My road is not always easy,
nobody said it would be,
and if you use the word perfect,
I know you’re not referring to me.

But here’s what I do,
Forget the junk behind me,
I set my sights on my higher calling.

And by faith, I’ll apprehend.

–“Press” by Fred Hammond

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I never knew such a thing as ‘comfort zones’ existed until I got older—somewhere during my time in corporate America.

Before then, there was never an instance when I did not jump at the chance of trying something new, or as TD Jakes says, to “reposition myself.” Yet somewhere during my job tenure, I settled with the notion that I would stay exactly where I was—in the exact same job title—until time came for me to retire.

Push Yourself To Leave Your Comfort Zone

Not too long thereafter, the recession hit.

Push Yourself To Leave Your Comfort Zone

It was then—and really the first moment in my life—that I was faced with the realization of a comfort zone. My job, which I held for over a decade, had become mine. And the time had arrived for “the rubber to meet the road,” for me to brainstorm ideas for what I should do next.

Push Yourself To Leave Your Comfort Zone

There was an instinct in me that said, “Easy: just go out and get another job.” However, that voice within me was an ant in comparison to the Goliath voice in me that said I should strike out on my own. And I had the passion, drive, sparkle in my eye, and every “sign” in the world indicating the same. It was new ground, and something I had never attempted before in my life. Yet I had ‘beyond-a-shadow-of-a-doubt’ confirmation that it was the right thing to do.

Push Yourself To Leave Your Comfort Zone

It was then when I discovered how vastly my character had shifted. The time I spent in corporate America had transformed me into this overly shy, quiet, docile, and timid person fueled more by fear than by faith. If I wanted to be in the Divine will of the Universe, it would be imperative that I push myself to depart from all of that. And I made it my mission to do so.

Push Yourself To Leave Your Comfort Zone

No doubt about it, I still have a ways to go. There are moments, situations, and ideas where I still may give pause before proceeding forward. But I still make it a priority to push myself to leave my comfort zones every day. As I look back, I can proudly say that I have indeed come a very long way from where I used to be. And as long as I keep receiving Diving direction, I will keep right on pushing.

Push Yourself To Leave Your Comfort Zone

Do you remember the very first time you pushed yourself out of your comfort zone? How hard do you continue to push to leave your comfort zones today? Share with me below or tell me about it at: melisasource@yahoo.com.

The post How Much Do You Push Yourself To Leave Your Comfort Zone? #NaBloPoMo appeared first on MELISASource.

Let’s face it: feeling stuck in life kicks rocks. It does. I know this for a fact because it happened to me last week (hence my absence from the blog–my apologies).

a Song To Empower Yourself

The gamut of emotions that you go through during a moment of being at a standstill can feel like a ginormous mountain unexpectedly dumped right in front of you. It can cause doubt and uncertainty about how to deal with it. Do you run? Do you stay and try to fight it or go around it? Whichever you chose to do, is it even the absolute best decision, or would it make you much worse off than you were before?

a Song To Empower Yourself

Stop. Right. There. You are truly overthinking the situation.

a Song To Empower Yourself

The above statement is what came to me in the climax of my frustration. Once I heard it, I realized that I was seeing everything as being more complex than it actually was; and that losing sight of my way was an outcome of me losing sight of my power.

a Song To Empower Yourself

Yes: Power.

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See, contrary to belief, when you begin to feel stuck it is not because of a particular life event or external influence. Rather, it is due to forgetting your internal power: the force within to change any situation encountered. Those situations—or for a better term: mountains—are the very thing that you were given power to move and destroy a long time ago.

 .Song-To-Empower-Yourself #empoweryourself #empowerment

Don’t believe me? Look up Matthew 17:20.

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Our faith is what fuels our power. And our power and what makes “feeling stuck” virtually nonexistent.

 .a Song To Empower Yourself

So……why am I saying all of this?

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I want you to know that when ‘life’ happens (as it will) and unsurety starts to creep in, be sure to empower yourself and recharge your faith. Remember: obstacles will always arise, but the power to move and destroy them always resides within you.

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If you need some quick help, just listen to this 3-minute song. 

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.a Song To Empower Yourself

Enjoy this week’s Music Mondays selection, “Only a Mountain” by Jason Castro.

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Know of a song that would be perfect for Music Mondays? Share with me below or tell me about it at: melisasource@yahoo.com.

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The post Music Mondays: Feeling Stuck? A Song To Empower Yourself In 3 Minutes appeared first on MELISASource.

“So much about Jada inspires me, but mostly it is her boldness, bravery, and actions for social good. The talented and beautiful actress is fearless when it comes to speaking out on injustices. She applies that same fearlessness to her career and her family life.”

These are the words that I said about actress Jada Pinkett Smith last month in recognition of the women who most inspire me. And she continues to prove these words to be true with every public appearance and interview she does.

.Jada Pinkett Smith on cnn

Yesterday, Jada stopped by CNN in Executive Director mode to promote the movie “Free Angela,” a documentary showcasing the life of legendary political activist Angela Davis. During the interview however, instead of talking only about the film, Jada used the platform to raise awareness about a host of social issues such as cyberbullying—particularly of young stars such as Justin Bieber, Taylor Swift, and even her own children—and how serious and detrimental it can be. In addition, she voiced her stance on issues such as human trafficking, human rights equality, parenting methods, and relationships. As always, Jada was not afraid to speak openly and honestly about the injustices, scrutiny, and negativity that plagues the media industry.

..Jada Pinkett Smith on cnn

As I watched the interview, I was (as always) in awe of Jada’s empowerment and self-awareness. Even in the moments when the questions asked seemed to attempt to evoke negativity, Jada kept it all upstream, upbeat, and on-the-level; all while being bold, confident, and proud. I was not only entranced by the passion in her words and the poise displayed from beginning to end, but also in the mere fact that she was fearless in speaking them. She is certainly becoming the voice of a generation.

..Jada Pinkett Smith on cnn

Again…..one of the many reasons why Mrs. Smith inspires me in a way that I am sure she inspires many others!

 ..Jada Pinkett Smith on cnn

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You don’t have to take my word for it: take a look at the interview in its entirety below.  I hope that it inspires you to embrace your own fearlessness and use it in full force every day!

..Jada Pinkett Smith on cnn

.Jada Pinkett Smith On CNN

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Did this interview inspire you to embrace your fearlessness? Share with me below or drop me a line at: meliasasource@yahoo.com.

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The post Jada Pinkett Smith On CNN: Bold, Fearless, And Speaking Out For Social Injustice [VIDEO] appeared first on MELISASource.