AZA Means Strength

Do you know that feeling you get when you have done something right? You feel that every decision that you've made was correct or you gave some needed advice? It's a great feeling huh? Living up to your own expectations and standards is the best thing that anyone can do. All decisions that you've made were based off of previous experiences of your self or something you've seen someone else go through. You smile to yourself and pat yourself on the back! But what do you do when you do not make all of the right decisions or you gave the wrong advice? How do you treat yourself then? We all have the tendency to be harder on ourselves than anyone else, and often times do not think that we are worthy of anything. Or even worst, we allow others perception of us dictate who we are and who we will become. I have learned through the years that when others are not happy with who they are, they try to put their perception of themselves on you. Often times, their perceptions and our

Employ the power of positive quitting. Most of us view quitting as something negative, but it’s not. ‘Winners never quit,’ we’re told, when, in reality, winners quit all the time: choosing to stop doing things that aren’t creating the results they desire. When you quit all the things that aren’t working for you, when you quit tolerating all the negative things that hold you back, you’ll create a positive ‘charge’ in your life as well as create the space in your life for more positive experiences. "I like thinking of possibilities. At any time, an entirely new possibility is liable to come along and spin you off in an entirely new direction. The trick, I've learned, is to be awake to the moment." -- Doug Hall Persons and societies do not submit passively to surroundings and events. They make choices as to the places where they live and the activities in which they engage -- choices based on what they want to be, to do and to become. Furthermore, persons and societies

"One must still have chaos in oneself to be able to give birth to a dancing star." -- Nietzsche Where do you need to do some ‘out of the box’ thinking and living? We are creatures of habit, of patterns. While initially the habits may have served us, they may now be limiting our ability to experience more of life. What aspect of your life has become routine? How might you bring new life to it? Do some outrageous dreaming! Then do something completely different today. "When you do the common things in life in an uncommon way, you will command the attention of the world." -- George Washington Carver

There have been so many people who have lost their jobs, with losing their jobs, they have lost their homes, their cars and so many other things that they have worked hard for. Losing everything is hard to accept and at times some are not able to move on because they become depressed about the situation and feel that there is no hope. I know that this may seem easier said than done, but moving on is needed. I have said often times in the past that God allows one door to close for another one to open and with every experience there is a lesson learned. We learn about ourselves, the situation and what we are capable of. When I made the decision to start my own business, I knew that it would take a lot of work, patience and understanding of myself and others. I made this decision to work for myself when I worked for an employer that mandated overtime and gave me hours that took me away from my family. I made the decision that I wanted to have the flexibility and freedom to set my own hou

Smiling is infectious, you catch it like the flu, When someone smiled at me today, I started smiling too. I passed around the corner and someone saw my grin When he smiled I realized I'd passed it on to him . I thought about that smile then I realized its worth, A single smile, just like mine could travel round the earth. So, if you feel a smile begin, don't leave it undetected Let's start an epidemic quick, and get the world infected!

Procrastination seriously drains our energy and our morale. What remains undone nags at us.  What are you avoiding? Make a list of items and then review each one. Does it really need to be done? After you've reviewed your list, prioritize it and start one task today.  Please do not procrastinate taking one minute to write down your answer to this question. Capture it on paper and this will help build awareness, commitment and discipline. "The greatest amount of wasted time is the time not getting started." -- Dawson Trotman

“Smile at each other, smile at your wife, smile at your husband, smile at your children, smile at each other -- it doesn't matter who it is -- and that will help you to grow up in greater love for each other.”                       ~ Mother Teresa We live in a time where people do not see the value in others. There are so many people who are concerned with the needs of self that they turn away from the needs of others. There is a quote by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr that stands out to me, "Everybody can be great...because anybody can serve. You don't have to have a college degree to serve. You don't have to make your subject and verb agree to serve. You only need a heart full of grace. A soul generated by love." Giving back does not require much, all you have to do is remember one thing, No act of kindness, however small, is ever wasted.

No matter what race or color, every woman has the right to feel "Beautiful"

One of the goals of AZA Means Strength is to acknowledge individuals who make positive contributions in the life of others. Today's Spotlight is about Shonda Story and Beautiful in Your Skin. "Beautiful In Your Skin was designed to be the encouragement a woman needs to get to her journey of a more happy place". AZA:   According to Your Facebook page, Beautiful in Your Skin was created to show your personal journey in becoming a better you, what was your journey that led you to inspiring others? BIYS: My entire life, I have been active.   In elementary school leading up to college, I was either on Cheer leading or the dance team.   College is where my love for working out and teaching aerobics began.   After I graduated, I didn’t hit the gym that often and ate with no restriction.    I kept gaining weight and the only thing that took the weight off was regular trips to the Diet Doctor.   Taking diet pills helped me lose weight but when I stopped taking them, I

We see the brightness of a new page where everything yet can happen. — Rainer Maria Rilke Don't ask yourself what the world needs. Ask yourself what makes you come alive, and then go do it. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive. — Harold Thurman Whitman You gain strength, experience and confidence by every experience where you really stop to look fear in the face. You must do the thing you cannot do. — Eleanor Roosevelt Reach high, for stars lie hidden in your soul. Dream deep, for every dream precedes the goal. — Pamela Vaull Starr I'm not afraid of storms for I'm learning how to sail my ship. — Louisa May Alcot

Our world is what we make of it. Changing our way of thinking can change the world around us. You are the only person who can decide whether or not you will have a great day or if your day will suck. You are the one who can allow others to make you smile or if they steal your joy. You are the Master of your Fate and you can decide what path you want to go. I remember being told as a young girl that I would end up pregnant at 16, not finish high school and amount to nothing. I defeat the odds. I turned those negative sayings into positive and became the opposite of what others thought I would be. I told myself early in life that I will not allow anyone to dictate my future. I know that it can be hard especially if you are in a negative environment or around people who do not encourage you, but sometimes you have to encourage yourself and speak life into your situations. Remember, there is life and death in the tongue. Be encouraged and know that with God all things are possible!

No More Smalling Up Of Me  Jean Wilson     No more meekly saying 'yes' When my heart is screaming 'no' No more taming of my feelings So my power won't show No more hiding my exuberance From disapproving eyes No more watering down myself So my spirit won't rise No more 'smalling up' of me Pretending I am not here No more running from the music And the spotlight's glare No more living in this prison Barricaded by my fears No more turning and retreating In the face of new frontiers Even as I am speaking I am taking shape and form Harnessing my powers Like a gathering storm There's no obstacle so bold As to dare stand in my way I am taking back my life And I am doing it today.

How do you ration your passion? In what situations have you experienced your life to the fullest? Do you live your passion as fully as you can?  How do you limit your experience of passion? Passion emerges when your essence expresses itself. How do you stop yourself from fully expressing who you are? "Without passion man is a mere latent force and possibility, like the flint which awaits the shock of the iron before it can give forth its spark." -- Henri Frederic Amiel

During these tough times it can be difficult to trust anyone but ourselves. We need to remember that it is God's will for us to be in fellowship with others. I posted this song and I hope that it can encourage you to love your neighbors and respect them regardless of who they are and what their past is! Be Blessed everyone!!!

I hope that I can leave my mark on the world in a positive way! I want to be a positive influence on someone who has no guidance or have no idea how to get started. I hope that I can say something that will make someone smile. That is why I have this blog, to let people know that anything is possible. To be a positive light in a bright world. To let someone know that it will be okay and yeah life is hard, but it is all worth it! I "If you accept a limiting belief, then it will become a truth for you." -- Louise Hay Pick one aspect of your life, e.g. your health, your competence, your prosperity or relationships, and think back to when you were a child. What messages about this subject did you hear from adults at that time that are still playing on your subconscious tape recorder? Messages like: "Men can't be trusted." "Money doesn't grow on trees." "You're not smart enough

For Brianna Pickett.  Rest In Paradise!