Articles Tagged with: Quotes

Grow Towards the Sunshine – Real Beautiful

What is it that you are longing to do?

IIllustrations for Cindy Heath published in her new book REAL Beautiful: The Secret Energy of The Mind, Body and Spirit. Read more about it at the bottom of my blog!

What part of your life do you just wish you could branch out and be your best self?

There is some dream you wish to achieve and some level you know you can ascend to but just haven’t gotten there yet. Whether it be an out of this world aspiration of crazy heights that you keep to yourself as a deep dark secret, or just one step higher on the ladder of your journey that your loved ones know you are striving towards – know that you can do it! Know that you are worthy of reaching your full potential and you are worth it RIGHT NOW, right as you are – even if you don’t believe me.

There are so many things in my life that I have huge dreams to accomplish and so many times I doubt myself thinking “Who am I to share my thoughts with the world, why does the world care about what I have to say? Does the world really need another artist, or another fashion designer?” I have had these very thoughts millions of times, some right when I was procrastinating making my next move, and some RIGHT AS I was writing a blog, drawing my art or designing an outfit. But then, I get just one person telling me I helped them, one more person commissioning a custom illustration or getting the opportunity to be asked to create artwork for their book (Like Cindy’s new book REAL Beautiful that my art is featured in– click here to read more) and I realize that I am doing what I am supposed to be doing. It’s a hard voice to stand up against. We all have this doubt and sometimes the voice asking those questions is louder than others. I have learned in all of my years of constant self-discipline, self-growth, education and experience to quiet that voice inside and sometimes (but not all the time) I don’t even hear it any more.

I am here to say it’s ok to take the step further. It is MORE than ok to have everything you ever wanted, but to get it you must be willing to invest in yourself.

As Marianne Williams’ famous quote goes: “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 / the Universe. 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 /the Universe 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.”
― Marianne Williamson

That being said, Invest in yourself. It may be scary. Heck, its HELLA scary, but oh-so-worth it when you take the leap. You are investing in your future!

Whether it be investing time, money, experience, dedication, total commitment, or all of the above, dig deep and do it.

CHANGE the way you think about the things you deserve to have. In order do the things you want in life you need to change the way you do things now.

“The biology of change – is stepping outside your comfort zone. Taking on new ways to think is how you can serve the world. Change is uncomfortable and scary and it involves facing a lot of fear and insecurity. When we are uncomfortable we think something is wrong so we pull back and stop moving ahead but in doing so we quit on ourselves….Mentally emotionally and physically – celebrate the discomfort of change.” – Marie Forleo

The only way to serve the world in a massive, better and great way is to step out of your comfort zone and really take the leap.

Know that you are worth it. – trust in yourself and say a big YES to yourself and the universe for more good things to come your way.

By investing in yourself you are planting and watering the seeds of your abundant garden to grow. By sowing your crop you will elicit the change from being curled inside your shell, buried underground to busting through the walls, through all the dirt and reaching up towards the sunshine. You are the seed. Invest in yourself.

Buy that book that you know will help you in some way (like Cindy’s book), spend that hour in the morning exercising, take that course, get your business plan together, update your website and spend that extra little bit of time, money or energy on yourself. You are the fountain. Mend your cracks so you can over flow with abundance instead of leaking all of that energy.Hope that inspired you!

More about the new book that I am so grateful to be apart of, creating all of the custom illustrations for Cindy and the powerful Kundalini yoga poses that guide you to shift your energy and help you embrace your inner power to achieve all that you dream of.

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I am honored to share the insightful work of my friend Cindy Heath [R.N., BScN, women’s health educator, and energy healer] through her revolutionary book REAL Beautiful: The Secret Energy of The Mind, Body, and Spirit. Cindy guides women to uncover the sacred science inside their physical bodies that can raise their vibrational energy to gracefully dissolve anxiety, depression, addictions, embrace the secret Beauty and POWER every woman owns, and so much more. Cindy shares some magical secrets that show women how to experience REAL Beauty, inspiration, self-love, bliss, success, prosperity, and the heaven on earth they have searched for and not found. This book is a beautiful gift that will uplift and empower women like you across the world!

A message from Cindy about the REAL Beautiful Book:
“I have held the hand of a dying woman whose final words to me were, “I never felt good enough.” I have looked into the desperate eyes of a fourteen-year old girl near death from starving herself to feel perfect and pretty. My heart broke when my own mother told me just before she died that she felt she hadn’t managed her journey through cancer good enough. My own personal search to feel good enough, my experience in caring for those at the doorway between life and death, the insight of enlightened spiritual masters, and a near-death experience have uncovered some beautiful and sacred insights, practices, and technologies that have divinely lit a path to the beauty, power, healing, magic, and miracles I have hoped for in life! I offer these SECRETS to every woman on earth so they too can experience living and being REAL Beautiful like me!”

Get a book for you and every woman you LOVE today @ www.realbeautiful.ca/book . Don’t forget to sign up to receive your SPARKLING HEART, free downloadable Illustrated Birthday Card by me, Emily Brickel for you or to send to one of your friends and a free WATERFALL MEDITATION that gets you connected to the Magic & Miracles that are waiting for you via Cindy’s teaching!

Know that you are REAL Beautiful always!
Hope that inspires you!!!
Xoxo
Emily

January 30, 2014

Another trip around the sun!

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It’s My Birthday and my gift to you is 25% off all of my shops using code: BIRTHDAYGIRL Now through Feb 6th!

So today is my BIRTHDAY and I am so grateful to celebrate another trip around the sun and to see what adventures this year will bring!

For some reason my internal clock always thinks the new year begins on my birthday (since technically it does on everyone’s birthday) and for that reason I always take some sort of inventory of my life and my dreams.

I would normally say that I turn 24 for the 5^th time as my fiancé can attest, but this year I am proud to say that I will be 29 years old and in these last 29 years I can finally say I am truly proud of myself. For some reason the inner wisdom of myself is really setting in hard core and I am so much more comfortable, happy and at ease with who I am and in my own skin.

29 sounds old to me, as you know this IS the oldest I have ever been so far, so its hard to fathm why the “old soul” inside of me has always felt like I was 24 my whole life (even when I was 5 and still now).

Yes the taboo stuff comes with getting older but so does the really good stuff and at least I still get carded everywhere I go, not to brag or anything (hehe).

One of my dear friends has sent me this amazing and inspiring article from the Huffington Post that I really want to share with you! I literally could not change a single word because her words of wisdom truly moved me. This was posted by a fellow Aquarii on HER birthday this Sunday by Dawn Gluskin and it is really amazing. I was going to do my own version of this but I don’t even think I could have said this any better or any more eloquently. So cheers to us, all of us who can be grateful to get another year older. Here are the 37 life lessons so far from a 37 year old on her birthday, (I couldn’t even take out some if I tried to make it 29 lessons – they are all just too good not to share)- Enjoy!

Top 37 Life Lessons So Far…

1. Happiness comes from within. We spend way too much of our lives looking for outside validation and approval that eludes us. Turns out, it’s been an inside job all along. Go inward.

2. Be grateful for everything. The good, the bad, the ugly. Our entire life is a precious gift. The pleasure, the pain — it’s all part of our path.

3. Subtle shifts in perception will transform your entire life. When feeling fearful, angry, hurt, simply choose to see a situation differently.

4. In being true to yourself, you can’t possibly make everybody else happy. Still, it’s better to risk being disliked for living your truth than to be loved for what you are pretending to be.

5. The world is our mirror. What we love in others is a reflection of what we love about ourselves. What upsets us about others is a strong indication of what we need to look at more closely within ourselves.

6. Everybody comes into our life for a reason. It is up to us to be open to the lesson they are meant to teach. The more someone rubs us the wrong way, the greater the lesson. Take notes.

7. Trust. In troubled times, just know that the Universe has your back and everything is going to be alright. If you’re not there yet, trust in hindsight you will understand. Your higher good is being supported, always.

8. Never take things personally. What others do is a reflection of what’s going on in their own life and probably has little or nothing to do with you.

9. A walk in nature cures a lot. Taking in some fresh air and the beautiful landscape of this earth is amazingly head-clearing, grounding, and mood-lifting. Bonus: You can learn a whole lot about life in your observation of the awesomeness which is nature.

10. Hurt people hurt people. Love them anyway. Although, it’s totally okay to love them from a distance.

11. You have to feel it to heal it. Bring your fears and weaknesses front and center and shine a blazing spotlight on them because the only way out is through. The hurt of facing the truth is SO worth it in the long run, I swear.

12. Perfectionism is an illusion. A painful one at that. Ease up. Strive for excellence, sure, but allow yourself room to make mistakes and permission to be happy regardless of outcome.

13. Take the blinders off. Don’t become so laser-focused on your own goals and desires that you miss out on the beauty in life and the people around you. The world is stunningly beautiful when you walk around with eyes wide open.

14. Celebrate the journey. It’s not all about the destination. Savor all of your successes, even the small ones.

15. Forgiveness is not so much about the other person. It’s about you and for you so that you can gain the peace and freedom you deserve. Forgive quickly and often.

16. We are all incredibly intuitive. When we learn to become still and listen, we can tap into some pretty amazing primal wisdom. Listen to the quiet whisper of your heart. It knows the way.

17. Let your soul shine! Be authentic. There is nobody else on this earth just like you. Step into your truth wholeheartedly and live and breathe your purpose.

18. We are powerful creators. Seriously, bad-asses. With intention, focus, and persistence — anything is possible. Know this.

19. I am full of light. You are full of light. We are all full of light. Some cast shadows on their own brightness. Be a beacon of light to others and show them the way.

20. Don’t take life too seriously! Nobody gets out alive anyway. Smile. Be goofy. Take chances. Have fun.

21. Surround yourself with people who love and support you. And, love and support them right back! Life is too short for anything less.

22. Learn the delicate dance. Have big beautiful dreams and vision. Chase them with much passion. But, also hold on to them all ever so lightly. Be flexible and willing to flow as life comes at you.

23. Giving is the secret to receiving. Share your wisdom, your love, your talents. Share freely and be amazed at how much beauty in life flows back to you.

24. On that note, be careful not to give too much. If you empty out your own cup completely, you will have nothing left to give. Balance is key.

25. Say “YES!” to everything that lights you up. Say “no”, unapologetically, to anything that doesn’t excite you or you don’t have the bandwidth for. Time is one of our most precious resources that we can never get back. Manage it wisely.

26. Sometimes we outgrow friendships. It doesn’t mean they’re bad or you’re bad. It just means you’re on different paths. Hold them in your heart, but when they start to hurt or hold you back, it’s time to give space or let go.

27. Fear is often a very good indicator of what we really want and need in our life. Let it be your compass and enjoy the exciting adventure it leads you on.

28. Overcoming your fears is one of the most empowering things you can ever do for yourself. You’ll prove to yourself you can truly accomplish anything! Major self-confidence booster.

29. Our bodies are our vehicle to our dreams. Treat them with love and fuel them with the best health to feel vibrant and energized. But, never obsess over image. Looks are subjective and will fade in time, anyway. Feeling good, healthy, and comfortable in our own skin is what matters most.

30. Let those that you love know it often and enthusiastically. You can never say it or show it too much. Your time, total presence, love, and genuine concern for their wellness is the greatest gift of all.

31. The present moment is where it’s at. It’s the only one promised to any of us. Learn from your past & enjoy the beautiful memories, but don’t cling or let them haunt you. And, dream big and be excited about the future, but don’t become obsessed. Love this moment, always.

32. Life is full of highs and lows. We need them both to grow to our fullest potential. Just hang on tight and enjoy the ride.

33. We are all connected as one human family. Nobody is better or worse than anyone else — just at different stages of our journeys and dealing with life the best way we know how. Recognize that the other person is you.

34. Practice daily gratitude for all the blessings in your life, large and small. Not only is this a high vibe practice that feels amazing, in practicing regularly you are creating space for even more abundance — of joy, love, health, and prosperity.

35. We are not the center of the universe, although our ego can make us feel that way at times. Step outside of that way of thinking and see the world and other people’s perspective in a whole new beautiful light.

36. The world needs more love, light, and laughter. Go be love.

37. You are the guru. For much of our lives, we have been told what do, how to think, what looks good, what “success” is. You don’t have to buy into any of it. Feel free to peel back the layers. Think for yourself. Break the mold. When you stop doing what everybody else wants you to do and start following your own intuition, you will be ridiculously happy.

Here is the full link to that article by Dawn Gluskin.

And now for all of you who made it all the way through that – A very special Birthday SALE for you! Get 25% off any purchases on my etsy or my website OR through me directly when you place a new order for custom work, prints or products!!! Use code BIRTHDAYGIRL from now until Feb 6th!

Thanks so much and Thanks Jessica for sending this to me <3

Hope that inspired you!

Xoxo

Emily

Shop on www.etsy.com/shop/EmilyBrickel or www.EmilyBrickelIllustrations.com and use code BIRTHDAY girl for 25% off now through Feb 6th! xo

January 9, 2014

Starting over

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So it’s already the first week of January 2014 and although I think new days are pretty good for starting over – New Year’s are really good for starting over.

Whatever it is, your image, your branding, your look, your priorities and your goals – now is the best time to start. And, if you fall off the bandwagon, the moment when you realize you fell off – is a good time to start again.

I love the start of things – it’s open to so much possibility and hope. Hope for a great new year, amazing memories and life changing milestones. Hope for a better tomorrow, a year of health, of happiness, of love, of peace, of a cure, of answers.

The mindset you have is really the way to accomplish all of your dreams and to attract a brilliant year and life your way. I don’t know about you but I believe in the power of positivity, in “The Secret”, in “you get what you give”, in sending out positive energy to get positive energy and vice versa.

I believe in energy – inspired energy, and the conspiring of the whole universe to give you exactly what you wish for.

Each year I start out with goals for milestones and dreams to accomplish. Sometimes I hit them and sometimes I don’t. However, what I realized in this last year – and when I really started feeling true happiness – is that it’s really about the feeling that you have that will set your heart free and make you feel like you finally accomplished your goals. This is something Danielle LaPorte recommends – acknowledging the feelings you want to feel for this year and marinate in that. Not the goal – but the feeling.

For example I want to feel happy, loved, cherished, respected, butterflies, inspired, satisfaction, passion, joy, healthy, strong, fit, beautiful, empowered, courageous, determined, chemistry, connection, bold, authentic, safe, real, powerful, divine, blessed, humble, accomplished, like I make a difference, and excitement!!!

Feeling these would make me so happy – as opposed to (for example) loosing 10 lbs but still not feeling healthy or getting a great job but not feeling inspired or satisfied. Do you see what I’m getting at?

If you could gain 5 lbs of muscle and feel strong, that is better than loosing 10 lbs and feeling gross. Stop thinking about what society or what others view as success and decide it for yourself!

Perspective is everything. It is 100% about not being the most beautiful, or richest girl in the world but FEELING like you are. As opposed to being literally dubbed by magazines and society as being the most beautiful or richest girl in the world yet not liking what you see in the mirror, not thinking you are beautiful or having all that money can buy but having any riches of the heart.

Life is what you make it. Make it what you want to feel.

“I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”― Maya Angelou

Flip that on yourself. You may even forget what you said or what you did in the past – but you will never forget how you felt. Use this to guide your future.

This week’s illustration is a tribute to the beautiful Olivia Palermo with congratulations on her recent engagement to Johannes Huebl

Hope that inspires you!

xoxo

Emily

December 19, 2013

Take Out The Trash

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On a daily basis your body and brain go through so much, whether it be stress, emotional or physical exhaustion and anything that you put into your body.

Stress levels in your body do some major damage, which release actual toxins in your body. Fortunately we are equipped to handle this and “take out the trash”. A system called our glymphatic system (named for a combination of the brains’ glial cells and the lymphatic system) basically is a functional waste clearance pathway for the BRAIN.

When I found this out I thought it was so interesting because many a time I have had brain fog late at night and have needed to “Sleep on it” for any small or large decisions that I simply could not process. When your mom gave you that advice when you were young to Sleep on it, she was right.

New studies have shown (read article here) that “during sleep the glymphatic system washes away harmful proteins, including amyloid beta, which may cause Alzheimer’s disease. Brain cells actually shink by 60 percent during sleep, providing more room for fluids to rinse out the toxins.”

Toxins accumulate in our brain during the day anyway and added stress can really up the toxic level you feel. No wonder why stress affects our body so much. The stress hormones increase during moments of anxiety which adversely affects your adrenal glands, packs weight on around your stomach, wears you out, drains your system of B vitamins and raise your blood pressure. The B vitamins in your body help make up our genetic material – which means hair color, and collagen, therefore a deficiency can lead to early grey hair and excess wrinkles. Not the beauty regimen I recommend.

Luckily for us while we sleep our glymphatic system washes these toxins away – that is – if we get enough sleep.

So for your well being and the next time you push yourself to stay awake late at night when you really no longer can function, go to bed and take care of your body, and take out the trash!

Take care of yourself, especially at this time during the holiday season when there is extra pressure to get things done before everyone goes on break.

Cut the stress in your life by meditating or taking a long bath or shower. Cut out negative influences such as pessimistic and energy-sucking people, jobs or situations in your life. Life is way too short to be stressed by outside influences on top of things that will come up naturally in your daily life. If you can prevent or at least minimize it you are doing a great service to your body and your future.

Eat clean, work out, and take care of what you put into your body. Your body is your temple, not a garbage can so treat it well.

This is the fuel you need to accomplish all the things you dream of so take a deep breath, get 8 hours sleep and refresh!

Hope that inspires you!
Emily

December 12, 2013

The Next Step

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Here you are. Right in between the step you were on and the one you are about to go to. Right smack in the middle of making some big or small changes.

It can be somewhat concrete or it can be just a state of mind, but so many times in life – there you are – making that shift. Perhaps you don’t even realize it until you have some quiet time and take a look behind you.

There is nothing like realizing how far you’ve come or how things have transformed in hindsight. Sometimes it’s sad and sometimes it’s brilliant. Sometimes you can be nostalgic and sometimes you are looking forward with anticipation. Occasionally you can be both, and right at the same time.

Whatever it is… take the leap of faith and trust “that one of two things will happen, that there will be something solid for you to stand on, or that you will be taught how to fly.” – unknown.

Hope that is exactly what you need to hear and hope that inspires you!

Xoxo

Emily

November 21, 2013

Your Deepest Desire

So as you know I have been listening to Deepak Chopra and Oprah Winfrey’s daily meditations on The Chopra Center 21 day Meditation Challenge and this one is about desire and destiny.

One of the day’s meditations asks you to question – “What is it that I really want?” and Deepak says, “Your heart knows the answer.”

So what if that’s true, if your heart really knows the answer to your deepest desires then why are some of our dreams still left unfulfilled?

It is because we are afraid to go deeper. We hear “What do you want” and we answer with our ego… a car, a big house, a designer bag, a great relationship, a successful career. But we need to go even deeper. Why is it that you want these things – because the things will never make you fulfilled even after you get them.

The truth is we all want some sort of intrinsic need to be met; to feel loved, to express our creativity, to be heard, to feel important, etc.

When you get down to the core of what you really want you can base your dreams and your plans on satisfying these needs.

Epicurus said “(It is) not what we have, but what we enjoy that constitutes abundance.”

Here is a quote from the meditations that really hit home with me. “Our desires are a force of nature that can’t be denied. You are here to fulfill a purpose, your desires are clues that lead you directly to the expression of your destiny.”

Pursue what captures your heart. Trust in your desires and use it as a map to fulfilling your dreams.

Even I feel like I am not expressing myself fully – even after I write my weekly blog, create my weekly illustrations and work for myself and on my client’s projects, there is still so much more to express. I still feel like there is a part of me that I am holding back on. If I feel this way, I’m sure one of you must feel this too. What is it that you are holding back on?

I am making a commitment to myself to rediscover how I can fully express my creativity and I know things are on the way but I am making a change in myself to really dig deeper than just the hit of inspiration – to take more risks and to give more of me to all that I do.

As my mentor Gabrielle Bernstein has said: (and she has really changed my life if you haven’t noticed) “People ask me if I like the person I have become, …. And I reply that it is not the person I have become, but it is that I have become more myself.”

I hope this helps even one of you get at least one step closer to fulfilling your dreams! Go with in.

Hope that inspires you!
xoxo

Emily

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November 14, 2013

Like Stars

“It is not in the stars to hold our destiny, but in ourselves.” – William Shakespeare.

“Our deepest, most heartfelt desires are like stars in a constellation… brilliant, twinkling lights that show us the way and create pathways to our true destines. It is our soul’s mission to connect with, cherish and realize our desires in order to live our lives to the fullest and to make our greatest contributions in the world. In fulfilling our heart-held dreams we flourish, serving ourselves and others from a place of bliss, generosity, and love. Our journey starts at the beginning, in the center, as we go within to listen to our deepest truth.” – Deepak Chopra.

This is a passage from Day 1 of the Oprah and Deepak Chopra Meditation Experience on Desire and Destiny. I could not pass this up to share it with you. I have been listening to these free meditation experiences each time they come out and this I think is the third. It just started this Monday and you can still catch it at https://chopracentermeditation.com/challenge and I suggest you do because they are truly inspiring. If you are thinking of starting a meditation practice this is for you!

This first day of meditation inspired me greatly for this blog, as we are all meant to live our destinies, and something about the stars leading the way for us really hit a cord with me.

The celestial bodies, years ago – when the streetlights were not as rampant – were always looked upon for guidance and inspiration, to show the wondering traveler a guided path. The heaping feeling one must get, alone and feeling small when they lost their way, only to look up and get direction from the stars is surmounting. The “knowing” that something greater than them is present and concrete enough to follow and trust is such a comforting feeling. If only we could see the stars on a nightly basis and remember.

We are all made of stars. Me, being a science nerd (could you have guessed it?) has enamorously watched many discovery channel shows on the Universe and our origins. It is something that has always sparked my interest. These astronomers and cosmologists concur that the matter making up stars is the same matter that makes up everything in our Universe, the same matter that makes our sun, makes our trees and makes our cells. So we, are literally all made of stars.

That’s why when you look up in the night sky at those twinkling bodies you feel a connection. That guidance in the stars, is in all of us.

Is that enough reason to trust your intuition? It’s there for a reason and it’s ALWAYS right. To guide you towards your dreams. I know this may seem a little lofty to hear but it is reality.

No matter what your deepest desires are, the answers to your questions come from listening to your deepest intuitive voice.

It’s fitting that my illustration be of a “Hanukkah girl” my version of a cross between a Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show Angel (which was last night) and a Menorah – and in true VS Angel fashion, I added a little turkey feathers since Hanukkah falls on Thanksgiving this year. Hanukkah is the festival of lights and a once in a lifetime occurrence that it falls on the festival of giving thanks. No matter what religion you are we can all be grateful for the guidance we all have access to if we tap into it. Our intuition, and the guidance of lights – the light from the stars, the oil in our lamps, the fire in our fireplaces and the flame in our hearts is what will get us to where we want to go, no matter what obstacle may come in our path.

I hope you like this holiday illustration and for those of you who celebrate Hanukkah, you can purchase these cards in my etsy shop https://www.etsy.com/shop/EmilyBrickel or through my website at www.EmilyBrickelillustrations.com

Hope you like it!

And as always,

Hope that inspires you to reach your deepest desires, forge your destiny and reach for the stars!
xoxo
Emily

Gift Certificates Available! Purchase one as a Holiday or Wedding Gift! Click the image below. Or check it out here.

November 7, 2013

Courage

“Courage is not the absence of fear, but the mastery of it.” Or another interpretation of this quote is “Courage is not the absence of fear, but the judgment that something is more important than fear.” – Ambrose. Redmoon. Whichever is what she really said, I like it either way!

When you compare yourself to someone else who is doing exactly what you want to be doing, what is the only thing that they have that you don’t? Courage. Not skill, not talent, not beauty, not brains – but the ability to act even though you are afraid, even though you doubt yourself and even though it will be hard.

Stop living in fear. Don’t let your excuses stop you on your path to your dreams.

As Mastin Kipp says in his blog “The Daily Love” “You are an Infinite Soul connected to the Infinity of The Divine and for a short while, you are in this body that you inhabit. When you identify with The Divine, with your Source and with your Soul (and not your circumstances), you take the first step in transcending your limitations.”

To me, this is profound because he is saying that we are only in this body for a limited time and we are souls, IN a body YET bigger than our body, larger than our circumstance and far larger than our excuses.

If you had perspective on your life and how fleeting it is, what would you do differently? If you had the viewpoint that your circumstance is temporary and you can control your reactions to surpass your current circumstance, what would you do instead of what you are doing now?

Courage is the willingness and ability to confront fear, pain, danger and uncertainty HEAD ON. It is in forging forward that the real successes and dreams unfold.

We all have the capacity to choose courage instead of hesitation, instead of fear, instead of cowardice.

Feel the fear and DO IT ANY WAY. The fear is not going anywhere, the hesitation and excuses are a natural defense mechanism in human beings. Yet we need to forge forward. We need to propel. It is a strong ACTION word that is the only descriptive of what to do to harness your inner strength. Not just to continue, but to accelerate, to conquer the storm and the feelings of uncertainty.

How much do you want it? I think that is a question you really have to ask yourself.

It is in the mastery of fear that we can unleash our full potential. That is when we can actually quell the voice inside of us all whispering to us what risk to take. That is when we can feel truly satisfied with ourselves and our lives, knowing that we tried, wholeheartedly.

What can you do today to harness your courage? What would you do if you overcame your fears?

Fear is such a deeply ingrained thing, buried for years and years and engorged and built up upon by small setbacks. Yet COURAGE takes one fast, swift motion forward. You can break the cycle of fear in an instant. It just takes the mental strength to say, as my mentor says “Eff it, LETS GO!” and pounce. All it takes is one swift change of mind. It is that easy, but it takes courage. Do you have it right now? If not, CAN you get there? (The answer is YES by the way!)

Hope that inspires you!
xoxo
Emily

October 24, 2013

Dream and Trust

“Dream, for it is you who creates your world.”

“Because when you stop and look around, this life is pretty amazing!”

These two quotes really moved me when I came across them on instagram. It’s true – it is YOU who creates your world.

The energy and expectations you give off and set, are read loud and clear by those around you as well as the universe. You may not even be aware of it.

Like attracts like, so get out of your own way and try to always see the positive in a situation. It’s normal to get down sometimes but buzzing off that low energy only attracts more low energy things to you.

Ever hear of when you are looking for a relationship, you never get one but when you are suddenly not looking, a relationship appears? The same goes with anything. If you are holding onto something so tight, it will fall out of your grasp. This reminds me of one of my all time favorite quotes about love.

“Love is like find sand, grasp it and it will quickly slip though your fingers. Cup it gently and it will fill the voids of your soul – as sand seeks to fill the spaces in your hands.” Unknown.

Everything in life can be applied to this quote. A goal, a business deal, a 5 year plan or just about anything. Sometimes things don’t happen how you expect, or how you planned for it to happen. But sometimes, that’s when the right thing happens. It can happen to teach you a lesson, make you stronger for the next test ahead, to give you perspective on a new situation or to close one door FOR YOU, so that you are lead to the right door.

Here is a good read if this is really speaking to you.

It’s not going to turn out the way you thought… it will be better.

Sometimes you just really need to hear something specific from a person in your life, but they don’t say it the way you need them to, they’re not there for you how you need them to be, or their time here is cut short by unforeseen circumstances. It can be really hard to deal with, but trust and know that there is a story, a reason and a lesson that goes with it. Look deeper than the surface to find out what is really going on and look towards the future to see what can only be known in retrospect.

Sometimes you just must trust and know that everything will work out exactly as it is supposed to, even if you don’t understand it right now.

A different job, a different relationship, a different hometown, a different story, you never know how it will end.

As long as you can take the lesson from it and have faith that you are EXACTLY where you are supposed to be RIGHT NOW, things will happen for the best.

“Take pride in how far you have come. Have faith in how far you can go.”

The only thing you really have control of in life is your REACTION to things.

Your positive and constructive reaction is what can change your life for the better. Two different people can both loose one of their legs. One person will become a marathon runner with a prosthesis, the other will just be the victim.

“Have faith in your journey. Everything had to happen exactly as it did for you to get where you’re going next.” – Mandy Hale.

So, remember to still dream, to continue to plan. Your dreams can still come true, but maybe it is a road you never expected would get you there. Create your outcome. Create your result. How do you want it to end up with the cards you are dealt? How can you make the most of your situation, no matter how good or how bad? It’s up to you to navigate this journey.

And I will leave it off with my REALLY all time favorite quote, or prayer, the Serenity prayer that my grandfather used to say to us all the time.

“God (Universe) grant me the Serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the Courage to change the things I can and the Wisdom to know the difference.”

Hope that inspires you!

Xoxo

Emily

Dedicated to Christine and Isabelle.

This illustration will be one of my New Holiday Cards!

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Specializing in Fashion, Health, Beauty and Entertainment Illustration, Emily is a published illustrator with works featured on NY Times Best selling author’s CD covers and books. Emily also has a consulting business where she works with multiple brands in fashion and other categories. Emily specializes in creative direction, branding and business development.

October 17, 2013

The Story you tell… becomes the life you lead.

Perception is everything. Reality is totally different. Now, That’s not to say if you dress up like a cat you will be a cat, but … (maybe just for Halloween!)

Reality is actually completely different for everyone. Your reality is different from my reality and each of our realities are different from your parent’s and siblings realities, your friends realities and your coworker’s realities. How is this possible? Because it is our PERCEPTION of reality that changes from person to person, and that is why perception is everything.

If you perceive your life to be hard, and a struggle, it will be. If you perceive the road to be long and the battle to be tough, it is. If you perceive your life to be full of joy and abundance, so be it.

If you think of yourself as ugly or to have a big nose, that is the reality you live in, and you truly feel that way – going on, day in and day out, feeling bad about yourself. Meanwhile, someone else may think your nose is the most perfect nose they have ever seen and that you are really beautiful. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

If you identify yourself as intelligent, you live in a world where you ARE intelligent. You feel you make smart choices, based on the choices you have seen others make and based on those around you. However, that doesn’t mean someone else can think the exact opposite is true, and be correct – in their own reality – and based on their experience perceive your choices to be ignorant and inept.

It is all based on perception. Your analysis of yourself is based on how you view others around you, their behaviors and your past experiences. From that you draw a conclusion.

That teaches us to all be a little more compassionate. Someone you may be judging may just as well be judging you. When in an argument, someone else’s point may seem preposterous, yet when you try to see things from their eyes you can see that each reality may be true.

The Earth was deemed flat based on our perception of walking, sailing and driving on land. The Earth was deemed round upon our discovery of flight and our view from higher altitudes.

Ok, ok – what am I getting at you ask? It is a very simple yet complex point. We create our own realities. Our minds and thoughts organize themselves in a way that informs the world around us. The thoughts we think inform the feelings we have, which then create the energy we release into the world. Those around us recognize the energy we give off subconsciously. The energy we feel determines our day, our mood and compoundly, our life.

If all this is true, then why couldn’t you change your whole life as you know it. You can.

Change your perception of being the VICTIM to the VICTOR of your life.

Change your perception that “It can’t be done” to “You need 99 no’s to get 1 yes,” and that “impossible is nothing.”

You have to make the choice EACH and every day to live in Faith, or to live in Fear. The stories that we tell ourselves from our past are lodged so deeply in our psyche that we believe them whole-heartedly.

We believe that we are worthless without those external things we seek. We believe that because it happened once, it will happen again. We believe that our future will be based on our past suffering.

“Whether you think you can or you think you can’t, you will certainly most always be right.” Henry Ford.

Change your story. Declare that although it happened in the past, it does not have to be our future. Decide that your family’s story or struggle is not your own. Choose to have faith that your past occurred to teach you lessons to deal with your future so that you don’t have to replay history.

Choose to tell the story you WANT to live, as opposed to the story you keep telling from your past and decide that NO LONGER is your truth!

Choose the story of your life.

Hope that inspires you!

Xoxo

Emily

Special thanks to my mentor Gabrielle Bernstein who ingrained this theory into me and I wanted to share it with you!f

P.S. Im giving away $50 off your Order of Custom Illustrated Holiday Cards for the Early Birds, Now – Nov 8th with code: EARLYBIRD13

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Grow Towards the Sunshine – Real Beautiful

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Starting over

Take Out The Trash

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Dream and Trust

The Story you tell… becomes the life you lead.

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