Happy Sunday Lovers, I recently had a conversation with one of my soul sistas and in the conversation she mentioned hating the sound of her voice. She too was from a blended family and started listing all the things that were wrong. I shared with her it’s taken me some getting use to hearing the sound of my own voice. I played the seen but not heard girl for many years. We play many roles that dilute who we are. I played the second wife, the bonus mom, the will I ever measure up role, the evil step mom, the side chick, the baby momma, or second baby momma. I’ve played the black sheep. I’ve played the bitch. I’ve played the tough, but dying inside, I've played the victim. After years of this drama, I got tired of participating and trying to fit in a box that was not labeled “Queen” or "child of God" plain and simple.

When you identify with who you are, you realize the only label that matters is the one that truly honors the epitome of who you are. The truth of you are you.  The innocence of who you are.  Until then, you will rationalize with others opinions of you. It’ll play over and over in your head. Not what or who people know you to be, not what others have heard, but who you truly are...even the becoming. Things always settle down when you find or fix your crown. When you start taking care of you, when you stop and listen to the divine.  When you come to know I can be all those things but I’m actually way more. Things change quickly. But that’s because you’ve changed your mindset of you therefore mindset of all things change 👑 #queentalk

It took me a long time to shake off people’s perceptions of me. A long time to stop believing who they thought I was. A long time to realize I'm good. I'm great. I'm beautiful. I'm worthy.

When you’re not quite sure of who you are that can be really tricky. Cause not only will you try to convince others you’ll be trying to convince you too.

There’s going to come a time when people get the wrong idea of you, know it’s not your job to change, convince or persuade them. Sometimes it’s not even about you but the space you occupy that people can be uncomfortable with. It is your job to make sure you love you enough to drown out the noise. How to drown out the noise you say, remember you are created in the reflection of the divine. To stand in your truth. To be still. To reflect and say why does this affect me so much? Answer yourself honestly and gently. To honor the person you are. 

Lovers, speak up even when your voice trembles. Speak up until you recognize that the sound of your voice has power. Maybe you didn’t recognize your own strength at one point which is why you may not like the way it sounds. I encourage you to find your shout. Turn to what God thinks of you. He knows your frame. Everything about you is beautiful including the sound of your voice.

Often times when we need to be our biggest fans we can be our worst enemy. 
We tell ourselves stories, same stories that sad and broken people use to tell us. Same things hurt people use to say when they wanted to break us down. 
After hearing it for so long maybe we began to believe them and live up to them. 
The closest most intimate relationship we can have other than the one with the divine is with our very selves.

Build YOU. Before you build anyone else. You can’t help anyone until you help yourself. 
Lovers, what are some of the things you say to yourself? When I took this pic I picked it apart!

I even went on a tangent until one of my sister coaches in my accountablity group said girl you look amazing" then I was awe thanks, you're right cause I actually felt good and super strong when my hubby started snapping these pics right after on of our couples workout together.  But because of my bloating and the fact that I’ve been eating more of the things I’d don’t normally eat while celebrating family and life. I let that insecure feeling creep up.

I had to correct myself real quick because I’m literally the strongest person I know. I know this because I know what I’ve overcome. I started mentally saying you are one bad woman Cat!!! Bad as in good 😊

We all have our moments? Does your self talk sound like kind and loving words? Are they encouraging and uplifting? Are they empowering? Do you affirm yourself? OR do you indulge in unhealthy self talk and mind chatter. Do you focus on limiting beliefs, self doubt and pick yourself and your body apart. 

Even as a fitness influencer sometimes I find myself in the sunken place.  But luckily I've learned that this is part of the journey and that I have unlimited power to get over myself and the ideals of perfection when that is not what I'm striving for when ultimately I'm striving to be better than the girl I was yesterday. 

Let’s honor ourselves today and everyday by saying all the things you need to hear. Start with you. Need support. Start with you. Need to feel loved. Start with you. Invest in your mental health and wellbeing.

POWER UP REMINDER: this week I’ve done my very best. Next week I vow to do better. Each day I level up building towards the person I’m destined to be!

Be Good to You Lovers, we are all doing and trying our best at adulting, parenting, boss thing and leveling up.  Be mindful of how far you've come.

When I share my story about leaving my corporate job after 11 yrs at the company  worked for some of my co-workers grew into family. Granted they knew all of my children by name and held my youngest when he was only a few months old.  Left a completely familiar and comfortable situation to build my business as a full time holistic wellness coach to help heal others on their mind body and fit soul journey...they ask me how and at what point did I know it was time. It was an end to a chapter of driving to work crying because I simply felt unfulfilled.  Where I didn't feel intelligent or being used to create more.  It was simply time. It was actually something in my mind I had planned for 7 years and year after year of not listening to my heart, I felt more and more anguish.  But while I sit back and think I left I truly left on Gods time.  I needed to go through those tough days to truly appreciate this new chapter in my life.

I walked away with FAITH. I wake up with FAITH. I work faithfully. 
I want to share with all my fellow goddesses if what you’ve been doing something, or who you’ve been with  someone  whois pulling you further away from your life's assignment, taking you out of alignment. If you’re experiencing a tug or war situation between your happiness and your purpose..
Walk away from it. RUN if you have to.

Whether you’re;
Full of fear
Full of excuses
Eyes full of tears
Heart broken
Grief stricken
Guilt ridden

Broke
Empty
Unsure

Walk away. Run if you have to. Run away from what no longer makes you feel good, feel whole and run towards all the things that light you up from the inside out.  Run towards what truly brings joy in your life and in the life of others.

namaste Cathleen

When you are in alignment with who you are called to be, your entire being will emulate a certain energy.  When you find yourself smiling, that is you being birthed from all the tears ~ Cathleen Benjamin 

Ever find yourself sitting in a crowd and begin to be unsure, compare yourself whether it’s beauty, body image or success of others. Yeah me neither, ok not true I definitely use to though. I use to struggle with myself and wonder if I belonged. But it’s a blessing to be able to stand in your power and your truth. To know who you are, welcome who you’re becoming and love yourself within the process.

The women looking out into tomorrow has now unleashed its worrier spirit. Not because I no longer have fear. Not because I have everything I need. Not because everything is the way I assumed it would be and not because I haven’t given up A LOT. But because I am now more present as ever. I know that everything I have I’ve earned. The things are still promised are still mine. Because being connected to divine and leaning in has allowed me to tap into my highest self and to attract and learn from others tapping into their highest self as well.

"The message that is being relayed to our children and family. We matter. As coaches we remind people that everyone matters. Everyone counts."

I have chosen to constantly and continuously vibrate higher. Not only on the days I choose to but on the days in which I doubt the unknown.
On the days I have to reread the word because I needed to hear my voice say it one more time. On the days I need clarity.
On the days I need the reminder to give the things that I love time to work! I love me so I’m giving me time. 

This coaching opportunity has given me time to level up. Its given my kids their mom back. Sometimes I feel like I can’t say back but given my kids the mom that I always knew I could be, a better mom than what I was, the mom I’ve always wanted to be. Because I’ve been allowed myself room to grow I give them room to grow, to think, to evolve.

Ask anyone who has completed a goal, overcome a self restricting battle i.e. fear of success. Overcoming it builds inner strength. It builds perseverance. It builds endurance to go onward. It builds you into the human you need to be. That doesn’t mean you don’t struggle. That doesn’t mean you don’t ever feel like giving up. It doesn’t mean that we don’t ever slip up or fail along the way. 

We don’t think about right now but the goodness that is ahead. The better health, the positive (or negative) report from the doctors office. The lowered cholesterol, the regulated blood pressure. The repaired relationship. Or letting go of the destructive ones that no longer serve the person you are transforming into.  The inner healing and outward strength. The new lease on living a life you can be proud of. The new eyes of empowerment and total positivity. The message that is being relayed to our children and family. We matter. As coaches we remind people that everyone matters. Everyone counts.

This journey has totally taught me to rely on hope and faith. Whether in ourselves or in the divine. It calls you to fall more deeply in self care in growing or in heightening our goals. To elevate and other others to do so as well. To walk in the room and no longer compare but to extend your hand to help, to share and invite others to tap into the possibility of vibrating higher.