January- Jump Review

Dear Inspirations,

I’ve always loved reading ever since I was able to read. I would beg my grandmother to let me walk to the public library and I was faithful to my Power-card.  As I got older I got out of the habit of reading simply because I don’t make time for it. “Reading is fundamental” we all know that. 

So, with that being said I am going to read one book a month. One book a month sounds easy, so easy that I was not able to complete it last year. This year I am not going to let it go. I am holding myself accountable. Here’s my January review of Jump by Steve Harvey.

Review

JUMP- GAVE ME LIFE 

After reading Steve Harvey’s book my soul is hopeful, renewed and enlightened.

I feel as though it was written just for me. I started the book January 1^st and I finished it January 15^th. The book is relatively short with six chapters. I love this book for a number of reasons but I don’t want to spoil it for you. The first one is the personal anecdotes that Steve shares about his personal life. I've  always been a fan of his since Showtime at the Apollo. After reading this book it is very clear how he became successful. He jumped. In every situation he had choices to make and every time he chose to jump.  

Steve made it clear in every chapter that “if you don’t jump your parachute will never open”.

My God, that statement alone spoke to me in ways that I can’t even begin to explain.

I feel like we all want to live a life that is purposeful but at the same time we’re all scared to jump.

Year after year, I’ve thought about things I wanted to do. I’ve envisioned them, I’ve prayed on them, I’ve wrote them down. But I have never jumped fully. I’ve been in and I’ve been out. I’ve got on that ledge and I’ve said I’m going out there to do this, but each time I’ve ran back.

Steve defines jump in so many  ways.

“Jumping is taking a risk, a leap of faith towards your dreams. Jumping is making a career move, Jumping is rectifying an issue in your personal relationships. Jumping is embracing the ambition that God has put in your imagination and you making a commitment to manifest it in your life” 

(Harvey and Lakins).

I want to JUMP. I want God to open doors in my life that I didn’t even know were possible. I want to live in such a way that my son believes that he is truly capable of anything. Not only because I tell him and teach him, but because I am an example of that.

Each chapter was a true eye opener and a testament of jumping. I really want you to read the book so I won’t go into too many details. However, I will share one  quote  and what I learned and from each chapter.

Chapter one:“The more jump, the more you will look back and be amazed at how far God has brought you” (Harvey and Lakins).

Every lesson that you learn in life prepares you for the next level of your life. If you never fail you will never know what it is to win. If you fail and wallow in that failure you will never be able to win. Jumping is necessary.

Chapter two: "Hope requires you to get out of your bed and make something happen every day."

When you jump, you must have hope that your parachute will open. You can’t expect for everything to be glamour’s at the beginning. Even when times get tough you must keep going because you have faith. I know this is why it’s taken me so long to jump in my professional life.

Chapter three:. "There is absolutely nothing in your life that God hasn't already pulled you through or isn't currently  pulling you through".

 God will truly bring you out of any situation. He will take that same situation and turn it into something good! When you find yourself in a situation those REAL ones will be there without you asking. I think this was one of my favorite chapters because it spoke real truth to Steve's life

  

Chapter four:"God can bless your steps if you are taking some. He cannot bless your steps if you are not taking any." 

Some times one jump ends up setting you up for your whole life. I look back on my life and I see the fruits of my jumps. It is no coincidence that I am where I am because every jump that I've taken has set me up for this moment. I need to be more open to sharing my gifts with the world  in ANY capacity. I am going to keep going

Chapter five:  "Your dream has to be tied to something that you are gifted at doing".

When people ask me whats my end game, I often feel intimidated or pressured to lie. I think the uncertainty of living up to that potential scares me. When I was younger I aspired to be a singer, and a piano player. Then for a  very long time I wanted to become a journalist and an actress.  In my mind I was going to be bigger than Oprah. In fact I had mapped out this master plan  to steal Oprah's story line and put my name on it. (so serious) I know now that my gift is bigger than news and being in movies.  I want to inspire people to be the best version of themselves. I believe that I have a true gift to motivate and inspire others even if it's just sharing a smile. I will eventually open a non profit organization that will foster those gifts. This chapter reminded me that no matter where I am today in this journey of life I am still going to come out on top! 

Chapter six: "Never let your past mistakes or your fears stop you from jumping"

It's easy to say "you know what A,B & C did not work. I am not going out there again and look like a fool. I know this to be true in my personal life. I've failed more times then I like to express and because I've failed I've allowed it to cripple my success. 2016 was a whole year of me not jumping because I was to scared. I don't want to live like that. I don't want my son to feel like if you fall down one time you can't ever get back on his bike. I am going to try new things this year. If it does not work SO WHAT! 

Inspirations, if you don't read anything else this year read JUMP. I'm yet blessed that my friend Casilya  thought enough of me to buy the book as a graduation gift. I believe that it was a true message in that book just for me. I am going to JUMP. I don't know the details of the jump, but what I do know for sure is that life is to short to stay on the ledge.

Drop me some of your favorite books in the comments! We're reading one a month!

Until we meet again

DearJasmineP. 

Harvey, Steve, and Leah Lakins. "Introduction." Jump: Take the Leap of Faith to Achieve Your Life of Abundance. New York, NY: Amistad 30, an Imprint of HarperCollinsPublishers, 2016. N. pag. Print.

Make someone's day

Dear Inspirations,

I spoke with a friend yesterday about a number of things. Mainly this person spoke about how at times they do things for people and they don't expect anything in return. I could agree with that statement whole heartedly.

The person also, said that at times it would be nice if someone thought of them the way they thought of others.

Could you imagine a world where everyone thought of someone else besides themselves?

I think that could possibly could bring world peace. Somehow people might react different. Somehow people might wake up in a better mood. Think about.

Whenever it's Christmas and someone gets you a gift that you didn't expect at all.
How does that make you feel?
Happy right?
What about when you find some money on the ground?
What about when someone says... "I like that shirt"
You feel like "man I am having a great day"
What about the time someone offers to pay for your food and you say "no I am ok"

And they do it anyway. These are the moments that the universe needs more of. These are the moments that could change your life or someone else’s.

I am a believer in random acts of kindness.
I am also a strong believer in showing gratitude to others.

Do we know this statement to be true?

WE ARE ALL GOING THROUGH LIFE.
Why not help make someone else’s life a little bit better?

I am not saying go out and spend your paycheck on your rude coworker.
I am not saying give a compliment to ever person you see.
I am also not saying go without for another individual.
I am simply saying...

Think of someone else.
Think of a way to help someone in need.
Think of how you can possibly make someone’s day.

P.s. It’s almost Friday.

Yours Truly

Jasmine P.

 

Unleash the Beast

Dear Inspirations 

For a Monday I feel relatively good which is always a awesome thing. Despite  last week being  so hard for me mentally I made it through. I even had a few moments of "This can't be life, The struggle can't be this hard'', but it was.

You ever have a bad day and no matter how you try to get passed it seems like it just keeps getting worse? That's how last week was and I am truly glad that it is behind me.

This  week I'm looking forward to good news. Since last week was so bad I know this week will be better. I can almost feel my breakthrough coming. I am closer to victory. I am closer to my dreams. I can feel things getting better. I see myself coming out. These are the things I tell myself.

I am feeling pretty BEASTLY!

In current events...

@DearJasmineP on Instagram reached 700 followers last night. I know that might not be  much to you, but for me it feels like 700k. I started the movement really to help myself daily and then I realized how much people needed to see inspiration daily. I feel bad somedays and sometimes I can't even post because I don't believe in the message. On those days I scroll down my timeline and others inspire me. Followers like @Choran89 gives me hope to go on. I  have no idea how we began following each other, but I'm so glad we did. Although he lives in New York and I'm in Houston together we have made the perfect inspiration team. My only hope is that he doesn't stop and that he holds me to the same promise.

I love reading  all of the comments that say "thank you for this" and other positive thoughts. To all of my followers thank you for following, I hope that my truths inspire you and motivate you to chase your dreams. One day I to will follow my dreams and I hope you all remember this blog and remind me of my promise.

More good news, DearJasmineP finally has a LOGO and I am in the process of getting shirts designed! I am excited for the finish product!  Coming soon!

This week be encouraged, I know this is SO easy to say, but really try to stay positive.
Stay motivated by all of the positive things that are happening in your life. Embrace your struggle and embrace your future. Every now and again a door is closed, but its only for a new one to be opened. I know he truly has a plan for my life, for your life, for our lives! This week I challenge you to dig deep and unleash your inner BEAST!

Inspiring and Empowering all over....

Love Jasmine P. 

The notebook

Dear Inspirations,

This is for anyone that thinks love doesn't exist are that the fairytale that you desire doesn't exist. We all want love even if we don't say it or even if the past we knew as love was a little dark. My personal experience in love was pretty rocky until now. I never really knew that I could even feel this way and the feelingwould be so amazing. Even at this exact moment  that it's hard to describe.

From the moment we met I know for sure that I knew he was the one. We were on our first date and it just felt really weird but not in a bad way. I couldn't explain it but at that moment I described it as an "array of emotions". The date went well and the dates after that were even better.

How did we meet?  I met Adeola through the help of my cousin and we instantly clicked. His pick up line was so cute on my profile bio I said I was "almost perfect" he responded with "your perfect" from that moment I knew he was the guy for me. Without going into to many details Addy is the perfect man for me because of all of the qualities he posses.

He is everything in a man that I ever wanted. You know how you meet some people and your like well I don't like this or that..  or they do such and such to make you mad all the time. Or maybe you disagree on a lot of things. Well this is totally the opposite. Now of course we have our fights and we disagree but the love really surpasses the arguments. His personality and my personality go hand and hand. It's almost like God really knew and crafted him with me in mind.

So here's what you really came here for... The proposal.

I remember that night the weather didn't permit for our original plans (The Field of Lights)  so instead We went to dinner at one of our favorite restaurants (Kona Grill). He was the perfect gentlemen all night as usual, When dinner was over he insisted on getting a red box movie.





He rode around to three different ones looking for the movie of his choice. When we got home he put the movie in and it was The Notebook. I wanted to cry instantly because it's my favorite movie. We watched the movie and right at the  the scene of the guy proposing he got up and got on his knee.

"I love you and I want to be with you for the rest of my life, you make me a better person each day and I want you to be my wife. He said some more sweet stuff, but I was in such a shock that I cried.

Then the words we all wait our whole life to hear came off his lips "Will you marry me"? At that moment I said yes in my mind without one reservation. I knew I wanted forever, I knew I wanted him to be the father of my kids. Names picked and all.

I said yes!! Adeola is going to be my husband and I can't wait to be his wife!

Our love is unique because it didn't take us years to figure out that we wanted to be together forever. It's so true when people say you know when you meet the one. I'm sure you have questions on when the date is? What are the colors and what the plan is. Currently, we have a date in mind. No further details have been confirmed.

I look forward to spending my life with him and everything that comes with it.

I wrote this blog in hopes to inspire you to keep your heart open to true  love. Believe me when I say it will come. In my case it came when I least expected it. Personally, I was ready to give it up, call it quits, and get a dog.

But then Love called me and I answered and the rest is still being written.

Me: Our love is Almost Perfect

Him: It is perfect.

Me: It is.

"So it's not gonna be easy, it's gonna be really hard. And we're gonna have to work at this everyday, but I wanna do that because I want you. I want all of you, forever. You and me. Everyday.”  - The Notebook

Ps: Stay tuned for #TheOguntugawedding

Love Jasmine P.