Is Will-Power Enough?

by with No Comment BURNING THE CANDLE AT BOTH ENDSCHOICEDETERMINATIONWILL-POWER

Will-Power has value.

I have been a Will-Power Master most of my life.

I make shit happen and I get shit done!

I make a choice about what I am going to do and come-hell-or-high-water I do whatever it takes to make it happen.

Sounds good, right?

Well, it ain’t necessarily so!

Will-Power is like putting blinders on.  All you see is what is right in front of you.  Sure, you are powering through and getting stuff done.  But, at what expense?

Will-Power wears you out mentally, physically and even spiritually.  As you plow through determined to get to the finish line, burning the candle at both ends, not sleeping, not eating properly, not attending to all the other things in your life that needs your attention, what often happens is you find you are actually digging yourself into a hole, and boxing yourself into a corner, with your back against the wall.

And, most times, you are not getting your best work done.  That is, if you even get to finish what you are working so hard on.

Let’s dissect this whole little Will-Power scenario we just walked through.

Tunnel vision (putting the blinders on ) is never the best way to approach a thing.  Sure, you do not want to be distracted by all the stuff going on around you.  But you also do not want to be so deep in a thing that you can not see what is going on around you.  You have to come up for air, and check in with the world.

Burning the candle at both ends, not getting enough sleep, also does not work.  Trudging on even though your body is begging for rest and relaxation affects the quality of your work, if you are even getting anything done by that time.  I can remember times when I would still be sewing way beyond the time I should have stepped away from the sewing machine, falling asleep at the wheel so to speak, and I would be jolted awake when I feel the needle piercing my skin.  Talk about rudeness and a rude awakening!

It’s like when you are reading a book, or writing something, and you find yourself reading the same sentence over and over again, or writing the same thing repeatedly.  You are not being productive.  You might as well hang it up, get some rest, and begin again after you are refreshed.

But Will-Power won’t let you!

Sure, we probably can go without food or drink like Moses for 40 days and and 40 nights and be alright at the end of it.  Moses was on a spiritual journey when he did that.  He was being nourished with the best spiritual food and drink available to mankind.  And, he did that 40 days and 40 night thing two times!

I hate to break the news to you.  You are not Moses!  Moses was not plowing his way through with Will-Power.  Moses was on a much more powerful power!

Our bodies perform best when it is being properly nourished.  Nourishing food, drink, proper exercise, as well as spiritually checking in.

Let me tell you the truth about Will-Power.

Will-Power is driven by fear!

I’ll say that again.  Will-Power is driven by fear.

Yep.  I can hear you say “What you talking about Willis?”

Fear of not meeting that deadline.  Most times you started your project at the last minute even though you knew a month in advance, or even weeks in advance you had a due date to meet.  Fear!  You are now grabbing at straws hell bent on getting that shit done.

Fear of not making that money.  You have an opportunity to be paid for the work you have before you.  It is the answer to your prayers for more money, or even just simply some money.  You might have started the work but some where along the way you kind of set it aside and gave your attention to something else, because you did not feel capable of doing the work.  You started to doubt yourself.  Feat set in.  Then, just like before, the due date is staring you in the face, and you still have all the work to do.  Or.  You do not do the work and you are not getting paid.  You will not be offered that opportunity again when you do not deliver, or, what you deliver is half-assed.

Fear of not having enough time.  Yes.  There is only 24 hours in each day.  Every day.  You are in control of your 24 hours.  Do you spend up all of your time with things that do not move you forward towards what you say you want in your life?  Or, do you invest time in yourself doing those things that allow you to be your best self, having the things you want, and doing everything you choose?

It is hard to make Will-Power work for you.  How much Will-Power do you have when you know you need to lose weight and a plate of cookies, donuts and your favorite kinds of cake are sitting on the table right in front of you?  Will Will-Power stop you from digging in?

Will-Power is driven by fear!

Doubting yourself, lack of time, scarcity, lack of money, not seeing a way out, over, around or above, just plain being scared of whatever, makes you believe youtrust

belief

can use your Will-Power to make things right.

Fear and Will-Power are friends.  They work together to keep you stuck.

Now for the antidote to Fear, disguised as Will-Power.

Light At The End Of The Tunnel

Trust and Belief in Your Self.

God told Joshua, “‘Be Strong And Of Good Courage, For It Is I Who Fight For You.”

You are filled with the spirit that creates worlds, who fights for you, which makes you a creator.

If you can remember you are a spark of divinity, the next time fear shows up staring you in the face, making you think you have to give in to Will-Power and the struggle, tell Fear called Will-Power “I Got This”.

“Be Strong And Of Good Courage, Trust and Belief in Your Self, Step Into The Spirit Of Ease, Flow, And Abundance Being The Creator You Are, And Watch Your World Change.”

Heart-Based Sharing For You Here At Fruitfull Vine!

Peace And Love!

Do not let fear stop you from leaving a comment or sharing!

JOIN MY FACEBOOK GROUP:   https://www.facebook.com/groups/783186216094652

FOLLOW ME ON FACEBOOK:   https://www.facebook.com/yaminah.yisrael/

9-1-1 Change Maker

by with No Comment 9-1-1BLESSEDCHANGE MAKER!FAITHRELOCATINGSINGLE PARENTUNEXPECTEDWAKE UP CALLS

Although I had something else in mind to share today, it is appropriate for me to tell you my condensed version of 9-1-1.  I call this day 9-1-1- (nine-one-one).  My kids wonder why I don’t call it 9/11 (nine-eleven) like every one else.  I just don’t!  9-1-1 is all I saw splashed across every screen and monitor for about a month as CNN looped this event.

That morning, I took the subway train up to the upper east side of Manhattan from Canarsie, Brooklyn to take my youngest two children to their charter school, Ella Baker.  I then got back on the train going back to downtown Manhattan.  The train arrived at The World Financial Center where I worked at Merrill Lynch.  Before I could get off the train, people poured onto the train covered in a white powder looking and acting real crazy.  They said don’t get off the train!!!  The World Trade Center has been attacked!!!

I stayed on the train.  The train went into downtown Brooklyn and didn’t go any further.  It was actually the last train running before the subway system shut down!

I took a cab to check in with my mom.  We went on the roof of her building where we could seen the smoke billowing from the Twin Towers.  Bits of paper, and who knows what else, were floating across the sky.  That smell! was in the air.  The smell is not something I can describe. It was actually the smell of death!

There was no cell phone service.  I used my mom’s land line to reach out to my husband and to check on my older two children who were not able to contact me on my Blackberry.  I could not reach Ella Baker where I had dropped my youngest children off just hours ago.

I went and got my car, picked up my sister, and we drove back downtown Brooklyn on our way to Manhattan to get my children.  No car traffic was being allowed beyond a certain point so I parked my car.  The only way into Manhattan was to walk across the bridge.  By the time we had gotten across the bridge into China Town, walking through dust, ash, and who knows what, a few trains had started running again.  We got on a very crowded, unsettling train and went uptown and got my kids who were among the last ones to get picked up that day.  I could not make phone contact.  They were safe!

This event was a change maker for me.

Blessed And Stepping Out Into Faith

Long story short, I was spirit-led to relocate here to Huntsville, North Carolina with my four children.  Two were in High School. Two were in elementary school.  I was relatively recently separated from my second husband and was now a single parent.  Two weeks before moving I came to North Carolina with my spiritual family/friends for a week in November to spy out the land, and look around.

I found a beautiful townhouse and signed the lease in a nice rental sub-division.  I found schools and enrolled my children.  I chose the Real Estate Brokerage office I hung my license at once I passed North Carolina’s State exam three months later in February 2002.

I went back home to Brooklyn, New York, packed up my kids, and we moved to North Carolina two weeks later that December in 2001.

I was not relocating because I was running away from, or afraid, of anything. I was running into my new life!

I listened to the call of my spirit, and, thankfully, followed the call.  All the pieces lined up beautifully orchestrated.  And, here we are 21 years later.

When I give you the long version, or the sequel, I can go into more detail about the events leading up to the move itself, and my life after having moved here.

I have had some challenges, but nothing I could not overcome, trusting and believing in myself, and my inner being, which is where God lives, inside of me.  I am, have been, and expect that I will continue to be Blessed Beyond Measure, in all areas of my life.

We are all Blessed Beyond Measure.

I give thanks and praise constantly.  I am grateful, and very appreciative.  And, the Blessings keep flowing into my life.

I do my best to listen to the call of my soul.  And, I do my best to take the aligned action I am called to take.

So yes, 9-1-1 has been a Change Maker for me.

Heart-Based Sharing For You Here At Fruitfull Vine!

Peace and Love!

JOIN MY FACEBOOK GROUP:   https://www.facebook.com/groups/783186216094652

FOLLOW ME ON FACEBOOK:   https://www.facebook.com/yaminah.yisrael/

Sun Gazing!

by with No Comment BRILLIANCEFUNHAPPINESSHEART BASED SHARINGNATURALPOWERFULSUN

Someone randomly asked me if I Sun Gaze.

Sun Gazing!

Is that a thing?  I’m sure it is.  I haven’t bothered to do the research.

My reply.  No.  You can’t even really look at the sun.

I’m guessing for those Sun Gazers out there, there is an art and a science behind it like there is for every thing in life.  There must be special sunglasses you wear that allows you to gaze up at all that brilliance that is the sun.

Don’t get me wrong. I love being out in the sun and do it often.  I have always loved being in the sun.  It makes me happy.  If you know me at all, I am all about nature (and being natural – of course, yet another story for another day).  I love everything about being out doors.

In case you don’t know it, spending time in the sun is one of the best ways to get some vitamin C into your body.  Science supports this being a fact.  My body has always known there is benefit to being out in the sun.  Science ain’t gotta tell me nothing!  Being in the sun also helps to synthesize the vitamin D in your body.  Synthesize is just a fancy word for saying helping vitamin D do what it do!  Sitting in the sun is a mood enhancer.  No drinks or drugs required.  Just pure, natural sun!

I can see why someone would want to be a Star Gazer!  It’s healthy for you and the benefits to you far outweighs any potential harmful effects.

Keeping it real, I did do my own version of Star Gazing a few years ago during the full total lunar eclipse on August 12, 2017 .

My oldest grand son and I took a road trip down to South Carolina so we could find a vantage point from which to experience the eclipse.

Eclipse Watching – or – Sun Gazing?

My grandson and I have been road dogs for most of his life.  We have shared many and varying good times together.  We’ve taken beach trips together.  We play basketball.  I claim most victories, to be truthful.  We’ve gone to many movies together.  We’ve explored restaurants.  He loves eating real food.  He shares his music with me.  He tells me lots of stories.  Alas, he’s growing up now.  He’s a teenager in his third year of High School.  He’s got other things on his mind and our time together is evolving, as do all things, and people.

Looks like it is time to develop my road dogness with my next oldest grandson,  The only criteria for being a road dog grandson is that they have to be somewhat self sufficient so they can hold it together when I am sleeping in before our day begins.   I am not discriminating against granddaughters.  I only have grandsons.

Back to Sun Gazing.

We got an early start and drove down into South Carolina.  We chose an exit at random along the projected path of the eclipse.  We ended up in the parking lot of a stadium where a baseball game was being held.  I forgot the name of the stadium.

In a sense, we were also having a tailgating event.  We pulled our chairs out of the trunk and marked our territory.  I had packed some food, snacks and water.  Of course, food from home is sometimes not always as enticing as the prospect of eating somewhere, so we did, at a certain point, find a restaurant to eat at.

It was a very bright sunny day as it should have been for an eclipse.  We had a shaded spot under some trees.  We were early and decided to do some exploring.  We took off walking.   After a while that old familiar “I’m hungry Savah (Hebrew for Grandma)” showed up, so we stopped at a restaurant and had lunch.  After lunch, we made our way back to the stadium where we had parked.

The eclipse, itself, was nothing short of amazing.  We watched the moon make it’s way across the sun, totally eclipsing it.  It was surreal experiencing the day turn into night!  The crickets, or cicadas, whichever, got active and started chirping as the “sun went down”, as the daylight started fading.  In the middle of the day!  The pitch and volume of their sound rose to an interesting crescendo during the fullness of the eclipse.  They went crazy as the sun came back up just moments later.  It’s as if they were like “What the F^&K????”  “Something ain’t right about this.”  Talk about a pattern interrupt!  Nature reacting to nature.  Only a God who created the heavens and the earth could orchestrate such a natural phenomenon for our enjoyment, amusement, and reflection.

Many people were not aware of the eclipse taking place that day.  I don’t know which rocks they lived under.  Since we were in a stadium parking lot, our being there hanging out with our food and music wasn’t a big thing.  It was expected.  When the eclipse began, the people in the stadium got quiet until there was no sound at all.  Complete hush.  When it got dark they started shouting.  I bet you know there’s an eclipse now!!!!  The stadium lights came on, because it was dark.  Of course, the game came to a stop.  When the moon went on about her way, sassy thing she was being, shaking all the shit upside down, the game resumed.

I could say things went back to normal.  But not really.  You can’t experience the daytime turning into nighttime in the middle of the day without your way of being changing imperceptibly, and profoundly.  This was one of those once in a lifetime experiences.  It is not something man can re-create or even cause to happen.  God showing off in a grand way.  It was spiritual, touching, like I said earlier, reflective, and a good-assed time!

It was educational as well for my grandson as he actually did some research ahead of time.  He told me “I saw the diamond ring”.  I would tell you what he was talking about, but I won’t spoil the fun.  You can now go do the research yourself to find out what it was we saw during this eclipse.

This was the best of all the worlds for my grandson and myself.  We shared a once-in-a-lifetime-experience together which touched and lifted up our spirits, emotions, our hearts, our psyche, our bodies and everything that we are, and, we had a good old time on our road dog trip being Sun Gazers!

Sun Gazing all the way!

God Is Always And Absolutely Good!

Heart Based Sharing For You Here At Fruitfull Vine!

Peace And Love!

JOIN MY FACEBOOK GROUP:   https://www.facebook.com/groups/783186216094652

FOLLOW ME ON FACEBOOK:   https://www.facebook.com/yaminah.yisrael/

It’s All About The Hustle And The Grind!

by with No Comment BUSINESSCREATEFAMILYHUSTLE AND GRINDMARKETRELATIONSHIPSVALUE

This is dedicated to all my Hustlers and Grinders out there making shit happen in the world!

It takes effort, sometimes called blood, sweat and tears to create a thing, and breathe life into it.

It applies to building a business, developing your body or your mind, and even being a good student.

You’ve heard the expression “anything worth having is worth working for”.  If you had not, now you have.

I am giving a big shout out to my daughter for launching her new enterprise Macklin Bath and Home, a luxury self-care experience.

Don’t Stop! Won’t Stop!

I am shouting out all the fabulous ladies out here making their mark on the world and making other people’s lives better by doing the things they love.

Styled By Elegance Boutique is having her Grand opening this Sunday along with a Cancer Awareness Glow Up Event.  Details can be found on Eventbright.com.

Black and woman-owned!

It doesn’t get any better than that.

Support your own.  Your sisters and your brothers.

There is nothing like building and creating something you can share with the world.

It gets even better when it is something you love to do.

You better love it because it takes hugh doses of commitment to stay the course to manifestation.

I’ve said before, life is not for the weak-at-heart.  Being a creator requires major trust and belief in yourself that keeps you going under any condition, in any situation, when things aren’t quite working out as planned, when no one else can see your vision, for all the things and all the reasons.

We are all creators.

We are all capable of bringing all kinds of marvelous things into being.

Creating and manifesting is our reason for being.

We create willingly or by default.  The choice is yours.  Better to choose and enjoy the fruits of your labors, than to be a slave to chance.

Just to repeat something I shared with one of these fabulous ladies today, Our Blessings ARE in the work of our hands.  Then God steps in and does her part.  That’s how we make shit happen!

God said so himself (herself) in the good book of life.

“Watch And See What I Will Do”

God never said, sit down and wait for me.

Use your hands, gifts, talents and skills and make yourself some Blessings!

Take one step and watch God take two, three, twelve and thirteen, for you.

God works for all of us!

No exceptions!  All of us!

And, ain’t nothing wrong with saying shit while I talk about God!  Grow up!

There is no age limit to being enterprising and using your talents, skills, gifts and Blessings.  You are not too young.  Nor are you too old.

Shout outs are also due to my first, and oldest, 15 year old grandson who creates custom game controllers.

The entrepreneurial spirit is every where.  In every one.

My 12 year old neighbor (I think he is twelve) mows my lawn.  I have a need.  He fills it.  We both win.

Creators.  It is who and what we are.

Someone has a need.  Someone fills the need.

We are here to serve each other.  Joyfully.

And…. we get paid for the work we do!  Money! Money! Money!

Ain’t nothing wrong with making the money.

And, it’s even better when you make the money yourself, your way, on your time.

We are here to Bless each other and live our lives being the best version of ourselves we can be.

I’m having my furnace inspected for the upcoming season next week by another entrepreneur who has built a business which serves his needs and his life, being of service to others.

Being of service.  Not being a servant!

Brothers on the move, and, rising up.

Always rising up!

I am a serial entrepreneur.  Fruitfull Vine that I am.  Always have been.  Always will be.  Ain’t no better way to be.

In a world filled with billions of people, there are more than enough slices of pie for all of us to have our share of the goodness life has to offer, doing exactly what we choose, being exactly who we are.

Billions of people means there is no competition.  Do not fall for that B.S.

Competition is fear trying to keep you small.

Ain’t nobody like you.  Nobody can be you.  Nobody can do what you do the way you do it.   Or, bring it like you.

I encourage you to step into your potential.

It. Is. All. About. The. Hustle. And. The. Grind!

Which simply means committing to your dream, vision and goal.

Doing what it takes until it takes.

And never, ever giving up.

And.  Always remember to give thanks and praise for everything!

That’s how we do it here at Fruitfull Vine.

Peace And Blessings!

Heart-based sharing for you here at Fruitfullvine!

Don’t forget to share the love and don’t be afraid to tell me what you think about Fruitfullvine!

JOIN MY FACEBOOK GROUP:   https://www.facebook.com/groups/783186216094652

FOLLOW ME ON FACEBOOK:   https://www.facebook.com/yaminah.yisrael/

Work For It!

by with No Comment DANCE WITH LIFENOW IS THE TIMESHOW UP

I love dancing!

I have been a dancer all my life and I will probably dance my way across the great divide from this life form on earth to the next version of life beyond what we know exists.

I am still excited about having danced and performed this past weekend during the Nanioubolo African Dance and Drum Conference.

I’ve attended many Dance Conferences over the years, but this was the first conference at which I had the pleasure of performing.

Dance Sisters!

Dancing and performing requires quite a bit of rehearsing to become performance ready.  It takes hours, days, weeks and sometimes months of practice.

I Worked For It! 

I loved every moment, hour, day, week  and month of dancing, getting ready to perform before peers, Master Artists, family and friends.

I enjoyed the work.

When you are doing something you love, work feels like play.  You want to do it.  You look forward to doing it.  It makes you feel good.  It gives you life itself!

Life-giving work fills you up mind, body and soul.

Loving the life you are living is what makes life magical.

Living the magic is available for everyone.

On the other hand, life is work for those of us who are just existing.

Life, itself, sometimes requires quite a bit of rehearsing to become performance ready to move beyond just existing.

We are already using every moment, hour, day, week  and month of our lives getting ready to become the best version of who we are, even when we don’t realize this is what we are doing.

We are always improving, and our lives are always getting better.

If you look back just one year ago, it is unlikely you will not see some improvement in your life and in who you are today.

What is it in your life that excites you?

What makes you feel good?

What is it that you look forward to doing?

Whatever this is has the power to turn the work into play and magic in your life.

Turn the work into play and magic!

Work For It!

Peace Blessings and Love!

Heart-Based Sharing For You Here at Fruitfull Vine!

JOIN MY FACEBOOK GROUP:   https://www.facebook.com/groups/783186216094652

FOLLOW ME ON FACEBOOK:   https://www.facebook.com/yaminah.yisrael/