WNJ Inspires Archives - Whitney Nic James

#WNJInspired | What I Know For Sure About (Almost) Making it Through Your 20’s

July 10, 2015 by Whitney 3 Comments

One month from tomorrow I’ll be 29; the last year of my 20’s. While this fact has ~~terrified~~ me a few times before, I’ve had a change of heart. I’m now excited to enter into my last year as a 20-something year old. This year alone has taught me so much about myself, love, faith, family, and friendships. I’m no Kanye…I don’t have all the answers, Sway. However I do know 5 truths about (~~almost~~) making it though your 20’s.

1. It’s tough, but SO worth it. Your 20’s are no joke. Responsibility sets in and all of a sudden you’re actually an ~~adult~~. Scary I know, but fear not. The responsibility will help you grow and you may actually appreciate those hard, seemingly unbearable lessons you will endure. Paying bills (~~on time~~), getting that credit report in good shape and the small things like following up with emails and returning text messages/phone calls will all make you better. Trust me, it’ll be worth it.

2. You can’t eat that. I am still learning this, but I’ve realized that the burgers, fries and shake runs have to become less and less. Junk food just doesn’t agree with me anymore and it’s been a hard lesson to learn. Don’t get me wrong, I still love a good Shake Shack burger or a Taco Bell nacho cheese flavor taco. But moderation is key. More green stuff, protein and water will do your body good…and make you feel (~~and look~~) better!

3. Your faith is everything. I’ve been a believer since I was little, but in my 20’s I’ve realized that I’m much more spiritual than religious. I take different things from different religions, practices and make it work for my lifestyle. However, my foundation remains solid and my core beliefs remain the same. I read the Bible and attend church, but I’m more about living the life of a purpose driven Christian. My actions speak louder than what I say. I luh God and he’s the only one for me!

5 truths about making it through your 20’s. #wnjinspired

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4. Build on small wins. Gone are the days when I believed in overnight success. It’s all about consistency and building on small wins. I appreciate working hard and I understand that those small wins are sometimes even more gratifying than the huge ones. I’m honestly OK with having a bunch of small wins under my belt instead of one or two big wins that’re few and far between. Think about it…

5. Invest…in yourself. Your 20’s should be the time when you start investing in yourself; your goals, plans, business and family aspirations. Now is the time to invest in all of that! Start saving some money for that house, new car, cross-country move…whatever it is. It’s about you and what’s going to make you better in the future. Being in your 20’s gives you permission to be just a little bit selfish, as long as there’s a purpose to you your selfishness. LOL.

6. (BONUS) Friendships change. I’ve been blessed to have the same best friend since grade school. Her friendship remains constant through whatever we go through, but I can’t say the same for everyone. And that’s OK. Friendships change and to be quite honest, I don’t believe all friendships are meant to last. Some may come back around, but when you have to work so hard to make a friendship last, is it really worth it? Being someone’s friend should not feel like a chore; it should be effortless and balanced. I’m thankful for my best friend, and those few good friends I have in my life who may not always agree with me but tell me what I need to hear. That’s true friendship.

So tell me, what do you know for sure about making it through your 20’s? Let me know!

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#WNJInspired | 7 Vision Board Ideas to Make Your Vision Board Come to Life

December 16, 2014 by Whitney 12 Comments

I just started reading Sun Stand Still and the book talks about having audacious faith. The book couldn’t have been more on time because for the past few months, I’ve been praying and trying to figure out how in the world I’m going to achieve some (very) bold goals next year. I’m a firm believer in faith, but audacious faith is a whole other level. So while reading the book, I started my 2015 vision board. My goal is to make my vision board come to life and having audacious faith is the only way I’ll be able to do so. That said, let’s check out 7 Ways to Make Your Vision Board Come to Life!

1. BEGIN. So many people have asked “how to start a vision board”. It’s simple; just begin. Commit to making one and go for it!

2. Be Specific. In order to make your vision board really come to life, be specific with the words, phrases and pictures you decided to add. On my 2014 board I had a phrase that read, “work out at least 30 minutes 3 time a week”. That is very specific and although I didn’t live up to that as much as I would have liked, the specific phrase and goal was clear.

3. Keep Track of Your Progress. What I did this year was thumbtack my vision board ideas to a cork board. Every time I achieved a goal, I took whatever picture or word down that symbolized that goal and put it in a jar. At the end of this year, whatever is left on my board, I will re-evaluate and see if that goal fits into my 2015 plans. If so, I’ll figure out how to tweak it. In doing so, I hope it won’t be left hanging at the end of next year.

7 Ways to Make Your Vision Board Come to Life #wnjinspired

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4. Create a Board with Friends & Family. When creating a vision board, it’s fun to invite a few family members or friends to join you. You can share and verbalize your goals with the people you trust. In a way, sharing your goals out loud helps hold you accountable. When you tell someone your plans, they know and can remind you of your goals throughout the year.

5. Refer Back. Throughout the year, refer back to your board. What goals have you already achieved? What goals do you want to tweak or even add to your board? It’s OK to change your goals; just be sure they’re specific, sensible, and well thought out.

In order for your vision board to come to life, you have to SEE it on a daily basis.

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6. Make it Visible. Hang your vision board on a wall you walk by or look at everyday. In order for your vision board to come to life, you have to SEE it on a daily basis. Seeing the board will serve as daily motivation, as well as a daily reminder to get things done! I actually took a picture of my 2014 vision board and for a few weeks out of the year, that picture was my lock screen on my phone. It was constant reminder of my purpose and it really helped keep me on track.

7. Be Encouraged. Some days, weeks, or even months it may seem like your vision board just isn’t working. Don’t get discouraged. Achieving goals takes time, effort and persistence. Don’t give up; keep going and remember that tomorrow is another day to get it right! 😉

So tell me, have you started working on your 2015 vision board yet? If so, what are some of your goals for the new year? Let me know!

For more vision board ideas or ways to stay inspired, check out my tips on how to stay motivated. Until tomorrow, be blessed and stay safe…XO!

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5 Reasons Why I Love Audiobooks

September 30, 2014 by Whitney 11 Comments

I’ve always enjoyed reading books, but the older I get the more I realize I don’t make the time to actually sit down and read anymore. I have great intentions when it comes to reading books, really. But there’s something stopping me from sitting still long enough to indulge in a good read. If it’s not a blog post, a daily devotional or the Bible (app on my phone/iPad), it’s hard to make time to sit down and read. Thankfully I’ve been introduced to the world of audiobooks. Here are 5 Reasons Why I Love Audiobooks.

1. Great for Multitasking | Sure, it would be ideal to just sit and read a book for about 30 minutes to an hour a day. While I’m sure I can make the time to do so, I prefer listening to a book being read to me. I find that soothing. If I’m folding clothes or preparing dinner and I don’t want to watch TV or listen to music, listening to an audiobook is a GREAT go-to for multitaskers like me.

2. Perfect Driving Companion | As a die-hard music lover, I thought it’d be difficult to stop listening to music on the way to work in the mornings. But I was wrong. Listening to audiobooks is a great morning boost; especially if you purchase uplifting or motivational reads. I purchased Oprah’s This I Know for Sure audiobook from Walmart a few weeks ago. It’s been a great pick me up on the way to work.

5 Reasons You Should Give Audiobooks a Try #wnjreads

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3. It Saves Space | Let’s be honest – books tend to take up space and if you’re anything like me, you find it hard to get rid of things so easily. We had a bookshelf in our living room that was filled to capacity with old books from grade school to college. They sat there, collecting dust and taking up space. Investing in audiobooks eliminates finding a place to store yet another book on your bookshelf.

4. Perfect for Traveling | I used to pack at least 3-4 books with me before going on vacation. Thanks to my new found love for audiobooks, I don’t have to worry about carrying heavy books in my carry-on. If I want to catch up on a good book, I go to my audiobooks.com app and press play. If I’m going on a road trip, I pop in the audiobook CD and voilà!

5. Good for Note Taking | I’m a habitual note taker and when reading a (good) book, I jot down points, phrases, and other nuggets all the time. Listening to audiobooks makes it easier to record notes because, for one, you can pause the book and make the notes right in the “notes app” on your phone. Sometimes I have my journal nearby as I’m listening to a particular book and I find it so easy to walk over, jot down a note, and get back to what I was doing. I can easily refer back to the notes whenever I want.

So what do you think about audiobooks? Are you a fan? Have you downloaded an app or purchased any good audiobooks lately? Let me know!

As always, thanks for reading! I hope this post gave you a new perspective on reading. As I said before, if you have any recommendations, please let me know. Until tomorrow, be blessed and stay safe…XO!

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OPRAH’S LIFE YOU WANT WEEKEND IN D.C., PART III – Final Moments & My Takeaways

September 26, 2014 by Whitney 4 Comments

Happy Friday! Today is the last recap of my experience at Oprah’s Life You Want Weekend in D.C. Day two, also my favorite day, was filled with a lot. Not only did we hear the trailblazers speak, but we were also schooled by Oprah. She had us complete three workbook activities; my favorite was entitled See Your Life Today. We were told to make a pie chart and divide it into slices based on the areas we chose from a group of words. We then had to draw a face, good, so-so and bad, into the slices based on how we felt about that area of our life.

This exercise helped put my daily life into perspective. From the looks of it, my spouse, family and spirituality are extremely important and I give those ares a good amount of attention. However, (enjoying) my hobbies and living a healthy lifestyle are areas I need to give more attention to. What I took from this worksheet was that while I have somethings to work on, I have time to do it and I will do better.

Towards the end of the day, I was able to meet the Paralympic athlete and Dancing With the Stars contestant, Amy Purdy. She presented the Toyota “Standing O’vation” Award to Jas Boothe, Founder and President of Final Salute, Inc. According to their website, Final Salute Inc. is a non-profit organization which believes in paying homeless female Veterans with the proper respects due to them for the service they have provided to our country. Final Salute also works with the Veteran in establishing a plan towards independence. I was honored to meet such an outstanding woman. Her passion for helping the Veterans in this program is immensely inspiring.

Meeting Amy was also a joy. Not only was I a fan of her dancing on DWTS last season, but I admire her strength in overcoming such a traumatic experience in her life. Her positive energy and bright smile is contagious and I really enjoyed our brief chat.

So tell me, which part of my Life You Want Weekend did you enjoy reading the most – Part I, Part II, or Part III? If you loved them all, that’s cool too. Let me know! 🙂

All in all, the Life You Want Weekend was truly a blessing. A lot was reconfirmed for me during those two days and I’m forever grateful for receiving such inspiration. I left the conference completely full and ready to continue living my life on purpose. I hope you’ve been inspired in some way after reading my 3-part recap. I pray you have a wonderful weekend. Until Monday, be blessed and stay safe…XO!

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Oprah’s Life You Want Weekend in D.C., Part II – Trailblazers in Full Effect

September 24, 2014 by Whitney 6 Comments

Day 2 of The Life You Want Weekend in D.C. was my favorite. Not only did we complete workbook activities taught by Oprah (more of that in Part III), but we also had the opportunity to be inspired by the stories of 4 amazing trailblazers. The trailblazers included Elizabeth Gilbert, Iyanla Vanzant, Pastor Rob Bell, and Mark Nepo. Each speaker brought something different to the table and of course, I gained much insight from them all.

Mark Nepo

His calming nature captivated the audience as he began to speak about being a cancer survivor. That experience “rearranged his core“. He went onto explain that being present and holding nothing back is imperative to living the life you want. Another great point he shared was that in life, you take turns being the teacher and the student. We don’t know everything, but we do know somethings. It’s OK to sit back and be a student in life from time to time. And understanding that “no one can make it alone” ties into this as well. In life, we all need one another. There’s just no getting around it.

Elizabeth Gilbert

Elizabeth’s speech stuck with me the most. Walking out to the song “Brave” by Sara Bareilles let me know that we were in for a powerful message! Elizabeth’s strength and fearlessness is admirable. She made it clear that “if you want to change your life, don’ expect it to be easy and painless”. Going through different seasons in life is natural, but it can be difficult. The hard lessons, the lost friends, the scrutiny for certain decisions we make – it’s tough. But we can and will get through it. The life we want for ourselves is on the other side of all that we’re scared to go through, but after hearing Elizabeth speak I realize even more that it’s worth it!

Rob Bell

Rob Bell burst onto the stage full of energy! The takeaway from his portion can be summed up with his quote I shared on Instagram – “The life you want begins with embracing the life you have.” I couldn’t agree more. We can’t go through life expecting and wanting a better life if we don’t appreciate the life we’re already living. Being grateful and living in the now will prepare us for something even greater. Bell also pointed out that “we rush through the things that transform, shape and change us.” This hit home for me. It was a reminder to be constantly aware of how certain situations and moments change my life in a positive way.

Iyanla Vanzant

I was really looking forward to hearing this phenomenal woman all last week. I’ve been reading her books for years, thanks to my Mom, and being able to hear her speak was quite a treat! Iyanla pointed out a few things that made me go, “hmmm” and “ah, yes.” One of them being “when building a new life, be careful about who you hold onto and who you expose your self to.” That right there spoke volumes. As I continue to grow I’ve noticed that I’ve been very careful about those things. Another nugget she shared was that “in relationships, you have to have a vision.” I agree with this 100%. I believe that life is all about relationships, but more importantly it’s about the purpose of each relationship. We should ask ourselves from time to time, why are we building a relationship with a certain person? What do we plan on learning/or gaining from that relationship? Going back to the first lesson, be careful who you hold onto. Building a relationship with everyone you meet isn’t necessary. Lastly, Iyanla stressed the importance of learning to forgive yourself. We (may) struggle with this, but its important to do this in order to live the life we really want.

So tell me, which trailblazer do you think you would have enjoyed? Any takeaways from what the points I’ve shared? Let me know!

Be sure to come back Friday for my final recap of the event of my Life You Want Weekend in D.C. experience. I’ll be wrapping up my thoughts and sharing a few other things with you as well. Until then, be blessed and stay safe…XO!

Event Recap – Oprah’s Life You Want Weekend in D.C., Part I

September 23, 2014 by Whitney 11 Comments

I’m still on a high from Oprah’s Life You Want Weekend tour stop in Washington, D.C. this past weekend. As I mentioned in this post, I was blessed to have the opportunity to cover the event as media. I was expecting the event to be thought provoking, powerful and of course enjoyable. To say that the event exceeded my expectations is an understatement. I had a marvelous time and walked away feeling full, blessed, and empowered. Today, I’m happy to share Part 1 of the experience with you.

Day 1: An Evening with Oprah

The main event started around 7 p.m. and I was ready to receive what Oprah had to share. She graced the stage in a floor length red gown, ready to inspire! There were so many nuggets of wisdom shared, but there were a few that really stuck out to me. Here are 4 of my favorites, along with my interpretation on how I plan to live each one out.

1. Share. Let the rest of the world know what you have. – It’s important to share our talents and gifts with the world. Being selfish with our “stuff” is no way to live. Bless the world with what God has given you. I feel that blogging and sharing my thoughts and expertise on certain topics is a good example of sharing what God has blessed me with. It’s a sure way for me to live out my passion and purpose.

2. Pay attention to your life and the signs; it keeps speaking to us. This is crucial and I’m so glad Oprah reminded me of this. We all have a purpose and a calling and being in tune with ourselves is a sure way to realize what that calling is. Something as simple as paying attention to how we act and react in certain situations helps. Be in tune with your life and what’s going on around you. As Oprah mentioned, we all have a thread. We just have to be open and willing to connect the dots.

3. When you’ve done all you can do, surrender. – Surrendering is not giving up. It’s simply realizing that you cannot do it all on our own and allowing a higher power to come in and help lift and guide you to do the right thing. We all think we can handle life by ourselves until things get really bad. Next time that happens, surrender and realize that you don’t have to do life all by yourself. God’s got us.

4. You have no power in other peoples power field. – When Oprah said this, I think everyone had an “Amen, hallelujah” moment. It’s pretty simple. WE don’t have any business worrying about other people and what they’re doing. Stay in your lane and stop worrying about other folks, who more than likely not worried about you.

As the evening went on, Oprah showed videos and pictures of her life from birth to the present day. She also shared a few stories with us. One being the time she entered a pageant and won Miss Fire Prevention, lol. Touching on on her relationship Stedman (just a little), she explained that he is “living in the light, not her shadow”. I LOVE that. Too many times society thinks powerful women cannot have a man by their side who isn’t threatened by their success or power. It is possible and Oprah made that very clear. Hearing that made me even more thankful to have a such a strong and secure man by my side.

Lastly, there were several moments during Oprah’s speech where out Life You Want wristbands lit up. Those were such magical moments. I sat there in amazement, gazing at the thousands of people in the arena. It was truly an amazing sight. It looked like stars in the sky…just beautiful.

So tell me, which of the 4 points stands out to you? Have you attended the Life You Want Weekend in your city or do you plan to? Let me know!

Be sure to come back tomorrow for Part II of my Life You Want Weekend experience. I’ll be sharing my favorite moments from trailblazers Iyanla Vanzant, Rob Bell, Elizabeth Gilbert, and Mark Nepo. Until then, be blessed and stay safe…XO!

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WNJ Inspires – Oprah’s The Life You Want Weekend

September 16, 2014 by Whitney 11 Comments

I’ve been a fan of Oprah for years. To say that she had some impact on my life would be an understatement. When I was younger, I remember watching her talk show with my mother and grandmother after school. I really didn’t understand much, but I did know that Oprah Winfrey talked to a lot of famous people and gave away a lot of cars, lol. As I got older, I began to enjoy and learn from both her celebrity and non celebrity interviews. I also began to understand her passion for wanting to share her knowledge and wealth with the world. By high school, I was fascinated with peoples life stories (famous and non famous), and I also really enjoyed interviewing people for the stories I wrote for my high school newspaper. I thought I was on my way to becoming a mini Oprah. 😉

As the years passed, I blazed my own trail and continued to pursue my dreams of becoming a journalist (all while keeping up with Oprah, of course 🙂 . I continued to watch her talk show and read her books. Looking back, I was able to fulfill some, if not most, of my journalistic goals. And here I am today a blogger- the new age version of a journalist, lol. I’m still writing and I’m still living out my dreams, just like Oprah.

So imagine my excitement when I was contacted about covering both days of Oprah’s The Life You Want Weekend Tour as media! Excited much?! I had to read the email several times for it to sink in. I am BEYOND grateful and excited about this news. To be in the same room as Oprah is one thing, but to be able to soak up her wisdom is another. And to do so as press/media? Yeah, pretty much a dream come true.

Oprah, along with Iyanla Vanzant, Deepak Chopra, and 3 other “Life Trailblazers” will be a part of this event as well. I’m in for 2 days of inspiration, motivation and life changing moments. I am ready to receive it and I cannot wait to share my experience with you all!

So tell me, have you attended or do you plan to attend Oprah’s The Life You Want Weekend in your city? Do you plan on attending the one in DC? Let me know!

Be sure to follow me on social media. I will be sharing my 2-day experience with you on all my social media outlets. Wishing you a blessed and productive day. Until tomorrow, stay blessed and be safe…XO!

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Spiritual Wellness | How to Stay Inspired During a Tough Season

September 9, 2014 by Whitney 11 Comments

Have you ever wished for the seasons to change? One day you’re happy with the warm and sunny forecast and the next, you’re tired of the heat. You then find yourself wishing for fall to hurry up and get here. That kind of thinking is similar to the seasons in our lives. One day we’re happy with the way our lives are going. The next day we find ourselves in a tough situation and we start wishing and praying for a change. We’ve all been there and it’s natural. However, I believe wherever we are in our lives, we are to live in that moment. There’s obviously a reason we are where we are at this time. I call this thinking Living in Your Season. This is something I’m working on and understanding more as the days go by.

I’m pretty open with what’s going on in my life here on the blog, but I don’t talk about everything. I do however want to share something that you don’t know. I’ve been going through a tough season for the past few months and only my family (really) knows and understands the depth of it all. While I’m not gravely ill, my health hasn’t been 100% for some time now. Because of this, I’ve experienced an array of emotions – angry, sad, confused…just to name a few. I’ve watched the physical state of my body change and it hasn’t been pleasant. I’ve also watched my energy go from 10 to 0 and that has been the biggest downer for me. I’m usually an upbeat and energetic person. I have a pretty active lifestyle and I enjoy it. But nowadays my energy comes and goes so quickly. All this change is an unfortunate “female issue” (as they say) and to be frank, it sucks.

How to Stay Inspired During a Tough Season

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This season has been really hard, especially because I still have to go about my day to day life as if I’m “fine”. But recently, I’ve made the decision to live in this season. I’ve decided to take this time to devote myself to making a few necessary lifestyle changes. I pray daily and I always read some sort of devotional each morning, but I’m now taking the words and meditations to heart even more. I’m meditating on the words and repeating silent prayers throughout my day. I’ve gone from asking God, “why are you letting me go through this” to “what am I suppose to be learning from all this”. I’m opening myself up to receive whatever it is He’s trying to teach/tell me. I’m trusting that this season won’t last forever and that I will come out on the other side even better. What have I learned so far?

1. This too shall pass.

2. Pay attention to your body and its changes; you know your body better than anyone else.

4. Be proactive about your health.

5. Periodic life AND body cleanses and detoxes are necessary in order to live a healthy lifestyle .

Have you ever been through a tough season in your life? How did you get through it? Let me know!

In doing all of this, I’m realizing that what I’m going through won’t last forever. As long as I continue to take care of myself, physically, mentally and spiritually, I will be able to make it through anything. Until next time, I pray that you all stay blessed and stay safe…XO!

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