​We often believe change has to be loud to be meaningful. We wait for the breakthrough, the promotion, the moment when everything finally clicks. But real transformation rarely arrives in a single defining moment.
More often, it shows up quietly, through small wins that compound over time.

Small Wins Are Evidence You’re Moving Forward
A small win may not feel impressive in the moment, but it matters more than you think. It looks like:

• Getting out of bed on a hard day
• Choosing rest instead of burnout
• Speaking up when you usually stay silent
• Saying no to something that drains you
• Taking the first step instead of waiting for the perfect one

These moments are proof that growth is happening, even when it doesn’t feel dramatic.

Consistency Beats Intensity
Big changes don’t come from short bursts of motivation. They come from steady, repeatable actions. You don’t need to overhaul your entire life overnight. You need:

• One better choice today
• One healthier boundary
• One honest conversation
• One act of self-trust

Consistency builds confidence. Confidence fuels momentum. Momentum creates change.

Small Wins Shift Your Identity
Every small win reinforces a new story about who you are.
When you show up for yourself consistently, you begin to believe:

• I can trust myself
• I am capable of change
• I don’t need permission to grow

These quiet shifts in identity are often the most powerful changes of all.

Celebrate Progress, Not Perfection
Waiting until everything is “fixed” before celebrating keeps you stuck. Progress deserves acknowledgment, even when it’s messy, incomplete, or slow. Celebrate the effort. Celebrate the courage. Celebrate the fact that you didn’t quit. Perfection is fragile. Progress is sustainable. A single decision can change a direction. A single habit can change a mindset. A single boundary can change a relationship. What feels small today may be the very thing that reshapes your future.

You don’t need a massive leap to create a meaningful life. You need small, intentional steps taken consistently. Honor the small wins. Trust the process. Believe in the compounding power of showing up.

Small wins create big changes one day at a time.
​
Give Grace Daily,
~Carrie P.~

​Click the link below to purchase your Copy of my new book:
You Can't Outwork Grief: My Journey Through the Wilderness: Porter, Carrie: 9798244650211: Amazon.com: Books

Week three felt different. Not necessarily easier, but clearer. The swelling in my ankle has reduced a bit and the pain is more manageable. The routine of recovery is more familiar and yet, something deeper has shifted inside me. Last week wasn’t about physical endurance; it was about redefining what strength actually means. My appointments went well. I saw my scars for the first time, and they weren't as bad as I expected thank God. To be honest, the thought of the next 5 months of healing and recovery began to challenge me mentally.

The Challenge
Throughout my life, a good part of me associated strength with movement. I'm sure being an athlete played a role in that perspective in my younger years. Strength meant pushing forward, showing up, producing, leading, carrying responsibility well, and staying composed under pressure. But recovery doesn’t reward pushing, it rewards patience. Last week, I felt the tension between who I’ve always been, the woman who handles, fixes, produces, and who this season requires me to be. Someone who asks for help, who rests, who doesn’t have all the answers right now and that’s been humbling. The last injury I experienced was a broken finger, back in my late twenties. I was still playing basketball in leagues, while working full-time at Walgreens, and raising my two sons. I remember, being in a cast for 6 weeks, on leave from work, and navigating the healing journey. It wasn't terribly bad then.

Fifteen years later, and life is different, the body is different, healing takes longer, and this injury was more traumatic. With all of that in mind, the recovery period for me seems to be more mental than physical. The stillness that comes with limited mobility opens the mind to constant thoughts. Constant thoughts that I have to be intentional about carrying. When dealing with this level of a life shift suddenly, it's easy to slip into a depression, frustration, anger, and regrets. The daily choice continues to be mine. The daily choice will be yours. Do I allow the pain, the silence, the stillness, the frustration to conquer my optimism? How do I multiply positive thoughts about the outcome? The future? Continue to focus on safely healing? 

The Optimist Shift
At some point this week, I realized something important: Strength isn’t proven in how much you can carry alone. It’s revealed in how honestly you can admit you need support. Optimism, in week three, has looked like vulnerability. It has looked like allowing family to assist me without guilt. It has looked like honoring my body’s pace instead of competing with my old one. Real strength isn’t loud. Sometimes it’s quiet, steady, and deeply surrendered. Recovery continues to stretch all three pillars of Optimist Life Management.

Family This week reminded me that receiving care is just as powerful as giving it. There is strength in allowing others to show up for you.

Career Productivity has a new rhythm. I’m learning that leadership doesn’t disappear in seasons of limitation it adapts. I've committed to writing, journaling, blogging to release my thoughts versus, allowing them to consume me. 

Health Healing is not linear. Some days I feel strong. Others I feel fragile. Listening to my body instead of forcing has become my discipline. I've slept more than I could have allowed myself to prior to this injury. The guilt I used to carry for resting and "not" being productive is continuing to diminish and I'm okay with that. 

Balance right now doesn’t look like doing it all, it looks like doing what’s necessary with intention.

Faith and Reflection Moment
Last week I reflected on how often we pray for strength but rarely define what it might require. What if strength in this season isn’t about resilience through pressure, but surrender through uncertainty? God is teaching me that I don’t lose identity when I slow down. I don’t lose impact when I rest. And I don’t lose purpose when progress is gradual. Sometimes the bravest thing we can do is trust the process we cannot control.

If you’re navigating recovery, physical or emotional, remember this:
You are not weak because you need help.
You are not behind because you’re healing.
You are not less powerful because you’re moving differently.
Strength evolves.
And sometimes it looks like softness.

Closing Affirmation “I am strong enough to heal at my own pace.”

✨ Week three: redefining strength, one steady step at a time. Mentally prepared for week 4 into my recovery... ✨
​
With Gratitude,
~Carrie P.~
​
​Click the link below to purchase your Copy of my new book:
You Can't Outwork Grief: My Journey Through the Wilderness: Porter, Carrie: 9798244650211: Amazon.com: Books
​

Influence is often measured by titles, visibility, and achievement. But the most powerful influence a woman carries is not found in her position; it is found in her alignment. Today’s influential woman is managing multiple roles simultaneously. She is leading in boardrooms, nurturing at home, protecting her health, and carrying personal battles that rarely make it onto résumés. Career, family, and well-being are not separate lanes. They intersect daily. And how we manage that intersection determines not only our success, but our sustainability.

My understanding of influence began long before corporate leadership. I became a teen mother at a pivotal stage in life. That experience shaped me in ways no professional title ever could. It instilled urgency, responsibility, and an unwavering drive to build stability for my children. I earned my degrees. I advanced professionally. I led teams. I refused to allow early motherhood to limit my future. Instead, it became my lifelong motivator. That same determination later carried me into a District Manager role, where I led multiple locations, developed leaders, and drove performance outcomes. I valued excellence. I thrived in responsibility. I believed deeply in modeling resilience and composure under pressure. The reality is high achievement can quietly mask imbalance.

While leading professionally, I was also grieving the loss of my mother, a grief that reshaped my emotional landscape. Instead of slowing down to process the pain, I worked harder. Productivity became structure. Performance became focus. Achievement became distraction. Many high-performing women understand this instinct. When life feels uncertain, we double down on control. We manage. We execute. We deliver. The truth is avoidance dressed as strength eventually surfaces. Three months before I experienced a significant physical injury, I made a decision that felt both courageous and unsettling: I stepped down from my District Manager role. From the outside, it may have appeared like a step back. Internally, it was a step toward alignment. I recognized that I needed to prioritize my health, my mind, and my family more intentionally. The pace I had been sustaining was effective, but not sustainable. Letting go of a leadership title I had worked hard to earn challenged my identity. It required me to trust a future that was not fully mapped out. For women accustomed to upward mobility, stepping back can feel like regression. Leadership is not defined solely by advancement; it is defined by discernment.

Three months later, when injury forced even deeper stillness, I realized how divinely timed that decision had been. Recovery demanded presence and healing required patience. The space I had created by stepping down allowed me to reflect instead of resist. In that season of transition and recovery, I refined what I now call the Optimist Life framework, managing three essential pillars daily:

• Family
• Career
• Health

Not perfectly. Intentionally.

For years, career had consumed the greatest share of my energy. Family was prioritized emotionally but often squeezed between professional demands. Health was managed reactively instead of proactively. Stepping down allowed recalibration. Injury reinforced it. Managing family, career, and health through intentional optimism means asking honest questions:
Am I nurturing what matters most at home?
Am I leading professionally with integrity and alignment?
Am I investing in my physical and mental well-being with the same discipline I give my responsibilities?

Optimism became my stabilizer. Optimism did not erase grief, it did not eliminate the fear of career uncertainty, and it did not remove the discomfort of physical recovery. But it reframed each experience. Grief became a teacher instead of an anchor. Stepping down became recalibration instead of retreat. Healing became preparation instead of pause. Optimism is often misunderstood as blind positivity. In reality, it is disciplined perspective. It is the intentional choice to see opportunity within adversity and growth within discomfort. It is courage paired with clarity.

My journey, from teen motherhood to corporate leadership to intentional transition, taught me that influence expands when alignment deepens. The influential woman of today is not defined by constant motion. She is defined by her ability to navigate complexity with wisdom. She understands that stepping back at times is strategic. She recognizes that tending to health is leadership. She honors grief instead of burying it beneath achievement. She trusts that her identity is larger than any single title. Stepping down from my District Manager role did not diminish my influence, it strengthened my self-awareness. It expanded my capacity to lead with authenticity. It allowed me to rebuild from wholeness rather than exhaustion. Influence is not about doing more. It is about managing wisely. And managing wisely requires optimism, not as a personality trait, but as a disciplined practice.

The Optimist Woman leads at work with clarity. She loves at home with intention. She lives well with responsibility. And when life demands recalibration, she trusts herself enough to adjust because influence that flows from wholeness does not fade, it multiplies.

With Gratitude,
~Carrie P.~
​
​Click the link below to purchase your Copy of my new book:
You Can't Outwork Grief: My Journey Through the Wilderness: Porter, Carrie: 9798244650211: Amazon.com: Books

Week two of recovery was quieter, but not easier. The initial shock of injury has settled, and in its place is a deeper awareness of stillness. The days are slower now. There’s less movement, fewer distractions, and more time with my own thoughts. In that stillness, I’ve come face to face with a question I didn’t expect to ask myself so soon: Who am I when I’m not constantly doing?

The greatest challenge last week wasn’t physical pain; it was sitting with discomfort without rushing to escape it. When life slows down, emotions surface that are easy to ignore when we’re busy. Restlessness. Frustration. Vulnerability. Even self-doubt. I noticed how instinctively I wanted to do something, anything, to feel productive, useful, or worthy. Healing, however, doesn’t respond well to urgency, it requires patience. Presence. Trust. And honestly, that has been a bit uncomfortable for me.

The Optimist Shift
At some point this week, I realized that stillness was asking something different of me. Instead of measuring my value by what I could accomplish, I began measuring it by how well I could listen, to my body, my emotions, and God’s quiet guidance. Optimism in this season hasn’t looked like positivity for positivity’s sake. It has looked like surrender. Choosing to believe that slowing down is not a setback, but a necessary step forward. Stillness isn’t stagnation, it’s preparation.

Family, Career, and Health Insight
This week required a new kind of balance across all three pillars of Optimist Life Management:

• Family: Accepting help without guilt and allowing myself to be cared for, not just be the caretaker.
• Career: Releasing the pressure to prove productivity and trusting that impact isn’t erased by rest.
• Health: Honoring my body’s limits and understanding that healing cannot be rushed without consequence.

Managing these areas intentionally has reminded me that balance doesn’t mean equal effort, it means appropriate attention for the season you’re in.

Faith and Reflection Moment
This week deepened my trust in God’s timing. When movement is limited, faith becomes less about action and more about assurance. I’ve been reminded that God doesn’t equate stillness with absence. He works just as powerfully in the quiet moments as He does in seasons of momentum. Sometimes the pause is the plan. I was interviewed by Influential Women last week, and it felt good to be recognized as an Influential Women even after stepping back in my career 3 months ago. The interview intertwined with my physical pause feels like a season only God could have predicted and structured in my life during this season. 

Interview available here: Influential Women

If life has slowed you down, through injury, loss, burnout, or transition, know this:
-Your worth is not defined by your output.
-Your identity is not lost in stillness.
-And this pause may be preparing you for what comes next.

Closing Affirmation "I am not falling behind. I am being prepared.”

✨ Week Two Epiphany: learning to be still, without losing myself. ✨

With Gratitude,
~Carrie P.~

Click the link below to purchase your Copy of my new book:
You Can't Outwork Grief: My Journey Through the Wilderness: Porter, Carrie: 9798244650211: Amazon.com: Books
​

Layoffs can shake you to your core. One day you’re planning, contributing, and building momentum, then suddenly, everything changes. The uncertainty can feel overwhelming. Questions spiral. Confidence takes a hit. Fear creeps in quietly and loudly all at once. If you’re in this season, let me say this first: what you’re feeling is valid. And I want you to know that this season does not define your worth, your talent, or your future.

Acknowledge the Loss Without Living There
A layoff isn’t just about losing a paycheck. It can feel like losing identity, routine, security, and direction. Ignoring those emotions doesn’t make you strong, it makes healing harder. The reality is, when you've dedicated 10, 20, and even 30 years to a company, and not leaving on your own terms, retirement for example, that makes the situation more difficult to move forward from. It's important to give yourself permission to grieve what was. Then gently remind yourself: this is a chapter, not the whole story. Optimism doesn’t mean pretending everything is fine. It means believing that something meaningful can still come from this moment, even if you can’t see it yet.

Separate Your Worth from Your Job Title
One of the hardest parts of layoffs is the silent question it plants: Was I not good enough?
Let’s be clear, layoffs are often business decisions, not personal reflections. Market shifts, restructuring, and financial pressures are real, but they are not a measurement of your value. When I decided to step down from the District Manager role 3 months ago, the detachment from my title and accomplishments were challenging. I allowed my spirit to guide me, my heart to lead me, and continued to remind myself that my worth was still valuable. I was still a great leader no matter what role I was in. Continue to affirm that You are still:

• Capable
• Experienced
• Resilient
• Needed

Your skills didn’t disappear with the role. Your purpose didn’t either.

Reclaim What You Can Control
When things feel unstable, optimism grows best in intentional action, not waiting. Focus on what you can control:

• Updating your resume and LinkedIn with confidence
• Reaching out to trusted connections
• Creating structure in your days, even without a job to report to
• Investing time in learning or refining a skill you’ve put off

Small, consistent steps restore momentum, and momentum fuels hope. Redefining this season as a reset, not a failure, will help you through this difficult time. Sometimes layoffs force pauses we wouldn’t choose, but pauses can be powerful. This may be a moment to ask:

• What did that role teach me?
• What do I want more of in my next chapter?
• What no longer fits the life I’m building?

Optimism grows when we stop asking “Why did this happen to me?” and start asking “What is this preparing me for?”

Lean on Support, Optimism Grows in Community
You don’t have to be strong alone. Talk to people who see you clearly. Let trusted friends, family, or mentors remind you of your strengths when your confidence feels quiet. Isolation feeds fear: connection restores perspective. Sometimes optimism enters through someone else’s belief, until you can fully hold it yourself again.

Hold on to this truth my dear Optimists:
Being laid off is something that happened to you. It is not who you are...

This season may feel uncertain, but uncertainty is often where reinvention begins. Stay open. Stay hopeful. Stay grounded in the truth that you are still moving forward, even when the path looks different than expected.

Optimism isn’t denial. It’s courage with vision. And you still have BOTH. 

​With gratitude,
~Carrie P.~
​
Click the link below to purchase your Copy of my new book:
You Can't Outwork Grief: My Journey Through the Wilderness: Porter, Carrie: 9798244650211: Amazon.com: Books

For many women in leadership, strength has been defined by one thing: holding it together.
Show up. Perform. Lead. Stay composed. Even when life is heavy behind the scenes. But the truth is, the most influential women aren’t the ones who never struggle. They’re the ones who lead with courage through the struggle, without losing themselves in the process. In today’s world, leadership isn’t just about results. It’s about trust, emotional intelligence, and the ability to create safe spaces where people can grow. And that’s exactly why vulnerability and authenticity aren’t weaknesses in leadership, they’re powerful strengths.

The New Era of Leadership Requires More Than Performance
For years, leadership was measured by authority, confidence, and control. While those qualities still matter, modern leadership requires something deeper: presence. Authentic leaders don’t hide behind titles. They don’t pretend to have all the answers. They lead with humility, clarity, and integrity. When a woman leads authentically, she gives her team permission to show up as real people, not just employees. She shifts the culture from survival to sustainability, and she helps others thrive without burnout. Trust is the foundation of influence. Without trust, leadership becomes management. With trust, leadership becomes transformation. Vulnerability builds trust because it sends a clear message: “You’re safe with me.”  When leaders are willing to say:

• “I’m learning too.”
• “I don’t have all the answers.”
• “That was hard for me.”
• “I made a mistake, and I’m accountable.”

…it changes everything. It creates connection. It strengthens loyalty. It encourages honesty. And it builds teams that don’t operate in fear, but in purpose.

The Pressure to “Be Strong” Comes with a Cost
Many women feel pressure to wear a professional mask, even when life is falling apart personally. In corporate spaces, grief, hardship, and emotional pain often feel like things we’re expected to manage privately while still performing publicly. Women especially carry so much:

• leadership expectations
• family responsibilities
• emotional labor
• caregiving roles
• personal healing

…and still feel the need to look “fine.” But pretending has a cost. It often shows up as burnout, anxiety, isolation, and emotional exhaustion. The truth is, leadership was never meant to require self-abandonment.

Authenticity Helps Women Lead Without Losing Themselves
Vulnerability is not oversharing. It’s not weakness. It’s not instability. Vulnerability is strength with honesty.
It’s the ability to be confident and human at the same time. It’s what allows women to lead with both excellence and emotional wisdom. When women embrace authenticity, they stop leading from pressure and start leading from purpose. They stop trying to prove themselves and start leading as themselves.

My journey: Resilience, Growth, and Purpose
As a devoted mother, author, manager, entrepreneur, blogger, and true optimist, I’ve learned that leadership isn’t only built in boardrooms, office meetings, or team huddles, it’s built in real life. With a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and a Master’s of Management Degree, I’ve built a life rooted in purpose, resilience, and growth, but my journey began with challenge. Becoming a teen mom strengthened my determination to stay self-motivated, pursue my goals, and keep achieving meaningful accomplishments along the way. That season taught me discipline, grit, and a belief that your beginning does not define your destiny.
It also taught me this:
Every obstacle carries a silver lining, along with an opportunity to grow, learn, and rise stronger than before...
Women who lead with vulnerability and authenticity become influential because they lead with integrity, not image. They are more trusted, more relatable, and more consistent. They build healthier cultures. They develop people, not just outcomes. Authentic leadership looks like:

• owning mistakes without shame
• setting boundaries with confidence
• leading with empathy instead of ego
• creating space for others to be honest
• being consistent even when no one is watching

It’s not about being perfect. It’s about being present. Authenticity is not a trend. It’s a leadership advantage.
Vulnerability is not a liability. It’s a legacy tool. Because when women lead with courage, honesty, and heart, they don’t just produce results, they create change, and they give other women permission to rise.

With gratitude,
~Carrie P.~
​
Click the link below to purchase your Copy of my new book:
You Can't Outwork Grief: My Journey Through the Wilderness: Porter, Carrie: 9798244650211: Amazon.com: Books
​

www.amazon.com/dp/B0GHWW2QQX?&linkCode=ll2&tag=mywebsite40ba-20&linkId=b41cdd76e094b744cdacd898fa26b738&language=en_US&ref_=as_li_ss_tl

​Last Sunday I slipped, fell, and broke my ankle. It was so severe that I had surgery within 24hrs. This accident changed life for me, and I will forever have a metal plate, and several screws as part of my human body.... 

Before this injury, my days were full of movement: walking, driving, working, creating, working out, managing life on the go. I'm 90 days out of my 2-year wilderness season, 50 days out from purchasing my first home, 1 week out from publishing my 4th book, and recently published my website and blog again after a 5-year pause. Life is interesting... I thought to myself, will I shut down since the injury has brought me to a halt? Or do I remain optimistic that God had slowed me down again for greater purpose? I'm not quite sure yet, but what I've told myself, is that I will be intentional about my mind during this healing and rehabilitation period. This journey will be an emotional journey that will require mental toughness, self-awareness, patience, grace, and trust. This week I made a conscious decision: I would lead my thoughts with optimism, even when it felt uncomfortable.

Acknowledging the Trauma
An injury is never just physical. There’s emotional shock, frustration, fear, and sometimes even grief for the version of yourself that moved freely just days before. Ignoring those feelings doesn’t make them disappear, it only buries them. So, last week optimism didn’t mean pretending everything was fine. It meant allowing space for the hard moments without letting them define the entire day.
Some moments were especially heavy:

• The pain that reminded me healing isn’t instant
• The loss of independence
• The mental fatigue that comes with needing help

Instead of resisting those feelings, I acknowledged them, and gently asked myself: What can I still control today? And if, I'm being honest, not much physically. The pain has been manageable, except at night during the daily restroom trips. Those have been the worst if I'm being honest. Waking up out of your sleep, pain medication wearing off, and the long travel of 25 steps is difficult. I'm already trying to plan my nights strategically like I'm planning a tasks list at work.  I haven't been successful thus far but will remain optimistic that this week will be better. My sons and daughter in law have done an amazing job with helping me daily, and I had 2 friends visit which also has brought comfort and laughs that were needed. 

I have already recognized a shift in my vulnerability in my current state. I've had several co-workers and friends reach out asking what they can do to help. Each time, I've said physically I'm okay, I have what I need, but I will need company at some point. I wrote about not doing life alone in my recent published book, You Can't Outwork Grief: My Journey Through the Wilderness. It's interesting that I was literally guiding myself through this journey that I will be working through over the next 3-6 months. I talked a great amount about stillness not being punishment, but worship. I talked about giving grace daily. I talked about patience, and trusting the slowdowns that life creates. It's almost like God is challenging me to apply my very words, my guidance during a challenging journey ahead. 

Redefining Productivity
One of the biggest mindset shifts last week was redefining what productivity looks like. Before this injury, I was on a roll y'all. I was in the gym 6 days a week, I was excited about publishing my book, work was going well, I planned to start leadership workshops next month, and then this happened. I had 2 emotional moments with God over the course of 8 days, and in each moment, I was reassured that I'm where I should be, at the right time. This isn't a setback, but preparation and a pivotal part of my journey.  
In this season, optimism isn’t about pushing through pain or proving strength. It looks like:

• Resting without guilt
• Celebrating small wins (like safely getting through the day)
• Listening to my body instead of fighting it

Healing itself is work. And choosing patience is an act of strength.

Gratitude as a Daily Practice
Each day last week, I found one thing, sometimes small to be grateful for:

• Support from loved ones
• The permission to pause and reflect
• The reminder that my worth is not tied to how fast I move

Gratitude didn’t erase the discomfort, but it softened the edges of it.
​
Optimism Looks Different Here
Last week taught me something powerful: Optimism doesn’t always look like joy. Sometimes it looks like resilience.
It’s choosing hope while sitting in uncertainty.
It’s trusting the healing process when the finish line isn’t clear.
It’s reminding yourself that this chapter is temporary, even when it’s uncomfortable.

As I head into week two, my focus remains simple:

• Heal intentionally
• Stay present
• Extend grace to myself

If you’re walking through recovery, physical, emotional, or both, know this: optimism doesn’t require perfection. It only asks for willingness. And today, willingness is enough.

✨ One week down. One step at a time. ✨

Give Grace,
~Carrie P.~

Click the link below to purchase your Copy of my new book:
You Can't Outwork Grief: My Journey Through the Wilderness: Porter, Carrie: 9798244650211: Amazon.com: Books

I began practicing meditation back in 2014 when I embarked on what I would consider my spiritual journey. Meditation became a part of my life, a part of my daily routine, the reason I handle life situations in a mindfulness way. I spent four years ways away from Corporate America, and knew that if I ever came back, I would incorporate meditation into whatever environment I worked in.   

In those moments when you're in your head critiquing, feeling overwhelmed, bubbling up insecurities, and pointing out your flaws....Just remember that there is Only 1 You, and you are Special. Whether you want to write a book, or become a dancer, learn to play the piano, or become a body-builder you have the potential to do so. You have to first "Get Out Of Your Head". If you're reading this blog then your timeline is still moving along and you have the choice to create the experiences you desire. Give yourself more credit for how far you've come so far, and keep expanding. Tune into mediums that motivate and inspire you, and view your life through your two eyes with Optimism.

Sending you all Love, Peace, and Light. 

Sincerely,
~Carrie P.~

One of the coolest parts of utilizing journals is that you can go back and view the state of mind you were in weeks, months, and years ago. You can see how far you've come. You can identify whether or not you've progressed in life. You can identify areas that you may still need to work on. I looked in one of my journals from 2012 and I was focused on starting  a vending machine business at the time. What's ironic is that I started and ran a Gift Basket and Tu-Tu business in 2014 for 4 years. It felt good to reflect on the fact that I've been wanting to become an entrepreneur for a really long time. And not only was it a thought, but I made it happen. I would recommend checking your journal just to see if you were able to grow and accomplish goals you intended too in the past. 

Overall, I'm a believer in journals. I believe they have value in growing. They have value in self accountability,  developing self-love, and self appreciation. They aid in healing mentally and emotionally, and they're inexpensive in comparison to therapy. Journals hold as much value as you believe they can be in your life. Order your  Journal today!

Sending you all Love, Peace, and Light.

Sincerely,
Carrie P. 

​I've always had a desire to write my own book. The one thing that stood in the way of me accomplishing my goal was that one dreaded word: FEAR! Fear of failure. Fear of what others would think of me. Fear that I would overwhelm myself because I just didn't have enough time. A variety of fears and insecure thoughts prevented me from taking a leap and writing my book. That was until January 15th, 2020. I made the decision to stop getting in my own way. I made the choice to pursue every goal I desired, and live life without regrets.

I started this process with creating my vision board. I added various images of the word “author” on my board. I gave myself a timeline on when my quotes needed to be completed, when my book needed to be complete, and when my website needed to be ready. I had to remain disciplined in my pursuit of success. I always wanted to create my own quotes considering my belief in the value quotes can add to your life, so that’s what I did. I began writing quotes in one of my journals. I challenged myself to write a certain amount of quotes every Sunday on my day off. Once I wrote 100 quotes, I began entering each quote into my book through Microsoft Word. I was so consistent that I created 200 quotes and finished my book before my deadline. By March 21st, my book was complete. Wow, I did it!

Throughout the time I spent creating quotes, I researched how to Self-Publish, what that process looked like, and the many benefits. I chose to Self-Publish through Amazon. The process was much easier than I thought it would be and I gained a ton of knowledge along the way. I didn’t have any out of pocket expenses which was a huge benefit, and I truly felt accomplished. This was the first book I wrote and definitely will not be my last!
 
The title of my book is: 200 Quotes of Optimist Living ~Managing Family, Career, and Health Through Optimistic Views in Quotes~ This book will provide motivation, inspiration, and optimism through quotes. My book is divided into 3 areas I believe we should manage daily in order to have the best possible outcomes during the obstacles we face dealing with: Family, Career, and Health. The last 5 years of my life have been a roller-coaster to say the least. I left Corporate America, home-schooled my son and nieces, ran a small business full-time, moved across the country twice, transitioned back into Corporate America, and I’m still as motivated and Optimistic as ever. For every obstacle I experienced there was always a huge accomplishment attached. I know that we’re in a time where FEAR is all around us, but I told myself that FEAR will not stop me from working towards who I am destined to be anymore. I’m an Author now! Whatever you want to pursue in life, go for it and don’t let anyone or circumstance deter your pursuit!

~Love yourself, Believe in yourself, and become a True Optimist~

Sincerely,
~Carrie P.~
​​

​Purchase my book on Amazon by clicking the link below! 
https://www.amazon.com/200-Quotes-Optimist-Living-Optimistic/dp/B086G2JWV9/ref=sr_1_2?keywords=200+quotes+of+optimist+living&qid=1585782799&sr=8-2

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Let's face it, life brings us so many challenges and obstacles that may affect our peace, joy, and overall happiness. During these difficult times in particular, we're battling COVID, rise in unemployment, loss of lives, and trying to adjust to our "new normal". Due to these unfortunate circumstances it's more important now than ever to be in control of your mental clarity, have healthy and positive interactions, and focusing on your overall happiness. We still have children to raise, employees to mentor, family members to be there for, and a beautiful life to live. While it's not always easy, I try to be as happy as I can more often than others so that I can spread joy to as many people as possible during my daily interactions. I'm going to share with you 5 ways you can increase your happiness so that you impact others in more ways than you know. 

A healthy person is a happy person. By creating a healthy lifestyle filled with exercise, activities, and getting out in nature you'll increase your happiness. Some activities you can indulge in includes: yoga, hiking, fitness, walking, bike riding, dance classes, etc. The more active you are, the better your health will be. Not only should your focus be on physical activities, but you have to make your diet a priority as well. When you eat better, you feel better. Taking in nutritional foods like more fruits and veggies will increase your energy as well as decrease your chances of becoming ill or developing ailments that will create suffering in your life. By making your health a priority you will ultimately become a happier person more often. 

I'm a firm believer that meditation creates more happiness in one's life. Meditating is a significant part of my life and aids me in dealing with challenging situations in a calming manner. Meditation builds your patience, mental clarity, appreciation for life, allows you to understand various perspectives, and builds your mental strength. You can choose to meditate for 10 minutes a day or 1 hour a day. You can choose to meditate sitting down or laying down. Whatever your preference is, it's totally up to you. As long as you take time to meditate, clear your thoughts, silence your mind, and focus on growth and understanding, you'll be able to deal with life situations much better. You'll gain more patience and ultimately create a happier aura daily. 

I find that when I'm taking on too much and lacking rest, I begin to feel overwhelmed which affects how happy I am each day. Motivation and determination drives us in a way that shifts our focus on tasks completion. We want to reach our goals at all cost. We live in a society that taught us that hard work pays off, so we sometimes work so hard that it negatively affects our appreciation for the journey. It affects our overall happiness with the success that we're striving for. I'm guilty of this, which is why I'm working on my work/life balance. I make a conscious effort to get proper rest now. I search for activities that are relaxing on my off days because I understand that balance is important. I've found over the last few weeks that I've been more happy when I'm well rested. I recommend that you make rest and relaxation a priority in your life and in a short period of time you'll see your daily doses of happiness increasing. 

One of the fastest ways you can become more happier on a daily basis is to do what you love doing. You want to indulge in activities that make you happy. If you enjoy fishing, make time to go fishing once a week. If playing your favorite sport or enjoying spa days makes you happy, indulge. If your're a true gym rat or love painting, complete these activities regularly. Don't make excuses for not having time because that will decrease your happiness and joy. Find time in your schedule and make it happen. It's a well known fact that the more time you spend doing things you love and enjoy, the happier you will be!

Last but definitely not least, SMILE MORE! I work with a great team and have the luxury of engaging with hundreds of customers each day. The best interactions I have daily are when I'm smiling and conversing at my store. I'm a firm believer that you attract the energy that you're putting out 75% of the time. Some people or situations that may be challenging are inevitable, but once you realize a smile goes a long way you can deter some of those uneasy interactions. I make an effort to smile as much as I can throughout the day. A simple smile and positive thought has the ability to make you more happy instantly. Challenge yourself to smile more and I can guarantee you'll be more happier more often. 

Sending you All Love, Peace, and Light.

Sincerely,
​Carrie P.

​Do you tend to dread Monday mornings? The start of the week may be rough with heading back to work, the kids are back in school, and errands need to be ran. Well I'm going to list 5 Simple things you can do to start your week in the right direction!

​1) Meditate
Start by challenging yourself to wake up an extra 30 minutes to an hour early to Meditate. Meditation allows you to de-clutter the many thoughts that are running through your mind, as well as helps to improve your concentration. Meditation reduces stress and sets a standard of balance throughout your day. It may be difficult starting out but as time goes by you'll begin to appreciate and enjoy those minutes of silence!

2) Create a To Do List
​Write a To Do List. Creating a list allows you to identify tasks that need to be completed throughout your week. This is a great way to prioritize and really helps with your organizational skills. Another benefit of creating a To Do List is that it holds you accountable to your actions while helping you stay motivated. Anatole France says, "To accomplish great things, we must dream as well as act." Creating a To Do List encourages you to ACT.

​3) Hang 5 Positive Post It Notes
​Now that you have your list of things to do, it won't hurt to jot down 5 positive phrases or words on Post it Notes that will motivate you. Some examples can be: Stay Focused, Believe, Work Hard, Release Self Doubt, etc. Stick them on your wall by your desk or on your bathroom mirror for daily reminders. Self-Motivation can play a major role in your daily activities.

4) Play Your Favorite Music
​So now that you're relaxed and have your weekly plan in place, go ahead and play your favorite song one, two, or three times! Bob Marley says, " One good thing about music, when it hits you, you feel no pain." Listening to your favorite music for a few minutes can really get you pumped and ready to start your day!

​5) Say I Love You
Last but not least, before you head off to work, school, or your daily tasks...tell your spouse, children, or parents: I Love You. When you verbally speak those words you smile, a heart-warming thought comes to mind, or you experience a great feeling of joy. There is no better way to start your day than with a heart full of Joy!

​Make these 5 Simple tasks a Monday morning ritual, and watch your Mondays set the tone for the rest of your week! If you prefer getting started on Sunday, that's an option as well. Find what day works best with your schedule! Let me know what you think and if you have any ideas you'd like to add about starting your week on a positive note, please comment below! Have a wonderful day filled with Optimism!
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"Each day you awake, you can work toward becoming a brand new you."
​~Carrie P.~

So now that you have your goal identified and you've listed the steps you need to take to reach your goal, you want to create your timeline. What does your timeline look like? This is the part of the process where you really have to be honest with yourself. Your timeline has to be realistic and attainable or there is a good chance you won't reach your goal. For example, it wouldn't be fair to you to set a goal to lose 30lbs in 2 weeks because that would be unrealistic. You'd be setting yourself up for failure. This would be a great time to research an accurate amount of time it may take to accomplish your goal, and again, set your timeline so that you can stay on track with it. 

At this point you've identified your goal, you've listed the steps to reach your goal, and you've established your timeline for completion. You're making huge progress! Now it's time to hit the ground running and start pursuing your goal! When we set goals, we're initially excited at the thought of the outcome. Our adrenaline is rushing and we're highly motivated. The key is to continue that same energy throughout the process. Make a deliberate effort to continue pursing your goal until completion. If you need an accountability partner or need to join groups or organizations that share similar interests in your goal that would be beneficial as well. Sometimes we fall off track or have to back pedal a bit, but it's up to you to continue to push through until the end. Don't give up on your goal or yourself. 

If you follow the steps above you should be at the point of accomplishing your goal. You'll feel good, you'll feel proud, and most importantly you'll feel accomplished. Accomplishments add a certain level of joy, growth, and happiness into our lives. You're never too old or too young to start setting goals and living your best life. I encourage you to set goals, hit your targets, and grow into the best version of yourself by taking it one step at a time.

Sending you all Love, Peace, and Light.

Sincerely,
Carrie P.

Self love is loving you for who you are, choosing to be happy, surrounding yourself with positive people, and engaging in environments that add peace and joy into your life. Self love is knowing your worth, valuing your attributes, and not allowing others to treat you less than you deserve. Self love can deteriorate as you turn over your power and confidence to others. It decreases as your interactions in negative environments increase. It decreases as people who lack good intentions enter your life, and you accept treatment that is unkind. It decrease as you start viewing yourself through the lenses of others. As you compare yourself to others, you will most likely decrease the love of self. As days, months, or years go by, you may find yourself unhappy and lacking the most important ingredient to you experiencing a fruitful life: Self Love. 

There are various experiences or reasons why someone would begin to lack self love. Failed relationships, mental, physical, or emotional abuse, weight loss or weight gain, lack of employment, body image perceptions, and insecurities could all lead to one decreasing self love. I've experienced many of these situations, and make an effort daily in focusing on building my self love because I've realized that I am deserving of peace, joy, and happiness. I also understand that I am responsible for me loving myself unconditionally. I believe there are 4 actions you can incorporate into your life to begin building your self love again: Self Accountability, Letting Go of Fears and Regrets, Acknowledging Your Accomplishments, and Keeping High Spirits.
 
1. Hold Yourself Accountable For Your Life!
Once you realize that you are responsible for what and who you allow in your life, you shift the burden of blame away. Self Accountability helps you to make better decisions going forward. You make better judgement calls. You understand that no force outside of you can control you without your permission. Don't eat that extra piece of cake. Don't stay in that abusive relationship longer than you should. Don't wait for the green light to start that business. Be in control of your life. The more control you have in your experiences the more self love you will develop. I'm not saying transitions will be easy, but you're responsible for making necessary adjustments that benefit you. Ultimately, you will be so much more happier when you get used to self accountability and taking control of your happiness. 
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​Why is it that we find it easier to blame outside sources for negative experiences that we have had, and focus on how "they" made us feel. We focus on how "they" controlled that outcome or that situation. We focus on how mad, angry, and upset we are with "them". We spend weeks, months, and sometimes years carrying buckets of painful emotions around with us hoping that outside person or source will make us feel better about the situation or experience. "They" should make the changes and help fix us. What if I told you that a simple solution could help you begin the healing process?  What if I told you you can start the process of emptying that annoying bucket of pain by identifying your role in the situations, and why holding yourself accountable can assist you in mental freedom..

Self Accountability Relieves You Of Regrets
I'm sure we've all experienced some situations when we didn't make the best decisions. We wanted a particular outcome to occur, and it didn't. These situations can range from staying in an abusive relationship too long, staying with a company too long, moving across the country for love and the relationship not working out, etc., etc. I can go on, but I'm sure you get the point. When the situation was over, we felt a variety of emotions like anger, disappointment, regret, sadness, or even depression. We wished we could turn back the clock and start again, but it's not possible. 
From my personal experiences in these types of situations, I've found that the more angry or disappointed I became with my decisions, the worst I felt. The more regrets I had, the deeper into negative emotions I fell. Through my experiences what gave me comfort and allowed me to feel better was self accountability. When I began shifting my thought process from "blaming" myself and others, to owning my decisions and my role throughout the experience I began to let go of my regrets. It was easier to reflect on that situation and identify the lessons I needed to learn. I was able to smile knowing that my intentions were good and the experience was just a part of my journey. 

Self Accountability Helps You Move On
If you truly want to move on from a broken heart or painful situation self accountability will help you do so. Being stuck in the past never helped anyone, especially when you feel sadness or resentment as part of the memories. A lot of times we want an apology from a person, or we wanted that person to change, or we wanted that company to give us a raise or promotion. We wanted the other source to help us feel better. We subconsciously believe that if we get the relief from the source that made us feel bad, we can then move on. Once you realize you need to forgive yourself and own your decisions, you'd be able to not only move on, but move on faster. 

Self Accountability Allows You To Learn And Grow
An amazing benefit of self accountability is that you're able to learn and grow! If you don't hold yourself accountable there's a great chance you're missing out on many lessons. Not catching the lessons may lead to you recycling the same experiences and making the same decisions again. For example, I remember early in my career, I was disappointed that I wasn't promoted. I worked overnight for 6 years because it was a great schedule for my family at the time. I completed my Master's Degree during those years and believed I'd be promoted. It turned out the person that was promoted had more hands on experience. He was more knowledgeable about the job because he gained skills working during the day, that I didn't working overnight. I was initially upset. Once I identified that working overnights were impacting my growth with this company, I made adjustments. Instead of blaming the company, I took self accountability and learned from the experience. I make a conscious effort to look at situations from this same mindset. Although I'll usually be upset in the beginning, in the end I tend to view the situation from a "Self Accountability" perspective, and I continuously grow from each experience. 

Self Accountability Will Increase Your Confidence
When your focus on a situation is geared toward blame and regret, it's easier to feel insecure  or diminish your character. You're asking yourself questions like: Why wasn't I good enough for him/her? Was I not good enough for that promotion? Why doesn't he/she respect me? Am I weak? Questions like these are most likely stemming from lack of self value. Remember, your self worth and value comes from within. So by continuing to wonder what that source outside of you felt about you, you'll feel worse. Start focusing on why you allowed that behavior/treatment and work on fixing it. Switch your thought process and ask questions that will help you grow. Self Accountability will help you to recognize that you made the decision, focus on building your confidence again, and affirm that you will not make those same decisions in the future. 

I believe that it's easier to blame someone else for your decisions because it can be difficult to be honest with yourself at times. Looking at yourself in the mirror and owning your mistakes can be challenging. Through those challenges, I have found that Self Accountability has helped me grow and get past traumatic situations so much faster. Holding myself accountable has made me more conscious and aware of my decisions and has played an integral role in my overall evolution as a person. I have gained so much mental freedom by focusing on self accountability during my encounters. I recommend focusing on self accountability throughout your journey's and beginning the process of dumping that bucket of pain that's weighing you down.  

Sending you all Love, Peace, and Light.

Sincerely,
​
Carrie P. 

2. Body Language
You want to be sure you have the correct body language going into a conversation with someone if you want to have an effective conversation. Your posture, eye contact, facial expressions, your tone, and use of space can affect the outcome. If you look upset, disappointed, are fidgeting, or looking down, this might make the other party uncomfortable or even feed off of the same energy. You want them to feel calm and open to the conversation so you have to display that same type of energy. Presenting a confident, relaxed, and calming body language can make the difference in the outcome of this communication. 

What To Do:
Now here's where the goodies come in! Here's what to do when you need to get out of your funk during those ugly tower moments. 

Do take a moment to reflect on what the issues/concerns are. Write them down on one side of a piece of paper. Then on the other side of that paper write down possible solutions. Nothing makes you feel better quicker than coming up with a plan.

Do vent/speak with your support system. That will look different for each person. This support can come from your friend, family, co-workers, or mentor. Just make sure it is someone that tends to have knowledge in the area of concern and tends to see the glass half full more than half empty. (Choose your vent audience wisely)

Do acknowledge how much you've accomplished so far. Really. Self acknowledgement will help you feel unstuck because you'll be able to realize that if you made it this far, nothing can stop you. 

Do get back to doing what you love to do as soon as you can to snap out of feeling overwhelmed or stressed. For me, it was writing again. I didn't sit at my computer one time in the last month. So writing this blog feels really good getting back into my groove while listening to some feel good music. For you, that may be hitting the gym, walking daily, spending time with your friends or family members again. When you go through those challenging times it's easy to become a recluse.

​Do wholeheartedly believe that everything happens for a reason. Whether you're in that situation to grow or maybe redirect to shift you towards new opportunities, the outcome will be the best. It can be hard to view it from that perspective while going through it, but make an effort to take an optimistic view. 

Let's face it, we will experience a ton of tower moments throughout our lives. How we deal with those moments will determine our personal evolution and expansion during our individual journey's. Be mindful of your decisions and actions during those challenging moments. I know that I'll continue to face tower moments as long as I'm working in Management so through each obstacle I overcome, I will continue to grow and be able to deal with the upcoming towers in a more effective and efficient way. I hope that you all will utilize some of my tips to get through your moments. Have a wonderful day folks! 

Sending you all Love, Peace, and Light! 

Sincerely,
Carrie P.

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