Goal Setting Archives - Page 9 of 11

#143| Get The Work Done!

May 23, 2015 By Michelle Matthews-Calloway Leave a Comment

“My great hope is to laugh as much as I cry; to get my work done and try to love somebody and have the courage to accept the love in return.”

~Maya Angelou

Graduates, get out there and get the work done – the work of living and loving life!

The Swirl World Team is committed to sharing 365 days of inspiration in 2015. Our goal is to help you stay motivated and inspired by bringing you positive, uplifting images and corresponding thoughts.

We’d love to FEATURE YOU in one of our Inspiration Daily posts! If you’d like to be featured, please send a nice, clear photo to InspirationDaily@TheSwirlWorld.com.

#141| What Are You Saying?

May 22, 2015 By Michelle Matthews-Calloway Leave a Comment

Our words are forerunners of the events in the future. Those that say they can, can. Those that say they can´t, can’t. ~Charles Capps

Today’s post features Valencia Campbell, a young lady I’ve watched grow up since she was a little girl.

Valencia’s father, Valentine Campbell, passed away suddenly when she was barely 12 years old.

Ten years later, Saturday, May 23, at age 22 she graduates with full honors from the University of Texas-Austin (and as the Black Valedictorian of the School of Social Works).

And that’s not all.

This is Valencia’s Facebook post from April 13:

“Sooooo…this came in the mail today, & while I already knew what it said, I still almost cried. I’ve been talking about law school since high school (at least), & now I’m finally in. Me? The girl who lost her dad @ 12? The one who watched other people say the same things she did & fail? The one who wondered if she could really make this happen? The one who had to fight & struggle to be the person everybody sees today? Me…admitted into LAW SCHOOL?!!! SMU LAW SCHOOL?!! AND I got a Dean’s scholarship?!!! WHAT?!!! This has been one of the best seasons of my life thus far, & I’m forever grateful to God that He helped me make it through that story and into this glory (dahhhhh!!! lol)…‪#‎mamaImadeit ‪#‎justgotreal ‪#‎lawschool”

Despite the multitude obstacles Valencia and her mother Linda faced after Valentine’s death, both women kept saying “I can. We can. We will – and we are.”

What are you saying in reference to your goals?

Are you saying, “I can” – or are you expending energy (and wasting words) talking about all the ~~excuses~~ reasons why you can’t?

In another post, Valencia says,

Do you see this face? This is the face of somebody that’s happy. This is the face of somebody that’s been blessed beyond her imagination (and is only 22). THIS is the face of somebody who JUST GOT INTO SMU LAW SCHOOL!!!! Thank you Jesus!! I’m so excited! One step closer to my dreams!! #mamaImadeit #allthingsworking #shessmart #lawschool #imcominghome

This weekend we celebrate Valencia and all 2015 college graduates, both on our Facebook page and here on the blog.

Congratulations!

We’d love to FEATURE YOU in one of our Inspiration Daily posts! If you’d like to be featured, please send a nice, clear photo to InspirationDaily@TheSwirlWorld.com.

#141| Places To Go

May 21, 2015 By Michelle Matthews-Calloway Leave a Comment

It’s Travel Thursday!

We have places to go – Alaska, anyone?

Click here to listen to a podcast with Interracial Dating Coach Lorraine Spencer, who at one point in her life packed up and moved – to Alaska!

We’d love to FEATURE YOU in one of our Inspiration Daily posts! If you’d like to be featured, please send a nice, clear photo to InspirationDaily@TheSwirlWorld.com.

Copyright ©2015 Michelle Matthews Calloway, ASwirlGirl™, The Swirl World™, The Swirl World Podcast™, The Swirl World Inspiration Daily™, Swirl Nation™, All rights reserved. Photo of John Jontez Montes on a trip to Alaska used with permission.

#133| The Same Direction

May 13, 2015 By Michelle Matthews-Calloway Leave a Comment

Love does not consist of gazing at each other, but in looking together in the same direction.

~Antoine de Saint-Exupery

It’s hard for two or more people to accomplish a goal without reaching an agreement about the direction to move in and steps required for achieving the goal.

How much more important is it to share a sense of direction when successfully maintaining a personal or business relationship?

It’s not hard to agree on the end goal: success. Getting there is so much easier if we’re looking in the same direction.

We’d love to FEATURE YOU in one of our Inspiration Daily posts! If you’d like to be featured, please send a nice, clear photo to InspirationDaily@TheSwirlWorld.com.

#130| Primary Relationship

May 11, 2015 By Michelle Matthews-Calloway Leave a Comment

“My primary relationship is with myself—all others are mirrors of it” ~Shakti

It’s perfectly ok to put yourself first.

Not in the sense of being insensitive or selfish.

Rather, in the sense of understanding that if you don’t get you on point, if you’re not happy with who you are, all other relationships and interactions with others will suffer.

Your primary responsibility is to be the best you that you can be.

When that happens, everyone in your sphere reaps the benefit.

A win-win!

Did you know The Swirl World has a Facebook page devoted exclusively to Military Swirl Couples?

Click here to view photos of active duty and retired military couples from around the world, and read their stories.

We’d love to FEATURE YOU in one of our Inspiration Daily posts! If you’d like to be featured, please send a nice, clear photo to InspirationDaily@TheSwirlWorld.com.

#126| Finding Love

May 7, 2015 By Michelle Matthews-Calloway Leave a Comment

So, why do we travel?

“We travel, some of us forever, to seek other places, other lives, other souls.” ~Anais Nin

Certainly we travel purely for pleasure, to visit places we’ve never been before.

And sometimes, we travel because we want to make a new life, in a new place and around new people.

South Carolina native Paula Cooper Trajkovski (TRY-KOV-SKI) made this decision. She left the United States, got a job and began working on her Master’s Degree.

Finding love wasn’t Paula’s number one goal. As life would have it, she found it anyway.

Paula says, “I found it all: I found love, work and fulfillment – in Macedonia!

To read more about the amazing love story of Paula Cooper Trajkovski (TRY-KOV-SKI) and her husband Bojan (BOY-YUN), click here. To hear their story, click here (you’ll love Bojan’s accent!).

We’d love to FEATURE YOU in one of our Inspiration Daily posts! If you’d like to be featured, please send a nice, clear photo to InspirationDaily@TheSwirlWorld.com.

They Don’t Always Have To Be White!

May 6, 2015 By Michelle Matthews-Calloway Leave a Comment

Fourteen year-old Charlotte Spencer is a self-taught anime artist whose future aspirations include producing animated movies and cartoons.

Charlotte Spencer’s logo

She has some very definite ideas about the types of characters she wants to see in her movies – and she’s not shy about sharing her viewpoint.

“Main characters don’t always have to be white!” Charlotte exclaims.

She has her own website and has already begun putting in the work and time necessary to make her dreams come true.

Charlotte is the biracial daughter of Interracial Marriage and Family Dating Coach Lorraine Spencer. Charlotte has done the research and has some very definite ideas about the types of characters she wants to see in her movies.

She’s determined to ensure her characters – well, listen to the podcast and find out!

One thing we have to say about Charlotte and fact that she’s Lorraine’s daughter: the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree!

If you can’t see the podcast player, click here for the direct download or here for the show’s permanent link.

You can also listen to this and other episodes on Sound Cloud.

If you can’t see the Sound Cloud player, click here. You can also head over to iTunes, Stitcher Radio and FMPlayer.

To visit Charlotte’s website, click here.

Want to be a guest on the podcast, or know someone who should?

Send an email to Podcast@TheSwirlWorld.com.

Be sure to “Like” The Swirl World on Facebook and subscribe to the podcast on iTunes.

You can also follow us on Sound Cloud and listen to the show on Stitcher Radio. You can also hear us on PlayerFM!

#122| Too Busy?

May 2, 2015 By Michelle Matthews-Calloway Leave a Comment

redcurrant, blueberries and raspberries

One of the things I’m working on is eating healthier. Thankfully, I do fairly well with this goal, yet there’s always room for improvement.

Weekdays are hectic, and if I fail to plan well and have healthy foods already on hand, eating healthy becomes that much more of a struggle.

For me, the weekend is a great time to shore my body up on salads and fruit. It’s also a good time to make a run to the grocery store to stock up on the things I’ll need for the upcoming week – which goes a long way toward ensuring I’ll be successful in eating right during the week.

Berries are in season now, and few things are more refreshing on a warm morning than a nice cold smoothie. Here’s a recipe I snagged from my friend Michelle over at ElleVeg.com. Michelle says,

“The following is my base recipe for a really good smoothie with several variations that I use for breakfast a few times a week.

1/2 frozen banana
3 frozen figs
1 tablespoon natural honey
1/2 teaspoon natural vanilla extract
one scoop PGX Vegan Protein, vanilla
1 cup low fat soy milk (or substitute your favorite milk: almond, rice, etc.)
2/3 cup ice
1/8 teaspoon cinnamon
2/3 cup fruit

Blend well on high and enjoy! I try to use seasonal fruits for breakfast or ones I’ve frozen during the summer. Cantaloupe makes a really refreshing smoothie as does kiwi. Need an antioxidant boost? Mix blueberries, blackberries, and raspberries. Need a bit more energy? Omit the fruit and add 2 tablespoons of natural peanut butter.”

This weekend, I challenge you to join me in making a conscious effort to eat healthier. Try Michelle’s delicious smoothie recipe, and make sure to have a salad for lunch or a light dinner sometime this weekend.

We don’t ever want to be too busy to eat healthy!

We’d love to FEATURE YOU in one of our Inspiration Daily posts! If you’d like to be featured, please send a nice, clear photo to InspirationDaily@TheSwirlWorld.com.

Copyright ©2015 Michelle Matthews Calloway, ASwirlGirl™, The Swirl World™, The Swirl World Podcast™, The Swirl World Inspiration Daily™, Swirl Nation™, All rights reserved. Photo property of The Swirl World™. Smoothie recipe courtesy of Michelle Minvielle at ElleVeg.com, Copyright ©2014. All rights reserved

#118| No Matter How Slow You Go

April 28, 2015 By Michelle Matthews-Calloway Leave a Comment

So yesterday we talked about the importance of taking one step at a time when we want to reach our goals.

I recently got back in the gym and my desire is to get back into my regular workout routine.

Sure, I have to move some things around in my schedule to “make it work,” but I’m determined.

Hopefully you’re just as determined as I am to become more fit and healthy – whatever that means for you.

Don’t fall into the trap of comparing yourself with others who seem to have already reached the weight you want to be.

Take things one day at a time, and one step at a time. Over time, each positive step you take will bring you to your desired goal.

And are you worried that things are proceeding too slowly as it relates to your exercise and workout efforts?

Don’t be! Remember, slow and steady wins the race.

Not only that, take heart in this fact:

No matter how slow you go, you’re still beating everyone who’s sitting on the couch doing nothing!

For more tips and encouragement on weight loss and healthy eating habits, check out Erika Nicole Kendall’s weight loss blog, “A Black Girl’s Guide To Weight Loss,” where she shares everything she learned to go from a 330 lb couch potato to a certified personal trainer.

Want some vegetarian inspiration – recipes, how-to’s and great information? Check out my friend Michelle Minvielle’s blog over at ElleVeg.com!

We’d love to FEATURE YOU in one of our Inspiration Daily posts! If you’d like to be featured, please send a nice, clear photo to InspirationDaily@TheSwirlWorld.com.

#117| One Step At A Time

April 27, 2015 By Michelle Matthews-Calloway Leave a Comment

Confession:

I used to have a major problem with impatience.

Life seemed to move much too slowly, and at every turn the term “Hurry up and wait!” was the order of the day.

Thankfully I’ve grown and matured enough to recognize the value of allowing many things to take their natural course, recognizing that some of those things do get better with time.

Realizing goals is like that.

I learned that in order to attain what I wanted and get where I wanted to go, I had to be willing to put in the time – and in many instances, to wait.

I didn’t have to become impatient or worry. As long as I was consistent and “did the work,” I would achieve my goals.

So, take a deep breath, plan your work, and then work your plan.

There’s no limit to what we can achieve when we take things one step at a time.

We’d love to FEATURE YOU in one of our Inspiration Daily posts! If you’d like to be featured, please send a nice, clear photo to InspirationDaily@TheSwirlWorld.com.

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#143| Get The Work Done!

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#141| What Are You Saying?

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#141| Places To Go

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#133| The Same Direction

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#130| Primary Relationship

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#126| Finding Love

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They Don’t Always Have To Be White!

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#122| Too Busy?

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#118| No Matter How Slow You Go

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#117| One Step At A Time

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