Category: Blog

CONSIDER YOURSELF A SURVIVOR The definition of a survivor is one who copes or manages to live thru a bad situation or affliction that might even cause death. A survivor is a person regarded as resilient or courageous enough to overcome hardship, misfortune, or some other life-changing incident. Is that you? Are you here today, despite some challenges that could have, should have taken you down? Then you are a Survivor! And before you say, “I don’t feel like a survivor,” THINK AGAIN. Don’t downplay what you’ve been thru. It was tough, but you are still here. Thinking from the place of Being a survivor is the opposite of thinking from a place of Being a victim. And let me Be clear, though you may have been a victim during the crisis, you must not allow it to define you. You are bigger than your situation. You got thru it when others didn’t, for whatever reason, and you know it was God who pulled you thru. Remember, “as a man Thinketh, so he becomes.” How do you want to see yourself? How do you want to be known? Victims want sympathy. They choose to stay in that dark place…… Being angry, blaming others, miserable. But survivors pull themselves up and make the decision to heal and then share their story in order to heal others. Whatever your struggle…… domestic violence, breast cancer, COVID, loss from death, loss of income – whatever the struggle. It is a part of your journey; only you can decide how it will impact you. I am a 20+ year breast cancer survivor, and that experience has made my life so much better. When I was told the spot was malignant, I decided that day that I was going to take responsibility for my body. I’ve learned that everything that goes in my mouth sends a message to my body. I know that dis-ease around me can lead to disease in me. I know that my spirit is healthiest when I spend intentional time in prayer and meditation. I am a Survivor. As a Survivor, I encourage you to incorporate the following 10 actions in your life. 1. Celebrate that you lived thru it 2. Be grateful for another chance 3. Create quality time for you 4. Envision yourself as whole 5. Share your testimony with someone 6. Continue learning who you are 7. Use your courage to elevate victims 8. Appreciate and honor other Survivors 9. Find a Coach to assist you in moving forward 10. BE better as a result of your experience My prayer is that this Message has helped you see how very unique you are. You survived when others didn’t, and NO, it’s not always easy. But as long as you trust and believe that God has got your back –As long as you trust and believe that He is working on your behalf –As long as you believe that not only must you pray, but you must listen for the answers — you will be fine. I’m telling you what I know.We are on this planet for such a short time, and there is so much good to experience. Be intentional about identifying the good. And spend your quiet time BEING in the GOOD space. Rita’s Recommended Action Steps: Hover over the difficult experience(s) and look at the bigger picture to see what you’ve learned about you. Begin to think, talk and walk like a SURVIVOR. Write about how your experiences have made you stronger. Re-purpose those thoughts into a book, blog, podcast, or movie script. Remember…today is an unrepeatable day. I am Rita…speaking to your Spirit Save the Date Join us as we share recommendations for navigating, overcoming, and enjoying your holidays. REGISTER TODAY! Learn More!

The Crisis of Self-Love What if I told you there was a self-love crisis going on worldwide? When people are asked if they love themselves, there is often a pause and a moment of deep thinking before responding with an unsure, unmotivated answer of “Yes,” “For the most part,” or “Not as much as I should.” When you love yourself, you open the door to all kinds of positive possibilities in your life. When you feel good about who you are, it shows in everything you do. You carry yourself with confidence and assurance, and people respond to that. They can see that you’re happy with who you are, that there is joy in your heart, and that they want to be around you. We have all heard about the law of attraction. What you send out, you get back. So be mindful of what you send out into the world if you notice a lot of negativities in your life. Loving yourself also means being kind to yourself. It means treating yourself like you would a best friend. Think of how you treat your best friend with kindness, grace, respect, and, most importantly, unconditional love. Think for a moment how it makes you feel when your friend or a close loved one talks negatively about themselves. Most good friends correct them and turn the negative into a supportive positive. We sometimes have to do the same thing for ourselves. Loving ourselves requires being kind and supportive of our decisions and actions regardless of the outcome. It means listening to your body and taking care of yourself physically, emotionally, and mentally. The physical is more than just working out. It is how much sleep you are getting. How you wear your clothes to flatter your body and make you feel confident. Emotionally loving yourself is giving yourself permission to feel what you need to feel but being able to cope and move forward. Mentally is acknowledging past traumas, focusing on your needs, and setting healthy boundaries. It means giving yourself permission to relax and do things that make you happy. Treating yourself well shows in your skin, hair, and eyes – all the things you first notice when you look at yourself in the mirror. Of course, it is easy to point out the flaws; we all have them. But being able to embrace all of you and become grateful for the body you are in allows loving yourself to grow. “We all have our flaws. But we overcome them. And sometimes, it’s our flaws that make us who we are.”— Erin Hunter. And when you love yourself, you attract other people who love themselves too. You find friends and partners who appreciate you for who you are. You create a circle of positivity and support that enhances your life in every way. So, remember that Law of Attraction! Become a magnet for the type of people you really want and need in this life journey. So, what are you waiting for if you’re not loving yourself yet? Start today! Treat yourself with kindness and respect, listen to your body and needs, and give yourself permission to be happy. It’s time to start enjoying life – because when you love yourself, you believe in yourself. And when you believe in yourself, anything is possible. Save the Date Take time to regroup before the fall activities move into full swing and lead you right into the 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!

Valuing 86,400 Seconds 86,400 seconds is the number of seconds you receive every single day because of God’s Grace. It is His gift to you and you must begin today to increase your respect and use of each second. Each second is UNREPEATABLE…You cannot get it back…it’s gone! Do you use your time productively? – do you waste it? – Do you spend any of it BEING silent – Do you even stop to realize just where you are at any given point in time? Carl Sandburg wrote, “Time is the coin of your life. It is the only coin you have, and only you can determine how it will be spent. Be careful lest you let other people spend it for you.” In order to value the 86,400 seconds, you receive DAILY, you must LIVE in them. You must Be present in them. You must open your Spiritual eyes and ears in order to raise your consciousness above the mundane occurrences happening all around you. In other words, situations come and go…DAILY! You cannot reach back to get the time you wasted by trying to fix something that now is in the past. Living in time and being present in time allows you to truly experience time. You live and experience the different seasons, you live in the rain and the sun and the snow and shorter days, blue skies, cloudy skies, and various smells that come with the seasons. LIVE in the 86,400 seconds rather than complain about them. You watch children grow, you watch yourself grow – you experience new and different, and you evolve based on how you spend your 86,400 seconds.   Respond to the following 5 questions in your journal. Take time to really reflect on your answers. What answer surprises you the most? 1. What do you spend the majority of your day doing? 2. In what ways do your choices represent how you want to live your day? 3. How do you regularly make time to do those things that are truly important to you? 4. If money were not an issue, what would you spend your daily 86,400 seconds doing? 5. How would you live your life if you were told you only had 6 months to live? Someone once said, “If you continue to do what you’ve always done, you will continue to get what you’ve always gotten.”   It is now TIME – to use your 86,400 seconds to make decisions and plan how to do things differently. So, I suggest you create a vision board – and here’s how: 1. Spend 3-5 minutes writing down everything you still want to do in your life – don’t waste time thinking why you shouldn’t want it…just write. 2. Spend a few days modifying the list by adding to it, taking from it, consolidating, and praying over it. 3. Find pictures that represent each of the items on your list and paste them on the inside of a manila folder. The label of that folder should read MY VISION BOARD. 4. Put dates next to each item as to when you will begin working on the item and approximately the time you will accomplish your goal. This Vision Board may encompass a few years. 5. Finally, study your board and embrace it. It is the roadmap to spending your daily 86,400 days as God created you to live. Alan Chapman wrote “The key to successful time management is planning and then protecting the planned time. This involves conditioning or re-conditioning your environment rather than allowing your environment to condition you.” It’s your time and your decision whether to use your time–to its fullest or–waste it. You have no idea how much more time you will Be gifted, so I encourage you to begin today to live your 86,400 seconds. Rita’s Recommended Action Steps: 1. Think about where you spend the majority of your 86,400 coins on a daily basis. 2. Today, hold on to some of your coins that you typically allow others to spend 3. Be fully present and aware, by identifying one thing daily, that you’ve never really paid attention before 4. Begin to collect pictures for your vision board 5. Today is the first day of the rest of your life…Spend it wisely I am Rita…speaking to your Spirit Save the Date Take time to regroup before the fall activities move into full swing and lead you right into the holidays. REGISTER TODAY! Learn More! Looking for a group of women who share wisdom, knowledge, and experience? Leadership in Life is a 6 month Mastermind session, created to give you time to delve deeper and gain clarity! Join the Conversation

Are you Unmotivated because of your Environment? What if I told you that what you surround yourself with impacts your environment more than you may imagine?  Your environment can significantly affect your motivation and willingness to do just about anything. If you’re consistently surrounded by clutter and chaos, staying focused and motivated on your goals and dreams can be tough. But making some simple changes to your environment can make a big difference. Take a moment in some of your favorite places and really look around. These may be your bedroom, bathroom, home office, or if you’re like me, your She-shed/man cave/ prayer closet, whatever you want to call it. Take in everything. The clutter on the floor or the drawers that are so full they won’t close. The massive pile of unfolded clothes and dead plants in the corner. The stack of bills or overflowing makeup all over the counter. Maybe you don’t have things this bad, but perhaps your space is just drab or has looked the same since you were younger. (Still have the Boyz-2-Men and Backstreet Boy’s posters on your wall?) Take some time to clear out your space. Get rid of anything that’s just taking up room and not serving a purpose. And if you can’t bear to part with something, at least ensure it’s organized. Having an organized space can help you feel more in control and motivated. At the very least, it will cut down on the time it takes to find essential items like your keys or that business card of that corporate executive who wants to talk to you! Another great tip is adding some life to your space to improve your motivation. Get a plant or two to add some color and freshness to your environment. We all remember learning in grade school that plants are essential to our livelihood. It has not changed.  Plants produce oxygen, help reduce stress, and can help increase productivity in your life. And yes, it is because you have to water it! But a faux plant is an excellent substitute if you don’t have a green thumb. And if you can, add some natural light to the mix. Being in a bright, cheerful space will help you feel more positive and motivated. And surprise, your plants need the sunshine too! Recognize that distractions and all external forces easily sway our minds. So, it is important to place things around you that improve your mood and motivate your spirit. For example, on my nightstand, I have a picture of my family and a journal with a series of my favorite bible scriptures. I have a plant in most of the rooms of my house, and I recently did an inexpensive facelift to my bathroom with a new backsplash. These small changes motivate me to be more creative and inspired in my work and personal life. I am proud of my space and feel more focused and attentive to my own needs. What in your environment can you change, get a ride, or update? Ultimately, the goal is to create an environment that supports your dreams and makes you feel good. By making some simple changes, you can set the stage for a more productive and motivated lifestyle. Are you ready to support your young adult in their healing, contact me today! Save the Date Take time to regroup before the fall activities move into full swing and lead you right into the holidays. REGISTER TODAY! Learn More! ACHIEVING YOUR GREATNESS Coaching session for Young Adults Learn More!

THOUGHTS ARE POWER! https://youtu.be/-Pi-hh22DEA The Law of Attraction, as described in Wikipedia, is the name given to the belief that “like attracts like” and that by focusing on positive or negative thoughts, one can bring about positive or negative results. The belief is based upon the idea that people and their thoughts are both made from “pure energy” —and— the belief that LIKE energy attracts LIKE energy. Wikipedia goes on to say, however, that there is no scientific basis to the law of attraction. There are supporters as well as critics of this NEW WORLD MOVEMENT. And part of your challenge will be to determine your level of support –or lack thereof – for this concept. One of my favorite books EVER, is AS A MAN THINKETH, written by James Allen back in 1902. I’ve had it forever and read portions of it often…there are only 6 chapters. In it, Allen writes, and I quote, “good thoughts and actions can never produce bad results; bad thoughts and actions can never produce good results.” He also writes, and I quote, “dream lofty dreams, and as you dream, so shall you become.” I truly believe that we get back what we give. We attract what we focus on. Where is your focus? What do you think about constantly? What is the common thread in your thinking? I may not be a farmer, but I know if the farmer plants watermelon seeds, that’s what will grow, and planting apple seeds will produce apples. It would be really silly of him, me, or anyone to expect something else will grow other than the picture on the seed envelope. Nourishing and caring for the seeds as they grow, guarantee the harvest will look like the envelope picture…because that’s what was planted. Galatian 6:7 (ERV) states that you will harvest what you plant. I have to believe that if I nourish and care for my mind…feeding it- uplifting, positive, relevant, encouraging, authentic information…my thoughts will grow along that same path. You are in control of your thoughts. You cannot blame anyone else for your situation because you make the choices for your life…and you ALWAYS have choices. The choices are often tough and require that you spend time in your head, to determine the best outcome. This is why journaling and silence are so important in your life. Journaling allows you to put your thoughts on paper and see them. The silence connects your thoughts with your Being. When you properly nourish your mind, body, and spirit, they work in tandem to help you make the best possible decision. You must be consistent and current with your nourishment because yesterday’s thoughts may not be what you need for today’s decision.I heard someone say once, that if the grass looks greener on the other side…it’s because you’re not watering your side. Have you decided whether you are a supporter or critic of the LAW OF ATTRACTION? I don’t know how important it is to choose either, but I do believe if you pour garbage in, you’ll get garbage out, and if you pour love in, you’ll get love out. Our minds are complex, and so little is known about how the mind really works. But you know you, and you know your thoughts, and you know which ones bring good into your life and which ones do not. Thoughts are power, and you cannot afford to waste another minute allowing weeds to grow in your space. Proverbs 4:23 reads, “be careful how you think, your life is shaped by your thoughts.” Visit my website at www.ritaricks.com to learn how else you can grow as you follow your journey. Rita’s Recommended Action Steps: 1. Spend time concentrating on whether you spend more time in negative thinking or positive thinking. 2. Spend time concentrating on what you want, rather than what you don’t want. 3. Spend some quiet time thinking about how you nourish your mind and what thoughts you’re growing. 4. Find a book, song, sermon, poem, tv show, magazine article…anything that will lift you higher. 5. Spend your quiet time deciding how you can be more consistent and current with your nourishment. 6. In the silence, ponder this question…are you creating your own reality? I am Rita…speaking to your Spirit Did this resonate with you? Schedule a Breakthru Session. We will show you how to identify and remove the barriers preventing you from creating the life you were born to live. Learn More!