inspiration

Persevere through the hard times

Jewel Diamond Taylor, , , , , , Leave a comment
      Millions of people suffer from depression (e.g. sadness, hopeless, fatigue and loss of interest). Depression is an illness that involves the body, mood, and thoughts. It interferes with daily life, normal functioning, and causes pain for both the person with the disorder and those who care about him/her.    For some this dis-ease is treatable.  Click this link to learn about the many types of depression.
      For some people depression is short term …a temporary blue mood.  Medical and mental health support is not in my wheelhouse.  I can offer emotional and spiritual support for those not suffering from chronic disorders of depression.  
      If you have short lived episodes of anxiety feeling sad and overwhelmed, I render these thoughts below for emotional and spiritual wellness with my Depression Poster below.

Sometimes you may feel that neither faith, joy or hope can find you.  You may be in a place of dryness, uncertainty and stagnation. You may stare at your low “joy ceiling”, pace the floor, sleep all day, eat compulsively or not eat at all.  You may isolate and want to give up because you ache for a divine and loving relationship, peace in your family, better finances, a home, increase in your business/ministry, help for your child, spouse of parent.  You may just want to be left alone or you may be yearning for connections and companionship. Maybe you are sick and tired of being sick and tired.

    If you find that all hope is gone, I pray you breathe in hope and remember the moments of sunshine and sweetness to heal your wounds and get through your difficult times.  I pray that you will not be weary in your well doing and live with hope, gratitude and resiliency.  I pray, that just like a flower is determined to bloom no matter the circumstances, that you will also bloom in spite of the brokenness in your life.
Flower-Crack-Sidewalk
     The flower in this picture went through dirt and broken concrete seeking the sunlight. Whatever you are going through, I pray that you “grow” through it so you can see better days.  I believe with every fiber of being that you can make it!  You are stronger than you realize.  Be resilient and push through your “dirt and broken concrete”.  Push through to see the light of your possibilities.  Push through today.  Push through believing that God is with you in the joy and pain…sunshine and rain.”  ~  by Jewel Diamond Taylor, author of “I Am Resilient, www.DoNotGiveUp.net/IAMResilient  To contact Jewel call 323.964.1736 or email – Jewel@DoNotGiveUp.net
depression press
Enjoy this upbeat song “Don’t give up”

Choices Matter

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choices matter
“Every minute…every day you are making choices that could bring you closer to achieving success, peace, financial growth, love, health and purposeful living. Today you will choose between good or unhealthy food choices (e.g. snacks or salad). You will choose between spending or saving. You will choose who to talk to, who to avoid or who to ask questions. You will choose to walk or sit. You will choose to speak up or be quiet. You will choose to be confident or shy. You will choose fear or faith. You will choose to take action or procrastinate. You will choose to stay angry or forgive and let go.  You choose who gets your time, body, trust, love and finances.  You will choose to waste time or maximize your time. You will choose people into your life who can add to your success or distract and subtract from your success. You will choose integrity or dishonesty.  You will choose patience and endurance or you will choose to stressed, impatient and rude.  You will choose peace and love or choose hatred, prejudice and jealousy.  You will choose comfort and convenience or you will choose to grow out of your comfort zone. You will choose to sabotage your talent and gifts or you will choose to polish up your talent and gifts.
Popular leadership speaker and author John Maxwell says, “Talent is not enough.” Talent allows you to stand out, but wrong choices can set you back.
I have seen in my own life choices where I sabotaged my success or where I totally changed the trajectory of my life. Your choices are shaped by the people who influence you. Your choices are shaped by our habits. Our habits can be hard to break. However, when you realize your habits are hindering your success, relationships, finances, health and peace…it’s time to start maker wiser choices.
Your choices can minimize your talent, self-worth, confidence and possibilities for love and success. Are you ready to maximize your potential and possibilities?
I totally, 100% agree with author John Maxwell who shares 13 key choices that can make maximize your talent.

1. BELIEF lifts your talent.
2. PASSION energizes your talent.
3. INITIATIVE activates your talent.
4. FOCUS directs your talent.
5. PREPARATION positions your talent.
6. PRACTICE sharpens your talent.
7. PERSEVERANCE sustains your talent.
8. COURAGE tests your talent.
9. TEACHABILITY expands your talent.
10. CHARACTER protects your talent.
11. RELATIONSHIPS influence your talent.
12. RESPONSIBILITY strengthens your talent.
13. TEAMWORK multiplies your talent.

If you have talent, you stand alone. If you have talent plus these above attributes, you stand out!

Spiritual Mood Swings

Jewel Diamond Taylor, , , , , Leave a comment

At some time in all of our lives, we will experience suffering, inconveniences, heart ache and stress. If our faith is not built up, we can find ourselves bi-polar in our faith.
I admit there are times when my faith is extremely strong and unwavering. There have been times when my faith swung to the extreme and doubt, fear and worry crept into my soul and attitude.
I can relate to the apostle Paul who wrote in Romans 7:19 how he felt confused and double minded about his actions and faith. Do you ever go from one extreme to another extreme in your moods, feelings, beliefs and faith? Have you ever gone from peace to stress in 0 – 60 seconds? Have you ever said you were going to forgive someone, stop feeling angry or stop worrying about your children, health, finances or job? Have you ever thought that because you were in a season of suffering that God had forsaken you? Has trouble ever knocked on your door but your faith did not open the door? Have you ever started the day off in peace and then something happens on your job that causes your mood and faith to swing to the extreme? Do you only have faith and peace when everything is going well in your life? When “shift happens” in your life, does your faith shift to doubt, anger and worry? Does your “pendulum of thought” swing back and forth exhausting you and robbing you of rest, peace and faith in the Lord?

James 1:8 reminds us that being double minded and indecisive makes us unstable.
As I encourage myself each day…I want to encourage you also to avoid being bi-polar in your faith. If someone is diagnosed as mentally bi-polar they are usually given some medication (which has side effects). However, to be spiritually bi-polar I prescribe meditation, not medication. When we meditate and pray, the only side effect is that our peace, rest, joy and faith are restored. We must practice this daily not just when we are in a storm or on Sunday at church. Daniel prayed three times a day and was delivered from the lion’s den.

The benefits of prayerful meditation are many;
. Strengthens your relationship with the Lord
. Deepens your faith and ability to surrender to the flow of life
. Increases gratitude and strength to endure difficult times
. Gives you insight and clarity to see purpose through your pain
. You are able to hear from clearly from God what should be your next step.
. You are able to self-correct any negative thoughts or feelings
. Lowers high blood pressure.
. Relieves stress and anger.
. Lowers the levels of blood lactate, reducing anxiety attacks.
. Decreases any tension-related pain, such as, tension headaches, ulcers, insomnia, muscle and joint problems.
. Increases serotonin production that improves mood and behavior.
Improves the immune system.
by JewelDiamond Taylor, author of “Shift Happens“, conference keynote speaker, women’s retreat leader, women’s life coach “The Self-esteem Dr.

This Horse Has a Powerful Message for You

Jewel Diamond Taylor, , 1 Comment

“I live near many neighbors who own horses. While in the store the other day I talked with neighbor Karen in the store. She proudly showed me pictures of her three horses. She has one show horse Sabrina, another named Tahoe and the miniature horse Delilah who will never grow any taller (pink blanket). Karen rescues horses that are neglected and abused. Wow! That’s her calling and passion in life.  We all have different callings.

horse story KarenI realized in some ways that I rescue people who want to give up or who have lost their faith and passion for life. The small miniature horse had never seen over the wall because of her size. Once Karen rescued her, Delilah has seen so much more and spends her days with healthy and cared for horses. She was confined and limited physically and visually. I thought about people who are not around healthy people. There are so many who have never SEEN “over the wall” of their fears, abuse, poverty, small thinking, addictions, family dysfunction and broken hearts.
That short encounter standing in line at the Dollar Tree Store with Karen and hearing about Delilah reminded me why I do what I do.  After 30 years on my path of speaking, teaching and rescuing others with limited vision, I think God knew I needed some affirmation and a divine push so I wouldn’t give up. I want to inspire others to climb, leap and see over their walls. I want to inspire people NOT to have a limited and miniature size faith. There is so much more of life to experience. My joy and purpose is to inspire people to have the courage, faith and perseverance to overcome the walls that THEY BUILD themselves AND the walls the enemy, the haters, the critics or society builds to limit them.” ~ Jewel Diamond Taylor, http://www.DoNotGiveUp.net
“With you I can charge into battle; with my God I can leap over a wall.” Psalm 18:29

Big Important Tip for Your Success

Jewel Diamond Taylor, , , , Leave a comment

Writing down your goals and intentions will force you to clarify what YOU want.  Imagine going to the airport with no particular destination, time or date for departure or return?  You will get no where until you are specific and clear.  Your life is more critical than a trip.  Your life needs focus, intention and clarity.

writing down goals 2Writing down your goals forces you to select something specific and decide what you want for your life journey or simply your daily tasks.   Write down your goals as if you were placing an order for your goal to be manufactured in a factory or is if you were planning your ideal vacation. Writing down your clear and measurable goals (e.g. what, when, where, why, who) and revisiting them regularly will help you to stay on track.

If your goals are out of sight, they are out of your mind.  Keep your written goals visible and review them often.  Read my e-book “The Main Thing is to KEEP the Main Thing, The MAIN THING. $8..99  

No, you may not achieve all your goals in life, but you certainly increase your chances of achieving your small or big goals, if you write them down. So watch out for the distractions, doubt and procrastination. Stuff happens in life, so don’t be easily discouraged.
Life can be challenging and bring a lot of obstacles.  If you are not seeing progress in your life, it can be depressing.  So remember the habit of writing down your goals which allows you to see your progress and celebrate as you check off each mini-goal achieved.

success looks like this

Woulda Coulda Shoulda

Jewel Diamond Taylor, , Leave a comment

would could shouldIt never fails that after every speech, sermon or session…I begin to have regrets about what I forgot to say.

I critique and beat myself up at times thinking I could have presented my message better or in a different way.
Together let’s commit to living our lives with a minimum of regrets.

 

We don’t get a “do over” in life. Let’s not get to the end of our lives with a woulda, coulda or shoulda.
If there is something you want to do…start. If there is something you want to say…say it. If there is something you need to stop and end…stop today. If there is some place you want to go…start planning today. If you know you could do better in your relationships, church, job, studies, self-care, spending/eating/exercise habits…start today. If you realize you could give more, do more, forgive more, experience more, let go of more and believe more in God’s promises for your life…start now. If you are procrastinating and live in fear about opportunities you have right now…get busy living.  Fear and procrastination are thieves. Do something today that you will thank yourself for a year from now. Instead of regrets, live your life with results.

A nurse who takes care of dying patients shared the five regrets that she heard most frequently from her patients:

1. “I wish I’d had the courage to live a life true to myself, not the life others expected of me.”

2. “I wish I didn’t work so hard.”

3. “I wish I’d had the courage to express my feelings.”

4. “I wish I had stayed in touch with my friends.”

5. “I wish that I had let myself be happier.”

~ Jewel Diamond Taylor, http://www.DoNotGiveUp.net

6 Things That Can Mess Up Your Life

Jewel Diamond Taylor, , , , , 1 Comment
6 ps stop achieving goals

There are so many factors that can rob you of peace, block your blessings and stop you from achieving your dreams and goals.  Below is a partial list of some of the most critical hindering factors:

1. People – Surround yourself with people of like mind, similar interests/values and who have a positive impact on your life.  You won’t grow around negative people who lack faith and live in fear, drama, and dysfunction.

2.  Past – Don’t dwell on your negative past which only increases guilt, shame and a low sense of self-worth.  You can’t focus on your past and bright future at the same time.

3.  Pity parties – Seek ways to heal any depression, grief, sadness, discouragement or self-loathing.

4.  Present situation – If your present circumstances are unpleasant, challenging or limiting…remember, this, too, shall pass.  Don’t allow your present circumstances to steal your hope, joy and faith.

5. Procrastination is birthed out of fear, low self-esteem, doubt and lack of organization in your life.  Procrastination is a thief.  Get rid of clutter.  Think about the rewards or the consequences you will have if you don’t take some positive action steps today to break the habit of avoidance. Get busy!

6. Pain – If you are suffering from any emotional or physical pain, seek help. It’s difficult feeling optimistic, grateful and productive if you are ignoring any symptoms of pain.  You need your mind and body healthy, clear and energized.  Get your life, joy and health back.

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ReEvaluate Your Relationships

Jewel Diamond Taylor, Leave a comment

evaluateYou know it’s time re-evaluate and sometimes separate from people in your life…

 . When the people around you question your assignment and they are jealous, insecure, instigate drama and can’t celebrate your success.

 . When the people around you shake your ladder of success instead of holding it for you.

. When they blow things out of proportion, exaggerate and dramatize every situation.

 .  When your friends become territorial and jealous of your mate, children, friends or your personal drive for success.

. When you have a “high maintenance” friendship (e.g. too needy, requires too much time, attention, compliments and reassurance because they are easily offended, they have no boundaries, they need you to co-sign all of their drama, gossip and poor decisions.)

 . When they smile in your face while trying to take your place.

. If they rather talk about your past instead of your possibilities.

. When they help you decorate for your pity party instead of encouraging you to get up.

. When their drama filled/toxic relationship is influencing your marriage/relationship.

.  When small thinking people try to speak fear into your big faith.

. When they think like a chicken and stay on the ground floor but you think like an eagle and you are ready to soar.  It’s time to re-evaluate or separate from people they don’t want to see you fly and try to pull you down from the sky.

 Your associations determine your destination.” ~ Jewel Diamond Taylor, http://www.DoNotGiveUp.net

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