Stay Positive

Have you ever felt that it is taking too long to accomplish your goal? Have you said to yourself, "Why didn't I accomplish that goal? If so, It's possible that you may have  sabotaged yourself without knowing it.

My friend and I were talking recently about the benefit of speaking positively. We are both expecting positive outcomes regarding proposals we recently submitted. While we were talking we noticed that for both of us, for some reason, there is a small tug from within to talk about the possible reasons why the outcome would not be in our favor. Why do we feel the need to speak about what we do not want? Or, why does it seem easier to speak that way.

We've all done it. You go on an interview and before a decision is made you think or talk about why you may not get selected;  You speak to an investor about your new product and after you've made your pitch, and before you receive a decision,  you think about what you should or shouldn't have said. Why do we most often entertain what we don't want?

Have you noticed when someone asks "How are you?", the positive responses are usually short and sweet. For example,  "Great!, "I'm well," "Wonderful!," or "I'm fine." However, if the response is not so great, there is usually a reason or a story behind it. Very interesting, isn't it?

My friend and I realized that in order to have the positive outcome we wanted, we needed to constantly think and speak positively and take positive action towards our desired outcome. That's it. Anything else would be moving away from our desired result.

If you feel that your dreams and goals are taking to long or just not happening, please pay close attention to your thoughts,  words and actions and make sure they are positive.

"An attitude of positive expectation is the mark of the superior personality." - Brian Tracy

If you realized how powerful your thoughts are, you would never think a negative thought." - Peace Pilgrim

"Affirm the positive, visualize the positive and expect the positive, and your life will change accordingly." - Remez Sasson

JoAnn Youngblood King, CTA Certified Success Coach, Author, Speaker and Owner of Live Your Potential is a member of Coach Training Alliance, and The International Association of Coaches. She specializes in working with mom entrepreneurs to find the time needed to start their business or take their existing business to the next level. To reach your immediate goals get strategic steps by subscribing to her newsletter to the right. For ways of achieving goals with your faith, JoAnn's new book is released, Live Your Potential and Let Your Faith Lead You to Success available on Amazon

Your Potential to Create

Are you getting closer to your goals? Are you talking about what it is you want? Are you thinking about what your life will be like once your goal is accomplished? Are you taking consistent action towards what it is you want?

You are a creative person; creative in every way. When a person is referred to as creative, it's usually because we see something they have done. However, the creative process is not just about what a person does. It includes what they think and talk about as well. We all create with our thoughts, words and actions!

Think about it, the very chair you're sitting on or computer you're using, were first created in the mind. After that, I'm sure there was some discussion about it. Then it was built. This is the creative process at work.

In order to accomplish your goals and dreams, it's imperative to pay close attention to your thoughts, words and actions. If you have an idea to do something, realize that you will be able to do it if you consistently think about it, talk about it and take the necessary actions to make it become a reality.

While on your success path, make sure you are positive in your creative process. If you want to start a certain type of business and think and talk more about the obstacles in doing so, you will most likely talk yourself out of it.

Always keep in mind that you are a creative person and you have the potential to create the life of your dreams.

“Thoughts do more. Words do much. Actions do much more.” ― Israelmor Ayivor

"The creative process is not controlled by a switch you can simply turn on or off; it's with you all the time." - Alvin Ailey

"Everybody has a creative potential and from the moment you can express this creative potential, can start changing the world. "  - Paulo Coelho

JoAnn Youngblood King, CTA Certified Success Coach, Author, Speaker and Owner of Live Your Potential is a member of Coach Training Alliance, and The International Association of Coaches. She specializes in working with mom entrepreneurs to find the time needed to start their business or take their existing business to the next level. To reach your immediate goals get strategic steps by subscribing to her newsletter to the right. For ways of achieving goals with your faith, JoAnn's new book is released, Live Your Potential and Let Your Faith Lead You to Success available on Amazon and Barnes and Noble.

Moving from Freeze to Forward

Are you tired of being stuck in trying to grow your own business? Or wondering how to get out of a job that now feels more like a trap than a career? You're not alone. Just about every business person hits a plateau or sticking point at one time or another, if not several times, over the years.

When this happens it is our sign that it is time for a change. In life sometimes, we feel like we will just work a job temporarily, then life happens. We create families, life’s unexpected situations happen and all the while, time continues to go on. Now we are many years past our intended time to be living the life of our dreams and we feel stagnant. We think about that goal or dream we used to have but now feel lost on how to get there.

In this freeze mode we listen to motivational and spiritual teachers that inspire us in that moment. However, the moment often translates into more confusion on how to accomplish our dream or fizzles under the fear of uprooting the life we have built and not meeting our responsibilities.
In this mental place we may just give up, feel too old or think that the time has passed for us to experience our dreams. Here, is where we stop and don’t take action. However we still feel the desire. Know that having that desire, no matter how small, is enough. You can start taking action right now based on that small desire.

In this moment what you need is something like a personal fitness trainer that knows and understands your current condition then guides you along. All it takes is the willingness to look – seek and ye shall find….”knock and the door will be open.” One way to start knocking is to start researching. The same way you focus your search efforts for that gift your children want or that item you saw on TV that you’ve been wanting for a while, that’s the way you should search when it comes to your dreams and goals. In this age of the Internet we can find ANYTHING with the right keywords, focus and time. Look for information to learn more about what you want to accomplish.

This is a gentle way to start moving toward your dreams. This process doesn’t threaten your current stable life. You are only looking for examples. Want to be a singer and you are not twenty? Look up the singers that made it to the television program "The Voice." Many of them are well over twenty and living their dreams. Find out their story, where are they performing, or what motivates them. Maybe you want to be a painter? What are the artists in your area doing? Where are they hanging out? Where are they showing their work? Doing research helps to move you forward in the right direction.

ANY dream you have, there is a way to accomplish it that is right for you. Get started today researching and writing down anything that sounds interesting. This is the first step. When you have an idea, you first move your energy and place your attention on that idea. This practice brings you more ways to find what you are looking for and get you closer to your dreams.

JoAnn Youngblood King, CTA Certified Success Coach, Author, Speaker and Owner of Live Your Potential is a member of Coach Training Alliance, and The International Association of Coaches. She specializes in working with mom entrepreneurs to find the time needed to start their business or take their existing business to the next level. To reach your immediate goals get strategic steps by subscribing to her newsletter to the right. For ways of achieving goals with your faith, JoAnn's new book is released, Live Your Potential and Let Your Faith Lead You to Success available on Amazon and Barnes and Noble.

How to Have Faith in Yourself

Here it is, many years later since I realized my mission was to help people to realize the potential that exists with their own life to succeed and I, myself, have only scratched a tiny surface of my own potential. Potential is something that is unseen, just as your God self, your Buddha nature, or your spirit. Whatever, you choose to call that pure place inside yourself. Do you have faith in yourself? I asked that question because I know I would not have been able to accomplish all I have so far without it. However, there have been times where I seem to unconsciously put a limit on the faith I have in myself.

Years ago, I learned that even if your faith is as small as a mustard seed, you could move a mountain and nothing will be impossible for you." This means that nothing is impossible if you have faith even if it’s small. Knowing this helps to "grin and bear it" because if you have just a little faith things will get better.

What about those big things that happen in life or those big goals you are working on achieving? Nothing is impossible if you have at least a little faith, however, you also have, and will be required to exhibit big strong faith in some situations. It seems kind of weird to measure faith however, when I think about certain goals I have, I’m not sure I really believed, initially, that I had the faith to accomplish them.

What I have come to understand is that you must first have the faith, no matter how small, to get you to take the initial action! Then trust that your faith will give you the self-esteem, courage and confidence to get through any situation and help you to accomplish your goals. Remember you have everything you need inside of you to be as successful as you want to be! Never give up on your dreams. It’s possible!

Faith is not something you get. It is something you already have. You might just be using it in reverse gear by believing in the things you fear. ~ Napoleon Hill

Faith is to fear nothing, to stand unswayed, the power to surmount whatever the obstacle. ~ Daisaku Ikeda

JoAnn Youngblood King, CTA Certified Success Coach, Author, Speaker and Owner of Live Your Potential is a member of Coach Training Alliance, and The International Association of Coaches. She specializes in working with mom entrepreneurs to find the time needed to start their business or take their existing business to the next level. To reach your immediate goals get strategic steps by subscribing to her newsletter to the right.

For ways of achieving goals with your faith, JoAnn's new book is released, Live Your Potential and Let Your Faith Lead You to Success available on Amazon and Barnes and Noble.

Love, Acceptance and Respect

We all want to be loved, accepted and respected for the choices we make.  Because of those desires, it's necessary to be aware of laws and principles like, the Law of Cause and Effect or What You Sow, You Will Reap. When you give love, acceptance and respect to others, it will come back to you.

Everything starts on the inside first. Do you love yourself? I sure hope so! At your core you are love! Even though it may not seem that way at times, the love is there. Understanding and knowing this is extremely important. When you are aware that everyone is love, you're able to deal with people in a much more positive way. 

When you accept yourself for the wonderful, beautiful and talented person you are, every person, who comes into your life, has no choice but to follow your lead and accept you for the same reasons.

Self-respect is absolutely necessary when on the path to success. We've seen many examples of those who lack self-respect from the employee who gets dumped on by her boss every day to the entrepreneur who listens to the advice of family members when they tell him he is wasting his time trying to build a business.  When you know who you are and respect yourself, you will not let anyone devalue or degrade you.

At times, we let what is happening outside of us cause us to forget about what is happening on the inside. Focus your attention on what is inside of you. There you will find, your power to make the choices that will benefit you and others; the will to persevere when you have to do a task you are not particularly fond of; the wisdom to make the right decisions concerning a sick loved one; the faith you need to succeed in any endeavor. You will find your potential for greatness and success.

Striving to have the successful life of your dreams may not be as easy as you may want it to be, however it is definitely possible. It all starts with realizing the potential you already have inside to make it so.


JoAnn Youngblood King, CTA Certified Success Coach, Author, Speaker and Owner of Live Your Potential is a member of Coach Training Alliance, and The International Association of Coaches. She specializes in working with mom entrepreneurs to find the time needed to start their business or take their existing business to the next level. To reach your immediate goals get strategic steps by subscribing to her newsletter to the right.

For ways of achieving goals with your faith, JoAnn's new book is released, Live Your Potential and Let Your Faith Lead You to Success available on Amazon and Barnes and Noble.

Now is the time to Dream Big!

How big are the dreams for your life?  You might think that you can only dream for things that you can see yourself attaining.  Well, I've learned that we should dream big no matter what! I recently heard director and screenwriter, Tyler Perry mention that what he learned 10 years ago, from the entertainment legends, was that he needed to dream bigger and dream more.  Well, it would seem that he went on to take action based on what he learned seeing that he is now one of the wealthiest men in Hollywood.

How often do you dream about your future?  Do you dream about being a successful speaker, world renowned chef or wealthy real estate agent?  I know you have big dreams inside of you. I also know that you have the potential inside to make those dreams become a reality.

When you talk about the dreams you have for your future, make sure you state it in a positive manner. For example, be mindful not to say "If I can get through the loads of paperwork, maybe I can get my art store open.” Instead say "My art store will be open soon and it will be a success!"  Once you start talking about your dreams in a positive way, make sure your dreams are big. Visualize having more. Instead of having one art store, see yourself owning several. See yourself going to each of your stores to pick up the weekly revenue to take to the bank. Make sure to do dream visualization exercises every day.

Once you are dreaming big and dreaming more, you must get busy making it happen. In his poem, "A Dream Deferred" by Langston Hughes, he questions what happened to a dream that is put off or not acted on.  Are you taking action towards your dreams or have your dreams been deferred?

An important activity you should engage in daily is feeding your mind with positivity while working towards your dreams. You can definitely achieve your dreams! You will achieve what you think and believe you can achieve, so dream big and dream more.
 

“You have the courage and power to live your dreams.” – Les Brown

“Go confidently in the direction of your Dreams. Live the life you've imagined!” – Henry David Thoreau

“If you can dream it, you can do it.” – Walt Disney

You Are Here to do Something Special

You are here to do something special. Yes, there will always be challenges in life. This is a fact! There are things we can't escape.  We all will get sick at some point, even if it just the common cold.  We all will get older and we all will come to the end of our life.  With that said, you were born for a reason.

You were born with the potential within to create a successful life for yourself and help others to do the same....just as you are.  Have you noticed that there are some public figures that you might be interested in while others are not? We all tend to gravitate toward different teachers, mentors, leaders, philosophies and religions, for different reasons. Similarly, there are people who are seeking value that only you can offer them.

There is a person or a group of people whose lives will be transformed for the better because of you.  You can change someone's life in a powerful way! You are a light for people who are in the dark! You are a shining successful example for those who are lost. You may be a diamond in the rough however, you are still a diamond. Take responsibility for your uniqueness and what you have to offer. No one else can fulfill your unique life calling. 

You have the potential inside for great success! Please don't let your wonderful potential go to waste.  It’s time to realize your potential, make the choice to believe it, be grateful for it, take action by getting the help and support you need to unleash it! 

“Life has given everyone something unique, be smart enough to figure it out and use it properly.” – Charith Podi Keven 

“Help others achieve their dreams and you will achieve yours.” – Les Brown

“Never underestimate your ability to make someone else’s life better – even if you never know it.” – Greg Louganis

What’s Stopping You from Your Goal?

How is it going with achieving your goals? If you haven't been able to complete at least one of your goals, what's stopping you?  Why haven't you made that big sale or started to write that book? What is it that's standing in the way of you keeping the commitment you made to yourself?

I believe we all want to be happy and successful. We certainly all have the potential to be.  One thing that stops most of us from living the life of our dreams is the simple notion that we can't. We seem to have many reasons why we can't do something instead of entertaining thoughts that we can. Often times we let obstacles stop us for our goals, even if they are small. There is a quote by Noman Vincent Peale that says “Stand up to your obstacles and do something about them. You will find that they haven't half the strength you think they have.”

I have so much on my plate, however, my determination to help as many people as I can to succeed, helps me to work through any obstacles that come my way.  So, in my experience, most of the time it’s not about whether we can or cannot do something, its whether we will or will not do it. 

You are definitely capable of achieving the goals you set for yourself. You have to make the decision that you really want to achieve your goals.  If you are determined to accomplish your goals no matter what, you will!  How strong is your determination to succeed?  On the path to your desired level of success, there will be challenges.  However, the strength of your determination will allow you to keep the vision of your success in your mind and help you to keep taking necessary action in order to succeed.

“When your determination changes, everything will begin to move in the direction you desire. The moment you resolve to be victorious, every nerve and fiber in your being will immediately orient itself toward your success. On the other hand, if you think, "This is never going to work out," then at that instant every cell in your being will be deflated and give up the fight. Then everything really will move in the direction of failure. ” – Daisaku Ikeda

“Whether you think you can, or think you can’t, you’re right.” – Henry Ford 

“Obstacles don’t have to stop you.  If you run into a wall, don’t turn around and give up.  Figure out how to climb it, go through it, or work around it.” – Michael Jordan

“Sometimes, struggles are exactly what we need in our life. If we were to go through our life without any obstacles, we would be crippled. We would not be as strong as what we could have been. Give every opportunity a chance, leave no room for regrets. ” – Unknown

What is Your Purpose?

I told my son that before he was born I didn't know whether I was having a girl or a boy. If I had a girl I would have named her Nia. The Swahili meaning of the name Nia is purpose. He said "Well, everyone has a purpose!" Out of the mouths of babes! He is so right! While the name Nia may be a nice sounding name, the meaning is not really a unique one.  We all have a purpose!

Being fully aware of your purpose is an important part of unleashing your potential for success.  In order to have the type of success you desire you must know your purpose.  Knowing your purpose helps to keep you motivated and focused on what is important in your life.  Also, when you are aligned with your purpose it’s easier to get through any problems that you may encounter.   Ask yourself, What is my purpose for being where I am?, What is my purpose for doing what I do on a daily basis?, or am I living true to my purpose?

Maybe you want to educate people, help them to succeed, to become healthy or just make people laugh.  Whatever it is, know that there is something special that you are here to do; something only you can do, in only the way that only you can do it.   What gifts are you here to share with the world?

Many of us spend most of our lives working for others to help them fulfill their dreams to be successful.  There is certainly nothing wrong with that.  However, please don't lose sight of your own purpose.  As my 10 year old son said "We all have one!" 

“If you can't figure out your purpose, figure out your passion. For your passion will lead you right into your purpose.” – T.D. Jakes

“The secret of success is constancy to purpose.” – Benjamin Disraeli

“If you're alive, there's a purpose for your life.” – Rick Warren

Appreciate Everything!

With so much going on in the world today, there are times when we may forget to take the time to stop and simply appreciate where we are and what we have.

No matter what is going on right now in your part of the world, please appreciate where you are.  Know that where you are is where you need to be in order to learn, grow and succeed!  Appreciate that you have the ability to do whatever it is you want to do. Appreciate all of the accomplishments you have made in your life.   Appreciate that you have the ability to brighten someone's day or ask for help and support when you need it.

As you are working towards your dreams and goals, obstacles will definitely come out of nowhere. If you feel that a problem or obstacle you are facing is stronger than you, think again.  You are really capable of handling so much more than you realize! Sure, there may be some obstacles and problems that can really shake you up; however, you must not let them stop your progress towards success.

Obstacles come along for several reasons: To show you how strong you are; To help you get over your fears; to teach you something new; to test your character and to help you be an example to others. Obstacles are absolutely necessary for your success, so, appreciate your obstacles as well.

When you appreciate everything in your life, there will be more to be appreciative for. 

“Wherever you go, whoever you meet, and whatever you do, give love and appreciation, because that is your true nature. How do you know it is your true nature? You feel so good when you are giving it!” – Rhonda Byrne

“Trade your expectation for appreciation and the world changes instantly.” – Tony Robbins