Ponder This…

What do you love?  Have any of your recent actions openly expressed this love?

When we can recognize what it is that makes our hearts sing, there is no telling our capacity to impact change in this world. Doing what you love is not only an open expression of the love you have for yourself, but of the love you wish to share with the world. When we actively ignore those things that bring us alive, we deny ourselves, and the world from experiencing our purpose. Love yourself.  This is not an act of selfishness. This is an act of self acceptance. It is the acceptance of your authenticity and greatness and this is something we all carry.  No one person is more or less deserving of loving each and every moment of their lives.  When we demonstrate love through our actions and decisions we connect to our truth. We step into our power and manifest for ourselves the lives we always knew we could have.  Love it up, and create change. In the immortal words of The Beatles, all you need is love.

Ambition in the City

Happiness Challenge Day 5

September 12th, 2014 Day 5 of Happiness Challenge

1. Recharging my batteries makes me happy. Every so often I gift myself with a personal day. On these days I focus my energy on doing something nice for myself. It could be as simple as a manicure and a few hours of reading at a local cafe or a nice massage followed by a warm bath with some relaxing music. The goal is that I give my mind and body the time it needs to feel relaxed and appreciated. I disconnect from all electronics and I avoid those things that might pose as a distraction for me. I welcome these moments and am grateful for each and every one of them.

2. Practicing being fully present makes me happy. The older I get the more I appreciate being in the moment. I cherish the journey just as much as I celebrate the end result. I take notice of all the learning and growth that can often be found in the in between moments. These are the moments that have the greatest impact. It is amazing the insight one can gain when they just slow things down. There is so much to be noticed and absorbed when we practice looking at the world and our role in it differently. Take time to celebrate small victories, to learn from mistakes and to tell those who matter to you most that you love them. Embrace the now this is your life.

“There is more to life than simply increasing its speed.” Mahatma Gandhi

3. Showing appreciation makes me happy. Whenever presented with the opportunity I always enjoy showing my appreciation to people who really help to bring so much to my life. No matter the act it feels good to be appreciated. I make an effort everyday to acknowledge the people around me for all the great things they do and let them know that their efforts impact the people around them. I don’t think people get enough appreciation throughout their day, but I am certain they are contributing to the world in more ways than one. It takes two seconds to acknowledge someone but the impact it can have on that person can be long lasting.

“Appreciation is a wonderful thing. It makes what is excellent in others belong to us as well.” Voltaire

Ambition in the City

Happiness Challenge Day 4

 

September 11th, Day 4 of the Happiness Challenge

1. Music makes me happy. It always amazes me how a particular song can impact me in such a powerful way. No matter where I am, certain songs have a way of transporting me back in time. Whether they help me to remember a loved one or empower me to keep fighting the good fight, music has a very special place in my heart. I still remember all the songs I used to listen to during those long drives with my mom on our mommy, daughter days. The song that was playing when I first got my heart-broken and the songs that remind me of those people who are longer by my side. Music comforts me in times of struggle and bring me closer to my power when I feel as though my situation appears hopeless. No matter the style of music, I can always I can always count on its ability to move me. I admire the individuals who create such works of art and I appreciate them for bringing such beauty to this world.

“Music gives a soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination
and life to everything.” Plato

2. Embracing my emotions makes me happy. As a cancer I am by nature an emotional person. Rarely can I ever hold back  or hide the way I feel. Often sympathetic to other feelings, I struggle at times with the idea that I must take on others emotions as my own. While I recognize this within myself it is not an easy task to master. Everyday I welcome the emotions that stir from within me. I embrace and acknowledge them in the moment and do my very best to share my feelings whenever appropriate. Ignoring or pushing these feelings down has never served me. Historically it has only led me to brood over the things that make me unhappy. This only serves as a barrier to forward movement. Today I consistently practice embracing my truth. Whether pleasant or unpleasant our emotions are meant to be heard. They guide us to authenticity and to greater learning.

“The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched. They must be felt with the heart” Helen Keller

3. Practicing self-love make me happy. As a life coach I encounter quite a number of people whom struggle to love themselves. “I am not enough” is often a common theme I hear coming from individuals. Practicing self-love takes a lot of effort in a society that is constantly comparing you to others. Stepping out as a unique individual takes courage. I find that tag lines and mantra’s often aid me in my practice towards self-love. It is easy to fall into the habit of being overly critical of oneself, but it takes practice and patience to acknowledge the good we all have within us. Everyday I choose an area or quality in myself that needs attention and love. I focus my energy on building that area up and giving it the love and support it needs to overcome any of my negative thought patterns. I will repeat these positive words to myself from the start of my day. It sets the tone for the way I show up to the world and in addition, how I show up for myself. Learning to love oneself is not selfish in any way. It is healthy and absolutely necessary. We should be our greatest supporters and we should love who we are no matter what. 

“Dare to love yourself as if you were a rainbow with gold at both ends.” Aberjhani 

 “I am powerful in my love for myself. The truth of my being is I love myself exactly as I am. I honor my empowered heart.” Amy Leigh Mercree

 

Ambition in the City

 

Patience to be Present

Patience hasn’t always come naturally to me. As a child I always felt as though I was in a race. Always looking for immediate results and always in a rush to reach adulthood. When it came to reaching milestones in life I never found myself feeling satisfied. As one milestone was attained another was already in the works. As I write about this I feel exhausted just thinking of how my days used to be spent. How can a person dedicate so much time chasing after a finish line that’s never really there?  There would always be something else I NEEDED to attain and another thing to reach towards. 

As an adult I look back at my younger years and see how much of my time was spent planning, and how very little was spent in the moment. All those days and nights plotting and obsessing over my future. Endless hours devising check lists but never stopping to celebrate my victories. I was always on to the next thing.

It’s saddens me that so many of us live life in such a way. We hop from task to task, from responsibility to responsibility. Always focusing our energy on the things we have managed to convince ourselves is that bigger prize or achievement that’s just on the horizon. How much time have we lost? Who have we left behind or ignored in the process? What have we sacrificed to get us where we are today?

As a life coach and mom to be I look at life so very differently these days. I have learned to slow things down in an effort to enjoy the small pleasures in life. To take time to embrace the journey and not just the end result. I revel in the process of transformation and growth as it’s happening in the moment. Just as this little life grows inside me so too am I growing and evolving day by day. I celebrate and acknowledge things as if my life were being played for me in slow motion. I must be mindful and have the patience to be fully present. Life is what is happening now not what we hope will happen days, months or even years from now.

Enjoy the people around you that share in this life you lead. Acknowledge and appreciate them for the love and support they offer to you on a daily basis. Stop and celebrate a good days progress. You might have not gotten everything on your check list completed but it was a beautiful day and you were present for every moment of it.

Slow down to allow emotions, sensations and most importantly, your heart to guide you. Listen to your intuition and allow your acts to be ruled by intention. Never forget that what you are doing in this very moment is important and invaluable. You are evolving and learning every day so slow down to absorb the gifts being provided to you. Capture life lessons as they come. Life is meant to be enjoyed not to be rushed.

 

Cristina

Ambition in the City

 

Get Excited

 

Woke up feeling so excited for what’s to come. With this new little life in my belly I can’t help but see the world differently. It’s as though I am looking at life through my little one’s eyes. Everything is new, I feel more curious then ever, and i’m just so very happy to be in this moment. 

I am embracing every aspect of my day and ever encounter as if it were my first. I am feeling playful, energetic, and eager to be a part of it all. My body is having some difficulty keeping up of course but it’s OK because tomorrow I get to explore all over again. 

It’s been a few months since I last connected with that childlike part of me that looked at life this way and I thank the little angel growing inside me for bringing her back. 

What’s got you excited today? 

Allow your eyes to look at life from the perspective of your younger self. Embrace those things that used to make your eyes open up wide with excitement and heart pound out of your chest. It’s these things that truly make life special. 

Have a wonderful day everyone! 

Cristina 

Ambition In The City 

Ponder This…

What will you STOP rejecting and what will you START embracing? 

Illustration Credit: suzannerivard.com

 

 

 

 

Do Stuff!!

Get out there and do stuff that matters! Go big, be bold and above all stop waiting for opportunities to present themselves. Create the life you want today! – Happy Matters LLC

For more information on living fully email me at creyeros@gmail.com

Now offering a complimentary coaching session to those that are CURIOUS about taking the next steps towards the life they have always envisioned. Sessions are offered in person or via Skype. Let’s get connected today! 

Say YES Today

How many times have you shied away from saying YES to you? 

 

Say YES today! I challenge you all to say YES to 5 things that will bring you joy today. When we say YES we acknowledge ourselves in a way that no one else can. We honor our truth and we step fully into our power. Stop putting your needs and desires on the back burner. When we say yes to ourselves we honor our needs and values. Let go of the notion that saying yes is self-serving.  How we treat ourselves sets the tone for how others treat us. Love yourself enough to say YES! Stop dreaming about a better life. Act upon it today.

Ambition In The City

Let’s Talk Future Self!

 

LET’S TALK FUTURE SELF!

3 Hour Vision Board Workshop hosted by Happy Matters LLC and RJSII Enterprises

Do you dream of being, doing, and having more in your life?
Do you want to set new realistic goals for your business, lifestyle or relationships?
Are looking to make significant shifts in your life but aren’t sure where to start?

Vision Boarding is a simple, fun process of letting your curiosity and creativity emerge from within, giving you insight into your dreams and deepest desires.

Using images and words from magazines, personal photos or whatever else resonates strongly with you, a collage is created that speaks to the things, feelings, people, aspirations and experiences that are important and meaningful to you now and in your future.

When you tap into your right brain in this playful, stress-free way, it can and will surprise you in ways you could never imagine!

Discover what’s possible as you come away from this experience with new insights and the energy to manifest your now-visible dreams.

In this workshop you will learn to:

• Embrace the Law of Attraction by harnessing the Power of Visualization
• Create a beautiful work of art that represents your inner yearning and hidden potential
• Send a message to the Universe with a clear intention of what you want to manifest
• Complete a life balance wheel that will assist you to take inventory of your life in the areas of community, career, money, health, relationships, spirituality, personal growth and recreation
• Develop a list of “next right steps” that will help guide your actions moving forward

Workshop Facilitators:

Cristina Reyeros CPC
Life Coach, Artist, and Blogger based in New York City. Owner of Happy Matters LLC and founder of ambitioninthecity.com, a motivational website devoted to inspiring individuals to live a life of purpose, passion and creativity. Cristina brings over eight years of experience in the field of psychology and mental health. Dedicated to assisting individuals to explore and play, Cristina combines her love of learning, psychology and art to assist her clients to tap into their courage, confidence and choice.

Rene John-Sandy II CPC
Rene John-Sandy II is an entertainment executive, life coach and nonprofit activist residing in Harlem, New York. As the CEO of RJSII Enterprises, Rene brings over twenty years of experience in talent management, entertainment marketing and brand management across the sports, music, and food and beverage industries.

Let’s activate the law of attraction and make your dreams a reality.
Fee: $45 To register please contact creyeros@gmail.com. Payments can be made via PayPal or cash at the door. Seating is limited-register early!

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The Cracked Pot: A Story of Purpose

A friend of mine recently shared this story with me and the moment I heard it, I knew I wanted to share it with you all. Whether this is your first time reading this story, or if you have come across it before, the story of The Cracked Pot is a great reminder of  individual uniqueness and purpose. We each come to this world with different flaws and sometimes it’s hard for us to see the good that  exists beyond those flaws.  We are all cracked pots.  This story helps to remind us that we need to take the time to appreciate each other for the beautiful, unique creatures that we are; to acknowledge the good that exists within all of us and to celebrate each others purpose because we all have one. Wishing you all a pleasant day. Hopefully this story will resonate with a few of you.

A waterbearer in India had two large pots, one hung on each end of a pole, which she carried across her neck.

One of the pots had a crack in it. While the other pot was perfect, and always delivered a full portion of water at the end of the long walk from the stream to the mistress’s house, the cracked pot arrived only half full.

For a full two years this went on daily, with the bearer delivering only one and a half pots full of water to her master’s house.

The perfect pot was proud of its accomplishments, perfect to the end for which it was made. But the poor cracked pot was ashamed of its own imperfection, and miserable that it was able to accomplish only half of what it had been made to do.

After two years of what it perceived to be a bitter failure, it spoke to the water bearer one day by the stream: “I am ashamed of myself, and I want to apologize to you.”

Why?” asked the bearer. “What are you ashamed of?”

“I have been able, for these past two years, to deliver only half my load because this crack in my side causes water to leak out all the way back to your mistress’s house. Because of my flaws, you have to do all of this work, and you don’t get full value from your efforts,” the pot said.

The water bearer felt sorry for the old cracked pot, and in her compassion she said, “As we return to the mistress’s house, I want you to notice the beautiful flowers along the path.”

Indeed, as they went up the hill, the old cracked pot took notice of the sun warming the beautiful wild flowers on the side of the path, and this cheered it some.

But at the end of the trail, it still felt bad because it had leaked out half its load, and so again it apologized to the bearer for its failure.

The bearer said to the pot, “Did you notice that there were flowers only on your side of the path, but not on the other pot’s side?

Photo Credit: katykulak.tumblr.com |

“That’s because I have always known about your flaw, and I took advantage of it. I planted flower seeds on your side of the path, and every day while we walk back from the stream, you’ve watered them.

“For two years I have been able to pick these beautiful flowers to decorate my mistress’s table. Without you being just the way you are, she would not have this beauty to grace her house.”

Moral: Each of us has our own unique flaws. We’re all cracked pots.

But it’s the cracks and flaws we each have that make our lives together so very interesting and rewarding. We’ve just got to take each person for what they are, and look for the good in them.

There’s a lot of good out there.

By Sacinandana Swami

“Your purpose in life is to find your purpose and give your whole heart and soul to it” -Gautama Buddha

Ambition In The City