I pray that everyone is well. It’s been a while since my last check-in, so I wanted to stop in and make sure you’re good. This memo is to inform you that we are officially operating in an online capacity only. With all that is going on with COVID-19, it’s important that we mitigate the risk of exposure and move to online engagement.
Effective immediately, I’ve moved to a strictly online operation. For my personal development clients that I meet with several times a month to work on action plans and develop strategies for various life goals. I am now taking those calls using Zoom and other resources that are available.
For my professional development clients who are starting new businesses, working on their Resume’s and acquiring new skills for a new career. Our meetings are also taking place online utilizing Microsoft Teams to collaborate on ideas and develop Roadmaps to Success.
By changing my method of operation, I am able to assist while being safe. Right now, the safest place for any of us is Home. I ask that you do your part as much as possible to keep yourself and those you love protected. With that being said, I am still accepting new clients. If you have the desire to get started on a new personal or professional journey, let’s create your Peace Map!
One of my top 5 Strengths from Strengths Finder is Connectedness. This means I am certain that things happen for a reason.
It all started in April when @Shermikathelight posted on Instagram about an event that she would be speaking at in October. From that point forward I knew I had to be in attendance. Shermika and I were classmates in Grad. School. We both had aspirations of starting our own businesses after graduation. I watched on social media as Shermika started her company, going door to door marketing her business. I also had a social media front row seat when things took off for her. I watched in amazement as she nurtured her business into a powerful brand. I knew that in order to successfully and intentionally grow my business on my terms, I needed to gain some knowledge and insight from her. I did just that!
Just over a week ago, I jumped on a flight to Atlanta and I attended #werkprayslay. It was absolutely everything that I’ve never imagined. I mean never, ever. This Women’s Empowerment Conference was one for the books. The colors, the lighting, the details, the information, the vendors, the volunteers, the attendees, the speakers, the hostess, the D.J. and the fabulous visionary @Koereyelle made this a life changing event for me. Before I attended, I had no idea that this beautiful community of women business owners existed.
I have a solid plan for my business now. No more taking bits and pieces of information and trying to figure out how it all ties together. Some of the strategies discussed were, how to land Corporate and Government Contracts, how to Slay Procrastination, how to Change Your Mindset and Secure the Bag, how to Be Your Own Publicist, how to use Video to Slay Your Personal Brand, and so much more! I’m telling you, this ain’t even half of it.
As I said in my previous post, I had a chance to thank @ChefAhki for positively impacting my life after a cancer diagnosis. You can find that post by clicking here.
I can safely bet that I was one of the older women at the conference, but I didn’t feel left out. @Koereyelle and her team did a phenomenal job of making it a safe space to learn and be vulnerable. I even swagged and surfed for the first time ever! (that wasn’t a thing when I attended an HBCU)
Why am I telling you all of this??? Because it matters who you are connected to. My connection with @Shermikiathelight through social media exposed me to a whole new world of confident, brilliant and paid Sistas who are out here doing their thang! It matters who you follow and who you’re connected to.
If you are a female business owner, I highly recommend the @WerkPraySlay Conference. I’m sure planning has already begun for 2020. You definitely don’t want to miss it. I know that I won’t miss it!
One of the top traits of a person with Connectedness as a Strength is having confidence in their gifts, but knowing they do not have all the answers. As a reward for my humility, God made room for me in a place that I didn’t even know existed, and it is a place of overflowing resources!🤲🏾
I won a free Website Copy Audit by Word Stylitz to amplify the impact that I have on my ideal client. April Beverley of @baabwriting will definitely get me all the way together.🙌🏾This brilliant lady is out here commanding coins with the power of her words.
If you are a female business owner looking to connect with a like-minded Sista on the move, email me. I would love to join forces and hold one another accountable to do the #werk!
Do you Journal? If not, what’s holding you back and if you do, what keeps you going?
A lot of people journal to release emotion and organize their feelings. To be honest, we’re all out here experiencing about 27 emotions daily. That is quite a ride and it’s tough to manage it all. So, what we’re doing is taking the emotion adding to it our daily responsibilities plus the needs and expectations from others and then attempting to get through the day without a method to release. This is the perfect formula for a mental breakdown.
I get it, we want to appear like we have our stuff together with little resistance, add to that this whole self-care trend of “don’t kill my vibe, “don’t interrupt my peace” and “don’t bother me with that”, this leaves us feeling obligated to hold in our emotions.
I’ve found journaling to be a helpful outlet. During those times when I am overflowing with emotions, both positive and negative, journaling helps me to reflect on events, organize my thoughts, release some pinned up energy and even generate solutions. It’s one of the many tools that can be used to re-direct your energy.
There’s another benefit of journaling that very few people notice. Journaling helps you to identify trends. If you journal often and notice a trend of negative or low-energy words and phrases, it’s safe to say you are probably suffering with Imposter Syndrome, self-sabotage and maybe even low self-esteem. If this is you, it’s time for a change in perspective.
I deal with those feelings too. I doubt my abilities, second guess my capabilities and I will overthink a scenario to the very extreme. It’s quite exhausting but I’ve figured out how to manage those feelings.
If you’ve been a member of the Origins of Peace community for any amount of time, you know that our #1 goal is to empower you to get out here and Impress Yourself. There are two reasons why this is important:
If you don’t impress yourself, no one else will ever stand a chance of impressing you. This is important for business deals, relationships, money goals, all of that. You must set a standard and stick to it. Example, if you want to be in a loving relationship, you must first love yourself. Impress yourself by doing things you enjoy and going to places that make you happy. This produces impression and excitement. It’s mentally stimulating, and it gets you into the habit of Impressing Yourself so that you will know when others are meeting and exceeding your expectations!
A whole lot of time is spent impressing other folks. You impress your boss when you show up for work and do an exceptional job, you impress your kids by showing up for them daily. It’s time to Impress Yourself!
For the month of November, I am challenging you to use journaling as a tool to change your communication message to yourself! There are 30 days in November. I am giving you 1 word each day to use as a prompt. You will reflect on how the word shows up in your life on that day and compose a journal entry. Your entry can be written or a short video that you keep on your phone. The words that I provide to you should evoke feelings of happiness, bravery, calmness, rejuvenation and friendliness.
I would love to know how this challenge goes for you. You can find me on both IG and Facebook at Origins of Peace to get the word for the day.
You can leave a comment one either platform to get the dialogue started.
Oh yea, if you’re not on my email list, you should be. Our next gratitude offering winner will be announced on Monday, November 4th. You must be on the list to get included in the drawing! Visit www.melissaarivers.com to sign up. You can see the prize for Monday’s drawing on my IG page.
Good Morning PeaceMakers. I pray that today holds all the peace, love and acceptance that your heart can hold.
If this is your first time on my site, My name is Melissa Rivers and I am a Creative Peace Designer. That means I use my gifts of creative writing & teaching to help others manage conflict and create mental space for more peaceful opportunities in their lives. My motto for today is: “peace starts with a made up mind.”
So let’s get to it:
My intent for this post – I’m writing this morning at 4:30 am because writing/ journaling settles my mind and helps me to organize my thoughts. I guess you could say that I am at peace when I create a short narrative, or inspirational message. Writing is one of my Origins of Peace and my place to breathe. It’s important for each of us to find what helps us breathe deeper and a little easier. The sweet aroma of creativity helps us not to take ourselves so seriously and as adults that can be hard to do.
What’s important for you to know: You gotta breathe. Close your eyes and visualize those activities that you participated in as a kid. Did you dance, sing or take piano lessons. Maybe it was art class or violin practice. Whatever it was, did it provide a few minutes of relief and escape for you? Along with writing, I absolutely loved ballet & gymnastics class. I can remember practicing my back-flip and no-hand cartwheels for hours on end. I’ve never really been great at ballet, but I can remember putting on my pink ballet slippers for the first time along with my white tights and black leotard. I was free to be me.
What matters: You were created to be serious and carefree at the same time. Life will impose it constraints and restrictions upon you but you cannot let that stop your creativity. Your foundational purpose is found in the weeds of your place to breathe and your responsibilities. Intentionally show up for yourself each day in a creative way. If not, you’ll get lost and be afraid of who you truly are. You have too much goodness, purity and creativity to be anyone other than yourself. Show up for you & breathe.
I offer a session called Peace Mapping where I help you identify areas of conflict in your life and design a strategy that helps you to make different choices and create mental space for a more peaceful lifestyle. I would love to help you find your place to breathe.
To book a session, simply click here to get started.
Happy Sunday Everyone! Today begins a week of new adventures and new opportunities for SUGA. I am excited to officially launch my Coaching and Consulting firm SUGA Wellness Boutique, LLC.
For those of you that have followed my blog through the years, you’re familiar with the inspirational posts that I often share. I call them my form of worship. I accept that God has given me the gift of writing to help encourage and inspire others to success. Not only do I seek to encourage and inspire others, but I also help them do the work that is necessary in their personal and professional lives to see real results.
As many of you know, SUGA is an acronym which means: Simply Understand God is Able. I firmly believe that successful lives are created by keeping God first and foremost in every area of our lives. I invite you to check out my new blog at http://www.sugawellnessboutique.com. While you’re there take a look at the variety of services that SUGA can provide. At SUGA my intention is to help you achieve success through peaceful empowerment!
In order to achieve a successful launch I need your help with 3 things.
Friend me on Facebook Melissa Rivers, let me know that you’ve downloaded this powerful e-book and I will add you to my secret group entitled “From God, With Love.” We’ll discuss the book, encourage one another in peace and help hold one another accountable to ensure that we are living, working and communicating with peaceful intentions.
I’m so excited to begin this next phase of my life and I greatly appreciate your support!
I will begin posting to the new site beginning on Monday, October 19th. As a token of gratitude for taking this journey with me, I would like to offer you a complimentary copy of my latest development entitled:
7 Days to Achieving Success through Peaceful Empowerment.
This is a program that serves as a foundation for transformation in your life. In order to create successful moments, your every action and intention must be established in Peace. During this week-long experience you will Affirm for Success, Meditate for Peace and Visualize for Empowerment. Practicing this series of techniques in unison has remarkable benefits.
Are you ready to:
Change your life by intentionally choosing to focus on those things that enhance your well-being
Open yourself up to a world of new possibility
Dismiss old mindsets and life limiting belief systems
If you answer yes to any of these questions, this tool is for you.
Grab your complimentary copy of 7 Days to Achieving Success through Peaceful Empowerment by clicking the link below to begin living the life that you were meant to live.
This year, I registered for the Komen Race for the Cure because I want to make an impact in the fight against breast cancer. I was diagnosed in April of this year and because of prayer, early detection, top notch treatment and a fabulous medical team, I am a Survivor!
Please consider making a tax-deductible donation today in support of my fundraising efforts. Any amount is appreciated and no amount is too small.
You can donate online with your credit card by copying and pasting the link below into your web browser.
Your support helps us get one step closer to a world without breast cancer. 75 percent of the money raised through the Race stays in the community to fund local breast cancer education, screening and treatment programs. The remaining 25 percent supports groundbreaking breast cancer research.
Together, we are fueling the best science, boldest community and biggest impact in the fight against breast cancer. And we will not stop until this disease is gone forever. That’s our promise. Will you please join me in this fight by making a donation today?
John 15:13 NKJV No longer do I call you servants for a servant does not know what his Master is doing; but I have called you friends for all things that I heard from my Father I have made known to you.
Dear Lord,
Thank you for calling me friend. I am so grateful that you have chosen to share your life with me. It is because of your belief in me that I can walk in confidence knowing that you trust me with the will of your Father and that you have given me specific purpose into your plans for my life. I thank you that you have left nothing to chance but you have hand-crafted every situation that I will encounter. I thank you that all things concerning me are deliberate an intentional. I feel confident knowing that those things are working for good in my life. Even in trying times I trust you and as your word says, weapons will be formed but they will not prosper in my life. I am grateful that you love me enough not to leave me in my current state and that I am getting stronger and wiser in you with each passing day. Lord you have been so good to me and I love you. Thank you for giving me the gift of friendship and teaching me how to be a true friend.
With humility, open-mindedness and willingness, I will collaborate with you on this day.
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