Monday Motivation - Perspective

Marriam Webster defines perspective as "1 : the angle or direction in which a person looks at an object. 2 : point of view. 3 : the ability to understand what is important and what isn't I know you're disappointed, but keep your perspective." https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/perspective Perspective is defined as "a way of regarding situations or topics etc. or the appearance of things relative to one another as determined by their distance from the viewer." https://www.vocabulary.com/dictionary/perspective "Perspective has a Latin root meaning "look through" or "perceive," and all the meanings of perspective have something to do with looking. If you observe the world from a dog's perspective, you see through the dog's eyes. In drawing, perspective gives your drawing the appearance of depth or distance. If we say someone "has perspective," we mean she has a sensible outlook on life." https://www.vocabulary.com/dictionary/perspective

I think perspective in life helps you see how you look at things. People that are in the same room can all have a different perspective, because they see things from their own point of view. Depending on where someone stands in a room will dictate how they see something or someone else in the room. Everyone's perspective matters, but when you are able to empathize with someone else, you can better understand their perspective, which could change your opinion of someone or something else. I think more of us need to embrace a broader perspective to gain more understanding and to be more empathetic or sympathetic to others and their needs in life. Perspective can be underrated, but with the right one, you can see the glass full instead of the glass half empty. Challenge yourself to look at something this week from someone else's perspective, and ask yourself, how would I feel if I were in their situation or position? Perhaps this will help you to treat others better in your life or around you. Have a great day and week.

Monday Motivation - Keep Climbing

https://www.heavensinspirations.com/frog-race.html

Some people have hills to climb, others have mountains, either way the journey starts with one step and leads to many. Looking back should be a reminder of how far you've come, not something that pulls you down. Looking forward should be hopeful for what you will accomplish. Learning from the past, enjoying the moment, and pressing toward your future should help you climb your hills and mountains. One step at a time. I hope you keep climbing and you can achieve greatness. Monique Lyn elle Gray

Monday Motivation - Be a Go Getter

Monday Motivation - Commitment

Commitment means "the state or quality of being dedicated to a cause, activity, etc." according to the Oxford Languages Dictionary. Commitment means so much more than a word that is attached to something you have to do, it is something that takes dedication and devotion. Some people are afraid to commit, because they are scared of failing. I realized that the things I have accomplished in my life, the relationships that lasted for a duration of time or throughout the years were things or people I commited to or I valued the time I put in to that particular thing or person. Okay, I know that might seem vague, but I was able to look at what something meant in my life and I made it a priority. When I didn't put time or effort into something, I didn't get the result I desired. I have never been afraid to commit to a process, but I realized that everything cannot be a priority at all times. Time management, setting goals, being determined to do something are all part of the process, but if you cannot commit to something you want in life, it will be hard to commit to another person or a relationship. When you have commited to working out, or eating a certain way, that is external, but it can help you build a mindset. If you commit to a job, or a team, it is still an outward action, but others are depending on you in these scenarios. When you commit to God or to pray, you are building your inner muscle and helping yourself to stay centered, which builds your spirit and soul. When you want a commitment, you should be willing to commit to something yourself. This applies to my life also. I have to continue to set new goals, and commit to things I place value in to get the results I would like in my life. My encouragement to all that read this is, to choose what you want in life for yourself and commit to it. I hope this is something positive that will enhance your life and help you fulfill your purpose. Do not let fear of failure stop you from commiting to something that is worth investing in. Monique Lyn elle Gray

Monday Motivation - Work

All work is not valued, but if you value your work, it can make a difference. Life is not going to work for you, if you are not willing to do work in it. Lot's of people have jobs, but what do you have to offer to your career, your job, your life's work? Work on yourself being whole and you will have something to offer others, because you have a purpose and you have to value you, so others will value you. Have an awesome week everyone! Monique Lyn elle Gray

Monday Motivation - Quality

When I think of quality, I think of the value of something or someone and what that thing or person can bring to the table to add or enhance my life or a situation. Quality is defined as "the standard of something as measured against other things of a similar kind; the degree of excellence of something." Quality is also defined as a distinctive attribute or characteristic possessed by someone or something," according to definitions from Oxford languages. When I was younger I told my parents I wanted to be a doctor and as I grew older, I started to changed my mind. My parents wanted all of their children to attend college and be successful at whatever career we chose. I have an older sister that graduated from Law School and when she graduated my parents bought her a car, so that was a big deal, and later on I asked my parents, when I graduate from cosmetology school would I get a car. Well, the answer was "No", so of course I asked, why not. My mother told me that they have a standard and they wanted all of us to graduate from college, and I explained that I might never go to college, but I plan to have a career, doesn't that count. At the time I did not understand, and I thought that was rather harsh, but it really was because they wanted the best for all of us and wanted us to be prepared for the world and they knew my other goals involved getting a degree. My feelings were hurt and I just thought that I would not live up to the standards they set and they would never want to buy me a car. My older brother graduated with an undergraduate degree and I graduated from cosmetology school and had joined the US Army Reserves first and later re-enlisted for Active Duty Army. My value was still quality, but if someone's standards are different than your goals, it does not mean that you are not a quality person, or your choices are not quality, it just means that you value different things than they do at any given time. I ended up completing my Associate's degree while I was on Active Duty in the Army and I was deployed to South Korea. A few weeks later I lost my father, so he never saw me graduate, and I was able to go back to the States in Texas and be a part of the graduation, but I lost my daughter a month before my graduation and none of my family was there. I am saying all this to say, I achieved some of the goals I set out to achieve, but felt like a failure in life because of all of my losses. I was divorced, lost my dad and my child within 4 months, but I got my degree anyway. My quality of life still was not where I wanted it to be, but I was determined to continue on with my life in the midst of my grief. I later got my Bachelor's degree, my Master's degree, and I have taken Doctoral classes. I lost my mother a year before I completed my Bachelor's degree, so she never saw me graduate, and that really hurt me, because I really wanted to make my parents proud of me, but I had to do what I chose to do for my life. The standards I set for myself, might be bigger or larger than someone else's, but I learned that I set that bar for myself and what I value is important to me. I want God to be proud of me and I want to use my gifts and talents to reach others and hopefully inspire them to be their best selves. Quality is important, but each person has something that that value more than another thing, and because I value myself and the things I have to offer this world, I consider myself a quality person, and I am enough for me, and I can always improve on things as long as I live. Be encouraged to find the quality in yourself that you seek in others. Have a awesome week. Monique Lyn elle Gray

Monday Motivation - Focus

Focus is defined as "a center of activity, attraction, or attention and a point of concentration," according to Merriam Webster Dictionary. https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/focus

When the topic of focus came to mind for today's post, I thought about how many distractions can happen throughout the day and how many things you can allow to take you away from being productive in your life, and it made me think about what the solution is to rid distractions, and it is focus. As a person who has accomplished quite a few things throughout my life, I realized the way I was able to complete anything was to see my end goal, and stay focused on the reason I needed to complete the process it took to achieve that goal. For example, years ago I made a decision to become a cosmetologist and I worked, went to school full time, and was married at 18, with no children. It was hard for me to receive much for financial aid, because I had a husband at the time, and by the summer of 1997 I was working 2 jobs and in school full time. Needless to say, I was experiencing burn out, so instead of complaining, I decided to join the Army Reserves to obtain money finish school and be in the career of my choice, but first I would be required to complete Basic Training and Advanced Individual Training (AIT). Anyone who is in the military or former military understands that this process is not as easy as it might sound. I had long days, early mornings, and drill sergeants yelling and giving orders or commands. Some days I got tired, but I was able to get through the rough days, because I had a goal and I wanted to protect and serve, but I also wanted to fund my education. When I put my mind to it and decided I am going to finish this process, I was able to not let it break me mentally, physically or emotionally, because I stayed focuesed on the goal. I was able to complete basic training and AIT, and then I came back home to drill each month. Of course, life through me curve balls, my marriage was shaky, I got pregnant and lost my baby at 8 weeks during my marriage and I was only 19 by then, it was discouraging and distracting from my goal. I started working again, because we needed the money and then I realized I did all of that stuff and did not complete my initial goal yet, so I had to re-focus and I went back to cosmetology school and completed my classes and finished school at the end of 1999. I was then given an opportunity to do hair on a military base in Germany and it worked out great for me to take that opportunity, because my personal relationship was not supporting my goals, but because I already was in the Reserves, it was so much easier for me to get on and off base with my ID, and I planned to stay for a few months and come back and get my license in the States. I had an opportunity to stay for a year, but I did not want to leave my marriage in the balance, so I tried to tend to that relationship and continue with my career goals in the States. In 2000, I was licensed in Washington DC, and in 2002 I was able to receive reciprocity in Maryland and later in Pennsylvania, as I moved for personal reasons. The point of my story is to stay focused on your goal and the process will seem so much easier. And it is so much better to be with someone that supports your goals, because if they do not, you will be distracted by them and could jeopardize you reaching your goals, but when you are supported, you could propel further than you could ever imagine. I could not have accomplished anything if I did not lean on God at some point in my life, and having a code of ethics, or a priority code is key to success. For me, it is God first, family second, and my career third, but sometimes family could be in the way of you fulfilling your destiny, so you have to decide whether they have your best interest at heart. Stay focused and have a great week. Monique Lyn elle Gray