Author: jcladyluv

http://www.facebook.com/people/Jimmetta-Carpenter/1069480310

http://www.passionatewriterpublishing.com/thediary.htm

Conquering Fear Doesn’t Happen Overnight

February 8, 2012 jcladyluv

It is typical for someone to give good advice to others without ever really taking that same advice themselves. I’ve written a lot about not letting fear, whether it is fear of failure or fear of success, stop you from going after your dreams. I stand by that advice but sometimes I just can’t seem to take it myself. It isn’t that I don’t want to let the fear go, it just seems that I can’t. I get moments where I feel fearless and ready to conquer the world. Then something happens to set me back and I get afraid. I find myself afraid that I won’t succeed, then afraid that I will.

I spent a lot of time last night assessing exactly what it is that I seem to be doing wrong, or rather what is wrong with me. Why it is that I keep missing opportunities simply by not going after them in the first place. I look at my best friend Ms. L and watch her hustle her ass off to climb further and further up that ladder. She’s doing what she loves to do and she is going into it all fearlessly. Now Ms. L and I are both in pursuit of the same thing, success doing what it is we love to do. We have different avenues of the media industry that we want to conquer but we are both passionate about creativity and writing and making a living at it. I just can’t seem to mirror that same fierceness she has to hustle.

I sat in my bed last night trying to figure out why. Was it that I didn’t want it as bad anymore? Is it that I just feel that I am not cut out to be my own businesswoman after all? Can it just be that I am not hungry enough for it? No, none of those things apply to me. Then I realized that I’m still afraid. I thought it had gone away. I thought I had talked myself through the phase of being too afraid but somewhere along the way it crept back in. I’m afraid of succeeding but mostly I’m afraid of failing at everything I’ve ever dreamed of.

What I also realized in my moment of self analysis last night was that if I don’t try and give it my all then my fear will come true anyway. I fail without even trying to succeed. Not trying will be failing. I wish I could say that the fear is gone now. I wish that I could say that once it passes this time that it will never creep back in. But I can say that I know that fear is not going to help me get what I want and what I’m destined to have; success. For anyone out there experiencing a serious case of fear, you are not alone. We will overcome it and climb our way up that ladder. It just might take us a little bit longer than others. Until tomorrow…Remember that Fear stands for False Evidence Appearing Real.

Jimmetta Carpenter

Writer/Editor

The Diary: Succession of Lies (Now Available)

Writing as “Jaycee Durant”

http://www.facebook.com/people/Jimmetta-Carpenter/1069480310

http://www.passionatewriterpublishing.com/thediary.htm

Seeing the Blessing in the Responsibilities that God Gives Us

February 7, 2012 jcladyluv

I spent a lot of time when I was little planning out my life and what I was going to do and be. I even had time frames for certain things such as when I was going to become a New York Times staff writer and when I was going to get married and have children. But I wasn’t always so optimistic about how my life would turn out.

I grew up in an abusive home with a mother who was physically, mentally, and emotionally abusive and there were honestly days when I just didn’t want to wake up the next morning. I will even admit that I tried to make it so I wouldn’t wake up multiple times and would get angry with God when it didn’t work. I wondered why I was still here to go through the nightmare that I had to endure on a daily basis.

Now that I am at the stage I am at in my life, which admittedly is not where I had hoped to be at this age, I can see exactly why it never worked. God gave me a responsibility and a purpose. The purpose was to influence and empower people with my words and the responsibility was my beautiful and wonderfully intelligent daughter who I just know is here to change the world in big ways that I can’t even begin to see yet.

I was watching an episode of Tyler Perry’s House of Payne last week and it was something said that really struck a chord with me. The father was telling his son (who after being shot and almost killed wished that he had just died) that God sometimes gives us responsibilities just to keep you moving. He gives you those responsibilities along with the strength you need to achieve, and the provisions you need to conquer your problems. But you have to keep moving and keep fighting.

All of these responsibilities that I am stressing and worrying over and sometimes falling apart about were given to me specifically because God clearly saw something in me and believed that I could handle them. Now, looking at things from that perspective, I feel even more special because God must see more strength in me then I can see in myself. If God is going to put faith in me like that then how can I keep questioning him and not put faith in him and trust in his plan and his path that he has laid out for me.

I am writing this today because I felt compelled to. I felt as if there might be someone else out there (besides me) who continues to have questions about why certain burdens were bestowed upon them. It is all for a reason and there is a blessing in every burden, even if you don’t see it yet. I hope that anyone out there going through a rough time right now will trust in God and his reasoning. Until tomorrow…Keep moving forward and keep fighting through it.

Jimmetta Carpenter

Writer/Editor

The Diary: Succession of Lies (Now Available)

Writing as “Jaycee Durant”

http://www.facebook.com/people/Jimmetta-Carpenter/1069480310

http://www.passionatewriterpublishing.com/thediary.htm

Letting Go of an Unwanted Label

February 6, 2012 jcladyluv

Ms. L did a blog series last week about the labels that we, as a society, place on ourselves. It seemed as if almost all of them applied to me in some way, shape, or form, but the one that really screamed out to me was broke. She and I talked in depth about this particular label because I tend to have to cry broke almost every other week (on a bad month it might be every week).

It seems as if when the money does come in the bills and whatever my daughter needs at any given moment eats it all up. It occurred to me when reading Ms. L’s post that if I keep putting it out there that I am broke, that quite possibly may be the reason that I remain that way. It is said that you attract whatever energy you put out and if that is in fact true then putting out the energy of always being broke would only attract more instances of being broke.

I joke all of the time about wishing that I was lucky enough to win the lottery but the funny thing is I would have to actually play the lottery in order to win it. I shy away from the practice of playing the lottery only because I don’t want to end up being even more broke than I already am. But I never consider the odds of me actually winning the lottery. I never even put off that energy.

If I keep holding on to that title of being broke or thinking that I am not lucky enough to achieve something having never even given it a try then it is no wonder the label of being broke is holding on to me. From now on I am just going to say that I am temporarily out of cash (T.O.C.) because that’s all it really is. I am not broke because in a lot of ways I am richer in certain areas that don’t even involve having money. That is one label I am more than happy to shed. Until tomorrow…What label would you let go of?

Jimmetta Carpenter

Writer/Editor

The Diary: Succession of Lies (Now Available)

Writing as “Jaycee Durant”

http://www.facebook.com/people/Jimmetta-Carpenter/1069480310

http://www.passionatewriterpublishing.com/thediary.htm

7 Things About Me You May (or May Not) Want to Know

February 4, 2012 jcladyluv

Okay so here are 7 things about me that I know my readers probably don’t know about me and that I don’t typically share with most people. I warn you that I am really not that interesting so if you are expecting some juicy, earth shattering secrets, I am sorry to disappoint you. Here goes…

When I was younger (and much better at it) I had another career path that I had always dreamed of doing in addition to writing. I wanted and dreamed about being a singer. I think that I would’ve been a really good one too, but that time has come and gone. Although if someone offered me a record deal today I would totally take it in a second. (I would write my own music of course)
It has always been a secret desire of mine to take dance classes. I’m not sure what style of dance because I’m not exactly the ballet or tap type, but maybe contemporary.
I started to love to cook around the age of 12 or 13 by watching Julia Child on MPT and I would someday love to go to culinary arts school and own my own restaurant.
I am about to go back to school to get my Master’s Degree in Psychology and I am actually, for the first time in life, dreading that stage of school. I’m worried I won’t be able to keep up with the course load.
I am terrified of heights and deathly afraid of being in water (not shower type of water but ocean type of water). Oddly enough I want to travel around the world which requires flying and possibly even being on some type of boat at some point in time.
I love being a mom, probably more than anything else in this world, maybe even more than being a writer (shh! Don’t tell anyone I said that).
I absolutely hate most of the latest technology advances and would probably never own any of the stuff that most writers are dying to have.

Well I think I have bared enough of myself for one day. I’m going to go hide under the covers now, I feel exposed!

Jimmetta Carpenter

Writer/Editor

The Diary: Succession of Lies (Now Available)

Writing as “Jaycee Durant”

http://www.facebook.com/people/Jimmetta-Carpenter/1069480310

http://www.passionatewriterpublishing.com/thediary.htm

I Was Honored To Be Chosen and Now I Pass On This Honor To 7 Others

February 3, 2012February 3, 2012 jcladyluv

Okay so back on the 16^th of January I was selected by my best friend Ms. L as a Versatile Blogger Award recipient. I was once again selected by one of my blog’s followers, Leonie Lucas, for the Versatile blogger award. I know it took me long enough to get around to actually accepting my award that I really do cherish and am honored to get but today I am doing just that. So first let me just say thank you to Ms. L and Leonie Lucas again for my award.

So as I understand, accepting the award requires me to pass the award along to seven other bloggers and to tell my readers seven little known things about myself. So tonight I will make my seven selections and share them with you here and tomorrow I will share seven things about myself (whether you will find them interesting or not is another story).

Confessions of a Love Addict– Blog by Lindsey Tigar
The Daily Cocca– Blog by Chris Cocca
Nail Your Novel– Blog by Roz Morris
Nissi Knows– Blog by Nissi x
Screenwriting From Iowa– Blog by Scott Smith
Roger Tharpe- A Voice Crying Out Into The Wilderness – Blog by Roger Tharpe
Futuristically Yours– Blog by Harold

Tomorrow I will disclose 7 things about myself.

Jimmetta Carpenter

Writer/Editor

The Diary: Succession of Lies (Now Available)

Writing as “Jaycee Durant”

http://www.facebook.com/people/Jimmetta-Carpenter/1069480310

http://www.passionatewriterpublishing.com/thediary.htm

Taking Time To Tell God Thank You

February 2, 2012 jcladyluv

Every morning when I workout at the gym and I am running in the gym I ask God to give me the strength to finish. To give me the strength to not quit and give up half way through when I am so close to the end. I honestly couldn’t explain any other way I manage to finish my workouts in the mornings if it were not for the strength that God gives me. But that’s not all that God gives me the strength for.

There are so many things in my life that I would not have made it through if it were not for his love and his strength. I thank him for so many things, my daughter, my words and the talent that I have, my best friend and all of my other friends who enhance my life in some way. Mostly I thank him for never failing me and always guiding me, even when I couldn’t see where he was guiding me to.

I don’t know what my life would be like without all of the things I have been through but I do know how lost I would be without God weaved throughout every facet of my life. I just wanted to take the time out today to thank God for everything that he has seen me through and for never leaving my side. Until tomorrow…Never forget that through God all things are possible.

Jimmetta Carpenter

Writer/Editor

The Diary: Succession of Lies (Now Available)

Writing as “Jaycee Durant”

http://www.facebook.com/people/Jimmetta-Carpenter/1069480310

http://www.passionatewriterpublishing.com/thediary.htm

Critics Are Everywhere

February 1, 2012 jcladyluv

“It doesn’t matter if a million people tell you what you can’t do, or if ten million tell you no. If you get one yes from God that’s all you need.”
~Tyler Perry

There is negative energy everywhere. People will try and tear others down simply because they are succeeding at something and they are envious. There may be someone out there who doesn’t like the fact that someone else is hogging what they see as their spotlight. There all critics in their own right and just like we can’t always rely on the negative word of a book or movie reviewer for the next book we will read or movie we will see, we can not rely on the critics who say that we will never become what we know we are destined to become.

I got another Inspirational Corner message in my email from Tyler Perry today. He shared with his fans a clip that was sent to him which, at first glance, looks like a barrage of negative comments hurled at him to discourage him. But as you go on watching the clip, it phases out the negative comments and goes on to display and show all of the comments of encouragement for Tyler, both by his fans and the many actors and actresses he has worked with throughout the years.

Just like that clip, Tyler Perry has managed to tune out all of the negative comments of people who just might not have gotten his vision, and focus in on the words of encouragement and empowerment for him. There were so many people who told him no. There were so many people who told him that there was just no place for him in the industry. People told him that the world just wouldn’t buy what he was trying to sell. He had been shut down so many times by so many negative critics but he never let that stop him. Look at him now.

My message today is to say that even the most successful people that you see today have been told no and have been told that they would never get to where they were trying to go. They did it by letting the negative comments roll right off their back and putting their focus into the words of encouragement that helped fuel their desire. They never gave up until they were right where they said they were going to be, at the top. So to all of the future success stories out there that are climbing your way to the top, don’t let the critics slow down your rise. Until tomorrow…Just press on and tune out anything that’s going to get in your way!

Jimmetta Carpenter

Writer/Editor

The Diary: Succession of Lies (Now Available)

Writing as “Jaycee Durant”

http://www.facebook.com/people/Jimmetta-Carpenter/1069480310

http://www.passionatewriterpublishing.com/thediary.htm

Making the Best Out of What You Don’t Have

January 31, 2012 jcladyluv

If I could write a list of the things that I need to do pertaining to my writing career that is being held up due to lack of money, I’m not sure if one piece of paper would be enough. Every time I think that I am going to be able to get some new business cards or pay my editor to edit my next novel, or hire an artists to design the cover of my next novel, I just get reminded that I never seem to have the money to do what I need to do in order to make me more money. It seems like the things I don’t have constantly outweigh what I want.

The other day I heard something on one of Oprah’s shows that made me think differently in regards to dwelling on what I don’t have right now. Iyanla Vanzant was speaking about people being angry with not having what they want out of life and she said that “you have to create what you want instead of being stuck with what you don’t have.” I realized that if I keep focusing on what little I have (or what I don’t have at all sometimes) then not only can I not take joy in the things that I am already blessed to have, but I can’t create a way to turn things around and get what it is that I do want.

Now clearly there are just some things that you can’t do without having the benefit of money. However, that doesn’t mean that I can’t concentrate on the things that I can do for my career that can be done with discipline and hard work. That, I don’t need to buy, that, I already have. So today, for every thing that you don’t have, think of how you can turn that around and create something you want. Until tomorrow…Remember there is good in any misfortune, you just have to stop focusing on the misfortune.

Jimmetta Carpenter

Writer/Editor

The Diary: Succession of Lies (Now Available)

Writing as “Jaycee Durant”

http://www.facebook.com/people/Jimmetta-Carpenter/1069480310

http://www.passionatewriterpublishing.com/thediary.htm

What I Learned From Elizabeth Gilbert, Author of Eat, Pray, Love

January 30, 2012 jcladyluv

I was watching Oprah’s Super Soul Sunday yesterday morning and she had Elizabeth Gilbert, author of Eat, Pray, Love, on for a portion of the show. I got a lot of things from listening to her story or self-discovery. She talked about moments of stillness and being able to listen to that voice inside ourselves that we tend to keep ignoring. But one of the things that I was not expecting to hear was her discussing the power of saying no.

So many times you hear people advise others that we say no too often and we end up shutting ourselves off to many opportunities that we weren’t receptive too. But on the flip side, there are those of us who spend so much time taking care of everyone else, and being there for everyone else, that we end up taking ourselves for granted. Elizabeth Gilbert spoke about having to learn how to say No to people and learning how to not feel guilty about it.

We all have experienced having those around us that just literally suck the life out of us. They probably don’t do it intentionally (although some do) but their constant need to lean on you and their constant expectation that you will always be there no matter what can drain you emotionally and eventually physically. Sometimes we really do need to just stand up for our own emotional health and say no when we need to. That’s not saying that we can’t ever be there for the people who need us again. That’s saying that you have to be there for you first. Until tomorrow…Take some time out for you and don’t feel guilty about the no’s you will have to say in order to do it.

Jimmetta Carpenter

Writer/Editor

The Diary: Succession of Lies (Now Available)

Writing as “Jaycee Durant”