Dating Potential

Why date potential when you can have someone who has it all already!?

Here are a few excuses I can think of:
↪I love him/her
↪We have history
↪He/she just needs time
↪I know he/she could be so great
↪He/she is working on it

A good friend of mine once told me, "Potential is not a compliment." You're basically saying, 'You could be awesome and what I want.. you're just not right now 😏'

Let's paint a picture. Say life is a Mario Kart race. I choose anything but Rainbow Rd. and I call Princess Peach, you can pick your own 😜 I don't know about you but I am speeding because I know that at the end of the race is something amazing.  I've never been there but I've heard so much about it and here I come!
As you know in Mario Kart there are obstacles like banana peels and flying, spiky turtle shells and stuff but there are also prizes like super speed and whatever else. So basically Mario Kart is like life hah. Life is good and then we slip on a banana peel but we get up and then we get super speed and life is awesome! So anyways, if you're going through life, excelling and trying to do the best and be the best you can be... Why would you slow your roll for someone who COULD keep up and who COULD be excelling right there with you........... but isn't?

Now don't get me wrong, they could be working on it and doing better and that's so awesome! I am so glad they are bettering themselves, go them! (I mean that) But what happens to your race, your journey when you look back and kind of chill for a hot second for them to catch up? Are you still living up to your potential or are you limiting yourself in hopes that they will eventually catch up? What if they never do? How long will you hold yourself back and make excuses for them? How long will you allow yourself to walk in a go-cart race? Because potential isn't a promise.. There is no guarantee they will ever reach their potential.. the potential you see and are waiting for. Every running coach ever will tell you "don't look back" because when you do, you stop focusing on your win but on where someone else is at.. and that, you have no control over. If you're stuck focusing on where someone else is and not you.. you're limiting yourself from reaching YOUR potential (or for the sake of my race analogy) your personal record. Don't do that.

My sister was telling me about this book she read or message she listened to? Idk, but it said something like "You should be running as fast as you can, excelling, bettering you in every way you can and ONLY if he/she can keep up are they worth your time." I won't lie, I've been a victim of dating someones potential for a LONG time.. and I made all of the excuses. We have history, I love him, blah blah blah. (Still love him, he's awesome!) But I also had to make the decision for myself to stop pumping the breaks on my life just for him to MAYBE, one day, get on my level. 

I am not at all telling you they will never get there, I genuinely hope they do! But I'm saying don't wait for something that is not promised. If you're looking for promises, I know a book you'll enjoy 😉

That is all! :) Now go and be blessed! 

-Britt❤

You. Are. Enough.

I moved to Los Angeles almost 1 year ago and I must say I have a love hate relationship with the place! I love the beach, I hate the traffic. I love the weather (most of the time), but I hate how hard it is to meet people. I love all the opportunities here, I hate feeling like I'm always comparing myself.. annnnd the list goes on.. but this is where I want to focus.

Living in Los Angeles takes some getting used to.. it did for me anyways. But here's what I'm learning (and this goes for wherever you live):

1. You are smart.
I work for rocket scientists (literally) and trust me if that doesn't make me feel unintelligent, idk what would.. They are geniuses and I, well, I graduated with a criminal justice degree. But that doesn't make me dumb, it makes me knowledgeable in a different area. We all have strengths and yours don't have to look like mine but you are gifted, you are gifted in areas that I and others are not. You are smart.

2. You are beautiful.
Everywhere you go there are going to be beautiful people but that doesn't mean you are not beautiful. Instagram likes and follows don't determine your beauty and worth. I started comparing myself to other women because there are sooo many good looking people everywhere. And I found myself wearing more make-up or buying alike clothes that every other girl wears, but for what? To hopefully make myself as beautiful as they are?  I have remind myself again.. this isn't me. I like to get done up but not like this. Being comfortable in your own skin and in who you are is beautiful. 

3. Money does not determine success.
I have met some very wealthy people and many of them, empty. Yeah, sure, they are millionaires but from what I can tell (and I could be wrong), they don't seem to have genuine relationship or purpose (they have purpose, maybe just haven't found it yet). I've also noticed that most characters hanging around these people are just waiting for a handout. They don't actually care about those around them, they are looking to gain whatever you have to offer. (PS I'm not at all saying everyone with money is empty and purposeless, but I have seen a lot of what looks like this to me.)
I would consider myself successful and I don't make anything close to millions.. but I love my life and who I am. That, to me, is success. Chances are, you're the one keeping you from chasing your dreams.. so make a move. 

4. You are enough.
So many people pretend to be someone they are not. It's so easy to put on a face (or buy a new one) and pretend you have it together ALL the time but I definitely do not.. and I am learning to embrace that. No one said you have to okay all the time.. and if you are, you're probably lying.
Break-ups suck, but I am a believer that some things must go in order for bigger and better to come. Don't ever let a relationship define your value.
If you're like me, you're watching everyone and their dog get engaged.. and well, as a 25 yr old female it gets my female brain stirring.. Am I ever going to get married? I am half-way through my 20s and I don't even have a man! I mean, I am living my life buttttt I'd also enjoy a hubby! hah 
However, my desire to be in a relationship or to be married will NEVER lead to devaluing who I am and what I deserve. Ladies and gents (whoever is reading this) Do not settle for the sake of having a "bae"..  
On another note:
Social media has become this thing everyone uses to show people how awesome their life is but what we forget is that they are only showing us what they want us to see, and usually we want people to see the greatness.. never the mess.We need to stop looking for recognition from social media to feel like we're enough and start looking to the One who has seen your lowest of low, just like a 10 second SnapChat story and still says, "I want you, you are Mine, and you are more than enough".


I wish I could say I've mastered all four of these points I just made but I can't. Note at the top where I said "Here's what I'm learning" as in... I'm still learning :) I think LA is an easy place to lose yourself in all the hustle and bustle of fame and fortune around you, but I've found staying true to myself makes life a lot more enjoyable and less stressful than trying to be someone or something I am not.

I hope to leave you feeling encouraged and loved today ❤ 
Be blessed.

(and in case you didn't know, the color purple represents royalty, and that my friend.. is what YOU are.)

-Britt❤

2 Corinthians 5:7

2 Corinthians 5:7 (asv)

 For we walk by faith, not by sight.

     This is my first verse of the year! How did I choose you ask? My mother got me a coloring calendar for Christmas and this is January's verse hah! I love it! And I get to color! :) Look:

     Well, the memorization came quickly but I want to share what God is teaching me through this verse. Ik, it's pretty self explanatory but here are my thoughts anyways:

     Let's be real, life is hard. No one ever promised it would be easy. In fact, in the book of 2 Corinthians, Paul (the author), is telling the people of Corinth that as a Christian you are indeed going to suffer in this life. Talk about a bummer?! It's funny how some people expect their lives to be smooth sailing the instant they become a Christian. Don't get me wrong, life is a bazillion times more enjoyable when you become a Christian because the second you invite Christ into your life.. you have a Savior, a Protector, a Comforter who will never leave your side. This meannns! You still get to go through life's maze, but you don't EVER have to do it alone.. no matter the situation. He is the Ultimate Best Friend!

     We don't get to know what's ahead, but we do get to trust an All-knowing God to guide us. God allows you to experience the Kingdom and after getting a taste of that, how could you not want more?! He will guide your every step if you would just ask Him to and keep your heart aligned with Him. Walk by faith, knowing there is more for you not just here on Earth but there is a Heavenly Kingdom and eternal life for you.  

     Don't think I don't know how easy it is to walk by sight. And don't think that as a Christian I don't struggle with temptation. Although it may be different for you than it is for me, we all still struggle.  There are a million things in this world that I see and would love to have instantly but this is where I get to trust God and decide I don't want it unless it's from Him. I believe that whatever He has for me is better than anything this world can offer me.

     Another translation I liked was the New Living Translation. It says:
"We live by believing and not seeing." 2 Corinthians 5:7

Believe that He is good and all that He has for you is only the best.

   So that's it! 

-Britt ♡

Please note that this is 1 interpretation of many and these are Brittney's (my) thoughts. Feel free to agree or even disagree and have your own thoughts and opinions too! :)

New Year New Me

Doesn't the title just make you wanna roll your eyes? 👀 Suuuuper cliche. #Basic😜

Lol I promise to try and make the rest worth your read! 

Enjoy

Growing up, my family and I would sit down and write out our New Year's resolutions every year. "This year I'm going to do this and that and it's going to be awesome!"  But let's be real, it lasted MAYBE a month?

As an adult (not sure how I feel about it, but I'm #TotesAdulting and it's weird, but I'm loving it!) (And as an adult I should probs stop saying things like: probs, totes, adulting..... and hash-tagging in blogs. But I need something to make me feel young and hip 😜)(I'm making myself sound like a geezer! lol 25 and feeling alive! (Probs shouldn't use lol in blogs either)) (Sorry for all the bunny trails, let's get back to life↪.)

As a human being, it is my goal to actively better myself everyday. And that means no more January resolutions! You know, like when you get a gym membership in early January and stop going early February. ;) (it happens to the best of us)  Let's make a commitment to ourselves and to the rest of the world to simply |be better|

I want to share a couple of my resolutions with you in hopes of giving you some ideas and/or inspiring you to make your own list!

1. Know the Bible.

This will require me to start reading the Bible more but I don't just want to read the words on the page. I want to know the Bible. I want to memorize the Word of God. (Yes, memorizing the ENTIRE Bible would be pretty radical but let's pump the breaks..) I am going to start by choosing a verse every week or 2 and memorize it, study it, and ask God what He's teaching me through it.

2. "I be up in the gym just workin on my fitness 🏋"

-Fergalicious

I want to be HEALTHY! Not stick skinny, not Kylie Jenner... Healthy. This will look like work outs on the reg. and yummy, nutritious meals in good portions :) (If you know me or follow me on SnapChat/IG (@BrittneyNicol3) you know I have a LOOOOOVE😍 for tacos.. but they will now only be consumed in moderation 😓)

3. Confidence! 💃

I want to be so secure in who I am in every single aspect of my life. And I will! 😁

I'll be a little vulnerable here. I love to sing!🎝🎤 But one day (probably a series of events, tbh) I decided I was too afraid of what people will think and rejection and I stopped singing. But this year, I will sing and I will not care what people think because I'm living for me! 

Now this is for all the people!

 NO MORE LETTING FEARING CONTROL YOU! 🚫

and

NO MORE COMPARING YOURSELF! 🚫 🎤

because

YOU'RE AMAZING 💕

4. Travel. ✈

I loveee ❥ to travel and I love to experience new cultures. #Cliche

But I really do. I don't want to go to Mexico and stay in an all inclusive (Don't get me wrong, I do love that too) but I want to explore the little villages and play kickball with all the village kids.⚽💜 I want to eat the delicious authentic tacos that you pray are safe because they came from a cart. I like to meet the locals and experience life in someone else's shoes when I travel, even if it's just for a week. Traveling is eye opening and adventurous! I always love an adventure. You don't have to leave the state or country to travel, go explore a new part of your own state! Learn something new. 

5. Read 📖

I want to start reading more. I don't hate reading but if given the choice, I'll watch Netflix or take a snooze before picking up a book. 📺💤 A couple months ago I actually got a library card, so this year I'm going to (try to) put it to good use! So if you have book recommendations.. slide them in my dms 😉 hah!

 Okie dokie, there you have it! Here are 5 of my own New Year's resolutions. 

I want to encourage you to actually write/type out a list. When I write things down and post them for the world to see, it helps keep me accountable. Like "I told everyone I would do this.. I should actually do it and keep doing it!" 😊 That, and writing things out is a great way for me to process things and express myself!📣

I wish you all a beautiful day and be blessed💜💖 

That's it!

-Britt♡