The Secret Ingredient...

Most of us spend our whole lives trying to obtain all the happiness we can get in life. Whether its money that's makes us happy, a significant other, a family, spirituality, life of traveling and adventure. Whatever it is that you strive for, we all as humans are looking, no, PURSUING never ending happiness. After watching the hit movie The Secret, I've realized there truly is a secret ingredient to a full happily ever after life. And the funny thing is.... Its really not a secret at all. The secret ingredient has been around for many many years. Most of us though pass over it without even realizing it. The other day my husband and I cuddled on the couch and popped in Dream Works, Kung Fu Panda. Yes, I am 23 years old and a children's movie is one of my all time favorite movies. I am not too proud to admit that I also named my dog Poe after the main character from Kung Fu Panda. If you haven't seen it I highly recommend you rent it and watch it. One word. Epic. Anyways... The movie starts out as Poe, a Panda who dreams of being a Kung Fu master,wakes up each day working with his father, a goose, who owns a noodle restaurant, the best in the village I might add. Poe's father has a secret recipe that he wishes to pass on to his son to continue his legacy. You can tell Poe isn't living the life he truly wants. He isn't miserable, he has a loving father but being "noodle folk" doesn't make his heart sing. Kung Fu does. There is an announcement throughout the village that the Kung Fu master will be announcing who is to be the Dragon Warrior. The Dragon Warrior receives the Dragon Scroll which is said to contain limitless power. Only one person is chosen for this gift. Through a strange and humorous series of events, Poe is chosen to be the Dragon Warrior, even though many feel he is undeserving and unfit to contain such power. The movie continues on Poe and his journey to becoming the Dragon Warrior and once he receives the scroll he finds that there is nothing and the only thing you see is a reflection. Everyone decides to flee because the villain is on his way to destroy the village and the Dragon Scroll was their only hope. Poe returns to his father and is clearly upset that he couldn't be the warrior everyone wanted. His father decides to cheer him up to tell him the secret ingredient for the noodle soup. The secret is..... Nothing.
Wait, what?
He explains that you don't need an ingredient to make it special you just have to believe its special. Its that statement that Poe realizes that the secret to the scroll is The reflection is special, he is special. He then goes on to save the village as the dragon warrior.
That was when I realized, we all have seen or heard movies, tv shows, plays, legends, myths with the secret. That anything is possible if you just believe! But for some reason we think these things can't apply to us. We can't obtain our dreams. That's not the real world. Well I'm here to tell you yes it is possible, if you think you can. You know the little engine that could? I think I can, I think I can. And guess what? He did get over that mountain. We all program ourselves that believing doesn't really work. That normal people can't live their wildest dreams. That my friend is where you are wrong. We can do anything we set our minds to, if you just have unwavering faith that it will happen. I have personal experience that testifies that when you believe anything is possible.
About three years ago I participated on a tv show called The Biggest Loser. I was on season 11 with my father, Moses. Ever since the show I always get asked, what's the secret? How do you lose all of that weight in that little time? Is it the trainers? Is there some secret diet? Workout routine? And I give the same answer, there is no secret we all know how to do it. Then I hear oh, but I can't do what you did because of this and this. But then I will hear of people who were inspired and lost just as much or more than contestants do. So how is it that people who are at home who have even less time and less resources accomplish the same goals? They use the secret. They believe they can. When I stepped on that ranch for Biggest Loser we all knew without a doubt that we would lose weight, and we did. The magic of the show is believing it works. But I'm going to tell you something they don't like to tell you. A large amount of contestants will gain all their weight back or more. Why is that? Didn't we have it all handed to us. Weren't we fixed? You can ask any contestant, we are not fixed we still struggle. I am one of those that gained their weight back. And I'm not proud of it but I realized something. When I came home I didn't believe I had the time or money to keep up that life style. I didn't believe I could be like that all the time, and guess what? All those negative thoughts became reality. I created the reality of being strong and fit by believing I could and by believing that the magic is only on the Biggest Loser campus, I failed at home. I spent the last few years feeling sorry for myself and ashamed, but ever since I realized that the secret is within me, I can choose to be that person again without biggest loser, it has given me a new look on life. It was that realization that inspired me to write this blog. If I could touch at least one person and help them not to give up on their dreams. It would all be worth it. So here I am exposed. I have been so scared to come out and admit my failure but I will tell you this. I have never felt more free in my entire life. So here is to believing in a better tomorrow. Join me and together we can change our lives to be so much more. Leave comments, ask questions. I'm here for you, and I hope I can learn from you too. Until next time, in the timeless words of Journey, DONT STOP BELIEVING!!!!

Have you met yourself yet?

I guess some introductions are in order. For starters my name is Kaylee. I'm 23 years old, married to my loving husband Sterling, and currently studying nursing at Boise State, GO BRONCOS! I decided that I have something to say and I want to share it with people. So I thought, "Hey, why not start a blog." So here I am. No real credentials, just life lessons and experiences and my own thoughts and inspirations I have recieved. So, enough about me. It's time to introduce you! I want you to grab a mirror and take a look at yourself. Look at your hair, the shape of your face, your complexion, your body shape. Take your time doing this. I want you to examine yourself, memorize every inch.
You with me so far?
Good. Now I want you to listen to your heart. Listen to your feelings. What were your thoughts as you did that exercise? How did it make you feel when you looked at yourself? Did you have thoughts like, "My hair looks weird?" or maybe thoughts like, "I wish I didn't have this. I wish this was smaller" or "I wish this looked different". Did you criticize yourself? Or did you feel completely happy of what you saw? And I'm not talking about being full of yourself, thinking you are the best thing planet earth has ever seen. To me that's insecurity talking. Someone who feels the need to make themselves be seen as better than everyone else. I'm talking about being completely happy about that person you see looking back at you. Where you can be happy with the outside and the spirit that dwells inside you. You seeing all of you. Have you met yourself yet?
Well, if you haven't reached that stage of self loving yet, I invite you to join me to see yourself in a whole new light. I promise you, it will change your life in ways you never thought possible. This blog is to inspire you to be better in every aspect of your life, in your physical body, your spiritual self, your relationships, your jobs, your finances, your hopes your dreams everything will change when you unleash the power from within. It all starts with some self love, so give yourself a hug and get ready to meet YOU!!!