TrueToYourself Inc.

Okay, so a friend of mine, Saron, wrote this amazing article about his passion (hip-hop) titled Hip Hop? Not in my Office!. The article details his concern for being true to his passion while entering Corporate America. How do you serve your creativity and still manage to pay the bills? I feel like we, more than any other generation, are struggling with this issue. I think that our parents made the choice that seemed to serve a higher good - be responsible, choose job security. Thus sacrificing their creative drive (for those that had it). It wasn't an easy choice, but they made it.

After reading Saron's article I thought to myself "How could one serve another by denying their own creative interest?". And came up with the only answer I could think of - they can't. Whatever it is that is your passion, whatever drives you, whatever you wake up mornings excited about and go to sleep evenings dreaming about - let that be the defining factor in what you do. You will not serve anyone, especially not yourself, by denying your passion and creative interests. Why do it then? Why does it happen? Is it harder to do the things we feel we "need" to do and defer (or deny) the things we have a desire to do? Or is it harder to take the risk to do what you desire and have a passion for and not concern yourself with the perceived "need"? And what is really defined as a need?

Well, in my opinion, my defined needs are doing the things that drive me, the things that give me purpose and a sense of accomplishment. However, if you ask certain people (i.e., my parents) my defined needs are the things that allow me to be independent and pay the bills. I believe, through fear, we lead ourselves to believe that we cannot be well supported by our passions, especially those of us who have a passion outside of what drives Corporate America. I also believe that the two ideas of what my defined needs are should not be in conflict. But there is priority. My passion should bring me prosperity, and I expect it to. When lined up with my purpose, it will. I don't believe that what you have a passion and purpose for should conflict with what you have a need to do. In fact, I know they are directly in line with each other. Once put into practice, it makes the act of doing what is needed easier, because it doesn't deny what you have a desire to do. It takes integrity and dedication to get to that point for those of us who aren't there currently, but it's well worth the effort.

So I'm going to get started on putting it in practice, because I'm worth it. I am also ready to help anyone else whose ready to get started as well. And I'm all about helping Awesomeness Inc. get underway, and if you don't know what I'm talking about you need to read the article!

Question: Do you think it's possible to do what you're passionate about and gain prosperity from that? Or will it have to be something you do on the side and after your 9-5?

Silly mood.....

I am in the silliest of all silly moods, and for those of you who know me you know what that means - pure madness! But it's all based in love, so it's fun too. So this guy sits next to me at the computer (I'm at the library) and I catch a good whiff of him. OMG, what is about a good smellin ' man that will make you forget he's toothless and 60 (okay this guy wasn't but you know what I'm talking about). All I heard in my mind was "Sex me, baby, baby." Yes I have problems, the biggest of which was I could care less what he looked like! He smelled good as hell! Actually heaven. So I hope he didn't notice me inching towards him, and I hope he doesn't think that I like him. Because, I swear, if I open my eyes while I'm enjoying my mood, my fantasy just might be ruined. What is it about a good smelling man, is it the pheromones ? I just don't get it. Maybe the scent brings back some unconsciously buried memory of an old flame. I just hope I don't start remembering who, because it was obviously buried for a reason. Either way, whatever the reason, I'm going to enjoy my high. There is nothing like a good smelling man........

It's not you...it's me, really!

Okay this post is not what you think it's about, sorry! But maybe I'll address that in another post on another day. Anywho, this post is about people who take things to dang-on personal. Yep, you know you do it, yes I know I do it, but this is for the extremists, the nosy friends, and the I'm-not-lookin-at-your-page-but-I-really-am-to-see-if-you're-talkin-bout-me'ers. Yeah, you know you who are, and this post is definitely about you! So what spawned so much aggression from little Dayna Nicole AKA Sunshine? I've had a couple comments about my posts (I know you feel me on this Relle) about the tone of my posts (posts which I thought were somewhat inspirational - I tried!) and the inspiration behind said posts (namely a few people, past and present). So I decided to respond in one simple and short synopsis (which this may or may not end up being).

This is a public service announcement:

My life doesn't revolve around people, it revolves around me!

What I love, who I love, what I love to do, and the love I have for myGod, mySelf and my life (or momentary lapses of sanity when just the opposite exists). Yes, there is inspiration from everywhere, and there have been recent events in my life that would seem to spawn my creativity. Yes, some of the best love songs, poetry, and art (to name a few things) has been birthed from a tortured soul, someone falling in love, someone falling out of love. But baby, this isn't a love song and I'm not Luther.

So where does your inspiration come from then Dayna? I have friends and I watch TV, I have a love life, and I have had a past, I will have a future, I do have relatives, and oh, maybe quite possibly, I have a brain. I read books, I take walks, I love men, women too, I love my dog and I love my parents. So lets add them up should we, I have just listed 13 or so factors and that is just the tip of the iceberg. I write because I think, and I get to choose what I think about (thank God), I think that's the best out of them all.

I also write because I'm hoping my thoughts help someone somewhere to become inspired. Inspired to do what Dayna? Inspired to do whatever! Write themselves if they think they have something better to say then me! Leave a negative relationship. Eat some good food. Get their behinds off the couch and make something more of their lives. Run around the block. Pick up a new book. Wash their hair. Comment on my blog. Listen to a song, whatever! I'd like to inspire people to lead great lives and inspire myself to lead a better one as well. Hell, I'm selfish, this is about me and I hope and pray that everyone who reads what I write benefits from it greatly. Now, are there anymore questions?

Okay I just needed to vent, back to flowers, pixie dust, and my curls! Take it with a grain of salt and please don't take it personal! It's all LOVE!

Question: Why do you think people take things so personal, when it clearly has nothing to do with them?

I wish someone would have told me....

I wish someone would have told me when I was a child that I can do whatever I want to do, I am a free being, I was created in the flawless image of GOD, I have infinite potential, and there is no need for fear because greatness is my destiny. Yes a lot, more than a mouthful, but I think if I started from that place, understanding my value and the love and support that the Universe (God) has for me, I would have started out in line with my path sooner. I don't believe there is such thing as a "too late" so I'm in line and loving it! But it would have prevented unnecessary struggling. And I could have spent more time loving myself and other people than worrying and judging myself. This post is brought to you by (stole this part from Relle):

MARY, MARY, QUITE CONTRARY


I hope you enjoy!

The Right Place

Have you ever been in a place of sheer joy in anticipation. Remember what it was like to be 8 years old and anticipating your birthday. You're pretty sure about what you're getting, and you're ready to start counting down:

I'll be 9 in 6 days, 15 hours, and 53 minutes....

I'll be 9 in 5 days, 3 hours, and 4 minutes....

I'll be 9 in 1 day, 2 hours, and 37 minutes....

You know it's coming and you know it's good. There is nothing coming in between you and the joy you are expecting. There is joy in expecting! When was the last time you had joy in expecting something? Was it when you were 8? Not just happy or satisfied, but completely elated and overtaken by the idea of something advantageous coming your way. When I'm in line with my blessings and anticipate them so much I can feel it and just about how far away it is, I get joy in expecting.

I am happy about the prospect of getting what I want and I go into a phase akin to what expectant mothers go through - nesting. I actually prepare myself and my environment for my blessing! It's not even a conscious act, I've just now noticed it. But it only happens when I have joy in anticipating what I want. I noticed another thing: when I'm bummed out, upset, feeling awful I couldn't attract (or enjoy for that matter) something great.

So what does this have to do with allowing your blessings?

It is one of my prerequisites for being in line with my blessings - having joy in expecting.

So what does it take to be in line with blessings?

For me, in addition to having joy in expecting, there are other requirements:

1) Where Am I? - I need to know where I am (analyze my current situation, I have to know where I am to know how to get to where I want to be)

2) Seek Help - I gather everyone I know that will aid me through advice, encouragement, and the resources to help me be in line with my blessings and/or help my blessings come to pass. I'm also sure to avoid people who tend to add negativity to my situation.

3) Getting My Mind Right - I keep myself thinking about what I'm anticipating, I keep myself in love with what I'm anticipating. I keep reminders where I can see them. And by all means I keep my attention off the lack of my blessings. I know that it's coming - I feel it coming.

4) Get About Doing! - If I know the steps that I need to take, I get about doing them. If I don't know or it isn't completely clear, I am about the business of doing what feels good and focusing on what's great in my life. Sooner, rather than later, I know I'll be shown the way.

I think a lot of the time most of us know what to do, we just tend to get caught up in the routine of our current life. Start small, if there are 100 steps, start and focus on the first ten and most importantly the first one. Do your best to get and stay in your place of blessing, you know when you're not there, don't you? So do everything in your power to get there, and let the Divine take care of the rest. Be focused, be of single purpose and of sound mind, you're on your way!

Question: What do you do to get yourself in line with what you desire? How do you feel when you're on path/in the right place?

Not Gone, Just Taking a Vay-Cay

So I've been on sabbatical for the last week, not gone just a little reluctant to do anything that resembles work. So since I haven't been inspired (being in a funky mood will do that to you), I took a break from writing, but I'm back....

The Truth...

So I stumbled upon something I put together a couple years ago, while I was redefining myself and in turn what I wanted and expected from a relationship. I noticed how relevant this diagram is to my current situation. I'm trying to cut out all the b.s. and get to what I know a relationship to be. I was always taught that's it's important to get yourself familiar with what you want, so you don't mistake it for something else when it crosses your path. My current state is one of introspection and redefinition. And for me the tail-end of any transitional phase is a new relationship, platonic, romantic, whatever, I'm getting ready to bring new and exciting people into my life. I'd like your opinion, though, on what you think is relevant about this diagram, what you think is inaccurate, or what may need to be added.

If you need a better view of the image click on it:

BlogJacking - For the Ladies

So I'm not one to take what's not mine, I learned that lesson early on in my life. But I just wanted to share an amazing post that I found while surfing the space. I don't necessarily agree with every bullet point but the general idea is completely relevant to my life and I'm sure several of yours. I got to give props to Relle for reposting it.

The post is The Right ONE - Good Read, it is lengthy but take the time to read it, it's a good one!