Blog - Happy Black Woman

Proceed As the Way Opens: A Stress-Free Guide to Making Decisions

November 8, 2012 | By Rosetta |

“Remember, there are no mistakes, only lessons. Love yourself, trust your choices, and everything is possible.” – Cherie-Carter Scott

This morning, I sat in meditation, feeling overwhelmed by several decisions I have to make over the next few weeks. As usual, I began by reading the daily passage from Mark Nepo’s The Book of Awakening. His words have truly been a calming force in my life, especially as a bridge to my meditation practice. After I finished reading, I closed my eyes and sat cross-legged on my yoga mat. As I began to breathe in slowly, I could feel silence surrounding me.

You Have to Go All In

November 7, 2012 | By Rosetta |

Along with millions of Americans, I watched Mitt Romney give his concession speech after all the major networks predicted an Obama win. After all that campaigning, Romney didn’t win the presidency. And if that wasn’t bad enough, he had to stand up and give a speech in the midst of his failure. It looked painful, especially as his family trotted off the stage in Boston for the walk of shame.

It made me think of how devastating that moment would be for most of us. We’re already so afraid of failing at any level, that failing so publicly would prevent many people from showing their faces to the world for a long, long time.

This is always the risk of following your dreams, of going all in.

Be the President of Your Life

November 5, 2012 | By Rosetta |

“The best years of your life are the ones in which you decide your problems are your own. You do not blame them on your mother, the ecology, or the president. You realize that you control your own destiny.” – Albert Ellis

Today’s blogging prompt for NaBloPoMo asked: What are your thoughts about tomorrow’s election in the United States?

I’ve been thinking about that question all day. What are my thoughts? Not the thoughts of the news anchors, TV pundits and bloggers who have been discussing the election ad nausem for the past few months. I have free cable where I’m staying and I’m afraid to turn on the TV right now. The campaign commercials, the smear ads – they’re all just a bit much in these final weeks of the “race.”

How the Either/Or Fallacy Keeps Us Stuck

November 3, 2012 | By Rosetta |

As the end of 2012 looms closer, I’m already slipping into reflection mode about what I’ve done this year for my business. I have accomplished many of my goals, but of course, I could have done a lot more. Ever since I started working for myself, I’ve valued the integration of my work and life. For example, when I downsized my living situation, I was able to focus a lot more on writing vs. consulting because I didn’t have to earn as much money as I did when my expenses were higher. As a result, I chose not to take on any additional long-term consulting clients in 2012. I didn’t want to. And financially, I didn’t have to.

As I begin to think about what I want to experience in 2013, one of the things I’ve been reflecting on is the possibility of moving back to DC sometime next year. When I packed up my apartment in August 2011, I vowed that I would never rent another studio for $1,200 a month. My rent had already gone up the year I moved out of the city and I keep hearing that costs are steadily increasing. So if I wanted to live in DC again, my income would have to go WAY up. I would have to get a full-time job.

Or would I?

How to Follow Your Dreams, Even When You’re Afraid

October 30, 2012 | By Rosetta |

How do you say “thank you” to an online community of hundreds of incredible women? I don’t know, honestly. But what I do know is that since I started this blog in 2010, it has become a place not only for me to inform, inspire, empower, encourage and tell my stories, but a place for me to BE informed, inspired, empowered and encouraged by YOUR stories. What I’ve learned is that we are all beautiful and hopeful and vulnerable. We all have dreams and goals to live a fulfilling life on our own terms.

And we are all afraid.

Ask HBW: Should I Have More Than One Website for My Business? (VIDEO)

October 26, 2012 | By Rosetta |

Today’s episode of Ask HBW answers a question from Lorri about business and branding:

Should I have more than one website for my brand?

In the video below, I explain part of the online aspect of my business model and some reasons why you may or may not want to create more than one website for your own work.

(If you’re reading this post via email, click here to view the video.)

Do you have more than one website for your business? Why or why not?

P.S. Got a question you’d like answered on Ask HBW? Go ahead and post it below in the comments and I’ll consider it for an upcoming episode!

Four Practical Ways to Increase Your Happiness at Work

October 22, 2012 | By Rosetta |

On any given weekday, you’ll find thousands of gainfully-employed ladies complaining about their jobs on social media. I often see tweets and Facebook posts about how people are dreading going to work on Monday or that they can’t wait until Friday so they can get away from their boss from hell. A recent Conference Board survey confirms that over half of American workers are unsatisfied in their jobs. Especially after a particularly bad or hectic day, it can seem impossible to stay positive with all the challenges you may face at work.

No matter what you’re going through at your 9 to 5 though, it’s important to remember that your boss is NOT ultimately responsible for your job satisfaction. You are. If your career isn’t going the way you want it to, it’s up to you to either change it or get out of there and seek out new opportunities. You can’t go around blaming other people for “making” you unhappy in your job – at some point you have to take matters into your own hands. Try these actions to increase your happiness at work – starting right now.

Three Negative Behaviors to Let Go of So You Can Move Forward with Your Life

October 20, 2012 | By Rosetta |

“Even though you may want to move forward in your life, you may have one foot on the brakes. In order to be free, we must learn how to let go. Release the hurt. Release the fear. Refuse to entertain your old pain. The energy it takes to hang onto the past is holding you back from a new life. What is it you would let go of today?” — Mary Manin Morrissey

I’m a big believer in letting go in order to move forward. My interpretation of Mary’s inspiring quote is that getting rid of your pain and perceived failures from the past can make space for new, better experiences. Of course, that doesn’t mean you do away with all the lessons you learned from your mistakes. You just don’t have to stay in that depressing place, mentally.

And you don’t have to keep repeating these same negative behaviors that are holding you back from living the life you really want.

Ask HBW: I Have No Goals and No Clue Where to Start. Help! (VIDEO)

October 19, 2012 | By Rosetta |

Note: Make sure you tune in every FRIDAY here on happyblackwoman.com for a new episode of Ask HBW: A Conversation Series on How to Live Your Ideal Life.

Today’s episode of Ask HBW addresses a common question that many women have when they’re feeling stuck.

Two Daily Practices That Will Make You Feel Happier (VIDEO)

October 12, 2012 | By Rosetta |

Before I present today’s video post (yes, I said video LOL), I should probably explain WHY I’m in a blazer sitting on a yoga mat in the woods. I was all dressed up yesterday because I attended a conference here in Richmond where I was able to make several new contacts for my business. What I’m learning is that when you move to a new city, you can’t wait for other people to connect you. You have to go out there and connect yourself!

When I got back, all I wanted to do was sit down for a while and unwind from the day. And I started thinking about how my daily practices have been keeping me focused on what really matters to me, even through the stress of relocating, maintaining my business and navigating my personal relationships. I’ve been feeling happier and lighter and this is why.