4 reasons why unity may seem like a fantasy in The USA.

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Whether any of us like to admit it or not, there is a lot of negativity, anger and rage palpable between each other in America. It seems like the current President (and his changing cabinet) has had an impact on our daily lives. As a nation, we are stuck in fight-or-flight mode. Ready to attack anyone who says anything that remotely disagrees with what we believe.

I have lived in The USA for almost 14 years and there is clearly a divide between all of (who live here). And, these are 4 reasons why:

1. We talk more than we listen.

Have you ever noticed how people talk over you when you are trying to say something? I feel like now, more than ever, very few people are actively listening to each other but are the first to say something. The Dalai Lama says, ‘When you talk, you are only repeating what you know. But, if you listen, you may learn something new’. The lack of us listening causes us to stay stuck in our thinking and builds a wall between us and the person we are having a conversation with, because we aren’t giving ourselves a chance to be open.

2. We are attached to labels.

Democrat. Republican. Black. White. Asian. Gay. Straight. Vegan. Vegetarian. The list goes on-and-on. I’m not anti-labels; I just think that labels can stop us from hearing, loving and understanding someone who does not wear the same label as you. I recently received an e-mail from a fellow yoga teacher who told me that I need to force people to be vegan because I am a yoga teacher. Reading that e-mail broke my heart because she is probably saying the same to her students. What if she has a non-vegan in her yoga class and hears that commentary? How will that person feel? Most likely they will feel isolated, creating division between her and a student. It saddens me when I see this happen because I truly believe that labels can be limiting. Only liking someone with the same label as us is limiting and weak. There is strength in numbers, numbers increase when we let labels go and accept each other for who we are and who we were meant to be.

3. We are addicted to being reactionary.

It’s hard not to see an upsetting tweet, watch a clip from YouTube or come across someone being hateful and not say anything to them or about it. I’m not telling you that you have to be quiet and go unheard. But, I am asking you to learn to have a conversation with someone who has upset you without things escalating out of control to the point of no return. Reactions only ignite the reactions in others; however, mature responses allow both people to sit back and observe. Honestly, I don’t always get it right but that’s why we practice. We practice so that we can strengthen the muscle that allows us to be able to have a conversation even though we are upset; instead of blowing things out of proportion.

4.  We are addicted to sensationalism.

This is an extension of the third reason. It’s become trendy to sensationalize and talk about the most outrageous thing that has happened. The unfortunate part about this is that people like our President, Kanye West and The Kardashians have figured out that this is the best way to get attention. And, with social media, attention equals money. Which is probably why they say these outrageous things in the first place. I made a decision that when I hear a comment that Kanye West has made, I will no longer spew something out (out of emotional outrage); however, I will sit with it and breathe, feel pity for him that he has to get attention this way and move on with my life. I could continue to be upset by outrageous statements that people like Kanye Westmake while he is chilling in his house worth millions of dollars, not giving two hoots about me OR I can move on with my life and live the life that I deserve. Anger, outrage, bitterness are all emotions that I want to detach myself from so there is no need to keep being attached to them.

22 choses qui vous aideront à vous définir en tant qu'adulte

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Après vos études secondaires, personne ne vous prévient de la folie qui nous attend: factures, loyers, travail et chagrin. Nous pouvons parfois oublier les petites choses auxquelles les adultes sont censés prêter attention, se concentrer et se faire pour le bien de l'humanité.

VOICI UNE LISTE SIMPLE POUR VOUS AIDER À ÊTRE UN ADULTE:

1. ÊTRE INTENTIONNELLEMENT GENRE ET NON UN TAPIS DE PORTE.

2. Lève-toi pour toi.

3. SOURIRE CHEZ QUELQU’UN, AU MOINS UNE FOIS PAR JOUR.

4. Dites à vos proches que vous les aimez.

5. RECONNAISSEZ QUE VOUS AVEZ FAIT UNE ERREUR OU QUE VOUS ÊTES EN MAUVAIS.

6. VOYAGE!

7. FÉLICITEZ UNE AUTRE PERSONNE UNE FOIS PAR JOUR POUR AVOIR OBTENU QUELQUE CHOSE.

8. DÉPLACEZ VOTRE CORPS AU MOINS 4 FOIS PAR SEMAINE.

9. ARRÊTEZ DE PLAIGNER!

10. ARRÊTEZ D'AVOIR DES MOTIFS ULTÉRIEURS.

11. PENSEZ AUX AUTRES, AU LIEU DE VOUS-MÊME.

12. NE PRENEZ PAS TOUT CE QUI EST PERSONNELLEMENT ET GRAVEMENT.

13. APPRENEZ À DITES NON, LORSQUE APPROPRIÉ.

14. APPRENEZ À DITES OUI LORSQUE APPROPRIÉ.

15. AIDER UN ÉTRANGER SANS ATTENDRE QUELQUE CHOSE DE RETOUR.

16. ARRÊTE DE JOUER AUX JEUX.

17. DONNER EN PREMIER! NE PAS ATTENDRE QUE QUELQU'UN D'AUTRE SOIT À VOUS DONNER D'ABORD.

18. Baissez votre garde.

19. AMOUR ET HUG QUELQU'UN.

20. RIRE À VOUS-MÊME.

21. ACCEPTER ET VOIR LES PERSONNES QUI SONT.

22. AIMEZ-VOUS.

The 22 things you need to do to be an adult properly.

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After you graduate high school, no one warns you of the craziness that lies ahead: Bills , rent, work and heartbreak. We can sometimes forget the little things that adults are meant to pay attention to, focus on and do ourselves for the sake of humanity.

Here is a simple list to help you be an adult:

1. Be intentionally kind, not a doormat.

2. Stand up for yourself.

3. Smile at someone, at least once-a-day.

4. Tell your loved ones that you love them.

5. Acknowledge when you made a mistake or are in the wrong.

6. Travel!

7. Congratulate another person once-a-day for achieving something.

8. Move your body at least 4 times a week.

9. Stop complaining!

10. Stop having ulterior motives.

11. Think about others, instead of just yourself.

12. Don’t take everything so personally and seriously.

13. Learn to say no, when appropriate.

14. Learn to say yes, when appropriate.

15. Help out a stranger without expectating something back in return.

16. Stop playing games.

17. Give first! Don’t wait for someone else to give to you first.

18. Let your guard down.

19. Love and hug someone.

20. Laugh at yourself.

21. Accept and see people for who they are.

22. Love yourself.

Esikhundleni se-skinny, ngifuna ukuba yizinto ezi-10

isithombe ngemifanekiso ye-getty

Ngiphambilini ngichitha isikhathi esiningi ngifisa ukuba mnandi ukuthi ngiyazi ukuthi ukuchitha isikhathi kuyini. Nginele ngokwanele kulesikhumba. Ukuphefumula, okukwaziyo nokuphilile. Ngakho-ke, manje, Kunalokho uma i-skinny, ngifuna ukuba lokhu okulandelayo:

1. Unempilo

2. Strong

3. Iyakwazi

4. Uhlobo

5. Umdlali

6. U-Victor-noma

7. Umsindisi

8. Ukukhathazeka

9. Uzwela

Buka Kufakiwe 10 Loving

Instead of skinny, I want to be these 10 things.

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I have previously spent so much time wanting to be skinny that I know what a waste of time it is. I am enough in this skin. Breathing, able and healthy. So, now, Instead if skinny, I want to be the following:

1. Healthy

2. Strong

3. Able

4. Kind

5. A Champion

6. A Victor-or

7. A Survivor

8. Passionate

9. Compassionate

10. Loving 

4 things I have learnt while chasing my dreams

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After nearly a decade of being in love with yoga, I made a courageous decision. I decided that I wanted to become a yoga teacher. I thought,how hard could it be? It's just talking.

As with almost anything that requires commitment, there's a honeymoon phase, followed by the phase when things don't look so bright and you wonder why you were ever there to begin with.

After having gone through this recently, I made a list for those who will chase or are chasing a dream:

1. Remember that it's meant to challenge you.

Growth doesn't happen by living in stability, comfort or ease. The only way that growth can occur within you is if you can find something that challenges you, and work through it. You may feel overwhelmed by challenge at some point, but the reward of achieving your dream is way more fulfilling than never going after what you want to achieve at all.

2. Be careful who you ask for advice.

While chasing your dream you'll get to a point where you want to give up. You'll question the cause of your dream and question whether you should continue. During this time, be cautious with where you seek advice. Unless someone can relate to what you are going through, don't ask for counsel! Find wisdom from those who are encouraging of your dream, and who understand what it means to you.

3. Believe in yourself.

The only way you'll be able to follow through with your commitment to your dream is by believing that you can do it. Others can tell you that you're capable; however, their opinion only goes so far if you don't believe that you are capable yourself. In addition, if you believe in yourself, when others doubt you it isn't worth being concerned about because you have found faith in yourself, and that's all that matters.

4. Be open to failure and rejection.

It takes a lot of courage to give everything that you have to a goal when it might be criticized, judged or rejected. There is a big possibility that you will give everything that you have only to have a failure slapped in your face. Many see failure as an ending, when it could be a beginning of another journey that leads to your dream.

5. Start trying today.

In a year, you'll wish that you'd started today what you hope to achieve. If you don't try today, how will you feel in a year? Time passes quicker than we can sometimes grasp, and today will eventually lead to the following year. Don't just sit around and think about what you want; do it!

10 powerful quotes by Marianne Williamson

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Marianne Williamson is the author of ‘A return to love’ which has broken spiritual territory. She was born on the 8th of July in 1952. She has published 12 books.

Here are 10 powerful quotes from her:

1. ‘Love is what we were born with. Fear is what we learned here.’

2. ‘The first step in forgiveness is the willingness to forgive.’

3. ‘Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our Light, not our Darkness, that most frightens us.’

4. ‘Who are we not to be?’

5. ‘Each of us has a unique part to play in healing the world’

6. ‘Children are happy because they don't have a file in their minds called "All the Things That Could Go Wrong.”’

7. ‘And no one will listen to us until we listen to ourselves’

8. ‘The practice of forgiveness is our most important contribution to the healing of the world.’

9. ‘There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do.’

10. ‘Success means we go to sleep at night knowing that our talents and abilities were used in a way that served others.’

3 choses que j'ai apprises et que j'apprends encore en tant que femme patronne.

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Le week-end dernier, alors que je voyais Serena Williams s'énerver après avoir été réprimandée par l’arbitre à cause de son «coup de colère», cela m'a fait réfléchir. Cela m'a fait penser aux différentes manières dont j'ai, et parfois encore, vécu le sexisme en tant que leader sur le lieu de travail. C'est ce que j'apprends constamment dans le monde des affaires à travers le regard d'une femme:

1. défiant les étiquettes

Quand j'étais petite, mon père me disait que le monde me verrait comme une fille noire mais que je ne devrais pas m'attacher à ces étiquettes. Il m'a dit que le seul label que je devrais porter est mon nom. Il a expliqué que si je portais le label «féminin» et «noir», cela pourrait me décevoir parce que l’histoire a mis la barre basse pour nous. Je suis très fier d'être une femme noire; Cependant, l’histoire nous a montré que les femmes noires ont moins de chances de «réussir» dans ce monde. Je dois constamment me rappeler que je mérite aussi une chance de réussir, peu importe d'où je viens ou à quoi je ressemble.

2. Boss en haut!

À 20 ans, on m'a offert un poste de gestion dans un café du Lower East Side à New York, mon procureur avait 10 ans de plus que moi et mes employés avaient 10 ans de plus que moi. C'était une position difficile d'être. J'ai été appelé toutes sortes de noms, assermenté, menacé et crié presque tous les jours mais je suis resté fort. Je savais que je devais apprendre à être dur alors ou je continuerais à vivre ma vie en profitant. Je l'ai vu comme ça, j'aurais pu soit laisser les gens marcher sur moi ou être ferme et défendre mon objectif ultime parce que l'objectif était plus grand que nous.

3. Beaucoup de personnes auront un problème à travailler pour les femmes, faites-le!

Le sexisme, tout comme le racisme, est bien vivant. Et quiconque dit que ce n’est pas le cas n’est pas concerné. De gestionnaire à propriétaire d'entreprise, je vois à quel point mes collègues masculins sont traités différemment. Quand je suis assertive, je suis «sur mes règles» ou un autre mot commençant par B. J'ai siégé à des réunions où j'étais la seule femme et demandé hardiment: «Si j'avais froid parce que mes mamelons sont pointus». Il est clair que les rôles de genre se manifestent au bureau et c’est à nous de leur prouver le contraire. Certaines personnes peuvent avoir du mal à travailler pour moi parce que je suis une femme mais que cela les reflète et que tout ce que je peux faire, c'est progresser sur la voie du succès.

The 3 things that I have learnt and am still learning as a female boss.

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This past weekend as I watched Serena Williams become upset about being reprimanded by the referee due to her ‘tantrum throwing’, it made me think. It made me think of the different ways that I have, and sometimes still, experience sexism in the workplace as a leader.

This is what I am constantly learning in the world of business through the eyes of a woman:

1. Defying labels.

When I was a young girl, my dad would tell me that the world will see me as a black girl but that I shouldn’t attach myself to those labels. He told me that the only label that I should wear is my name. He explained that if I wore the label as a ‘female’ and ‘black’, it might bring me down because history has set the bar low for us. I am very proud to be a black female; however, history has shown us that black females have less of a  chance to ‘succeed’ in this world. I have to constantly remind myself that I, also, deserve a chance to succeed regardless of where I come from or what I look like.

2. Boss up!

When I was 20, I was offered a management position of a café in The Lower East Side of New York, my proceeder was 10 years older than I, and my employees were also 10 years older than I was. It was a tough position to be in. I was called all kinds of names, sworn at, threatened and shouted at almost daily but I stayed strong. I knew that I had to learn to be tough then or I would continue to live life being taken advantage of. I saw it like this, I could have either let people walk all over me or be firm and stand up for myself and the ultimate goal because the goal was bigger than any of us.

3. Many people will have an issue working for women, accept it and rise above it!

Sexism, just like racism, is alive and well. And, anyone who says that it isn’t, isn’t being affected by it. From manager to Business Owner, I see how differently my male colleagues are treated. When I am assertive, I am ‘on my period’ or another word beginning with a B. I have sat in boardroom meetings where I was the only female and boldly asked if I was cold because my nipples are pointy. It is clear that the gender roles play out in (and out of) the office and it’s up to us to prove them wrong. Some people may have a problem working for me because I am a woman but is a reflection of them and where their mind is at, all that I can do is progress on my road to success.

10 motivating quotes by Iyanla Vanzant.

Image from Iyanla.co

If you haven’t heard of Iyanla Vanzant, I feel sorry for you. Other than my Mother and Oprah, this woman has had the most impact on my life.

Iyanla was born Rhonda Eva Harris. She changed her name to shed her past and step into her life. She knew that to help others, she would have to start with herself. She is a life coach, motivational speaker and ordained minister.

Here are 10 quotes by Iyanla: 

1.   ‘Everything that happens to you is a reflection of what you believe about yourself. We cannot outperform our level of self-esteem. We cannot draw to ourselves more than we think we are worth.’

2.  ‘The only way to get what you really want is to let go of what you don't want.’

3.  ‘Choice is a divine teacher, for when we choose we learn that nothing is ever put in our path without a reason.’

4.  ‘So many of us invest a fortune making ourselves look good to the world, yet inside we are falling apart. It's time to invest on the inside.’

5. ‘Remain open. There is something bigger than you know going on here.’

6.  ‘You don't get to tell people how to love you; you get to choose if you want to participate in the way they love.’

7.  ‘In the process of planning and having a wedding, I forgot there would actually be a marriage, a union of minds, bodies, souls, and issues that would come together as soon as the ceremony was over.’

8.  ‘So many of us invest a fortune making ourselves look good to the world, yet inside we are falling apart. It's time to invest on the inside.’

9.  ‘You can never love anyone to your own detriment. That is not love, that is possession, control, fear, or a combination of them all.’

10.  ‘Your willingness to look at your darkness is what empowers you to change.’

5 questions to ask yourself before you let go of a friendship.

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Recently I made a bold decision: I decided to discontinue two friendships in my life. I couldn't be friends with them any longer because I hadn't felt respected by them for a while. Before I decided to let go of these relationships, I asked myself the following questions:

1. Would you allow a romantic partner to treat you the same way that your friend treats you?

My partner at the time had stood me up once for a date. I was livid. He asked me why I had been so mad when a couple of friends of mine had stood me up, too, and I had been OK with it. He was right. I made a decision to set clear boundaries because it wouldn't be fair to have a different set of rules for people in my life. Respect is respect, regardless of the position that person holds in your life.

2. Is your friend supportive of your work and actions?

When I had previously gone through a lot of drama, my former friend would offer me food or wine to comfort me. However, I started to notice that as I began to accomplish things, her support dissipated. My friend was feeling unfulfilled in her life and, because of this, she was unable to celebrate my accomplishments. Everyone deserves friends who will celebrate their wins, not only support their weaknesses when they are feeling down.

3. Does your friend use your past against you?

Three years ago, I was in an unhealthy relationship. As a result, I did some unhealthy things to myself. One of the friends with whom that I decided to part ways would continuously remind me that I was "a mess" three years ago. She would say it in a judgemental tone. I'm not sure what her intentions were, all I know is that it hurt my feelings. If you've moved beyond your past and your friend hasn't, they are not being helpful in your growth and not helping you forgive yourself.

4. Do you and your friend engage in speaking negatively about others?

My former friend and I used to gossip about other friends, celebrities, and our neighbors. Eventually I found out that she had gossiped about me, too toward the end of our friendship. It hurt, but it wasn't surprising. Ask yourself if you and your friend spend time speaking negatively about other people. If so, remember that there may come a time when they'll gossip about you, too.

5. Do you and your friend give to one another from your hearts or your minds?

When I had mentioned to one of my friends that I wouldn't be spoken to in the manner in which she had spoken to me, she explained that she had done so much for me, which was reason enough for her to speak to me in a way that I found to be disrespectful. Over the years, we had done things for one another, and she had been keeping score. How much someone gives doesn't accumulate into friendship coupons that can be used against someone's feelings. When you give to get, what you give doesn't come from love—it comes from calculation. True friendships are based on love. Love doesn't keep score.

Izinto ezingu-4 engisebenza ngazo okwamanje

izithombe ngezithombe ze-Getty

Ngingumkholwa oqinile wokuthethelela ngoba uma sithethelela, singaphilisa. Futhi, uma siphilisa, singathuthuka. Kwangithatha isikhathi eside ukubona ukuthi kodwa ukuqhubekela phambili kuyisiqondiso engifuna ukuhlala kuso. Ngenkathi ngiqala ukukwenza ukuthethelela, ngacabanga ukuthi yilokho okwenzayo kanye futhi akudingeki uphinde uyenze. Kodwa, ngifunde futhi ngisafunda, ukuthi ukuthethelelwa akupheli. Nsuku zonke kunokuthile okuthethelela. Yilokhu engikusebenzela ekuxoleleni namuhla:

1. Mina ngokwami.

Konke kuqala futhi kuqala ngokwakho. Angikwazi ukuzibuza ukuthethelela abanye uma ngingakaze ngithethelele. Ngithole ukuthethelela kokubili okubuhlungu nokukhulula ngoba kufanele ngivume futhi ngihlale kulokho engikwenzile kimi nakwabanye okwangenza ngifuna ukuthethelela. Kodwa, lo msebenzi uyadingeka. Kungakhathaliseki ukuthi ngizithethelela ngokubiza amathanga ami amakhulu noma ukukhipha ukukhathazeka kwami  komunye, ukuzithethelela kungisiza ukuba ngiqhubeke.

 2. Ukoloni.

Nakuba ukukoloni kwakunezici ezimbalwa ezinhle, kwakunezinkinga eziningi. Ikakhulukazi evela ezwekazini (i-Afrika) lapho ikholoni inakho, futhi kunjalo, ngokuba nemiphumela emibi emnothweni, kwezolimo kanye nabantu, kuyadambisa. I-Colonization iye yazama ukuhlukumeza ikoloni yenkambiso yabo futhi yaqinisekisa ukuthi iYurophu noma abantu base-European-desccent bangcono kunezinye. Uma ngibheke nxazonke futhi ngibona indlela le ndlela yokucabanga isishiyile ngayo, ingenza ngidabuke. Kodwa, njengoba nje ngishilo ngaphambili, ukuthethelelwa ngokuphathelene nokuqhubekela phambili. Ngiye ngafunda ukuthi ukusola akuxazulula izinkinga. Kuye kwadingeka ngithethelele okhokho bami baseYurophu ngokuxhaphaza nokusebenzisa ama-Afrika ami futhi ngamukele ukuthi lezi zici ezimbili zihlala ngaphakathi kimi. Uma ngiqhubeka ngithukuthele isiko laseYurophu, ngithukuthele ngenye ingxenye futhi ngithukuthele abangane bami abaningi. Ngakho-ke, ngiyikhulula leyo ntukuthelo futhi ngifaka leso sibindi ekuvuseleleni kabusha. Ngizakhele kabusha, Umndeni Wami nezwe. Ukuze ngikhulule ukucindezelwa futhi ngamukele uthando kubo bonke, ngendlela okufanele siyenze ngayo. Ngoba uthando lunikeza amandla futhi lusisiza sikhonyane.

3. Amadoda.

Ngivulekile kakhulu mayelana nobuhlobo enganginabo namadoda empilweni yami. Futhi, nje nje nje, ngithole ukuqonda ukuthi kungani amadoda amaningi engiwabona nxazonke angenalo ukuzimisela ukuxhuma. Isizathu, ngiyakholwa, kungenxa yokuthi silindele amadoda ukuba avikele ukuthi yibo ngempela abagqoke i-macho-mask. Ukushiya abaningi babo ekuphikeleni amandla abo ngokomzwelo. Lokhu ukuqonda kungisize ngithethelele. Muva nje, ngathola ukuthi indoda eyayikhiphe isithakazelo kimi, yayithandana nomunye wesifazane. Ngokwemvelo, ngathukuthele futhi ngavala noma yikuphi okulindelekile kuye. Ngisenkonzweni yokuthethelela ngoba ngiyazi ukuthi ukuziphatha kwakhe akuhlangene nami futhi ngifuna ukuzikhulula emgodini ukuze abe nami. Ngifanele ukuba nomuntu omuhle futhi angikumi ngendlela yalokhu ngokubamba umuntu ongakwazi ukungiqonda. Ngiqhubeka ngothando nokuthethelela.

4. Abantu abangakalungeli ukwamukela uthando lwami.

Kungithatha cishe impilo yami yonke ukuqonda ukuthi kufanele uthandeke, kufanele wamukele uthando. Ngifinyelele abantu abaningi engangibathande kakhulu futhi ngicabanga ukuthi nginamandla noma nginingi kakhulu, kuphela ukubona ukuthi babengakulungele. Manje, esikhundleni sokushintsha indlela engiyithandayo, ngiya kubantu abalungele ukwamukela uthando ezingeni lami. Ngaphezu kwalokho, ngivumela ukuthi ngiyeke kulabo engikunike kakhulu futhi angabuyisanga ngoba ukubala ukuthi nginikele omunye futhi angabuyisanga kuyangikhathaza futhi kungiphatha kuphela. Ngishiya lobudlelwane ngiyazi ukuthi nginikele okungcono kakhulu futhi okwanele.

5 things that I wish I’d known before starting my first business.

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At the age of 27, I decided that I want to grow and broaden my horizons. I decided that I wanted to start my first business. I had worked with/for very talented, successful and accomplished people. I felt like it was time for me to become a part of that category.

I remember telling my friend that if I had known the amount of work that comes into owning a sold-out successful skincare line, I probably would not have done it. It may sound cynical but it was true. The challenges when owning a business can feel overwhelming.

However, if I had known the following, it would’ve changed the ballgame:

1. Boss up!
Nothing in life should ever stop you from doing what you need to, including a person. I have had many partnerships and business ventures and recently, is the first time that I had to let go of someone on my team. I knew immediately after hiring him that he was not a good fit but wanted to give him the benefit of the doubt. I could go on-and-on for hours about the issues that we had but, that is unbecoming. I learnt two lessons that some people have issues taking direction by a woman and that being a boss will sometimes bring out backlash from others. Be a boss anyway because there is a goal bigger than one person, their inadequacy and their Ego.

2. At some point, people will push you. You must be able to handle it.
The last point has lead me to this one. Being a leader doesn’t mean sitting back and watching people work, it means that I work the hardest. When I started KINDGIRLCO., I was up till 4am filling hundreds of bottles with oil. I was and am always pushed to be better than I was before so that people working for me can see and understand my progress, drive and purpose.

3. Know your numbers!
Before I started my business, I took an accounting course. I took it so that I could understand my financial standpoint. I had heard that the number one reason businesses fail is because they don’t know how to handle money. Thankfully, KindGirlco. broke even in it’s first year. It is so important to know how much you are able to produce without giving up your name and credit for something that might not sell.

4. You attract what you put out there.
After letting go of my former team member, I asked myself how did I get into that situation? And the answer that I got was that I didn’t trust the big picture. I chose him to be a part of the team because I was afraid that the sales would not be where I wanted them to be. Well, in this Universe, we live on vibrations and fearful vibrations attract fearful vibrations. I attracted someone who was the epitome of fear. Someone who feared his greatness and who blamed everyone else for things that he was doing or not doing. It brought me back to why I am in wellness, it is not to spread negativity; it is to rise above it. Feeling fear is okay but wallowing in it is a problem.

5. Rise after a setback and move forward.
Business is just like life, you will come across many obstacles and challenges. However, how you approach them is what really matters. If you let one challenge defeat you, you are not ready to be a business owner. A successful business-owner uses problems as messages. There is always room to grow and setbacks, challenges, obstacles and problems only remind us of that.

4 things that I am currently working on forgiving.

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I am a firm-believer of forgiveness because once we forgive, we can heal. And, once we heal, we can progress. It took me a long time to realize but progression is the direction that I want to remain in.

When I truly started practicing forgiveness, I thought that it was the kind of thing that you do once and never have to do again. But, I have learnt and am still learning, that forgiveness never ends. Everyday there is something to forgive.

This is what I am working on forgiving today:

1. Myself.
Everything starts and begins with the self. I cannot ask myself to forgive others when I haven’t forgiven myself. I have found self-forgiveness to be both painful and liberating because I have to acknowledge and sit with what I have done to myself and others that has made me want to forgive. But, this work is necessary. Whether I am forgiving myself for calling my thighs big or for taking out my frustration on another, self-forgiveness helps me to move forward.

2. Colonization.

Although colonization had a few positive aspects to it, there were many more negatives. Especially coming from a continent (Africa) where colonization has, and still is, having negative effects on the economy, agriculture and people, it is dis-heartening. Colonization has tried to strip the colonized of their own culture and enforced an ideal that Europe or people of European-descent are better than others. When I look around me and see how this way of thinking has left us, it makes me sad. But, just like I mentioned before, forgiveness is about moving forward. I have learnt that blame doesn’t solve problems. I have had to forgive my European ancestors for exploiting and taking advantage of my African ones and accept that these two aspects live within me. If I continue to be angry at European culture, I am being angry at a part of me and angry at a lot of my friends. So, I release that anger and put that passion into re-building. Re-building Myself, My Family and The World. So that I release oppression and embrace love for everyone, the way that we are supposed to. Because love empowers and helps us lift each other up. 

3. Men.

I am very open about the relationship that I have had with men in my life. And, only recently, did I get to understand why many men that I see around me lack the willingness to connect. The reason, I believe, is because we expect men to shield who they really are by wearing a macho-mask. Leaving a lot of them in denial of their emotional capacity. This understanding has helped me forgive. Recently, I found out that a man who had expressed interest in me, was romantically with another woman. Naturally, I became upset and I closed off any prospects with him. I am in the process of forgiveness because I know that his behaviour has nothing to do with me and I want to release myself of the hold that he might have on me. I deserve to be with someone who is great and I am not standing in the way of that by holding onto someone who is not able to appreciate me. I move on with love and forgiveness.

4. People who are not ready to accept my love.

It’s taken me almost my whole life to understand that to be loved, you have to accept love. I’ve come across many people who I have loved immensely and thought that I was overbearing or too much, only to realize that they were not ready for it. Now, instead of changing how I love, I move on to people who are ready to accept love on my level. In addition, I let go of those that I have given a lot to and didn’t get back from because counting how much I have given to another and didn’t get back is exhausting and only holds ME back. I leave the relationship knowing that I have given my best and that was enough.

10 inspirational quotes by Maya Angelou

Poet, Novelist, Humanitarian and Mentor, Maya Angelou, was born on The 4th of April in 1928.  

She has, in some way or form, had an impact on someone in their lifetime. Her quotes embody her wisdom. Which is why I have chosen 10 quotes of hers to be inspired by: 

1. ‘If you’re always trying to be normal, you will never know how amazing you can be’.’

2. ‘ Success is liking yourself, liking what you do, and liking how you do it.’

3. ‘You may not control all the events that happen to you but you can decide not to be reduced by them’ 

4. ‘If you don't like something, change it. If you can't change it, change your attitude. Don't complain.‘

5. ‘ When you learn, teach, when you get, give.’

6. ‘We delight in the beauty of the butterfly, but rarely admit the changes it has gone through to achieve that beauty.’

7. ‘I’ve learned that whenever I decide something with an open heart, I usually make the right decision.’

8. ‘We need much less than we think we need.’

9. ‘A wise woman wishes to be no one's enemy; a wise woman refuses to be anyone's victim.’

10. ‘You may write me down in history

With your bitter, twisted lies,

You may trod me in the very dirt

But still, like dust, I'll rise.’

10 encouraging quotes by Trevor Noah

When I first saw Trevor Noah live at a comedy show in Melville, Johannesburg in South Africa, a light shon on him. This was thirteen years ago and I can’t believe how time flies. 

Trevor has grown to be a kind, humble and smart man. As a fellow South African, I am so honoured to share these quotes with you by him. That will, hopefully, encourage and inspire you: 

1.  ‘I know that I cannot change the world, but I’ve always believed I can at least affect change in the world.’

2.  ‘I've come to learn as an adult that love is a hell of a drug. It's one of the most dangerous things that human beings can have. It's also one of the most beautiful things that human beings can possess because love, on one hand, gives you the ability to care for a human being sometimes more than you would care for yourself. Love, unfortunately, sometimes gives you the ability to forgive somebody and blind yourself to the truth.’

3.  ‘In my world, a woman was the most powerful thing that I knew. Still is. A woman made the money in my house; a woman made my food. A woman beat my ass when I wasn't a good kid. Women were behind a lot of what spurred South Africa toward democracy.’

4.  ‘We get angry about the small things sometimes, I feel, so that we feel like we're doing something, so that we don't have to tackle the big things. And it's fine; let people do that. But I'm not gonna now change because of that. You know? Like, the worst thing that happens to me is you don't like me. And then what?’

5.  ‘Africa's not a color. It’s a place.’

6.  ‘I've never been afraid to fall in love, nor impatient to find it.’

7.  ‘I don't think I have thick skin, but I heal fast. It's easy to break through, but I heal fast.’

8.  ‘Nobody owns comedy. Nobody owns a premise. Nobody owns an idea.’

9.  ‘Progression, in my opinion, is often identifying shortcomings - whether it's views or the things you're doing in your life, your relationships - and trying to find the places where you improve on those.‘

10.  ‘I often feel like the woman in your life is your driving force. She's your muse. She plays a big role in determining how confident you feel when you walk out the door. She can add 1,000 kilowatts of energy - or drain that out of you. She said, "No, you're not that funny." I thought, She knows better than anyone.’

3 izizathu zokuthi ungadonsela abantu abangalungile empilweni yakho

isithombe ngemifanekiso ye-getty

Ngezinye izikhathi ezimpilweni zethu, kufanele sibukeze ukuziphatha kwethu nokuziphatha kwabantu emiphakathini yethu.

Kungase kwenzeke ngokucindezela okungase kufike ngendlela yokukhaphela noma ukungathembi. Noma, kungase kufike esikhathini esithile ekuphileni kwethu lapho sizizwa singaphelele noma sizizwa sengathi asikho ukuxhumana kwangempela nabantu ezimpilweni zethu.

Ngingumqine-okholwayo ekutholeni i-detoxing. Ukuxosha ingqondo yakho, umzimba nomphefumulo wakho. Futhi, ngezinye izikhathi uvumela ukuhamba kubangane, izinto nabantu abakulimazayo. Uma sesiyi-detox, kubalulekile ukuthi sicabange ukuthi kungani sakha umuntu noma isimo ukuze siqale.

Kungenzeka kube yilezi ezilandelayo:

1. Wena, wena ngokwakho, unomkhuba wokuba ungahambi kahle.

Nganginomthengi owelele ekutheni abe nombi, okuvamile. Ngaphawula ukuthi uzokwenzela abanye ukunganaki futhi ngakho-ke, uzodonsela ukungabi nalutho. Ngamtshela, futhi manje nginitshela ukuthi kubalulekile ukuqaphela imikhuba yakho njengoba sivame ukuheha ukuziphatha okufanayo njengoba sesisetshenzisiwe. Wayengazi ukuthi udale leli phethini. Lokhu kwakuneminyaka emibili eyedlule futhi manje usezindaweni ezijabulisayo futhi ezungezwe abantu abahle nabathintekayo. Uma ngihlala naye, uyambonga kakhulu iseluleko engamnika sona njengoba engazi. Abanye benu bangase babe nomqondo, ngakho-ke banakekele abantu abakuzungezile.

2. Ungabeki ubungane ngokuhleba nokukhuluma okubi.

Lokhu into engikufundile, futhi! Ngesikhathi sasebusika, ngazithola ngikhathazekile ngomsebenzi wokuthi nganquma ukushiya futhi phakathi naleso sikhathi sokukhungatheka, ngangibe umngane nomunye umuntu engisebenza naye. Sichitha isikhathi sethu sikhuluma kabi ngaleyo ndawo nezimo zethu. Lokhu kubangela isisekelo sobuhlobo esakhiwe phezu kokungabi nandaba. Njengabo bonke ubudlelwane, badinga ukuba nesisekelo seqiniso, uthando nokuzwela - hhayi ngenkulumo enenzondo noma edumazayo. Ubuhlobo obufana nalokhu abuyaphila. Kungaba okuhlukile uma sisekela ngesikhathi esiyinkimbinkimbi ngokuqinisekisa futhi sibe nethemba ngekusasa; Nokho, sichitha isikhathi esiningi sokuhlala kulokho okwenziwe kithi.

3. Imingcele engcolile

Imingcele ibaluleke kakhulu, ibaluleke kakhulu. Angikwazi ukuphindaphinda lokhu okwanele. Ngithanda ukusebenzisa isifaniso lapho umuntu engena endlini yakho, athanda i-intercom, bese ehamba ngesango / emnyango lapho omunye umnyango ongena endlini yakho / indlu, kulungile? Lokhu kufanele kube okufanayo empilweni yakho. Uma uhlangana nomuntu, akufanele bakwazi ukwazi konke ngawe futhi ukwazi ukubizwa ngokuthi umngane ngesikhathi esheshayo. Njengoba kunabantu abesabekayo nabakhuthazayo, kukhona abantu ababi abangakuhlehlisa futhi. Thatha isikhathi sakho nabangane abasha bese uqala ukuqaphela ukuthi ngabe umuntu ufanele yini ukuthembela futhi ufanele ukuba nomngane wakhe.Sivame ukuvumela abantu empilweni yethu ngokushesha ukuba babone ukuthi bangobani baze bahambe. Qaphela ngokuqaphela ukuthi ubani ovumela impilo yakho ngokuyithatha kancane futhi ungesabi ukubona ukuthi omunye umuntu akahle yini kuwe.

4 magical things that happened when I let go of needing to control everything.

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I had always believed that I had to be in control of everything in my life. It sounds impossible when put into words, but that's how I used to live my life until recently.

Just four years ago, a few things were falling out of place and I had no idea what to do. I left one job to escape a problematic situation and started another job only to find myself facing an exaggeration of the same problem. I was in a relationship that felt like we were at war with one another because both of us wanted to be in control, and I had left a living situation with friends to live with a stranger in an arrangement filled with drama and turmoil.

It sounds clichéd, but one day I gave in. I found myself exhausted from trying to control everything when I was clearly unable to. This is what happened when I did decide to let go and let things take their course:

1. I stopped living in "when" and started living in "now."

I used to always say that I would be content when things would go my way. When I lose that weight or When I get that job or When I get that raise. I learned that living with expectance was not allowing me to appreciate the moment because I constantly wanted more. This created a cycle of my being unable to appreciate anything I had because I was so focused on wanting things to be the way that I wanted them to be.

Once I let go of the desire to have everything my way, I freed myself. I stopped driving myself crazy with wanting things to be different.

2. I started truly appreciating people.

When I let go of wanting people to respond or think the way that I had expected them to, it allowed me to appreciate the positive aspect of how diverse and unique we all are. People are allowed to be who they are. People will do things they want to; not how I want them to.

3. I learned a lesson from Nature.

The weather changes for a reason. It won't always be sunny; sometimes it will rain and if I love the sunshine as much as I do, I can appreciate the rain. It's helping me appreciate the sunshine because it reminds me that the Sun won't always be around. Just like life, there are some situations that may seem uncomfortable—sometimes even painful. However, these situations help us appreciate the situations that are joyful. When the joyful times come around, I remember when it wasn't joyful, which helps me appreciate it more.

4. I cried for a day and then got up the next day.

It was only natural for me to be sad or emotional when things weren't going my way; however, emotions don't lead to success—progressive actions do. I sobbed like a toddler who'd had a toy taken away from her, but then I got up and focused my energy on how to deal with the situation. I made a decision to take action because my emotions wouldn't get me as far as my actions would.

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4 reasons why I don’t care if someone calls me fat anymore.

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After years of being at war with my body, I am finally at peace with it. After years of calling myself fat, throwing up my food, starving myself and being on every fad-diet that you could think of, I am finally at peace with this marvelous machine that God has blessed me with.

It took a while to get here but I am here. And, these are the reasons why I don’t care if people call me fat anymore:

1. Someone’s opinion of me is just an opinion.

This can be applied to anything; however, it resonates deeply with me about my weight. Growing up, I was a dancer and model. Two careers that depended on my weight. People’s opinions about my weight was so important to me because whether I was able to progress or not, depended on how much I weighed. Unfortunately, when I was done with being a model and dancer, that mindset stayed with me and I gave people’s opinions about my body power. Today, I have learnt to accept that the only opinion that matters about my body is my own and other people’s words are a projection of their minds onto me.

2. My body is doing great things that someone else’s eye can’t see.

We judge each other so heavily on what we look like, not really acknowledging the power that our bodies hold internally. The external overpowers the internal. When I was bulimic, I was so obsessed with looking great from the outside that the internal didn’t matter, which is a shame! Because I risked my health just to look good. When someone comments about my weight, I think about the torture that I put my body through and refuse to do it again. If I am healthy and strong, it is more than enough for me.

3. Health is first.

In October 2015, I was diagnosed with severe anemia and I was told that I would need a blood transfusion if my iron levels didn’t increase within a month otherwise my life was at risk. I was put on prescription pills and told to eat meat after being vegan, on-and-off, for over a year. I was distraught because being vegan was so important to me but I was on the verge of death. I reintroduced small amounts of meat into my diet and, as a result, I gained a lot of weight. Even my neighbour made a point to let me know. In the beginning, it saddened me that I was still being defined by my looks as a woman. But, then I remembered that I almost died and my body’s weight gain was a reminder of my strength. I decided to wear my weight as a trophy and rid myself of the societal pressures that I had previously conformed to.

4. I am light and love; not fat.

Recently I found out that an extended family member of mine had seen a picture of me on social media and told some people that I had gained weight. It astounds me that we are still stuck on casting judgements on others based on their appearances, when there are so many other positive things that we can say about each other. I reminded myself that I am light and I am love. And, no label is going to pull me down into negativity. No matter what anyone else says about me, I will continue to believe in my greatness.

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10 inspiring quotes from Dr. Wayne Dyer

Dr. Wayne Dyer was born in Detroit, Michigan. Although he sadly passed away in 2015, he left behind a legacy of ways to live your most authentic, peaceful and God-serving life. He has had an impact on my life.

And, I hope that he can do the same for you.

Here are 10 inspiring quotes from him:

1. ‘Be miserable. Or motivate yourself. Whatever has to be done, it's always your choice.’

2. ‘f you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change.’

3. ‘When you judge another, you do not define them, you define yourself.’

4. ‘You cannot be lonely if you like the person you're alone with’

5. ‘Abundance is not something we acquire. It is something we tune into.’

6. ‘How people treat you is their karma; how you react is yours.’

7. ‘Go for it now. The future is promised to no one.’

8. ‘Doing what you love is the cornerstone of having abundance in your life.’

9. ‘When you dance, your purpose is not to get to a certain place on the floor. It's to enjoy each step along the way.’

10. ‘The highest form of ignorance is when you reject something you don't know anything about.’

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