“I don’t want to end up simply having visited this world.”
Live while you’re alive, right now this moment, this one and the next, these moments are your life.
Live in all your bones, don’t settle for someone else’s version of you or your life.
You came here to be you.
Live that amazing self out loud.
“When it’s over, I want to say: all my life I was a bride married to amazement. I was the bridegroom, taking the world into my arms.
When it is over, I don’t want to wonder if I have made of my life something particular, and real. I don’t want to find myself sighing and frightened, or full of argument.
I don’t want to end up simply having visited this world.”
-Mary Oliver
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.
Action must follow suit
Abraham Lincoln said, “Reputation is the shadow. Character is the tree.“
Our reputation is what we try to display and profile for others to see, but character is who we are when no one is watching.
Having Good Character means doing the just and right thing solely because it is intelligent, respectful and honourable to do what is right.
Anybody can dish out promises and good ‘intentions’, but unless action follows suit those same words disintegrate into empty waffle and impactful lies, leaving the recipient at the very least; rightfully wary.
If this becomes a repetitive action, it’s not an accident, it’s chosen behaviour and it will ultimately destroy trust, relationships, and sabotage success in life.
There is nothing more attractive, enjoyable and rewarding than interacting with and being associated with someone with good character.
Be of good Good Character in all things and only associate with those who possess the same.
Anything less is not worth the time, angst, cost or heartbreak.
Choose wise and only allow what is healthy to grow in and around you.
Life is too short to play games with peoples lives or to let others play havoc with 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
“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.
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
“Bon appetit my friends… Here’s to a healthy, hearty, live-in-all-your-bones kind of life!” ~ Lynika
Take up space, holler while you’re driving, or running in the wind; breathe all the way out, laugh loud, make sand, leaves, or carpet angels (who needs snow?).
You are meant to be here, you have a right to take up space on this planet.
Live in all your bones. We NEED you. Be proud of yourself, exactly as you are, this minute, this moment.
YOU are freaking awesome, you amazing miraculous, breathing, feeling, worthy being.
Please share this with anyone you know who is breathing… we all need moments where someone sees us and celebrates the amazing miracle we are, just as we are.
~Lynika