Posted on Leave a comment

Grateful

May your day be filled with love. May you rest if that is what you need. I pray your environment is filled with positivity, creativity and endless opportunities for you to show up as your authentic self.

Today, I want to express my gratitude for your presence as a valued community member of Origins of Peace, LLC.
I believe in the process of Peace by Design to overcome personal and professional conflict and the power that we each have to change our life. Whether you’ve joined this community as a client, customer or someone who simply enjoys reading our newsletters and blog posts, your involvement enriches our community in many ways.
Your support and engagement add value to this community. I am truly grateful for every comment, every share, and every view.
I am committed to providing you with more enriching content and opportunities to connect. Together, we can continue the process of Peace by Design by inspiring you to Heal Recover and Grow!
As we head into the holiday season and prepare for 2024, we are doubling down on our mission to support you and provide products and services that will help you reclaim your peace and choose people, places and situations that support your mental, physical and emotional wellbeing.
Make plans to join us on December 9th at 5:30pm for our Vision Board Party. Your presence is necessary, and admission is absolutely free. Here is the link to join. 
I am accepting new clients into my Peace by Design Coaching Program. Two of our programs are currently being offered at a discount of $200 and there is a monthly option available if you prefer group coaching. Here is the link to learn more. 
Once again, thank you for being a significant part of our community. I look forward to connecting with you soon.
Make Peace A Priority,
Melissa Rivers – Founder & CEO
Posted on Leave a comment

The Power of Voice

Join me this Friday, November 3rd at Central Piedmont Community College as I present, “Peace by Design, The Power of the Pivot”

I along with nine other amazing speakers will take the stage to talk about how we overcame numerous obstacles in our personal and professional lives AND we will provide the blueprint on how you can do it too.

Don’t hesitate, grab your ticket today.

I am sharing 3 Strategies from my Peace by Design process.

  • Identify areas of overwhelm, stress and low energy
  • Get Smart & Create Peace Goals  
  • Become the change that you desire to see

Peace by Design is the process of intentionally sharing your vulnerabilities to ease stress while gaining clarity and confidence. 

****This event will serve as the official launch of my Peace by Design Coaching & Consulting Program****

This is an event that you don’t want to miss. I hope to see you there, your invitation is below.

You are invited! 

On Friday, November 3, 2023, Charlotte’s premiere public speaking coaching platform, Your Signature Talk, is hosting its inaugural event entitled, The Power of Voice. This cutting-edge event will host professional speakers who will be presenting on a variety of topics that will educate, inspire, and empower each of its attendees.

The Power of Voice will cover topics including personal and business finance management, health and well-being, the power of our habits, peaceful and motivated living and more. The event is from 8:00 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Tate Theater at Central Piedmont Community College, located at 1201 Elizabeth Ave, Charlotte, NC 28204.

One ticket includes general admission to the event, networking with speakers and fellow attendees, giveaways from each speaker, and lunch.

This motivational event is ideal for aspiring thought leaders, coaches, and entrepreneurs who:

  • Are interested in transformative leadership development.
  • Are ready to share their message and be seen.
  • Have a story, book, or business to promote.

This small investment could provide a tremendous growth opportunity and make a profound impact on your personal and professional development. You can expect to leave feeling refreshed, invigorated, and ready to take your business to the next level.

For more information about the speaker line-up and to purchase your tickets, please visit: http://www.thepowerofvoicecharlotte.com

 

Posted on Leave a comment

Creatively Corporate

According to the June 2015 Forbes article entitled, Can A Creative Person Survive Corporate Life, a creative person can survive in a corporate environment by taking the following five actions:

  1. Decide what you want
  2. Make a plan to get what you decided you want.
  3. Look at the ways your current situation can help you get what you want.
  4. Practice self-awareness.
  5. Speak your truth

I believe in today’s corporate climate, an intentional practice of number four, self-awareness is one that must be done on a consistent, and continuous basis.

As a creative in corporate, I fully realize that my adherence to timelines is sometimes variable. I begin with the greatest of intentions to complete a task on time but find myself off kilter when urgent requests arise or when something happens to redirect my focus. When this occurs, I am fully aware that it takes me a while to find my way back to the original focal point.

So what am I doing to correct this?

In total transparency, this is a current situation that I struggle with. I have recently started using new tools to help with time management and productivity, but it all boils down to the type of projects that drive your creativity and knowing when you’ve done enough creating to move forward to next steps.

If you are a creative struggling in your current work environment, ask yourself, “what do I want?”

Is it time to move forward to something new or will you take the necessary steps to make improvements in your current work environment? As a creative, it is totally up to you.

As you move through this week, be gentle with yourself and know that your creativity is not an impediment to your success, it is a gift. Value it, but make sure your protect it.

Make Peace a Priority,

Melissa

 

 

 

You were created to live each day with purpose.

 

Posted on Leave a comment

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!

 

Posted on Leave a comment

Is It Time To Uplevel Your Life

“Simply be the qualities you seek in others.”
Is there someone that you admire personally or professionally? Is there a colleague or friend that has certain qualities that you desire to exhibit more of in your life?
If this holds true for you, what actions can you take to move from your current reality to the desired reality that you want. Is it as simple as taking the appropriate steps to mimic what you see in others, or do you need to create a more structured plan to make to make it happen.
Personally, I am working on intentionally strengthening the qualities of curiosity, spontaneity, and adventure in my life. Years of overbooking my schedule and failing to prioritize, caused these attributes to become basically nonexistent.
For me curiosity involves traveling to places that I’ve never been, seeking out alternative ways to work and experience financial freedom. Spontaneity and adventure resemble taking the trip prior to feeling burned out and overwhelmed.
On Friday, August 4th at 11:30am, I am hosting a Lunch and Learn Planning Session with step-by-step guidance on how you can move from your current reality to the life you desire. Join me to get the 5-step blueprint, which can be applied to all areas of your life where change is desired.
Let me help you find your #originsofpeace. Email melissa_rivers@originsofpeace.com to receive the meeting details.
Make Peace Your Priority,
Melissa
Posted on Leave a comment

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

Posted on Leave a comment

And Just Like That! Mission Accomplished.

“Appreciate again and again, freshly and naively, the basic goods of life, with awe, pleasure, wonder and even ecstasy, however stale these experiences may have become to others.”  – Abraham Maslow

*****Mental Clarity, Self-Preservation, Rejuvenation, Service to Others*****

One of the fundamental values of Origins of Peace is rejuvenation, simply taking the time to halt all routine commitments and take an extended moment to inhale, exhale, show gratitude and repeat. Repeat the process until you are empty. Empty of worry, stress, expectations, commitments, insecurity and doubt. An extended moment to simply exist as your authentic self.

When I popped open my beach lounger in the middle of town, right on the front lawn of the Visitor’s Center, I knew my mission to rejuvenate myself had been realized. There I lay, relaxed, under a huge oak tree, directly across from the waterfront, with not a care in the world.

The previous 72 hours had been spent boat hopping, beach bumming, cloud gazing, and daydreaming. I kept doing these things until the stress began to melt away.

The early morning coffee conversations with God while sitting on the dock of the bay were essential in restoring bliss and awe in my life.

When I first arrived at my destination, I was full of anxiety. I had reached my tipping point with just about everything that I was attached to. The day that I popped open my beach lounger I was at ease and feeling stress free.

As I continue to build, and refine the mission of Origins of Peace, LLC., destination retreats with a specific focus on our fundamental values are in the works. If you are interested in learning more about our peaceful retreats specifically focused on mental clarity, self-preservation, rejuvenation and service to others, click the link below to express your interest.

Contact Us – Origins of Peace

Thank you for being a loyal member of the Origins of Peace community.

Peace, Love & Reciprocity!

Melissa

Posted on Leave a comment

Change the Narrative!

If the definition of worrying is using your imagination to create something you don’t want, what is the definition of manifesting?

It is extremely easy to waste time worry about things that you do not want in your life.  Troubled relationships, career challenges and financial setbacks are just a few issues that can have your thoughts wondering aimlessly out of control.

Several years ago, as I experienced several major crises simultaneously, I often worried if I would survive it all.

First there was the divorce. It was hard and I was stressed. How would I survive, how would it affect my daughter, how would dating and relationships look for me afterwards and how would others perceive my choice? That 12 months of required separation in the state of NC was difficult.

I worried myself to the point of being unhealthy. I was stressed, consistently anxious, not sleeping well, over-weight and extremely unhappy with myself. Just when I thought things were about to get better, the cancer diagnosis appeared.

The week of my divorce hearing, I took time off of work to spring clean my home. I was ready for new beginnings and a fresh start. I wanted so badly to cleanse myself of the constant turmoil and self-imposed worrying. I had my first mammogram, which lead to a callback and subsequently to the diagnosis.

Up until the point of getting married, I was fairly consistent with my physical and nutritional health. Marriage added a level of stress in my life that I wasn’t fully prepared for.

How could this be?

On my last day of radiation treatment, I lost my job and the constant worry continued.

What now & What next?

I share part of my story today because this week marks my 8-year survival story!

I am surviving and thriving. 8 years post-divorce & post-cancer

My journey hasn’t been the easiest, and there have definitely been a few setbacks. What I’ve learned along the way is to focus my time, energy and attention toward the things that I actually want for my life.

I am spending less time focused on things that do not bring me peace, joy or purpose. This involves understanding and owning my values and taking intentional action to reset my personal expectations. It takes discipline to train your mind to focus on manifesting and not worrying.

Many of the traditional methods that are talked about for stress reduction and developing discipline actually work if you work them to your advantage.

  • Journaling is great for getting your thoughts and concerns out of your head and down on paper so that you can create a strategy to effectively manage your challenges. I recently saw a post on Instagram that says, “If you avoid conflict to keep the peace, you start a war inside yourself. I couldn’t agree more”. Get those thoughts out of your mind and create peace within!

  • Exercising is a great way to re-direct your energy and improve your ability to do everyday activities. Imagine the heightened sense of awareness you can generate from a little physical movement.

  • Understanding earth’s elements are a non-traditional method of dealing with stress and redirecting your thoughts from worry to manifest. The elements are air, water, fire, earth and space. Find the element that speaks to you intently. I personally feel most relaxed by varying bodies of water. The crashing sound of ocean waves, or the stillness of a calming lake are both great at helping me to relax and find peace.

For my present and future, I am manifesting an everyday life that is filled with reciprocal love, amazing opportunities, genuine friendships, harmonious family interactions and all the blessings that God has planned and purposed for me.

On June 2, 2015, I had surgery to remove the cancer tumors from my body and on June 4, 2018, I re-entered the workforce with new skills and a highly viable career path. Origins of Peace exist today because of the multiple challenges that I experienced in 2015.

Dating and relationships in this survivor era offer the biggest area of opportunity for me. I’ve come close to manifesting the relationship that I desire, but nothing has panned out completely as of yet. Stay tuned for future posts to see how that plays out. I am hopeful.

What am I manifesting for this area of my life?

A love that is never selfish, always of service, and precisely on purpose.

    From My Mouth to God’s ears

My definition for manifesting is to demonstrate the things that I desire in life prior to actually obtaining them. This is easier said than done, but it is possible, and I am actively doing it.

As I celebrate 8 years of surviving and thriving, I choose to demonstrate good health, love and understanding, progressiveness and forward thinking, spiritual fortitude, and all the desires of my heart while God continues to add blessing upon blessing to my life.

My prayer is that you will change the narrative that you repeat to yourself. May your thoughts of worry turn to offerings of praise and gratitude.

Peace & Blessings to you!

If you are ready to create a strategy of manifestation for your life, let’s work together. Schedule a complimentary consultation today by clicking here. 

Much Love,

Melissa

 

#instagram #joy #loveyourself #meditation #love #positivevibes #mindfulness #follow #photooftheday #beautiful #yoga #photography #happiness #happy #god #selflove #peace #art #instagood #inspiration #healing #life #quotes #hope #music #faith #spirituality #believe #motivation #nature #manifest

 

Posted on Leave a comment

” You Can’t Find Rest in a Place That You Don’t Trust”

What are you praying for, hoping for and dreaming of accomplishing?

Are you all in and ready for the next level or is there something that is holding you back?

During my month-long hiatus, I had to ask myself these same questions about my business, my relationships and life in general.

The resounding answer came to me in the form of a sermon from @jadaedwards, of #OneCommunityChurch.

The answer that was revealed loud and clear said, “you cannot find rest in a place that you don’t trust.”

I was immediately convicted and had to ask myself….

  • Do I fully trust that I will be successful in my work?
  • Do I believe there is safety and acceptance for me in relationships?
  • Do I trust that God will allow me to experience true peace on this side of heaven?

To truly experience the rest that I desire, there are several growth gaps that I need to work through, to build trust in those areas.

“My Action Plan for Peace” includes more authentic connection, more play and more movement.

What about you?

Is it time to hit the reset button?

Is it time to do things differently?

Are there areas in your life where you are trusting God to make a major move, but you lack the complete trust that will transport you to your next destination?

Let’s talk about it.

Schedule your Create! Session today and together we will build your Action Plan for Peace!

“Father God, I thank you for giving me beauty for my ashes and praise where there is pressure.”

– Amen

Posted on Leave a comment

Have you ever heard of an Alone Audit?

Yes, this is totally a thing.
I discovered this phenomenon while flipping through the pages of Oprah Magazine, Live Your Best Life.
Apparently, an Alone Audit allows you to track how you spend your alone time and the activities that you prefer to do alone.
I am here for it. I think it helps you to gauge what activities you are comfortable doing on your own and which you prefer to do with a companion. It might also be helpful if you’re attempting to boost your social interactions with others. Too much alone time isn’t good. There needs to be balance.
With that said, our website, http://www.origins of peace.com will be offline during month of March while we perform some much-needed upgrades to the website and also dive into some continuous development work.
We will be offline on our website, but you can catch us in person, today February 26th from 1pm-5pm at the Cabarrus Arena in Concord, NC. We are a vendor at the Black Heritage Festival. Look for the beautiful table with the gorgeous custom Planters.
On March 11th you can find us at McGill Baptist Church in Concord, NC for the College and Career Fair. This event is hosted by the Concord Alumnae Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.
I am excited to announce that Origins of Peace, LLC has been selected to participate in the Equity in Contracting program sponsored by @Wells Fargo and @CPCC. I am ecstatic and looking forward to the opportunity to grow and develop.
Thank you so much for being an active part of the Origins of Peace Community.
Let’s keep in touch!
Facebook and Instagram @OriginsofPeace, our Non-profit @Healrecovergrowinc on Facebook and Instagram, and @planters_with_soul on Instagram.
Whew! Did I list them all!
For immediate assistance email originsofpeace@gmail.com