EMPOWERED

Earlier in the month while at Success School I saw one of the leaders wearing a big white wristband with writing on it. Not even know what it said I made a mental note to find out when I saw her next, as for some reason I was drawn to it in a way that I HAD to have one. Which I didn't even understand at the time as it wasn't pink, didn't have bling, and I had no idea what it even said! Fast forward later in the weekend it was announced that they were part of a giveaway and the bracelet said
EMPOWER..."HAD" just got escalated to a code red...NOW! Needless to say, Melanie got herself a bracelet by the nights end.

EMPOWERED- even saying the word makes you feel like you can take on the world in high heels, with a baby on the hip, in between loads of laundry, all the while looking movie star Fab- yep, I got this! It is my new favorite word, but what does it mean exactly?

The definition that most matches my vision of the word came from The World Bank website which they define EMPOWERMENT as:

"...the process of increasing the capacity of individuals or groups to make choices and to transform those choices into desired actions and outcomes"- The World Bank

So good I have to repeat it...Increasing capacity to transform CHOICES into ACTION and OUTCOMES! Is that not one of the most powerful definitions of a word you've ever read? It's not a "feeling" of being empowered, it's fueled by CHOICE, by living with INTENTION, by getting in action by DOING something purposeful.

Are you living an EMPOWERED life? Do you wake up to the same routine different day or are you going to do something today that scares you just a little but puts you one step closer to your goals? Do you "hope" for things to get better or are you making different choices for today that will ensure things DO get better? Do you have a wish list of things that would be nice "someday" or do you have your dream board front and center with target dates so you stay focused on where you are going?

If you don't like the answers to the questions above than make different choices today- it's that easy and if you DO than get our there and help someone close to you live an empowered life because it's a gift that changes lives- but only if you give it away!

The word of the day is "EMPOWERED", who's brave enough to use it in a sentence

in the comments below?

Wake Up, Get Up, and Don't EVER Give Up!

If you would have told the girl in this picture that someday in the future she would wake up and wonder who the heck she was anymore- she would have laughed in your face. Fast forward 18 years and that day not only came but hit with the weight of two divorces, three kids, and losing her job.

 

 

Hello rock bottom-goodbye rose colored glasses.

 

I couldn’t even tell you when the scenery changed, but day after day life just started taking over until I realized that not only was I living on autopilot- I was lost…and even though every ounce of my worn out body wanted to stay on my comfy path to nowhere, my last thread of sanity was screaming at me that my kids deserved better than that.

 

So with one, brave, committed, decision to become healthier in hopes to gain the energy to deal with the rest- I literally changed the direction of my life. What started as a 24 Day Challenge quickly evolved into believing in myself again. To participating in social events and allowing my picture to be taken again. To meeting new people and making new friends, joining clubs, networking groups, and volunteering time in a community that I’ve lived in for over 8 years. Most importantly it evolved into me becoming the Mommy those three little blessings deserve. The craziest part is that even though I lost 23 lbs, 23 inches, and started making an extra $1000/month in my spare time, it became LESS about me and ALL about whom else I could help step out of quiet desperation and embrace LIFE.

 

I’ve learned a lot over the past 6 months of my journey with AdvoCare, but the one thing that sticks out most was from our VP of Sales Mrs. Debra Fisser at the Seattle Ladies Night Out last month.

“Life’s game has a beginning and an end, stop living like it doesn’t.” 

Our time here is too precious to spend it being anything less than everything we were created to be- sometimes all it takes is someone else believing in you just long enough for you to believe in yourself.

**Article above published in Power Ranch Living Magazine July 2013 Issue by Melanie Morton**

 

My $9.50 on Circumstance

Last night was another "firsts" for the little man- our first trip to the theatre to watch a BIG movie- Disney's Planes! I'm not sure he was as excited for the debut as we were but he was definitely interested in the treats that went along with the fanfare.

I love that Disney makes movies with a message- if more people turned off the news and put in a Disney movie and took notes the world would be a better place- period.



****News flash- the "news" is no longer about informing people- it's a business enterprise and happy stories don't sell. So if you are working on becoming a positive difference maker in life turn it off, get off your couch, and do something for someone else- it's that easy! Seriously...try it!




Back to the movie...I particularly loved this message because it was about not giving up on your dreams- despite the circumstances beyond your control. In life we cannot control what happens to us; where or how we were born and raised, the winds of life, the winds of change, how long we are here- the only thing we have 100% control of is what we do with our time here. That's all you- baby! No excuses, no exceptions- just 100% results from choices you make everyday. The awesome part is that you have complete control, so if there's something in your life right now that you don't like- make a different choice. BOOM- you've just changed the future, no Delorian required. (yes, just aged myself)

The deeper part of that decision is to pop the top- there is no glass ceiling on what YOU are capable of doing in this life- NONE. It doesn't matter what everyone else in your family achieved or didn't, what everyone else in your town achieved or didn't or what anyone else on this planet was able to achieve or not- with or without your exact same, better, or worse circumstances- NONE OF THAT MATTERS! You were created for an exact purpose that only YOU were designed to achieve- it's not supposed to make sense to anyone else- they all have their own, so don't listen to them when they tell you you're crazy! Crazy is spending your whole life trying to be like everyone else- so stand up, stand out, and do that thing you've been wanting to try your whole life. Write that book, take that trip, start that business, make that call, mend that relationship- what ever it is; create the playlist,  put your game face on, plug in those headphones and get to work.

Stop living in the past, stop beating yourself up over choices already made and paths already taken and start focusing on the road ahead and where you WANT TO BE instead of where you've been. The past has made you who you are today, but the choices you make today will determine who you are tomorrow...I have no idea if I just made that up or read it somewhere (most likely) but it's pretty epic, so you may want to jot that one down.

In-your-face Tuesday...yes people, that just happened, but it came from LOVE for all of you!

 

So what IS your BIG dream?

The second half starts now..what choice will you make today to get started?