including the limits that you put on yourself and imagine where you would like to be in life in another 5 years. Set attainable goals to get there.

Download your copy of Live Your Best Life now for just $2.99. This powerful ebook will give you the essential tools to live life on purpose with purpose!

http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/50448

Peace and Blessings,

Serenity and Strength Consulting

Follow us on Twitter for weekly inspirational messaging! @tgrantlifecoach

Spring Cleaning

Every year as soon as the winter weather breaks, I'm ready to throw the windows open and feel the fresh air flow through my house. It's that time when I do what we term Spring Cleaning. You air out the house, change the filters, wash windows, and hopefully spend some time de-cluttering your home of things that you don't use or can't use anymore.

Wouldn't it be amazing if we did that mentally for ourselves? What would your life look like if you did some Spring Cleaning in your personal or professional life?

It's actually more necessary than you think. Holding on to unhealthy habits, relationships, etc can physically and mentally weigh you down. Look at it like cleaning out your closet. First you have to agree to even open the closet door and do the cleaning. Then you have to pick a section to start with. Doing this helps us to feel less overwhelmed by the entire task. After we pick a section, we have to sort through the things that we need to keep and the things that need to get thrown away or given away. Sometimes we have emotional attachments to things that we need to get rid of and we think twice about getting rid of them. But there is no need to keep those pants that don't fit anymore just because you looked cute in them 3 years ago at a concert with your husband.

When we Spring Clean, we have to be willing to let go of those things that have emotional holds over us. We also must be willing to focus on moving forward. Once we de-clutter, we make room for the things or people that deserve to be in our space. Take that time to reset goals that are attainable and that reflect your passions.

Be willing to get rid of those things or people that are causing chaos, anxiety, or negativity in your space. Take the time to reflect on where you have been and where you would like to go.

Today's challenge: De-clutter your mental space. Figure out what things are necessary in your life and which things are unecessarily taking up space. Set at least 3 goals for yourself and revisit your progress in 3 months.

Download your copy of Live Your Best Life today by clicking the link below! Only $2.99.

http://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/zenpublishingcompany

Peace and Blessings,

Serenity and Strength Consulting



Life Coach Tamara Grant

Live Your Best Life- an inspirational new ebook!

Do you understand what your passions and talents are?

Do you know that you deserve to live life on purpose with purpose?

Could you use some assistance in unlocking the keys to your personal success?

Life Coach Tamara Grant can assist you in your journey.

Virtual sessions available.

http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/50448

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Finding Middle Ground

Everything in life is about balance. Good and Evil. Happy and Sad. It's usually made up of two extremes with no mention of the middle ground. Finding that middle ground is what creates a sense of peace within us.

By nature, I'm a pretty outspoken person. If you know me, you usually don't have to wonder how I feel about something or someone. That can be a good thing. But it can also be a point of contention for me. A lot of people don't know how to deal with a person that speaks their mind, but at the same time, an opinion is not always needed.

In my early 20s I heard two quotes that stuck with me. "Pick and choose your battles" and "Strength is sometimes the purr of a cat and not the roar of a lion". I learned that there is a time and place to speak up and a way to do so so that people will hear what you are trying to say. So a part of me started to pull back and not speak my mind because I didn't know how to find balance between my impulse to speak up and the need to be heard.

Now in my 30s I realize that there can be a balance. In order to feel a sense of peace, there has to be balance. I understand that there is power in silence, but a need to set boundaries with people so you teach them how to treat you. I still struggle with determining when to speak up. Sometimes I squash the urge and feel helpless afterwards because I keep thinking "I should have said.." Then other times, I'm happy with the fact that I said something but hate the fact that maybe it wasn't said at a time when the other person can truly receive what was said.

Finding that middle ground is and will continue to be an everyday personal struggle. But balance is important and necessary in our lives to maintain a sense of peace.

Today's challenge:

Find areas in your life where balance needs to be created.

Pay attention to any extremes in your life and decide how to balance those issues to find middle ground.

Peace and Blessings,

Serenity and Strength Consulting
www.facebook.com/serenitystrengthconsulting
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Tamara Angela Grant's Contributor Profile - Yahoo! Contributor Network

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Why Virtual Counseling?

Serenity & Strength Consulting

 

Now offering Virtual Counseling and Life Coaching services.

 

Why Virtual?

 

Virtual Counseling allows you to connect with a life coach and therapist from the comfort of your own home.

 

Virtual Counseling: Skype (available April 2011) and email/ chat (available now)

 

Face to Face Life Coaching and Therapy available in Atlanta area (April 2011)

 

Contact Serenity & Strength Consulting to determine what will work best for you!

 

**All services rendered by Tamara Grant, LCSW.

 

Opportunity Knocks

Has opportunity knocked at your door and you didn’t answer?

Some of what happens to us is out of our control, but much of what happens comes out of us taking opportunities that come our way.

I heard a sermon one time and the pastor said “What good is it to wait at home hoping an employer would call you if you didn’t fill out an application?” That summed it up for me. How can you wait for something to happen to you when you didn’t take initiative to make anything happen?

“Seize the moment”.

“Take the opportunity”.

Both of those require action.

Neither say that you sit by passively waiting for something to happen to you. You are making the moment or opportunity happen. Seize and Take are verbs that say that an action on your part is required.

At the same time that you have the power to make something happen, you have the power to not make it happen. If you skip out on a chance to network by speaking with someone to connect with them, then you are actively missing out on an opportunity. Do you want to become an entrepreneur, but you are too scared to step out on faith and take risks? If you choose not to do something that will help you continue on the road of your destiny, then it is only your fault when things don’t go the way you envisioned them.

Often we fall victim to fear, anxiety, and doubt. So many of us have great ideas, dreams, or plans, but never fully execute them because we allow fear, anxiety, and doubt to creep in and take over. Then we are left with resentment, regret, and a life long relationship with “shoulda, coulda, woulda.” Some of us cop out passively when we don’t take advantage of an opportunity and say “I guess that wasn’t for me.” If you don’t take a chance at something, how do you know that it wasn’t the right opportunity for you?

Today’s Challenge:

Recognize that you are more in control of your destiny then you give yourself credit for. (For my religious folks that say to just pray on it, remember faith without works is dead.)

You are the only one holding you back. Acknowledge opportunities when they present themselves. Be honest with yourself and recognize what stops you from taking full advantage of opportunities that come your way?

**Remember the old adage about the drowning man and the boat. He encountered three people riding past him that offered him help from the rising waters as he sat and waited for opportunity to present himself. When he got to heaven and expressed his anger to God that he had drowned on that roof, God kindly reminded him that he sent him 3 boats and that he did not take any of the opportunities that were sent his way so he had no one to be angry with but himself!

How empowering is that to know that you have that much control over your life?

Peace and Blessings,

Serenity and Strength Consulting

Birds of a feather

Take a second to look at the kinds of people that you have in your circle. Who do you keep closest to you?

When my husband first met my friends, his comment to me was that he loved the fact that I had a lot of genuine people around me and in my corner. He loved the fact that I could be a few states away and could make a phone call and easily find someone that would help me out- no questions asked. One of the things that he said that struck me was when he said that the fact that I had friends like that said a lot about who I am. I had never really thought about it before. To me, a friend was someone that gives as much as you do for them; someone that you don't have to see or talk to everyday, but when you do connect, it's like time never passed.

I have to say that I am fortunate to have some great people in my circle. Not only the people that I've known for most of my life, but also the new people that I have met as well as I grow older. Now most of my friends are mothers, wives, working professionals- just like myself. I also tend to hang out with people who are motivated, women who want more than mediocre, and people that think positively and are not down for drama and chaos.

That conversation with him made me realize that we have a choice in the type of people that we have around us when we are adults. It's not like it was when you were in grade school and forced to deal with certain people that you would prefer not to. This includes family too at this point.

Is your social life filled with drama? Something in you is attracting that drama- Birds of a feather.

Can you look back and say that you have at least 1-2 friends that you have a positive relationship with that you have known and connected with for over 10 years? Do you constantly find yourself cycling through friends every few years or so- Birds of a feather.

Do you find yourself thinking at times that your friend is trifling and wondering why they aren't there for you when you need them- Birds of a feather.

If you find that you are unable to have people in your corner that you can truly trust- maybe you are not as trustworthy as you think you are. It's like when I hear women say that they don't hang out with other women because other women cause too much drama...but they forget about the drama that they cause.

The old saying goes "Birds of a feather flock together."

Who is in your flock?

Today's Challenge:

Inventory the type of people you have in your circle. Discover what it is about you that attracts and allows those type of people in your life. Decide what needs to be changed and have the courage to change it. It may be hard to walk away from some of the people that are in your circle after doing the inventory, but at what cost are you allowing them to remain in your circle?

Peace and Blessings,

Serenity & Strength Consulting

Does your relationship resume measure up?

This week, I saw two posts on Facebook that spoke of there being "no good men" out there in society.  It broke my heart that so many women are disheartened in their dating search.

As women, we are programmed from the start to want the beautiful wedding complete with the dress, the good food and music, and the knight in shining armour. The reality of it is, after that four hour wedding comes a lifetime of marriage. Are you ready for marriage and commitment? Does your relationship resume measure up?

Women, do you have that list of things you want in a "good" man? Of course you do. We all should have those standards of what we will and will not accept in a mate. But do you measure up to those same standards? How can you ask him to come to the table with 100% when you are only willing to give 75%?

And let's not talk about the self esteem issues and quotes from Mama that hold us back from letting that "good" man treat us right. I bet a few of you have had a "good" man come across your path, but you weren't emotionally ready and he left. I've seen women have a wonderful man, but he was too fat, too nice, didn't make enough money, doesn't have a college degree- blah, blah, blah. You get the point don't you?

After that good man leaves, you feel abandoned and hurt so you lash out by saying there are no good men and then attach yourselves to a complete loser (and give yourself credit- you knew he was a loser from the start) and then complain that there are no good men. Or maybe you have outgrown the loser you chose and you are ready to move on, but you complain about the loser that you 1. had kids with, 2. had a relationship with for several years and now you are tired of his mess.

Ladies, please remember one thing: YOU CHOOSE the man you are with. If you choose a man that is disrespectful, that is irresponsible only because he's sexy as hell and good in bed- that is a direct reflection on where you are emotionally in your life.

The alternative is making sure that your relationship resume measures up.

If you want him to make 6 figures and have a college degree, do you have the same?

If you want him to be respectful and emotionally available, are you willing to to share your emotions with him and respect him as a man?

If you feel like he should make changes, are you willing to listen to his constructive criticism of you when you need to make changes?

Remember, the good man is going to want to take a look at your relationship resume as well? When that good man comes along, are you the right person for the job?


Today's Challenge:

Write your own relationship resume. Take a serious look at your redeeming qualities and your not so redeeming qualities. Hint- if most of the things you write down have to do with things or materialism, you have a whole other problem on your hands!

Peace and Blessings,

Serenity & Strength Consulting

Interested in life coaching services?
Contact serenitystrengthconsult@gmail.com for details.

Can you see the forest for the trees?

Most of us have heard this old adage from our grandparents and elders. I finally stopped to think about what it truly means.

If you were to stand in the midst of a vast forest, you would of course be surrounded by millions of trees of various sizes and shapes. There is life in the forest but can you see it? Do you hear the birds chirping, or smell the scents of nature and see all of the beautiful colors surrounding you? Or is the only thing you see the tree that has rotted and fallen in front of you, presenting an obstacle in your path?

It is easy to forget about all of the things that you have in the midst of crisis and inner turmoil. Our human instinct is programmed for survival so we instantly focus on the dreaded obstacle at hand instead of looking at the bigger picture.

Sure, today you lost your job- but was that job truly suited for you? You were just dreaming about starting your own business. Wouldn't now be the perfect time?

So you are feeling mentally and physically exhausted due to life's day to day frustrations- but someone didn't wake up this morning. Someone does not have a family to call their own.

How often do you spend time focusing on the rotted tree in front of you instead of wondering in the beauty of the total picture?


Today's Challenge:

For every negative thought you have, think of two positive things going on in your life. You will soon start to reshape your thinking and begin to see life for what is instead of what it isn't.


Peace and Blessings,

Serenity and Strength Consulting

Want to have your own life coaching session?
Contact serentitystrengthconsult@gmail.com for details.

Women's Empowerment Seminars by Serenity & Strength Consulting

 Serenity & Strength Consulting is offering Women's Empowerment groups to get 2011 started off right. The Women's Empowerment Seminars focus on ways to find balance in your life, strengthen esteem, and strengthen communication within our families and relationships. We also focus on discovering your passion so that you wake everyday to do the things that enable you to Live Your Best Life.

If you are interested, please email serenitystrengthconsult@gmail.com. I look forward to bringing this empowering word and experience out to your group.

Peace and Blessings,
Tamara Grant
http://serenitystrengthconsult.blogspot.com/