Monday Morning Motivation - "Your Gift Will Make Room for You"

Monday Morning Motivation "Your Gift Will Make Room for You"   Greetings! A man's gift makes room for him and brings him before great men. -Proverbs 18:16 After you read this sentence I want you to close your eyes and take a moment to think about that thing that you are certain is your God given gift.  Have you identified it?  Is it speaking? Writing? Cooking? Advocating for those that cannot advocate for themselves? Educating the masses about a particular issue that needs increased awareness?  Now ask yourself, are you using that gift? Our gifts are not even about us, they actually have the purpose of blessing others, but God is really generous because when we are operating in our gifts we experience a feeling of true bliss.  Think about it.  Think about the feelings and sensations that you have when you are doing what you know that you have been called to do.  Author, Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, describes this as a concept that he calls "Flow" which is defined as, "An experience involving heightened states of awareness, confidence, and performance...Total engagement-you lose yourself in an activity."  This happens because we are engaging in something that taps into our intrinsic motivation which means that we don't need any external stimulus or reward in order to do this thing.  If no one ever told us that we were doing a great job, if no one ever gave us a grade of A, if we never got paid, we could still wake up and do this thing every morning for the rest of our lives and it would bring us joy.  So we experience just as much of a benefit if not more as those whose lives we are making a difference in. If the benefits of our gifts are so vast...then why aren't more people using them?  I'd say that the number one reason is fear.  This is interesting though, because a lot of you say that you have faith...but faith and fear cannot co-exist. There has to be one or the other.  We make excuse after excuse as to why we can't do what we know we are supposed to be doing right now.  Money, time, our families...the list goes on and on.  But did you know that your gift will make room for you?  That in itself should be motivation enough to take the leap, but to even further support that, your gift will also give you access to the great. Let me break that down in terms of my experience... One day it became crystal clear to me that my gift was to encourage others and help them to realize their dreams using my writing and speaking.  As soon as I fully immersed myself in that gift, door after door began to open.  It  is to the point where it feels as if my path is clear and barrier free...I don't even have to knock anymore because people of high esteem ("The great") are waiting at the open doors saying, "Hey Monica...come on in!"  I am at a point where I have to turn down opportunities because I can only do so much at one time.  I'm not trying to brag, but do you know that I have never truly had to look for a job?   There was really only one time. When I graduated from graduate school at the University of Michigan with a resume full of credentials and experience I couldn't seem to find a "job" to save my life.  It was at that time that I finally sat down to write my first book.  It was a blessing in disguise because if I'd had a job lined up, I never would have sat down to begin putting in the work to prepare to share my gift with the world.  Do you see how God works?  Ever form of income that I have received since then has come in the form of a job, contract, or opportunity that someone specifically sought me out for and offered to me. You may still not be convinced because you think you don't have the time.  You might be working toward a certain goal that is time specific and you think that stopping what you are doing to operate in your gift may get in the way.  Well let me tell you, based on my experience that If you truly have faith, like you say you do, trust that not only will your gift make a way for you but it will also expedite matters. As you can see, I could talk about this forever, but I am going to stop here to let what I've said marinate.  My challenge to you is to stop trying to dictate everything in your life, get in The Passenger's Seat (This is a teaser for the next motivational message) and let God and your gift lead you.  Then sit back and watch how it will make room for you and put you in the presence of the great! A gift opens doors; it gives access to the great. -Proverbs 18:16   Marketing and Motivation Mondays with Monica Marie Jones Radio Show TONIGHT at 8pm! Join Author and Motivational Speaker Monica Marie Jones as she shares Book and Business Marketing tips on a budget and Motivation to keep you striving toward your goals! This week's show celebrates all of the listeners so call in with questions, comments and your marketing and motivation tips and you will have the opportunity to promote your book or business! This is a show that you DO NOT want to miss! Call in at (646) 915-9177 Listen and Chat LIVE at www.blogtalkradio.com/michiganliterarynetwork Cardio Kickboxing!!! This one hour class is a comprehensive fitness experience to music so good that it makes you forget that you are exercising....Sort of ;) The class is designed in a way so that all fitness levels are welcome and will benefit. CLASS FORMAT -Warm Up -Stretch -Cardio Kickboxing -Ab/Core Workout -Strength Training -Cool Down/Stretch -Relaxation/Breathing Techniques Each class is only $5 per person! ***Summer Special: Pay $50 up front for the entire summer and Save!  (Includes 12 classes, a monthly fitness assessment and a FREE copy of the Ups and Downs of Being Round's Lifestyle Change Fitness Guide!)*** Copies of all of Monica Marie Jones' books will be available at every class for only $10 each. Location Rhema Healthcare 17800 Northland Park Ct. #103 Southfield, MI 48075 SUMMER SCHEDULE Tuesdays Cardio Kickboxing with Monica Marie Jones June 15th, 22nd, and 29th July 6th, 20th, and 27th August 3rd, 24th, 31st P90 X Demonstration with Ray John July 13th August 10th and 17th UPCOMING EVENTS!!! P.O.W.E.R Players Networking Mixer: Atlanta Edition Thursday July 17, 2010 6pm - 10pm Holiday Inn Select 4386 CHAMBLEE-DUNWOODY RD. ATLANTA, GA 30341 P.O.W.E.R = Professionals Offering (a Wealth of) Wisdom, Encouragement and Resources. Aspiring and established entrepreneurs, entertainers, authors and the like are invited to come out to mix, mingle, promote and meet amazing like minded individuals. - Speed Networking - A Motivational address by Myles W. Miller - Live Music - A book reading and signing by author Monica Marie Jones - Business card raffle - and MUCH more... Faith and Fiction Retreat 2010 "Called for a Purpose" The 2010 Faith and Fiction Retreat will take place in Atlanta, GA - June 18th-19th at The Omni at CNN Center, with a phenomenal room rate of $139/night (Use Discount Code Faith and Fiction). The featured authors are Kimberla Lawson Roby, Victoria Christopher Murray, Sherri L. Lewis and Tiffany L. Warren. Author Panelists include: ReShonda Tate Billingsley, Angela Benson, Pat G'Orge Walker, Tia McCollors, Bonnie Hopkins, Stacy Hawkins Adams, Jacquelin Thomas, Rhonda McKnight, Kimberly Cash Tate, Sharon Oliver, Daphine Glenn Robinson, Patricia Bridewell and Shelia Lipsey! SATURDAY REGISTRATION is only $50 (sessions only)!!! That's right, you can hobnob with some of Faith Fiction's brightest stars and industry professionals for $50. You don't want to miss this! For Saturday only registration, visit http://www.faithandfictionretreat.com/saturdayregistration.html Hope to see you in Atlanta! Essence of Motown Writer's Group Symposium Saturday, June 26, 2010 10:00 AM Barnes and Noble 82 W Warren Detroit, MI 48202 313-577-2436 CALLING ALL WRITER AND POET GROUPS IN METRO DETROIT Would you like to showcase your writing group? Would you like to increase your membership? Do you want to start a group but want to know what it takes to be successful? Would you like to share your success stories to other writing and poet groups? Please join us! (Groups will be able to set up and collect for membership during the event!) Writers are poets of ALL genres are invited to come. Networking is important and this is a valuable networking event for you!! Learn more here: http://www.meetup.com/michiganliterarynetwork/calendar/13794184/ .