School starts for these students on Monday and in order for these three kids to be able to afford their books, I’m asking for donations of any amount. I’ve personally donated and hope you will too. If you are interested in making a contribution to the children of our future, please contact me at mignonbrooks@collegiatecareercoach.com. I will give you the direct website to the school, and you can make your donation right online.

How Giving Impacts Your Life

When you open your heart to giving even the smallest amount you can afford, the world opens opportunities up for you. You’ll be surprised as to how things you are seeking in your own life will present itself in a way you could have never possibly imagined.

Yesterday after I donated an extra $25 on top of what I had already donated to the students I’ve been working with this summer, I wondered if I’d be able to afford one of my own expenses. It was an absolute blessing to find out that the woman I owed money to did not charge me half of what I expected to pay. I was astonished. Ever since I’ve opened up my heart to give, occurrences like this have been happening to me on a regular basis.

Giving is not always monetary. As I said in the beginning of this blog, I donated my coaching services to students. You can give love to someone who might feel they are alone. Every time you smile at someone, you radiate a positive energy that contributes to someone’s day. You can give someone a listening ear when they need someone to talk to. The possibilities are endless.

Be open to giving, and you’ll be surprised as to how it will impact your life in return!

I recently took the biggest risks of my entire life. Was it easy? Not necessarily a smooth road but definitely worth the bumps and uneasiness I felt making risky choices for my life.

I lived in New Jersey my entire life. I was born there; I grew up there; I went to college there; and I lived my twenties working there. It was great. I was used to my environment. I was able to stay in touch with close friends I’d known my entire life. Although I love New Jersey and the experiences I had there, I wanted to break out of my shell and expand. I told my mother, “The entire world is my home. I have so much to offer it. I need to share my gifts with those who need it.”

So what did I do? I moved to Orlando, Florida, quit my job as a full-time professor, made my coaching business my full-time job, and signed up to work as an adjunct professor at Seminole State College of Florida. Talk about a lot of change in a month!

I talked about doing this for years, but I always came up with excuses as to why it wouldn’t be a good idea. I felt I had more stability at my college in New Jersey. I was one year away from obtaining tenure, and the college made it very clear that I was going to get it. I had an excellent health insurance plan. I had a consistent income. And even with all that I knew I was not following my heart. I did my best, but I knew that my best work would be even better if I followed my dream. Most importantly, I now feel free. I honored my heart. This is one of the best feelings in the world!

How do you feel when you wake up everyday? Are you living the dream you always wanted? You deserve to live the desires of your heart, and the world needs you to express them. Become your dream.

Here are a few things you can do before the school year appears:

1. Take a mini vacation. Whether you go near or far, now is the time to get away before you don’t have time to do so. There are some advance ticket and last minute ticket deals out there, so do your research online and take advantage of the fabulous discounts.

2. Catch some extra z’s. Allow your body to get some rest. The school year sometimes bring around a schedule, which causes you to pull some all nighters. Resting up now will give your body the reserve fuel you might need in a month or so. Even though your body needs the rest, make sure you don’t overdue it. Going to bed at 4 a.m. and sleeping in until 1 p.m. will make it more difficult to adjust your sleep schedule around, especially if you have morning classes. 

3. If you’re not familiar with your school, stop by the campus or building now to find your classes. Not knowing where you are going on the first day only adds anxiety to your first day of meeting new instructors and classmates.

4. Find something you are interested in reading. If you’ve been hanging out all summer, your brain might have gotten used to limited activity. Get it up in gear with starting to read more often. Pick up a last minute summer book, pick up the newspaper, or pick out your favorite magazine.

5. Spend some extra time with friends and family. During the school year, it sometimes becomes a challenge to balance school, work, and your social life. Fit your loved ones in now while you have the time. They’ll be sure to understand when life get busy soon. 

In our current society, most people’s thoughts are centered around worry, fear, and stress over a variety of topics. We worry about work. We worry about school. We worry about family and other close relationships. And the list could go on. A lot of that worry and fear stems from how we feel about ourselves.

Learn the five steps to building positive affirmations for yourself and your life. Watch the recorded version at http://www.ustream.tv/channel/create-the-career-of-your-dreams-phenomenon.

Many people don’t give themselves the credit they deserve. As a result, we block our own paths to our destinies. This occurs more often than not. Join the Collegiate Career Coach and Founder of Dream Purposefully Empowerment Services, Mignon Brooks, for an online discussion about how to turn negative self talk around. The Dream Purposeful Phenomenon starts on Tuesday, July 27th at 9 p.m. EST at http://www.ustream.tv/channel/create-the-career-of-your-dreams-phenomenon.

Click on the link below to get involved:

http://www.ustream.tv/channel/create-the-career-of-your-dreams-phenomenon

Click on the link below to join us at The Dream Purposeful Phenomenon this evening at 9 p.m. EST:

http://www.ustream.tv/channel/create-the-career-of-your-dreams-phenomenon