Posted in Thoughts in motion, Uncategorized
Tags
action, Daily, Global, Lockdown, New Normal, Patterns, Quarantine, words, World
Quarantine-ning in Paris
In this new normal that the world is currently living in, something to remember as we connect more with ourselves, with others, and possibly blasts from the past is this:
Words deceive, patterns do not. Look alive (Also stay alive).
xo
Posted in Life, Thoughts in motion
Tags
2019, 2020, belief, Better, Break, Coronavirus, Gift, History, opportunity, Overcome, Pandemic, Present, Rest, self love, Self-care, Utilise, Victory
Well that went left very quickly.
2019 was what I considered to be the year of the purge. It felt like we were going through a spiritual and physical transformation in preparation for the new decade, and I accepted that, however, I don’t think whatever that period was meant to teach us stuck, so here we are.
The universe has given us a clear indication of what is necessary and we should take heed. We are being called to take the best care we’ve ever taken of ourselves, of others and the earth we live in. It is time to chill.
Granted, the world is in a frenzy, but you don’t have to be. This period, should you choose to see it this way, can be a beautiful opportunity for you to regenerate, to bond, to develop, and ultimately alter the way you see and do things going forward, for the better.
My belief, albeit contrary to what is currently happening, is that 2020 is going to be an incredible year, as we will become 10 times the person we were before, we just have to do our bit.
Naturally, as with most things and considering the circumstances, there will be loss, sacrifice, heartbreak and hard times, but it won’t last and we will get through it as best as we can, like we always do.
So stay indoors, keep healthy, take the necessary precautions, check on your loved ones and neighbours, help out wherever possible and rest.
xo
Posted in Lessons Learnt, Life
I have been willing myself to complete a post for weeks now to no avail. Five different topics with a beginning, a middle and no end. Huff.
As I finished writing that last sentence, a thought came to me to just post one as is, and that’s what I’m going to do.
Too often we let perfectionism block and stop us from showing up, believing that we have to present a completely finished & polished product, and truthfully we don’t. What’s much more revolutionary than that is being your authentic self and simply showing up the best way you know how, rough edges and all.
So here is one I started a month ago and haven’t edited or completed. And maybe I will, maybe I won’t.
” Remove and Replace
Whatever expectations you’ve had for your life for the last few years or decades, perhaps it’s time you let up and release them.
We can get so caught up in what we think it should be and forcefully try and make things happen, that we actually miss out on the opportunities right in front of us.
That doesn’t mean never getting the things you want, it’s more about adjusting your lens to capture what already exists and making it better.
I was having a conversation with a friend about life and its fragility and because of that, again I thought are can we really afford to get stuck on the things that haven’t worked? to hold grudges? to wallow in self-pity? to allow negativity? Sure, its easier said than done. And yes it’s something to be practice and there is no time like the present.
So many of us give up on the first try, because we’re so stuck on how we envisioned it happening that we haven’t stopped to consider other options.”
Xo
Posted in Life
Tags
death, Family, Heartache, Heroes, inspiration, joy, Legend, life, Loss, Pain, Rebirth, Victory, Wealth
Life is beautiful yet tragic for the same reason, life goes on.
No matter what happens in our world, irrespective of how life changing it may be, life goes on.
It doesn’t respect persons or their wants, even when parts of the world is shook by something, life doesn’t suddenly come to a halt, the show must go on.
In someone’s death, elsewhere there is birth
In someone’s heartache, elsewhere there is love
In someone’s downfall, elsewhere there is victory
In someone’s poverty, elsewhere there is wealth
In someone’s breakdown, elsewhere there’s a breakthrough.
People must get up, feed their families, go to work, see friends, finish that project, and do all the other things to sustain their lives.
Life is all-encompassing and nothing stays the same forever.
We should take solace in knowing that life will continue with or without us and that is a beautiful thing just as it is tragic.
xo
Posted in Experiences, Self-Development
I am ready for the New Year and what it may bring however, there is a one thing I think we all should do.
It is only right that as we enter into the year 2020 that we get clarity as where there is no vision, the people perish.
Get clear on the things you want for yourself in this coming year. That’s it. That’s the (almost) final word for decade from me.
My final word, is an intention. My intention is that 2020 is phenomenal, prosperous, and full of positive manifestations for you all.
Happy New Year!!!
Irene Xo
Posted in Experiences, Lessons Learnt
Before you receive an onslaught of all the decade stuff, I thought I’d quickly slide mine in there and share some of the things I’ve learnt over the last 10 years.
I started this decade as a 22 year old, who didn’t know shit, still doesn’t, ha! Anyway, without further ado, here they are:
Bonus: We’re all just figuring it out. The above is what I’ve figured out so far and truthfully in the next year/decade it will change. That’s life.
What are some of the things you have learnt over the last decade?
xo
P.s If I don’t write to you before the new year, have a wonderful New Year! xo
13 Friday Dec 2019
Posted in Life, More Action, Motivation
Tags
2017, 2019, challenge, change, choice, Daily, depression, growth, Habits, happiness, life, lifestyle, Motivation, new year, Procrastination, success, Vote
***Updated***
Typically around this time of the year we start to reflect on all that we’ve done. We look at what have achieved and what we haven’t.
We examine closely the things we didn’t get to do and resign to saying ‘2020’ is my year. Pray tell, how will 2020 be any different if you’re not doing anything different? You still think the same, speak the same, act the same, have the same conversations, do the same things and somehow it’ll be…different?
I want you to remember that 2019 isn’t over yet and there is so much we can still do in creating the life we want to live.
Now I don’t have all the answers but I do know a little something that might help. I learnt something recently from my mentor that has helped shape what I do now and it’s this; the work is your habits.
What do your habits say about you and your life? The state of your life is in direct correlation to the habits you have nurtured and practice on a daily basis. For example, if you work out regularly, it’s likely to be evident in your fitness, physique and mentality. Like the saying goes the proof is the pudding.
After a long day at work, like most I just want to plop onto my bed. I don’t want to do any ‘house stuff’ least especially laundry. The clothes are on my bed and I gear up to swiftly push them to the side and curl up on my bed but I pause. What does this act do for me? 1) Fosters laziness and procrastination 2) Increases workload 3) Messy space, messy life 4) Lack of clarity…you see, that ‘little thing’ isn’t worth all that comes with it, so in most cases, I’ll sort it there and then. Everything you do, is mapping out your life.
So, as you go about your daily activities today think about this, what is what I’m about to do say about me and my life? And if you find that the answer is negative, there is your starting point for you to do something about it.
Check your habits and if you don’t like the results it produces, change your habits.
Xo
Posted in Dreams
I really hope this post meets you well.
Can you believe we’re nearly at the end of the year? AND we’re about to enter into a new decade? Wild.
2019 so far for myself and a lot of others, has been a roller coaster of emotions and experiences that we never expected. Things like, unemployment, unplanned pregnancies, incarceration, losing friendships, losing loved ones to death, to name a few things- like I said, a roller coaster.
I wonder if there is some sort of universal purge happening because we are entering into a new decade? What do you think?
Notwithstanding the party and bullsh*t that life can be, we still have to participate and how we do this, is entirely up to us.
Sure, we’re not in control of a lot of things, but the one of the things we can master is, ourselves. WE are huge contributors to our experiences.
With that said, I want you to think about ONE thing you want to accomplish before the 31st December 2019.
Just one. One, because when we attempt to juggle multiple things at a time the following occurs; very little gets done, you become overwhelmed with how much there is to do, causes frustration and worse than all of that, can make you stagnant.
Once you have decided what that is, close off or shut down anything that does not support the thing you are in the process of accomplishing. That might mean limiting the access others have to you, setting a timetable, changing your environment, exposing yourself to something different and so on.
Chances are, you already know what you have to do, you just don’t want to do it. Take heed to whatever messages you are receiving right now about your life, as its the very thing that will get you closer to where you want to be.
And if you don’t? Well you already know what life will look like because you are living it now. Do yourself one solid before the new year and surprise yourself.
With love, Irene x
Posted in Manifest, More Action, Motivation, Self-Development
Tags
Acne, Document, growth, joy, Manifest, Motivation, Picture, Pimples, Problem skin, Progress, Roaccutane, Spots, Stress
It’s hard to see growth when there’s no tangible evidence. You can easily begin to think badly of yourself and how much you haven’t done and of all the things you have not accomplished.
There’s a great way to address that, document it.
I’m about to tell you a story, that might sound random, but follow it for a moment.
At the beginning of 2018 my acne flared up terribly. I had just finished 3 chemical peels back to back, in a bid to clear up acne scarring, believing that as I approached my 30s everything would settle down. Not my skin and not my face. Rather than reveal new skin, my acne returned with a vengeance. My skin was not happy with the peels or me and it showed. I felt defeated again. Who wants to be dealing with acne at any age never mind at 30!
Up until that point, there existed NO pictures of my bare face. Not one. Not one since I was 17. Not on my personal phone, not even in a place where’d it be hidden, where only I would be privy to it. Not even after 2 rounds of roaccutane (which significantly improved my skin temporarily), numerous facials, topical treatments and so on. Never. I didn’t want to see it. I didn’t want proof of it anywhere, thinking that if I didn’t have to see it, it’ll piss off and never return somehow. It can’t exist if I do not acknowledge it right? Well it didn’t piss off and it did exist.
For years I hated pictures and was always running from a camera and deleting pictures from other people phones. Even today, I’m still not all that enthusiastic about it, however I am MUCH better than I used to be.
Anyway, I’m not sure what possessed me this time around, but I decided I would take pictures of my bare skin in June 2018. It was bad, really bad.
No one ever believes how problematic and scarred my skin was, because I was an expert at disguising most of it. Those with acne prone skin usually are. Now I’d have proof to show people when they’d say ‘you’re skin isn’t bad’, erm yes it was, let’s call a spade a spade.
Truthfully though, I had no intentions of showing anyone and still don’t. I did however, want to see the changes that might happen.
I took action to repair my skin for the umpteenth time and gradually it improved, but I wanted more. I wanted my blemish free taunt skin that I had pre-acne, that was until I looked at the picture I took a year ago. I was astounded by the difference.
I immediately felt immense gratitude for how far I’d come and the progress I had made. I couldn’t actually believe this was what it used to look like. I looked in the mirror again and appreciated how much had changed.
Being able to look back and see the difference between then and now instantly shifted my perspective on how I saw things and increased my confidence. I give myself a little bit more love and a pat on the back for not giving up.
You should consider doing the same. Write down your feelings or take pictures of what you’re doing/working on now, and if you feel compelled to regarding that particular thing, continue to do so. Over time, you will notice the leaps and bounds that you will have made, if only you will not give up and keep going.
xo
P.s Perhaps I’ll share pictures another time, when I am ready and or feeling much much braver lol.
Posted in Experiences, Lessons Learnt, Life, Motivation
Tags
career, Challenges, death, Finances, growth, Hardship, Job, life, Money, Pains, relationship, Six Months, Speaker, Year
I don’t know how its been for you (I hope great), but the first 6 months of this year for myself and many others that I know, was rough, still is.
From deaths, loss of jobs, work issues, financial hardship, strained relationships, the list goes on. It’s been too strange, too common, too frequent, too harsh. I started to think, is this a universal shift for a specific set of people? I wanted out. Knowing others were having a hard time too, did not alleviate the weight of struggle- misery in fact does not always love company.
Having said that, I believe another transition is upon us. A glow up of sorts. Something better than what was. Ms O(prah) said what happens to you is for you and that shift in perspective can empower you to think and act differently. Attempting to ignore or rush it, will not make things change quicker, let it breathe
As cliche as this is about to sound I wouldn’t be who I am When I think about some of the difficult times I’ve had, it always made me better, always. A better communicator, better skilled, more compassionate, more loving, more understanding, more forgiving, disciplined, smarter and much more. Did it feel like all these things at the time? Um **** no, but I’d be remiss if I didn’t acknowledge that I have always gained more and become larger than before.
Let the growing pains work for you by allowing it the space to evolve and for you evolve with it, because what is coming is better than what is gone.
Irene xo
