Tuesday 26 July 2011

The Word of the Week - The Woman

If I had one wish, it would be that the world respects the sacrifices of a good woman!  My heart breaks sometimes at the thought of the struggles women have to go through.  These are the selfless mothers, who take care of their children, providing the best that they can without the support of their men; for the Grandmothers, who worry about their children incessantly but provide unending support to them determinedly; for the sisters who provide the much needed shoulder to cry upon, for without the love of my sisterhood, I would not be the sister that I am today.

The woman is the strength, the unseen foundation from which the family structure is built upon.  She is the unappreciated vessel through which life is brought forth; she is burden the bearer of pain each month when her womb moves in accordance with the cycles of the moon.  She is the reflection of Mother Nature but look how this world is trying to destroy her.

The woman is in the vanguard of life and needs to be appreciated as the unsung SHEroe of our time!

In the words of the author Maya Angelou from her much loved poem “Phenomenal Woman,” I leave you with this excerpt that sums up all that I am and all of that YOU are as the females of the nation:

Now you understand
Just why my head's not bowed.
I don't shout or jump about
Or have to talk real  loud.
When you see me passing
It ought to make you proud.
I say,
It's in the click of my heels,
The bend of my hair,
the palm of my hand,
The need of my care,
'Cause I'm a woman
Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That's me. 

Peace and much appreciation to all of MY SHEroe’s!
     

Friday 15 July 2011

The Word of the Week - Praise for YOU!!!

Everyone needs a pick me up now and then.  To be told that they are loved, are special and most of all appreciated.  Sometimes when this is lacking from those close to you, it is somewhat difficult to try and say these things to yourself with credibility, as you generally disbelieve the positive things you say about yourself, preferring to hold onto the negative.  So today, in light of this, I feel I will be that person to tell you how wonderful you are!

When you look in the mirror, do you see what I see?  I see a soul that is a reflection of me; I see love, warmth, compassion, selflessness, beauty and vigour.  You are a divine being who possesses a deep sense of knowing, one who is creative and inspired by all that they see.  You are stronger than you could have ever imagined, for you have overcome many obstacles in your life which at the time you felt it was too much to bear, but somehow you just did.  You are a survivor; a beautiful creative force to be reckoned with.

Be all that you can imagine and live the life that you were destined, feed and nurture your soul with love of self.  For what you give unto yourself you actually give to others.

You are special and you are loved, so when you look into the mirror today feel the appreciation that I have for you; as you are the most magnificent creation, that is definitely worthy of praise.

Have a wonderful weekend

©2011 Carol Muhammad

Friday 8 July 2011

The Word of the Week - Unconditional Love

What do you see when you stare back at your reflection?  Do you see a beautiful human being, created in the perfection of an unconditional love that you too also possess? Do you believe in your heart of hearts that the love that you have for yourself should be a reflection of the mate you have chosen to walk with in this life?
Love and relationships give us the most challenging experiences that allow us to grow into the persons that we are today.  Sometimes you will find that people are brought into your life so that you can learn a lesson, so that your soul grows exponentially in recognising what love means to you.  Relationships are discerned as a reason, season or a lifetime and it is the self-analysis, as well as the internal dialogue that we have with ourselves, that determines which of those relationships fall into those categories.

When you have a deep sense of love for yourself you take time to nourish your inner being, for example, learning to speak highly about yourself and not succumbing to the negatives that we so readily express, which depletes rather than feeds the soul. You learn to recognise that you are deserving and worthy of receiving a love that meets all your expectations, but you simply cannot be satisfied with a love that is not a reflection of yourself.  The more you love yourself unconditionally, the greater the attraction of a love to you that meets your criteria.  Sometimes relationships are given to us so that we learn this very experience, though if we choose to ignore the lesson, you will be forced to repeat your actions and live with your own dissatisfaction until you do!

To love unconditionally means to accept both the “good” and the “bad” that you see in yourself, (I have inverted these words as I do try to minimise the use of our attachment to labels), it means to forgive and not hold onto anger.  However I have to be clear that unconditional love does not mean to accept a dysfunctional or abusive relationship, nor a relationship that does not allow you to shine as the star that you are destined to become.

To love, is one of the greatest gifts at our disposal that will change the world, but this love must start, and I phrase the late Michael Jackson, “with the man in the mirror!”

Have a loving weekend.

©2011 Carol Muhammad

Wednesday 6 July 2011

The Word of The Week - Feel the Fear and Do it Anyway

I have to admit I never read this book by Susan Jeffers but I just love the title “Feel the Fear and Do it Anyway!”.  The language is emotive, expressive and action orientated. For me, it is a courageous suggestion that anything you desire is possible even if it results in perceived failure! This led me to research a few quotes about failure and to ask myself pertinent questions about my own attitude towards it. 

Let’s face it, we have all encountered outcomes that were less than desirable in our lives and we can either wallow in self-pity, or turn a negative into a positive and move on regardless.
We can analyse our life and say we may have failed at relationships, failed in raising our children, failed regarding promises we make to ourselves, the list could be endless; as it is far easier to catalogue how far we fall than to recognise the amount of wisdom we gain because of a fall!
What is a few minutes of embarrassment at an attempt to do something rather than a lifetime of bemoaning “if only”?  It takes courage to face your fears and equally takes courage to enact your dreams.

“You will face many defeats in your life, but never let yourself be defeated”
Maya Angelou

“Fear of failure must never be a reason not to try something”
Frederick Smith

“No man is a failure who is enjoying life!”
William Feather

The last one by far is my favourite.  So just for today, turn your perceived failures into a success by taking a leap of faith and absolutely “FEELING THE FEAR AND DOING IT ANYWAY!”

Peace and blessings
©2011 Carol Muhammad