Musings of BelovedEsther

Photo by Kyle Glenn on Unsplash Hey guys It has been a while since I posted a blog and I've been itching to get back on here. For those who've never read any of my blog posts, I revived this blog to help reignite my passion for writing by posting every day  for 90 days straight. I have to confess, it hasn't been easy at all and I've fallen off the trail several times now, but I'm not giving up and that's all that matters for to me. In my next post, I share my stats so you can see how I've faired. Really insightful . Anyway, that's it for today. Enjoy the rest of your evening. Love BelovedEsther

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Be blessed BelovedEsther

Photo by Brigitte Tohm on Unsplash Celebrate your small wins. It is so easy to fall into the trap of focusing on what we don't, that we fail to see what we do have. This life is a journey filled with big wins and small wins. Recognising and acknowledging the small wins is so essential. I myself am sometimes prone to complaining about what I don't  yet have and in the process of doing that I overlook what I do have, but I've realised and I'm still learning the benefits of acknowledging and expressing genuine gratitude for what I call the little wins. Something supernatural takes place when we give thanks and show gratitude. Yesterday I shared about how I secured my first contract role after changing my mindset. Instead of focusing on what I felt was an injustice (which by the way was not, it is just a fact of life), I began to express thanks to God for the privilege of having a role which afforded me the opportunity to earn an income. I didn't know h...

Photo by Makarios Tang on Unsplash Have you ever experienced a setback or obstacles in your journey to success?  I'm currently listening to an audiobook by Brian Tracy on the power of self-discipline:  No Excuses!: The Power of Self-Discipline for Success in Your Life .  In it, Brian makes a bold assertion that   "Setbacks are speed bumps on the way to success" Setbacks are a reality of life, it is our response to setbacks that make all the difference.  I vividly remember a setback I experienced years ago. I'd applied for a role which I thought I was guaranteed to get but didn't and it knocked my confidence completely. I became bitter, feeling like a great injustice had been done to me. I lost all motivation to complete my day to day tasks.   However, after much reflection, I realised that I'd succumbed to the entitlement mindset and I was not owed anything. After more reflection, I picked up some a more life lessons, adju...

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Can we take a moment to appreciate all the women out there who are doing amazing things, defying expectations and making strides in their chosen industry? You are doing amazing things, keep it up?

Today I'm thankful for the community God placed me in, my biological family and non-biological family. I am so blessed to be part of a tribe. What are you thankful for today?

Photo by Colin Watts on Unsplash What's your relationship with money? I went to a seminar today that's got me thinking about my view of money and its impact. I will share some nuggets from the seminar and a bit about my journey to financial freedom in a future post.

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Photo by Oliver Cole on Unsplash Hope deferred makes the heart sick - Proverbs 13:12a Have you ever felt discouraged?   If you have, what did you do to get out of that phase, especially in times  when you feel that your dream is taking forever to manifest in your reality? I'm realising that in the growth process/journey you will encounter discouragement for various reasons. It is what you do when you experience discouragement that matters. Here are a few things I do, some more than others, which you may find helpful. Examine your environment - this is so key, your environment can make or break you.  Check who you're listening - do you have individuals you trust who can give good counsel? Coaches, mentors, friends, family etc. What information are you consuming - I try to listen to motivational messages, podcasts, Audiobooks, books, talks, seminars etc. Who are you pouring into? Do you mentor or guide anyone? I find th...

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Photo by Krisztian Tabori on Unsplash Be transformed by the renewing of your mind - Romans 12:2b True change comes from a changed mindset. The change you want will begin to manifest itself as you start to see differently on the inside.

Photo by Gabrielle Henderson on Unsplash Be grateful for the little things. The gift of life, family, friends, sound mind, imagination & dreams. A few weeks ago, a friend helped list out some of the blessings I've experienced that I'd failed to acknowledge because I keep focusing on some things I've not yet experienced in my life. Life will sometimes go contrary to our well-mapped out plans. In those moments, stopping to look back and take stock truly helps put it all in perspective. I know it does for me and I hope it will for you where ever you are in life. Count your blessings, name them one by one Count your blessings, see what God has done Count your blessings Name them one by one And it will surprise you what the Lord has done So what are you grateful for?

So excited to be modelling again this year for House of Stone, an online fashion brand based in the UK that specialises in making affordable handmade dresses for all types of events. The fashion show is tomorrow 11th May, details can be found here -  Fashion, fun and fizz   Get your tickets before they run out, you won't be disappointed.

Photo by Adele Payman on Unsplash The secret of your success is determined by your daily agenda. Make the decision once, then manage it daily. Successful people make the right decisions early and manage those decisions daily. Many people believe that success is determined by how busy they are but that's not always the case. True success is determined by the habits practised on a daily basis.  The picture above is a great example of this. Let me explain what I mean. First, a decision was made, which led to the preparation of the soil, sowing of seeds, followed by fertilisation. Then a system involving repeatable activities was introduced, the irrigation process. Finally, harvest and storage time came.  ( Disclaimer  - I am not a farmer, the above is just for illustrative purposes 😉) Put simply, there was a desired outcome, which led to a decision being made early. That decision initiated a series of key steps/activities. Once i...

Photo by Tim Mossholder on Unsplash The secret of your success is determined by your daily agenda - John C. Maxwell I've heard this quote so many times in the past year and have come to see how true it is. Success of any kind cannot be achieved beyond the habits practised on a daily basis. What we do daily is what really matters and defines us.

Real, sustainable change doesn’t happen in a moment. It’s a process.

Photo by Simon Maage on Unsplash What are you most grateful for today? It is easy to focus on what we don't have and take for granted the little things we experience daily, like good health, family, friends, shelter etc. I myself am prone to this, but I'm learning to actively find ways to be thankful in my current phase of life. So I ask again, what are you most grateful for today? 

This is a beautiful song by one of my favourite gospel artists, Yolanda Adams. Listen and be encouraged. Yes, life gets is hard sometimes as a friend of mine would say, yet still, I rise, never to give up, never to give in against all odd.  BelovedEsther

Hey there Yesterday I fell asleep and forgot to post my daily blog :) so that means my I start my 90-day challenge again. Although I feel bad right now, I'm not too disappointed in myself because I know this is a necessary path to success. I've learned over the years to readjust my attitude to failure. Failure is not a sign of weakness, but rather necessary on the journey to success. I see it as a sturdy stepping stone to success. Success for me in this instance is the learned habit of consistency.  Anyway, enough about me. Here's something I wrote a long while ago, hope you like it :) Every day is a new day A new day to be reassessed A new day to think of visions Of visions of the future Every day is a new revelation A new revelation for tomorrow Trying to tell tomorrow  Is akin to trying to take on the mind of the Creator Every day is a new life A new life with new beginnings A new life filled with  hope and...

Courtesy WSDee Photography Hey all Last year, I did a spot of modelling for House of Stone , an online fashion brand based in the UK that specialises in making affordable handmade dresses for all types of events. It was so much fun. House of Stone is hosting another fashion show on 11th May, details can be found here -  Fashion, Fun and Fizz . Get your tickets before they run out, you won't be disappointed.

Photo by Jessica Castro on Unsplash Hope you've had a great weekend. Today I'm thankful for life :), health and family. Even though we go through so many things in life there is so much to be thankful for, so give thanks and say what you're grateful for BelovedEsther

Photo by Charles Etoroma on Unsplash Are you doing what you're passionate about? If not, what's stopping you?

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Hello Hope you're well. I wanted to quickly share with you a book I've been reading over the past couple of months.  It is called Today Matters by John C. Maxwell. In Today Matters , Maxwell advises that "the secret of your success is determined by your daily agenda. Make the decision once, then manage it daily. Successful people make the right decisions early and manage those decisions daily." He identifies 12 areas of life in which he believes the right decisions should be made. Once made, these decisions should be practised on a daily basis. I particularly enjoyed chapter 7 - Today's Thinking Gives Me An Advantage. John outlines various types of thinking including intentional thinking, big-picture thinking, creative thinking, etc. He explains the benefit of finding a time and space to practise the habit of good thinking daily. For me, my focus right now is intentional and creative thinking. You can purchase your copy of Today Matters...

Photo by Nicole Honeywill on Unsplash 'Weeping may last through the night, but joy comes with the morning.' Psalms 30:5B

Photo by Suzanne D. Williams on Unsplash  Have you ever felt like you're in a struggle with yourself, wanting to break out but don't know how nor do you seem to have the strength? This is what I call the transformation process and over the coming weeks, I'll be sharing some of my thoughts and reflections from my own journey. Today I just want to remind you that every single individual is at some point in life in the process of transformation, and while at times, the process makes no sense, gives no hint of how long it will last or even the sight of a way out, there is light at the end of the tunnel and the day will surely break. Hang in there and submit to the process of transformation, something beautiful surely awaits you. Love BelovedEsther

Photo by Bruno van der Kraan on Unsplash 'And go quickly and tell His disciples that He is risen from the dead, and indeed He is going before you into Galilee; there you will see Him. Behold, I have told you.” He is not here; for He is risen, as He said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. But the angel answered and said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. So they went out quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to bring His disciples word. And the guards shook for fear of him, and became like dead men. His countenance was like lightning, and his clothing as white as snow. And behold , there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat on it. Now after the Sabbath, as the first day of the week began to dawn, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to see the tomb. ' Matthew 28:1-8

Photo by eberhard grossgasteiger on Unsplash But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes, we are healed. Isaiah 53:5 NLT

Isaiah 53:5

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Photo by Clark Tibbs on Unsplash I've been thinking about some of the things that have held me back over the years and I've come to realise that often times, what is needed is the ability to believe in oneself. I know what it feels like to have big ideas but be paralysed by fear of the unknown. Fear of rejection, of not being good enough, of being too good, of failing, of succeeding, of not making an impact, and so the list goes. On this growth/transformation journey, I've become acutely aware that all fear does is steal from me, it steals precious time, ideas, energy and life. Sometimes and I dare say most times, on the road to greatness or significance, what is required is the decision to do something great and significant and then do it. However, what that looks like for me may not be the same for you, all that matters is that you take the first step. My encouragement for you today is to dare to let go of what is holding back and reach out for your dreams, ...

I am a creative power /being and therefore, I can command the hidden soil/seeds from which my circumstances grow. I do this by replacing the narrative in of the soil of my mind.

Photo by Thought Catalog on Unsplash "A man can only rise, conquer and achieve by lifting up his thoughts. He can only remain weak, and abject, and miserable by refusing to lift up his thoughts. Before a man can achieve anything, even in worldly things, he must lift his thoughts above slavish animal indulgence." Awareness: For me, this speaks to the resolution that must be taken and committed to wholeheartedly before anything is conquered or achieved. If I persist in low thinking there will be no achievement and weakness will remain the king of the day. Change: I will continue to lift up my thoughts daily.

Kastel Novi, Split, Croatia Today I'm thankful for life, the chance to be a better version of myself and the opportunity to enjoy this adventure called life. Up until the recent past, I've found it hard to let go of my cautious side and just take risks, but I'm learning that everything in life is a risk. I'm not there yet and there's still so much I want to get done in my lifetime that's why I'm taking each day as it comes and stepping outside of my comfort zone into the unknown. Here's an excerpt of something I wrote years ago Every day is an adventure to be explored As an adventure, it is to be explored and enjoyed to the fullest No use letting the day's worry creep up the wall Rather  with open arms, explore the adventure that every day brings BelovedEsther (c) 2001

Photo by Renáta-Adrienn on Unsplash "The secret of your success is determined by your daily agenda. If you make a few key decisions and then manage them well in your daily agenda, you will succeed. What you become is the result of what you do today.  My preparation today gives me confidence for tomorrow." 

Photo by Markus Spiske on Unsplash Growth comes from making decisions daily and following through on them daily.  The secret of your success is determined by your daily agenda. Make the decision once, then manage it daily. Successful people make right decisions early and manage those decisions daily.

Today's quote is from a book I'm currently reading by John C.  Maxwell, "Today Matters". "Where there is no faith in the future, there is no power in the present."

Photo by  Valentina Conde  on  Unsplash The picture says it all, keep pushing

"As a being of intelligence, power and love, and the lord of his own thoughts, man holds the key to every situation, and contains within himself that transforming and regenerative agency by which he may make himself what he wills." Awareness/ Change: I hold the key to the change I desire, I must learn to look inwards and begin to work this principle in my life.

"Your wishes and dreams will only come true when they are in harmony with your thoughts and actions. It is futile to fight against circumstances . You cannot change your surroundings while continuing to think the same thoughts that brought you here. To improve your circumstances, improve yourself. Self-discipline is key to obtaining anything you want, no matter whether your aims are high or low. Even those who simply desire money must make many personal sacrifices to earn it. Think of how many more sacrifices it takes to develop a resilient, trustworthy, inspiring, fully-rounded. character ." Awareness/Take Action: I must make the necessary sacrifice of self-discipline in my thinking to begin to see the improvements in my circumstances and my environment that I want.

"As a being of intelligence, power and love, and the lord of his own thoughts, man holds the key to every situation, and contains within himself that transforming and regenerative agency by which he may make himself what he wills." Awareness: I hold the key to the change I desire, I must learn to look inwards and begin to work this principle in my life.