Category: Milk & Honey

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Authenticity Matters

In a world full of AI, Gridlines and Algorithms, showing up as your authentic self still matters.

“When You Show Up Authentically, You Create the Space for Others to Do the Same. Walk in Your Truth” -unknown

During a recent presentation, the meeting organizer stopped me in mid-sentence and said, this is amazing. The colors are so vivid, and your presentation tells a great story. I acknowledged the comment and thanked the organizer for noticing. Her words meant a lot to me because I strive to show up differently in every aspect of my life, business included.

Professionally, the brand of Origins of Peace, LLC is bright colors, vivid photos and transparent stories. I love creating a unique experience of peace through my content, with the hope that it will free you to show up and engage with us in the same manner.

If no one has told you lately, your authenticity matters.

I personally believe that if we hold space for one another, by allowing each other to show up as our unique self, without judgement; corporately we could all breathe a little better.

I challenge you this week to help your neighbor breathe a little easier by being authentic and holding space for them to be authentic too. Here a few things that you can do to accomplish this challenge:

  1. Be intentional with your words
  2. Demonstrate accountability for your actions
  3. Show interest in learning from others
  4. Express your emotions clearly
  5. Look for ways to have fun in the process

It is totally ok to be you. As a matter of fact, God created you because there was a void without you. Never allow the opinions or actions of others to stop you from being authentically you. There are so many obstacles that are put in front of each of us on a daily basis. Don’t get tired or weary in your daily doing. It’s all about the bob and weave method to make it through.

If you’ve been feeling anxious or uneasy about your interactions with others, remember that social anxiety is something that everyone experiences on some level.

Origins of Peace provides coaching services to help you create an action plan to navigate your feelings. Click here to get started.

Make Peace A Priority,

Melissa

 

 

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Peaceful Co-Working Lifestyle!

Peaceful Co-Working Lifestyle happening Sunday, July 30th at 4:00pm

I am dedicating 90 minutes to focus solely on my business.
I am creating social media content, emailing perspective clients and completing some administrative tasks that are long overdue.
You are invited to join me in this dedicated space where we can share ideas or just hold space for one another as we work!
An inspiring playlist has been made, timed work intervals are set and ready to go.
The only missing element is you.
We will use The Pomodoro Technique to manage our time in 25-minute intervals.
If you have a project that you are working on, I am creating the perfect, peaceful setting to help you get things done and checked off of your list.
Gain access to this peaceful space by clicking the link below!
Let’s prepare to be successful, together!

 

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Disrupt Your Resistance to Change!

Affirmation: I am open to change……I easily adapt to change……I create change……I am a Change Leader

Many people are resistant to changing their traditional ways of doing things. Traditions that have become the go to method of operation, no matter how inefficient or unproductive are sometimes hard to let go of.

This is an emotional response, not a logical one. In some cases, people, more specifically women, fear change due to shaking things up and disrupting the normal operation of how things are done at home and in the workplace.

Many fear they will lose things that are important to them, such as a relationship or work status if they ask for change.

Truth be told, the longer you fulfill a need or role either personally or professionally, the harder it is to change or require something new for yourself.

If you are considered the errand runner, dinner maker or grocery store extraordinaire in your family, letting go of these time-consuming responsibilities, or asking for help could be a huge ask.

If you are the coffee runner, note taker and calendar manager at work, these too might be tasks that you cannot easily allow someone else to fulfill or assist with.

Although it might feel hard to ask or even want change from your everyday norm, it is possible.

Today’s post is meant to inspire you to take action this week to shake things up, disrupt the norm and take risks to try something new. I am sharing 3 steps that you can take to help you disrupt your resistance to change.

In the corporate world, the practice of Lean Six Sigma involves finding more efficient ways to conduct business. It involves identifying and eliminating areas of waste in order to perform work more efficiently. In our daily lives, work life balance and mindfulness techniques can be used to create intentionality and to manage everyday life responsibilities.

In both areas, those who are the front-line workers and task performers often resist change because of comfortability. 

I challenge you both personally and professionally to utilize Movement to disrupt your resistance to change.

Movement is a common but less thought about method for creating momentum to activate change. As professional women with work and family responsibilities it is easy to create a routine of taking care of everyone else’s needs before tending to your own. Additionally, women of color are more prone to fulfill nurturing and supportive roles in our communities, churches and even at work. Use movement to shift the norm!

Your body is the first gift you are given in this life. The gift of your lungs allowed you to take your first breath. The gift of your mouth allowed your first cries to be heard. The gift of your muscles allowed you to make your first movements. Though you may have gained and lost many things along your journey, your body has stayed with you. It is time to allow your body the full range of expression that it desires and the gratitude that it deserves (Find Your Peace, A Workbook for A More Mindful Life by Kiki Ely)

Professionally, get out and socialize. Attend networking events or invite a colleague to lunch. Personally, ask a neighbor to accompany you on a walk through the neighborhood. These are just two examples of how to implement small acts of movement in your life. Small activities of movement can activate your willingness to change.

1.Start by reflecting on areas in your life that need to be disrupted. Where should you begin?

2. Build on the awareness that you’ve created by embracing your desire for change. What will change look like for you? 

3. Take one step toward your desire. What activity can you complete in the next 14 days to get started?

Do you need to disrupt your resistance to change? Are you willing to make a move toward your desires?

If you would like support as you navigate change in your life, contact me directly at melissa_rivers@orginsofpeace.com.

I offer personal and professional coaching, and I would love to help set you up for success.

Share with me your thoughts about the information that has been shared in this post. Comment below and let me know if this information is helpful to you. 

Make Peace A Priority,
Melissa
Origins of Peace, LLC
704-388-5276
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The Magic of Connecting with Others

Affirmation:
“I welcome opportunities to shine. I will tap into my magic and show up in irresistible ways personally and professionally.”

The magic that was available to you as a child is still available to you as an adult.

You likely were raised to believe that all things were possible to you as a child and that you could be, have, or do anything that your heart desired.

Somewhere between adolesence and adulthood, perspectives begin to change.

Everything that once felt like a miracle, begins to feel like a challenge to overcome, or an unreachable goal. As an adult you’ve some how forgotten the magic that you have, and the miracle that is you.

No matter how old you are, the magic still exists. Personally and Professionally, you have the ability to make magic happen in your life.

Ask yourself the following questions to help you tap into your magic:
What can you do to make deeper connections at work and in your social settings?

Are you scheduling networking opportunities with colleagues and engagement appointments with associates to build commaradere?

Does your schedule allow time for you to feel relaxed and at ease, instead of feeling hurried and anxious?

If you are disappointed with the answers to these questions, it is time to make a change.

Start by making a list of opportunities to connect. Brunch, after work activities or weekend Food Truck events are a few ideas to help you get started.

Next, decide who you want to connect with. Are there at least three work colleagues that you would like to get to know better?

Do you want to build your relationships with a few of your associates? After you have worked out those details, now comes the most challenging part.

You have to make time in your schedule to build those connections.

Get inspired to unlock your magic by viewing this short video:
https://youtu.be/X7s0sI2JLeI

Peace, Love & Reciprocity,
Melissa

Today is the final day to grab our CREATE! Empowerment Workshop for 50% off.

Visit https://originsofpeace.com/product/create-empowerment-session/ to get started!

Email:success@originsofpeace.com
Text: 704-388-5276

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What is Really Happening?

Affirmation:
“I am progressively moving forward in life to experience great wellbeing and receive the promises that I hold true. I am worth the effort.”

Not so long ago I experienced an extremely challenging time. As things began to escalate, I could not pinpoint exactly what was happening to me. Things felt extremely hard, and weird at the same damn time! Work was hard, relationships were weird and finding time to decompress was non-existent.
I felt like I had to move heaven and earth to make the smallest bit of progress in my work, and in my relationships. I felt more like an observer than a participant. To be clear, I felt helpless in both areas.

The constant drive to be disciplined and to be consistently “on”, left me feeling like I could not keep up. I felt like my performance occupationally and personally did not measure up to my self-imposed expectations.
I was raised to believe in the promises of purpose, meaningful relationships, safety and acceptance. At that point in my life, I felt stuck in the belief of those promises, with no concrete method of how to move them forward.
I’ve had enough life experience to know that those promises are often challenged by people, situations and circumstances, self included.

It is easy to get in your head and allow your insecurities and imposter syndrome to cripple you into thinking that you are not progressing in life.

After seeing a post online that said, “Black women don’t often recognize that they are struggling with depression or anxiety, instead they think they are failing,” I began to take a more in-depth look into the emotions that I was experiencing.

I was anxious, mentally exhausted, and totally burned out! Purpose, safety, and acceptance are basic life necessities. When those necessities are compromised, it will cause you to act outside of your norm and to go into survival mode.

Now that I am moving past those hard and weird feelings, I am able to identify anxiety as the root cause. Anxiety absolutely got the best of me in the form of overcommitment and blurred boundaries.

The 2023 State of Workforce Mental Health Report, states that 86% of workers experienced at least one mental health challenge over the past year, with only 36% of those surveyed workers received mental health care.

In order to start dealing with my feelings, I had to realign my thoughts and perspectives around those basic necessities and understand that I wasn’t failing. I was experiencing a personal crisis that needed to be addressed.

My first course of action was to take some much-needed time off from everything. No work, no deadlines, no commitments, nothing outside of what I had in the present moment.

By sharing this information with you, I hope that it helps you to become more compassionate with yourself, and your needs. If you are experiencing challenges in areas that usually align easily for you, take some time to investigate those feelings. You could likely be experienciencg some anxiety.

A Peace Map is the perfect way to get back on track. To create your custom Peace Map, we will evaluate your wellness areas, set goals to experience more peace in those areas, and then create a blueprint to make it happen.

I’ve helped many of my clients create maps in specific areas of life.

From now until July 2nd our CREATE! Empowerment Workshops are 50% off. During this session we will cover the topics above, and you will have a custom Peace Map in the end. Sessions are available online only.

Use the link provided above to secure your session. One of our team members will contact you to schedule your session.

Any questions about this offer should be directed to: success@originsofpeace.com.

Peace, Love & Reciprocity!
Melissa

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Good Vibes for Managing Worklife & Summer-fine Goals

Affirmation: I am intentionally making time for self-care this summer. I will soak up the sun, release compressed emotions and spend quality time with people who make me feel good.

It is possible to enjoy summer to the fullest while maintaining a full work schedule.

You can have a productive summer and find time to recharge by managing your time between summer-fine goals and your professional aspirations.

Manage your time and prioritize self-care so that you can actively and intentionally take care of yourself. Preparing for work the night before, beginning your day earlier and being productive at work allows you to not feel guilty for clocking out as soon as your shift ends, in order to still enjoy the day.

One very important thing that you can do to ensure you have time for self-care this summer is to put yourself first. Prioritize things that are important to you and be sure to make room for those things. If beach trips are important, plan them. If fitness is important, make time for it. If romance is a priority, make room for it.

Be consistent with things that are important to you and keep them close!

Enjoy this short video where I list some of the resources that I am utilizing this summer to manage self-care and create more balance.

If you find it challenging to manage work-life and summer-fine goals, email success@orignsofpeace.com and allow us to help you create a time management plan.

Remember: Commitment is what turns a promise into reality. Commit to your own personal self-care.

Peace,

Melissa

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Is the First Impression the Only Impression?

Have you ever found yourself in a situation where you were judged based on a version of you that existed long ago?

If so, were you bothered by it?

As a continuously evolving individual, there are so many different versions of you that will exists, over the span of your life.

I’ve found myself in that situation, and I can truthfully say that it didn’t feel good at all.

As a youth, I dealt with so many insecurities which often left me feeling inadequate, unsure of myself and isolated in a huge world.

These feelings caused me to retreat in certain situations, and to avoid settings that felt uncomfortable.

As a forward-thinking adult, therapy and self-reflection played a huge part in my process of becoming whole.

When others decide to judge you, based on who they knew you to be, during your impressionable years, it can trigger a setback and cause feelings of inadequacy to become more profound. You can also simply acknowledge what was said, glean any lessons that you need to take with you, and continue to move forward.

This week, I challenge you to move forward and celebrate yourself for making progress.

The level of value placed on the thoughts and opinions that others have about you, is totally up to you.

If you decide not to allow those opinions to weigh too heavily on your mind, don’t.

We all know those people who like to remind you of your past or who they think you are in their mind, and it can be a detractor from your progress.

Don’t allow it to be.

If you are doing the best that you can at this moment in life, keeping going. If you are placing too much value on the thoughts and opinions of others, stop doing that.

The purpose that God has placed in you, can’t be measured by another human being. Your purpose is God given. 

Place people in the categories where they belong in your life and keep this scripture close to your heart….

“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you,

Before you were born, I set you apart….. -Jeremiah 1:5

“You can’t find peace in a place that you do not trust. Trust yourself.”

Much Love,

Melissa

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Don’t Lose Your Melody

From the desk of Melissa Rivers

Most people who are experiencing conflict withdraw from doing the things that add peace and enjoyment to their lives. On top of the already solemn mood that is being displayed, a decision is made to stop doing things that are enjoyable, in order to sit in the conflict and ride the wave of emotions.

When it comes to conflict, I often think of the quote by Mahatma Gandhi that says, “happiness is when what you think, what you say, and what you do are in harmony.” 

Nice quote, but how often does this truly happen? How frequently are your thoughts, words and actions completely aligned? Most of the time, one of these three elements isn’t showing up for the party, or ready to play nicely. The words you speak proclaim your intention of doing great things, but your mind tends to disrupt things by ushering in fear or overthinking.

To be real, life is absolutely happening, and we are the benefactors of what happens, good, bad or indifferent.

You have every right to feel sad when you want to or to take a break for as long as you need to, but in doing so, don’t give up doing the things that add peace and joy to your life.

Don’t retreat.  In times like this, you have to remember your melody.

I like to think of my “happiness triggers” as my personal melody.

My melody consists of painting, writing, long walks, beautiful bodies of water and of course music! These are the tools that I depend on to get through my challenging moments. These are the gifts that help me overcome when I feel defeated or less than my best. These are the same gifts that I turn to when I am celebrating a win.

When you find yourself feeling stuck, remember your melody and push Play!

Now there are things that knock the very breath from our lungs when we experience them. I know this feeling all too well. These are the things that leave us speechless or constantly guessing how, why, and what happened! Yet and still, you are an overcomer.

I want to share three things that you can do to realign your thoughts and breathe again when you are left feeling depleted.

  1. Start each day with an expression of gratitude. Ask yourself, “what am I grateful for today,” When you start thinking about things to be grateful for, you allow your mind the opportunity to reflect on your melody.
  2. Celebrate previous wins. Remind yourself of all that you’ve accomplished. If you are reading this right now, you’ve overcome 100% of the things that have been sent to challenge you. Celebrate that!
  3. Find something to focus on.  You need a reason, a purpose or a person to get you over the hump. If making pancakes gives you joy, focus on that!

Your melody is your personal song. No one has the same song. The elements might be the same, but the style and vibe belong to you.

If you resonate with anything in this post, I invite you to join my next Peace by Design Academy or sign up for a CREATE! Empowerment Session.

Both offerings are a great way to extract lessons from past experiences in order to move forward with integrity and a detailed map of what’s next!

You have work to do in this world, and you cannot do it if you do not show up for the opportunity. Grab your melody and let’s go!

Peace,

Melissa

 

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“It’s Ok to Feel What You Feel”

The truth is, it is okay to feel what you feel.

Giving yourself permission to allow your emotions to flow is human and absolutely necessary.

If you’ve been struggling with finding the words to describe your emotions, remember….

“this too shall pass, but in the meantime…it’s okay to feel what you feel”

Lately I’ve found myself asking others questions like, “Is it wrong for me to feel___________?

  AND

Am I wrong for feeling like____________________?

 

After taking a minute to coach myself back from the realities of Imposter Syndrome, I realize that……….

I do not need permission to express my feelings, and regardless of the circumstances, my feelings are mine.

If you’ve found yourself feeling anything like I’ve been feeling lately, take a moment, close your eyes, and exhale.

Trouble is such a loaded word, and there is nothing fun about it. I don’t know about you, but my excitement level about experiencing trouble is pretty much non-existent.
Facing trouble is often painful, isolating and just hard.
HOWEVER
I want to challenge you to consider trouble as an opportunity for you to build your muscle for self-awareness.
Trouble is often a trigger that alerts us to be a little more patient with ourselves, and to get the extra support that we need to get through the situation.
When you honestly acknowledge the presence of your painful feelings that are associated with the troubles that you experience, you can create an honest space of reflection, which allows you to move forward in peace.
This is my prayer for you….
May all the things that weigh heavy on your heart be lifted….
May all the things that trouble you, bring you gladness……
May all the things that make you doubt how amazing you are, vanish….
Be encouraged.
#originsofpeace
Let’s make this a great week.

 

 

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Draw A Circle Around The Things You Love

What do you love and how do you keep it sacred?
Anyone or anything that is near and dear to my heart has a specific prayer strategy attached to it.
This is important to me now more than ever because the world is different, people are different and the expectations that are placed upon us can be quite daunting.
It can be A lot!
No matter how challenging times may seem, if I hold something sacred to my heart, I tend to protect it…sometimes more than I should.
                                                                           I can be guilty of protecting relationships that I have no business entertaining.
With this being the case, I place everything that is near to me in a prayer circle. I identify it as something special and then I create specific prayers around it.
My prayers include guidance to know if I should protect it, nurture it or eliminate it.
It is extremely important to classify accordingly. My circle includes family, friends, acquaintances, career & business and anything else that is significant to me.
I am definitely not a “good vibe” only type of person. I believe in genuine interactions and meaningful connections, however; when I’m done, I am done for real.
                           BUT TRULEY, I tell you, if anything that is within my circle allows outside influences to deteriorate what we have, a realignment is in order.
                As we prepare for Love & Culture Month (February), let’s get clear about what is important. If it is important to you, you should be important as well.
                                                                                                   What’s in your circle and do you have a prayer strategy for it?
On February 1st I will begin re-reading the book Draw the Circle The 40 Day Prayer Challenge.
Want to join me?  
We can check in with one another every 8 days or so to see how things are going and to discuss the revelations that are being shown to us.
Will you join me? Grab your copy here.