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Checkout Our Newest Personal Development Tool

Here’s something that you might find useful.

Lessons from Rahab is an interactive workbook packed with over 40 pages of resources and self-reflection activities that will help you get unstuck and move forward to your next chapter.

In the short video series below, I will introduce you to the four categories that are found within the workbook.

  • Understanding Your Origin Story
  • Setting Obtainable Goals
  • Moving Past Negative Influences
  • Recognizing Your Growth Opportunities

Lessons from Rahab is a great addition to add to your personal development library. Check out the videos below and let us know what you think. If you like what you hear, click the link to make your purchase!

To order Lessons from Rahab and receive a complimentary sample box of our herbal tea blends, click here.

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Swinging and Humming

💫 Last week was full of insight for me. With the constant going, pushing and striving to do more, be more, create more and get booked more, I hit a wall.

I found myself way past exhaustion. I could barely hold my head up.

After a much need coaching session (yes, coaches need coaching too), I took time to identify what was challenging me, and then I made a plan to improve those things.

I realized that I had not taken any time to celebrate my accomplishments before moving to the next “thing” on my list. The constant pushing and striving caught up to me and left me feeling totally and completely spent.

In need of a rapid improvement plan, I left my house, hair undone, natural face with a t-shirt and shorts on, and I found a swing.

I swung until my heart was content, tension released, and contentment filled my spirit.

I know it sounds simple, but sometimes that is all you need to change the energy and momentum around you.

From this experience, I learned that just like I schedule those 4:45am treadmill sessions, I need to schedule celebration sessions too.

(Let me warn you ahead of time. The audio within this video is LOUD. In addition to humming, you will also hear the sound of traffic passing by. If you are in a quiet setting, proceed with caution!)

 

So what am I celebrating?

💫 Completing Professional and Executive Coaching Training Intensive through the CaPP Institute

💫 Completing Equity in Contracting Training through CPCC

💫 Acceptance into the Women’s Entrepreneurship Program at

eCornell University and completing my first course with a perfect score.

💫 Becoming a member of ForbesBLK

💫 Acceptance into the 2023-24 Milestone Circles Program at the Nasdaq Entrepreneurial Center

💫 Gaining two new coaching clients

After taking a moment to reflect, I realize that I have a lot to celebrate (I am sure that I left something off of my list).

Celebrations are important.

If you have a hard time celebrating your achievements, you are not alone, but just like I hit a brick wall last week from overwhelm and exhaustion, you can too.

Let’s hold one another accountable for showing up as our best self by taking important moments to celebrate.

I invite you to join the Origins of Peace Community by visiting http://www.originsofpeace.com.

You will receive a bi-monthly newsletter and priority notice of events and happenings within the community.

Make Peace A Priority,

Melissa

 

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Peaceful Co-Working Lifestyle August Session

Join me on Sunday, August 27th for the next Peaceful Co-Working Lifestyle. We are talking about PEACE Goals and the 7 Building Blocks you need in order to make them sustainable.

I quoted the time incorrectly in the video, so please make note of the correct time: 4pm-5:30pm.
 
Here’s the link to join:
 
Here’s the link to the Peace Capability Assessment:
 
Make Peace a Priority,
Melissa Rivers
 
All Rights Reserved @2023
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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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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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Mention My Name

It’s a celebration, and I could not have did it without you!

Today marks our 4-year anniversary. In true transparency, Origins of Peace has existed in many forms since 2011, but today marks four years of being intentional about our purpose, our name, and of course, our brand.

We’ve definitely come a long way by beginning as an online blog, repositioning as a community needs trainer in the back of Breakfast Time Restaurant and now transitioning into the corporate arena.

 

“For the vision is yet for an appointed time; but at the end it will speak, and it will not lie. Though it tarries, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry.” Habakkuk 2:3-4 NKJV

Thank you to everyone that has mentioned my name and offered a word of reference on my behalf.

I am grateful!

Origins of Peace,
Melissa

 

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Happy Valentine’s Day to You!

Happy Valentine’s Day to you from Origins of Peace!
Valentine’s Day means so much more when you truly love who you are inclusive of the challenges, scars and tears that have been shed.
Valentine’s Day is an expression of true love with a whole-hearted understanding of the person whom you’ve decided to commit to.
 Origins of Peace, LLC sends the biggest hug and warmest wishes for genuine love of self to you on this day.
May your day be full of magic!
Peace & Love,
Melissa