Archive for the 'Life Purpose' Category

Life Skills in Education

About one month ago I went to go present to a board of education as to how important life skills are to be taught in the classrooms. Although many students learn life skills at home, many students do not. The select few of the board that showed up at the meeting told me not to use the words “life skills,” as it relates to education because it has a negative connotation. As an educator, it is my opinion that avoiding life skills in the way we act in the classroom and in the way in the way that we teach is unavoidable. Students, whether in the classroom or outside of it, will encounter changes, decisions, LIFE. Yes, I know wholeheartedly that skills need to be taught. I have had too many college students come into the classroom without basic reading and writing skills. But we cannot just point fingers as to whose responsibility it is to teach what. It takes all of us – parents, educators, mentors, life coaches, guidance counselors, neighbors, etc. The list can go on and on. Instead of pointing fingers, jump in and lend a helping hand to anyone – including yourself. We are all lifetime students.

Published on Wednesday April 27, 2011 in College Success, Life Management, Life Purpose, Self-Discovery and Uncategorized. 0 Comments Tags: , , , , .

Listening to Your Inner Self

It’s the voice in the back of your head that tells you whether the next decision you are about to make is the right decision for you. It’s the rise of your heart rate or the strange feeling you get in the pit of your stomach that leads you down the pathway that’s best for you. Your instinct tells you everything you need to know. Although it may not seem like it sometimes, there are truly no choices you are unsure about. All of the answers are already within you.

Many people do not follow their instincts, because they either ignore them or cannot sense them at all.

As a writing professor, I read student essays on many topics. One popular topic I’ve assigned over the years is to write about a valuable time in each student’s life when they’ve learned a valuable lesson. Most of the essays I’ve received from that assignment have been lessons where students knew that one decision was better for them but they chose the opposite decision because they wanted to go along with the opinions of their friends.

That’s what many of us do, even when it comes to choosing a college degree or future major. We go with the flow of what we think—or we’ve come to expect about what—we can or cannot do. For instance, I recently interviewed a woman on my Tuesday evening USTREAM show who knew she no longer wanted to be in Detroit. Her heart’s desire was to move to Los Angeles and pursue a career in entertainment public relations. She knew no one in the town, and many people suggested that she abandon her dream and maintain the security of sticking with the job she already had. She didn’t listen. She packed up her car and drove out to Los Angeles. In three months she had the job of her dreams. She now works with famous people all over the entertainment industry.

Some people fear that if they follow their instincts, the risk will be too great and success will not be in their future. It’s actually quite the opposite. If God put the dream in your heart, all you have to do is listen and believe in it. Even more than believing, you need to have an inner knowing that your inner self is right on target and have no doubts.

Why don’t some people respond to their instincts? There are a few reasons. Some of us listen to the wrong “influences” in our lives, which can sometimes be friends or even our own family. It’s like having the radio turned up really loud, so that we can’t hear our own independent thoughts. But other people’s thoughts and opinions don’t necessarily work for us. We also fill our time with too many activities. In order to better hear your inner self, take time each day to sit quietly and let your mind drift. You owe it to yourself and your destiny.

Published on Tuesday September 21, 2010 in Broadcast, Life Purpose and Self-Discovery. 0 Comments Tags: , , .

Tapping Into Your True Self

Your true self is being exactly who you want to be. Some of the choices about who you want to be might be derived from your past, and some of the choices of who you want to be might be based on your personality.

Don’t doubt it for a minute that who you are influences what you do and how you do it. Let’s use a career example to show you exactly what I mean. If I have a student who does not value education and is only in school because his or her parents told him or her that is what he or she had to do after high school, that student is going to do is the bare minimum to pass classes. This is not you’re “A” or “B” student but the student who may or may not pass the class.

The student does this is by exerting only the slightest effort. The student does not study, does assignments last minute, and does not accept tutoring services when offered. The student just described has inner conflict and is not living a fulfilled and happy life in school or in any other aspect of his or her life.

Everyone has a foundation that makes up a part of who we are created from the environment from which we were raised, our families, our friends, the society around us, our religious background, our beliefs, and our morals and values. But what many people do not understand is that our foundation can be changed. Some parts of this foundation might work well for you right now in your life. If that’s the case, keep those aspects of your foundation. But for the parts of your foundation that aren’t working in your life, get rid of them so that you can be who you want to be.

Being your true self is so important, because it allows you to expose the gifts you have to offer to the world. If you keep them inside and don’t share them with anyone else, the world will miss your contribution.

One of the biggest blocks that prevents people from being who they want to be is fear of judgment from others. Some people worry about what their parents might think about their decisions, and others fear what their peers might think about their decisions. Fear of the peers is often referred to as peer pressure. No matter what age, many people feel they have to do what everyone else is doing so they can fit in. Most people think this only happens with teens and young adults, but the truth is that for a large chunk of life we all try to fit in at work, in our social groups, and within our families.

If you fear what others might think of you and your decisions, you are not tapped into your true self. If you live your life they way you want to live it, you’ve found the freedom that has been your right since you arrived on this Earth.

Tapping into your true self takes courage, because it may go against the grain of others you know and love. But if you feel you are living life the way it is supposed to be for you, keep going. You are on the right track.

Published on Thursday September 16, 2010 in Life Purpose, Self-Discovery and Uncategorized. 0 Comments Tags: , , .

Take the Risk Your Heart Yearns For

A burning desire in your heart is not something to be ignored. It’s true that each choice we make has a consequence. Sometimes we have to weigh the consequences on each side to be able to figure out the best choice to make.

I recently took the biggest risks of my entire life. Was it easy? Not necessarily a smooth road but definitely worth the bumps and uneasiness I felt making risky choices for my life.

I lived in New Jersey my entire life. I was born there; I grew up there; I went to college there; and I lived my twenties working there. It was great. I was used to my environment. I was able to stay in touch with close friends I’d known my entire life. Although I love New Jersey and the experiences I had there, I wanted to break out of my shell and expand. I told my mother, “The entire world is my home. I have so much to offer it. I need to share my gifts with those who need it.”

So what did I do? I moved to Orlando, Florida, quit my job as a full-time professor, made my coaching business my full-time job, and signed up to work as an adjunct professor at Seminole State College of Florida. Talk about a lot of change in a month!

I talked about doing this for years, but I always came up with excuses as to why it wouldn’t be a good idea. I felt I had more stability at my college in New Jersey. I was one year away from obtaining tenure, and the college made it very clear that I was going to get it. I had an excellent health insurance plan. I had a consistent income. And even with all that I knew I was not following my heart. I did my best, but I knew that my best work would be even better if I followed my dream. Most importantly, I now feel free. I honored my heart. This is one of the best feelings in the world!

How do you feel when you wake up everyday? Are you living the dream you always wanted? You deserve to live the desires of your heart, and the world needs you to express them. Become your dream.

Published on Monday August 9, 2010 in Broadcast, Choosing a Career and Life Purpose. 0 Comments Tags: , , , , .

Missed The Dream Purposeful Phenomenon? Watch It Now!

Last night the Collegiate Career Coach and founder of Dream Purposeful Empowerment Services, Mignon Brooks, talked about the importance of self discovery and how to start the process on your own through journaling. Click on the link below to watch the show.


Published on Wednesday July 14, 2010 in Broadcast, Dream Purposeful Phenomenon, Life Purpose and Self-Discovery. 0 Comments Tags: , , , , .