Expect great things and great things will happen. Have you ever allowed worry to fill your thoughts with negativity? Many people have. Negative thinking has almost become a natural response when circumstances do not go as planned. When people do this they create self-doubt, anxiety, and bad results. Absolutely nothing good comes from worry. Picture yourself sitting in class before a test. You didn't study for the test due to procrastination or lack of time. Every hour leading up to that class, you worried and said things like, "I'm going to fail that test,""I'm so scared," and "I can't remember anything." By the time the test came around, you had no confidence to put forth effort and your mind was only full of negative thoughts. There was no room to even possibly remember anything for the test. If you aren't prepared, don't worry because that only makes the situation worse. Simply have everything ready next time. On the other hand, if you are equipped and set to face a challenge or perform a task do not doubt your ability. Replace your fear and worry with motivation and goals. At the beginning of the summer, I said to myself, "My senior year of high school will be amazing!" I didn't just leave it at words of hope though. I began to act on my words. Everyday I would wake up expecting great things to happen. I also made an effort to receive great things. Acting is one of my passions, so I constantly checked casting calls. I anticipated to perform on stage before school started. As a result of great expectations, I was able to enact the role of a dance team member in a modern day version of Shakespeare's 'Much Ado About Nothing.' I received greater than my expectations by earning a speaking part and by leaving with more acting knowledge than I had before performing. Most importantly, I walked away from that experience with a confidence upgrade. I've approached my senior year with the same expectancy as I had for acting. Every morning, I declare a great day. During the day I expect opportunities, new friends, and all around success! I receive nothing less. I'm in my second week of school and things are wonderful. Although, challenging days are apart of life, I approach them with positivity. Negativity escalates the problem and results in misery. A good attitude will keep you afloat in life itself. Loving yourself and having confidence are two major things that contribute to a successful school year. Whenever you're surrounded by people in your age range, it's easy to start comparing yourself. I've learned that comparing yourself to others leads to discouraging thoughts. You have to motivate yourself and understand that you are great! You may not have the same skill level or as many friends as someone else, but you-are-great! If you do not believe that, expect it. Verbally say, "I am great and great things are coming my way!" Sending out positive vibes, I hope you all have an absolutely marvelous school year! Expect great things, work hard, and stay positive!!! By Kaci Hollingsworth
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Handle your own affairs so that they can be handled right!
Is everyone familiar with the game 'Telephone'? In the game one person whispers a message to another. The message is passed through a line and the person on the end relays the message out loud. Sometimes the message is unclear and it's completely different by the time it reaches the last person. This game became my reality a couple of weeks ago. I told my friend about a small crush I had. When the opportunity arose for me to talk to him, anxiety set on. In a fit of panic I asked her to talk to him for me and scope him out. I unfortunately made the mistake of saying "see what he thinks of me." A few days later, she reported back to me with a guilty look. My friend went ahead and told the guy that I liked him and then asked him to be my prom date. (By the way, prom is about five months away.). I see this guy on a regular basis and our first encounter since the "telephone game" incident was uneasy. Whenever I was around him I felt like the room had no oxygen. I gathered a few things from this situation: 1) If I truly want something I should get it myself. 2) If I am asking for help obtaining what it is that I want, I should give specific instructions. 3) If I'm supposed to be with my crush, God will work it out. What God has for me, is for me! As teens we should do some things for ourselves. It's okay to ask for help, but make sure you give specific instructions to the person passing the message. Also, don't worry about what your crush thinks of you. If they like you they will get to know you and accept who you are. Everything happens for a reason! If you're supposed to be with a certain someone, you will be. Sending out positive vibes, I challenge you to take action for yourself and ask for help only if you need it. Have a wonderful week! "The eyes are the window to your soul" is a quote from Shakespeare that lingered in my life. I suppose I was attracted to the truthfulness of these words rather than the cliche of the quote. When I was nine years old, a tall and pale elderly woman with ice blue eyes approached my mother and I in the grocery store. Without acknowledging my mom, the woman stared into my eyes, smiled, and said "You can tell a lot about someone when you look into their eyes." I responded with a shy smile and then we parted ways. Of course at the time I had no clue what the lady meant. My nine year old brain wondered why this stranger spoke those words to me.
After that day I was aware of the lingering quote in my life. At first, I was only impressed with the flow. I hadn't yet connected it with the stranger in the grocery store encounter. As the quote constantly reappeared throughout the years, I realized that it wasn't a coincidence. I actually took time to understand the words as I matured. Ironically, I attended a theater camp called 'The Shakespeare Academy.' In the camp we did a lot of exercises and games that required focus. In order to obtain this focus, we had to make eye contact. As teens, we laughed at the idea. Eye contact was meant for close friends, lovers, and family members; not strangers. The thought of being "lost" in someone's eyes was just eerie! Especially considering that we had only formed opinions based on outward appearances. Our instructor told us to get into pairs. We were to stay silent for five minutes. We could only stare into each other's eyes. Of course it was awkward at first. We concealed our tension with laugher. We looked at each other's eyes simply observing the color. Once the laughing stopped, our five minutes began. Looking at my partner's eyes, I thought about how uneasy it was and I wondered why time was being held hostage. After a minute I began to focus and really look into my partner's eyes. I met someone new. I met someone who looked shy on the outside, but my partner's eyes introduced me to someone comical and nice. When we made eye contact we became vulnerable. The silence wasn't full of tension and we didn't laugh because of awkwardness. In the beginning we were defending ourselves. We were afraid to be raw. My eyes introduced me to someone new. People are often times afraid to make eye contact because they do not want to be vulnerable. They distract their human interactions with cell phones, tv's, and small talk. Being vulnerable to another person doesn't always mean that we're in danger. You're only in danger if someone's intentions are to hurt you. Don't allow other people's opinions to bother you. LOVE YOURSELF!!! Stay positive and be kind! We are human. We are not perfect and we shouldn't have to refine ourselves for someone else's approval. Open your eyes and free your soul. Sending out positive vibes, I challenge you to look into someone's eyes and be vulnerable. Allow someone to be free with them as well. Don't talk; simply listen with your eyes. If you see that someone is HURTING; ENCOURAGE THEM. If you see ANGER; LOVE THEM. If you see HAPPINESS; BE HAPPY TOO! Free your soul! Have a great week! By Kaci Hollingsworth Stay focused on your aspirations! Do not let limits and downfalls distract you.
Imagine yourself walking on a tightrope. At the end of the line your goals are untouched and ready for you. All you have to do is walk to them. However, fifty feet below you are problems, haters, and negative distractions. If you allow these bad things to hold your focus, you'll fall. Do not let negativity distract you. This past week, I've been working in a play production. The director constantly stressed the importance of focus and how eye contact results in better communication between actors. As young people, we need to make eye contact with our goals. We need to communicate with them and achieve them. While I was working on the play, I was focused on making helpful contributions to the overall production. I was also focused on my aspirations of becoming a successful actress. However, outside of the play production, I encountered a problem. I was distracted by a situation that I had no control over. I allowed it to get me down and taint my mind. Within the same week, my church was hosting a revival. The guest pastor talked about how Peter was focused on Jesus as they walked on the water. Peter allowed the storm and his obstacles to distract him, so he began to sink. Peter cried out for help and Jesus had his back. If you are focused on your problems and limits, encourage yourself with positivity. I focused on positive things and I worked toward my acting career. Don't get distracted by things that will keep you away from your lifetime goals. Be productive, be proactive, and stay positive and focused on your destiny. I'm sending out positive vibes for you to stay focused on your aspirations, to be happy, and to keep striving to accomplish your goals. I challenge you to counteract any negative thoughts with positivity. By Kaci Hollingsworth Friendship is not to be taken for granted. It is a warm atmosphere of love, trust, and support. Cherish it while you can! I haven't always understood friendship and I used to often say that I didn't have friends. However, that wasn't true. I had friends. I simply wasn't cherishing them. They were always there when it was time to hangout, yet we drifted to the back of each other's minds while we were apart. Maturity and time revealed the importance of friendship. How much people truly care for one another is revealed through friendship. It is the transition from friends who only hangout periodically to people who often think about each other. In this bond people wonder how the other is feeling. They want each other to be happy even when they are apart. Friends encourage each other!
Cherish your friends, and choose them wisely! If your friend is preventing you from escalating in life, make a change. Find friends who lift you up and support you! Help each other surpass goals, and comfort one another if times are tough. Time is limited, so cherish your friends! Sending out positive vibes, I challenge you to do something nice for your friend and make sure they know that you cherish them. By Kaci Hollingsworth BEWARE OF THE PEDESTAL!!! It is a deceptive position. When you place people high on a pedestal, or even yourself, there is a risk of plummeting into a pit of self-loathing and unhappiness.
Of course we all have people we admire! It could be a celebrity, a family member, or even a peer, and that's totally fine. However, we shouldn't place these people on a pedestal. Yes, they may be great, but they are not perfect. I've been down the pedestal path. Although at first it was an innocent friendship. I was the new kid in town, and she kindly welcomed me. As we grew older, we took separate roads. She branched out with the popular crowd, and I stood behind with my mouth shut. As I saw her life grow and prosper, I assumed she was perfect. I compared myself to her and when things did not line up, I would get upset with myself. It was unnecessary jealousy and self-depreciation. I was so foolishly bothered by the situation that I attempted to avoid her. The farther I tried to run, the closer God brought her to me. After she followed me on Instagram, I apprehensively followed back not wanting to seem rude or as if I was distancing myself. Through all of this, she had been nothing but nice to me. Eventually I told my older sister about my situation, and she gave me a stern, tear-provoking, and beyond honest talk. I walked out of her room with three questions on my mind. Who was I to place my friend on a pedestal? Who was I to think myself any less of what God created me to be? Why was I about to let jealousy ruin my friendship? I somehow managed to be oblivious to her imperfections and my own good qualities when in truth, we both have amazing talent, and we both make mistakes. On the other hand, if you've been placed on a pedestal, step down. Understand that you had to go through some difficult things to reach your success. We are not perfect, but we can do great things. So my fellow teens, please avoid the pedestal path. Do not place anyone on a pedestal! Do not allow yourself to be placed on a pedestal! They cause complications for people on both ends. Sending out positive vibes, I hope that you have a wonderful and progressive week. You are more than capable of conquering your adversities and fulfilling your aspirations. Stay positive, you lovely humans! By Kaci Hollingsworth Your life is what you speak! Words do not tread lightly. They engulf and intertwine their destination, causing life or destruction. It is your choice. We as teens are prominent voices for nonliteral comments. We respond with sarcasm and "jokes" not knowing the true impact we have. Our words shape who we are. For a majority of my youth, I disparaged myself with my words. I would tell myself that I didn't deserve great things, that I was unattractive, and that I wasn't worth talking to. As the words left my mouth, they latched onto my life. Opportunities and awards were out of my reach, I was emotionally torn when I looked in a mirror, and as far as public social interaction goes, I was alone. The worst part was that I continued to believe what I was speaking. However, I corrected my words; I spoke favor, beauty, and friendship into my life. Sure enough, life changed for the better! The positive words immersed my heart and manifested. You can change your situation with your words. Speak positively, believe great things will happen, and take action to benefit yourself and every living being on Earth. Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof. (Proverbs 18:21 KJV) Sending out positive vibes, I challenge you to speak life-building words and allow them to attach, grow, and activate! By Kaci Hollingsworth "We are one as the Human Race, be aware of your actions towards others." If your life was a movie, would you be proud of your actions? I can honestly say that I would edit out some scenes in the movie about my life. I was raised in a Christian family where love was essential. Contrary to the stereotypical image of Christians being judgmental and intolerant human beings, I believe in unconditional love and staying focused on God. I was taught to forgive people that wronged me, to welcome people who are different than me, and to encourage others all while giving glory to God. I know everyone wasn't taught the same things, but everyone's heart knows right from wrong. For example, you know that it's not okay to take things that don't belong to you. People miss out on life changing opportunities and benefits because they belittle people even though they know it's wrong. Picture yourself sitting behind your best friend in class Your best friend is worried about a test in their next class because they missed the notes and wasn't able to study. You know that your best friend will not be allowed to hangout with you if they do not pass the test. Another student who also has to take the test offers the notes to your best friend, but they decline them. Later your best friend tells you that they didn't take the notes because the student whom offered the notes lives in a certain neighborhood. Your best friend failed the test and missed out on everything you guys had planned all because someone didn't live on the "right" side of town. Humans live on the same planet. Some humans live in the same city. Some humans even attend the same school, yet they miss life changing opportunities because of their inability to accept physical, geographical, and/or racial differences. We should be careful how we treat people so that we don't miss out on life changing and benefiting moments. The highly controversial Rachel Dolezal, former NAACP president for the Spokane, Washington chapter is being criticized for being a Caucasian activist for African Americans. How can we criticize someone for helping us? Is it not possible that Rachel could have felt that she would have a bigger impact on her mission to help and uplift the African American society by blending in? I searched online for some of Rachel's accomplishments, however the results only shared the negative responses to her racial identity reveal. I realized how people are quick to dwell on the negative things, instead of focusing on the positive. Sending out positive vibes - I would like to challenge you,my fellow humans, to find ten virtuous acts that Rachel did for the African American people. Written by Kaci Hollingsworth |
AuthorKaci Hollingsworth Archives
February 2018
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