Often we forget that the enemy stopping us from moving forward is within ourselves T.D Jakes (May 7th Louisville, KY).

Dear Friends,

Last week-end, I was still wondering which topic to write about on my eleventh newsletter. I often take every single opportunity in life to discover something about myself and my surroundings. I also take opportunities to listen to people who claim to make a difference in peoples lives. I visited a crusade this past week-end hosted by a religious speaker and bestseller-author T.D Jakes. As I was listening to him, I kept on listening to which things I would discover about myself, about my life, about my writing and about my purpose in this world. I learned new things but the one thing that I decided to share with you is on self-discovery journey. Life process takes us through birth, childhood, adulthood, pains, joy..to death. The biggest question we travel with and grow with is Why on earth I am I here?

This question gets to the core of your life mission. Every experience, every contact and every gift or talent that you have exists to support you in accomplishing your mission in life. If you are alive, you are here for a purpose. What will be the most important mark you make on the world?

To carry out your life mission, you have to have a vision. Habakkuk 2:2 says: write your vision. A vision is an accomplishment you wish to achieve in your life, a dream you wish to fulfill. We all have that dream we want to accomplish. It takes a discovery effort to realize our dreams, and then to have plans and ways (mission) to reach our goals. As I was a little girl playing barefoot in the sand of my beautiful country Tanzania, I once dreamed to become a president!!!!!!!! YesI thought I could improve the standard of life among my people by being in that position. One day I became aware, I may never become a president like I dreamed. However, I realized, I could use what I have now to improve the lives among my people, beginning with the lives of the few I could reach..and, since that day, I have been using my talents, opportunities, experiences and contacts to walk towards my dream..making myself and this world better.

The sky is a limit when it comes to dreams. Make efforts daily to discover things that will empower achievement of your dreams. It starts with youyourself, dont limit your potential or let fear control you. Fear can be our enemy, if we allow it to be. Fear also can be a great teacher and a catalyst for change. For example, fear that you will fail can motivate you to be creative and work hard so that you succeed. On the other hand, fear can keep you from living your highest potential if your fear paralyzes you from moving forward in your life.

Once you identify your fear, you can begin determining ways to reduce the risk that your fear presents. Once you make the decision to overcome your fear, you find your fears are often more perception than reality. Make a self discovery journey today to move closer to your ideal life. Taking a step towards your dreams will generate excitement for the possibilities available to you. Write a vision of your ideal life and then move towards it one step at a time. Celebrate your steps along the way. Consider that following rules and tradition is not a prerequisite to success. Open your mind to creating your own opportunities.

If youll be around Kentucky area USA, read Outlook and Courier Journal newspapers for my futures (on May 19th 2005). On May 21 tune to WHAS 11 TV morning news and join me on my book signing at Carmichaels Bookstore, at 4pm, at 2720 Frankfort Avenue in Louisville.

Till next month, be encouraged.