Thursday, February 24, 2011

Allow Me to Re-Introduce My Name is...Na'Tasha Nicole

Hello Internet World!

I am super excited to be starting my very 1st Blog!!! Whooo-hoo!!!

The goal of Enlighten Me, Inc. is to Inspire, to Motivate and to Encourage readers to be the best individuals that they can be by looking at life through a different lens. I don't claim to know everything and alot of my postings will be based on information that you may have already heard either from a parent, a teacher, a pastor, a mentor, talk show host etc. However, I firmly believe that not everyone's light bulb comes on at the exact time that it should. Therefore, I hope that my blogs will enlighten you in a way that ignites that A-HA Epiphany Eureka type moment that will cause you to re-evaluate yourselves, life situations, and those you come in contact with on a new level. Just as an FYI - I absolutely love quotes and anything that I hear that is inspiring. So, I must warn you... after reading my blogs you may feel the undeniable urge to smile, to be confident in who you are, and you may even start inspiring, motivating, and encouraging people that you come in contact with....its contagious : )

Now that you have been Enlightened...go Enlighten someone else!

Over and Out

Na'Tasha Nicole

A New Year...A New Day...A New You: It's Time for Change: The Skinny on Resolutions and Tips for Success.











Ok ok ok... I know we are half way through February and on our way to March, however, this posting is for those that are having a hard time jump starting there year. 2011 can and will be a great year we just have to get in the habit of making some adjustments. Like the old saying goes,

 "If you do what you've always done...your going to get what you've always got"

So with that being said let's just dive right in.

I know at the start of every new year everyone has many different goals and resolutions that are often unrealistic and become to overwhelming to attain. The key to change is starting with your mindset. I firmly believe that a person can't do better if they don't know better. Everything starts in the mind. I know this is often easier said then done sometimes...I get that. However, sometimes we have to stop feeding bad habits and old ways of doing things and start creating positive new ways of doings things. For instance, statistics show that the #1 New Years resolution from all walks of life is weight loss. So, if your goal or resolution is to lose weight, first you must check your motives...is this something that you want to do for yourself or is someone else suggesting that you lose weight? Are you losing weight for a specific purpose ie- wedding or other important life event, etc. If these or any other rationals like these are your main motivation for attaining this goal then you may not be satisfied with your end results.

Then on the other hand you may like your results, however they will be short lived and will quickly leave you unsatisfied. Change has to become apart of your lifestyle, and in this case instead of going on the "emotional diet roller coaster", how about creating some new eating habits that you can use long term- ie: reducing your portion sizes and curbing your appetite with glasses of water or increase or start an exercise regiment. Because this is a lifestyle change you want to gradually ease into it...so that you don't become overwhelmed and give up to quickly. This way you will be able to see the results and keep the weight off permanently. Also, this is another opportunity to check your motives especially where your relationship with food is concerned. Are your poor eating habits a result of stress, anxiety, generational habits, or even just for comfort. It is very important that we evaluate ourselves on a daily basis just to make sure we know what are motives are and in doing so we are able to get to the root or the heart of hidden issues.

Getting real and honest with yourself on a daily basis is very vital where change is concerned. Honesty helps you become vulnerable enough to see the change happen in your life. Being vulnerable means that you have humbled yourself and that you are not allowing your pride to defeat you before you even begin. Pride is an evil villain to change. We will discuss this arch nemesis in later postings.
Although, the example was about weitght loss, this new found way of thinking can transcend to any area that you want to see change. The key is to recognize the area where you need to change, understand why you do what you do, and then create new habits and alternative ways of doing things so that you are no longer feeding into your old habits. If you don't think about it you wont be tempted.  I'm going to end with a quote I read in a book entitled: Believe That You Can by Jentezen Franklin you guys should pick it up:

  "You need a dream to keep you focused and disciplined"


You have to already see yourself changed, and once you can see yourself changed in your specific area, that essentially becomes your dream or vision... The new and improved you. Once you get that dream on the inside of you, you will then be empowered to resist all the temptations to revert back to your old ways because you want that dream to become your reality. Whatever it is, you can do it! I believe in you... All you have to do is start believing in yourself!

Challenge: Evaluate yourself and find an area that can use some improvement. Then apply some of the tips suggested in this posting and watch and see your results.
Now that you have been Enlightened...go Enlighten someone else!

Over and out!

Na'Tasha Nicole