Author: Angela Lightfoot

How to Love Yourself Unconditionally During Difficult Times While it is difficult to find the strength to love yourself unconditionally during difficult times, it is crucial to remember that you deserve self-love and acceptance no matter what life throws at you. In this blog post, we will focus on the benefits of loving yourself unconditionally and how to deal with your emotions when things get challenging. Recently Rita and I experienced the heartache of losing a close friend. Anyone who has suffered loss can relate to all the feelings and emotions associated with it, and I am no exception. Crying was inevitable, and I had many conversations with God. Despite this difficult situation, I remained committed to my own self-love, knowing that our departed loved one showed me nothing but love before departing. Why would I do her memory any wrong by not loving myself just as much? Nurturing a genuine love for yourself can be one of the most challenging tasks. It’s natural to find it easy to love yourself during times of joy, but what about in difficult or challenging times? Staying positive and showing yourself compassion when facing adversity is no easy task. However, it’s during these moments that loving yourself unconditionally is all the more vital and important. Unconditional self-love entails embracing your true self no matter the circumstance. It means acknowledging your worth even on days when you feel like you’re just not enough. Remember that cultivating unconditional self-love is an ongoing journey, requiring both time and effort. What other things in life do you dedicate all your time and energy to that does not better you or your current situation? Nevertheless, if you can learn to accept yourself completely, there will be nothing life throws at you that you cannot handle. Loving yourself unconditionally has many benefits. No matter what you are going through, you deserve love and respect. Here are some benefits of loving yourself unconditionally: It is easier to forgive yourself when things go wrong if you accept that you are imperfect and make mistakes. This will lead to less anxiety and stress. I was raised to believe there is only one standard of perfection and that is God. So, take the pressure off of you. If you love yourself unconditionally, you open yourself up to receiving love from others, which can strengthen your relationships. People naturally want to give and receive love, but make sure the love you are giving others is healthy and true. We have no room for toxic relationships. It is also possible to increase your self-esteem and confidence by learning to love yourself. When you know that you are worthy of love no matter what, it makes it easier for you to believe in yourself and mean it. Finally, loving yourself unconditionally can help improve your overall well-being. When you have a positive view of yourself, it can lead to better physical health and mental well-being. When I am feeling down, I often go for a long walk in my neighborhood or at one of my favorite parks. It allows me to get some fresh air, move my body, get quiet, gain a few extra steps, and most importantly, it helps me clear my head. Negative emotions and how to deal with them. It’s normal to feel negative emotions from time to time, but you don’t have to let them control you. Here are some tips for dealing with negative emotions in a healthy way: It’s okay to feel angry, sad, or afraid. Denying your emotions will only make them worse. Embrace the feeling, let them out, and figure out a healthy way to process them. Consider journaling. By now you should know how Rita and I feel about Journaling. It is a daily practice for us! I know for some, journaling can seem like an added task that takes time. but it is a healthy way to process your emotions and feelings. Journaling allows people who process things outwardly to see the struggle on paper so they can better discern what needs to be done and how to deal with how they feel. If you are concerned that someone will find your journal, you can burn or trash your thoughts once completed. Another way to positively express yourself is by talking it out with a friend instead of lashing out at others. Avoid trying to numb or hide your emotions. If you try to avoid feeling negative emotions by turning to alcohol, drugs, food, or sex, you will only cause yourself more problems in the future. Keep a list of activities you can do when you are experiencing challenges or turmoil. In the event you struggle to cope with negative emotions regularly, it may be time to seek professional assistance from a trained coach. I know 2 really great ones that are available. All in all, practicing self-love unconditionally during difficult periods is essential. Such an approach fosters resilience and grants us a more hopeful outlook that can facilitate problem resolution. Accepting our true selves encourages powerful personal investigation and development that translates into winning choices. As we navigate life’s challenging moments, we should keep in mind the progress made and be proud of ourselves. Save the Date Createing Light In The Darkness During this power-packed session, you will participate in interactive “Real Self” exercises, receive guided handouts, and gain clarity on the woman you want to be! REGISTER TODAY! Learn More!

Who does resolutions anymore? Not I! As much as I enjoy the concept of New Year resolutions, they usually have a 14 day expiration for me, just like they do for most of you. But setting attainable and achievable goals have always felt more tangible and realistic to me because I understand that my goals allow me to be a better me. My drive to accomplish my goals is more intentional. While I want to keep this post brief and sweet, I hope My 2023 Goals inspire you to create your own customized and personalized goals for 2023. GOAL 1- Tune into My EmotionsI am an empathic person and have always been sensitive to the feelings of others. I embrace this quality as there is nothing wrong with feeling deeply. As a coach who works with individuals who are managing and often struggling with their mental wellness, it is an ongoing journey to ensure that I keep my emotions under control. Growing up, I always hated that it was easy for me to feel hurt by and for others. But as I grew older, I found that by understanding the reasons behind these feelings and finding healthy ways to release the stress, anxiety, and emotions I was able to free myself. So far, bowling, volleyball, and painting have been added to my list of healthy activities to help me release and allow me to tune into my emotions. If you need help getting in tune, consider hiring a coach- Call me! Goal 2- Explore and Embrace my Creative Side I’m constantly looking for new and different ways to unleash my creativity. I’ve been all over the map, doing things like painting and refinishing furniture. I also work on my she-shed (I just finished the drywall, hardwood floors, and beautiful palm leaf ceiling fan). This year I want to explore more unusual ways to use my creativity. Have you had a chance to listen to my guided meditation on YouTube? Check it out here – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b-QZWDYuXxY&t=43s. I have also noticed that helping myself is just as important as helping others! With all these experiences, I plan to take new approaches with creativity that will enable me to connect with God (or Spirit) in new ways. I really enjoy using my creativity to explore new possibilities for creative self-expression, so I’m looking forward to what new possibilities await next! Goal 3- Create Good Habits While Removing the Bad HabitsThe bad and the good are always a pairing, in my opinion, since I need to remove the bad and replace it with the good. I want to get rid of some habits that aren’t so great and create new ones that will help me grow as a person. This includes regular workouts (no more sitting on the floor watching tv), cleaning out my closet by donating/selling things I don’t wear anymore, connecting more to God by reading my bible more regularly, and committing myself to daily devotions. Goal 4- Become a Budget-nistaDid you know that 75% of Americans are living paycheck to paycheck? That’s an alarming statistic. Like many people my age, I have student debt and it sometimes consumes my thoughts. This year, I want to budget in a way that allows me to do more fun things while still taking care of my student loan debt and other financial obligations. In our November webinar, The Naughty List 2.0 Combating Holiday Stress, Celia Powell, CPA recommended the following: “Write your vision and make it plan.” She reminded us to manage our finances responsibly and ensure that they align with other goals we have for our futures.” Goal 5- Create a Space Where I can Love Myself More We all claim to love ourselves or parts of ourselves. But what does it really mean to love ourselves in our fullness; the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly? To truly and unapologetically love ourselves, I believe we need to create space for our true and authentic selves to strive, let loose and simply be. By offering support to our body, mind, and spirit, we can develop this space within ourselves to really love the people we are. Join me on January 28th at 3 pm at the Women’s Business Center RVA in Willow Lawn for a workshop, Creating Space to Love Yourself! Register here: https://ritaricks.com/product/creating-space-to-love-yourself/ I pray your 2023 is prosperous and filled with health, wealth (I mean, who doesn’t want more money?) and overall positive vibes. It is a pleasure to have your support and know that Rita and I are always here to help you achieve your goals and dreams while aligning you with your purpose. Save the Date Creating Space to Love Yourself Join me for a powerful and transformational workshop as we “Create Space” to learn to love ourselves! REGISTER TODAY! Learn More!

Put yourself under the tree! Eat, drink and be merry… that’s what the holiday season is all about, right? But let’s be honest, coming together and spending time with loved ones over the holidays is sometimes best paired with more than just a cocktail. As we move thru the holiday season and approach the new year, I want you to take a few moments to focus on yourself and how you are operating and moving. What have you been focusing on the most during this time? Has it been YOU at all? Recognize that self-love and self-care are often seen less during this time of year. Instead, people find themselves focused on everything and everyone else but themselves. So, let’s put ourselves under the tree this year as a present for ourselves and a reminder of our importance. To ensure you are focusing on yourself now and through the holiday season, I have some helpful tips to share: 1. Check your emotions: Take a moment and check in with yourself. Seasonal Depression (Seasonal Affective Disorder) is a real thing: It is a depression triggered by the change in seasons. Maintaining your emotions, getting adequate rest and exercise, and talking with your counselor, therapist, or coach to help alleviate some emotional turmoil help. 2. Ask for help: Stop trying to be a superwoman or superman when assistants for just about everything that exists in this modern world. Love yourself enough to recognize that you cannot do it alone. Well, maybe you can, but asking for help allows you more time to focus on yourself and your needs. 3. Let your expectations be kind:I mentioned in the “Crisis of Self Love” Blog about talking to yourself with kindness. But it is also filling yourself with positive expectations. Be easy on yourself when things do not work as planned. Roll with the punches and see what the silver lining is. 4. Create Space to learn how to love yourself:Loving ourselves in our fullness can sometimes be challenging. Join me on January 28th for the “Creating Space to Love Yourself Workshop. In this workshop, you will learn to “Embrace the good, forgive and correct the bad and clean up the ugly.”   Save the Date Creating Space to Love Yourself Join me for a powerful and transformational workshop as we “Create Space” to learn to love ourselves! REGISTER TODAY! Learn More!

“Worry Bout Yourself” There can be so much going on during the holiday season that can easily distract us. We’ve got shopping. We’ve got food buying. Don’t forget the food preparation and eating. There is personal time with family and friends. We have parties and festivities.  We attend faith-based and remembrance services and share moments where we honor our ancestors. And during this special time, how often are you taking a moment to focus on yourself? Taking time to Worry Bout Yourself or focus on yourself can easily take a backseat when so much needs to be done, especially during the holiday season. But too much focus on other people, places, and things can pull you out of balance and keep you far away from fulfilling your own needs. It’s essential to recognize that if we worry so much about others, we can blur the lines that define what we have to do and what we really don’t have to do or worry about. Please recognize that focusing on yourself does not make you a selfish person. In fact, it makes you a brilliant person focusing on being able to be a better person to not only yourself but others. We have all heard the quote about pouring from an empty cup. But there is also such a thing as pouring from a toxic cup. So, ensure that what you’re pouring into yourself and others is of good nature, love, hope, patience, compassion, and generosity. Here are a few ways to “Worry Bout Yourself” during this holiday season… And any other season, for real! 1. Stop talking bad about my best friend, You! You wouldn’t allow your best friend to talk bad about themselves, so why do you talk so bad about yourself? I don’t care if their negative thoughts, limiting beliefs, or taking on the opinions of others. A simple rule is to not say anything to yourself that you wouldn’t say to anyone else. Be gentle to yourself. Use positive phrases and affirmations to yourself while looking in the mirror. You are a child of God; remember that! Begin to speak love and light into and over your life. Holiday Cheer is a real thing, and it starts with yourself. 2. Remember to Just Breathe We often work ourselves up over things that we have absolutely no control over. For example, there’s often worry about forgetting someone’s gift, not being able to attend an event with the in-laws, or the unrecognized fear of what the holidays will be like after a significant change. Just breathe… Take a few moments to be still. During the season, I’m often reminded of Psalms 46:10, “Be Still, and know that I am GOD .” We do not have to do everything. We do not have to be everyone. We do not have to go everywhere. But we can be confident and assured that no matter what happens, God’s got us. With that protection, it makes it a little bit easier to simply just breathe. 3. Take Advantage of the opportunities I love all the holiday sales that pop up during this time. Now it is important to be mindful of senseless spending. But it can be easy to include yourself in some of the deals. For example, some of my favorite restaurants are offering bonus gift cards with purchases. This creates opportunities to take me to lunch or happy hour! I am a great bargain shopper, and while finding great deals for others, I may purchase something small too. Or while the family is visiting and they offer assistance, you allow them help and remove critics about how it’s done. So take some pressure off and take advantage of the gifts around you. 4. Check out the Three Wise Women Now we all know the story of the Three Wise Men and their journey to Bethlehem for the birth of Jesus. But have you heard the story of the Three Wise Women who are combating holiday stress? Join Rita Ricks, Angela Lightfoot, and Celia Powell on November 12th at 10 a.m. for The Naughty List: Combating Holiday Stress. This workshop will help you set clear boundaries, manage your finances, and show you successful ways to create your best holiday ever. Save the Date The Naughty List 2.0 Join us as we share recommendations for navigating, overcoming, and enjoying your holidays. REGISTER TODAY! Learn More! ACHIEVING YOUR GREATNESS Coaching session for Young Adults Are you ready to support your young adult in their healing, contact me today! Learn More!