Where the real light is…
Most of your hard yakka is done behind closed doors but I know you’re a champion.
Immense respect to you for showing up in your life each day for another round.
Through adversity and daily challenges, you keep at it, chiselling away, quiet and determined.
Even when you’re beat and nobody’s cheering you on or ‘liking’ your efforts aloud behind the scenes.
Remember to respect how insanely amazing and worthy you are.
I’m not blinded by showiness or public claims of grandeur… I see in the dark where the real light is; YOURS.
Respect your Bravery
There are so many things to bless in our lives, even the little things, even if all you have is yourself right now, then take heart, this is the exact opportunity for you to be the kindest, most reliable and understanding friend you have.
Believe in yourself, be kind to yourself and don’t get adversity confused with bad luck or unfairness.
It hurts sometimes yes, it’s incredibly difficult sometimes too, let’s face it, sometimes it feels too much.
But the truth is, you’re in training, you’re doing the hard work, you’re pushing for something worthwhile, adversity doesn’t skip town on paying or rewarding you for the hard slog and/or dark times.
No, sometimes we just forget to look at what it’s gifted us.
Sometimes we are so busy and caught up looking at what it took from us that we can’t see what it has left us.
I’m not saying it’s easy, it’s not. But it’s worth it.
Look in the right places and the right direction and keep going. You’re worth it and I’m right here with you, sailing my own seas and you know what, I think of you every day, out there, just like me, doing your very best.
I’m glad you’re on this planet, each one of us matters, each moment matters.
If this moment is hard for you, hold on.
It will turn, it will change, make sure you look for what it becomes.
Lynika
Live out loud
Live from that place in you that knows where the light switch is, trust it.
Dare to live out loud with what drives you, and don’t ever save anything for a special occasion…
Being alive is the special occasion.
“Forget what others can’t see… Keep rising” – Lynika
Have you had someone tell you that what you have going is a nice little case of ‘Hobby’ when in fact you’re working at your craft/business with all the oomph and resource you can muster?
I’ve had a number of folk ask how to keep their faith when another or ‘others’ (sometimes those closest to them) simply don’t recognise or respect the effort and dedication they put in day in and day out as credible.
Often it’s the result of nay-sayers looking through a sole filter of monetary visibility and exchange.
In other words; if there’s not a wage-worth of cash coming in as a result of your efforts, then it can’t be taken as a business, just a ‘hobby’ and you really aren’t contributing in any grown-up, ‘realistic’ way.
Sometimes the negative feedback is a result of the ‘onlooker’ being unable to grasp the depth of work and effort you’re putting in simply because they cannot physically ‘see’ it.
With certain types of work, particularly with artists, (of all genres) the effort behind the product or performance doesn’t show up regularly or quickly in physically viewable ways.
I read a quote a number of years ago on observing the creative, it went something like this: “Trying to watch the creative at work, is like trying to view an invisible horse eat invisible hay”
You simply can’t ‘view’ the alchemy and effort that’s taking place inside the creative mind at any given time.
And if your work isn’t in the arts but never-the-less your efforts and the business you’re growing has been diced, sliced and served back to you on a judgement platter with a side serving of scoff, this inaccurate labelling affects you too.
Building a business takes blood, sweat and tears that mostly take place behind closed doors, and the results can’t be sized up accurately with anyone else’s yardstick.
Just because something isn’t measurable or hauling in thick cash bundles just yet, it doesn’t mean it’s okay for anyone else to minimise it or your efforts as some little ‘hobby.’
This sort of judgement is not only discouraging it can be disorienting. It takes enormous amounts of courage to believe in a thing that others can’t see…
It takes even greater character and fortitude to keep building and working on it, despite nay-sayers and a less than immediate return cash flow.
It’s easy to be the one pointing the finger, this much is clear.
Virginia Satir was right; “We mustn’t allow other peoples limited perceptions to define us”
You’re the one in the ring showing up round after round and no matter what comes at you in that ring, you need to also be calling to yourself from the sidelines like a coach.
Don’t allow anything or anyone that doesn’t support or grow you, to distort the truth, shake you up, or mess with your head.
Pick yourself up and remember the truth…
You’re a freaking legend and what you bring to the table is not here to ‘qualify’ by first checking the boxes in someone else’s ledger.
Against the odds of a world that has been conditioned to believe that money and proof of productivity are necessary to make a thing of value, you rose like a phoenix with your ideas, dreams and goals and showed up.
Forget what others can’t see and keep rising.
You’re a visionary. This world needs what you bring. Keep going.
We can dream and envision great things but without our consistent effort and fortitude, they remain dreams.
Your fortitude is not in vain, it’s the vehicle to success. It will take you there but you need to drive it. -Dr Lynika
Some added ‘elbow grease to success’ support quotes for your day…
“Success is the sum of small efforts, repeated day in and day out.” -Robert Collier
“Persistence is to the character of man as carbon is to steel.” -Napoleon Hill
“For changes to be of any true value, they’ve got to be lasting and consistent.” -Anthony Robbins
“The secret of success is consistency of purpose.” -Benjamin Disraeli
“I’ve learned from experience that if you work harder at it, and apply more energy and time to it, and more consistency, you get a better result. It comes from the work.” -Louis C. K.
Don’t quit on yourself half way. There’s a light in you, protect it, champion it. It will sustain you and lead you back out of the dark – Lynika
We are not our circumstances. We are the being that drives through, over, around or alongside them. Remember who and what you are and keep your foot on the gas pedal.
You’re the driver. You get to decide where to from here. You and you alone OWN your life and the right to live it out loud.
“Nothing in this world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful people with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent. The slogan “press on” has solved and always will solve the problems of the human race” – Calvin Coolidge
-Meryl Streep
This world needs your exact light…
just as you are.
I’m deeply grateful you’re here.
“Truth is, it’s you. You’re the one, the only one who CAN make the difference. Every one else’s support or encouragement are either temporary or part time” – Lynika
When you’re bad-mouthing yourself internally, you’re also listening hard. Remember there IS a recipient on the receiving end of your inner jargon.
Catch yourself whenever you start to put yourself down or discourage yourself. In that very moment STOP and SEE that person as 3D, standing right there in the room with you, looking at you wide eyed, earnestly, waiting to trust and believe whatever comes out of your mouth.
This isn’t a trick, it’s the sad yet honest reality. You’re listening, soaking up every message you send yourself. YOU are the one who can make the difference to yourself. YOU are the most powerful influencer in your life.
Maybe your boss or colleagues are mean, maybe the world bites hard sometimes, maybe your parents weren’t there for you or never understood you, perhaps you were bullied badly or still are, maybe you’ve had an abusive spouse, maybe you’ve felt your whole life that nobody cared and you have never mattered.
All the more reason and PROOF as to why YOU need to be the exact person to show up for yourself. Funny enough, it may feel as if all those other people and events are the ones that could make the difference to your life being good or bad, a success or failure. If only they’d understand or say sorry or back you up.
Truth is, it’s you. You’re the one, the only one who CAN make the difference. Every one else’s support or encouragement are either temporary or part time.
You’re the one constant in your life, the one voice always talking, the one companion always in the room.
Your approval, your belief is what you really need. Those eyes are looking to you, those ears are waiting for you.
Waste no more time looking outward.
And don’t just take some half-baked, casual attitude about it either. Would you convince anyone else that way? No.
You’re no fool and you don’t want some watered down, inner flakey prince or princess charming showing up, asking you to hop on a two legged horse outta there.
Get FIERCE with your life, get protective, get REAL and CHAMPION yourself every moment you can.
You’re listening, start talking.
I want to see you smash the illusions and powerhouse your life.
This world needs you at your best. YOU need you at your best.
This is the moment it all changes forever.
Please share this with anyone and everyone you know who needs to remember how incredible and powerful they really are! – L
Sometimes life calls us to take unplanned yet vital journeys into necessary self care. Shock and bereavement from sudden, multiple losses in my family took me into one of these journeys over the past months.
Those who know me personally or through my work, know I advocate, validate and honour the need for grief, privacy and space for all. Self care is imperative, it is no different when that grief is my own.
Most recently (a few short weeks ago) I lost one of the most beloved people in my life. He mirrored very much the heart I have for this world. We were twin like in that way. Having a birthday (both his, and mine soon) without him, highlights the great space he held in my life and I want to honour that space for a moment here.
He was a gifted singer/musician and incredibly intelligent, loving man, his songs and conversation, his great love for me and this world live limitlessly in my heart and thoughts.
I am blessed to call him my brother, he was my first hero and remains a hero. For all he endured he continued to love deeply and give to others however he could throughout his pain and illness, he was one of the most selfless people I have met.
I have always said life is here and now, this moment right here is our life. More than anything loss is a reminder to live wide and deep in each moment we have. I’ve spoken often on how each moment is also a new years eve. Again loss reminds us to claim and own ourselves, our moments, our lives.
My brother was young, the moments we had together too brief, I cherish each moment and rise with grace and dignity in honour of those who didn’t get the chance to be here long or long enough.
This moment right here, right now, this is your moment, the most precious one you have, love and own them all, stay as present as you can and relish any you get to share with another. There are no time guarantees.
Live out loud.
Live while you’re alive.
Love to you all.
“Failure is par for the road to achievement. Don’t give up mid-rep!” ~ Lynika