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.

Grad Chapter: Honest moment

Dear Inspirations,

As of December 10th 2016, I am officially done with graduate school. (Inserts a fist pump) I am free from school!! I've graduated once again and this time it was different. I remember how amazing and stress free it was to graduate for the first time. There was so much adrenaline pumping and I looked at the world as a ocean. I was ready to take the world by storm.

Fast forward four years.... I'm married, I'm a mom and I guess you could say the world feels different.

Saturday felt amazing don't get me wrong. BUT the feeling was different. I felt a sense of pride, joy and true completion. I am the first one in my family mom and dad side to go to college. I was the first one to get my bachelors and currently the only one. I was also the first one to get my masters. I'm not saying this to brag. I'm saying this because I feel extremely grateful. Undergraduate I felt like I did it for my dad and my sisters. Graduate school was for me. I started the program single, but I ended it married and with a son.
So much growth as a woman.

Time flies and life does not wait for you to get ready!

Even though I graduated Saturday.... I am yet unemployed at this exact moment. (just typing that makes me cringe)
Despite being unemployed.. I know that greater is coming. I tell myself this daily and some days are harder to believe than others.
I will be the first to say that its very hard when it seems like nothing is looking up.

I'll be real honest and say that.. the weeks leading up to graduation I felt hopeless, discouraged, and really down and out. Everyone was asking "How do you feel are you excited?" I had to fake it.
I was having a hard time looking at graduation as an accomplishment, because of my current job situation.

I was trying really hard to shake it. I was having a inner battle.  I have those moments all the time. I try really hard not to let it effect my personal life, but it does.

I'm working on that as a person.

I know in months to come things might get tough, but I also believe that God will make a way.
He always does. Some how I'm always okay.

I believe in God.

I have some amazing people in my life that don't let me beat myself up.
I have real friends in my corner rooting for me.
I have a wonderful husband and a son who loves me dearly. Not for what I have, but for who I am.
Because of those things I must go on.

I closed yet another chapter of my life.
It's time for a new one.

Only God knows what's next for me. Whatever it is I AM READY.
I'm going to focus in and get ready for my blessings.

This blog is for me as a reminder of where I am in my life. It is also for you.
If you feel like giving up... DON'T
If you feel like you aren't standing in the right place... YOU ARE
If you feel like you should stand on faith and do something else ...DO IT
If you feel like you are struggling and no one knows how you feel... I DO
If you feel like things won't get better... THEY WILL

Until next time

DearJasmineP

Because God works

Dear Inspirations, 

Why is it that when we are going through we have a hard time believing it's going to work out? 

It's not until after its worked out that we are able to relax and rejoice in what God has done for us. 

I don't want to be that person that's worried that God won't answer my prayers. In the midst of my test and in the midst of my storm I want to already be rejoicing that he has brought me out. 

I want to be so rooted in God that my faith lets me see it already worked out. 

I want it to become such a routine where I don't have to worry. 

Why can't we trust God? When our whole world is upside down, we must believe that he will fix it.

To many times as humans we sit and wonder "how am I going to make it, how will I get through this" 

Today I remind you that God has already worked it. Your life is going as planned. God has heard your cry. God has heard your prayer. No matter what the situation is.. Know that God has went ahead and answered. It's all in a matter of timing. We ask for so much and sometimes he just wants us to be patient. 

Will you believe God today? 

Will you believe that your blessing is just  on the other side of that test? 

Yes it might be hard and we might not want to go through it, but believe that it's already done! 

Happy Monday! 

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. 

DearJasmineP Gifts for Xmas

Dear Inspirations,

This weekend I had the privilege to volunteer at the George R. Brown Convention Center. It was such a joy to be a part of such an awesome event 20 years running. I remember years ago being one of the kids that received a toy in the audience. I remember how it made me feel inside to have someone give me a Christmas present. As I stood on the food line adding wieners to buns and putting chicken nuts on plates it gave me so much life.

As you know I started a shirt campaign in hopes to make enough money to bless a family or individual with something for Christmas. Well, the first set of shirts didn't go as planned and honestly apart of me wanted to give up. I kinda felt defeated, but then I realized that maybe my shirt goal of 75 was to high and sometimes you have to start small. So I relaunched the campaign with a goal of 10 shirts and I lowered the donation amount. Within two days we made the goal!! It gave made me so happy inside that We raised $53!

After we reached the goal I had to figure out how I was going to get a family nominated. I social media buzzed as usual and  in two days I received the first email. I was up late that night and I had just said "I'm going to sleep". When I read that email about 3 precious kids in need my heart was moved so much that I couldn't go to sleep. I had to do something and it was bigger than just the 53$ so the next day I made a few phone calls and tried to see what I could find.

That's when I found out about the Toy Drive, I knew it happened in Houston every year but I wasn't sure when. I signed them up and I even signed myself and Young Ladies of Elegance up to volunteer.

I looked forward to the event for the following week and as time got closer I only hoped that the kids would be able to make it.

They did!!! Their mom had no idea what the event was or who even signed her up. She explained to me that she is working two jobs to make sure that they have a good Christmas. I watched tears fill her eyes and I watched her beautiful kids smile.

That moment changed my life forever. Don't get me wrong I have been giving all year and it made me happy but nothing was like the smile on their faces. They hugged me like I had known them forever they were holding my hands like I was their big sister. The event went on and we hung out when I wasn't serving food.

At the end they got their toy, took a picture with Santa and got their faces painted.

Giving from the heart is what I know I am here to do. Honestly, they can have the 9-5 and the meet the deadlines. I just want to travel the world changing lives and giving to people that's when I am at my happiest.

I will be visiting those kids again on Christmas Eve with another Christmas gift with the funds from the shirt campaign.

Thank you to everyone that donated and gave to the cause. A big thank you to Shelia Jackson Lee and Young Ladies of Elegance/Young Men of Character. Also a thank you to the person that nominated the family. Last but not least Thank you to Carolina Rodriguez #CarosavesChristmas and Adeola Oguntuga for believing in me.

 

 

 

 

I hope that you felt inspired enough to help someone in need or just put a smile on someone's face.

 

Love JasmineP.

New doors request.

Dear inspirations 

Old ways don't open new doors. I want new doors. I have to get some new ways. 

God help me gather my thoughts to fuel one thing so that I can be great. I don't want to be standing at the same door. I know I am capable of being great. Help me open a new door. 

Happy Monday! 

Love Jasmine