Every morning for years, I’ve I looked out this same window. I am a dreamer if you haven’t already noticed. I’d dream, I’d wonder, hope for more, sometimes I’d smile finish my thoughts and then go and start my day.

I can’t remember when I started looking out my old bedroom window but I do remember that I more often than not I really disliked what I saw for years. I judged everything. All I saw was the bad, the negative, the things that I didn’t like it reminded me of decisions that Ive made in the past that may have led me to where I found myself unhappy, left in discontent and wavering faith. It was really a reflection of where I was mentally and emotionally. 

It wasn’t until I really started to the work on me physically with my daily workouts, heightening my spiritual awareness. Getting to know ME and most importantly the Most High in a more intimate way. Going above and beyond with doing personal development which every business professional, wellness coach, human being should be incorporating into their daily practice. I started waking up earlier in the morning before the sun would rise and would watch the sky move. This was every morning after my prayer/meditation/ devotions. I’d watch the sun peek through the skies. And noticed how the sun brightened up my view. What changed? A different mindset. A different outlook. It was the same view. I chose to adjust my focus. It was mind blowing. Same view, same window, same place I called home. All along all I had to do was change what I chose to see. One of my prayers I asked was Lord I just want a home with a beautiful view. I’ve always had a view just needed a new set of eyes to view it with. To view things more through my soul.

With tears of joy I walked through our condo for the last time (alone) that we called home for years the sun once again came to shine on me. I felt a wave of emotions because in this very room I prayed, fasted, cried, created, nursed, made love and everything in between. My goodness I’m so blessed I thought. Blessed beyond belief.

Next chapter is about to be SO DOPE. On to new levels. Don’t be afraid to be great y’all! You deserve it!!! 

2018 has been A BEAST. 

Which created a BEAST of BELIEVERS!

2019 you ready? cause the BENJAMINS are!

“I’m not afraid to say. I ALMOST talked myself out of it. But I suddenly realized that was a lie...a test rather. It was a voice that was so foreign to the person I am becoming that I shut it down with the quickness and proceeded. 

You see fear CAN still catapult the leap of faith.”

Earlier today I was asked how did I find the courage? Actually I’ve been asked this a number of times since my decision was made a reality in March to became my own boss and coach and mentor women on their wellness journey. To leave Corporate America then teach clients who work in executive/corporate positions how to find that work life balance.

What people don’t know is that for almost 8yrs I too couldn’t find that courage. 

I STRUGGLED with the idea of letting go.

Cried nearly every time I dropped off my kids to school because yet again I was leaving my dreams behind in a journal and having a notebook full of ideas, goals, affirmations and request books and not truly working towards them.

Faith without works is dead. In James 2:22 it says “You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did.”

I was wishing and hoping on a miracle and not really working in alignment with my faith and towards my assignment or life’s work. I had to put my faith to the test. I HAD to. But it was not easy. 

I’m not afraid to say it’s still not easy some days I have not come to grips with my decision because I rely on..well me for a paycheck. While there is a beautiful FREEDOM to it I’m put to the test every single day. Growth and rejection is painful and sometimes the people who need your help most reject you and you have to learn to let them hit rock bottom no matter how much you want to help them avoid that.

Luckily each day I find a word to keep me encouraged and my Fit Fam and my mentors and circle of sisters some of which I’ve gained while on this journey. Blessed as I am I keep people in my circle who are constantly challenging me and who I can bounce ideas off of but still I have to do the work.

I’m not afraid to say. I ALMOST talked myself out of it. But I suddenly realized that was a lie...a test rather. It was a voice that was so foreign to the person I am becoming that I shut it down with the quickness and proceeded. 

You see fear CAN still catapult the leap of faith.

While for so many years like myself it held onto my dreams I realized I was not that person anymore and that while the mind chatter crept up it had no strength over me and my faith in God and my faith in ME.

This is not even about being scared of quitting a job or about leaving a position or situation it is a story about starting over and how stifling that can feel.

I put every excuse in front of each dreams and goal like chess. There was always a great excuse or reason why this time wasn’t the right time. To think of it when I finally made the decision I could think of over a handful of times when there was a better time. Funny how that works.

But it was time. When it’s time you know. You ALREADY know.

On my last day of that chapter, I had so many talks with people who either asked the question when did you know OR I too had a dream to go into ______ add your dream here.

We all have dreams. We all have deterrents. We all have pros and cons and hurdles and obstacles but how long can we fight our true assignments or sit wondering what our calling or passions are if you don’t just take the chance.

This is MY story, what’s yours? Do you have a decision that you’ve been struggling with? What’s stopping you? What’s holding you back? What have you already overcome? When did you come to the realization that there has to be more than just....?

Good Day Lovers ☀️

Happy Tuesday!!!

Wanted to share a Health Tip with you, it's a practice that I've created for myself then implemented it with my tribe and clients who have signed up with me for my 6 month wellness coaching program that I wanted to share here because its too good not to and so easy to implement.

If you are in the office or lunch break when you read this.

Stop and take a sun break.

Sun breaks are essential as the sun naturally makes you smile when you look up and let it kiss you face or skin (try it and tell me it doesn’t) of course don’t ever look directly in the sunlight lol

I started this when I was in corporate and even in the winter months if the sun was shining even just a little I’d go out and take a breather. I’d breathe, cry, send up a prayer or such a quick gratitude mantra.

You can try this one.

Sun-break mantra: I thank you for this light. I pray that aligns me with my purpose, provides clarity and gives me the comfort and vision I need to make it through my assignment today.

Breathe in for 3 and hold your breathe for 5 seconds. Breathing in through your nose and blowing out of your mouth. You can be in either seated position or standing looking up to the sun.

I personally didn’t care if I looked crazy doing it because doing it prevented me from feeling anxious. That should take all of 5-10mins if you can spare that. Of course don’t want to over do it if your boss or company doesn’t allow it.

Although no offense to smokers.... but I noticed that all my co-workers ALWAYS went out before and after a meeting or lunch or all the above and several times throughout the day to take a smoke breaks. For them this was their form of calming and relief or release.

So I decided since I didn’t smoke...cigarettes... “sun breaks” or breathe breaks whenever I could especially when my workload piled up sun breaks would do. That’s where the name came about. This helped tremendously whenever I would sense that I was getting overwhelmed or on the brink of a anxiety attack or I got an email that had a tone I’d get up and talk a walk and would feel like a whole new person when I got back to my cubicle.

Some Benefits of the ☀️
☀️prevents Vitamin D deficiency
☀️ puts you in a better mood by releasing serotonin and endorphins hormones associated to putting you in a happier more relaxing state
☀️ dips in serotonin or low levels are associated to depression or seasonal patterns formerly know as seasonal affective disorder or SAD
☀️lowers blood pressure
☀️regulates your melatonin #comethroughmelanin which affects your sleep cycles, giving a good nights sleep which promotes healthy brain function

*you always want to protect your skin with your favorite sunblock. And avoid the sunlight during certain peaks when rays can be more damaging than healing

Try it and take a selfie with you in the sun taking your sun break. Use the hashtag #empowereredbycathy #sunbreakchallenge so I can find you and celebrate you.