You Only Live Once: 5 Reasons You Should Drop Everything And Follow Your Passions Right Now

I'm so excited to share with you my first article which was first published on Elite Daily>> http://elitedaily.com/life/motivation/live-5-reasons-live-abandon-follow-dream/

The term “YOLO” has become so clichéd that it’s now a catchphrase for every imaginable product. But truly, we’re on earth only once.

You were created for a purpose

photo credit - www.katloterzo.com

Each one of us has unique skills, talents and abilities that set us apart from everyone else on this planet. When we discover these qualities within ourselves, we have the potential to harness real power that no amount of money can buy. Our abilities may bring light to someone’s day or change his or her world views.

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Leave your legacy

Regardless of whether or not you have children, it is human nature to desire to leave behind a legacy. I may like to write books, you may like to sing and your best friend may like to make people laugh. We all are all distinct and unique and we all have the power to enrich and to contribute to the world.

We may underestimate our talents and people may even try to undervalue us, but we each have purposes in life. You may not realize the magnitude of your talents until many years later, when strangers tell you how your gift has changed their lives.

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Find fulfilment

Whoever said fulfillment is overrated, clearly hasn’t found it yet. How many of us just go through the motions from year to year, living paycheck to paycheck just concerned about paying bills and making ends meet? Where is the passion, the joy or the love for what you do? How has it helped bring about change or influence lives for the better? If you live passionately every day, all else will fall into place.

If you are truly engaged in a career for the right reasons rather than having a mundane job to conform to the status quo, you will attract the right opportunities, situations and people to your life. You will reap the benefits and rewards of true wealth — and wealth that is not only monetary, but the kind that enriches the heart and soul.

It’s the good energy that emanates upon making a person feel a little happier and empowered. In the end, you will be rewarded with good things that really matter, which is exactly what you need for there to be no lacking in your life.

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There’s no time like the present

When you’re following your dream, you must to do your research. As a writer and speaker, I come across a lot of information — some valuable, some super interesting and some that are just words. Doing the same thing for 50 years doesn’t necessarily make you a pro — it provides you with more experience, but being flexible with your actions and thoughts is so necessary.

The world is fluid and dynamic, always growing and changing and it is so important to embrace it. Someone who has five years of experience may bring a different spin and originality to a particular task with tons of creativity, research and flexibility than someone who has been doing the same thing for decades. It all depends on you: your strengths, how hard you are willing to work on your weaknesses and how open you are to constructive criticism and change.

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Don’t be a hoarder

Erma Bombeck once said: “When I stand before God at the end of my life, I would hope that I would not have a single bit of talent left, and could say, ‘I used everything you gave me.’” I believe that should be every artist’s mantra. True success means to have fully lived, shared, learned, and loved. Going through life with untapped talents means being a hoarder. So live, share, love, and enjoy the magnificence that life has to offer.

All the World Needs Now is Love Sweet Love...

Hope your week ends with a bang!

I've survived an almost near meltdown as my computer mysteriously crashed and more! (Luckily I found a back up and all is not lost:)

Book #2 is under way but admittedly it’s not getting as much attention as it deserves. As I try to make a sprint to the finish line so as to meet my personal and professional deadline, I keep in mind that the race is not always to the swift. I have much to do in order to get to that place and it has only just begun. I think my experiences this year can only add value to what my next book has to offer....so patience is key... 

Last year was a growth period and as always life is a continuous evolution. Many things were revealed to me during that time during my daily meditations and reflections on the things and people I hold dear. The direction I am headed in is one of upward mobility as I prepare to cross the mental, emotional and psychological hurdles that present themselves every now and then. Whether they come in the form of people, situations or my own inner demons, I resolve that I will conquer and slay those dragons one by one. Where it all leads is as exciting as the climb to my destination…

Working from home has been a dream so far as I get to manage my time more effectively and do ALL the things I always wanted to simultaneously. As an added bonus, I also get to spend more QUALITY time with my family (especially my dad) as this time is certainly precious to all of us especially having been gone for 12 months prior. You would not believe the things that can happen in a year...

As I drove through the city this week, my location suddenly hit me all of a sudden like never before and I realize I am no longer in sweet Bago land…aka Tobago…I’ve grown so accustomed to Scarborough during the day and Crowne Point and surrounding cities by night…even my Tuesday, Friday and Saturday movie nights (and my random cocktails nights in between! :)…if I don’t check myself I can even get a little teary eyed! Lol…Although Trinidad is ideal for my business and so many more opportunities even socially, the simplicity and serenity of Tobago makes one long for retirement or when I can afford to jet away to a vacation home on the beach…Ahhh…one can only dream!

So my lovelies…Love is beautiful…Hope your Valentine’s Day is special and each day thereafter twice as nice as you take time to appreciate the one you love…if you’re not in love…make that day special for your mom, dad, sister(s), brother(s), son(s), daughter(s), cousins, nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles, friends or yourself! If that special person doesn’t know it yet, make today magic…you might even be in for a surprise…

I leave you with a quote from my first book - Thinking out Loud:

Chapter 3 - Love or Something Like It – Part II 

"Whether you’re in love, once in love, or want to find love it’s important to look within and find out if you’re capable of not only giving love but also receiving love, for it only takes a moment to fall, but a lifetime to forget that one true love… or the one that got away." 

Love, LOVE, LOVE….xo

ps Be sure to join me on my facebook page for more>>> https://www.facebook.com/ThinkingoutLoudbyCarolynCorreia

If you have not yet checked out my book ---it’s available locally at RIK and on amazon>>>http://www.amazon.com/Thinking-Out-Loud-Carolyn-Correia/dp/1105184382

When the Dust Settles

So I’ve discovered that working from home can be even more rigorous than working from the office! I’ve always had a sneaking suspicion based on my own blogging and writing pursuits, but I am now embracing the full effects of being an entrepreneur. There…now I’ve said it…without even realizing! The secret's out: I have decided to start my own business this year among many other things.

I have several projects pending – two of which are very personal and dear to my heart. One of which is the completion of my second book which should be due out hopefully  later this year….maybe by my birthday. The other projects  I will reveal to you in time.

photo credit - drprem.com

When the year began I thought about doing a schedule but because of some personal commitments I did not quite get that far. 

Now I am more settled and structured, I decided to devote 3-4 hours a day to my book and 3 hours on another important project I hope to launch by March. The rest of the time will be split among research, social media marketing, meetings/site visits etc. So now I’m off to a good start!

I have lots to do still and indeed I am enjoying every minute of it. It may seem that I have all the time in the world, but believe it or not, sometimes I feel as though there are not enough hours in the day to accomplish everything I want to get done. I’m a perfectionist and overachiever and most times I go to bed in the wee hours of the morning…My friends often scream when I send them my blogs at 3am interrupting their sleep…But luckily there would be less early morning emails for a while as I decided to cut back and get some sleep in by at least midnight. 

I haven’t even resumed the gym and walking since my most recent hiatus to the sister isle. I guess I am still recovering and adapting to this lifestyle. I’m still processing all of the advice and information I’ve gathered and assimilating it all into my existing material. As I tweak, research and brainstorm, I am mentally preparing myself for what lies ahead.

Indeed it takes discipline, patience, fortitude and courage. It requires long hours, less sleep and large doses of inspiration for the kind of creative work I’m into. I need to be my own personal cheerleader when I hit a stumbling block or disappointment (luckily I haven’t faced that yet!). And I need to resist all the distractions like sleep (esp. on a rainy day like today), food/cooking, IM and social media overload…Sometimes there are so many things to do -- which in itself is a distraction as you try to prioritize which ones to do first.

I’ve also realized that waiting is sometimes the hardest part. However you can use this time to better prepare for what lies ahead. There’s no such thing as too much preparation however TOO much can also prove to be a nerve racking experience as you begin to have doubts like “what am I doing…can I really pull this off?!” But when I do complete a speaking engagement especially, it’s like an adrenaline rush to see the results and get the reviews and I can’t imagine life without it.

I was discussing with my mom earlier that…who knows where December will find me…I hope to be in a totally different place professionally, spiritually and emotionally….maybe even physically…the sky is the limit. My wish is that all of my planning and dreaming would have paid off and I can reap the rewards and fruits of my labour.

What do you hope to accomplish by year’s end? ANYTHING is POSSIBLE!

Continue to DREAM your BIG DREAMS because you never know where it can take you. You might just end up amongst the stars…

photo credit - www.lovingontherun.com

Cheers~

Happy February!

So we're one month into the new year already...my oh my!

What can we say we have done to position ourselves to invest in the future of our dreams? So okay, you are not exactly where you thought February would find you...don't worry...consider January to be like a test drive for a new car. You have an opportunity to try it out first and make sure it runs just the way you like before you invest in the real thing. 

photo credit - C.K. Correia all rights reserved

Many of us may want a particular make and model of a vehicle, but for some reason we are hesitant to make that final investment. The commitment, the sacrifice, the sweat, the tears. But if we want the luxury and convenience, it's all worth it in the end. 

No taxis, buses or trains, no standing in lines or waiting on anyone, no running late for work and appointments...you can just pick up and touch your starter any time you like with no pre-meditated planning and thought. Ahhh! Yay! The freedom and independence of owning your own vehicle...Wow!

So it is with our life. We must plan and take charge. We must sacrifice and commit to a plan so as to enjoy a certain lifestyle with rewards. Yes we want to fulfil our purpose and help others, but we also want to live comfortably and securely. So whether it's landing that job of our dreams, starting our own business or acquiring those new contracts we must have a plan of action and stick to it. Lofty are our goals but steadfast are our intentions that wins the race. 

I must admit that I often make snap judgements before thinking it all through, but I pray and seek God first so as to find the answers to life's many enigmas. I am a work in progress...far from perfect...human like anyone else. I make mistakes, I have transgressions and I take steps to improve, renew and evolve with every stride. With the help, advice and encouragement from my family and friends, I know I will make it and succeed with my goals and intentions. Worse case scenario: it doesn't work out exactly as planned, I know I have a back up plan and God is great and works miracles in my life without fail to see me through to the next phase.

As I sit here nearing the midnight hour typing this message and using this platform as my catharsis, I am thankful since I do not have to pause or think too hard about what to say to you tonight. As always, the words are flowing and the keys are in constant motion. It is purely my inspiration escape. I had this conversation several times with many people over the years and more recently with a friend of mine in Tobago. I always have time to do what I love. It doesn't take long and it's a joy to fulfil my passion with almost effortless ease. 

I am amazed and humbled by God's work in my life. I am thankful for my gifts and I will use it to the highest good to fulfil His deeper purpose for my life. I have been getting great reviews over the past few weeks in particular about my blogs and I thank each and everyone of you for taking the time to comment. Please keep them coming!

As I am back home, I am thankful for the past week and all it brought my way...the people, the situations, the revelations. I am glad to be home again and grateful for family and friends. I feel blessed to be able to be living my dream at last. I take this time to pause and silently release my intentions for February and the rest of the year unto the Lord and ask for strength, foresight, patience and wisdom. 

I also pray for each of you reading these words that your are able to visual and mobilize your intentions for the year. This is your year that your dreams take shape and come true. Don't let anyone or anything stand in your way...This is the year that you LIVE YOUR BEST LIFE YET! 

THINK IT, BELIEVE IT AND ACHIEVE!

Cheers~

Moving Day...

My old stomping ground...will miss you Tobago...will be back sooner than you can miss me...had the best week...thanks to all those special people that made time for me and took the time to visit and help with the transition...2013 was fabulous but can hardly wait for what 2014 has in store...

I'm now packed and fully loaded...ready to rolll...

Future here I come!!!

Peace & Love

Where Thinking Out Loud all began...

Saying Goodbye is Never Easy but it's Time to Move On!

As I awake to a brand new day in sweet Bago land, I am filled with all sorts of emotions. My being here signals the end of an era and saying goodbye to many memories...

First time living on my own (college doesn't count) and away from home for so long, turning my own key and having to do everything for myself…First real taste of independence, discovering that I had all this courage, strength, self-sufficient capability within me and tons more. 

(Yes I sound spoilt I know! –For those of you that know me, you know why:) But trust me coming back here this time around, after having been back to Trinidad for the longest in over a year…I’ve come to appreciate just how brave and strong I really was!

When I meet people my age that I haven't seen in a while, they often seem shocked when they learn that I moved here on my own!

Tobago has been real wonderful as I made a lot of new connections and got to see and experience the island and by extension the world thru a different lens. As with everything in life, of course it was fraught with its own challenges, but those were short-lived and pale in comparison to the overall experience. 

I never got lonely, never ran out of things to do and never wanted for anything. I am humbled and grateful. I give GOD all the glory! 2013 has been a good year… I can’t say I had any major complaints. And you know what’s even better? 2014 is shaping up quite nicely as well...Still officially on vacay but working hard as usual.

I will sure miss this view....sniff sniff :(

This morning I was filled with so much nostalgia and a tinge of sadness to be leaving this life behind. Ironically, I also felt sad to leave home yesterday even though it was just for a week, since I have a lot of family related things going on there. 

As the boat docked as the sun was just setting over the bay and I drove to my apartment from the port, I felt in my soul that I have really embraced the decision to move back to Trinidad. A lot of my friends thought it would have been hard to return home, but I must say that I am really surprised and thankful for my versatility.

Change is something I was never really good at, but within recent years I have come full circle to adapt to my environment and accept the new opportunities that present itself in my life. People are a different story. I am still having difficulty adapting and accepting the behavior of those that I thought to be close to me.

After having gotten used to living in a house with people since Christmas, it’s sort of strange as I look around my empty apartment filled with only possessions and memories of a happy time. As I use the next few days to clean up and pack up the rest of my stuff, I will do some soul searching as I take steps to embrace my new life and all the people I left behind a year ago…although some of them never really left my side.

I will leave behind all the baggage and foibles that I need to work on so as to be the best me I can possibly be moving forward. Best of all I am ready to embrace the many new projects I have planned for 2014 and look forward to what adventures the year has to offer with keen interest. It’s a lot of hard work ahead and I’m excited and anxious to see it through. 

I will reveal the details in time but I will say this much as I have said over the past 13 months: I always thought that I had more to give and my journey was never defined by an 8-4 routine. Now is the perfect time (as I have nothing or no one stopping me)....to embrace those possibilities and step even further outside of my comfort zone, where I can truly live free and unfettered and give something back as I contribute to life and the world around me in a more meaningful and profound way.

My plan for the week is to work on my second book and other material in this quiet, scenic and relaxing ambiance and live it up one last time! As I sit here watching the lovely sunset again on my once back porch, I am waiting on a friend to join me...Happy hour starts in few hours…lol #SunSeaAndSand here I come! 

As for the things I have no control over, as the French say: C’est la vie!

Until next time…

Cheers~

New Lease on Life!

My oh my...January is almost thru! Time is an enigma that I would never be able to completely wrap my head around...

So I attempted this blog at least twice before, but for once I guess I have writer's block. Well not really...I've paused for a second to evaluate my writing...it's not that I did not want to share...but maybe it's what I share. From not writing in the first person and sharing little or no personal information at one point, to now sharing freely whatever I feel in my soul...my writing has suddenly taken on an agenda all on it's own. 

photo credit - klat.com

I've been struggling with this thought for some time now...and the explanation of such...if it is subconsciously due to the thoughts of a couple of my siblings who did not particularly like my 3rd person accounts or maybe my writing has just morphed into something that is widely accepted as the norm...

Whatever it is, it never feels forced or laborious...as always it comes natural and I feel comfortable doing so. While I will not go over the top and share ultra personal stuff as I've seen online with jaw and eyes agape, I maintain my confidentiality and peace of mind when I put my computer to sleep and it's lights out.

So I've deliberated on whether I should share this latest iota of information...and I decided I'm just going to let it flow. I'm going to stop listening to what other people think I should write about and just write what comes naturally...my inspiration escape. A few persons have even expressed their pleasure in reading some of my latest work over the past few months and of course this is a delight to me....so keep the reviews coming!

It's amazing how sometimes your life can become clearer when you go through a life-altering experience. Although it's not a major metaphorsis, when you are on the way to recovery you are suddenly awestruck by the magnificence of life and your purpose. One more reason to thank God: I had 3 of my wisdom teeth removed surgically last week and though it's not a big deal for some people, it was for me because of my narrow opening. It was highly technical and I was putting it off for many years...some doctors didn't even want to perform the surgery. But thank God I found a super gifted surgeon who is truly a God sent. When the initial anesthesia wore off, I felt like I had a new lease on life...it was amazing. My family and friends were all praying for me and I feel so blessed, loved and elated that it was successful...I feel high on life...(and also still high on the meds! My doc said it will take a week to fully wear off).

With this hurdle out of the way and January almost over, I felt that I have paved the way for new and exciting things to come in the months ahead. Although this is a continous journey, I am thankful for the people that has crossed my path since I returned home and look forward to many more. I will have some announcements soon as I have lots in store...

My first Food for Thought and Life Lesson for 2014: 

While some things in life are meant to be and others aren't...we can't force the latter to endure. Some of the most unsolved mysteries remain a puzzle until the time comes for closure. We can't hold onto the past and blame ourselves if the outcome was different from what we expected. We just have to try to stay focussed and commit to being the best US we can possibly be. You can't fix those external people and situations around you, but you can fix what's within you...

Until next time...

Peace & Love.

Will you Change with the Tide?

What's your game plan? Many athletes come up with a plan about how to win that big game. So too many of us come up with plans for our life and how to accomplish our hearts desires...whether it's that job, man/woman, house or car.

But...do these things have purpose within our lives? Will it enrich our lives and the lives of those who cross our path? Is it in alignment with what God wants for us? I've found that many times it isn't. Most times this is driven by our need for material comforts...that would soon fade away when the novelty has worn off and replaced by another need for acquisition. It may be possibly driven by a need to keep up with the Jones' or satisfy some other need in our lives. In extreme cases this may be driven by greed and the need for status and popularity.

 image courtesy C. K. Correia © all rights reserved

Now I'm not saying it's not good to want and have nice things. Who doesn't love the look, smell and feel of new things...in fact it is in alignment with the ever-popular psychologist Abraham Maslow's  hierarchy of needs model. 

Maslow (1970) posits that after your basic needs for safety, food, shelter etc are met, it's natural for us as humans to want to feel loved, affection and belong to family, friends, social groups and romantic relationships. It's also natural for us to want to fulfil our esteem needs and desire independence, self-respect, achievement and even prestige and dominance.

I strongly believe that once you maintain a relationship with God, uphold His laws as much as possible and give back to society through your life's work, He will reward you without you looking or trying too hard. We need not try to fill that gaping hole in our lives with things that don't mean a thing in the grand scheme of things. If we really consider the concept deeply, our life will still be the same with or without those things. Material comforts are temporary. They satisfy a temporary need. And most of all, they carry no meaning except in social circles.

When we are old and gray they would not be there to give us comfort. It's the people and relationships that you nurtured during your life that will endure and assist when you need it the most. And it most definitely will not put us in better standing with God the Father when we die...that is if you believe in the hereafter. We can't take it where we are going...in fact we won't need it...it's only to be enjoyed in this life. If you lack that happiness and peace in your soul, it won't do you much good either. Life is more than a pretty house with a view or a car with a sunroof. 

If you need a plan to "get" a woman or man...then she or he isn't worth the chase. They should want to be with you for you...for the non-material things you bring to the relationship...like the ability to bring cheer when you are down, to offer moral support without asking, cook you a meal after a long day, bring a smile when you walk into a room or laugh like no one else can. Your ability to steer them in the right direction and vice versa or talk/listen for hours without tire means more than what money can buy. I'm no expert on love but you live...you learn.

Time's a-changing and we are all a part of that movement of change...

Are we going to change with the tide? Or get lost and disappear in the waves?

Food for Thought...

Peace & Love.

When the Lights Go Down...

Day 5 of the new year already! My...where is the time going!

The Christmas season is behind us and soon it will be time to take down the tree and decorations...it will be sad to see the lights come down :( I trust that we not only received, but also gave a gift to someone in need...whether it was a smile, a hug, a phone call, an email or a warm meal. If you can afford to give monetary gifts, great but sometimes the best things in life are free and makes all the difference in the world. And it doesn't have to end at Christmas time, it would mean a lot if we can also extend this spirit of giving throughout the year.

photo credit - hdpaperwall.com

The new year is a great time to re-evaluate our connections with others. I'm sure every now and then we do a mental checklist of the persons we hold dear to our hearts. I've seen my connections on social media even announce a "spring cleaning" from time to time as they go through their "friends list" to see who makes the cut! I'm sure we are all guilty of that at some point. 

The time may come for us to sever ties with people who we think are not genuine or do not bring the right energy to our lives and indeed this is a sensible thing to do. Negative energy can only serve to cause us to lose faith and confidence in our goals and abilities, weaken our drive and deter us from our purpose and that's something we can all do without.

A friend reminded me tonight that not everybody that you talk to or who even supported you in the past will be truly happy for you. I've known this for quite some time, yet I try to ignore and act like business as usual. The way I look at it somewhere along the line, something you say or do may positively affect or influence someone else and vice versa. Out of the 95% discarded thoughts, feelings, emotions, words and other drama...one can certainly put aside one's personal feelings, fears and prejudices to stay open to the lessons or shared experiences with one another. 

We were having a conversation about sharing personal content on social media and also writing on the whole. Though not everyone will comment, it's good to know how I can improve my artform....that's all part of being a good listener and writer. You can't possibly listen to everything everyone says without losing your voice, but you can take what rings true to you and discard the rest or perhaps put it away for later use. After all, it's not about writing in a vacuum just for one's personal use...writing as with all the arts is for other people to enjoy and benefit.

Many people have been inspiring me and I need to accelerate and refocus my game plan for this year. I have so many things to do and I need to schedule my tasks and make timelines for achievement...otherwise time will just elude me and we don't want that! Task #1 starting tomorrow....I need to continue full speed ahead with my second book. I think I've been enjoying the sister isle a wee bit too much since I haven't been devoting as much time as I hoped for the past year.

January is going great so far and I'm thinking it can only get better. Spending quality time with family and friends I haven't seen in a long time was the perfect end to the holidays. I also got my workout regimen in place and I am determined to accomplish my fitness goals for 2014. My legs thank me after my two hour session at the gym yesterday...the soreness lets me know that I did something right! A little more cardio, then I am good to go...I can get rid of those extra pounds I put on during the holidays:) Sometimes company makes all the difference. 

Do you have any diet and fitness goals for the new year? What about lessons learnt in 2013 that you want to put in place in 2014? Please share!

Hope the weather is treating you right where you are and that you are keeping warm.

Until next time...

Cheers~