Be Blessed: And Chill....................

"There is nothing more dreadful than the habit of doubt. Doubt separates people. It is a poison that disintegrates friendships and breaks up pleasant relations. It is a thorn that irritates and hurts; it is a sword that kills."
~ Buddha

"Our doubts are traitors and make us lose the good we oft might win, by fearing to attempt”
~ William Shakespeare

“Doubt yourself and you doubt everything you see. Judge yourself and you see judges everywhere. But if you listen to the sound of your own voice, you can rise above doubt and judgment. And you can see forever.”
~ Judge Nancy Lopez

While I wish I could say that I am 100% optimistic and am always aligning my thoughts to positive vibrations... I have days lately when I feel like everything I do is wrong, that everything I say is being misconstrued and that I am the most unlikable, loathsome human being to ever walk the streets of Bed-Stuy. Of course people do not chase me around Fulton Street with pitchforks and torches, so I know I'm cool, but it's gotten to the point when I actually found myself recently saying internally, "Audrey, Chiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiillllllllllllllll!!!!!".

I had let doubts about myself give way to feeling wretched for days, and it took me realizing I need to let it go, that I started to feel better. I know the truth about who I am, and I am a damn good woman who is getting better and better every single day! What helped me get back to that groovy feeling was the following excerpt courtesy of Iyanla Vanzant. I hope that it will resonate for you as much as it did for me.

The following is an affirmation. An affirmation is a statement that embodies the truth. If there is something you want to know about yourself or your life, faithfully and reverently repeat this affirmation three times and ask yourself the question. It is best to ask questions about yourself rather than asking about another person because their truth may be none of your business. Once the affirmation is repeated and the question asked, remain still and listen for the answer. If the answer does not come right away, have faith! Sometimes the truth is more than you can handle at the moment. At the right time, in the right way, the truth will make itself known to you.

I believe in the power of truth.
I believe in the presence of truth.
Truth cannot be buried or hidden.
The truth must be revealed.
I now experience the essence of truth as it moves through me.
The Spirit of truth now envelops me.
The Spirit of truth now envelops me.
I am filled with the light of truth.
I am filled with the power of truth.
I am filled with the presence of truth.
The truth is revealed to me now.


Until today, you may not have known how to get to the truth of a pressing matter in your life. Just for today, ask the truth to reveal itself to you. Remember that what you ask for, you will receive!

Today I am devoted to knowing the truth about myself and my life!

From Until Today!
by Iyanla Vanzant

Be Blessed: And Know You Have a Divine Purpose

" Everything in the universe has a purpose. Indeed, the invisible intelligence that flows through everything in a purposeful fashion is also flowing through you."
~ Wayne Dyer

“ I am here for a purpose and that purpose is to grow into a mountain, not to shrink to a grain of sand. Henceforth will I apply ALL my efforts to become the highest mountain of all and I will strain my potential until it cries for mercy.”
~ Og Mandino

" As far as we can discern, the sole purpose of human existence is to kindle a light in the darkness of mere being. "
~ Carl Jung

One movie that inspired me tremendously was M. Night Shyamalan's "Lady in the Water". Though critically panned, I found the message of the movie utterly beautiful. All of us, no matter how unimportant we may be perceived... have a divine purpose. And with that purpose sparks the potential to do great things.

This week, I wanted to share some words of wisdom from the great Iyanla Vanzant on this very topic. I hope that it will inspire you. And I would wholeheartedly recommend watching Lady in the Water too... that movie is a blessing on DVD.

THERE IS A DIVINE PURPOSE FOR MY LIVING AND MY BEING

I will gain more understanding when I realize . . .
there is a divine purpose for my living and my being.

Your Creation Is a Good Thing

* In the beginning, you were created to be good, and you still are good.
* There is nothing about you that is inherently bad.

There is a Purpose to Your Living

* Your Creator etched a purpose into your being.
* You have been born to fulfill that purpose in a way that only you can.
* You bring to life talents and gifts unlike those of any other person.

Every Experience Supports Your Purpose

* Every experience will facilitate your understanding of your purpose and will call you to use the talents and gifts you possess.
* Every person you have met has played an important role in facilitating your understanding of your purpose.
* You have been influenced by your environment to such a degree that you have lost touch with the truth of your self and your purpose.

You Must Choose to Live Your Purpose

* The guidance you need to recover your true purpose is available to you because you are worthy of having it.
* You can make the choice to fulfill your purpose at any time.
* Balancing your heart and mind is the key to bringing forth the talents and gifts you possess that will enable you to fulfill your purpose.

What You Choose for Yourself, Your Creator Will Support

* If you want to know the purpose of your life and how your experiences fit into that purpose, ask your creator. God is available, accessible and waiting for you.

From Until Today!
by Iyanla Vanzant

Be Blessed: And KNOW You're Getting Better & Better!

And the day came when the risk to remain tight in a bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom.
~ Anais Nin

For everything you have missed, you have gained something else, and for everything you gain, you lose something else.
~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

If nothing ever changed, there'd be no butterflies.
~ Author Unknown



The following is an excerpt from one of my (many!) old journals, dated Wednesday, November 1, 2006:

"Today was a quiet sort of day. I made no success in job searching, but I remain optimistic. As time progresses I know that I am one step closer to obtaining all of my dreams. And this allows me to not live each day in quiet desperation, and allow me to do what must be done, manage to have as much fun as possible... all with the knowledge that my future is on the horizon."

If the woman I am today could sit down and have tea with the woman I was back then, I bet the me from the past would be astonished about where and who I am now. And today, reading these words of optimism and self-assurance is an inspiration for me. It serves as a reminder of where I've been along this journey called life, and it makes me very excited about the woman I'll be, five years from now, reading this blog entry.

I can honestly say that recently I've been at a point where I've felt very stuck in my life: content, but not very thrilled about the world around me. And in reflecting on this feeling, I found myself all wrapped up in the "could-a, would-a, should-a"s, which is NEVER a motivating thought to have. I took me going back and reading through my journal pages from the past ten years to truly see the picture: I have come a tremendously long way!!! It took that zealously optimistic 28 year old to become the 33 year old woman I am today. Older, yes. Wiser, I think so. Happier? Honestly? Yes!

Below are powerful words from Iyanla Vanzant that I feel really bring to light the energy that was surrounding my 28 year old self back then. At 33, I feel like a new blossoming in in store for me, and I am so happy and grateful to see what will develop for yours truly:

Guess what? You are not the worst person in the world! Sure, you've made some bad judgment calls, taken some pretty foolish chances, created some awful situations, but you give yourself too much credit. Others have done far worse. Then there are those people who haven't done anything to anyone -- ever. They are quiet. Go unnoticed. They have flawless characters and records. But you know what? They haven't done anything for themselves either.

They are probably just as, if not more, miserable and confused as you. Think about it this way: The future will be what you make it today. Whether you are the doer or a nondoer, you must work on the future. If you've made a mess, clean it up. If you are afraid to take a chance, take one anyway. If you've done things that didn't work, do something else. If you have done nothing, do something. What you don't do can create the same regrets as the mistakes you make. In the long run, either you must happen to life, or it will never happen for you.

Step by step, I am getting better and better.

From Acts of Faith
by Iyanla Vanzant

Be Blessed: And Go for It!!!

"I love to see a young girl go out and grab the world by the lapels. Life's a bitch. You've got to go out and kick ass."
~ Maya Angelou

“Go for it now. The future is promised to no one.”
~ Wayne Dyer

" If you always do what you always did, you will always get what you always got."
~ Jackie "Moms" Mabley

I used to be a "could-a, would-a, should-a" girl, big time! I've regretted most in my life the amount of time I've spent sitting still and not making moves when the opportunity presented me to do just that. My instinct and intuition would say, "This is the time!!!!!". Me? I took a "Wait for it....... wait for it....." position.

In retrospect, I really shouldn't regret my inability to Carpe diem at certain moments in my life, because it has made me who I am today, and I am content with myself. But I can't help but wonder where I'd be if I had gone for certain opportunities... and if I'd be happier, wiser, stronger for making that move. I have learned to follow the promptings of my spirit when compelled to act. Sometimes I'm fearful, but I try to ignore my fears and have faith that whatever comes will ultimately be a lesson or a blessing, if not both. Below is a powerful message about this, courtesy of Iyanla Vanzant:

Can you imagine not doing what you're doing in your life right now, but doing something completely different? Something exciting, fun, even risky, like quitting your job and traveling around the world. Or working part-time and going to school full time to study scuba diving or basket weaving. Or owning your own home, business, plane or boat.

If you can imagine it, why aren't you doing it? I'll tell you why. Because the moment you think about it, you think about all the reasons you can't. "How will I pay my bills?" "Who will take care of my family?" "Where will I get money?" "What will people say?" Well, here's another question for you, How do you ever expect to be happy or at peace if you stay where you are?

If you don't allow yourself to dream, to dare, to move up, out, forward: how will you ever know what you are really capable of? Look at it this way, what's the worse that can happen? You could end up right where you started, doing exactly what you are doing.

Oh, what the heck, go for it anyway.

From Acts of Faith

Be Blessed: & Begin Again... Today!!

I haven't posted a Be Blessed entry in a while, I know. I've mentioned a bit that I've been going through a few challenges these past few months that have prevented from feeling inspired. In fact, I've hardly felt blessed.. though I know (in retrospect) that truly I am.

I've reached a breakthrough and the storm clouds that have been rumbling through my mind has started to clear with the help of my friends, family, and from the daily emails I receive from Iyanla Vanzant. I've shared excerpts of her works in past blogs, but I really wanted to share one that truly excited me and filled me with possibility.

I will realize my own worth when I accept . . .
certain conditions in my life are like shoes;
at some point they just don't fit me.

How long are you going to hold on to the things that are not working in your best interests? Things that are not fulfilling? Things that are no longer productive? How long are you going to deny yourself, your feelings and your power in order to live up to the demands and expectations of others? How long are you going to over do, over give, over indulge, trying to convince yourself and others that you are worthy? Perhaps today is as good a day as any other to let go of them and grab onto your Self. Perhaps today is the day that you will find the courage and the strength to stop doing worthwhile things and start being worthy.

Life is not about holding on. Nor is it about pleasing others in order to get by. Life is not about doing what will make others believe you are worthy. Nor is it about denying yourself to make others feel better. Isn't it obvious that life is moving on while you seem to be stuck in a holding pattern? Can you not see that you are carrying so much "stuff", perhaps so many people that you can hardly move, let alone make any progress. In fact, doesn't it seem at times as if you are being left behind, by the very ones you stayed behind to help?

Life is about moving through, moving on, growing up, and growing through each and every experience. Life is about examination, elimination and re-creation. Perhaps today is the only day you have to examine your life, to make some adjustments and changes, so that you can take full advantage of the opportunities this day offers. Today sure seems like a good day! If it's not today, what will it take?

Until today, you may not have realized that you can do in one day, what you have avoided doing for so many other days. Just for today, take every opportunity you have to let go of thoughts, beliefs, behaviors, ideas and, people that stand in the way of your desire to stand squarely in your worthiness.

Today I am devoted to re-creating my life
and re-claiming my self-worth!

Excerpt from
Until Today!
by Iyanla Vanzant

Be Blessed: Alphabet of Life (Courtesy of Iyanla Vanzant)

I open my heart and mind to be aware . . .
how my ABCs will lift my spirit .


Almighty Creator of the Universe;
Beloved Father, Mother, God;
Create in me a clean heart this day.
Deliver me from the limitations of the ego.
Exalt Your presence in my mind.
Forgive all that I have held against you, myself and others.
Grant me peace this day.
Hold me steadfastly within the boundaries of your truth.
Inspire my heart to know you , my ears to hear you and my eyes to recognize you.
Justify me in the presence of all enemies.
Knead my heart with words of kindness.
Let no harm befall me or my loved ones.
May all I do this day glorify you.
Nourish me with your wisdom.
Open my eyes to know your truth.
Purge my heart of all things that are offensive to your law.
Quiet my soul in the midst of confusion.
Renew my connection to you.
Save me from my secret fears.
Teach me to trust you at all times.
Use all that you have given me to serve you.
Victory for your cause is my desire.
Walk with me so that my strength will never be diminished.
Xamine my heart continually.
Your love and grace are my good fortune.
Zealously I commit myself to your will for my life.

Until today, you may not have been aware of the power of knowing the alphabet. Just for today, practice making each letter in the alphabet come alive in your life.

Today I am devoted to relearning the
entire alphabet of life!

Excerpt from-