5 Ways You Can Build Your Confidence!

We have all dealt with confidence issues at some point time. It's the one thing that cannot be authentically obtained through plastic surgery, material things, a job or others approval.  

Today's society and media constantly push a message that you are not good enough, you need more and you must have better. Which consequently distracts you from focusing on the great things you have already. 

The need to "have more" all the time and indulge excessively always leaves you feeling less than. There's always a void in your life when you are not content and grateful for what you already have. 

Let me be clear, this does not mean you cannot strive for great things and goals, but if you are not grateful for the little things, how can you ever be grateful for the bigger things life has in store for you. 

"There are no quick fixes in life"... A quote that has been heard many times, but is often not understood. Change takes time, and not 2 minutes on the microwave type time. More like 2 year or maybe 12 years depending on how long it takes you. But one thing is for certain, to obtain supreme confidence will take your time and effort. 

"Rome was not built in one day"

There are a 5 ways you can begin to build your confidence: 

1. Unplug from the World - Social Media, TV, etc 

    It's so easy for you to compare your life to everyone else's life on social media. Everyone likes to post pics on FB and instagram of either their new job or blossoming relationship, and it only reminds you of how shitty your life is right now. Those thoughts of lack will only beget more lack, so eliminate them.

    The TV has a very persuasive way of making you feel like your life is worthless. The celebrities, reality tv shows, etc. all can make you feel envious. Some say "I see that stuff, but it doesn't affect me". You may think it does not  affect you, but the subconscious mind does not reason... [I'll save that for another article].

    - Deactivate all social media accounts, temporarily. 
    - Limit how much TV you watch. Be conscious of what you are watching. 

"You are what you look upon"

2. Release fears through fire - The paper burning method

    Once you have gotten the distractions out of the way, it is time to release the insecurities you have mentally bounded upon yourself. 
    
    One a piece of paper, write down all your insecurities, doubts about yourself,  and everything that is negative in your perception of yourself. 

    Take a minute to read over it, make sure everything you want to release is written down. Then take the piece of paper outside and let it burn. Psychologically, this exercise allows the subconscious mind to believe those things written down on the paper no longer exist. 

    - Remember, just because you have burned this paper does not mean that you automatically have instant confidence. 
    - You must continue to reinforce the thought of full confidence, not lack. 

3. Know Thy Self/Daily Affirmations - Man in the mirror affect 

    "Confidence comes from the inside, out". Spend time by yourself, get to know you; meditate. Although people think mediation is some crazy voodoo religion practice, it is actually the gateway to your source of who you are [read this article on mediation http://stovibc.blogspot.com/2013/09/the-power-of-meditation.html].

     Buy a cheap journal from walmart and begin to write down your thoughts and feelings about things. You can learn a lot about yourself from writing. Once the pen gets going, it reveals some of your most inner desires. 

     When you wake up in the morning, right before you HOPEFULLY brush your teeth, look at yourself in the mirror. Tell yourself, you are beautiful, you are smart, "Dammmmnn, can I get yo number!" lol. Have fun with it! Compliment yourself. If you don't, who will? 

4. Take your show on the road 

     Feeling good about yourself in your own space is one thing, but being around others is another ball game. If you truly believe in yourself and know you are confident in who you are, it will show around others. Confidence will ooze from your pores. Others will see a glow that shines brighter than any other stage light can beam. 

    But, if you get around others and your shoulders begin to slouch, become paranoid and self-conscious about your look, then you may need to continue working. However, this is not a bad thing. Think of it as a measuring stick. 

    Talking to strangers is a good way to build confidence! These days, it's so easy to walk around on your phone and not speak to anyone. For some, it takes a lot of courage to talk to a stranger. This builds confidence and develops random friendships! You can meet very interesting people this way. 

5. Resilience 

"If at first you don't succeed, dust yourself off and try again"
    
     Obtaining supreme confidence can be achieved with two simple things: Time and Effort. There will be times where you feel like you are not where you want to be, but keep your eyes on what you want. 

    If you happen to backslide in your progress and begin to feel insecure again, take a deep breath, remind yourself of who you are, and go from there. 

    The process will not be easy, but it certainly worth it. If you do not deal with it now it will not go away, and the consequences of having no confidence will only become greater as your life goes on. 


Everyone is different, and we all have different methods that resonate with us differently, so by all means take what you will from this and use it how you see fit. There are various ways to build your confidence, and these are but a few of them. But one thing is for certain, you cannot have confidence without knowing yourself, first.   

As I stated in the first post, and will continue to post at the end of each blog, you can be one of two things: Proactive or Reactive. YOU CHOOSE!

~ STOVI BC

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**Check out my previous posts in these links here: 
- http://stovibc.blogspot.com/2013/08/know-thy-self_18.html
- http://stovibc.blogspot.com/2013/09/the-power-of-meditation.html

Stovi's Secret Recipes !

For awhile now people have been asking me to share the recipe to my healthy delicious meals that I post on Instagram. There's a common misconception that eating healthy means giving up that sweet sugary, cocaine like, taste! This is not the case! You can still eat your sweet appetizers and dessert dishes with foods/fruits that have natural sugar in them.

Today I'll share my Top three recipes that will give your mouth an orgasmic pleasure:

~ 1 ~ 

Hall of Fame Spinach Dip

This dish had mouths salivating! Spinach Dip is becoming more popular with the general public. People are really enjoying this dish, but then again, you can make almost anything taste good if you add a slice of cheese to it! The differences between my spinach and most spinach dips at commercial restaurants are the slices of avocado layered on top to give it some additional nutritional value. Also, the Monetary jack cheese gives the spinach dip a little KICK that ignites the taste buds!



Ingredients:
- 8 oz of Half & Half
- 8 oz of Cream Cheese
- 12 oz of Monetary Pepper Jack cheese
- 6 oz bag of frozen spinach or regular spinach in a bag
- 1 Avocado fruit
- Coconut oil to put inside pot to not stick
- Pita bread slices
- Good Energy! (Always cook happy!)

Instructions:
1. Start off by heating a small/medium size pot (depending on feeding size)
2. Put olive oil (good) or coconut oil (better) in the pot while it's heating up
3. Once at desired temperature, melt cream cheese in pot while adding Half & Half and Monetary Jack cheese until evenly blended
4. Spinach:
 -  IF you use the frozen spinach, thaw it out by poking a hole inside the bag and running hot water over it. Once thawed out, drain the bag by squeezing the water out of the previously poked out.
 - IF you DO NOT USE frozen spinach, cook the spinach in a pan. You can add salt & pepper if desired
5. Lather a conventional oven pot with coconut oil or butter (tastes better) so that the dip does not stick to pot
--------------- Before the next step, start preheating your oven to 375 degrees ---------------
6. After spinach and cheese sauce/dip are ready, add both into a conventional oven pot
7. Stir and mix until evenly blended. If need be, add more Half & Half until you reach your desired thickness
8. Slice Avocado pieces and layer the top of the the dip or mix slices into the dip if you please
9. Set in oven for 30 mins (check periodically every 10 mins). Let sit in oven until light brown on top
10. After being taken out of the oven, let the dip "rest" for 10 mins, then ENJOY! ;)

To make this great appetizer even better, use thick pita bread as dippers instead of chips. You can buy pita bread already sliced or you can do it the homemade way and cut a bunches of slices from a whole one, butter them (optional), and pop them in the oven for 10-15 mins so they come out nice and crispy. Makes the dip taste THAT much better.

~ 2 ~ 

BANGIN' BREAKFAST BURRITO

This dish here is one that I eat on the regular. It's a nutritious, jam packed burrito, exploding with flavor after every bite; even after every chew you'll experience a different delicious flavor! Enough to fill you up, and nutritious enough to give you plenty of energy to get through the day.

Ingredients:
- 2 eggs
- Milk, preferably almond/coconut milk
- Hand full of spinach
- Half a red onion
- Half a green bell pepper
- Avocado (optional)
- Kale (optional)
- Tortilla bread
- coconut oil, olive oil, or butter
- Good Energy! (Always cook happy!)

Instructions:
1. Start off by heating up cooking pan to desired temperature
  - Pour coconut oil in pan
2. Use cutting board to slice red onion, bell pepper, and avocado (if using avocado) into pieces
3. Crack 2 eggs in a bowl,
  - add light salt & pepper and a "SPLASH" of milk,
  - then stir and mix in bowl
4. Dump hand full of spinach and sliced vegetables into pan and cook until soft (add small portion of salt and pepper)
5.  Leave cooked vegetables in pan,
  - Add bowl of eggs
  - Scramble until fully cooked
6. On the side, lay out tortilla bread, add 2 slices of pepper jack cheese to bread, one of top half another on the bottom half
7. Pour mixed cooked eggs onto pita bread, position in the form of a burrito (mostly in the middle), then fold burrito style 
  -  If you do not know how to fold burrito style, go here ~~> http://www.ehow.com/how_4422484_fold-tortilla-burrito.html
8. Once tortilla is folded, fry on pan, both sides, until sides are golden brown.
9. Let the burrito "rest" for about 5-10 minutes, then ENJOY! ;)

After you try this, you will never buy another McDonald's Breakfast Burrito again!.. (Hoping you don't eat them anyway... it's a wrapped up Heart Attack. Smh)

Preferred Drink: Sambazon Juice!

~ 3 ~

"Down by the Bayou" Shrimp Creole 

Last, but certainly not least! This hot, spicy cajun dish will have you feeling like you're in the French Quarter of Downtown New Orleans! The only thing missing are some Beignets.

Reminder: When cooking this dish, make sure you take your time. The food is only good when you let the flavors cook long enough to get the best taste.










Ingredients: 
- 20 count of Shrimp
- Rice in a bag
- 4 cheese pasta sauce
- Vegetables
  > 1/2 green bell pepper
  > 1/2 yellow bell pepper
  > Celery
  > 1 jalapeño
  > Cilantro
- Seasonings
  > Creole seasoning
  > Cayenne pepper
  > salt and pepper
  > sugar
- 1 cup of flour
- Good Energy! (Always cook happy!)

Instructions: 

1. Start off by heating up cooking pan to desired temperature
  - Pour coconut oil in pan
2. Cut up vegetables on cutting board (1/2 green bell pepper, 1/2 yellow bell pepper, and one stick of Celery)
3. Dump sliced vegetables into pan and cook until soft (add cilantro small portion of salt & pepper)

4. While vegetable are cooking, season shrimp with creole seasoning on cutting board
  - Make a slit down the middle of shrimp so they will cook like a butterfly (butterfly shrimp ~~~>  http://www.ehow.com/how_3493_butterfly-shelled-shrimp.html ~~~ do not need to remove vein)
  - And start boiling water for rice
5. Once vegetables are soft enough, put them to the side 
6. Reapply oil to cooking pan, then add shrimp to cook (add cilantro)
7. While shrimp is cooking, add "rice in a bag" to water and let it boil
8. After shrimp is cooked, put to the side with cooked vegetables
9. Pour pasta sauce into pan, then Add:
  - 1/4 cup of flour
  - 1/4 cup of sugar
  - 1/4 cup of cayenne pepper
  - 1/4 cup of creole seasoning
  - Stir and Mix
---- African Americans normally do not use measurements, so add desired quantity of seasonings ----
10. Rice: Pour water out in sink, rip bag open and pour rice into pot, mix butter into rice for taste
11. Mix shrimp and vegetables back into pan with sauce, together for about 5 mins
12. Let food "rest" for about 10 minutes, then ENJOY! ;)

Words can't explain how delicious this dish is when you taste it. All I can say is have a bed and pillow ready for a nap!

Preferred drink: Sweet Red "ChocolatRouge" Wine

I hope you have enjoy making these delicious dishes. At no point, feel like you have to follow these instructions "word for word". I deem cooking as an Art, allowing an individual to be as creative as they want, showing who they are through their food creations. EXPRESS YOURSELF! 

If there was a recipe that wasn't on here that you wanted to see, don't worry! There will be more recipe posts soon! Just add a comment for the recipes you want to see on here next time.

I believe these foods are much healthier than McDonald's and Burger King. They take a little bit longer to make, but are worth the wait.

Please leave a comment saying how you felt about this post and/or your cooking experience with these recipes. And stay on the look out for the next post of recipes! Get your taste buds ready


As I stated in the first post, and will continue to post at the end of each blog, you can be one of two things: Proactive or Reactive. YOU CHOOSE!

~ STOVI BC

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**Check out my previous posts in these links here: 
- http://stovibc.blogspot.com/2013/08/and-cycle-continues.html
- http://stovibc.blogspot.com/2013/08/know-thy-self_18.html
- http://stovibc.blogspot.com/2013/09/the-power-of-meditation.html

The Power of Meditation

The picture you see displayed to the left is the essence of a human being in its most pure state of existence. This is not voodoo... this is not witchcraft... and this is certainly not illumanti.

Meditation, often confused as some type of mystical voodoo ritual that will curse you all the days of your life with no mercy if you participate in it. Totally false. Unless "curse" has a positive connotation to it these days, because participating in this ritual (hoping the word "ritual" has a positive connotation) will bring you peace all the days of your life with endless grace.

The most commonly used ritual, or practice if you will, is prayer. Some say prayer is talking to God. If this is the case, then meditation would be listening to God. The irony in this correlation is that often times people talk-talk-talk, but have a difficult time being quiet and listening, EFFECTIVELY. One will complain they aren't receiving an answer to their prayers, but fail to mention that they are not being quiet enough to hear God's voicemail.

Meditation allows one to clearly listen to God, the Creator, one's source. So one might be asking right now, since it's not voodoo and I won't be possessed by creole demons, how do I mediate? There are various methods to meditation. I'll explain the simplest one for those wanting to try it for the first time, and will add links to more in depth explanatory videos.

STEP 1: Get to a quiet place, somewhere you feel comfortable and relaxed. (Bed, open space on the floor, and/or by a body of water are some good places)
STEP 2: Sit/Lay in a comfortable position. You can either lay flat on your back with your legs straight laying flat on the floor, or you can sit up in the upright position with your legs crossed. I prefer laying down because you do not have to focus on keeping your back straight (most people hunch naturally)
STEP 3: Let your mind settle. Often times, After a long eventful day, we get home and our mind is still racing from all the different things we experienced during the day. This noise from the racing mind is known as "Internal Turbulence".
STEP 4: Control your breathing. Once your mind has settled a bit, begin to control your breathing. Inhale-Exhale. These should be deep big breaths, so breathe INNNNNnnn... breath OUTTTtttttt. As you are doing this, try to not think about anything in particular. Find yourself just "being", just existing. This is when your subconscious mind will recognize your in a state of meditation and will take you to God, The Creator, Your source INSIDE of you.
STEP 5: Experience being one with your source; being at peace. When you finally connect to your source you experience one of the most blissful moments in life. You will love it. There's no other better than this, besides... well you know (HA).

Once you have finished your meditation, take a moment to reflect on what happened, what you heard, and anything else that you experienced during the meditation. Having a journal or note pad next to you is good so you can write down things before you forget them.

Note that your first time you might fall asleep during the mediation. This happens often to people who are just beginning meditation because their subconscious interprets the condition you are in as preparing for sleep. But the more you practice meditating, like muscle memory, it will begin to know that you are preparing for a meditative state, not a good night's slumber.

 Meditation is great for receiving answers from the Creator, relaxing, and being a peace. Balance is necessary for life to continue growing in the desired direction. Meditation can provide this balance, if you allow it.

If you are a first time meditation users, I would like to hear about your experience! Please comment below on your meditating experience. Also, experienced meditation users can do the same. Please share your experiences. You never know who you may help out.

Also, if you have any questions about how to meditate or what it means, leave a comment or email me directly at jordan.stovall3@gmail.com


Look forward to hearing about everyone's liberating experiences! Peace, love, and balance to everyone.







As I stated in the first post, and will continue to post at the end of each blog, you can be either one of two things: Proactive or Reactive. YOU CHOOSE!

~ STOVI BC

--------------------
Meditation Video by Dr. Deepak Chopra: Dr. Deepak did a 21 day meditation fast with Oprah on OWN
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n0IOf08pTRc
 - Great video to help guide you through the process.

Know Thy Self

The picture you see displayed to the left is the essence of a human being in its most pure state of existence. This is not voodoo... this is not witchcraft... and this is certainly not illumanti.

This here is called "Consciousness": being aware of your existence and realizing the "I Am" inside yourself. Deepak Chopak refers to it as, Pure Potential. Everyone has the power to create, which is given to them by the creator. Everyone has a purpose and it's coded in your DNA.

How do you find your purpose you ask? Well first, it starts with knowing yourself. How do you find yourself? It begins with taking away distractions that do not allow you focus on yourself, such as: Television, The Media, and other  people that are not on your level. All of these things will distract and keep you from looking
INSIDE yourself. They keep you focused on external things, things going on outside of yourself and outside of your control. The only person/thing you can completely control is YOURSELF.

Once you have removed the external distractions, it time to remove internal distractions as well. Imagine your  pure potential being a door that will only open when you are completely silent. The noise in your head is sometimes referred to as "Internal disturbance". One of the best ways to eliminate the noise is by mediation. Meditation will be explained, in detail, later in another  post, but think of it this way: prayer is like sending a package to God overseas using a boat, and mediation is like sending that same package but using one-day air! It's a direct connection to your source.

Last but not least, "get back to nature". Unplug yourself from all technology and surround yourself around nature. Go to a park, be around trees and animals, let your feet touch the rich soil of the earth. One of the best aspects of nature is water. The negative ions in water will balance out the energy in the body and make you feel simply at  peace.

So there are three steps to finding yourself:
1) Removing Distractions - Television, Media, etc
2) Removing the noise in your head - Meditation, 3) Getting back to nature.

Following these three steps will lead you directly to your source, to pure potential, to God.

Once you have become conscious of your own being (Mental and Spiritual health ), it will allow you to consciously make better decisions with your physical health. Making better physical health decisions will impact your mental and spiritual health, and the cycle continues positively.

As I stated in the first post, and will continue to post at the end of each blog, you can be either one of two things: Proactive or Reactive. YOU CHOOSE!

~ STOVI BC

The Cycle Continues

Hello World! If you are reading this, then you have decided to be the "hammer" instead of the nail with your life... because it's changing, drastically. And if you don't adapt and adjust, then you will be left behind, or the world will change YOU how it sees fit!

This blog was created to help people become more healthy physically, mentally, and spiritually.

It will provide people with ways to stay physically fit, including numerous exercises, vitamin supplements to take, how to make organic smoothies that not only have nutritional value, but also taste pretty good if I don't say so myself!

It will educate you on the dangerous foods to not eat that contain  MSG and other chemicals that are harmful to the body.

There will be posts about meditation and the power of "Silence".  Many people assume meditation is Voodoo and not to be dabbled in, when in all actuality it is another form of prayer that connects you to "the source /the Creator" quicker! (To be continued).

Also, monitoring your thoughts will be included in this blog. The law of attraction (Which is explained in great detail in the book "The Secret" by Rhonda Byrne -- great read, check it out) will be addressed and shown how to use effectively.

Everything is created by THOUGHT. What are your daily thoughts about..?

And lastly, getting to know yourself will be the main focus of this entire blog. Changing the world starts with YOU; knowing thy self and using your gifts giving by the creator to help others.

These are just the basics that will be shared in this blog, there are many other subjects about living a healthy lifestyle that will be explored.

 It takes time and effort, two things a lot of people are not willing to offer to the world. But as many know, nothing of true value comes without QUALITY time and effort.

 In life, you can be either one of two things: Proactive or Reactive. YOU CHOOSE!

I'll leave you with a commonly heard, but rarely used quote:
  “You only ever grow as a human being if you’re outside your comfort zone.” – Percy Cerutty



~ STOVI BC 

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Additional Links: 
The Secret by Rhonda Byrne http://www.amazon.com/The-Secret-Rhonda-Byrne/dp/1582701709
Meditation with Oprah and Dr. Deepak Chopra http://www.beliefnet.com/Inspiration/Articles/Deepak-Choprah-and-Oprah-Winfrey-A-Miraculous-Relationship.aspx

~ I AM!