Tag: motivation

illuminated qoute board

WADDUP

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Listen up everyone! Today is a new day so let’s make the most out of it. Whatever things you keep putting off saying you will do it tomorrow…. do it today! Tomorrow is not promised.

These flowers don’t look like anything very impressive but I am proud to say that they have been living in this vase for over 3 weeks. Actually, it’s been 1 month. I’m truly shocked and delighted in these little guys. It’s amazing what pouring a little bit of water onto something living will do.

Speaking of living water, let’s pour “living water” of encouragement and love into our relationships. Everybody out here is living this hard life and trying to make the best out of their situations. The least we can do is support one another and show compassion. Things may be easy for me today and hard tomorrow, and vice-a-versa with someone else. We don’t need to add to the hatred in the world and kick other people when they’re down and add to the madness.

It’s amazing what a smile will do 🙂

I just want to take a moment to show some gratitude to God. I look around and realize that everything I have came from Him.

“Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.” James 1:17

God does not change. He’s not nice today and rude tomorrow. He doesn’t get tired of loving us. He doesn’t give up on us and stop pursuing us and fighting for us. He’s not fickle and flaky.

He’s firm. Foundational. Strong. He doesn’t crack. He’s supportive. He upholds. He protects. He’s welcoming and inviting. His presence is comforting. He is peaceful to be around. I am so thankful for Him.

Lord, thank you so much for letting me know you. Thank you for answering my prayer ten years ago. When I asked for your help. Thank you for leading me in righteousness and helping me to choose your ways. Your ways are so much higher than my ways. I choose selfishly and narrow-mindedly when I’m not relying on your wisdom to guide me to make the right choices. You long for me to be dependent on You and trust you to live this life with you, not apart from you. You are my best friend, my guide, my Truth. I live because you live in me.

I hope your day is more fragrant than this rose, more pleasing to your eyes than its’ petals, and flourishes more vivaciously than its’ leaves <3

xxx

V

You Reap What You Sow

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You sow carrot seeds, you’re not going to get cucumbers.

You sow cucumber seeds, you’re not going to get peppers.

You sow pepper seeds, you’re not going to get lettuce.

Does this make sense?

Clear. It’s very, very clear. Yet I am still surprised at the fruit in my life sometimes. When you pour your time and energy into something, it grows. Whether it’s something productive or not. When you pour your time and energy into something… it grows.

Worry? yep.

Fear? Yep.

Procrastination? Yep.

Laziness? Yep.

Doubts? Yep.

And now onto the positive.

Hard work

Physical fitness

Eating right

Relationships

Hobbies

.

..

…

..

.

The more time I spent on something, the more it grows. The more time I spend with someone, the more I think about them. The more I do, the more it do. Hahahah I dunno about you, but I’m fond of that last sentence. 😊

That being said, consider this.

Time is not infinite. Each day only has so many minutes and hours. Every day is the same length of time. So how shall we spend it? I repeat, how shall we spend our days?

It’s an easy answer. We should spend our days by doing what we ought to do. That looks different for everyone. Spending time with God, working, taking care of our body, stoking relationships, praying, enjoying, giving thanks. Worshiping, working, waiting.

There is always something to be done, and we are always doing something. Resting and sleeping are activities too. And so are worrying and grumbling, Complaining, comparing, putting others down, being divisive.

Also, inciting cohesiveness, encouragement, inspiration and motivation are ways of being.

I believe that God has gone before me and laid out every step, if I will only look to Him to see which way I ought to go. I’m constantly battling doing the next right thing or the best thing versus doing the first thing that comes to mind. Prioritizing is important. And we shouldn’t just do any old gold thing on a whim. Not every good thing is a God thing.

Lord, show me the way. Show me where I should invest my time. Thank you for your faithfulness to cleaning me up from the inside out and making me a servant better fit for your service. I love you and want to serve you in any way capacity that will bear fruit for you kingdom. Lord, help me to not sow seeds that will bear fruit for death, or won’t bear fruit at all. Help me sow seeds that will produce fruit that many will enjoy the benefits of. I love thee. xoxoxo <3

V

You can’t do it

Published on by Velvet2 Comments

Of course you can’t. Of COURSE you can’t!!!

Did someone tell you that you would be able to jump in and jump on and stand up on your first try?!

Who told you that lie?

I’ll be the first to tell you it’s a lie.

You need to WORK to thrive

You need to FAIL to vibe

You need to learn to stand before you can walk

You need to balance before you can glide

It’s not going to be easy. You have to build up your muscles. God gave us muscles so we could use them. So we could work them. So we could feel the soreness when we try new things. So we could stretch and grow and get up and tone and KNOW that we’re alive.

You can’t do it. Imagine if that’s all someone said to you when you were first starting out. Would it fan your flame to press on or would it justify quitting? I think it has to do with the will, the why. The motive behind doing something in the first place.

I remember driving down the highway on Route 64 and having somewhat of a vision. A bottle of shampoo fell into my lap. It fell from the sky… from heaven. It fell from God. God dropped that bottle of shampoo right into my lap. It seemed to fit in perfectly well. It seemed to fit my personality. “You can sell anything” people have always told me. It’s vegan and chemical-free; good for my body. I believe in it. I use it and love it. It has made my hair healthy. I feel good knowing that it makes me healthy.

When you’re passionate about something and love something, you light a fire underneath other people too. Passion and love are contagious. Love is the one thing that never dies. Because God is love, and God is steadfast and unchanging. And He alone stands the test of time.

But we live in a broken world. And things get difficult. Trials pop up. Hardships come around. Things can start to seem bleak or like they are never going to change. Sometimes the hardship can distract us from why we started in the first place.

Does a pregnant mother give up growing her baby because it’s too hard? God forbid.
Does a pro basketball player walk off the court mid-game because he’s having a bad night?
Does a gardener destroy his bed of flowers because he’s sick and tired of weeds popping up every day?

The answer to all three is, of course, “no”.

Because with perseverance and hard work, there eventually comes a turning point.

You try one more time… and you are able to get up. You find the sweet spot and are able to balance. You find your center of gravity and have built up your muscles enough to maintain your position.

“I’m going to have this baby if it’s the last thing I do” says the mother.
“I’m going to give every shot and pass my all before this game is over” says the b-ball player.
“I’m going to weed day after day to enSURE that my plants aren’t choked out” says the gardener.

And at that point, you’re DOING it. You’re thriving. The work is getting done.

At what point are you at? Feeling like quitting or absolutely committing?

I want to cheer you on. Keep showing up. The hardship is normal. The hardship is expected. The hardship will get you to your goal. And later down the road, I’ll be able to  say this to you:

“Aren’t you glad you didn’t quit? Aren’t you glad you kept persevering?”

BE glad you didn’t quit.
BE glad you kept persevering! Everyone on the sidelines is! Whether they know it or not. Some expected you to give up and fail. Don’t humor them. Some expected you to excel, because they believed in you. Do you believe that you’ll get there? Believe it. Get back up. Try again. Show up again. Build up your muscles. Expect to fall. Expect to fail. Expect that it’ll take hundreds of times, maybe thousands, before you’re an expert.

Experts aren’t born, they’re made. They’re created through trial after trial after trial. Loss after loss after gain after loss. It can seem futile. We’ve all been there. Press on.

“You can’t do it”. You’re right. Maybe not right away or right at first. But that’s unrealistic. Was anything worth doing ever easy?

xxx

<3

V

Running your own business

Published on by VelvetLeave a comment

is a lot of work!

I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again!

You gotta show up. You gotta do the work. You gotta be excited about it. You gotta be LIT. You gotta be PROUD. You gotta be PASSIONATE.

I could never be with a company that I didn’t stand behind 110%.

120%. 130%.

200%.

500%.

All in. I really couldn’t. I could never be one of those Instagrammers that are paid to review some random product that is sent by companies who want advertising in exchange for a few dollars or a discount off of their products. These people can’t possibly have a good idea about the product. And the incentive for reviewing the product is not worth their time.

And it’s sheisty. It’s downright shady. hahaha

And then there’s investing into a company that has incredible momentum, has outsold all premium haircare lines in the world, is #4 in direct sales in the U.S.A. after only ~5 years, and is Leaping Bunny certified, vegan, and chemical-free.

Umm, yeah. Nuff said. You don’t even have to be a long-term customer of my business to know that we have incredible products, a bar-none compensation plan, and timing on our side. The numbers don’t lie. The momentum doesn’t. Lie.

Facts are facts!

Know what you’re getting yourself into when you invest in a company. Don’t invest in a company that’s been around for 50 years and where half the people that sign up quit because they aren’t making any money. Invest in something that’s growing exponentially like my company.

Invest in a company that has a mission of solving people’s hair issues by representing clean products that are clinically proven to heal hair from the inside, regrow and thicken hair, hydrate and moisturize hair, make hair shiny, soft, and healthy 🙂

The health and beauty industry will always thrive. It’s a wise investment to make. And a cheap one too! People go to school for 4 years and spend $100k on a degree that may or may not be used, yet spending a couple hundred dollars on a side hustle is risky? This logic is flawed.

This small investment starts as a side hustle and can grow into and even replace your main stream of income. Email me for more information at velvet@velvetyoung.com!!!

<3

What’s holding you back?

xoxoxo <3

V

Life is too short

Published on by VelvetLeave a comment

To not do what doesn’t bring you joy!!!!!!

Please find a job that fills you up!

Please don’t say “yes” to everything

Please don’t settle

Please bail out of something if you know that it isn’t right for you, or if it isn’t right for you right now.

Nobody is making you stay.

Nobody except you.

I don’t know about you but I’m done getting in my own way.

It’s time to act.

action: a thing done

Actions are things that we do.

I have a running to-do list in my mind and on my heart that always has boxes that I haven’t checked off yet. I think it’s time to address those boxes.

Boxes, look out. I’ma check you.

I can’t wait to make the satisfying check mark in each box. And then go over it a second time to embolden it.

I can’t wait to plant lots of seeds, and then water them.

I can’t wait to water them again, and again.

And watch little buds pop up through the soil.

I can’t wait for the plants to grow up and start producing fruit, and for the fruit to grow. And then for the fruit to be ready to harvest.

All because I decided to act. To complete an action.

To check off a box.

And if I don’t do it, who will? Who will check off my boxes?

Only I know the answer to that question.

Nobody will.

Because only I  can. God designed these items for me specifically.

He designed items for you specifically as well. There are things that only you can do.

I’m so serious when I say these next few words:

There is no one like you.

You are unique.

You see the world in a way that nobody else sees the world.

I bet you have check boxes that are left unchecked too.

Go check one off, I dare you 😉

Let’s do this. Let’s get stuff DONE!

CHEERS TO ACTING!!!!!!!

xxx

 

What’s holding you back??

 

V

 

I Want to Encourage You

Published on by VelvetLeave a comment

Hey brothers and sisters.

I just wanna take a minute to encourage you.

Whatever you’re going through is going to come to an end eventually. You might have to fight long and hard for a while, but you’re going to get through it.

Maybe you won’t have to fight hard the whole time, but you may have to fight for a long time.

People might be hating, and they might not want you to get by. They might want to crush you with their actions and their words. They might want to exclude you. They might spread lies about you and try to turn others against you.

You’ve got to focus on the Truth about who you are.

You are a child of God.

You were created in God’s image.

You were created with a purpose.

There is only one of you and only you are equipped to do what God has equipped YOU to do.

You were not created by mistake.

There are NO flaws in your design.

You have strengths.

And yes, you have weaknesses.

Know them. Know and understand your strengths and weaknesses so that you know where and when to seek help. Know your weaknesses so you don’t keep getting discouraged over and over again.

Give yourself time to grow.

Be patient with yourself.

And in turn, be patient with others.

Be patient, even with those that are out to get you. Be patient with the ones that think seeing you fall would benefit them or elevate them in some way.

These are all lies from the evil one. He is out to divide, kill and destroy.

Don’t let him.

When we control our thought lives, we are finally free. When we take every thought captive to Christ, we can see God.

“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they see God”.

When those impure thoughts come in, when those lies start pouring in-whether it be from your own mind or the poisonous minds of those toxic individuals in your life- take those thoughts captive:

as in, put those thoughts in CHAINS and present them to the Living God.

Ask God: Lord, give me eyes to see any Truth in this thought. If it is not of you, cast it away. Rid my mind of it. Demolish it. Burn it, shatter it, crush it, and take it. Lift if off of my mind.

But Lord, if there IS any Truth in it, help me embrace it. Help me change. Help me repent of any way that isn’t of you.

Let’s always humble ourselves and be ready to receive from others. Nobody has it all figured out. God uses His people to sharpen other people.

“As iron sharpens iron, one man sharpens another”.

Let us be open to constructive criticism, sanctification, and growth.

Let us always be striving to be Christlike. Let us be flexible and prepared to change. Let us be willing to change and sacrifice things, and give up our own preferences or desires for the preferences and desires of others.

We’re all on this journey together to know God and love Him and enjoy Him. Let’s remember that every person that God created should be able to do these things too. Other people aren’t the real enemy. Satan is the real enemy.

Don’t get me wrong, there are hard-hearted people. There are EVIL people. There are hateful people. But let’s remember to put on the lenses of the bible to help us see past the humanness and into the spiritual. Nobody is too far past God’s grace and the free gift of salvation. And while there is breath, there is hope.

So I challenge you:

when they start tearing you down

when they start leaving you out

when they start talkin smack

when they start hatin

when they start beratin

when they start inflatin themselves

humble yourself

acknowledge the grace that God gave you that enables you to see the truth

that enables you to see Him in all of His glory

that enables you to choose God’s way and live a life free of guilt and condemnation

and pray

rise above your selfishness and self-centeredness and taking-things-personally-ness and pray for them

they are the ones that need the prayers

we all need the prayers, don’t get me wrong

but they especially need the prayers

because once you know God

you know love

because God is love

and real love is not out to divide and destroy and push others out the way so you can get to the top

real love lays down one’s life for one’s friends

real love goes last, and lets others go first

real love patiently waits for others in hopes that they will catch up and spiritually see eye to eye

real love

God is real love

GOD BLESS Y’ALL

xxx

<3

V

write your book

Published on by VelvetLeave a comment

I’m telling you guys. The book is not going to write itself.

Do you have one hour a day to work on it? Sit down, open up the document, and focus. 

Do you have more than one? Lucky you, now focus!

I promise, a little a day adds up. Make a realistic goal! Shoot for finishing a section, or a chapter. Simply shoot for 300 words! 300 words a day is 2100 words a week. That’s 8400 words a month. 84,000 in ten months. Y’knowmsayn?

I love this scripture so much.

I am God’s workmanship. Workmanship means “the art of skill of a workman”.

I’m God’s art. & So are you! <3

He did a pretty good job, amirite? 😉 😀

And He is at work within me RIGHT NOW to will His good pleasure && do His good pleasure.

Idk about you, but this motivates me! And if it doesn’t motivate you, I encourage you to cry out to Him. Ask Him for motivation. Ask Him for inspiration. Ask Him for focus. Ask Him to show you what to write and how to phrase things; which topics to keep, which topics to throw out.

Projects anointed by God will NOT be stopped.

So let’s work, my brothers and sisters!!! For His glory. By His power.

Lord, thank you so much for this day. Thank you for the time I was able to put into writing and working this afternoon. Thank you for focus. Thank you for leading me to the write resources to help me complete this project. Thank you for blessing me in every area of my life that you’ve deemed to be in Your good and perfect will. Thank you for going before me and preparing my way in all that I do. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

xxx

<3

V

 

Go Time

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I’ve got my Zevia tea (extra 45mg caffeine), hipster denim button down (cuz the AC be blastin’) and my homework (STUDY BOOKS) && …..

I’m ready to WORK.

I’m at Whole Foods. Something about being in a busy environment helps me focus. It helps me succeed faster. The hardest part for me is making the time. Scheduling time to work towards my goals. After all, books don’t write themselves, videos don’t create themselves, songs don’t write themselves. We have to do the work.

And I am thankful for this privilege; to have the time, the focus, the health required. The drive. The motivation. And I attribute all of these gifts to the glory of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Join me in following through with your goals. Make a date to do the work.

Now go get ’em tigers. <3

xxx

V