Beyond 254

New Sister Blog - Healthy But Good

 
I have been absent for the last few months, because I am working on new ventures that will enable me to follow my passions. One of the things I am passionate about is healthy living. I started a new site called Healthy But Good. This site covers everything related to health and wellness. It is about an all-natural and organic lifestyle. In addition, I am currently on a "Leaner and Better Me" journey and I am tracking my progress on the blog. Please check out my new site and follow me on my journey.

Lastly, Beyond254 will be undergoing a transformation over the coming weeks. The transformation will improve the look and feel of the site. Also, I am working on another sister site that will cover some of my other passions. Stay tuned for many exciting changes over these next few months!

2010 - A Time of Reflection

As I reflect back on 2010, I have plenty to be thankful for. Several major changes occurred this last year that took my life into a positive direction. The adjustments that I made in 2009, helped set up a prosperous year for 2010.

When I started 2010, I stated that I was going to bring more fun and happiness into my life by doing things I enjoy. As I ended 2009, I started changing my attitude and focusing on the more positive aspects of my life regardless of the situation. I also prayed and thanked God constantly for the things that I felt grateful for. I believe my attitude adjustment and thanking God for blessing me is what started the shift and set me up for better things in 2010. The New Year started off well with my social life improving tremendously, but the biggest and most positive change was God blessed me with a new job! The strange thing, I was not seriously looking. Even though things were bad at my previous company, I did not think I could leave given the current state of the economy, but as we all know, God can perform the miraculous even in difficult situations. I remember the day I submitted my resume, I had a frustrating day at work and I wanted to "test the waters" of the current job market. I was totally surprised when I received a call back and more surprised when I was called for an interview. When I was offered the job, I was shocked! At first, I was hesitant to leave, because the environment at the new company was unknown and I did not want to go from a bad situation to worse. Then I realized that this was God's way of removing me from that difficult environment, so I decided to take the new job offer. It turned out to be the best decision. The environment at my new company is 100% better; the people are professional and very accommodating. At that time, I thought I was only escaping the horrible conditions at my old company, but as we all know God sees the bigger picture. Later this year, my old company was bought out and God spared me from the negative impact that comes whenever a company is bought out (i.e. layoffs, job transfers, etc.). To this day, I thank God all the time for my new job. It has been a tremendous blessing and I am truly grateful. I think the change happened when I stopped complaining about the old job and became at peace with the situation. The peace came when I started focusing on 'one good thing' about my current situation. I feel that when you develop that sense of peace, it is almost as if you are surrendering it and leaving it up to God. You can never go wrong when you leave it in God's hands.

The Importance of the Golden Rule

September 29th marked my first six months at my new job. I have to admit that my new job has been a wonderful transition from the hell I experienced at my previous company. I am amazed at how feeling respected and appreciated can cause a major shift in your focus, direction and overall outlook.

The environment at my new company is very professional and respectful. People actually acknowledge each others presence, a concept that was obviously lost at my previous company. In addition, my co-workers also show each other appreciation, another concept that seems to be lost in today's corporate environment. Being in a positive environment has brought back the ambition and drive that I lost. I feel more energized and upbeat. People that know me well have even noticed a change in my demeanor. At my previous company, so many people felt demoralized that they hated coming to work and they also did not perform to the best of their ability. At my new place, I do not dread coming to work and I want to do well for the company, because they give me what everyone craves, respect. Companies, who give not just monetarily, but in other means, receive so much in return. If you look at top performing companies you notice their positive corporate culture and how well they value their employees. You can not create a world class organization with a dysfunctional corporate environment. My previous company is currently going through major problems, which does not surprise me due to the dysfunction I just mentioned. I remember during the employee meetings, they always mentioned that things were going good, but I knew better due to all the discontent among the employees. I always said to myself, they are hanging on by a thread and sure enough they were. So in life, when you treat people well, you will reap the benefits. I know the old golden rule sounds so cliche, treat others as you would like to be treated, but those words speak volumes. As I said earlier, just look at the top performing companies and you will see that this old adage is so true.

Refreshed and Energized

For the first time in a long time, I feel refreshed and energized. Even though these last few months have been busy, since I obtained my new job, I still feel really good. I guess when you are working in a pleasant and professional environment, you feel more alive. When I was in my previous job, the environment was so toxic that I felt drained some days. I thank God everyday that he opened the door for me to move out of that negative environment. The difference between the two companies is like night and day. After 90 days, I have no complaints. At my previous company, I remember people quitting after one week! I suffered through three years, but that past hardship makes me appreciate what I have now. This has truly been a blessing.

Tip of the Day: While you are making that transition to live out your passion, seek out a pleasant, work environment that will make you happy. Not only will you feel better, but your mind will now be clear to create new ideas that will move you toward your vision.

First 60 Days

I just completed the first two months of my new job. So far, my first impression is positive. The environment seems friendly and professional. At my previous company, I noticed all types of petty, unprofessional and abrasive behavior, which created a hostile environment. That is why, when searching for a better opportunity, focus on the environment, in addition to the other factors like salary and benefits.

I believe my positive outlook caused my situation to make a major shift. Every night, before falling asleep, I would pray and say my affirmation statements. I also wrote down the things I am grateful for in my journal. Little by little, things slowly started to improve. When my attitude shifted, I noticed external changes started to take shape. First, my social life started to improve and then this new opportunity arrived. I feel that my positive attitude shift created the force needed to cause the things I wanted to manifest. As the Bible states, "With faith, all things are possible if you believe." So when you stay positive and thank God for blessing you (showing gratitude), it will create the environment needed to manifest great things in your life.

Tip of the Day: Stay focused, stay prayerful and believe!

When the Door Opens, Walk Through It!!

Sorry I have been out, but so many things have happened during the month of March. On March 2nd, I talked about "Still Going Strong" and how my new, upbeat and fun outlook on life has caused some good changes. Well, I am excited to announce that I resigned from my old job on March 24th and was blessed with a wonderful and better opportunity. Even though this new opportunity is still in Corporate America, I feel that this change will be good for me. I will be joining a company that has a more professional work environment and that is key for me. The funny thing, I was not really looking for a new job. I was not happy at my previous company, but over the last few months, I implemented techniques to help me cope and deal with the situation. I reached a point where I was at peace and I knew that one day I will move on to bigger and better things. One day, after a somewhat frustrating day at work, I decided to send out a few resumes to see what was out there. One week after submitting my resume, I received a call and was thoroughly surprised. I agonized over the thought of changing companies, but I thought to myself, God blessed me enough to open this door for me, so I need to walk through it and see what he has in store for me. I believe that you have to follow up on any opportunity that comes your way, because it may not come around again.

Well, I am happy to say that I just completed my third week on my new job and I am happy with my decision. My first impression is very positive. My manager is easygoing and friendly, the people seem very professional and I get my own office! This is my first time having my own office. The building I work in is nice and they have a fitness center. My new company is totally opposite from my old company, but in a good way. I have been hearing positive things about this place and I feel confident I made the right decision.

Even though I started a new job, my dream of owning my own business is still a priority for me. I feel that this open door is just another path to take on my journey to becoming an entrepreneur. I am looking forward to the new things that I may learn from this new opportunity that will help me become a strong and well-rounded business owner.

Still Going Strong

We are now into the third month of 2010 and I have noticed good changes already taking place. As I mentioned in my January posts, I decided to add "fun activities" to my list of resolutions and goals for this year. I have noticed that adding "fun activities" to my schedule has made a difference in my attitude and outlook. My goal was to try to add one fun activity per month, well that grew to at least one activity per week! I sometimes have more than one fun activity planned per week! It is great to get out more and meet new people. Now that I "have a life", I noticed that I feel more upbeat and energized. It seems that energy is attracting the right type of people into my life and more abundance in other areas of my life. I read a quote from Wayne Dyer that states, "When you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change. The way you perceive things is an extremely powerful tool that will allow you to fully bring the power of intention into your life." I alluded to that when I talked about Focusing on One Good Thing. So remember to add more fun in your life and it will help change your perspective on your situation. By changing your perspective you will be able to attract ideas, think more clearly and figure out ways to transform your situation and bring your dreams into reality.

 

Fun and Refreshing

Last week, I took a much needed vacation to the Bahamas. It was a great time to relax and have a good time. I also met some new people and made new friends. For the first time ever, I fell asleep on the beach. You will not believe how truly relaxing this is. The sound of the waves crashing along the shore was quite enjoyable. I did not think about work or any other stresses of life. Based on this fun trip, I decided to make sure I have at least one fun activity planned per month. As I mentioned in New Year, New You, I plan to have breakfast once a month at a high-end restaurant as a treat to myself. By the way, I had the first breakfast last Saturday and it was absolutely enjoyable. Well, now I plan to add a fun activity with my friends at least once a month. So far, I have at least one event planned per month for January, February, March and May. In addition to relaxation, having fun is also good for the soul. So I recommend that you lighten up and have some fun today. Your body, mind and spirit will thank you. 

New Year, New You

With the start of the New Year, many people contemplate changes they will make this year to improve the quality of their life. Many of these changes come in the form of resolutions or goals. Some of these resolutions are to lose weight, quit smoking, eat healthy and a whole list of other things that many people will try to conquer. But for me, some of my goals will involve being good to myself this year. One of my goals this year is to have a fabulous breakfast or brunch once a month at some of the high-end, hotel restaurants in the area. So, later this month, I marked on my calendar the morning of January 23rd, breakfast at the Ritz-Carlton. This will be the first of many for 2010. I enjoy great food and beautiful surroundings. I consider this a treat. For me, whenever I go to one of these fine establishments it gives me a sense of peace and calm being in such a beautiful environment. It also offers a chance of escape for me. I encourage you this year to add to your list of goals, something that you enjoy that will bring you happiness and peace. For you it could be a walk in the park, going to the lake or for some it could be attending a sporting event. Whatever it is, make sure you are good to yourself this year. Not only will this bring you some happiness, but it can help bring about a change in your attitude and a NEW YOU!

HAVE A BLESSED AND PROSPEROUS NEW YEAR!!

Merry Christmas and Have a Happy New Year!!

I would like to wish everyone a Safe and Happy Holiday!!