I lay awake wondering if everything was some weird dream I couldn’t wake up from. Perhaps I was dreaming of lying awake… Surely that made far more sense than what I perceived to be actual reality…

Because reality right now feels more like an actual bizarre nightmare…
Surely we’re not all quietly surrendering everything we have worked our entire lives for because of something most of us are still struggling to understand. We can’t seriously be considering accepting this ‘hostage’ situation to continue without a fight!

With absolutely no one being immune to the aftermath of lockdown I sit baffled as to how so many of us have surrounded to counting the days until it comes to an end (and I’m not referring to the virus).

Of course we’re scared. Naturally we’re concerned & treading with caution. But there’s a huge difference between treading with caution & following blindly to your own death.

I’ve seen a few warriors trying to guide & lead us to find our voices & expand our awareness & I look at them with humble gratitude because we need this motivation & persistence to shake us awake! They are encouraging us to take a stand even if we’re not sure of all the facts.

You see, all this time I’ve been trying to figure out who is right. Is it real or not? Is this a Covid-19 pandemic or simply a Fear induced pandemic? Should we be in isolation or not? Are we safe or aren’t we? Do we send our children to school or not? And then somehow, amidst all of this and trying to figure out if I was suffering from insomnia or insanity it hit me…! Facts… What are my facts?

I simply can’t be in hiding forever!

I hadn’t thought of it before until this very moment, but this all started off as self isolation to protect ourselves & our family from an external threat – #1 Threat started off as the Virus…

Then, social distancing – #1 Threat became other people…

Then, no social gatherings – #1 Threat became our Family & Friends

All leading up to economic suicide – #1 Threat became any dreams of ever becoming financially successful

Naturally affecting crime activity – #1 Threat became Safety

We’ve moved from fearing a virus to fearing absolutely everyone & everything including our very own instinct to survive.

Before Covid-19 came knocking, I had embarked on a journey that would bring to life I dream that I honestly never imagined would materialize in this lifetime. Once we went over 3 months of Lockdown I began to question this dream, question its feasibility & survival rate. But right now I’m telling you that THIS IS NOT THE TIME to allow fear created thoughts into your space. These thoughts only bring upon negative energies that do absolutely nothing to help us or promote what we’re dreaming of manifesting.

DREAM! LIVE! DARE to push through all this dread found in the trail left by this virus and PROVE your fear driven thoughts wrong!

We cannot continue to silently wait, paralyzed as everything & everyone we love is destroyed!

This does not have to be the end of anything, but it does need to be a new beginning and one based on the desire to overcome, achieve & embrace infinite abundance!

We can’t stay in hiding forever. It’s time we roll up our sleeves and fight for what’s ours, for what’s right & for what will secure the best future for us all, especially our children!

The post We Can’t Be in Hiding Forever appeared first on Thrive.

The last time I looked down that barrel was 7 years ago when I literally thought I was as good as dead. Traumatic divorce, crazy custody battle and not a cent to your name makes one look down the dark barrel of FEAR. But thankfully I had my faith that has always walked beside me and often carried me through some of the toughest times of my life. My FAITH, and yes, capital letters too, because this FAITH that opened the door as I dropped to my knees lead me to a completely new way of life, the life that I’m living today.

FEAR is definitely something we need to be aware of and catch before it begins to take over everything we have worked for. If we become complaisant and allow FEAR to override our thoughts, feelings & dreams then we truly are as good as dead. If we are more consumed with isolating ourselves instead of changing the way we live to take our power back then we ARE living in a FEAR PANDEMIC. What’s destroying livelihoods and killing people all over the world it not the virus itself but rather the FEAR of what that virus has been MADE to represent.

The idea of losing our income, living a life of isolation, losing our freedom and ability to dream big or dream at all, is holding us ALL hostage. FEAR is holding us hostage and what’s worse is we’re letting it.

I’m not saying that what we’re feeling isn’t real. It most certainly is, to every each one of us. What I’m saying is we need to come out of hiding. We need to step out of this box we have wrapped ourselves in from the very minute they told us that it was not safe to step outside our homes and we need to start building new lives for ourselves.

If our jobs no longer work for this new life we are living then what jobs do?

What careers do we need to be stepping into? What do we need to do to align ourselves to the new futures that lie before us?

If this virus attacks vulnerable and compromised immune systems and we fall under that category, then what do we need to do to no longer fall under that category? What lifestyle changes do we need to implement? What should we be investing in?

How can we best spend our money so we add value to our mental, emotional and physical wellbeing?

THESE are the questions we need to be asking ourselves!!! THIS is how we take our POWER back!

We all started by waiting for this to pass, then we all moved onto waiting for a cure and now what? Are we really all going to sit around and wait for a vaccine without even considering changing anything else? Really? So what will happen when we are faced with another virus, another unknown strain, are we all prepared to go through all of this, all over again? I most certainly am not.

7 years ago I took my power back and began a journey that helped me heal emotionally and mentally and now…well now FEAR has forced me to finally look at my physical wellness. I can no longer sit back and pray without actively participating in making a positive difference in my own life.

My FAITH has always guided & supported me but I have had to get up & BE the change I was needing! I will NOT allow FEAR to dictate how my life is going to be affected. I WILL DECIDE THAT!

This is MY life and therefore it is MY CHOICE!!

FEAR will NO LONGER CONTROL MY CHOICES!

Stand STRONG! Stand TALL! YOU’VE GOT THIS!

The post Fear: The Real Pandemic appeared first on Thrive.

Looking back at my life, if anyone had to tell me 20 years ago that I would survive betrayal, deceit, infidelity, two failed marriages, two miscarriages, verbal abuse, emotional abuse, financial ruin, weight gain and four career changes before the age of 40… I would laugh so loudly that everyone in the room would immediately know I’m Mediterranean (It’s just how I laugh… lol) and I would naturally eventually say… “I would never be able to survive that!” – but you know what, I DID and I’m so incredibly happy I was given that path to shape my journey the way that it did.

Truth is, nothing in our lives happens by chance – every detail has a purpose – like the threads in a beautifully woven quilt, whether it reveals itself immediately or 20 years later, the fact remains that it will eventually all create an incredible pattern filled with depth and colour that will absolutely leave us breathless just by looking at it! It’s difficult to accept that everything happens for a reason or that everything is intended to happen in our lives exactly as it should, especially when it carries so much pain, but I truly believe this is the case.

About five years ago, as I began my journey into my second divorce, someone explained to me how they believed that each soul is shown the life they will live before they are given a body to live out that exact life, meaning that each and every one of us has actually watched the “movie of our lives” in detail (so, not the short, romantic “trailer” version) and actually CHOSE to live it anyway. I can’t explain the rage I felt! Really?! “So you mean to say I chose to live through all this pain?!” I exclaimed in complete disgust, for the mere thought that this could in any way be possible. Yet, here I sit today, utterly nestled in the understanding of this profound theory, and feeling truly blessed to be at a point in my life that I simply get it and more shockingly – I feel immense gratitude.

You know how it is believed that in order to know true happiness, one requires to feel deep sadness? Well, it is only in the absence of anything that we are able to appreciate its presence, and only in the true presence of anything are we able to appreciate its absence – so is life. I would have never understood a journey destined to find inner peace and healing had I not experience a journey filled with chaos and pain. How can I feel anything but gratitude for every person that has caused me pain in my life, for they have taught me to appreciate every single person that has come into my life thereafter, to show me love, light, friendship, and trust.

Today I am able to enjoy my own company, where before, I could be in a room full of people and still feel inconsolably lonely. I cannot begin to explain the freedom one experiences when you are able to make YOURSELF HAPPY. I know that may sound strange, but don’t most of us turn to things and people, especially partners, to MAKE US HAPPY? I know I did! For a VERY LONG TIME, I placed that responsibility on others. But today, TODAY I find happiness within me. Finding happiness within is the only way to truly experience happiness with anything or anyone else. Today I make it MY responsibility to ensure that I am following the whispers of MY soul so I can walk MY journey towards fulfilment.

This is why Thrive – It’s A Lifestyle is so incredibly important to me. It’s more than just a wellness hub, it’s a home. A home to everyone looking to find themselves and each other. A home to children looking for guidance, inspiration and healing. A home for women searching for their voice, their worth, and their why. It’s for men wanting to lead with compassion, nurturing, and understanding. For families looking for connection, excitement, and community. It’s for everyone wanting to grow, transform, and flourish. This wellness hub is a welcoming, loving and nurturing home, where we can learn to live our best lives, together.

For many years, I wasted time focused on my destination, and if the last few years have taught me anything, it’s that the journey itself IS the destination. I want to share my journey with everyone that walks through these front doors. I want my experiences to serve as inspiration and guidance to all those needing it. I want to invite wellness professionals with the same experiences and passion to help others to join me in helping make this world, OUR WORLD, a better place: one person, family, and community at a time.

It’s time we take the time and PAY ATTENTION to the little things; stop and literally smell the roses, take note of what is said to us and how we make people feel, and how they make us feel. Let’s really notice and remember – especially the good stuff – because our life is happening NOW, and if we’re not paying attention, it may pass us by without us even taking any notice.

So, as we continue to step into 2020, let’s dig up our goals and dreams, and let’s remember how WORTHY we are, how incredibly STRONG we are, and how we CAN actually survive ANYTHING thrown at us and truly THRIVE!

Remember, WE CHOSE THIS LIFE FOR A REASON, so let’s TRUST our judgment and REALLY make it count!

The post I would never be able to survive that appeared first on Thrive.