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I can’t think of a single thing involving risk that does not also involve fear.  The word risk itself evokes fear even before any action is taken.  For the purpose of this post, let’s just use one of Merriam-Websters definition:

Risk:  possibility of loss or injury.  

The possibility of loss or injury is what makes taking risk so scary.  However, we would never consider the repercussions of risk if there were not some some reward involved. In other words, there must be something that you want very badly and that want involves taking a risk to get.  To be clear, I am in no way talking about any risk associated with breaking the law so let’s get that out of the way.

I think the game totally changes when we stop focusing on the risk and focus more on the reward.  Risk therefore takes a back seat to the worthiness of the reward.  The strong desire of getting the reward overpowers the fear of loss or injury.  When we focus on the reward, we don’t have time to focus on the possibility of loss.  The reward or pressing on toward the reward can reduce the fear of loss while powering up the drive to keep reaching for the reward.

If you’ve lived in fear as a way of life, this will not be an easily actionable item, but give the shift a try.

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This is a direct birthday message to Donna T. Brown from your 1 Word Book Co-authors.  Sell all videos below.

This is a direct birthday message to Donna T. Brown.

It’s ya birthday. It’s ya birthday day and it’s just like you not to have mentioned that you had a birthday coming up when we all met last week for dinner.

In addition to this birthday greeting, I want to thank you for all of the joy and laughter that you bring to the world by way of Mrs. Mattie J and we’ve all learned that It’s Ok 2 Laff N Church.  I don’t know where you got her from, but I hope that she just keeps getting bigger and bigger.

I’m looking forward to the day when I see her name in lights and that all of your fans will make that happen.  Yes, that’s right, I said “fans” because that’s what we all so get used to it (lol).

You know D. Green Joseph made the suggestion last week that you start tagging celebrities that can help draw some attention to Mrs. Mattie J because it’s about time to recognize that the world needs a hefty dose of Mattie J.

Here’s to wishing you a happy birthday, a great New Year, and elevation of your comedic career.

Love ya girl.

“Friends. How many of us have them?  Friends.  Ones we can depend on.  Friends.  How many of us have them?  Friends….” Lyrics by Whodini

I can’t help but think about Facebook (FB) when I think about the true meaning of friends.  Several of my FB friends are actually real friends – the ones I interact with daily or at least face to face or by telephone on a regular basis.  Others are acquaintances – simply people that I have formed a connection with through various life events and activities.

Truth be told, I doubt if we would invite all the so-called FB friends into our homes.  We would, however, be selective and only invite those people we deem special or close.  I heard this said about “true” friends – they are your “personal executive council”.  This council should consist of people who have your back and those you can put your confidence and trust in.  They will correct you and put you in check (lovingly).  He or she is an encourager and cheerleader and is never threatened by your success, or by others being a part of your life.  They are companions, not competitors.  I can remember my mother saying that she could count her “true” friends on one hand, can you?

Don’t settle for the watered down, diminished version of a friend, but rather surround yourself with those who love, protect and stand by you in and out of season.
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Lately I’ve been eyeballing all of the books on my bookshelf that I have yet to read and even though they lie in wait, I’m steadily adding new books to the pile.  I stumbled across Year of Yes: How to Dance It Out, Stand In the Sun and Be Your Own Person, by none other than Shonda Rhimes. Yep, Shonda Rhimes of Scandal fame, Grey’s Anatomy and How to Get Away With Murder, just to name a few.Thus far, I’ve only read the sample Kindle download that I was able to view after ordering the book.  I’m looking for the

Thus far, I’ve only read the sample Kindle download that I was able to view after ordering the book.  I’m looking for the book to seriously change the way that I look at things and how I respond to life in general.  How many times have we all said that?  But I mean it this time.  I really do (as always right).

You see, I already know that I’m a “no” person because I’m so attached to my level of comfort.  There you have it, the Comfort Zone Queen is spilling the beans.  But that’s really not news.  Afterall, almost all of my writings (blogs, journaling, books, etc), reflect that comfort zone cage, even when I think it doesn’t.   While admitting such used to bring shame upon myself, I’ve learned and am learning to embrace the me that I am with all of my faults.  Besides, how can I change what I don’t acknowledge?  Love me, like me or leave me…. I still am who I am by God’s grace.

There are a half dozen things that I can think of off the top that I could say yes to:

1. Time with family
2. Dating
3. Travel
4. Going out more
5. Socializing more
6. Consistency

Trust me when I say, this is the super short list.  Catch me on the other side of the book and I’ll share what lightbulbs went off in my head and what all I’ve decided to say yes to.

What can you stand to say yes to in the coming year?

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Everyone has words in their vocabulary that they’ve discovered, reflected upon, and connected with in a way that can prove to have the power to transform self and others.  What’s your 1 Word, at least for this day?

Recently I began a study using the book You’re Already Amazing:  Embracing Who You Are, Becoming All God Created You to Be,  by Holly Gerth. I came across the title while browsing through a Christian bookstore that is going out of business.  I purchased the workbook in the store and ordered the book online.  You can check out the book on Holley’s website.

Anyway, in Chapter 2:  Who Am I, Really, there was a list of 50 words and the instructions were to circle three words that I could identify as my strengths. I went through the list,  word after word after word, and before I knew it, I was at the end of the list and not one word had I circled.  Not a single word.  I paused for thought as I usually do and determined that surely out of 50 of these words I have to be strong in at least three and even if not three, then at least one.  “Okay, Charita I said to myself, go back through this list and this time quit doubting yourself and give yourself some credit.  You know darn well you’re good at something.”  Again I would up at the end of the list and a not a single word did I circle. Isn’t it so like us (people in general) to be so hard on ourselves and not give ourselves enough credit?

Holley suggested that if I were still having trouble, perhaps I could reach out to a circle of people that I know and ask them to identify what they view as one or more of my strengths.  The first thought that came to mind as the quickest and easiest way to get a response was to post the question on Facebook. But oh no, what if no one responds?  Would I take that as a sign that people could not identify any strengths that I may have?  How embarrassing would that be if absolutely no one responded?  How embarrassed would I be to know how little people thought of me?  Then with a smile, I thought about G. Michelle Hale, one of the co-authors of the 1 Work Book.  At the book launch, she talked about “Singing Your Own Song.”   Singing our own song sets us apart and no matter what people think, we have to think enough of ourselves to bring out the best in us.  We have to dare to be different.

Strengths:  We All Have Them

I reflected on G. Michelle’s words and what I had read up to that point in the book and workbook.  I recalled something that went a little like this:  we are our best selves when we embrace ourselves as God created us to be.  I marinated on that a little and I went back to that list of 50 and it seems that my hand compelled me to circle 6 words.

Following that exercise, there was what Holley called a “Strength Test” and strength was an acronym for:

• Service
• Time
• Relationships
• Energy
• Natural
• Glory
• Trials
• Heart

After each word was a description of what the word represented and how it applied to my strength.  I was to answer yes or no as to whether each of the strengths I identified with related to those descriptions.  The answers:  Resounding yeses in all 7 categories.  Do I have more that 6 strengths?  I imagine so, however, what I know for sure is that:

1. I am funny
2. I am hardworking
3. I am honest
4. I am reflective
5. I am resilient
6. I am trustworthy

Yep.  All of those things are a part of who God created me to be.  All of those things are the strengths that God gave me and what’s more is that “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” Phillipians 4:13 NIV

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Everyone has words in their vocabulary that they’ve discovered, reflected upon, and connected with in a way that can prove to have the power to transform self and others.  What’s your 1 Word, at least for this day?

D. Green Joseph, co-author of the 1 Word Book, is an innately gifted space stylist (at least that’s what I call her).  So what’s a space stylist?  In short, a space stylist is someone that uses what you already have in your home or office and repurposes or restyles it for an entirely different atmosphere in your desired space.  If what you currently have in your home doesn’t quite measure up to what you’d like your home to look and feel like, Denise can help you find solutions for that too.  As Managing Partner of Let’s Go Solutions (LGS), Denise says LGS is your single source for innovative personal and professional space organization, redesign, upgrade, restyle and repurpose.

When you meet Denise, you can tell that she’s a class act personally and professionally so it won’t come as a total surprise when she works her magic, what you’ll get is classic Denise fine tuned to meet your feng shui.

In her leisure Joseph enjoys traveling, experiencing local entertainment venues (restaurants, jazz concerts, plays, art exhibits) and hosting intimate informal gatherings at her home.

Reach out to D. Green Joseph on LinkedIn.  Ask her about a consultation.  It’s the first step to restyling or repurposing your space to match the current state of your existence.

Amazon Best Selling Book

Words have the tremendous power to influence how we communicate, how we view ourselves, how we view the world, and how we move forward in life. We may use the same words every day, but we often lose sight of their true meaning and value in our lives.

In this interactive and thought-provoking book, fourteen women speak their truth and wisdom about their journey to discovering the word that defines their past, their future, and their influence. With 1 Word, you will rediscover the many layers of words you thought you knew, and you will be able to reflect on how they’ve impacted your life. Challenge yourself to look at what you say and what you hear with a different perspective and find that driving force you’ve been looking for to live the life you’ve hoped for.

Now, what is the one word you live by or strive to be?

Order Your Autographed Copy Here

Helping us to celebrate all 14 authors of the 1 Word Book is just part of the deal at our book launch event.  You’ll enjoy four of our dynamic  author speakers including Dr. Sreelatha Meleth of My Meditation Today, Minister of Music G. Michelle Hale, Birmingham’s very own Minister and Comedian Donna T. Brown aka Ms. Mattie and Sabrina Mays, founder of B.R.A.V.E., Inc.  Our hope is that you won’t walk away the same as you came.

Pre-Order the Book And Come Party With Us

We are taking nearing the finish line and are planning an event to celebrate the occasion.  But you don’t have to wait until the event to order the book.  We are having our pre-sale event now through October 21, 2016.  Order your copy now.

Wow I can hardly believe how close we are to the 1 Word book launch and the best part of it all will be seeing and meeting you all.

You can purchase your tickets to the event by clicking on the button below.  For a limited time only, early bird tickets are just $15.

What to Expect at the Book Launch?For one thing, you can expect a good time.  We’ll have door prizes, and a special gift for everyone.  Not to mention four of our authors will be delivering dynamic speeches.  Your expectation is that you won’t leave there the same as you came.Book pre-sales begin on Tuesday, October 4, 2016. We’ll keep you posted and we’re looking forward to seeing you at the launch.