GIRL YOU CRAZY IT’S FASTER TO S E A R C H...

Monday, August 12, 2013

Is that what YOU think YOU deserve?


“The one with the vision has the capacity to finish. Don’t allow your vision to simply be an image.”-Your Dreams dropping Truth!




Let’s get right into it!

I want YOU to THINK with me…about:
+ Opportunities you have taken…
+ Opportunities you left on table...
  ++ By mistake/accident/lack of knowledge…
  ++ On purpose because it wasn’t for you…
  ++ On purpose because you didn’t THINK it was for YOU (at that time or ever), etc…
+ Dreams YOU have pursued…
+ Dreams YOU have achieved…
+ Dreams YOU ARE continuously pursuing RIGHT NOW…
+ Dreams YOU STOPPED pursuing…
  ++ WHY???
+ Dreams YOU Want to pursue…
  ++ The actions you’re taking to begin the pursuit…
  ++ The REAL reason YOU want to pursue this dream and Why… Now?
And
+ The life YOU want to live…

Now that you are all open with your thoughts…

Is that what YOU think YOU deserve?

When this question came to me, I knew immediately it wasn’t a Question for Thought to elaborate on but MOST DEFINITELY a post.

As I thought about this question in relation to GYC and living out OUR OWN Dreams…I thought about the reasons we don’t.

And one thing that really helped to put this in perspective and assist in dropping the TRUTH is…

“We accept the love we think we deserve.”-Perks of Being a Wallflower

This quote allows us to approach many things about WHO we are but to be more specific to this topic…

It made me think about the growth in my different approaches… in pursuit of my dreams and things I let go of for many reasons (not being qualified was definitely part of that) and now I have picked them back up with so much more…and I thought about the dreams/goals I’ve watched people walk away from or talk themselves out of because of qualifications…or anything else questioning if YOU, ME, WE deserve to be here (wherever that is for YOU)…

Then…I realized this thought about the people I watched and myself…

YOU, ME, WE accept/receive/believe we can achieve the dreams we think we deserve and/or are capable of achieving.

Sometimes we decide “what” we are able to achieve Tomorrow… based on who we are Today without always giving credit or realizing the bigger picture.

Now let me add a little more…

Yes… our actions today help to build our tomorrow…I’m not saying that it doesn’t but here is the other part…

If WE continuously make decisions solely on WHO we are today, right now in this moment (not thinking about WHO we are becoming)…we are not building for tomorrow but simply re-creating today…over and over again…stuck in the same position.

Is that what YOU think YOU deserve?

Although, we are designed with GREAT WORTH AND GREATNESS TO FULFILL… Knowing that you are worthy and standing in your worth…letting your reality see and allow room for the bigger picture…is an attitude of knowing YOU ARE DESERVING.

How many times have we walked away from something because of what we THINK versus what we KNOW?

And SINCE YOU, ME, WE ARE going after our dreams…we need to stop allowing what WE THINK to interfere with WHAT our Greatness, Worth and Purpose KNOWS WE ARE CAPABLE OF ACHIEVING …if we would just take a moment to see the bigger picture.

YOU DECIDE if YOU’RE going to be Crazy by not realizing YOU ARE Deserving and Worthy, or LIVE COURAGEOUSLY!

Here is a blank list…YOU distinguish the difference.



Defeating Crazy with Courageous,

Lauren Alicia, Miss GYC

Monday, August 5, 2013

How Strength was Taught.


“I learned to fight in a fight, so excuse me when I don’t give up.”-Life Confession of How I Got Here

“It’s funny, we’re told to be strong, independent women but when we fell as little girls everyone ran to our rescue while heads turned away when a little boy fell.”-I’m not upset…I’m just explaining the strength of my existence…



“Independence has its perks and its harshness but nevertheless…find its strength.”-Independence’s Reality

“Ut-Oh…where is this topic going to go????”

I know that’s what you’re thinking…but I also know…YOU want to go with me!!!

“Girl YOU Crazy”

This topic roamed my thoughts and words during GYC’s 1st interview on THE IDECLAIR SHOW back in February! If you missed it…click here!

However…these thoughts were
Birthed while writing “Naysayers Say What!?”, which was also during the “Don’t Take the Elevator” Series, as I began to think on/acknowledge/realize/recognize…and understand the fight of who I am, and where I am today...on paper for other people to see.

However,
As I let these thoughts marinate…I investigated a little deeper…to go a little wider than myself!

And I realized when it all began (well…for some of us)…

…the defining moment when us girls would have to learn how to fight…in a fight.

Take strength from a place within and apply it to the surface!

So, here is the GYC/Lauren Alicia Quick Version:
Little GYCGirl… falls/trips/has some type of accident and everyone runs over to tend to her needs…maybe even making it out to be bigger than what it seems…

Then time goes past…GYCGirl… is a little older, pays attention a little more and notices a little boy fall and he begins to cry, his mother pauses, looks at him, QUICKLY looks away and says…
“He’s a boy…he will be alright” and she carries on.

He gets up, and everything is alright!
Right? Well, not for me!

When I distinguished the difference, it was time for me to realize and understand that the only fighting I was going to do in and for my life… was the fight that people felt/decided I SHOULD be fighting for and the rest…well… I’m on my own!

And I had to be okay with that…the “I’m on my own” part of course!

Why was he going to be okay and I needed all that attention???

Well, lets look more at the difference...
It became clear that pain is pain until you decide how to cope with it or it’s decided for you through attention… and I was quickly being taught through attention and unsure if that was the lesson to learn.

But…

As I grew older and learned of my dreams that were NOT given to me by People, I saw more pain and misunderstood rejection because it wasn’t the same as the little girl who fell and everyone ran to her rescue…now the strength within is beginning to show me my options and let me know it’s all my decision…strength was simply there to defend it!

So…
Here are my options:
+ Every time you fall will you look/expect someone to rescue you like you have no hope?
Or
+ Will you decide to get back up because everything is and will be alright…BECAUSE YOU ARE a fighter that is also designed to live as a winner (Because YOU Are a winner as well)…and laying on the ground (mentally) waiting for someone to help you…is to act as though you have no hope and strength is not in you to get the job done?

Now that YOU have your options…what are you going to do Miss GYCGirl???

And in realizing the strength within…there was MY OWN independence!

Independence is what’s left when you realize you can’t be dependent on other people to make your dreams happen or walk through open doors for you…the dream can be there but the action to decide to go and live it…is done by you!

Excerpt from Naysayers Say What?!:
Every time someone disagreed about who I wanted to be “when I grow up”, I proved to myself that they were wrong, which built a foundation and strengthened my passion to go for My OWN dreams if and when EVERY, everybody says, “Girl YOU Crazy, it will never happen, and she thinks she is a  ______________....hmph.”

I had to decide that if I wanted these dreams of mine…it was going to take a fight,
Since Naysayers use fighting words!


GYC Personal Thought Rant…before I close…
Learning to fight in a fight for my dreams, the real, unfiltered, true ME was and still is the best way for me to have gained strength, and knowledge of who I am as the definition for me to live. I don’t take anything for my journey and where it will lead but in order for me to keep pressing, I have to know my foundation and reflect on it in moments of weakness, moments of strength, moments of confusion and uncertainness to know that I was built to fight, and made to win. I think the reason some of us miss this is…we don’t realize/recognize/acknowledge that information as part of our definition, neglecting to give it any of our actions.

Almost done…

Last Thoughts:
When strength is taught in a fight and WE come out the WINNER over and over again…our strength gets stronger and stronger, we learn the perks and pluses of being independent…getting/receiving what we want and need, only standing for what we deserve and pushing through its harshness…you know the haters/naysayers/those that need to understand how to allow their strength to assist them in getting/receiving what is for them...taking their focus and negative words off of us!!
Can I get a witness??? HELLO!

And I will leave you with these GYC Quotes:
“Pay attention to your fight because there is where your strength will grow stronger.”-GYC

“We are always one decision away from learning more about who we are and where we are destined to go. Know how strength was taught to you.”-GYC

“Independence has its perks and its harshness but mix it with humility and understanding and you will decide to only see the perks!”-GYC

Defeating Crazy with Courageous,

Lauren Alicia, GYCGirl…

Monday, July 29, 2013

What Is Beauty? Campaign Wrap-Up: We are a Resource!


“Beauty is a perspective that is reflected in everything we see.”-Honest Perspective



“The way we decide to see the world is the same way we will receive the world.”-Truth

“Sometimes beauty is blurred and marred by our perspective but what is beautiful to me is no matter how damaged its definition becomes, we will always continue to search for its truth and realness.”-GYC Thoughts on Beauty

May 1, 2013 Endless Dreams Foundation, Inc and GYC Girl YOU Crazy launched the What Is Beauty? Campaign (online), and it will officially be over this Thursday, August 1, 2013.

I hope you all have enjoyed participating and following the Campaign!!!!

Personally, the Campaign has been an amazing journey of learning and understanding beauty deeper… through the eyes of other’s and myself. It became an experience of recognizing the beauty in overcoming and realizing your own definition of beauty we live!

Yep, ALL OF THAT!!

Honestly…
How often are YOU asked to define a word that is used multiples times a day for various reasons that sometimes can only make sense to the person using it?????

So when asked in public…
"What is YOUR Definition of Beauty?????"

What would be your unfiltered, uncensored response and are you considering those listening to what you have to say???

Now go ahead, fill-in-the-blank:
Beauty is…


GYC Side Note: The thing about definitions… if you ever study and/or conduct consumer research is…whatever definition people give is the definition people believe, and their response is packed with powerful information about themselves that is to be considered their truth even if you know the information to be a lie. Everyday we tell something about ourselves in the definition we speak and live…what would YOU have your definition to say about you? …Something to think on!

In helping to shape and structure the Campaign with EDF, I thought of this quote that could bring out this power message of beauty and our understanding/perspective/feelings/thoughts…

'"I am the definition of beauty' appreciate mine (my definition) as I appreciate yours."

This quote identifies/recognizes/acknowledges the fact that we all are beautiful no matter how we define the word beauty, and how everyone’s definition shall be respected and appreciated.

The bigger picture of its message is...it’s NOT what we write down but what we live…it Is Our Truth!

Throughout the Campaign, we gathered multiple quotes and quotes with images relating to beauty directly, indirectly or simply poetic to exploit and strengthen various thoughts of beauty and where we find its presence.



But before I fully dive into the rest of this…it is important to know that the Campaign was set-up to promote high self-esteem, confidence and strength, which all ties into the word BEAUTY!

When I was first approached about joining, EDF’s founder discussed how she found statistics on women having low self-esteem, and wanted to use the word beauty to inspire and uplift.

So, as we promoted self-esteem, confidence and strengththe purpose of the mission/"What Is Beauty? Campaign" was to fight statistics with our reality.

Beauty relates to self-esteem, confidence and strength because it’s part of their contents…knowing, owning and walking in your self-worth!


I learned through this, the extent of which self-esteem relates to beauty and how confidence creates strength to see beauty in the most difficult times.

 Along with Twitter and Facebook, we used Tumblr and Pinterest to reach the community willing to discuss and share their thoughts on beauty!

Here is a snap-shot of The Campaign Tumblr:



The top 2 posts on The Campaign Tumblr were…


This found quote currently has 1,867 notes!

And a quote from yours truly…

 "I am worthy, deserving and enough… And NO ONE has the right to tell me anything different."-Lauren Alicia
My quote currently has 376 notes!

But interesting side note… both were posted on the same day, “Count your blessings…” was 1st and “I am worthy, deserving…” was 2nd!!!

…YOU, ME, WE never know when people are listening and what they need to hear! Relating back to the title of this post… “We are a Resource.”

Here is a snap-shot of The Campaign Pinterest Board:

The “What Is Beauty? Campaign” Pinterest Board is a community of Pinners that joined and continuously share their thoughts on beauty, strength and inspiration through quotes, posts and photography!

These 2 platforms expanded my thoughts on beauty and how it is perceived… Sometimes we don’t know how sensitive something is until we no longer just think about it but begin to discuss it…

With that said…

I thought about answering the questions below but realized… they would be best pondered/thought about/marked up/answered…by and for yourself…
Maybe one random GYC Moment of Reminiscing…I’ll post on Facebook my thoughts?!?...Which means if you have yet to like the Fan Page…well… www.facebook.com/gyc.girlyoucrazy
Please and Thank You!!!

Think On/Answer these questions for yourself…
Why does self-esteem relate to beauty?

How does confidence relate to beauty?

Can you relate strength to beauty?


"Be, Love, and Accept… YOURSELF; Then YOU won’t have to question your beauty because you will see it everyday!"

I'm almost done...
An open letter to Beauty (journal/GYC style, which means grammar and punctuation are on an anything-goes format…)

Dear Beauty,

So often we search for you in places that have nothing to do with our truth. We look for it in acceptance, approval, appearances, and irrelevant surfaces…but one day we will all genuinely proclaim the truth that is you. The recognition that you, Beauty are in my self-esteem, you can see it in my confidence, and reflected in my strength… Sometimes we think that you are so distant from us because the world has created a marred perspective of you but if we ever took the time to look in the mirror through our heart, we would see the truth…which is, your importance was never an outer appearance but a strength that will always live within… I consider YOU a Vision from the Stem!




I’ll leave you with this question as YOU, Me, We encourage others and ourselves daily (also answered by Rachel Franco during her interview):

Do you think sometimes we as women find a temporary confidence in compliments, and what are your thoughts on building a confidence that doesn't rely/need compliments?

Also…feel free to leave your thoughts in the comments!

“We all are the definition of beauty…understand and represent your definition daily!”-Daily Truth Reminder

“Because I know my self-worth, I will celebrate daily ALL of who I am and let go of what I am not…Standing TALL, STRONG And CONFIDENT in every situation.”-My Beauty Declaration




THANK YOU!!!

Checkout the What Is Beauty? Campaign Links & Features:

Monday, July 15, 2013

When a Stranger Lingers... Conclusion: Please Excuse the Strangers (I’m getting my life together)



Please Excuse the Strangers
It’s like Moving Day or
Season
In my life…
They’re moving out
I’m moving in
And fully taking
Residence
Self- inventory,
Reality check,
YES
YES
I am ONLY
Accepting the truth of…
ME
Strong, Bold, Confident
YES
YES
YES
No longer settling
For foolishness
I’m done being a fool
Relating to funky attitudes
that
No longer serve
A profitable purpose

…You’re excused

Now enter the room of
NEW

Welcome!

Here are a few ground rules:
No More Strangers Lingering
I know what is here
So don’t try to hide behind
Memory
I’m focused on
Meaning

I decided that I will not be keeping my enemies close to me…
+That’s STUPID and welcomes paranoia!
Bad company corrupts me.
+I’m done being funky
Abusing myself with self,
Well…
I’ve recognized my worth
Found out that I am designed
PRICELESS
Therefore,
I will act as such

So please excuse the strangers
No more of them lingering
I separated what actually belongs to me…
In this moment

You’ll see old and new things
Properly in place
With some type of explanation
That only I need to understand

Some things have meaning beyond memory
And
Some things are not as important as their meaning

I’ve recognized
We’ve been given feelings to feel
Not to be used as a guide
But a tool of indication,
When to let go and when to hold on

So if you look around…
You’ll see,
I’m moving forward,
Accordingly

It took strength to say
I am NO Longer holding on to dead weight
Being stuck with whose stuck
And satisfied in that place

If I wanted change and to keep growing
Find my pride pushed to the side
And a mirror constantly in my face

If you want change Girl…
Start with YOU and Your world

Do you know the people that you call friend,
Including yourself?

Are the memories you’re holding on to…
Hindering you from possessing your present?

Have you looked around the room
And actually noticed...
Change?

Well…

When a stranger lingers
It leaves things undefined
And your open mind
A little more open
Beyond focus and purpose
Questioning worth and
Searching through these opinions
For truth
But finding a questionable you

“How have I let this go on for so long???”

Well, here is your moment
It’s moving season
So
Please excuse the strangers
We no longer need them

I’m getting my life together
And PURPOSE is FOREVER
THE PRIORITY.

I’m done giving permission to what doesn’t belong to me.

Monday, July 8, 2013

When A Stranger Lingers… Part 2: I Befriended Me



“To know how amazing YOU are, should be common knowledge without the confirmation from another.”-Daily GYC Note-To-Self


“When I accept the friendship of self… then, do I begin to understand what it means to be a friend to someone else.”-Being a Friend 101…(Coming This Fall…not really but that would be quite the book to read by Lauren Alicia)



“I Befriended ME…so, my identity isn’t lost in another but found in the development and understanding of self.”-The purpose of me without sidebar commentary; YOU, Me, We Speaking Truthfully


Dear Me,

When you are naming off the names of your best friends…don’t forget me!

Side Note:  You are designed to do great things so… DO THEM!!!

Before we get into it…
Let me say this…

“When a Stranger Lingers…” GYC Series is about friendship and the relationships we allow or tolerate even after we have grown/moved forward/matured/stopped being funky…all of that!!!
If you missed any of the previous series posts…please scroll to the top for the links…I can wait!!!


And back to it…

Well, in thinking on this and opening myself up to learn,

I found at one point…a need to hold on to certain people because of memories. 

Quick Rant Style Explanation
BUT what is important to note is…
It wasn’t that the good memories didn’t outweigh the bad…but what I was holding on to now was something that no longer existed…
And needed to be released because my developing identity (and understanding of self) no longer agreed with some of the “who’s” surrounding me.

Now let’s back up a little bit…YES…we’re going on a lil’ GYC journey!

Befriending me allowed me to accept peace and joy in simply being me with or without others around.

The moments of holding on to people because of memories became a weight that clouded me from seeing hope and present possibilities of being able to create memories without the people that were no longer good for me.

I had to realize that I wasn’t being a friend to myself, not playing on my own team if I may… by allowing the people I chose to call friend to maintain their position because of memories that substance no longer existed.

I needed to relate to today's memories, not from when I last talked to you a year+ ago!!

Befriending yourself allows YOU, ME, WE to have standards… a prerequisite before discussing the requirements.

I think we learn to let go of a lot more when we realize we are worth more…

Befriending myself permitted me to push pass appearances…

Think about it,
 Even as kids…our friendships had some sort of substance no matter how complicated or simple we made it sound to our parents. It may have looked like we were BFFs with everyone but if we explained each of the friendships…every person told a little bit about WHO we are and what we enjoy, TODAY.

GYC Personal Reflection…although this whole post probably seems like that…
I’ve learned through observation that I am a better friend when I am a friend to myself, and I can receive the criticism of others as suggestions for improving myself...versus things I need to do to be a “better person.”

Yep, pay attention to the difference!

When we treat ourselves like a friend…
 +++We look out for ourselves like we would for another person

GYC Explanation: Sometimes it takes another set of eyes to tell you about you because we may be blind to the real situation that is in front of us. Although, I value the friend that loves me enough to do that…befriending myself daily opens my eyes to see/evaluate what is and isn’t for me…and that friend can be someone to agree/confirm/recognize the same thing...versus appearing to bring new information to me...
Making me defensive, and all “Girl YOU Crazy!!!”

+++We understand the purpose of the presence...of other people…is not to bash us but to support us

GYC Explanation: Sometimes we experience something bad over and over again…and begin to view/see/perceive what we lived as the norm. Whether we are in a room full of people or by ourselves…we should always be one of our biggest supporters and cheerleaders. Give what you would want for yourself, to someone else…but the question is… What do you want for you?
The friendships that I value today are with people I enjoy encouraging, watching them succeed from level to level, and/or encouraging greatness out of me.

Take a moment to think on what your friendship to Self looks like, and how it is reflected in the people you choose and chose to be around.

Quick GYC Commentary
A quote that is being used so much but its use is so necessary is… “We accept the love we think we deserve” from The Perks of Being a Wallflower. It helps to explain… certain friendships we maintain/allow…and it all points back to how do YOU view YOU through understanding of your own self-worth?

...................................

Befriend yourself daily. Know, and walk in your worth.


GYC Interview with Self because we can’t be a friend to ourselves if we are not honest with ourselves (some questions to ponder for your thoughts only)

+ Would you defend you even in the middle of your own mistakes?
This is not a question of defending the mistake but of defending who you are, which is human and giving yourself another chance because you realize/recognize/acknowledge you always have HOPE.

+ Would YOU befriend YOU?
Because I randomly think about questions I will ask people when I’m in the position to hire, this question came to mind…”Would you hire you?” So, in thinking about befriending yourself for your own sanity...are you a friend that you would want for yourself… I definitely have moments when I need…and I do apologize to people I consider(ed) friend because I wasn’t a friend in certain situations. This truth forever remains “Treat people the way you want to be treated”…but first know how you want/need to be treated.

+ What will YOU tolerate in our friendship and what is NOT acceptable?

+ What is YOUR definition of friend and how close do YOU match it?

What we define and acknowledge is how we perceive what is before us…what have YOU left undefined?






Last Thoughts…GYC Rant Style
Befriending yourself is a lesson that WE constantly learn and check to make sure is present in our reality. When you befriend you, we become less tolerant of those that just want to be tolerated for the sake of calling you friend instead of being a friend, we open ourselves up to know ourselves more…and to not just have random standards with no meaning but meaning with expectations (‘take it or leave it’ attitude) because we know and walk in our worth. Befriending ourselves isn’t new and it surely isn’t old…if you want to live Bold, Confident & Strong through Your Purpose…it’s going to take “Me being a friend to Me” DAILY, getting the agenda, deciding to live it, and actually receiving what belongs to me because I know what is for me…and I refuse to be blocked from it holding on to friendships (or anything else unnecessary or distracting) that no longer have substance like I don’t have real standards!  

Time up for that, we are amazing and designed to do great things…that’s common knowledge!!!


Value your company even if you are in a room by yourself.

 I befriended Me...


Defeating Crazy with Courageous,
Lauren Alicia
(I think I might add this as a signature for now on?!?!?)

P.S. This post has a few unfinished thoughts for our own thoughts. Remember, 'I do things a lil' differently!'


......................

Join me, right here…NEXT WEEK for the Conclusion of “When a Stranger Lingers…”---A short but necessary series!!!




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