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~ To A Life Worth Living xo

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Category Archives: Motivational & Intentional

A Long Way From Home

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Posted by Irene Ephraim in Late night, Motivational & Intentional

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Future, Motivation, past, Present, Reality, Regret, Spirituality, TGIF

Sometimes, it is necessary to look back.
I randomly came across email exchanges from 14 years ago. What I saw shocked, embarrassed and made me laugh until tears fell.
My verbal communication was abysmal. How did anyone ever engage in written conversation with me? and furthermore why? Were they nuts?!

I didn’t go looking for it, but I welcomed seeing my growth in such a real tangible way. It was clear that I had evolved. For the better.

It’s hard to see how far we have come when the evidence isn’t glaringly obvious.
The proof is not smacking you in the face so you must not be growing right? Go back.
Rummage through old notebooks, pictures, emails, items. You’ll see it. What looks back at you, might get you to puff up your chest a little bit because you’ll realise that actually you smashed it.
You made lemonade from lemon. Not once, or twice, but over and over again.
Don’t be so hard on yourself, cut yourself some slack and whilst you’re at it pat yourself on the back.

Xo

P.s Download 33 Powerful Affirmations and Confirmations for FREE here

33-powerful-affirmations-and-confirmationsDownload

Accelerate Your Life Guide and Workbook will jumpstart the process of clearing the way, sharpening the vision, and accelerating the elevation.

Accelerate Your Life–A Guide and Workbook to Making Richer Choices will assist you in defining and redefining where and who you are. By the end of it, you will have a map that you can rely on to quickly take you forward. And best of all, you can use it again and again and again.

Purchase Accelerate Your Life here
£4.99


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I Made It

33 held so much for me. I felt like I couldn’t fully exhale for a few reasons.Give or take the inaccuracies of reported history, Jesus was 33 when he ascended. My late friend was also 33 when he ascended. And a small part of me had come to anticipate that this too could be my …

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by Irene Ephraim December 17, 2021

CAN YOU HEAR YOURSELF?

The constant chatter is overwhelming. One person says this, another person says that. Your mum says it’s this way, your brother says it’s the other. Then there’s the people who love to be contrarian with no actual thoughts of their own, just adept at piggybacking off what a group of people might agree upon and finding a …

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by Irene Ephraim December 13, 2021

Cloudy With A Chance Of…

One day you’re fine, life is good and the air is filled with prospects that you could almost pluck them like the squiggly lines you see when you look at a blue sky. The following day however, you’re freezing your bits off, your umbrella is inside out and the contents of your bag have just …

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by Irene Ephraim December 6, 2021

The Improbable Is Still Possible 

Improbable–not likely to be true or to happen.I saw a TikTok of a guy doing the improbable. Getting two basketballs into a hoop using a crutch, throwing a CD into a moving Wii console, releasing ping pong balls with the aim of reaching various points and so on.   It was fascinating to watch. In a different …

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by Irene Ephraim December 2, 2021December 2, 2021

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Accelerate Your Life

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Posted by Irene Ephraim in Lessons Learnt, Life, Motivational & Intentional

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career, change, Coach, Ebook, Family, France, Guide, Jobs, life, Money, new year, Relationships, Tech, Workbook

The New Year is fast approaching, and it’s the time many people begin to reflect and go over the year.
It’s at this point that people panic and have great anxiety over what they did or didn’t do and resolve to do better…in the new year.
Why wait, when you can get a headstart now. One that has the potential to shift the trajectory of your life, and not just for the year end!

Accelerate Your Life–A Guide and Workbook to Making Richer Choices was created to support you in moving full steam ahead. Now that the fog has started to clear, it’s time to take things back into your own hands.

Much of the overwhelm we feel, is the constant dialogue that goes on in our minds 24/7.
A lot of that are things that will not occur, mixed with where we want to be, alongside what has happened in the past.
How can you see and seize opportunities with confusion, conflict and constant chatter at the forefront?

Accelerate Your Life Guide and Workbook will jumpstart the process of clearing the way, sharpening the vision, and accelerating the elevation.

Accelerate Your Life–A Guide and Workbook to Making Richer Choices will assist you in defining and redefining where and who you are. By the end of it, you will have a map that you can rely on to take you forward. And best of all, you can use it again and again and again.

Purchase Accelerate Your Life Here
£4.99

P.s I have done a lifetime of learning, flying and falling and if I can provide a blueprint and prevent some of the drama for you, that’s exactly what I’ll do!

Accelerate Your Life Guide + WorkbookDownload

I’d love to hear from you.

Promise + Possibilities 

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Posted by Irene Ephraim in Life, Motivational & Intentional

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lifestyle, Magic, Manifest, Monday Motivation, Quantum Physics, Reality, spiritual, Wellbeing, Wellness

Promise– the quality of potential excellence.
Possibilities– a thing that may happen or be the case.

That we get to be here and experience a new week full of promise and possibilities is magical. 
I love that for us.

Who knows what wonderful, delightful thing may happen to and for us.
The promise within that, makes me feel invincible. 

All things are possible, including your wildest, most riveting and powerful desires.
And if you don’t have anything that makes you feel excited, darling, make believe.
After all, everything we live in is made-to-believe; what’s here, once wasn’t, and what isn’t, is on it’s way.
My reality, your reality, the worlds reality, is borne from a cocktail of imaginations. Think about it. Literally.

Xo

Monday Coffee xo

LATEST POSTS

A Long Way From Home

Sometimes, it is necessary to look back. I randomly came across email exchanges from 14 years ago. What I saw shocked, embarrassed and made me laugh until tears fell. My verbal communication was abysmal. How did anyone ever engage in written conversation with me? and furthermore why? Were they nuts?! I didn’t go looking for …

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by Irene Ephraim November 26, 2021November 26, 2021

Treat It Like An Exam

Treat it like an exam. This came to me at 7:46am this morning.  I was pondering on the how’s of a particular thing. I quickly snapped out of it like a Raven Baxter premonition because the ‘how’ is none of my business. The ‘do’ is where it’s at. And by do, that means doing it …

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by Irene Ephraim November 23, 2021

Accelerate Your Life

The New Year is fast approaching, and it’s the time many people begin to reflect and go over the year. It’s at this point that people panic and have great anxiety over what they did or didn’t do and resolve to do better…in the new year.Why wait, when you can get a headstart now. One …

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by Irene Ephraim November 21, 2021November 23, 2021

Little Pockets Of Joy

Joy is usually reserved for the ‘big’ moments. Moments like a new car, house, engagement, pregnancy, job and the like. It’s also solely thought of as something that is given to you, rather than something you can cultivate for yourself. This is where Little Pockets of Joy comes in. I believe in en•joy•ment of the …

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by Irene Ephraim November 16, 2021

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Easy Breezy

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Posted by Irene Ephraim in Life, Motivational & Intentional

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Ease, Easeful, Elements, Nature, Paris, Rhythm, Weather

When the sky cries and the sun smiles, a ray of colourful light is a reminder of their alliance; to dance always. 

Easeful–Providing comfort or peace.
Nature gives me that.
It works in order, at its own pace void of who, what, where and when. 

Trees do not struggle to grow nor wonder how will they grow, they just do. They do so with other types of trees right next to them, side by side, swaying, saying sweet nothings to each other. It’s easeful. 

If we took cues from the ease at which the elements and all of nature work (together), our lives would be different. 

To experience ease, stop resisting or forcing. Align with your circadian rhythm. Allow others to do the same, and refrain from projecting onto them.

Xo

Buy a coffee for me xo

LATEST POSTS

Promise + Possibilities 

Promise– the quality of potential excellence.Possibilities– a thing that may happen or be the case. That we get to be here and experience a new week full of promise and possibilities is magical. I love that for us. Who knows what wonderful, delightful thing may happen to and for us. The promise within that, makes me …

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by Irene Ephraim November 8, 2021November 8, 2021

Winning in Real Life

Successful 1. accomplishing a desired aim or result. 2. having achieved fame, wealth, or social status. The media will have you believe that houses, cars, money, having a partner, and followers are the epitome of success. We inherently know this isn’t true, yet we still uphold them as markers of significant value. We yearn to have …

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by Irene Ephraim November 5, 2021

Follow Through

When I thought of today’s word, I’d already accepted that I had very little of it. Routines and monotony are not my strong suits. And then I looked up the definition and I was surprised. It’s shifted my perspective and has given me food for thought. We use discipline to strictly imply no stick-to-it-ness, but it’s official meaning …

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by Irene Ephraim November 4, 2021

Self vs Self

Ego–A person’s sense of self-esteem or self-importance.A slippery slope or protective armour? I’d it’s both. It’s also described as the part of the mind that mediates between the conscious and the unconscious and is responsible for reality testing and a sense of personal identity. The ego is accused of many things, namely in negative outcomes, …

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by Irene Ephraim November 3, 2021

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A November to Remember

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Posted by Irene Ephraim in Life, Motivational & Intentional

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Autumn, Halloween, London, Paris, Word prompt, writer, Writing prompt

1.11.21 
I love the first day of the month, especially when it lands on a Monday. 
For each day this week I’ll be posting a word to ponder on. 

Today’s word is:
Detach 
1. disengage (something or part of something) and remove it.
2. leave or separate oneself from (a group or place).

For me, this means letting go of what’s happened, and focusing on what is. It looks like freeing myself daily from being held hostage to my 25 year old thoughts of who I expected myself to be at this point. 
I do this by confirming (not affirming) my presence in the present, i.e observing what is literally in front of me. Then I ask what can I do in this moment for me, my environment or immediate future? And that may be cooking a tasty meal with love and intention, beautifying my space, handling personal admin, or doing absolutely nothing!

What does detaching look like to you?

Xo

A Little Value For the Value

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Easy Breezy

When the sky cries and the sun smiles, a ray of colourful light is a reminder of their alliance; to dance always.  Easeful–Providing comfort or peace.Nature gives me that. It works in order, at its own pace void of who, what, where and when.  Trees do not struggle to grow nor wonder how will they grow, …

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by Irene Ephraim November 2, 2021

Belief–An Acceptance That Something Exists

I made myself stupid. Hear me out. Years ago, because of an unhealthy level of expectation I placed on myself (which stemmed from comparison), I would harshly judge what I said and how I said it. I would go over every minute detail and pick myself apart mentally, with the underlying message being you’re not …

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by Irene Ephraim October 26, 2021

WDYWM?! Episode 10–My Life In Paris

This episode is about my experience of being a Black Brit who moved from London to Paris in a pandemic. I discuss having covid, language barriers and general challenges of integrating into a new society.

by Irene Ephraim October 21, 2021

Forgive–To Cancel a Debt.

Nothing is more important than what you choose to do with the breadth of your life. To not forgive is to rob yourself of a life you deserve. …but alas it is you that has been sentenced to a life in prison.  Unforgiveness* is a treacherous con artist because it deceives you into thinking you’re …

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by Irene Ephraim October 19, 2021

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Belief–An Acceptance That Something Exists

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Posted by Irene Ephraim in Life, Motivational & Intentional

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belief, health, trust, Wellness

I made myself stupid. Hear me out.

Years ago, because of an unhealthy level of expectation I placed on myself (which stemmed from comparison), I would harshly judge what I said and how I said it. I would go over every minute detail and pick myself apart mentally, with the underlying message being you’re not smart enough, you have to do better.
We think these types of statements will encourage us to improve, but instead, it has the opposite effect because as a man (subconscious) thinketh, so is he.

The lack of belief in my abilities caused me to self-fulfil the fear in my own words. I was becoming stupid.

Once that information came into my awareness, I little by little, changed the internal conversations I was having about myself. This meant every time I said something not in alignment with the truth, I verbally cancelled those words/thoughts and replaced it with what I intentionally chose to believe about myself.
These small adjustments however, rarely feel impactful at first. It’s not until one ordinary day, as you’re putting the washed dishes away, do you realise your beliefs have changed and so have your circumstances.
Words have meaning & thoughts become things; don’t underestimate the power in your thoughts or words or things.

Whether you think you can, or you think you can’t–you’re right

Henry Ford

Xo

A Little Value For The Value

LATEST POSTS

A November to Remember

1.11.21 I love the first day of the month, especially when it lands on a Monday. For each day this week I’ll be posting a word to ponder on.  Today’s word is:Detach 1. disengage (something or part of something) and remove it.2. leave or separate oneself from (a group or place). For me, this means letting go of …

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by Irene Ephraim November 1, 2021

What Are You Looking At? 

A video of Kim K came across my sight over the weekend. It was her on SNL. I watched it and it dawned on me that I have no idea what she and her family were up to these days.  It’s fascinating what can change once you set your eyes on something entirely different.  I regularly …

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by Irene Ephraim October 13, 2021

Finishing Well

I visited the Musée Yves Saint Laurent on Sunday and was re-energised by what I saw. For the designer, it was more than just clothes that looked good, it was art, curated by passion, breaking moulds and forging new ways to be seen and felt. As I perused his wears, studied the fabrics, observed the …

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by Irene Ephraim September 21, 2021

September

The feeling of a crisp Monday morning cannot be replicated by any other day of the week. It’s full of both promise and dread in equal amounts. What will it bring? What will I have to tackle? What joy will I experience? What task might feel too great? And whilst you marinate on it, you’ll …

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by Irene Ephraim September 13, 2021

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Finishing Well

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Posted by Irene Ephraim in Life, Motivational & Intentional

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I visited the Musée Yves Saint Laurent on Sunday and was re-energised by what I saw.

For the designer, it was more than just clothes that looked good, it was art, curated by passion, breaking moulds and forging new ways to be seen and felt.
As I perused his wears, studied the fabrics, observed the silhouettes, it was clear that immense thought and intention went into his work. He took his time.

His office

Society will tell you you’re not moving fast enough, and that you need to constantly churn out great results all the time, but what effect does that have on the quality of what you’re doing and more importantly, you?
The focus these days is on how quickly you can produce anything and make money, money, money! Outrage and shock is the new currency and we are all suffering because of this untameable beast, but I digress.

What I’d like to stress instead, is to move at your own pace, whichever speed that may be. Choose quality over quantity and allow room for things to breathe and naturally evolve.
It is perfectly okay to take your time and finish well.

Xo

A Little Value For The Value

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Back to Life, Back to Reality.

And if you’re seeing this post, it’s an indication that at least for today, I won. Whew! Returning to the blog after an unplanned period away, is like that first day at the gym after falling off for months. It takes a whole lot to get there. On this occasion, the distance was due to Covid. …

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by Irene Ephraim September 7, 2021

Question It

Fortuitously, I picked up this book recently to re-read it for the umpteenth time and the words below reflect my sentiments in this post. Much of our education of the world comes from other sources. We seldom form and realise our own ideas about it till much later on in life, if ever at all. …

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by Irene Ephraim July 19, 2021

Face Your Front

Face your front is a commonly known Nigerian expression, meaning to look ahead, pay attention to your affairs and stop watching others. The irony is the exact opposite expression also exists, and its ‘Look at your mates’, but we will unpack that another time. How much further along might you be if you pull backed some …

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by Irene Ephraim July 6, 2021November 18, 2021

WDYWM?! Episode 9–Adulting: A Sham & A Scam

Adulting, need I say more? If you could opt out, at least for a period of time, would you take it? This episode is about the realities of adulthood.

by Irene Ephraim June 17, 2021

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September

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Posted by Irene Ephraim in Motivational & Intentional

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Abundance, author, Fresh Start, happiness, intention, joy, Life Coach, Lifeologist, Monday, Monday Motivation, New week, peace

The feeling of a crisp Monday morning cannot be replicated by any other day of the week. It’s full of both promise and dread in equal amounts.
What will it bring? What will I have to tackle? What joy will I experience? What task might feel too great? And whilst you marinate on it, you’ll never know for certain until you embark on it.
Isn’t it exciting and empowering that you and I, in small and big ways can contribute to what we encounter this week? Such power.
Let’s use it wisely to set intentions, renew commitments, release the ones that no longer fit, and allow room for whatever needs to be done, seen or felt.

Here’s to a stupendous week ahead (this is my intention) xo

A Little Value for the Value

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It Didn’t Work

It didn’t work. Didn’t it? Or did you give up after the first attempt?  We’ve become accustomed to expecting microwave results. We no longer believe in the art of cultivating, nurturing or giving of ourselves to a thing. We want it, and we want it now.  I often go back to what I was like as a child. …

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by Irene Ephraim June 14, 2021

Endless Excuses

We are full of excuses. Excuses that hinder, inhibit, and can foster stagnation. And yes, sometimes they are valid and substantiated, however, they are only as powerful as we say they are. I often remember what a coach said to me once, after I poured out my heart and laid out my issues regarding overcoming …

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by Irene Ephraim June 7, 2021

WDYWM?! Episode 8–Moving On

London to Paris–that’s the move I made during a pandemic. I talk about the good, bad and uncomfortable things about starting a new life somewhere different.

by Irene Ephraim May 27, 2021

Lean In

I love knowing everything. I like to know what I’m doing, where I’m doing it, who I’m doing it with (don’t be nasty), and how I’m doing it. I like my t’s crossed and i’s dotted, but that’s not life. Life is full of beautiful, unpredictable, and transformative unknowns and you only get to find …

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by Irene Ephraim May 24, 2021

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Face Your Front

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Posted by Irene Ephraim in Motivational & Intentional

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Currency, energy, life, lifestyle, Monday, Money, Motivation, success


Face your front is a commonly known Nigerian expression, meaning to look ahead, pay attention to your affairs and stop watching others. The irony is the exact opposite expression also exists, and its ‘Look at your mates’, but we will unpack that another time.

How much further along might you be if you pull backed some of your energy from fruitless endeavours and redistributed into your own life?

When I reflect on a number of past activities, I momentarily feel a grave sense of regret because of what I allowed to fall by the wayside.
Energy is currency, and wherever you are spending it, is an investment you’re making each and every single time. With this in mind, what is your investment revealing to you?

I have regularly made other people and things a priority and we’ve all been taught to do that, often to our own detriment.
Truthfully, there will always be things to take care of and give yourself to, but it’s your responsibility to make your personal business of great importance and to see it through.
People are not always going to check in on you to see if you’re on track and doing what you said you’d do. You have to hold yourself accountable.
Create a system that gives you both the space to audit what you have done to date and develop your interests, and you can start by being present, analysing your thoughts, and examining your actions.

Only you know and understand the gravitas of the mandate you have for your life…Wouldn’t it be wonderful to live it out in this lifetime? and need I say it, the idea of tomorrow is a hope and not a guarantee.

XO

LATEST POSTS

WDYWM?! Episode 7–21 Questions

21 Questions about relationships, who would I swap lives with, being the president of a country, greatest fears and more.

by Irene Ephraim May 20, 2021May 20, 2021

One Day You’ll Be Old

One day you will be old. At least I hope to be. As I prepared for bed last night, I took one more glance in the mirror to observe myself, and I had an epiphany; one day I’ll be old and this skin that I’m waiting on to get better, will have lived life and …

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by Irene Ephraim May 17, 2021

WDYWM?! Episode 6–Unravelling

What I thought 2019 would be vs what it is was. I felt like I was dragged through the mud, but there is light at the end of the tunnel, even if you have to fight tooth and nail for it! I share some of the difficulties of life and adulting.

by Irene Ephraim May 13, 2021

You vs Society

When I take an unexpected break (which I am now calling a mid-season break), I usually return with an explanation in hand.I’m not doing that today (maybe later), and I hope by the end of this read, you too will choose yourself and your best interests. Society demands that you work incessantly. It’s crammed down …

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by Irene Ephraim May 11, 2021

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It Didn’t Work

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Posted by Irene Ephraim in Motivational & Intentional

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blogger, Failure, Goals, growth, lifestyle, London, Monday, Motivation, Paris, Relationships, success, writer

It didn’t work. 
Didn’t it? Or did you give up after the first attempt? 

We’ve become accustomed to expecting microwave results. 
We no longer believe in the art of cultivating, nurturing or giving of ourselves to a thing. We want it, and we want it now. 

I often go back to what I was like as a child. It reveals much of who we are today and who we could be.

When I couldn’t skip well, I skipped until I could.
When I could barely do a roly poly (forward roll), I practiced until I could to that and cartwheels.
When I wasn’t the fastest in a race, I ran until I got faster and faster.
When I was terrible at maths, I studied until I excelled at it. 
When I was told by my Sixth Form Law teacher to stop mucking around in class, I got an A in my coursework to silence her.
When I couldn’t swim, I learnt what I could from friends and later on in my 20’s I took lessons. 
When I was told I couldn’t do something and I disagreed with their opinion, I didn’t accept it as gospel. I instead invested the time and effort to ace it and prove myself right.

You were like that too. You relished the opportunity to know more, and you could spend hours on end practicing, learning, and doing it over and over again. What happened to that person?
The results of course were important, but the focus was in the undertaking, and this is what made the accomplishments sweeter.

Let’s get back to engaging with the process, and move away from obsessing about the outcome/whens, because truly that is where the real treasures lie; in the doing, in the learning, in the growing. The results are simply the icing on the cake. 

Xo 

LATEST POSTS

WDYWM?! Episode 5–Flights and Fights

There is so much of the world to see and experience, and what better way to do that than with friends and family, unless…you fight, fall out and break up! I speak on some of my trips, what happened and whether we bounced back, or not.

by Irene Ephraim April 8, 2021

WDYWM?! Episode 4–Shipped and Left Behind

We all have events that have changed the course of our lives and who we are today. I share my experience on being uprooted from everything I knew, to start a life at a private boarding school in what was then a foreign country to me.

by Irene Ephraim April 1, 2021May 7, 2021

Bursting at the Seams.

Man, the pressure. The pressure to be and do all is immense.  I have been on the go for the past couple of months, and I was afraid of a burnout.To avoid that, I gave myself an impromptu annual leave from creating last week. The weekend rolls around, quickly might I add, and a recollection of …

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by Irene Ephraim March 31, 2021

WDYWM?! Episode 3–Friendships: The Rise and Fall

We all have a part to play in the health, quality and longevity of our friendships. In today’s episode I speak on a friendship that was severed for 5 years, how we came back together, and what it ultimately taught me.

by Irene Ephraim March 18, 2021March 18, 2021

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Why Didn’t You Warn Me?!

Why Didn't You Warn Me?!

Why Didn't You Warn Me?! is a podcast speaking on the things you should know, but don't. The things you typically find out after the fact, and it's sometimes too late. Fear not, Why Didn't You Warn Me?! with Irene aka Lipstick, will give you the 411 through story-telling, conversations, and refreshing perspectives.

© Copyright © lipstickandblackcoffee 2021

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