Pt. 1 - A Mindful Moment...

Desiree Williams
Apr 30
4 min read

Updated: Jun 21

Now's the time to go get your tea or whichever beverage suits you, so that you can enjoy it while you give yourself the gift of time to slowly take in this food for thought... Go ahead - I'll wait...

A Familiar Story

Like many, I faced the common challenges of staying motivated, maintaining my home, caring for my family, navigating complex systems, and covering all my expenses, all while learning to balance family and friends, career, and manage my education and training. Despite hard work and strong family support, the obstacles often seemed insurmountable, making my journey feel very challenging. It felt like I had occasional opportunities, but I still needed much more.

During tough times and with limited resources, I often dreamed of having a mentor with endless time to coach and support me personally and professionally, connect me with the right resources and people, help me avoid common pitfalls, and inspire me to reach a point where I could consistently "hold my own," add value to the community, and pay it forward.

This dream became the foundation for the social impact initiative, Dreams of Millions, Inc. It was thrilling to see this vision come to life, supporting others as they moved forward. People often need a supportive nudge to set reasonable expectations for themselves. I've seen firsthand, that when people achieve higher levels of success, both personally and professionally, not only do they grow stronger, so do families and communities.

Decisions, Decisions...

The concept of decision making seems simple enough, but the the truth is, the journey to better decision- making, a peaceful state of mind, or new opportunities is just that- a journey.

Fast forward many years later, after serving countless clients of diverse backgrounds and socioeconomic conditions, I began to notice some patterns amongst them all. Regardless of each of their experiences, one thing remained true. Each person still had decisions to make; some more challenging than others. In business, decision- makers are often weighing their opportunity costs- the costs paid to choose one option over the other.

Here's the thing, you don't have to be in business to feel the pressure of making decisions. The currency for making decisions can often be heavy. The price we pay to make one choice over the other is not always easy.

I have been humbly reminded that though I am not always right - I am not always wrong either. The good news is that this same thought applies to others as well, which means each of us has room for start- overs, 2nd chances, and new opportunities to choose differently. Even if it doesn't seem like it, you always have a choice, even it is choosing to manage your mindset.

A cup only pours out what's inside of it. What have you been filling your "cup" with lately?

Building self - awareness strengthens us to better understand ourselves, and consequently, better understand others. This awareness invites us to consider more than just what we see... Understanding what is "in our cup", helps us make clear choices that lead to peaceful places.

Overcoming the Past

Sometimes a person's past seemingly adds another layer of complexity to moving forward. It can cast long shadows over our lives, influencing our decisions and limiting our potential. Sometimes, acknowledging and addressing it is essential for true progress. This journey requires patience and compassion, both for ourselves and others. I've seen how living in the past, or in the fear of the past can paralyze. Understanding its impact allows us to heal and build resilience. I've also witnessed the incredible strength people find when they confront and work through their pain.

Other times, what's required is to simply leave it behind and not look back. Every situation is different, and either way, both can help you lighten the load on your journey. Hold onto to the stories of those who have already blazed the trail of adversity.

How many times have you read some not - so - positive thing about someone and felt a little judgment rise up in you? Well, it happens. We are human and it's alright to give ourselves a break. Actually, more than alright - it is a necessity for life. It's also alright to give others a break. That's not to say that we excuse every behavior, (and especially those toxic, gaslighting, destructive behaviors). It's just to simply say, letting go of what we can let go of, creates space for the things that are more valuable and worth holding onto. You get to decide what that means for you...

I am wishing you total success!