Your Life as You Know it is a Success

Okay! I was a little distracted for the past few days but I finally completed book #3 "A New Earth Awakening to Your Life's Purpose" by Eckhart Tolle.

After completing this book, there was one thing that I know for sure, "I will inspire countless people with my work and enrich their lives." Dare I dream BIG? Without our dreams where would we be? This book has reiterated what I've known all along, "being present in the moment." Why are you waiting for whatever to happen to make you a success or make you happy? Your life as you know it is a success. Happiness is in the here and now it's up to you to create your happiness no one else can do that for you. It's so easy for us to concentrate on the negative about something, someone or even ourselves often sabotaging great things in our lives. If we replace those negative feelings with positive ones it will outshine the negative. Stop looking at what you don't have and start looking at what you have and appreciate it. Look at your significant other and concentrate on the good things about them and why you love them, and don't sweat the small stuff. See yourself as who you feel you are and it will manifest. If you don't like who you are or your situation, then make the appropriate changes with a positive heart. Stop dwelling on why your life is not this way or that way. It’s the way it’s supposed to be at this present moment. You may have heard these things time and time again, but have you taken the time to actually explore it?

I have always had a positive outlook on life and no matter what I was going through I wouldn't concentrate on the tragedy, I would concentrate on the lesson and I always asked myself, "What was the lesson there? Why did I go through that?" Each time the lesson was revealed to me and helped me bring closure to the situation and move on from there. To others it seemed as if I had moved on quickly but to me it was just a lesson learned.


Book # 4 "Unlimited Power" by Anthony Robbins & Joseph McClendon III

Being Present in The Now

While my husband was at work, I decided to have a date with myself to see the movie "Eat Pray Love" starring Julie Roberts, based on Elizabeth Gilbert’s Best Selling book. I enjoyed the movie so much I think I may have to add it to my list. This was an amazing story about a woman's journey of self discovery. As I watched the movie I thought of myself and how many of us are on a quest to discover who we really are. At one time or another we all ask ourselves, "What is my purpose? Am I living my best life? Who am I really? Is this all there is?" Being fulfilled is what we’re truly in search of and some may think by accumulating material things will fill the void, but it never does. So we walk around day after day playing characters in this film called "Life" and we perform our roles so well we have others believing it. But behind it all there is an eagerness to figure it all out, to understand the bigger picture which is probably so complex it will drive us crazy if we think too hard about it. Or maybe it's not meant for us to understand at all. Maybe it's just as simple as enjoying the moment, being in the here and now. Life can be very serious if we allow it to be but it's up to us to take it for what it's worth and just enjoy the ride. As my mother always told me, "Stop and smell the roses."


I've always believed in planning for tomorrow but being present in the "Now"

My Shining Star Moments

Two books down, 28 to go! I am 3 days into my 90 day challenge and have completed Terry McMillan's "The Interruption of Everything." Although the book was a little slow in the beginning, I managed to get through it and complete it, just as I promised myself I would do. I must say I have rejuvenated my relationship with reading in a way that I have never felt before and I am excited about that! Eckhart Tolle's "A New Earth Awakening to Your Life's Purpose" is next on the list which ironically, for me is an appropriate read for this moment.

A few things happened within the past few days which were shining star moments for me. First, I attempted to do something I’ve only done one time before and that was making my mother’s famous chili. I promised myself I would cook healthier foods, would chili be considered healthy? Well it was turkey chili and it had beans in it and wasn’t filled with grease so yes, the way I made it was healthy (lol). I don’t mean to toot my own horn, but “toot toot” I did a great job, of course not like my mother’s but still very tasty, at least my husband was happy with it. Almost mastering my Mother’s chili, priceless!

I was in the dressing room trying on clothes yesterday and to my surprise, I was a dress size smaller than what I normally wear. You know I felt like that woman in the commercial who screams out “YES! YES! YES!” when she realizes she lost weight, I thought I had an out of body experience or maybe this was a trick mirror or something. To be sure I tried on the next dress then the next and after 2 more dresses went back to the first one. Well, there was no trick mirror after all, I haven’t worked out in 2 weeks but I have been eating right most of the time. This was a surprising shining star moment for me. Thank God for Miracles!

Speaking of working out, one reason I started this blog was to follow through with the promises and goals I make for myself, with that being said, Monday, August 23rd (which happens to be my little brothers birthday) will be the first day of the rest of my fitness life. I am challenging myself to workout 4 to 5 days a week for the next month to condition myself to make this lifestyle change permanent. I have always worked out but it was never consistent accept when I was in LA working out with my friend Kim (miss you girl) 5 days a week 6AM in the morning, running the hills in Burbank, we were dedicated and determined. I will regain that same dedication and focus here in NC. I will not be a slacker, and I will follow through. I am excited and up for the challenge! I will blog about it so there is no excuse for me to just do it!

My challenge for the next 90 days

I joined the social networking site "Written" which is for readers and writers and was brought to my attention by my friend Phill. I felt since I am on the verge of being an avid reader and I consider myself a decent writer I may as well join. I was browsing the site when I saw something that really caught my eye, it read, "Read 30 books in 90 days - Are you up for the challenge?" Hummm.... now I'm not one to back away from a challenge but I was thinking to myself, "I have about 3 books in which I have started but have yet to finish. Now will be the perfect time for me to complete what I started." I must say, this challenge came at a good time because ironically, I did manage to complete Sister Souljah's "The Coldest Winter Ever" which by the way was not a bad read and I actually enjoyed it. So since I got through that book in literally 3 days, I decided to commit to the challenge, and read 30 books in 90 days which started yesterday for me and will end November 18th.

I'm currently reading "The Interruption of Everything" By Terry McMillan. One book down, 29 to go.

The Promise to Self

I made a promise to myself to be a better person. I have work to do! I always make a list of goals to set for the new year instead of resolutions, some goals are met at the end of the year and others, are sometimes incomplete and mentally put to the side. Well today is a new day, on this day I will make a commitment to myself to complete those unfinished projects. No more procrastination, waiting until tomorrow, setting tasks aside or getting to it later. Today is the first day of recommitting myself to me. I decided to blog about it because I know if it's visible I have to be accountable and if it's not written down or there is no documentation or completion date then I procrastinate. So here's my oath:
"I Evette Merritt, take this day to commit myself to me in order to live my best life. This is not only for me but also for my family. I understand it starts with me first and if I do not take care of myself, I cannot take care of others. I pledge to complete unfinished projects, read books that I have on my shelf but have yet to read, exercise on a regular basis without procrastination pushing myself to the limit every time, cook healthier meals, reorganize my office, complete home projects, explore more of what North Carolina has to offer. Continue to enjoy life as I have always done, explore new things and take new adventures. Nurture new friendships, and cherish old ones. Make my money work for me and not the other way around, continue to grow my business and most importantly work along side my partner in crime a.k.a. my husband to achieve our goals together, this is just the icing on the cake and only a few things which I will implement in my life in order to live my best life. On this day, I pledge to Commit Myself to Me.