Positive affirmations…Transforming life

I use to wonder how I could attract positive energy to manifests in my life. I have concluded that the development of positive mindset is the most powerful life approach to a better life. I have been an advocate for positive thoughts for the past few years because I am a living testimony to this strategy.

We all know it is very difficult to develop positive energy or think positive in this distracting world. Some people believe that having a positive mindset about every situation in our life is not realistic. But, do you know that developing positive affirmations in your everyday life attract positive things on the personal and professional level?

Positive affirmations can be associated with the concept of “Law of attraction”. When you adapt to this technique, you begin to witness a positive transformation in your life. Positive thoughts change the mindset of individuals to have more passion about life. For instance, imagine waking up every morning, blasting excitement and joy for a new wonderful day. This will allow one to develop a positive attitude to life.

My success story about positive affirmations. 

At the start of 2011, I had a lot of goals I had set to accomplish before the end of the year. Attaining an excellent career was the number one goal on my list. However, I kept in mind that my accomplishment would not come easy because good things are not straightforward but I was determined to obtain what my heart craved for.

I am a firm believer in taking risks in life. On September 9^th 2011, I woke up at 6am in the morning getting ready for work, and suddenly felt in my spirit I needed to quit my job. I made a major move that morning; I called my job and advised them that I will no longer be working with them again. It felt great the first couple of days, but afterward, I started having thoughts if this “big move” was the right move for me at that time knowing that I had no secure job waiting for me.  Later on that week, I started reading books and some bible chapters to strengthen my thoughts and faith.

Having faith as a Christian means positive thoughts and having confidence that goodness will result out of the situation. Although I wasn’t working and didn’t have any source of income coming in, I still woke up in the morning happier than ever. I even decided to use my spare time to volunteer at my church convention for a month.

I had been applying for numerous jobs and attending jobs interviews that did not fit my criteria. On October 4^th, I applied for an analyst position at one of the major banks in Canada. Based on my qualifications and my educational background, I thought the position was way out of my lead. But I kept thinking positive and praying that God would open this major career path for me. Behold and behold, I was able to receive 2 interviews with this bank. Although, I had not been offered the position at the bank yet, I kept referring to the position as my job. At times I even told people that I was an analyst at the bank although my offer was not finalized.

From the moment I applied for the position, I refused to apply for any other job because I wanted to eliminate any second thoughts. This was how positive and certain I was about this job position. With some prayers and positive mindset, after a month of processing, I was offered the position. I started the job two months exactly after I terminated my position at my previous job. And to top it off, my starting salary is 50% more than my previous earning. This is what I call the genesis of tremendous possibilities.

Think positive, have faith and believe in yourself that you too can be great. God has granted us all the resources to become successful in this life, it is up to us on how we think about the resources and how to use them. Positive thinking and positive affirmations is a helpful technique to help us create and develop powerful and positive attitude towards life. With this power at hand, we can change failure to success and move up to new levels in life.  Be and think positive.

To God be the Glory

**Express and Reflect on your World**

Sincerely,

Priscilla  Birago

I AM TROY DAVIS

I am still in disbelief and extremely horrified at the inhumane and injustice act that took place on Wednesday night. The American Justice System has failed us once again! It’s not the first and it will not be the last. Georgia Parole Board denied clemency for Troy Anthony Davis, after being on death roll for two decades. Mr. Davis was accused for the murder of an off-duty officer in 1989.

This case has caused an international outrage and has many people asking if justice was really served. Personally, I believe justice was not served because Troy Davis was not guilty beyond reasonable doubt.

Anyone that followed his case clearly knows that this case was not prosecuted properly. How can a man be executed for murder when there was no solid evidence supporting the case? In addition there was no DNA evidence connecting Mr. Davis to the murder.

Mr. Davis claimed his innocence till his death bed and before his execution, he said to his family and friends “continue to fight this fight.” In order words, his family and friends should fight to prove his innocence and his freedom that he has been fighting for two decades.

Freedom does not come easy to some individuals. Freedom is independence, free-will, liberty, choice, self –determination, autonomy, sovereignty, and lastly, lack of restriction. We all seek for freedom but freedom is not easily obtained for individuals like Troy Davis. It takes determination and a long fight to achieve it and sometimes it is not achieve at all. Nevertheless, freedom comes easily to certain individuals or groups that are more favored in the North American society.

Evidently, black people in our society have fought a great deal to achieve freedom. Since emancipation from slavery, black people still faces the biggest restrictions in the justice system. North American justice system is manipulated and systematically set up to favor the higher class society. Presently, there are a higher percentage of black people that are concentrated on lower level of society, which means that the justice system of the state favors black people the least.

I am still outraged by the route the state of Georgia took. Troy Davis was innocent and he has been claiming his freedom and innocence for two decades.

Troy Davis said “All I can ask ... is that you look deeper into this case so that you really can finally see the truth." If troy Davis was white, I am certain that the system would have taken time to analyze his case careful and granted him freedom or reduced his sentence to life imprisonment.  It sad to say this, but the justice system is unfair.

It would be understandable if there was solid evidence supporting the murder and if all nine people who testified against Troy Davis did not alter their initial testimony. But that was not the case, because seven of the nine trial witnesses recanted their testimony against him. The US Supreme Court took an unusual long period of time to come to a decision. Troy was still executed after all these factors surfaced and indicated that he might be innocent.

There is no justice for capital punishment or an eye for an eye principle. It is tragic how the US justice system keeps on failing. Retribution punishment is certainly not the solution to crime in a civilized society. In my opinion it is barbaric and this form of punish does not deter crime. No-one and I mean no-one has the right to take a life, including the Government.

Before Troy’s execution, he also said to the prison officers “may God have mercy on your souls. May God bless your souls.” And Yes, May God truly have mercy on their souls for taking his life.

 I have now come to the conclusion that the “greatest nation” is not the greatest after all. It is uncivilized and has engaged in barbarism.

Many people have lost trust in the US justice system for many years because there are people that have been wrongfully convicted and incarcerated. As a result, people have been losing hope that the justice system will not be there to support them if they were in a similar situation.

I am certain that one of the many reasons Georgia Parole Board denied the clemency is because they did not want the world to identify the inaccuracy and errors in the system.

If they reopened the case to prove Mr. Davis was innocent, it will give people more reasons to loose faith in the American justice system. In addition, it will also cause the government millions of dollars to reopen the case and keep Mr. Davis alive.

It is a tragedy that they sacrificed Troy Davis’ innocence to glorify the US Justice System. “May God have mercy on their souls and may God bless their souls.”

Troy Anthony Davis, You’re in a better place. May your soul rest in peace.

**Express and Reflect on your World** 

Sincerely, 

Prissy Birago

ROAD TO EVERLASTING HAPPINESS

 

 Most women anticipate their wedding day from a very young age. They create in their imagination the type of man they would want to spend the rest of their life with. And when a woman diligently seeks the lord and prays for their heart desire, there comes a point in her life where she will find her true love. It may take many years and some a few years to find their King of the Kings but when that moment arrivals you know that they have been highly favored by the Most High God.

This piece is dedicated to my one and only Constance Love. Today is her 1^st week wedding anniversary and I can’t wait to celebrate her 10^th year wedding anniversary with her and her hubby.

 

  Groomsmen and Bride-maids are just too beautiful :) No more words can describe it.

 

My beautiful and lovely childhood friends, can't wait to see everyone of you walk down the aisle. Love you all.

Over the past years, our friendship and sisterhood has blossomed into something beautiful and wonderful. I will forever be honored and grateful that my lovely sister chose me as her maid of honor; to stand by her and celebrate one the most significant days of her life with her.

Below is a piece of the speech I wrote for Constance Love on her wedding day.

Constance is one of the kindest and warmest people I have ever met in my life. Her Godly soul is full of humbleness and generosity. Constance cannot get angry or mad. She looks very funny when she tires to get angry because it not in her. Often times people’s names are just for identification purposes, However Constance love is dissimilar because she acquires all the great virtues to her middle name “Love”.

"Love is patient, love is kind. She does not envy, she does not boast, she is not proud. She does not dishonor others, she is not self-seeking, she is not easily angered, and she keeps no record of wrongs.  Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. She always protects, always trusts, always hopes, and always perseveres”.(1 COR 13 :4-7).

I was reminded of the saying ‘the first impression goes a long way’ because when I meet Solomon for the first time, I knew in my gut that this would be the man Constance would spend the rest of her life with. He is extremely respectful, peaceful and his persona demonstrates that he truly loves and cares for Constance. His demeanor about life indicated that he was God fearing and that is one of the greatest virtues to find in a man.

Constance, you are highly favored. May God continue to bless and enrich this marriage for many many more years to come and bless it with prosperity, wellness and children. God bless you Solomon and Constance. You both have found your soul mate and I am extremely happy to see both of you start a new life together.

**Express and Reflect on your World**

Sincerely,

Prissy Birago

BIG MOVES

Dear Blog,
 

I took a very big risk this week.  I called my work and advised them that I will no longer be working with them. Guess what?? I did not attempt to give them advance notice. Don't  get me wrong, it was a good job with good pay but I felt like l didn’t belong there and that I could do better.  It was a spontaneous move; A big move that would define and change my future.

I woke up early this morning in a different world, looking outside my window and thinking to myself if this so called “big move” was the right move.  I felt like going back to bed and waking up with all my anxiety and worries disappearing.  I knew it was impossible because that is not how life works.  I immediately called my friend and could not stop crying on the phone. She said to me, “This is not you Priscilla, This is not the Priscilla that I know. I feel like am talking to a totally different person.” I couldn’t stop crying because I knew this was not me.  I said, “Priscilla better days are coming, pull yourself up because you have tough skin".

In life, you must  take risk to know where you belong in this world

I know a new era has begun and the old era has been diminished. This year has been going as planned and most of my goals has been accomplished. I will not allow the devil to twist my mind, and have me think that I made the wrong choice. I now know I made the right decision because I am about to achieve my biggest goal by far this year. God will continue to guild me and lead me to the right path. 

Prissy is all about taking big risks.. Lets goooooooooo baby!!!!

**Express and Reflect on your World**

Sincerely,

Prissy Birago

WHAT IS YOURRR LATTE FACTOR???

Dear Blog

One of my Goals for 2011 was to gain better financial stability. Honestly, we all know it is hard to eliminate our spending habits from our daily activities. Most of us are addicted to spending. I tried to use one of the saving techniques, which was writing and planning accordingly, and trying to eliminate unnecessary spending. And trust me; it was not an easy one! So, I have been searching and reading books on financial freedom to help strengthen my mind in the financial realm.

I discovered that we are all programmed to spend what we earn.  The more we earn, the more we spend on lavish things to “try” to live comfortably. We all desire to attain a good job so that we would be able to“save”. So we say! But the truth is, wealth is not built on how much money we earn but how we plan to spend our money and what we invest the money in.

I came across this angelical book called “Start Late, Finish Rich” by David Bach. Believe me, this book is amazing!  I believe this book did not just land in my hands for an irrelevant reason but rather a tool from God to teach me on some of the important techniques to financial freedom. While reading the book, I discovered a financial strategy called “Latte Factor”. Latte Factor is a concept created to enable us to become aware of the unnecessary “little expenditures” that we waste our money on, without realizing how much they add up to.

The purpose of this concept is to allow us to track our daily spending, and become more conscious of the money we waste on little things like, Starbucks coffee, chocolate bars, Spas or Dinning out every day. And while monitoring our spending, we take some of the money and deposit  it into an investment account, example RRSP. By doing so, we will be saving a fortune when we least expect it.

I found my Latte Factor

Before Work

Apple or Orange juice =$ 1.50

Bagel with strawberry cream cheese = $ 1.89

At 10:30

Timmy’s medium fruit smoothie =$3.48

Timmy’s Chicken wrap =$2.59

M&M =$1.00

Noon (No lunch)  

Mr Greek Roast chicken dinner =$7:78

_______________________________________

Average total daily spending  = $18.24

If I take $ 15 a day from my daily spending and deposit it in my investment account, guess how much I would be saving …

Assumes 10% Annual Rate of Return

Daily Investment	Monthly Investment	10 Years	20 Years	30 Years	40 Years	50 Years
$15	$450	$92, 180	$341,716	$1,017,220	2,845,836	$7,795,976

Hypothetically, if I and my significant other or a friend is saving together, in a span of 50 years we will save $ 15,591,952

Over 15 million dollars will be saved if I cut out my little lavish things. 

Dear Blog, It’s really mind blowing.

I really wish they taught this in school…but I’m glad to say, I have now found my latte factor , WHAT ABOUT YOU??

**Express and Reflect on your World**


 Sincerely,

Prissy Birago