Who’s In Your Tribe

by desing | Faith & Purpose

One of the worst things that you can do while building your success is share your big goals with small-minded people.

For some reason or another, people love to tell you why you can’t or why you should wait or why you should be more practical. It was very early on my journey that I discovered that people will impose their own fears, limited thinking and insecurities onto you so it’s best to keep quiet.

Because they could never imagine going full force for their dreams, they cannot imagine you doing otherwise. In the defense of some of these “turtles” (you’ll know why I call them turtles as you read along), people cannot think to a level that they haven’t been exposed to. Someone may never been exposed to a different lifestyle or a success-oriented mindset so they simply don’t know any better. I heard Bishop TD Jakes put it like this, “When you are a giraffe and you receive criticism from turtles, they are reporting the view from the level that they’re on.” You cannot allow yourself to get upset with people who simply have a limited view.

You cannot expect people to understand your vision when God didn’t give it to them. That’s your dream and you don’t need anyone’s approval or acceptance in order to realize the dream inside of your heart.

That is why I’m extremely discerning of what I share and when I choose to share with people. I’ve been blessed to have a powerful tribe of women in my life who support me. However, not everyone in my life is like them so I manage my expectations. I can’t talk to someone about prosperity or faith when they have a poverty-based and unbelieving mindset.

This is the same wisdom that you should exercise when developing new goals and building your dreams. As a matter of fact, I suggest creating your own tribe of women who share similar interests and goals as you do. You can come together every once in a awhile and come up with creative ways to help each other reach your individual goals.

Let’s say that you’re a speaker, your friend is a financial coach who wants to further her career as a speaker. You can get together with your friend to brainstorm ways to get her some speaking gigs and in exchange she can be your financial coach.

As women, we have to embrace what one of the women in my tribe calls “the spirit of abundance”. A lack based mentality thinks that she has to compete with other women because there isn’t enough money or success to go around. Oh contraire!

When we get together and help each other, we all win and we all get where we need to be at an accelerated pace as opposed to if we were to compete and do it own our own.

I’ve created my own tribe of dynamic women where we get together and we are committed to helping each other succeed and smile all the way to the bank. No competition, no hidden agendas.

You will reap what you sow. So when you sow into the dreams of others, you can expect to receive open doors, opportunities and increase to come your way!

So this week, think of what tribe of women you can get together to help each other achieve your goals. And if you want me to personally work with you, set something up here! 

XOXO,

Maria I. Melendez

@embraceherlegacy

Cuddle Up With These Powerful Reads

by desing | Faith & Purpose

At my core, part of my purpose is to teach and I use various platforms to do so. Whether I’m speaking in front of an audience, teaching one of my own personal development classes, or inspiring on my Facebook live – the core of it all has the same message of teaching,  educating and inspiring women.

Formal education is great and often needed to fulfill your endeavors but don’t underestimate what informal education can teach you. Although I’m thankful for my formal education, I’ve garnered most of the wisdom I’m teaching now from life lessons and thousands of hours of reading books and listening to teachings. Today, I’m sharing that wealth! I’m giving you an exclusive insight on books I’ve read recently that have helped me grow in personal development, faith, financial growth and even prayer! I hate all these success coaches and programs that focus on “becoming your best self” but don’t address all areas of a woman’s life. I can’t inspire you to achieve your dreams if you have a wounded soul because the wounds of your soul are going to enforce invisible roadblocks to your success.

My mission is to inspire all parts of you and then give you the tools to realize the legacy and birth those dreams inside of you so my list won’t contain the same five women empowerment books on every other list out there, this is a little different. Let’s make sure that you’re good on the inside and then we can educate you with the tools to change the outside.

• Fervent: A Woman’s Battle Plan for Serious, Specific and Strategic Prayer by Priscilla Shirer – OK, I get that a book on prayer may be the last thing you were expecting but this book really teaches you the power of prayer and how to win your challenges in prayer first by enlisting God’s help. I don’t know about you but I can use all help I can get. Once I started praying, I began to experience peace in the midst of the most trying season of my life.

• Goals: How to Get Everything You Want Faster Than You Thought Possible by Brian Tracy – I’m such a student and fan of Brian Tracy! If you want to learn how to build your success and the mindset to achieve your success in a practical way then this is a must read.

• 4 Things Women Want From a Man by AR Bernard – OMG! Ladies, there has never been a book that will help you articulate your emotional needs as a woman and help you understand the needs of your man. If you’re married, single, dating, divorced or plan to be married one day then you have to read this book. In today’s society, we don’t have the tools to help us build healthy, long relationships and this book provides you with that.

• The Money Book for Young, Fabulous and Broke by Suze Orman – This book is perhaps one of the reasons why I did extremely well for myself financially in my 20’s. Suze breaks down step-by-step what you need to do in order to achieve financial success earlier in life instead of waiting until you’re two years shy of retirement. You’ll learn everything from how to invest into retirement to how to choose credit cards to how to choose a life insurance policy.

• The Power of a Praying Wife by Stormie Omartian: Another book on prayer? Yes! This is “no shade” to all the marriage gurus and self-help platforms that are out there but nothing has hands down helped me more in this department than prayer. We so underestimate the power of prayer and often leave it as last resort. This book will show you how to pray for your man and even lists out the prayer for you. You’ll learn how to enlist God’s help to transform your relationship and pray over everything from his finances to his emotions to his temptations. Don’t wait until trouble is at your door to start praying. Prayer will change things.

• Dream It, Pin It, Live It by Terri Savelle Foy: Terri has become a mentor to me. This book is a good read if you’d like to learn how to combine faith with success principles to achieve your goals. I’ve learned too much of what I know about goal setting from this book.

And there you have it! We covered your money, your faith, your relationship, your goals and your personal success…whew! Seasons are changing so cuddle up with one or all of these reads with a highlighter ready!

XOXO,

Maria I. Melendez

@embraceherlegacy

P.S. If you want to get to know more about me and my story then pick up my book, Take the  Limits Off Your Legacy: A Woman’s Guide to Unlock Purpose and Vision here

Girl, Get Your Happy Back

by desing | Faith & Purpose

I know you’ve heard that happiness is a choice but I don’t believe that’s all the way true. Can you really be happy when you feel trapped in a life you hate? Or if the man you thought you were going to marry walks out the door? Or if you’re so broke you can’t pay your rent and you’re on the verge of losing your home?

Happiness is usually contingent on what’s “happening” to you but joy is a choice that’s rooted in something deep inside of your soul and something bigger than you.

When the going gets tough and challenges come, the first thing that we’re robbed off is our happiness and the joy usually follows. We walk around angry, bitter, worried and filled with resentment. Unless you exercise your power to put a stop to it.

Yes, you have the power to stop the madness and get your joy back!

How?

By letting go of all the pain, frustration, mistakes of your past and begin to focus on your future. You can’t change all the bad things that have happened to you but you can choose to believe that change is possible. Stop replaying the disappointments in your mind.

I wholeheartedly believe that if God allowed it then it will somehow work for me in the end.

Choose to believe that you haven’t lived your best days. Choose to believe the best about your future and make an effort to find something to be grateful for. At the end of your day, write down five things you’re thankful for.

I was at an event the other night and was doing what we all do at events…taking pictures! As I’m reviewing the pictures, a guy walks up to me and says this, “Wow, you look so happy taking your pictures.” Little did he know that that was hands down the greatest compliment ever.

Girl! I almost shed a tear!!

Why?

Because the smile on my face was one that I had fought for and exuded exactly what I’m telling you. The joy in my heart, the faith for my future and the gratitude of my present were indicative in my big, bright smiles.

Although you should be excited about your future, something tells me that good things are going to start happening for you quicker than you expected, don’t lose hope. God is going to answer the prayers of your heart. Soon you’ll experience the vindication, restoration and miracles realized that your heart desires.

What I’ve learned is that my attitude has to be right for me to receive the good things that are coming my way. That’s when I made the decision to let go of the past (which is a daily effort) and embrace the promises of my future.

When you’re tempted to go back into that hopeless state, ask yourself if sitting in the pity party is worth the promises of your future. Every minute you spend feeling sorry for yourself is a minute that delays the good things that are in front of you.

Look ahead of you, not behind you.

Where have you allowed your joy to be stolen? How much longer will you choose to be powerless by allowing it to continue? And what are you going to do to get your happy back?

XOXO,

Maria I. Melendez

@embraceherlegacy

One Reason You Should Follow Your Dreams

by desing | Faith & Purpose

Facing the fear to go after your dreams in full force is so much easier said than done, right?

You may hear motivational speakers say things like, “Do it scared anyway” or “Face your fear” but that may not make a difference when your fear of failure, the unknown, rejection or being uncomfortable has officially held your dreams hostage.

Well let me tell you a story that may offer a different perspective.

Earlier this year, I had perhaps one of the most significant meetings of my life and it was with my pastor who shepherds a congregation of 35,000+ members and who humbly has reached levels of success that are unprecedented.

During the meeting, I explained that I had suffered some of my greatest disappointments AFTER I took the leap of faith into fulfilling my purpose and realizing the dreams inside of my heart.

He shared this story with me about his earlier days when he was first called out to begin his ministry. He left the comfort of his job in banking to build what he knew in his heart he had been created to do. He explained that in the four years following that decision, he experienced incredible economic hardship.

With a wife and four children to feed, he did what most of us would do. He went looking for a job in banking and was offered a position. While being offered the position, he said that he felt an extreme amount of guilt because in his heart he knew that he was supposed to continue building his ministry. He decided to trust God and declined the position.

And I’m glad that he did.

One day, I sat in the middle of our beautiful and what feels like a million acre church campus, feeling discouraged. I never ever felt like quitting the way I did that day. At that moment, I remembered the conversation I had with my pastor.

I was sitting dead smack in the middle of the benefit of his decision to continue going even when he saw no way out. Because of one decision he made over 30 years ago, myself and millions of others are benefiting today – including you. Yes, you are benefiting from his decision because a good chunk of my teachings are derived from the wisdom that I learned from hours of his teachings.

What if he would have went against his heart and took that job? Would this church even be here today? Will he have had to the opportunity to minister to and mentor elected officials, including mayors and past presidents? Would I even be the woman I am today? How many lives would not have been transformed?

It all came into perspective for me.

I knew that someone would either suffer or benefit from my decision to quit. There is someone who 30 years from now will be impacted by my decision to quit or move forward. I made the choice to keep going.

Why? Because fulfilling your dreams isn’t about you. Someone else is going to benefit from your choice to take off the gloves and fight for your dreams. You might be the one to break the cycle of poverty in your family. Someone 15 years from now will benefit from reading that book of yours. Your decision to become a therapist may break the chains of abuse in someone else’s family. Your decision to commit to that start-up will inspire millions of girls around the world to follow their dreams.

The epicenter of your legacy is accepting your life’s assignment. Those dreams have been assigned to you and only you can realize them, yes, only you. You have been designed for that mission and all you have experienced will come together to help you achieve that assignment. Your pain will be the stepping stone to your destiny.

I cannot bear to think that someone else may suffer because of my own selfishness, fear or lack of faith and neither should you.

Commit to your dreams, someone is waiting for you.

XOXO,

Maria I. Melendez

@embraceherlegacy

P.S. – If you don’t know where to start then download my Goal- Setting Success Series Bootcamp, I will guide you step-by-step!

Faith to Change Your Circumstances

by desing | Faith & Purpose

Like some of you, I’ve had a rough few months. Things started happening in my life that I never ever saw coming. It seemed like I just couldn’t get a break, one thing after the other.