Do you have a VISION for your life?

A few years ago I was obese with no goals for my life.

I was content with being "average" and blending in with the masses. 

I didn't ever do anything extraordinary or go out of my way to serve others. 

In fact, I rarely left the house because I just didn't have the energy 

or confidence to do much. 

We lived paycheck to paycheck, struggled with money and finances, yet I thought I was happy and healthy because money and looks didn't really matter much in life anyway, right? I had healthy blood pressure and didn't suffer with anxiety or depression, 

so I was doing good.... 

or so I thought.

So if I was doing "good" then why did I feel so bad? Why was I full of disappointment every morning when I got dressed? Why did I hate looking in the mirror and feel very uncomfortable with myself in public. My self esteem was low and that affected every aspect of my life. Yet, I didn't realize it. I used the idea that "I am just shy" to explain my discomfort around others. 

My dreams were diminishing and I was making excuses for my lack of effort. 

It was easier to do nothing, so that's what I did.

Well, needless to say, doing nothing got me, well, nowhere....

I began a weightloss journey in July 2011 and within 10 months I lost over 70 pounds, I had set and achieved goals, I was crushing my workouts and feeling MORE ALIVE THAN EVER!!! It was exciting and I was motivated by my goals and dreams!

I admit, however that toward the end of 2013, I lost sight of my goals and became overwhelmed. Due to lack of continuing my own personal progression and development, I lost belief and I actually threw away my dream board from 2012. 

It was a sad time, and is still sad when I think about how much momentum I LOST by letting my fear and excuses take over.

Then I was reintroduced to the idea of letting my dreams back into my life in 2014!

I had FOUND my excitement and passion again!!! 

Do you know what the bridge between having NO motivation 

and taking ACTION to becoming unstoppable? 

I found that with that passion and bigger purpose, I began to set goals and create that vision again for what I wanted to achieve. Those goals were BIG enough to DRIVE me into action!!! 

Why was I SUPER motivated in 2012, but lost that in 2013 and gained weight back?

And how did I go from doing NOTHING with NO DRIVE or excitement, to once again finding my passion and motivation and knowing now how to make it a lifestyle change....? 

I NOW KNOW that it is.... VISION!!!

MY DREAMS are coming alive again! 

Last year I had convinced myself that I wasn't meant to be great. It took a LOT of excuses to make me believe that my dreams meant nothing. After all, it was my purpose in life, right? To NOT focus on making myself better. (sense my sarcasm).  

I have spent much time contemplating on what I want most in life. I created MY dream board and vision for what drives me. Everyone has different dreams. What drives me may not drive you. That's OKAY and GREAT! YOU have goals specific to your passion and purpose. My job is to help you find that!Once you find your dream and purpose, you tie it to actions that you can take today. Then simple every day choices become easy. You simply ask yourself, "Does this get me closer of further away from my ultimate 

vision I want for my life?"

Think about it... Most people don't fail because they WANT to fail. They fail because they don't know how to succeed. They don't know where they are headed, so they just wander around making choices "in the NOW" and don't consider the consequences. 

People want to succeed. They have just forgotten how to dream. 

They have hit "survival mode" and are barely holding their head above water.

Dreams and visions give them a platform of FRESH air! 

Anything is possible with HOPE.

These dreams on my dream board here SCARE ME, but I know that I have belief and passion that surpass my fears. 

Thank you for letting me share them with you and learn and grow with you!

A video from me "WHAT IS A DREAM ANYWAY?"

click HERE to watch from a mobile device

I would love to hear what you think. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE share your dreams with me and with others. 

Never stop dreaming. 

We NEED more dreamers in this world! A dreamer is a DOER! There are enough people on the sidelines! What we need are people who are willing to work to make a DIFFERENCE and get in the GAME! Are you waiting for permission to pursue your dreams? Well HERE IT IS!!! Go after them and Don't stop til they become reality!

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Overcome with REGRET!

The last few weeks I have been overcome with REGRET. This feeling has brought me to tears many times because I can't help but think of how selfish I was to give up on so many great things that were going for me. In turn, this led to me seemingly giving up on my family, my team of coaches that were looking to me as their leader, and countless other followers that I had gained the trust of. 

Having lost over 70 pounds was no easy task. It was difficult to work every day to improve myself and to gain self control and self discipline. But the rewards were WORTH it all! I felt FREAKIN' AMAZING! My energy and drive was through the roof, and I was on track for greatness!!!! I seriously can't help but smile when I think of the way I felt and the excitement that surrounded my thoughts and actions! All that hard work was paying off and I was even matching my husband's full time income just by helping others become better!

But you know, come to think of it, gaining back 50 pounds was really no easy task either. I mean it was easy because I didn't have to do ANYTHING. I could eat what I want, when I wanted, and not have to exercise. EVER. I could spend my time doing whatever I wanted and not have to measure up to anyone else. But mentally, it was an even MORE DIFFICULT struggle. It was indescribably difficult. I had to literally spend hours hours a week convincing myself that I wasn't meant for greatness. It took much time and effort to focus on why I DIDN'T NEED to do it, instead of spending half as much time focusing on why I actually could. It was so difficult to look in the mirror and tell myself that it was okay to not "look great". After all, life isn't about "looking great" is it? But what about "FEELING GREAT"? Doesn't that matter? I tell you what, over a period of several months and not a day went by that I didn't think about Beachbody. The disappointment was overwhelming then, and the regret NOW is even greater!

I was going to quit Beachbody coaching, but God had other plans. Unexpectedly, my heart was opened back up the the possibilities and dreams I once had. I was overwhelmed with excitement and passion that I hadn't felt in so long. I was reminded of the LOVE I had for improving myself and helping others along the way. I remembered how I was becoming a better person and I was SEEING my dreams come true!!! I let it slip away, but thankfully it isn't too late to get back on track. It's not about the money, but about FREEDOM!!!!

Although REGRET has surely made its way into my heart and mind, I am thankful that I have had this experience. I now KNOW without a shadow of doubt, that THIS is part of my journey! I HAVE to go through this so that I can help others through it later on. This heartbreaking experience is only making me stronger. And so for that, I am thankful. I have to move past this regret and begin my journey back to feeling EMPOWERED, ENTHUSIASTIC, and DRIVEN. It has been revealed that we are ALL meant to do great things in this life! By being an example to others and serving them, I AM FULFILLING A GREATER PURPOSE IN LIFE! I am a CONQUEROR and a LEADER and I CAN and WILL make a difference! Not only in my life, but in the lives of thousands of others! Cheers to FAILING FORWARD! 

(If on a mobile device) CLICK HERE to see a video from me this morning! 

I am working this week to overcome this regret that has seemed to swallow me up. Instead of focusing on the past, I am putting this out there to RELEASE it and so I can move on to BIGGER DREAMS and helping others! Thanks for following me on this journey!

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Learning about the POWER of the subconscious mind

DO YOU REALIZE HOW MUCH OF AN IMPACT YOUR THOUGHTS HAVE ON YOUR REALITY?!?!

Remember first: You must KNOW and DEFINE what it is you WANT before you can get it. 

So many people go through life "hoping" for things or "dreaming" of desires, but they never truly create a PLAN or VISUALIZATION of how they can make these hopes and dreams become reality. Many times they contradict these desires with things they DON'T want, and therefore what they think about (good or bad) becomes their life. 

I have learned a bit from Mind Power author John Kehoe about harnessing the power of your mind. 

You can truly change your life and circumstances in the areas of your relationships, your career or finances, and even your physical health with Mind Power! 

But is is MORE than just conscious positive thinking... It is going beyond that to practice techniques to tap into your subconscious mind.  

There are several ways to practice mind power. There are techniques such as: 

VISUALIZATION: visualizing it in your mind as if it is already true 

AFFIRMATIONS: placing positive thoughts into your subconscious mind repeatedly. Even if you don't consciously believe them, your subconscious mind is programmed to

SEEDING: introducing new ideas into your mind

RECREATING NEW BELIEFS: listen to, follow, and rely on your inner voice and intuition 

*Don't forget your subconscious will accept ANY image, belief or message that you put into it. EVEN if you don't consciously believe it yourself.

Pay attention to the thoughts in your head and DIRECT them accordingly. 

I have watched "The Secret" and I FULLY believe in the power of The Law of Attraction and the power of your thoughts. If you haven't seen the full movie, you can watch it HERE.

In my video below I share some of my new thoughts on the POWER of the subconscious mind and the effects it can have on you (good or bad) if you are continually programming it.

CLICK HERE to see the video if on a mobile device

Here are links to the audio I have found and choose to listen to on a daily basis:

THIS ONE I listen to every night as I fall asleep

THIS ONE I listen to first thing in the morning before I get out of bed.

And again, feel free to share what you already know on the subject. I am no pro, and just learning for myself, so I appreciate any feedback or experiences from others on this subject.

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Faith is my Foundation

I tend to get frustrated easily. When things don't come easy for me, I naturally draw back and stop doing it.
To avoid getting down on myself, I just stop doing that and I continue looking for something else that comes easier. Let me tell you THIS IS NOT A GOOD THING. It is not a good thing to give up on something you love, although it doesn't come easy. At the point it becomes a challenge, this it when it is meant to be the LEARNING EXPERIENCE!!!! Without a challenge there is no change, and without change there is no learning or growing involved.

So how do I get through tough, frustrating times? I learn to rely on the BIG picture for my life. I rely on my FAITH and KNOWLEDGE of a greater purpose and plan for me. God knows and sees the BIG picture, and so I know through faith in HIM guiding me, I can be led in the direction I need to go, even if at times it seems to difficult and challenging. I MUST endure challenges to become stronger.

When things begin to seem more difficult than ever, it is then that I recognize that I am focusing less on God's will and more on MY OWN will and things of this world. As much as I hate to admit, this happens often. I must take a step back, get on my knees, and humble myself (once again) before God.

I can do great things, but not on my own. It is more like GOD can do great things THROUGH me.

So here I am taking a step back (once again).

Thank YOU for being by my side!

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RECIPE: Baked chicken with Spinach Basil Pesto

RECIPE: Baked chicken with Spinach Basil Pesto

Ingredients needed:

3-4 boneless/skinless chicken breasts

Spinach Basil pesto paste (recipe below)

1 medium tomato thinly sliced

5-6 sliced or shredded mozzarella or white cheddar cheese

2 tsp grated Parmesan cheese

salt and pepper to taste

Ingredients needed for pesto paste:

1/2 cup fresh basil leaves

1 cup fresh spinach leaves

1 crushed clove garlic

1/4 cup crushed Parmesan cheese

2 Tbsp olive oil

salt and pepper to taste

3-4 boneless/skinless chicken breasts 

Directions for pesto paste:

In a food chopper or food processor, pulse basil, spinach, garlic, Parmesan cheese, salt and pepper and oil until smooth. You can make this ahead of time and store in the fridge or freezer in a sealed bag.

Directions for chicken Bake:

Wash chicken thoroughly and pat dry with towel. Slice each chicken breast horizontally to create thinner cutlets. 

Season lightly with salt and pepper.

Preheat oven to 400° F. 

Line baking sheet with foil or parchment paper for easier clean up.

Place chicken on baking sheet and spread 2 tsp 

of the spinach basil pesto over each piece of chicken.

Bake for 15-20 minutes until chicken is cooked 

and no longer pink in the center.

Remove from oven and top with cheese and tomato slices.

Bake for an additional 3-5 minutes until cheese is melted 

and fresh tomato slices are warm.

Ready to serve!!!!

Enjoy!

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I must admit that I have always felt like I HAVE to see RESULTS within a month (even if very slight results) to keep me motivated! I think for most everyone, it is difficult to continue to do something that you don't enjoy UNLESS you are able to SEE a result of your efforts! Am I right?

I now have this GRANDER PURPOSE for working out. No, it's not because I really enjoy actually working out (how do you think I became obese in the first place?) but it is because I have SEEN and FELT the difference I can make not only in my life, but in the lives of others. I MUST do it to show others what is possible, and to fulfill my greater purpose and passion which is spreading HOPE!!! I found that it drives me to know that others are looking to me for support and guidance. To be a person of influence, I HAVE to BE AN EXAMPLE! 

I wasn't fulfilling any purpose just moping around, feeling sorry for myself, eating lots and gaining weight. That was not helping anyone.

I now KNOW without a doubt that I CAN be a person of influence and I CAN make a difference in my own life AND in others' lives! AND THAT is enough to keep me motivated! When you find something that you LOVE and that you are passionate about, you don't need to search for motivation. It just comes NATURALLY! To learn to motivate yourself, you just have to search deep within yourself to find what it is that DRIVES YOU!

Now to COMBAT that self-doubt that creeps in! every. single. day...

#youareworthit #MOVEMENTofHOPE #cherishyourself

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finding INSPIRATION

It isn't very often that you can say you are your OWN #inspiration... 
Makes sense though, right? 
I mean NO ONE can relate better to your struggles than YOU. 

But in this case, I look at this photo and see so much MORE. I look at the changes that I was able to make and the physical results are sooo obvious! But there are things in this pic that I SEE that maybe no one else can see....

Here is what this picture DOES NOT show....

The BEFORE pic doesn't show the pain and embarrassment I felt.
It doesn't show the sadness and tears in my eyes when I looked at myself in the mirror. It doesn't show the DENIAL that I was in for so long. It doesn't show the low level of confidence that I thought I had, and although I am an outgoing person, I was okay with HIDING behind the walls of my home, and when I HAD to go out, I had a hard time finding anything that I was comfortable in. Which in turn made me a not-so-outgoing person. I still LOVED myself and knew that my appearance didn't determine my self-worth, but it was hard to portray that to others because I was so uncomfortable.

What the AFTER pic doesn't show is the crazy amount of energy that I gained through this process. It doesn't show the EXCITEMENT I felt just knowing that I was making a difference, not only in my life, but in the lives of others that were leaning on me for strength and encouragement. It doesn't show the enormous boost in self confidence. I was beginning to ENJOY shopping and I actually got to a point where I would see a picture of myself and not automatically hit DELETE! (please tell me I am not the only one who does this...lol). But what I LOVED most of all is that I had FOUND HOPE! HOPE for a better life. HOPE for something GREATER. HOPE for making a difference in the world and HOPE for being a part of something that was BIGGER than myself!!!

THESE EMOTIONS are SO real to me because I EXPERIENCED THEM FIRST-HAND!

Here is the problem.... I got COMFORTABLE and stopped setting goals for myself. I stopped improving myself, and while trying to continue to help others, I was losing my own strength. I lost HOPE for myself. It seemed by giving it away, I was diminishing my own light, and not working on myself to replenish the positivity and hope that I was giving away. I lost my strength and gained a lot of the weight back. Yes, that is what happens when you stop working out and stop eating healthy. I am sorry to say, but THIS MUST BE A LIFESTYLE CHANGE. There is no easy way, which in the end, makes it even MORE REWARDING!!!!

Now that I have found what to do, as well as what NOT to do, I have realized that I can do this again! I KNOW without doubt because of this picture. I see it and KNOW that it IS possible!!!
Because I have ALREADY DONE IT!!!! And I am#DETERMINED to help even MORE people this time!!! I have renamed this movement "#MOVEMENT OF HOPE" because I want to share the HOPE that is life-changing! You can change your life and change the lives of others along the way, and there is nothing, really nothing that can compare to that feeling of#HOPE"

H--#HAPPINESS #HEART #HEALTH
O--#OPTIMISM #OPPORTUNITY
P--#PURPOSE #PASSION
E--#ENTHUSIASM

These gifts are truly #PRICELESS 

Need #HELP? Believe me, I have likely been there and would LOVE to help you!

cherishsaurey@gmail.com
www.facebook.com/2cherish

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