by: Tabitha D. James 209 weeks ago I made an Instagram post, just a few days shy of my graduation from graduate school at Florida Atlantic University and it said - "This post is dedicated to everyone who has asked or is preparing to ask "what's next" . . If you've known me for an extended period or even just a short while, I'm sure you've witnessed that I'm a go getter . . The question isn't "what's next" it's what's NOT next . . God has a plan for my life and I'm just obediently following his commands . . So with the utmost respect, DO NO ASK me this question . . Just continue to lift me up in prayer and my true destiny shall be unveiled in due time" Let me just take moment to *praise* because eyes haven't seen nor have ears heard all He has planned for me. If you don't read anything else, if you stop right here, I want you to know that life is a journey. Each opportunity, each person you meet, each challenge, each triumph is all apart of something bigger. At that time I really had no idea what was next, I was preparing to move back to South Carolina, embark on the job search and continue learning. I had a specific criteria for what I wanted and though many tried to sway my desires, I held fast to faith and purpose. Four years later, life looks nothing like what I thought or even imagined, trusting God, working hard and literally wandering into the unknown has yielded so many amazing opportunities and benefits, I am truly grateful for it all. Now has it been easy, uh, NO! Has it been worth it, YES! Every challenge has made me stronger, every perceived failure was just a learning opportunity in disguise. It is my hope that the piece below will motivate, inspire and help to uplift someone reading it, enjoy :) And still . . Don't ask me what's next . . The best is yet to come! Sweat + Sacrifice = SuccessSweatSweating, literally, there was a point in time when I was in Sunny South Florida with NO AIR unless my car was in motion and instead of getting it fixed, I used my "extra" money to travel to conferences and other exposure related activities. As I would sit in traffic, hot, often tired from working more hours than the law should allow, I would wonder, "why am I here?", "why is this so hard?" . . . Eventually I did get my air fixed so the physical sweat wasn't a big deal but the mental sweat was at all time high. The subconscious pressure to achieve and have it all figured out was weighing heavy. Here i am 22-years old, bent but not broken, out here in the world trying to be great yet not even knowing what great means. I really wish I could call that young lady and tell her, "it will all be okay, you're on the right path"! Moving away from my norm provided a plethora of opportunities to not only meet new people and engage in an amazing learning environment, but I got to get to know someone very special, MYSELF! I must admit there were times when I was homesick and depressed but they were far and few in-between after a few months. For one, I was too busy to think about it and for two it was quite amazing to begin soul searching and developing my own sense of identity and purpose. The mental sweat was real, shoot, it still is but I have an imaginary handkerchief that allows me to wipe and keep going; find yours, use it and keep going! SacrificeA whole book, I can write a whole book on the sacrifice. Since about 17 the sacrifice has been REAL! Don't get me wrong, I have had some GOOOOD times but I have also worked hours and hours and MORE HOURS chasing my goals. The race is not given to the swift nor the strong; victory belong to those that keep on moving! There are seasons in life -- some seasons are meant to plant and others to grow, needless to say, the planting, the sprouting and the blossoming all happen at different times. Recognize your season, accept your season and make it "do what it do"! From tv to music to finances to entertainment to friendships to relationships and the list gone on, the sacrifice has been REAL. Shoot it still is -- "temporary sacrifice for ultimate success". No, is one of my favorite words. My time, talents and resources have to be carefully used for things that make sense for the bigger picture; often times that doesn't make sense to folx and I'm okay with that. I have to do what's best for me and I hope you do the same. Even leisure activity is strategically planned so that it aligns in a way that makes sense for me; the only "spontaneity" I need in this season is God ordained spontaneity. SuccessStill pending. . . . There have been some MAJOR wins but as stated previously; the best is yet to come! Sweat + Sacrifice = SuccessPut in the work, take the chances, trust the process and watch magic happen. As you go through life remember that you aren't the first nor will you be the last to have confusion, struggle, disappoint and the similar. Continue believing in yourself and believing in what God, the universe and the combination thereof has for you -- live out the equation!
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by: Tabitha D. James Your playing small. Does not serve the world. There's nothing enlightened about shrinking. So that other people won't feel insecure around you. -Marianne Williamson, Our Deepest Fear You were not born to play small, you were not created to simply exist. Rather you were born with a "silver spoon" or "no spoon", you were placed here to be great and do great things. Do not allow anyone or anything to make you feel like you are not enough to win in life. Never submit to thinking that your dreams are too irrational simply because someone doesn't understand them or because you do not have it all figured out today. If you are serious about your dreams convert them into goals with actionable steps and I promise you can be successful. Speaking of successful, lets address that this word is an adjective meaning it describes something. It is not definite, it is subjective. One may say, Tabitha you're successful because you completed college or graduate school or because I am an author or business owner. Someone else may say I'm successful because I volunteer my time to help build organizations that matter or because I authentically share my story. I may personally say, I am successful because I got up this morning and got dressed or because I finally cleaned my room. See what I am doing here, I am showing you that success can be defined in various ways. Don't allow someone else to create your definition of success, create your own! On the same wave, do not downplay your achievements, take the time to clap for your wins! I am not going to ramble on, this entry is meant to be direct, STOP PLAYING SMALL! Set goals and go after them, focus on your personal development and do not be afraid to fail. Accept yourself flaws and all, surround yourself with folks that push you toward who you desire to be while concurrently respecting you and your boundaries. Lastly, just as I shared on my most recent IGTV video, DO IT SCARED! Even when you don't have it all figured it out . . . Stop playing small and go for it! Click Here to check out the video mentioned in this post, you won't regret it!
by: Tabitha D. James Take a step back . . .Think back to being in grade school, transition was integrated into life without a thought. Going to the next grade, studying the next topic in class, trying new projects, playing with a new set of friends and so on. At that point in life, it was inevitable that you trust transition. Once one grade was completed, you had to go on to the next, not knowing what to expect, you had to do it. In our adult lives we often lose touch with the ability to trust transition. There is something about the norm that makes us feel secure and provides comfort however nothing truly grows in the comfort zone. Right?! TrustTrust is defined as the belief that someone or something is reliable, good, honest or effective. Trusting transition is to believe that something you're slightly unsure about is going to work in your favor. It is your duty to find peace in the unknown and remain consistent in your personal efforts to put your best foot forward despite uncertainty. Beautiful things occur outside of our comfort zones. Success leaves clues and after listening to several success stories, including my own, one thing remains constant -- the process is never clear from the beginning. If we had to ability of foresight as it relates to our life, we would be too afraid to push forward, the magnitude of what we're actually capable of would truly frighten us. If we fail to learn that transition is a part of the process, it is highly likely that we will become stagnant. Things such as staying in positions that no longer serve us instead of going for the promotion or trying something new, keeping people around who are toxic just because we "knew them forever", allowing opportunities to pass us by and being afraid to go outside of our environment will become normal. Don't let this be your narrative! A little More . . .In my most recent podcast episode, I dive a little deeper into this topic about trusting transition while also sharing a few gems from the 2019 Women in Philanthropy Conference and make reference to the best-selling memoir Becoming. From both the occasion and the read, it was revealed a countless amount of times, you have to trust the transition. Furthermore, having an attitude of gratitude has a direct correlation to true success. The more you are grateful for, the more you have. You can listen to this episode on iTunes, SoundCloud or GooglePlay Music. ChallengeI am challenging you to take a chance on you -- try the yoga class, take the trip, apply for the job, taste a dish, reach out to someone you admire but don't know personally -- trust yourself, trust the transition.
by: Tabitha D. James First things first, let me provide some context around the title for folks in the audience who may not be familiar with the terminology. According to my friends over at Urban Dictionary , snatched has taken the place of slang colloquialisms such as "on fleek", "slayed", "on point", etc. For lack of better terms this piece is a quick inspirational message to help you get your life, mind and whole existence together. Second ground rule, this may not be for you if: you are 1) not in a season of growth, 2) not preparing for a season of growth or 3) open-minded to an opinion that may indeed be different than that of your own. You can politely exit now and I won't be offended because this is a segment for the person growing, aspiring to grow or just simply open-minded and interested in seeing what it's about. Made it this far? Cool - let's chat! Trying to juggle yourself, your family, your personal life, your career, your health, your well-being and the list goes on --- is HARD! Yes, we're eating Kale and juicing but what are we feeding our minds? How often are we taking time to reflect on what's really going on? I said this would be quick, so let me get to the point, the meat and potatoes Sounds and Surroundings - that's it - two very powerful things . . Let's go! SoundsSounds, auditory impressions . . What are you hearing? What are you listening to? Who are you listening to? How is it impacting your life? What do you listen to in the car or at your desk? Trap? Gospel? Soul? Pop? A combination of it all? No music -- Podcast? Radio interviews? The news? -- Whatever it is, be sure it is serving you because in this season I am challenging you to be intentional with what you hear, the sounds you consume. Auditory IMPRESSIONS, meaning they don't just come and go, they leave something. Sounds have an impact. On personal account, I have decreased my music consumption by 85 percent. I am typically listening to inspirational podcast, business podcast, sermons or occasional news. When I do consume music it is typically old hits, gospel or smooth jazz. Not because i don't enjoy hip-hop but because in this season I need the words, melodies and all else to reflect what I desire to consume. Now don't run and say I told you not to listen to music because that's not where I'm going with this. I am however challenging you to pay attention to what you are listening to in this season. The music types, the news/media you're consuming, the podcasts (yes, podcast, they exist and they're dope) -- all of that matter -- let's a go a bit deeper to add the people you are talking to -- who is in your ear? SurroundingsWho are your people? What are your typical conversation topics? Are you talking abundance and growth or drama and confusion? Do you feel fulfilled after the chat(s) or so drained that you need a nap? Take a few minutes to access your CURRENT surroundings . . . Okay minutes up -- are the people you are currently allowing to speak to you, borrow your time and have the privilege of being in your space worthy? Are they healthy for who you are becoming? If you are feeling a little uneasy and wondering if your surroundings are tainted . . sad news . .they probably are, however it is OKAY! We all get stuck in toxic environments every now and again especially with our loved ones, friends and colleagues. Often times these are people we spend the bulk of our time with and become numb to their actual impact on our thoughts and well-being. Here's my OPINION -- decide rather you need to let them go indefinitely (some folks are seasonal), put them on pause (take a little break) or keep them while lessening the time you spend in their presence. This is GOLDEN in the snatch! Don't drop the ball on this one! While working to "gather your life", having like-minded individuals in your circle is like finding water in the middle of the desert - JACKPOT! While aligning with like-minded folks (because I know you will if this is a problem area) remember to mix in peers, superiors and those who are as driven as yourself but may be in a completely different industry. Well-versed, valuable connections have the ability to take you from idea to incubation, from depressed to destiny, from dreaming to doing. Don't believe me -- try it! If your surroundings are already TOP-NOTCH, I have unique challenge for you -- make those resources WORK FOR YOU! Get out of your own way, take some risks and level-up using your established network! The SnatchAlright , we talked sounds, we talked surroundings . . now it's time to talk about the snatch. I am guaranteeing you (yep, I am just that confident) that if you pay more attention to what you hear, what you say, who you chat with and the actions you take as a result -- you will inertly see what gaps exist in your current life structure. You will begin to see who and what can go. You will develop your own "snatch formula" that will help you to "snatch your life". We deserve a quick snatch, not only because as I type this we are just shy of one month from a new year but also because it's time. We've been working, we've been developing -- it's time to be intentional of our auditory consumption, the space between our ears is precious, let's treat it as such. There you have it, a quick snatch -- have a beautiful holiday season and end of the year. If you're reading this later than the original post date, it's okay, everyday can be the start of the new year or season :) Never stop growing!
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