Life Comes With The Responsibility…

It’s amazing how quickly time begins to pass and then you suddenly realize that you’ve become that very age you first thought your parents were old. It’s an eye-opening revelation that will cause you to reflect on your life with more depth. The thought of what you have or haven’t accomplished in both your personal life and career can cause you to feel that you’ve failed. On the other hand, you may be extremely proud of what you’ve accomplished. However, have you left a mark in this world that you can be proud of? Do you love the person you’ve become? Have you done something that spiritually connects you to what we are here for? Have you been able to positively impact the lives of others in some big or small way? Will people remember your contributions to society or continue your initiatives?

Considering where you are and what you have or haven’t done, it is never too late to do more and care about others by giving more of yourself. This opportunity we have, called life, is meant for us to live to the fullest and we are supposed to be happy. Nevertheless, life comes with the responsibility to show compassion for our brothers and sisters around the globe with understanding that compassion is without boundaries.

Keep in mind that as long as you are breathing, you are not finished and there is more for you to do. Take a moment each day just to ask yourself, ‘What can I do for others? How can I show that I care? How can I please God?’ and then begin your day from there. You’ll make a difference although you may never see it. Your destiny is greater than your goals and your goals are greater than you may realize as of yet. In time, it will all come together. Until then, make better use of your ability to impact the lives of others in some way.

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MaralaScott.com

Hanging on to What You Can’t Control Will Only Hurt You

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When it comes to those days where nothing seems to be going the way you need it, don’t worry, things will improve once you change your way of thinking. It helps when you step back and allow whatever is unavoidable to happen, especially since it was going to take place regardless. If you did whatever you could to avoid it, but it didn’t make a difference, let it go. Hanging on to what you can’t control will only hurt you. It doesn’t mean accept failure or submit to the problem at hand, it simply means release the burden at that moment so you can gather your thoughts, compose yourself, and take time to rethink the situation or create another strategy.

How do you release it?

  1. Take time to learn how to solve the problem instead of becoming a part of it.
  2. Discuss the situation with someone you trust who gives unbiased and solid advice that will help diffuse your negative mindset.
  3. Don’t discuss a negative situation with negative people.
  4. Step back and take in a breath of fresh air. Go to a movie, listen to music, meditate or do something calming that will help recalibrate your way of thinking.
  5. Look at all sides rather than just yours and give an honest evaluation.
  6. Understand that it’s not the end, especially if you are looking for a positive resolution.

Overreacting can make things worse and talking about it while you are upset is a sure way to overshare thoughts that you may regret later. There’s a lot more you have to do so learn to accept that you cannot control, fix or stop every situation. Sometimes, in that moment it’s hard to believe that it will be okay, but it will.

 

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There Is More To Your Life

Do you ever wonder why you aren’t out there accomplishing more? If you are accepting of your life but not happy with where you are, it’s time to change your thought process. There is so much more to life than you may realize. When it came to the things I loved, I did them with passion but one day, I realized I was running the same routine while looking at the rest of the world from inside of what seemed to be a safe globe. I did the things that I was familiar with, but I didn’t pursue the opportunities that made me happy. I felt stuck.

There came a point when I decided to step outside of my comfort zone so that I could learn more about myself. When I realized there were many things I loved to do and learn about, I allowed those things to be a part of my life. Ultimately, I was happier as I discovered there was more to me than I expressed. I had ambitions, passion, and an innate desire to help others.

Through self-discovery, I learned to love myself unconditionally, which allowed me to be better at loving others. I came to understand the true purpose of my life. Sometimes, people need a little help beginning, what may seem like, a difficult process but they too can do it. It’s vital to your success not to be afraid of life. Break the cycle of living a life that isn’t fulfilling, but normal to you since it’s all you know. Dare to rewrite your story and begin to live with a different outlook on life because there is more to be discovered.

Where to begin:

1. Learn to stop being uninspired or stuck
2. End self-defeating patterns
3. Conquer limitations

If you are ready to transform your life and live in the Los Angeles area, this is a great place to start:
http://rewritestory.com/evolution-fest

 

The Truth About Parenting: 10 Simple Tips

family-vacation-less-stressful_47_900x600I have a passion for life! I love who I am and above all, I love God. It is God that taught me to love myself. Then, the need for others to love me didn’t exist, but I learned why it is essential for me to love others. I was apprehensive about becoming a parent. It wasn’t something that was natural for me since my childhood had a narrative that was nothing less than horrific and scarring. Once I was, the test began and the one thing I wanted to get right in life more than anything else, was parenting. As a mother, the choice became mine to submit to what I was familiar with or do something to change the lucid visions that could hurl a fragile and scared little girl into her own dark world. I was determined not to replicate the abuse and pain. I made the decision to leave it behind, taking only the good experiences and memories, although it wasn’t easy.

I remembered my painful tears as a child and promised myself that I would provide my children with the things I prayed for. I wanted them to laugh from their soul, smile because it’s their natural expression, and inspire others because they know how. It didn’t mean they would be without challenges, but I gave them unwavering love, complete trust, and confidence as tools. Then, I taught them to have compassion, persistence, goals and why a relationship with God is an essential part of their existence. Every single day, I told them I loved them and I made a constant effort to make sure they could see it. I shared the mistakes I made throughout my life so they would trust coming to me for advice when they made theirs. My children had to learn how to be fearless because as a child, I lived in fear. They needed to know it was okay if they fell as long as they got back holding their head high. They were pulled close to understand me and talk about their day just as I shared mine with them while we cooked and ate dinner together. We prayed together, laughed together, cried together and lifted one another. They both think they are my favorite because neither of them felt I loved the other more.

The truth about parenting is that you will make mistakes, as I’m sure I’ve made my share. However, learning to correct parenting skills by listening to your children and learning from them helped shape me into the mother I am today.

  1. Love them as God loves you.
  2. Encourage them to be better than you and give them the tools to accomplish that.
  3. Keep them close rather than pushing them away when you get busy. Allow them to share in your success and understand your failures.
  4. When they ask you a question, don’t lie. Tell them the truth so they learn to do the same.
  5. Take time to ask questions before jumping to conclusions.
  6. Don’t assume they know you love them because you are their parent. Tell them, and more importantly, show them.
  7. Be the example that you want them to become. They are learning from you and they see and hear more than you think.
  8. Don’t tell them about God. Show them His work and help them build a relationship with God.
  9. Try not to react or discuss situations when you’re upset. Give it time and revisit it when you have a better mindset. Allow them to share their perspective as it may change yours.
  10. Remember, you were a child once.

With Love,
Marala

Watch Marala Scott at The Shorty Awards

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Your Powerful Gift

intuitionEach day you are faced with choices. It doesn’t matter how substantial or insignificant they are, they are still yours to make. Do you ever consider how often you’ve made a decision to do something and then changed your mind only to find that your first choice would have been correct? It happens more often than you can imagine. See, all of us have an incredible gift but few select to use it. Why? Simply because of the inability to connect to it or tune in to something you may not be aware you have. If you learn how, this gift can protect you from many unsavory choices and even save your life. It’s one powerful word with remarkable accuracy, intuition.

Intuition is something that will cause an internal debate if you don’t know how to trust it because it rises above reason. Most times, there are things that you want to do but when you get that nagging feeling that opposes it, you may change your mind if it isn’t in your favor. Learning to trust your intuition is much like having faith, as it is trusting something unseen, unheard and untested. Why, because it is a positive part of your evolution. Intuition will help you in your personal life as well as with your career. Learning to trust your intuition even when you don’t know why is the key to embracing it. In time, you will see that you knew best. Trust and appreciate this gift from God and begin using it now!

Here are three ways to tune into your intuition.

Look behind you. You’ve left a track record of bad decisions that you knew you should not have made. Your first voice is your intuition and the second is you trying to debate or reason with yourself.

Tune out the noise and into peace. Take time to release negative thoughts and emotions by meditating, practicing yoga, walking along a beach, or creating something artistic. Whatever you chose to do needs to keep you from anything that disrupts your spirit.

Embrace your faith. If you don’t believe, it becomes difficult to trust something that you don’t understand. Trusting the gift of intuition is trusting God knows best. Don’t be afraid if decisions aren’t aligned with what you want as they are in accordance with what is best for you or those affected by your intuition.

Once you begin to pay more attention to your intuition you will learn to trust it.

Click Here to Learn More About Intuition.

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Life

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Once you’re here, it’s real. Life isn’t simulated and you don’t get a practice run so you may as well resign to the fact of making this gift work, as our time isn’t guaranteed. Now I am at an age that I’ve learned to give an honest reflection of my life. I think about what I’ve been through and how many situations and their outcome have shaped me into the person I am today. I have to admit that sadness seeps in when I review the time that I squandered being angry and unwilling to forgive others for things that may have been out of their control at the time; they may have been a product of their environment. I remember time spent trying to control things I had no control over and the frustration it brought. I had moments that I wanted to give up before understanding the challenges I had were meant to make me stronger, and they did.

Each time I sought solace, I went to God and each time, God answered. There were times I listened and then there were times I didn’t because I wanted the fast, convenient path to my goals; but it never worked. As I learned to become diligent in submitting to God and the destiny that He had for me, things became clearer and I was able to see and comprehend His plan.

God wanted me to be kinder, more forgiving, and see far beyond my own plight. God wanted me to care about something other than what was within my grasp and share something that didn’t cost a thing. The same inspiration God granted me was meant for me to share with you. It lifted me up so I could see there was more beauty to life than what I was focusing on.

In your darkest hours, painful moments or times of struggle go beyond your boundaries and share compassion for others. Give freely and care abundantly as the healing will be for you. I am still growing and learning but I am trusting God to lead me through my journey. What people see in me that inspires them and lifts them at times of need is simply God working through me because I am receptive to it. Take the attention off of your problems and focus on developing yourself. It works because it will make you stronger and more resilient so you will accomplish your goals.

Being Human

 

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I often spend time catching up on my favorite shows like Being Human, Revenge, Nikita, Pretty Little Liars, The OC and Gossip Girl when I’m designing book covers for clients. Having graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology I can’t help but to wonder if the characters are really as human or down to earth as some make it seem or if they are annoyed by the constant intrusion on their life.

It was early afternoon when my mother, brother and I casually stepped into a quaint little restaurant in Studio City, California to grab lunch. It was the first time I’d been there but my brother swore that the menu would satisfy my discriminating palette. Mom quickly agreed. After ordering lunch, we sat down at a table on the left side of the restaurant, closer to the back patio. We had just finished a taping on The Talk and leisurely bumped into Dan Bucatinsky, from Scandal, who kindly indulged in a little conversation with us. Then, Sheryl Underwood made time to say hello after a fun exchange between her and my brother, Aaron. The day was beautiful. Mom and I live in Ohio so every time we visit California for business, we make it a point to have fun. This trip wasn’t any different.

The server kindly came over to our table and placed Aaron’s Chai Tea in front of him along with a large slice of chocolate cake, a slice of lemon cheesecake for Mom and a large chocolate chip cookie for me.

Mom politely said, “I’m sorry, I ordered two cookies.”

Without hesitation the server smiled and said, “No problem. I’ll be right back,” before disappearing around the corner. Mom reached into her purse and eyed the receipt to make sure, then she smiled and said, “Lyss, I don’t see two cookies.” My face lit up as my brother started laughing.

“I didn’t pay for it,” she continued. Just then, the server dropped yet another large chocolate chip cookie in front of her and disappeared again before Mom could say anything. “Well, I can’t take this. I thought I paid for it, but I didn’t,” she admitted with a look of guilt on her face.

“That’s okay, I’ll take care of it. I’ll just go pay for it and explain what happened.”

“But what’s the big deal? It’s a cookie,” my brother teased, “It was a mistake.”

“Yes, one that I can fix because you know how Karma is.” I started to walk away and Mom insisted I take her credit card. “I’ve got it Mom,” I said smiling, watching my brother indulge in his chocolate cake.

I went back to the cashier to get in line and there were two guys in the front and a small group of people behind them. I have a habit of taking in my surroundings wherever I go and for some reason, one of the guys caught my attention. It was his skin tone. I know, it sounds a bit odd, but the guy played a vampire on Being Human. I caught a side view of the gorgeous Sam Witwer and instantly knew it was him before seeing his full face.

His friend caught my stunned reaction and said, “Oh, you’re looking at him? He’s my best friend. Go ahead,” he said motioning for me to approach Sam.

He tapped Sam on the shoulder and when he turned around, my heart raced as I managed to say the same thing he’s probably heard countless times, “I’m a big fan of Being Human.”

Without hesitation, Sam closed the menu, stepped out of line, and told the people behind him to go ahead. “Oh, thank you. I’m Sam,” he said, extending his hand.

“I’m Alyssa,” I said shaking his hand.” Then he lightly clasped his hands together and gave me his full attention, looking directly in my eyes (as his character on Being Human did when he hypnotized people) and so did his stunning friend. At that moment, I didn’t feel like a fan, I felt like a friend, too.
Sam said, “Thank you. How’s your day going?”

I told him about us being on The Talk and with sincere interest, Sam asked, who was on the show. It felt like nearly ten minutes before I asked to take a picture and he replied, “Sure. Of course.”

His friend said, “Here, I’ll take it for you.” And then his friend smiled and added, “I’ll take two for good measure.”

I glanced at the picture and Sam asked if he could see it too. “That one’s a little blurry, do you want to take it again?” Sam asked.

I swiped to the next picture and said, “Oh, this one’s perfect!” I thanked Sam and his friend, and told them both it was nice meeting them.

He returned to the counter to order and I stood behind him before another cashier said, “I can help you down here.” When I explained to the cashier what happened, she said, “Thank you for your honesty but I would have just eaten it.” We both laughed.

But this was one of those little things that Mom taught me a long time ago about Karma. I started to walk away and then I spun around and touched Sam on his arm. “Thank you for taking the time.”

“You’re welcome,” he said with an incredibly authentic smile and caring tone. My mouth fell agape as I floated back to the table.

By the time I sat down, Mom said, “What’s wrong with my baby girl?” noticing my eyes were filled with tears. Okay, well the tears were falling. I recanted what had just transpired and told her that Sam was exactly the way I thought he would be as his character seemed to be a true representation of him. I told her that it’s nice to meet people that are larger than life in their profession and they sometimes draw us into buying or believing their character is who they really are, and at times, we simply want to believe they are like that. Okay, obviously Sam isn’t a vampire but his character is kind at heart and tried to blend in and be more human. It was a reprieve to see that Sam was human and treated me more like a friend than a fan. And his friend, oh my goodness! I knew him and I knew him well as I was a fan of his too. Being on such an incredibly high cloud from meeting Sam, I couldn’t gather my thoughts together to ask him for a picture and tell him how much I love his character. He was more interested in me meeting Sam after seeing my reaction towards him then feeling disregarded. He was extremely kind and had a warm air of sophistication about him. He was none other than the guy you can’t help but love, Jack from Revenge, Nick Wechsler! He too was being human. When they walked past our table, Nick nodded and smiled. Sam gently touched my shoulder as if to comfort me from my unbelievable encounter.

There’s nothing wrong with being human and revealing your compassionate side towards others regardless of what’s going on in your life. Showing people you care is a beautiful way of inspiring others.

Award-winning Novelist
Alyssa Curry

Intuition Is …

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There are times that you may feel alone in your decision-making but you aren’t. When you need to make a decision and you aren’t sure what to do, find a place that allows you to transition into a peaceful state of mind. Whether that’s walking along the beach, practicing meditation, yoga or cooking, do what you love to calm your spirit before making a decision that has the ability to influence your future.

All of us have something that protects us from our own decisions or rationalization. However, many of the choices we make are emotional choices because we want what we want. When we are overcome with that feeling that is telling you to do something or not to do something, that’s your intuition. You may not understand it because intuition rises above reason and in the words of Steve Jobs, “Intuition is a very powerful thing, more powerful than intellect.” Although you may not understand why you should trust it, it is there to protect, guide and teach you. When you look behind you, evidence of your choices opposing your intuition is there for you to learn from.

Find peace, submit to God’s gift of intuition and trust it. You will be able and more willing to do so as you continue to remove negativity and unnecessary noise from your life so you can tune into your intuition.

Order your copy: Amazon

MaralaScott.com

Intuition

Allow This To Inspire You … The Little Signs Are Really The Big Ones

I was walking along the beach where I found my first sand dollar years ago. I am a collector of them and was searching for another one. After a few days of searching, I realized the ocean was not willing to share it. My mind was clear and I was as carefree as one can get. It’s my way of taking in peaceful moments so that when I take in the negativity or stress from life or others, my peace will not diminish.

Typically, sand dollars are found near the shore burrowed in the sand. For some reason, I didn’t want to leave this beach without one. An hour later, the sun was beginning to set and I paused for a brief moment and said, “Father God, I’d really like a sand dollar. Just one. A big one, but just one.” Yes, it seems like a very insignificant request, but meaningful to me. If you don’t know the spiritual significance behind a sand dollar you will want to know it. It was my daughter that shared it with me.

As I continued to comb the beach searching for sand dollars, I didn’t realize that a wide stream of water separated me from the ocean. To get closer to the ocean I walked across two feet of water. When I reached the other side, I looked down and saw this very beautiful and large sand dollar on the edge of the water, partially buried. The smile on my face was so broad you would have thought I won the biggest lottery. I reached my hand into the water and carefully scooped it up. “Thank you God,” I said jumping around the beach with my smile. “Thank you!”

Okay, it sounds strange, but it is truly my faith. You see God sends me little affirmations all the time to let me know He hears me. So when the big things happen or the beautiful things evolve, I know it’s because of Him too. God knows my true spirit, heart and mind. He knows that I ask because I know He can and will. With all of the troubles and burdens of this world, He has always made time for my prayers and conversations. He has healed me from feeling the pain of my childhood and given me tremendous strength to endure. Regardless of what you may think, it is your faith that will bring you to this if you truly believe. I don’t believe in coincidence but I do believe in God. Sometimes the little signs are really big signs to let you know that God is listening, so believe.

Switchfoot’s Wave of Inspiration

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I was sitting at my desk overlooking a beautiful view of the woods, but I couldn’t seem to pull my thoughts together and write. Everything was peaceful, yet I couldn’t remember where I should begin or what to write about. Noticing that my fingers weren’t striking the keyboard of my computer, my daughter, Alyssa walked up behind me and said, “Let’s listen to some music.” Before I knew it, she selected one of my files and suddenly the melodious sounds began streaming into me. “Do I like this music?” I asked. “No,” she replied, “You love it.”

I was recovering from a craniotomy where I had multiple aneurysms clipped only two months prior. My speech was slow and my short-term memory, poor. I had trouble reading and writing, but I allowed the inspiration of Switchfoot to move me, and it did the same for Alyssa. The romantic, psychological thriller, Intuition was inspired by true events and one chapter after another was written to a seamless collection of their music.

Intuition was released a week prior to Switchfoot playing in our hometown. It was unquestionable that we’d go to the concert. Excitement filled me at the mere thought that they might play, “Where I Belong” because the conclusion of the story was specifically written to it. They did, and Jon Foreman exhibited the most incredible display of passion possible. He dove inside the music for the duration of the concert, belting out soul-shaking lyrics. He didn’t know it, but during one of the songs, he walked along the banister to where Alyssa and I were standing and held my hand while emitting a solid hardcore performance while the base rocked my soul! The luminosity in my daughter’s face was most likely reflected from their inspiration that night. They were a collective effort of perfection at its finest.

After the concert, we met Switchfoot backstage and shared our story of how and why Intuition came to be. Every one of the guys gave us their full attention and I will never forget the look in their eyes. I was humbled by their keen passion for life, flawless music, making a difference and inspiring people like me … without ever knowing it! I’m certain the countless fans of Switchfoot have undoubtedly been inspired as they have my daughter and I, so you get it. But if you haven’t listened to them yet, pick up any of their albums and ride the wave of inspiration. Listen to their soul tell stories about their lives, feel the creative elements they distribute freely, absorb the lyrics, feel the salt water and stars. Allow them to breathe inspiration into you. It works miracles.

 

Thank you Andrew, Ike, Jon, Tim, Drew, Jerome, and Chad!

With Love,
Marala Scott & Alyssa Curry

Visit Switchfoot’s Official Site

Each Year Brings Wisdom and Strength From Your Past Experiences

Another year is upon us and I believe it to be a blessing to me for the simple fact that I am alive. The opportunity to experience this gift of life continues. When I look back on my journey it amazes me to see the things that I’ve done, shared, and triumphed over. I refuse to give credence to difficulties, as they are now a part of history not my present or future. Instead of burdening my mind with negative situations of the past I focus on my faith, strength and ability to combat and overcome everything that has challenged me. Yes, I say overcome because I have.

My life story is one that many deem unimaginable yet I have moved through and far past it. The horrors I was plagued with did not define me as a person yet, they strengthened me as a woman. Years later, as things began to show promise I found out that while I was raising my two beautiful children, I had multiple brain aneurysms that threatened my very existence. I had to make a choice to trust God and have the surgery or live in fear dragging my children through the emotional journey. I trusted God and had the surgery without an ounce of fear and only telling a handful of people. The reason being is I love who I am and how I’ve lived. Sure, I’ve made mistakes but I’ve asked God for forgiveness and given it as well. I live in Gods light, not my own, and if by chance it was my time, I had nothing to fear. I would have left a trail of love, inspiration, and memories that would not die.

This year I am going to continue to live in faith. I am going to remain fearless as God is always with me. I am going to continue to love and not worry about being loved as it comes naturally when you love from the depths of your heart. I am going to leave an imprint that will change lives. I am going to tell you I love you and mean it, as I want you to know that you are loved and not alone. I am going to advise you to embrace life and its lessons and go get it instead of waiting for life to conquer you. Live this year and begin in faith and clean your slate by asking God for forgiveness and forgiving those that hurt you. Dare to be your best and give your best to all!

Happy New Year!

Marala Scott

Understanding the Inevitable Act of Letting Go

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I was doing some Christmas shopping with my beautiful daughter this evening when a young woman behind me in line took a moment to tell me how much she loved the unique design of my cream designer handbag. Her brown eyes lit up as she admired the details. I smiled and said, “Thank you,” as I lifted the strap over my shoulder and began to empty the contents of my new bag. “Since you like it …  you can have it,” I told her. She took a deep breath and stared at me in disbelief before exhaling heavily. Nevertheless, I continued to pass along the contents of my purse to my daughter, and then handed the woman the bag.

“No, you can’t do that, can you? You’re really doing this aren’t you? Where are you going to put your things?” she continued.

“In my pockets,” I replied.

“Why would you do this?” she asked.

“Because you like it. Merry Christmas,” I said with a light wave as I walked away without looking back.

It’s quite easy to find things you love and become attached to them, but sometimes the attachment isn’t always good. When we leave this earth there is nothing in it that we will take with us. Part of the beauty in life is sharing what you do have while you’re here by learning to let go of the things we love most. It doesn’t mean you go around giving away everything, but try it. Take something you love and see if you are able to walk away from it without a second thought or a single regret. When you can you’ve learned something valuable.

Everything in this life is really on loan from God. When we leave, it will stay here. People we love are the biggest test of this while being able to part from material things are a test of our spirit and prepare us for being able to understand the inevitable of letting go. Material things don’t define us and people don’t belong to us. Learn to let go while you can as it makes it less difficult when you don’t think you can. We are forced to let go of things in many unforeseen ways, such as natural disasters. But I’ve seen many do it with grace and begin to rebuild from scratch when it is one of the most difficult things they’ve had to do. Random acts of kindness remind us to let go freely. Don’t wait until you are forced to do so in order to learn this.

Overcoming Opposition

There’s always that point when your life begins to show promise and progress. Happiness begins to fall upon you, love opens a door allowing light to enter, and success in your career or relationships with friends strengthen. Without warning, something comes along to jeopardize what you’ve diligently worked to build.  At times when you already have enough to deal with, it seems situations that cause stress have the tendency to surround you even more. As relentless negativity keeps piling on your weary and fraught shoulders it has the ability to make you feel broken, if not break you. It happens and it will continue to happen if you decide to keep playing that game.

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When you’re making a diligent and consistent effort to change your life with positive strokes of progression know the opposition will be waiting for you the same way it’s there in any game. Opposition is meant to keep you from winning, so it does its best. Keep in mind, when the opposition fights you harder and gets stronger it’s because you’ve become a real opponent. If you don’t want to miss what God is trying to show and do for you, then stop listening to and giving your opponent your attention. Stay grounded with faith. Don’t waste time playing a game that you may lose, when you can win if you stay on the path you were destined to travel.