Friday, November 7, 2014

Steps to Foster Change

Hello All,

Whether you're fed up with what you're doing now or you really want to improve a mediocre existence, you can make an instant decision to change now so that you can enjoy a better, more rewarding life. Sometimes, you just need to act first and reflect later instead of continuing to pile up dreams without doing anything more about them. Changing your life around is a journey, but you can handle it.

I suggest writing out what you'd like to change. Think about what's working well, what you dislike about yourself or situation, and then pick out the top things that you would like to change. Read everything that you've written. You've just created a quick, personal road map for change. Over time, you can refine this road map, For now, you've broken down those large and looming "it's all too hard to change" feelings and turned them into some concrete steps.

The next step is to take action! Figure out what you can within the next 48 hours to make a difference in your situation. Don't think about it, just do it. We make the mistake of saying that it's not the right time. Anytime is a good time for change.

Be patient with yourself. You may have taken some big steps to change your life in a few hours, but getting used to the changes will take some time. Don't slip back into your old ways or your old circumstances just because you feel scared or uncertain about your choices. Give yourself 6 months to a year to adjust to your new climate. After some time has passed, if the change didn't make you happy, then you can always backtrack to the way things were.

Blessings,
Archuleta




Saturday, April 5, 2014

Another Birthday

Hello All,

April 1 was my birthday. I woke up having turned 42 years old and felt reflective. My birthday always makes me think about where I am in life, what I am doing that is adding value to my life, and what things need to change. It's almost like a "second wind" of New Year's Day - a reminder that change and renewal are just a breath away.

Should I be further along? Why am I still doing that? How do I explain this? What is going on? I ask too many questions!

Truth is, God has me right where He wants me which is actually in an uncomfortable place. Leading up to this day, God had to point out some things to me that I didn't necessarily want to deal with. It's a pattern. Certain things have not happened because I haven't resolved other things. I am not where I want to be because I haven't resolved certain issues. God is working on me, because He wants to take me to the next level. And I am more than ready.

As we get older, we really do become more aware. At least we should. Being truthful to yourself means facing the good and bad. Acknowledging that time flies and if we don't accept everything in our lives, it will eventually come back around.

Birthdays are meant to celebrate the day God chose to bring us into this world. And, staying on His course allows us to celebrate with a clean slate.

Now, that's better.

Blessings,
Archuleta

Saturday, February 22, 2014

When Will Your Life Begin?

Hello All,
Yes, I am guilty of worrying about things I don't have any control over. It takes me a minute to turn it over to God. I love the Lord! However, I always believe that I can figure things out or fix it. We are all guilty of that! It's simply because we look at our problems through natural eyes. We just don't recognize the supernatural eyes that God sees our situations through. We believe God for some things some of the time. We trust Him only when it's convenient for us. The inconsistency lies in us all, because we are human. It's a daily process that requires prayer.

Life begins when we let go and let God. He wants us to trust Him completely and turn over all our problems and cares to Him. In our waiting, we pray and remain faithful. Hard to do? Of course, it is! The flesh wants immediate results and we tend to get frustrated if God is not operating on our timetable. Then, we think about everything in our lives that is not "working" right. That overwhelming feeling can cause sleepless nights and a restless spirit.

Today, think about where you are stuck. That area in your life that keeps repeating itself over and over in a negative way. Relationships? Finances? Losing Weight? Following your passion? What is it that you have yet to turn over to God that you've been trying to do on your own?

Ask yourself why you haven't. The core of that answer will most likely boil down to fear. We may want to stop choosing the wrong mate, become debt free, lose weight, or pursue our dreams. But we get into a comfort zone and start to believe that things will always be this way. The problem is too big or has gone too far. We don't have what it takes or dreams were meant for someone else. What will you lose by giving it over to God? What will you lose by starting to believe that you are worthy?

Let the fear go and let God handle it. Yes, it will be hard. But think about the last 5 years, 10 years, or more that you've been stuck in the same thing! In order to get what you've never had, you have to be willing to do things you've never done. You are going to have to step out on faith and allow God to work. He won't do it without your permission. You have to turn it over to Him freely and trust in His result.

In the meantime, make room for the blessing. Make room for your the life you were meant to live.


Blessings,
Archuleta

Tuesday, January 21, 2014

The Coldest Winter Season

Hello All,
I think back to when I was a kid and how much I loved snow days. No school, my favorite cartoons, and my notebook. My mama would let me stay in my pajamas all day and I could eat whatever I wanted. It was the best! As an adult, snow days are still the best! I curl up on the couch with my notebook and vivid imagination. I get ideas, poems, and stories. Have you noticed that as you get older, there are some things that stay the same. I still love going to Crown center, writing in the park, and riding roller coasters. I still think Batman is the bomb superhero and peanut butter & jelly is everything!

I do believe that God has had me in the coldest winter season ever. A time of reflection, preparation, and harvest. A time for Him to impart patience to my spirit and wisdom to my mind. Those things that have always been familiar to me - I draw near to them during this time. I am waiting on the Lord in faith. I know that He has things in store but I must be patient. That is a hard thing for me to do!

Hold on to the little things, because they are the foundation of who you are. They are the things that you can lean on, get excited about and depend on. Life is going to keep moving - sometimes not in the way you want it to. Find ways to enjoy life when you are in your winter season. It will create a harvest for spring.

Blessings,
Archuleta

Monday, January 20, 2014

A New Year?

Hello All,
Recently, I sat down to read one of my journals from 2013. This particular journal is huge and also includes 2012. The more I read, the more disturbed I became. Some of my prayers and entries were repetitive. It was eye-opening to read. This is what happens a lot, with many of us. We go round and round with the same issues, same problems, and same hang-ups. Although 2014 has begun, is it really a new year? We are just taking the same stuff from year to year - not doing anything different.

Changing careers, losing weight, improving finances, or letting go of poor habits always rank at the top of our lists. Why can't we do the work? Why do we put ourselves through this year after year?

Too comfortable?
We can be afraid of how things will change, although we desperately want to. It's easier to stay where we are than to do the work and change. We have to hold on to the reason why we want to make change in the first place. It has to be greater than the fear. Marianne Williamson said in her book, Return to Love, “Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, 'Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous?' Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”

Make Time
Anything worth having requires us to roll up our sleeves and give the time needed. Action speaks louder than words. We have to take the very things that we are afraid of and push through. The time that we put towards our goals will pay off.

Brand New
As 2014 continues, make a conscious effort to change - for real. Decide that you don't want to look back and determine that you are still in the midst of the same stuff. Decide that you want progress! Decide that you will not be afraid of living your best life. You deserve it and God wants that for you. It can truly be a new year - every year!


Blessings,
Archuleta

Thursday, June 27, 2013

Sometimes, it is just what we asked for

Hello All,

I became a full-time writer on October 5, 2012. This was the date that I was "let go" from my full-time job. Ironically, I wasn't happy there and wanted to leave but my plan was to stay there until I found another job. Well, my plan wasn't moving fast enough for God, nor was it the right path. See, I would have stayed there even at the risk of becoming more unhappy. I didn't want to leave without having another job in my pocket. I was worried about how I was going to pay my bills and survive with a job! I also wanted to leave that job on my own terms. God had to show me that my terms did not take precedence over His.

The funny thing is that I had been praying to God to allow me to be a full-time writer - somehow. When it happened, it had to settle into my system first. After it settled in, I realized what God had done. He had answered my prayers and it was time for me to write like never before.

Although my unemployment is running out soon, I have to believe that God wouldn't bring me this far to leave me. I have to believe that God is going to sustain me and propel me even further into my purpose. I was meant to be a writer and this is my time.

My "job" right now is to have faith. Will I step out on faith and trust God? Even when everything around me seems grim, will I continue to trust Him? The answer is yes. I can't do anything but go by His terms now. Sometimes, God reduces you down to where you have no choice but to lean on Him. God is my only answer. As I write, I will have faith and listen to His terms for a change.

Blessings,
Archuleta

Wednesday, March 20, 2013

Go Get It

Hello All,
I woke up this morning, had a cup of tea and wrote in my prayer journal. As I wrote, I began to feel a wave of motivation. I quickly wrote down what the spirit was giving me:

Don't doubt yourself
Don't procrastinate
Be creative
Think like a mogul
Connect more with family & friends
Attend classes, workshops and events to perfect your craft
Go for it
Make a plan
Be confident
Expand your horizons
Have fun

I thought about this list all day. Even during my weekly pilgrimage to Wal-Mart, I continued to think about this list and realized that God was giving me the framework; answers to prayers. God knows that I appreciate when things are straight forward! He also knows that I am not afraid to work hard towards things that I am passionate about. I have taken the stance that I don't want God to fix things for me. "Please put the right resources and people in place so that I can achieve what I am trying to do."

Later in the day, I was reading an article about freelance writing. I had an "Aha!" moment. I had to text my good friend Michelle giving her a list of things that came to my mind; things I want to do. I told her because I know she "gets it" and she would understand my list. She wouldn't question it, try to talk me out of it or be confused by it. She would just get it and say "Awesome! Do it all!" It's the same thing God tells me each day in my prayer time.

I claimed GO GET IT as my personal theme for 2013. My vision board is placed right beside my writing desk (which is really the dining room table) and it radiates each day. Now, it's time to do it. It's time to go get it!

Blessings,
Archuleta