“Remember to breathe. It is after all, the secret of life.”
― Gregory Maguire
Hi guys!
Today marks our fourth and final installment of The Coffey Break Guided Meditation Series. This video is all about letting go of the past and tapping into our full potential to uncover our best selves.
Just like we need to clean and nourish our bodies every day, we also need to fill our minds and hearts with positive reinforcements of our best selves daily. There are several hindrances that try to keep us from living life to the fullest potential that God has for us: broken relationships, self-doubt, past pains and hurts, life’s challenges and circumstances, the list goes on…
What I really appreciate about having a time of prayer, meditation, and devotion is the intentional space it creates for daily renewal. Whether that time is first thing in the morning, before bed, or on a lunch break, taking the time to reset and remind ourselves of who we are, that our lives have a purpose, and that we have the potential to do great things is extremely necessary in a world that constantly bombards us with seemingly more bad than good at times.
I really hope you guys have enjoyed this series. It has been such a blessing to me, and before we close out, I’d like to send an extra special thank you to my dear friend Biko Gray for his role in this project. Your voice was such a gift to this series.
See below for the video to this week’s meditation.
The last year has been a complete whirlwind. Below you’ll find a gallery of some of my most favorite personal style moments and the stories behind them. My 30th birthday’s right around the corner, and I’ll be there welcoming it with open arms. Thirty here I come!
Enjoy! Xoxo -Chels
Coffey Shop Photo Shoot With Compozition’s Unique James.Williamsburg, New York Travesia Photos Shoot With Andrea DuarteLook of the Day Last day in New OrleansSunday Morning Look of the DayThird Ward Vintage Store Photo ShootLook of the NightA Leap of Style Photo ShootA Leap of Style Photo Shoot with KarissaFinally got a temp job Look of the Day :’-)New SAKS Grand Opening Look of the DayThat time I got locked out of Bill and Debra’s taking out the trash. Wearing the overcoat of the old man next door, his nurse had me wait on the steps… Maybe it was because I was running around the neighborhood (the shame! haha), in my socks, trying to borrow someone’s phone. Which leads to the size and a half too small shoes on my feet from the neighbors across the street. He politely explained to me that they were Gucci, so please don’t forget to bring them back. What a mess of a day hahaHeaded home to Sugar Land for the first time since the journey began. I was leaving with so much more than I came with. It was a literal 180. God had blessed me with a new job and a place by then. So much to be thankful for. This was a good day :’-)First night at my new place in Brooklyn.Usie with my Maddy MooYou don’t see this coat?! (Thank you Kanye for this quote. We use it almost every day haha)Easy like Sunday MorningLook of the DAy: Big hair. Big Glasses. High boots.Quite possibly the coolest Houston find of 2016.Awesome Natural Hair photo shoot with Fred Agho.My first New York Photo Shoot ever with Derrel AnthonyTimeless photo shoot with Fredis BenitezTrip prep with this queen.
Curls and sunshine in DC with Janae.Interviews NYCFind your center, always.This neighborhood. Such a dream.Motherland vibes with Carol Lipworth Designs.A little something (s) borrowed.Speaking engagement ootn.Speaking engagement ootn.Old school Ronin days.Laguna vibes.Hi, yes this is Cleo. How may I help you? Oh, you want to talk about birthdays? Sure thing. My rate is $75 an hour. Let’s begin.Irvine Market.Newport is always so good to us.Philly vibes with this handsome guy.Aiport StyleAOL/Huffington Post Offices NYCThis is what a yes looks like. My beautiful Lisa Diaz in her wedding gown. Eyes closed. Big smiles. All the feels.Every 6 months we get O on the dance floor 😛Hmmm or more like every quarter.Me, every weekend. 60’s + 70’s vibes all day, every day.Arrived! First night in NYC.Capture all the moments. When you’re old and on the porch, you’ll be thanking yourself.
My Pretty ValentineNew Year, New HaircutTwinning. Anything for an Ugly Christmas Sweater Party, especially if it’s for Bren.Cold day in Houston ootd.Cozy Jam VibesLast day of our Orange County beach tour. 29, thank you for being so great to me. Rain or shine, this year is one for the record books.
Happy Monday! It is time for the third installment of the Guided Meditation series. This week’s focus is on Abundance.
Join Biko as he guides us through a 10-minute set of breathing exercises and affirmations specially designed to assist with training your mind to extend a warm welcome to the abundance of all things beautiful into your life.
A few years ago, I came across a quote that’s stayed with me after all this time. “If you fill your head with good thoughts, there won’t be any room for bad thoughts.”
As obvious as this may sound, it’s the simple truth, and it also requires intentionality. Being positive takes work and discipline and faith.
Philippians 4:8 says:
Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.
I spent the greater part of last year meditating with a guided meditation on abundance, and case by case, there’s no doubt in my mind that that time I took to zone in and focus on what I wanted an abundance of made a huge difference in terms of how I viewed my circumstances and the world around me.
If nothing else, I want to leave you guys with this thought, the goal should be obtaining the feeling of abundance prior to any manifestation of abundance. Abundance in the way that we are defining it should not be confused with worldly possessions and desires. Simply the overflowing of all that is good. We can find the feeling of abundance in nature, time with family and friends, from the love of God, and helping others. These are the things that really matter. The other things will come, but the blessing lies in true gratitude for what we already have all around us.
Happy Sunday! So confession, as much as I dislike the idea of falling into the pack… man oh man is that the case when it comes to home decor haha. When I moved into our townhouse in Houston, I was so sure that my room would be a carbon copy of my favorite minimalistic spaces on Pinterest; however, to my surprise, that wasn’t at all the case. One section got the look, my desk. The rest of my room was a smooth blend of vintage charm and warm gold tones.
Looking back, it shouldn’t have been all that surprising now that I think about it. My personal style is a reflection of whatever vibe I’m looking to channel that day and I have the wardrobe to match. When cornered, I think it can be best described as urban chic, and I think the same can be said of my design sense.
Regardless of the actual outcome of my future New York space, I’m having a field day scrolling through Pinterest, pinning my favorites, and dreaming of a day I’ll have a place to call my own here in the city.
Until then, here’s a peek into the swoon-worthy spaces holding me over in the meantime. Enjoy!
Have a favorite spaces board? Share in the comments below. I’d love to check it out! 🙂
So, a while back, I made the declaration to my little sister, Madison, that I was going to do a blog challenge. I didn’t quite know how long I wanted to do it. I wasn’t sure of the theme. All I knew is that life will pass you by if you aren’t intentional about taking it by the reigns.
2016 has been a big year. A really big year. And I’m still trying to wrap my head around it all. That’s where this challenge comes in. This season -the last 4+years- has been such a rollercoaster. With that in mind, I knew I wanted to be intentional about capturing the last moments of this amazing year.
December has always been special to me, and my reason for loving it so much is simple. It’s an indisputable close of something. So much of my current life is influenced by all these different variables –subject to change. Not December. December 31st marks the close of a year. That it’s over. So whether you killed it all year long, are still holding out for a breakthrough, or a mix of both, its onset signifies that last ditch effort to make the play, hit that home run, set goals, dream big, you name it.
Speaking of big dreams, on October 8th, I packed up my suitcase (the silver bullet), carry-on, purse, and backpack, to job search here in New York City (still so weird seeing that haha). I could go on and on about the story behind that, but I think I’ll save the full version for a Coffey Break Chat.
NY or bust!
Long story short, the transition has not been glamorous haha I’m forever grateful to my wonderful family friends for adopting me, love you Bill + Debra! And my August people Warren, Christa, and Josias, for literally absorbing me into their lives in such a loving, genuine way.
Being broke is not fun. Living out of suitcase is not fun. Being unemployed is not fun. (dramatic face emoji) I had totally forgotten about the toll job searching takes on your emotions and self-esteem. Not to mention, that the irony of it all, is that you can’t just drop the search in pursuit other feel good alternatives. The goal is to get a job. You have to keep going until you get something, it’s just that simple.
I just don’t know how in the world I could have made through this time without you guys…
My confession is that I’d be lying if I didn’t admit that I was hoping for the red-carpet experience. I knew it would be challenging, but it’s nearly impossible to anticipate the reality of moving away from everything you know and love without actually experiencing it.
That’s where faith and trusting the vision come in. During my second week, I made the commitment to myself that I would limit my focus to the day ahead of me. That I would make the most of that specific day. That I would be present, and fight the urge to consider anything beyond two weeks out –and that was only if it was absolutely necessary.
A default in my nature is that I have a tendency of being so forward thinking that I can’t ever be fully present. I’d argue however that that mindset welcomes the God moments. There’s something so freeing about surrendering, and saying Your will be done. Where do we go from here day in and day out?
It’s so crazy to look back and see that somehow I’ve actually hit all these little milestones in this short period of time. I know it couldn’t have happened without His divine intervention in my life, and I’ve got stories to tell! haha
Join me over the next few weeks, as I roll out a smorgasbord of reflections, favorite finds, vlogs, and archived content (my cute way of saying content I should have published a long time ago haha)
