Join Lakeysha-Marie Green, author of the fashion/self-help book, The Seeds of Beauty:Defining Your Beauty From the Inside Out, as she tours the blogosphere June 17 - September 13, 2013 on her first virtual book tour with Pump Up Your Book!
On
the journey to becoming our better selves, there is always a risk. In
essence we are leaving behind the only way we have ever known, however
self-destructive it may be. The best analogy I could use here is a
burning ship.
Negative
thoughts have a way of gaining momentum like a fire stoked by a
fiercely moving wind until they quickly surround us with smoke so thick
it is hard for us to see through the haze. No matter how much others
love us, how many admire us, or how successful our lives may be, we find
it harder and harder to breathe.
Trapped
on the burning ship that is our inner self, the only way to escape the
engulfment is to jump into the water waiting below. The choice to jump
can stem from a variety of reasons. It could be a life-changing illness,
a divorce from an unhappy marriage, or simply waking up to the fact
that we want more for ourselves. Tentatively, we cross the deck and are
ready to take the leap. Then, screaming from the abyss of our souls, we
take the leap off the ship and land safely into the cool, refreshing
waters.
Relieved,
we feel the intense sensation of a new start, a new beginning. Happily
we laugh as ripples of freedom break through the surface of the water
with our every movement. And then the inevitable happens.
We look to the shore and suddenly realize how far away it is. Can we swim that far?
Panic sets in.
We
look back at the burning ship and begin to desperately rationalize.
Maybe if we splash water on the deck, the flames will retreat and it
won’t be so bad. Sure, the boat isn’t in the best condition, but maybe,
just maybe, despite all the holes, it will still make it to shore.
Change
can bring a sense of vulnerability to anyone experiencing it. It can be
very frightening to step out into new waters. Instinctively, we retreat
to what makes us feel safe and secure even if it’s a burning ship. Then
without realizing it we, like the burning ship, sink back into the same
negative patterns of the past. We try to reassure ourselves that it
wouldn’t have worked out anyway, but in truth we never know because we
were too scared to venture beyond our fear.
As
you work to better yourself both internally and externally, you may
feel the fear that often accompanies change. Like many before you, you
will see the distance to the shore and look back to the burning ship.
This is a natural reaction that does not indicate weakness.
But
instead of returning, you have to make the conscious decision to swim
away from the burning ship. With each stroke you will fight the currents
of doubt, and each kick will strengthen you and propel you toward your
goal. You will tire as everyone inevitably does. But instead of letting
yourself sink into the depths of naysayers, float on your back and rest
for a bit. Let the waves of hope and the belief in yourself carry you
toward shore. And when you are rested and feel strong again, roll over
and start to swim again, and don’t stop the journey until you reach the
shore.
There
have been many burning ships in my life from which I have been forced
to jump—bad relationships, dead-end jobs, and self-destructive behavior,
to name an attractive few.
And
because I have the tendency to be stubborn, I have experienced the pain
of repeat voyages. How did I learn to stop setting my ships on fire? I
began to look for the warning signs. There is always smoke before the
flames. When you smell the smoke, which can appear in the form of
self-destructive thoughts, insecurities, or pressures to conform to
someone else’s ideals, stop what you are doing and look to see where the
smoke is coming from.
Is
this self-induced? Are the people with whom you associate healthy for
your well-being? Has someone in the past told you that you weren’t good
enough, and though buried in the years of your past, the heat of it
still burns subconsciously?
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Pump Up Your Book and Lakeysha-Marie Green are teaming up to give you a chance to win a $100 Macy's gift card and a $50 Sephora gift card!
ENTER TO WIN!
The Seeds of Beauty Virtual Book Publicity Tour Schedule
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Monday, June 17 - Book featured at Mary's Cup of Tea
Tuesday, June 18 - 1st Chapter Reveal at 4 the Love of Books
Wednesday, June 19 - 1st Chapter Reveal at Parenting 2.0
Friday, June 21 - Interviewed at Review From Here
Monday, June 24 - Book featured at Beyond the Books
Tuesday, June 25 - Book featured at Authors and Readers Book Corner
Thursday, June 27 - Book reviewed at My Life. One Story at a Time
Friday, June 28 - Interviewed at Literal Exposure
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Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along, so I thought I would play for fun! Just do the following:
- Grab your current read
- Open to a random page
- Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
- BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
- Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!
4 comments:
Thanks for sharing...it does seem like an intriguing book. Thanks for sharing.
Here's MY TUESDAY MEMES POST
Happy Summer!
I am putting together a blog tour for a dear friend. Her debut book is Homeschooling Co-op's 101. If you are interested in signing up to join us, more info can be found here:
http://dianeestrella.com/calling-all-homeschool-bloggers/
Thanks so much!
No sure this is for; seem a little "preachy" for me?? But hope you like it.
I'm not sure about this one. I'll wait to see what others think about it. Here's Mine
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