Authentically Joycelynn

Living Whole in the Kingdom of God

purpose

by

Pursuit of Wellness: Finding Meaning

Life altering events experienced by others can cause a reevaluation of your goals and priorities, sending you down a soul searching path on your journey to wellness. This weekend a co-worker that I have known for over ten years who was 12 years younger than myself experienced a massive heart attack while at work caring for his patients. He is so caring in nature, I know if I were in the hospital he would be someone I would want taking care of me. I happened to be working during this shift, but did not find out about it until I was home after my shift. Our prayers are with him and his family as he recovers from emergency open heart surgery. This event has shaken me similar to another event occurring a few years ago.

     About four and a half years ago, I was getting ready to go home for the weekend. At the time I was the nurse manager of a very busy and growing Cancer Center and Heart Failure Department. This was the job of my dreams, and although I had dreams of pursuing my own business, I never saw myself doing anything career wise, except for the role I was in. I ran into Jane, a co-worker I had become close to that worked in another department. She was just so fun and artsy, and seemed so carefree. She was discussing that she had seen her brother the weekend before, and they had birthdays just a few days apart. For those few days they were both 50. She had just turned 51, and he was now 50. Jane always had a smile on her face and I just loved her positive energy. I returned to work on Monday to find out Jane developed chest pain while taking a shower the day before, and was dead of a heart attack before the ambulance could even reach her home. Several of us attended the wake, where we met her adult children and husband. There was a slide presentation playing that captured the very essence of who she was.

     This event sent me in a tailspin in finding meaning and purpose. I had unfulfilled dreams. Whew! It was the beginning of a journey which lasted for several years.

      Spiritually, I am a Christian, and wasn’t having issues with my spirituality. I knew I had a secure relationship with God and wasn’t calling that into question. My soul searching came in when I asked myself if I had contributed everything I wanted to contribute in this life. The answer was no. I had several books I wanted to write. I always thought one day I would have a successful business in health and wellness,as well as being that successful writer. I wanted to my life to count and I wanted to fulfill what I felt was my real purpose in being on this earth. I was that frog slowly boiling to death in a pan of heated water, and didn’t realize it until that moment. It was a life defining moment for me.

     A few weeks later I gave notice at the job I thought I would never leave and stepped into a nurse staffing position that would allow me to have my weekdays free while working on the weekends. I thought working three days a week, versus five would allow me more time to work on some writing projects and start a wellness business. Four years have gone by and many life events have occurred since then. My daughter wanted to go to nursing school, and I was actually able to keep her little boy in my home while she finished her dream of going to nursing school. She has now achieved a dream of hers and is a nurse. It wasn’t always easy keeping a little one again, but I have a bond with my grandson I may not have had otherwise.

     Over four years have passed, and I have gone halfway to obtaining another degree in nursing. Most fulfilling for me was to find the coaching education. I have completed two very outstanding wellness coaching programs. I now am writing for several websites, including my own. The connections I have made over the past few months have enriched my life so completely. Currently, I am transitioning from traditional nursing to using my nursing in more of a wellness and entrepreneurial role. As I  complete classes with the Wellness Inventory, I again find myself at a crossroads. I know it is time for the next step in my journey to follow what I believe is a God ordained purpose for my life.

      As I heard of my co-worker this weekend, I had feelings similar to when my friend Jane died. It’s time to take action. Again, I am faced with finding meaning in the road I am travelling.  There was a 16 year old girl killed in our town from a car accident this weekend. She was the best friend of one of my co-workers niece. Actually her niece was in the wreck with her, and survived. These situations are so heart rendering. It compels me forward to realize how precious life is. It compels me forward to make sure I am living my life on purpose. It compels me forward to continue to be who God has already made me to be.

     I shared these experiences, because I know I am not the only one that was on a road at a cruising altitude. Life is too short to not pursue the dreams God has placed inside you. Part of living well is finding meaning. Not only is it important to find that meaning, but to walk into it.

     If you are going through life changing events and are trying to get back on track or even get off the track you are on and onto another track, you may want to consider a coach. Coaching will assist you with the tools to become your best self. You already have your goals and dreams inside you. Take the step to propel yourself forward. You can contact me through this site and I would love help you set the goals for the changes you want to make in your life.

by

Persistence Like a Praying Mantis

This morning as I left work to come home, I noticed a HUGE Praying Mantis on the back windshield of my car. He/she (not a bug expert) was about 6 inches long and I will refer to it as a he. In Ohio, these were commonplace. I don’t recall seeing many here in North Carolina. I opened up the back door of the car to place my bag. Closing the door rather hard, the thought was I would disturb this little creature, and he would leave my windshield before I needed to take off. It didn’t budge. So, hopping in the car, and pulling out, you would think the movement would disrupt this little fella, and he would just leave. Would you believe almost 5 miles later this little fella let go? Watching as best I could while driving, I could see in my back mirror this little guy hanging on like someone in an amusement park on a fast ride without a seat belt. He changed color. His wings flapped. His little legs ever so slowly moved and the windshield looked a little wet, like hanging on brought on all types of bodily functions. The wind appeard fierce on his little body. I was amazed and inspired. He knew what he wanted, and he didn’t let go without a fight.

To watch something so incredible! My mind started thinking right away how this little guy reminded me of how we need to be persistent in what we are trying to accomplish. Think object lesson! He finally let go, but I am sure he got up and found another place to light. How persistent are we when we know our path is right, but the way gets rough? Do we give up as soon as the door slams? Do you find yourself giving up when a little movement starts that may be contrary to where we know we are to be? Do you hold on for dear life to the goals and dreams even with setbacks? How persistent are we when it comes to our own resolve. What does it take to make you give up?

If you have set your goals, and believe you are on the right path, don’t let anything break that resolve. So, you say, there was a set back. OK. Get up, and get going again! Don’t let the setback be the end-all! Be persistent. Be steadfast. Hold on to the vision, dreams, and goals. Don’t let go. The wind will come.  If the wind blows you off coarse, get up and don’t look back. Merriam-Webster’s Online Dictionary describes the word persist as:

1 : to go on resolutely or stubbornly in spite of opposition, importunity, or warning

2 obsolete : to remain unchanged or fixed in a specified character, condition, or position

3 : to be insistent in the repetition or pressing of an utterance (as a question or an opinion)

4 : to continue to exist especially past a usual, expected, or normal time

What areas do you need to be more persistent in?

by

Being Fulfilled

Do you just long to live a life of being fulfilled? Over my lifetime, I have followed an interest in many things. While in my mind they are all connected, these areas are huge just in themselves. I love to make soap from scratch. I love to mill my own flour from whole grains. I love the study of herbal medicine and aromatherapy. On the side, I make aromatherapy formulas for everything from headaches to stress relief formulas. Did you know you can make your own non toxic cleaning products and use pure essential oils because a pure oil is anti-bacterial?

Teaching others how to live healthy and eat healthy is another passion. In my mind, these are all one, and interconnected, because it all falls under the umbrella of living naturally and healthy. I was a speaker in 2009 at East Carolina University to the North Carolina Nurses Association and to the Holistic Nurses and Physicians students union, and I was able to speak on these varied topics. I have taught classes on aromatherapy and making whole grain breads for several years now. This is VERY fulfilling to me. As fulfilling as these areas are for me, and I can justify in my mind they are the same subject; they are not the same. I am also preparing spiritually to work along side my husband in ministry as a Christian motivational speaker.

So, how does one go about doing all this at one time? Prior to meeting Jeffrey St. Laurent, I was working on all these areas. After all, in my mind, they all went together. Even being a speaker. Jeffrey is a great friend, life coach, health coach, motivational speaker, best selling author, husband to Jennifer, father to the cutest little boy, entrepreneur, and business owner. And Jeffrey is very athletic!I know, he wears many hats. But only one hat at a time. For those of you who want to really improve your health, your relationships, and your business but don’t know where to start, you really need to invest in his book “Being Fulfilled”. For me, (the person who tends be here, there, and everywhere, and still not accomplish my goals) Jeffrey has been very instrumental uncovering the ability that is already within myself to focus, set goals, and accomplish more.

Although all the areas I mentioned are things I love, I cannot possibly focus attention on all these areas at one time and have the outcomes I desire. Jeffrey’s book “Being Fulfilled” is a very insightful approach to being more fulfilled in several areas in your life, more specifically in the areas of business, relationships, and health. The principles can be applied to other areas in your life, as I add the area of my personal relationship with God, and how it applies to ministry. I won’t divulge too much of his book. If you decide to add his book to your collection, I can promise you won’t be disappointed.

You can find Jeffrey’s book at his website www.BeingFulfilled.net. Let me know if you get this book, or if you have already read it! I would love to know what you think about it. Jeffrey is a really down to earth, open and honest person. I think you will connect with him. In my own life, I am learning to focus and prioritize those areas I chose to be most important to me at this time in my life.