Happy New Year!

I spent the first day of the year lying on bed and nursing fever, cough, and cold. Is it Covid? No idea. I didn't test myself but took all the precautions nonetheless.

Now, if you're quite superstitious, welcoming New Year sick might not be a good omen but remember, your belief shapes your reality.

Last year, I ordered a basket of fruit and the seller decided to go AWOL and stopped responding. I ended up displaying eggs instead. 

If I allowed myself to be sh!t upset about it and believed that my 2021 is bound to be unlucky because I don't have any freaking fruit on the table, then for sure that would have been the result.

Instead, I replaced my belief that the eggs signify abundance and good fortune and I'm welcoming 2021 with gratitude, lots of opportunities, and blessings - and that's what happened.

I started 2021 with zero income, and finish December with 6-digits. What an amazing year, indeed!

So the fact that I was sick on 1st day on 2022 is not a 'sign' that I'll be sick the whole year. Rather, I'm thinking that the Universe is teaching me lessons on delegating more, automating more, and learning to ask for help. And I listened!

I set goals every time and not only in January. One thing I started differently last year was having a 'word' for that year. It's like my theme for the full year and 2021 was "LET GO" (not a really a word, but a phrase but you get it)

As I mentioned on my newsletter (you're not subscribed yet? Oh, you're missing out! I dish out juicy details on my newsletter. Things I'm not comfortable sharing on my blog are shared on my newsletter so I suggest subscribe. How? Enter your email address below:

As I was saying, 2021 phrase was Let Go...

Let go of worries
Let go of overthinking
Let go of the result
Let go of over-planning

Whenever I get depressed or worried of a situation, I remind myself to let go and let God. I don't need to figure out the HOW and the WHEN. My ONLY job is to decide what I want and be ready to receive it. Simple, right?

And 2021 was the year I allowed myself to receive more, accept more blessings, just expanding my abundant energy. The result, as I said, was 6 figures by the end of the year. 

My word for 2022 is GROWTH.

One of my money blocks is being visible and it stems from my fear of not being good enough. I know, I know, I should have sorted this block by now - and I thought I did. But Money Blocks have this way of sneaking up into you in ways you don't expect.

And the fear of not being good enough prevents us from growing.

"What if I'm wrong?"
"What if I fail?"
"They might think I'm just a fraud!"
"I can't do that"
"It's difficult"

And these self-limiting thoughts are what prevent us from GROWING.

So for 2022, whenever there is a fear popping, I have to remind myself that for me to achieve my goals, I need to GROW.

... even when I'm scared
... even when I haven't figured it out
... even if I don't feel ready

GROWING also means stepping out of my comfort zone every.freaking.time.

There's no growth happening if we're stuck in our safe little cocoon. To grow means being uncomfortable doing things that are sh!tty scary and uncomfortable. Growing means being an adult and pay business taxes, setting up legally, investing more, saving more, showing up more.

That is my 2022 forecast for you, my friend! Claim it. Allow yourself to receive. Love more. Give more. Be happy. Be grateful. 

I haven't posted in months because of two reasons:

One, I don't feel like it. I lost my mojo, drive, passion, fire - whatever you want to call it. I don't feel inspired at all.

Second, I started a new project which I'll tell you more about later.

Let's start with my first reason.

I always think I'm lazy. But honestly, I just say that.
I work hard for things I'm passionate about.
I work efficiently and never stop whenever I have new ideas.

But I always find ways to make my life easier, and I don't buy that "busy" mantra. I want to have productive activities scheduled within the day but I don't want to overwhelm myself doing them. 

I don't feel guilty watching Netflix or reading a book. 
In short, hindi ako martyr.

But whenever I have an option not to do things, I tend to procrastinate. And sadly, writing is the first one to get hit. I'm sorry.

And you know the reason why I feel so uninspired? Kasi parang wala namang nangyayari sa The Wealthy Pinay. Sure, I do have speaking gigs here and there but from a business sense, it's not earning the amount that can sustain my lifestyle. It's depressing to think that I'm not earning from TWP considering that this is my passion.

I love talking about money mindset, money, and helping others achieve anything they want, but in a way, I feel like a fraud. I know it's the Impostor Syndrome kicking in.

And I'm being transparent here because you might be experiencing the same thing. Maybe you lost your mojo, too. YOU ARE NOT ALONE. Even the most positive person on earth experiences this punk and it's okay. We just need to ride it out.

Personally, whenever I feel like I'm in this dark hole, I allow myself to be in it for a while. I know I'll get out of that zone anyways. I know myself. 

And then when I get tired of crying and getting depressed, I would start journaling. I am myself's psychologist, coach, and psychiatrist in one. It's good to write everything out and see where the depression is coming from and more importantly, how to get out of it.

Nakakapagod din kayang maging malungkot, di ba?

Then in October, I had an idea. What if I create an online course teaching Pinoys how to be a Virtual Executive Assistant? 

This is the second reason why I was MIA.

As soon as the idea came to me, I started working on it. I planned the content, wrote the sales copy, bought the domain, and shoot the video lessons all in one day. 

I  didn't wait for the website to finish and just launched VirtualWork PH on Facebook less than 1 week after conceptualization.
1 person bought the course on first day. I was elated. 
It has been 2 weeks now and we have 40+ students and counting.
It is amazing!

All the works I've done for TWP - writing, creating websites, developing online courses -  prepared me for VWPh. For someone new in content marketing or online courses, executing this may take a while.

Pero sa dami ng ni-launch ko na courses and sites, completing the new project was quite a breeze. Lahat ng ginagawa natin ngayon, kahit feeling mo na wala naman masyadong value (hello, anong mapapala mo sa stress di ba?) prepare you for something amazing. 

And that's the biggest realization -

You're exactly where you are meant to be! TOTALLY.

"LynJoy, anong mapapala ko sa stress?"

Let me explain...

When I first worked as an Executive Assistant in 2006, my boss was very demanding. As in! Yung tipong kahit puno na yung flight, gusto pa din nya na i-book ko sya sa flight na yun. Suicide!

I resigned because of stress. 

But as I moved to different companies and was given more complex responsibilities, I realized that my first boss' demands were actually very manageable. My stress tolerance increased and I'm not bothered anymore with most nuisance. Sisiw na lang lahat.

And I know you can relate to that. Task that was so difficult when you first tried it, ngayon kaya mo na gawin kahit nakapikit. 

Let me share another story proving that we are exactly where we're meant to be...

I started working as a VA in February this year. In all honesty, I resist the idea for a while. I left UAE because I don't want to work for someone anymore. I mean, why the hell am I going back to being an employee!?!

But I want the money and honestly, it's easy money. I am a very good Executive Assistant. My bosses always complimented how amazing I am but I never really believe them. For me, I'm just doing my job.

But whenever I resigned from any company, they counter-offered. The last company I worked with, they asked if I'll stay for Php 500k monthly.

As you know, I didn't stay because I want to enjoy FREEDOM OF TIME which I don't feel like I had when I was working in Dubai.

So you can imagine my resistance to getting a job. Just thinking that I may need to work at night stresses me out. 

But as I said, I want the money, and being an EA is an easy task for me so I went ahead and started job hunting.

It took me a solid two months before I landed my first client. But the funny thing is I was hired and fired the same day. I didn't even last 1 day. I won't bore you with the details but it was some task that she said "I'm not getting!" Anyhoo, I just laughed it off because she's a psycho and I consider it a blessing in disguise.

After a few days, I saw another ad that I liked and applied. Went into two interview processes and was hired the following day. Yahoo! This was February of 2021.

Do you think I'll have this business of teaching aspiring VAs on how to become an actual VA if I haven't started freelancing? NOPE. I won't. 

The idea came to me because I'm actually working as a virtual assistant and have a better understanding of how remote working works. 

There is a reason for everything. We're never too early nor too late. 

If you're going through something, I promise it will get better. 
Start writing 10 things you're grateful for every day.
Visualize your dream life.
Believe that you deserve that life.
Then take inspired actions. Opportunities will present itself. If it excites you more than it scares you, take it as a sign and leap.

P.S. If you're interested earning from home (VAs earn from Php 35,000 to Php 80,000 monthly or more!), visit VirtualWork PH. For ony Php 199 for now, this investment is a no-brainer. Ready to Enroll? Register here - ENROLL NOW!

We will never be ready…

That’s the truth. We will second guess our decisions. We will doubt our capabilities. There’s no way we will be 100% confident in making any major decisions in life. No way!

But I have this decision making tool I use whenever I’m not torn between 2 or more options. It is analytical and practical and at the same time considers your values and what’s important to you. If you want to have it, just reply back and I’ll email it to you.

Anyhoo, although this decision tool is helpful, in the end, we still need to decide, right? And finalizing them are so fricking hard.
”What if I fail?”
”What if I regret it?”
”What if I lose interest?”
”What if …….”

I have a stay-at-home mom friend who is torn between taking up an online job or just focusing being a SAHM. She wants the extra money and excited to use her skills again. Yet she’s afraid she might neglect her mom and wife duties.

I simply ask her, “Gusto mo ba talaga mag work?”
”Yes!”, she said.

“Eh di mag-apply ka muna. Pino-problema mo na agad yung mangyayari eh ni wala ka pa ngang CV.” I always believe in timing. If she’s meant to work, she’ll find the job meant for her. If not, it will probably take months before she’ll find one. Either way, at least she did something. She applied, showed up, and went after what she wants. Way better than thinking of all the ‘what-ifs’.

You might fail and you might regret it

This is oh so true! I made bad decisions in life (both personal and financial). Maybe I should have done things differently. Maybe I should have followed my intuition more. Maybe I should not have done it in the first place.

But if I’m being truthful, I don’t regret these decisions. I won’t be the person who I am today if not because of everything I went through - the pain, the heartaches, the wins, the loses, all the people who came and left.

There are things that you don’t need to experience to know it won’t work (example: illegal drugs) but most of the time, you won’t know the result unless you try.

Some people fail and quit while some people fail and tried again.

I tried selling jewelries in 2015. I sold a few items but then stopped because it’s illegal to sell anything in Dubai without a trade license. Others might think I failed in this business (and maybe I did believe it too) but I revived my brand last year and actually have more designs to offer.

I lost money in mutual funds, we started some businesses and lost our investments. We cried and cried some more, yet we never give up.

The same thing with TWP’s Facebook page. It was created in 2017 and yesterday, we celebrated having 2k followers! <<Are you following the page? If not, gora na! —> facebook.com/thewealthypinay >>

I know that 2000 is not a huge number. Some business pages have 5k followers in just a few months but I’m very grateful still.

I started this Facebook page (actually even The Wealthy Pinay website) in 2017 even though I have no damn plan on how I’m going to make it work. I just have an idea and a desire. I started even before I was ready.

Starting the brand didn’t magically made me confident though. I was still insecure and doubtful for many months but since this is what I want, I continued. And this month, I actually hired a social media VA to help me with few things. Am I ready to hire a staff for TWP which I consider as a passion project? NO! I’m not ready. I can’t afford it even. Yet, I consider hiring a staff as an investment. The same thing with buying a domain and paying for a hosting service. If I want to level up, some things need to change. I’m not yet ready but I’m doing it.

Most of the things I’m enjoying right now happened because I started even before I was ready. I just took a leap of faith. I believed in myself. I believed in God and His promise.

Start before you’re ready.

P.S. If you have a friend who needs to hear this message, forward this email to them. I know they’ll appreciate it.

I’m a self-confessed lazy introvert.

Lazy in the sense that I don’t like household chores and I can probably read a book the whole day and not have a headache after. I can finish one season of any series on Netflix with just a few pee breaks in between.

I love me-time. I love solitude. I love being alone.

But even though I’m lazy and introvert, I still make LOTS of money.

Because honestly, being rich doesn’t require you to have a specific kind of personality or skill. You can be smart, stupid, hustle-master, lazy, good, bad, asshole or kind - whatever!

To earn LOTS of money, you just have to uncover your money beliefs about why you can’t. Truth be told, these money stories are what define our decisions and actions. Either we believe we can or can not. It’s that simple.

I know many people wants to start a business but they’re shit scared. Some are brave enough and actually started already but realized it wasn’t that easy (true). “Can I really have the business that I love even though I am introvert and anxious?”

YES!!!

I’ve shared this #GeniusTip with the TWP bootcampers and I’m sharing them with you. One of the things I used to do to manage my anxiousness and shyness is by posting on a Facebook group that has only me as the member.

Name the FB group whatever you like, it’s just for you. Use this group to practice the tasks you find really hard and scary.

Post a selfie.
Do a live video.
Write your thoughts.
Post a sales copy.
Play with group settings.

Do everything and anything you want in your group.

I was so awkward when I first started doing videos in 2017. I’ll spent 3 hours or more just to shoot the video (no kidding). That didn’t include the time of editing it.

Not that I don’t know what to say but my thoughts are all jumbled up in my head and my mouth can’t catch up. Whenever I realized I was getting out of topic, I would restart the video over and over again. Exhausting!

Writing a blog post wasn’t easy either. I was very conscious of what other people may feel or think of me once they read the blog. I was censoring myself too much that it didn’t feel authentic anymore.

Then one fine day, I created a private Facebook group. The member was only me. I’ll do live video on that group. I’ll connect some apps and fiddle with the settings. I practice speaking on various topics. I don’t put make-up on or worry of what I’m wearing because, well, I’m the only member.

If you want to level it up, after a few weeks of practicing, I suggest add one confidante to join the group. She should be someone you trust and explain what it’s for. Then keep on doing things you used to do, knowing that your chosen person is going to see them. For sure you’ll puke.

After a few more weeks, start to do one of the things you’ve been practicing on your actual Facebook account. Now, the thought alone might make you hyperventilate but for sure you know that once you sent it out, it will be okay.

You’ve practiced for weeks (if not months). It’s like re-posting what you’ve already done dozens of time.

Practice always make things easier. By practicing, what scares us before become less scary overtime.

And I’m telling you this because I know as an introvert, you think there’s no way you can put yourself out there without puking and making a fool of yourself. I have these two blog posts written a while ago, I hope they give you some inspiration and courage:

Marketing for Introverts
Business Tips for Introverts

Whatever personality you have, again, the main thing you need to work on are your money beliefs.
Do you think you have to be online all the time?
Do you believe that being wealthy is hard to achieve?
Do you think you need to be someone else to attract customers?

How would you know your money blocks? A simple exercise is to finish this sentence:

”I can’t be wealthy because __________.”

See what comes up.

What should you do then if you uncover your money blocks? Well, there are many ways to release them.

- You can read hundreds of TWP blog posts (see the menu on the upper part portion of this site)  that hopefully can help you clear your blocks.
- Buy my e-book, The Wealthy Pinay: A Guide for Exceptional Pinays to Create Their First Class Life. Available on Amazon Kindle, Barnes & Noble, Scribd, Google Books and other major online bookstores.
- Join Pinay Money Bootcamp. The only money mindset course designed for all entrepreneurial Pinays.

and lastly, talk to me… Hit the reply button and let me know what comes up when you finished the sentence, ”I can’t be wealthy because __________.”

Awareness is the first key to sort out any issue.

P.S. This is perfect for all you introverts out there!

If you're part of any of my online programs, we talk about money, business, and money mindset stuff regularly. I know that not everyone is ready or have time to attend my group online courses so if this is you then I'm excited to let you know that I opened my calendar for 1:1 mentoring.

A 1:1 session is what an introverts really need. 

If you think you have several money blocks to release yet can't get rid of them thus resulting in procrastination, self-doubt, getting stuck - a 1:1 session with me is what you need. Read more here -->
http://thewealthypinay.com/mentor/

In an ideal world, we know all the answers. We’re clear of what we want and need to do then do it. But we’re not living in an ideal world.

Many times we don’t know where we’re going. We don’t know our next move. Our plans never materialized so we stopped planning. Sometimes we don’t have plan B.

Risk forward

It’s a philosophy of life meaning moving forward even if it feels risky. If taking risks seems scary then just think of it as taking chances. All of us have this wisp of an idea, something interesting and excites us, but then we look around and no one else is doing that. We’re not sure what’s the next step. “Do I have what it takes?” ”I’m not sure if this will make money.” “What if I’ll regret it?”

The idea to retire started in 2017. It was a scary dream but it excites me. I didn’t know that time how or when it will happen but in my journal I wrote the year 2020.

In 2019, the desire became so strong and I wasn’t scared anymore. I took the chance.

Am I regretting it? I’ll be honest with you. Having a steady and fixed income is a blessing no one should take for granted. Looking back, there are moments that I wished I saved more or invested more. All of us have regrets.

But I don’t regret taking the chance to move back to the Philippines.
Spending 24 hours with my kids every freaking day makes me crazy but I’ll treasure these moments forever. We talk more, play more, argue more, learn about each other more every freaking day.

The best part of going home? My husband was able to spent one year with his mom before she suddenly passed away last year. Just thinking about it, I know that all the chance we took is worth it.

How about the money part? Whether we admit or not, we need money and lack of money makes us regret many things, right?

MONEY IS EVERYWHERE. This is true and I believe it. There are many ways to make money. We just need to decide which one is worth our time and energy and take a chance. Nowadays, I earn through TWP, doing online jobs, and selling bespoke jewelries. My income is not yet the same as I was earning in Dubai but that’s fine because I don’t need to anyways. Personally, my target income is P200k monthly and I can live like a madam if I earn this much in the Philippines. I’m not earning this amount yet but that’s my goal.

Inner Courage

When we’re stuck, it feels like being in a fog. We can’t see anything, it’s scary to move and we don’t know what’s on the outside. What if it’s a cliff? Or you hit a car? One wrong step and you’re down in a manhole. Scary!!

But when you’re in fog, it’s stupid to run fast to get out of it. At the same time, staying put wishing and hoping that the fog will dissipate is not advisable, too. The best thing to do is get out of it slowly, one step at a time.

Inner courage. Move forward even though you don’t know where you’re heading. Go to the unknown. Some people like to take several giant leaps, good for them. But there’s nothing wrong in taking baby steps as long as you’re moving forward.

P.S. In case you missed it, my book is now available on Amazon Kindle, Barnes & Noble, Google Play Books, Apple Books, and other online stores. Kulang na lang pati sa Shopee and Lazada  CLICK HERE to buy.

Let me tell you the story my book. It started with an idea... "What if I write a book?"

The thought was screaming C-R-A-Z-Y for me because
1) I don’t know anyone personally who wrote a book
2) Who am I to write one?

I mean, writing for a blog doesn’t mean I’m a writer, right? (That’s wrong. If you can write your ideas, then you’re a writer. Simple.)

But one thing about myself is that I’m crazy and impulsive. Not the type that will run amok holding a machete while drooling but one that has a screw-me-I-will-do-it attitude. Impossible is not really in my vocabulary.

So armed with a desire to put everything I know about the law of attraction and abundance mindset, I started to write. In less than a month, everything was done. After a few months, I had the books printed and launched, and sold-out.

If being crazy means going after what you want even though you’re not sure how it will turn out, then maybe it’s not bad after all and I suggest you go crazy, too (stupid is different from crazy, just fyi ok?)

Was it hard publishing a book? Honestly, it’s not. And I’m saying this knowing what I know now. If you asked me the same question few years ago, I will probably say it is super duper difficult and it’s like asking if it’s possible to give birth to a unicorn. 

Converting the book in a digital form took me longer though. I planned to launch the digital version last year but it didn’t materialize. It seems so cumbersome and complicated whenever I try to find ways on how to publish it. 

A few weeks ago, I decided to look into it again. Surprise, surprise! In just a few clicks, the digital copy of my book came to life. This proves again of the “believe” part of the law of attraction.

I know for many, the waiting, believing, and trusting parts are the most difficult part of manifesting. We are dreamers and action-takers. And when things don’t go as planned, we get angry, frustrated, and drop what we originally wanted to do thinking that it’s not meant for us.

When I encountered many resistance, issues, and procrastination publishing my ebook last year, I was very frustrated with myself to be honest. I was blaming myself for being lazy and disorganized.

It took me many journal pages before finally coming to the conclusion that I needed to trust the process. I was experiencing all these issues because it was not yet time. Trusting, Believing, and Waiting was difficult but I knew I needed to have faith.

As it turns out, just when I stopped obsessing about the ebook, the process of creating one seems to jump out of me. It was so smooth and easy that I’m quite surprised I didn’t figure it out sooner. Ahh! I know why it was easy… IT WAS FINALLY TIME.

I know it’s freaking annoying to wait specially if you don’t know until when you needed to wait. Besides, what do we do while waiting and how to know if we should change gear? If there’s one lesson my ebook story taught me is that when it’s time, everything will fall into place - like magic.

TRUST THE PROCESS. And while waiting, do other things that excite you. Don’t lose your vision. Learn more, do more, pamper yourself. Continue journaling and praying. DREAM. BELIEVE. TAKE INSPIRED ACTIONS.

If you want to know more what it's all about, read it HERE. And you can buy the ebook from any of these stores!

This is an amazing time to work on your abundant mindset and learn a thing or two about manifesting and the law of attraction. The Wealthy Pinay: A Guide for Exceptional Pinays to Create Their First Class Life is your all-in-one reference guide to start living the life you've imagined for yourself. I have so many things to say and this book gives me the opportunity to share these ideas with you. As many have said, reading the book was like talking to a friend and I love it. That was my intention when I wrote the book. I am a friend whom you're allowed to talk to about your dreams without shame or guilt. With me, you're allowed to be as crazy as you want in chasing after what you want. 

When I started dreaming of having my own business and soon quitting my job full-time, that was just that - a dream. I have no idea how or when it will happen. It was just nice to daydream and imagine how I'll spend my days - wake-up late, working on The Wealthy Pinay, preparing breakfast for my family. 

Daydreaming is a fun activity but going back to real-life is not. In the real world, I had to wake up at 5:30am, leave the house at 6 so I'll reach the office at 7am. Too early for my 8am time-in but the more time I delay my departure from home will result in getting stuck in horrible traffic that stressed me bigtime. I then leave the office at 5pm and if I'm lucky, I'll be home at 7pm. 

"I wish I could be a stay-at-home mom", was what I usually pray.
Again, no idea how it can happen. 
I got depressed. I cried for no apparent reason.
I'll cry in the office toilet. I'll cry inside the car.
I hated myself for feeling bad because, you know, I had a good job, very good salary, nice colleagues, supportive husband, life was good and yet here I am, ungrateful. It sucks!

But over time something in me changed. 

I allowed myself to dream without guilt.
I took control of my emotions rather than it controlling me.
I'm tired of being a victim (honestly, wala namang umaapi sa kin).
Instead, I decided to be the heroine of my own story. 

Looking back, I knew that my faith in Him helped me.

Things became more powerful when I started to trust myself too.
Can I achieve my dreams?
Do I have what it takes to start my own business?
Am I good enough to be successful?
Will I regret my decisions?

Many of us are riddled with self-doubt. It stems from our deep-rooted limiting belief that we're not good enough. And it doesn't matter if we are quite successful already, there will always be a tiny voice inside our head magnifying our fear.

I'm passionate about teaching on how to identify our limiting beliefs (which I call money blocks) and more importantly, how to deal with them. I'm very passionate about improving our money mindset because I've seen how a simple mindset shift can catapult someone to success. This is not only my experience but I've seen this time and time again with all my programs especially with Pinay Money Bootcamp. 

Can I tell you one simple mantra that you can say whenever you feel 'small' and doubtful? 

"I trust myself and my wisdom."

Don't let anyone makes you feel otherwise.
Don't let your past mistakes haunt you.
Never give others the power to make you feel small and insignificant.

Trust that you're making the right decisions.
Trust that you are a good person.
Trust that you have the wisdom to know what's right for you.
Trust that you can succeed.
Trust that everything will happen in His time.

Okayyyyyyy... now that I've said the 'life coach-y' advice, let me tell you some truth...

No one will believe in you (at first...)

May it be building a new business, quitting your permanent job to be a freelancer, writing your first book, being a social media star - anything that will require you to step up of your comfort zone will also freak out others. That's the freaking truth. Maybe your mom will be supportive. Maybe your best friend will tell you to go for it but the majority of people will give you random advice and comments that can turn out more negatively rather than encouraging.

And the most destructive comment is the one that has some iota of truth to it. 

"You might lose all your savings."
"It might not work."
"You're risking everything for something you're not sure."
"What if you fail?"

Because the reality is all their comments 'might' come true.
It's your thoughts and fears too!

I always tell the ladies in the bootcamp, if confronted with these money blocks, ask themselves these two questions:

1. Is it absolutely true? (like, are you absolutely sure that the outcome is negative?)
2. What would your life be without this block? (if you don't have this doubt or fear, what would your life be?)

Answering these questions will force you to reflect.

Would you really fail?
Will you absolutely lose everything to the point that you won't be able to recover? 
Chances are the answer is no.

And can you imagine not having the fear of regret or disappointment?
What could your life be if you don't have the fear of failure?
You would probably try everything and anything within your moral compass.

The thing is, the decision to trust yourself and your wisdom should come from within. You should be ready to try and take the risk.

And can I tell you something? The fact that you're reading this is actually a sign. You wouldn't even reach this part of this article if you weren't. 
The idea is already implanted in your brain. 
How exciting! Just like a plant, you just need to nurture it.

Avoid toxic and Debbie Downer peeps.
Surround yourself with people who dream like you.
Find a mentor.
Read books that can help you build your skills and mindset.
Stop overthinking and start doing.

I wish you courage. 

xoxo,
LynJoy TC

P.S. If you're looking for a group that is encouraging, supportive, and safe, then join the Pinay Money Mindset private Facebook community. In there, we can talk about our dreams, money, manifesting, business - all without shame or judgment. This is exclusive for Pinays and not because I'm racist or sexist but because I know that I can help Filipina women the most. Here is the link --> facebook.com/groups/pinaymoneymindset

I was alone for a few hours on the first night of my mother-in-law's funeral.
I was sad.
I was really tired.
Yet, my mind was listing 100 things I needed to do the next few days - flower arrangements, grocery shopping, talk to the crematorium, force Gibson to rest, write scripts for Pinay Money Bootcamp.

Thinking about it now, I'm amazed at how I managed to pull it all off.
Apart from one big zit on my cheek, I survived that phase.
It helped that I didn't see any wandering spirits at the funeral chapel (Well, I could have seen one or two, but this is not a horror post so I'll spare you with the details)

August and September have been a rollercoaster of emotions for me. 

My mother-in-law passed away.
My kids started their homeschool journey.
I launched the only money mindset course in the Philippines.
And I'm celebrating my 40th birthday tomorrow.

There are days that I'm too sad and worried.
And sometimes I'll be too occupied that I don't have time to be lonely.
Many days I feel there are not enough hours in a day.
But also has this feeling I haven't accomplished anything.

Why am I telling you this?

Because maybe you're feeling the same way, too.
Maybe you're worried, scared, depleted, sad.
Maybe you're feeling alone and tired.
Maybe you're afraid of the future and what will happen next.
or maybe you're ma-drama like me (birthday blues, for sure!)

It's normal to feel all these emotions. 
We are human after all. 
Unless you're six feet underground, you're bound to feel something.

But do you know what keeps us going?
Why are you still working?
Why are you still holding on?
Why haven't you given up?

Because of HOPE.

That one day it will be better.
That one day all your hard work will pay off.
That soon everything that your heart's desires will be yours.

But do you know what's better than hoping? 
Combine your faith with actions. 

If I let my emotions took over my mama's death, I don't know what will happen to her funeral.
If I let my sadness ruled, Pinay Money Bootcamp's participants will find a blank screen on their membership page.
If I focused more on my dramatic moments, I'll just lay down on the bed and watch all YT dog videos on repeat.

It's okay to have your moments but try your hardest to get up and continue.
No one can help you get out of the rut except yourself.
No one can help you save if you won't stop spending.
You won't have your dream business unless you work for it.

HOPE is admirable but FAITH WITH ACTIONS are what will drive you to achieve your goals.

If you're doing all the actions but can't seem to get the result you want, it's time to go deeper and for sure it's your limiting beliefs aka money blocks are the culprit. 

The thing is, people aren't aware of their money blocks. They don't know that they have these deep-rooted negative beliefs about money and success that prevent them from reaching their goals. They think that they are the problem - they're too sensitive, too honest, not good enough, not smart enough. Sometimes, they blame other people for their misfortunes - it's the government's fault, because their parents are poor, or only the rich are getting richer. Or they don't have the opportunities to succeed - if only they can work abroad, if only their salary is higher, if only they finished college, if only they have more friends.

And these money blocks are manifesting in different ways.
You can't start your business.
You can't save.
You spend more than you earn.
You work harder.
You're depressed.
Your relationships are suffering.
You can't attract clients.

If you've been following TWP for years, you know that I'm all about money mindset. Reprogramming your money beliefs will help you achieve anything you set your mind to. You won't rely on 'hope' anymore because you'll gain a deep understanding of how the mind works. You will now easily understand how your faith in Him and the abilities He has given you will work beautifully together to start your business, increase your income, increase your savings, build your own dream home, and whatever dreams you wish to accomplish.

You are strong.
You are amazing.
You have everything you need to live the life you truly want.
You just have to have this deep faith that it is possible.
You just need to let go of your limiting beliefs.
Allow yourself to receive.

I have highlighted the last line because many of us, specially women, have this huge resistance to receiving. We always give - our time, our energy, our money, our knowledge - and we do it without asking for anything in return. That's very good quality, of course. The problem is we don't feel worthy to receive. We never ask for an increase in salary. We always deflect compliments. We give discounts and promotions because we feel we're not worthy to receive money from the services and products we offer. Can you relate?

So you see, if you're struggling saving money, can't find your dream job, scared to quit your job, or start your business, then I suggest work on your money blocks first. Because HOPING that one day everything will fall into place is actually just that, hope. You have to take action. And not the actions in the sense that you have to cry blood and tears, but they are the inner works required to release all your limiting beliefs. 

P.S. I just launched the only Money Mindset Course in the Philippines designed for all entrepreneurial Pinays. It makes my heart swell with joy to know that the bootcamp have helped Pinays work on their money mindset stuff as well as taught them practical tips about online marketing. I was like them a few years ago - driven, ambitious, hard worker. But at the same time, doubtful, worrier, scared. I know exactly what aspiring women entrepreneurs are going through. Starting a business is a huge leap of faith and it will require a big change on your money beliefs to start and grow your business the way you have envisioned it. 

* If you feel you have it in you to be successful but can't seem to find the "secret" to make it happen
* If you're confused why your messaging can't seem to reach your ideal customers
* If you keep on giving but have this huge resistance on receiving
* If it's easy for you to earn but then lose the money as fast as you get them
* If you're always over delivering but undercharging
* If you have this huge desire to earn more 

... then Pinay Money Bootcamp is for you. And since I have this 100% belief that this course can change your life if you allow it, I offer Money Back guarantee. If after 7 days you think it's not for you, I'll refund all your money - no questions asked. 

Excited to see you in the bootcamp!

I'm not sure how this blog post will roll out but I have this urge to write and dump my thoughts here. This could turn out to be motivational, or not. Either way, I know that blogging helps me too. I started blogging in 2014 as a way to release my pent-up anxiety. Writing for me is like talking to a therapist. It's equivalent to completing a session - it's liberating, my anxiety lessens, and more often than not, it gives me the drive to continue.

Manila is now under modified quarantine rules. It's less strict but I still don't go out. The hubby is more than willing to do the errands so let him be, I'm no rush to get infected. Honestly, I dread the testing more than the infection itself. I cringe whenever I see someone getting a swab test. Have you seen how deep the swab goes into your nose? It's like touching your skull, ugh! Swab testing = DEATH. I kennat!

I was scared too...

I was feeling quite anxious around the last week of March/first week of April. My schedule went out of the window and I ain't happy. The Batangas trip, the vacation in Baler, visit in Pampanga, and several planned talks and events - all cancelled! Obviously, our nail salon needed to shut down and our dimsum food cart closed. Our milk tea distribution company, although into food business, was not considered a necessity so it was closed, too. And this came in a time that I was feeling scarce. Contrary to popular belief, I also do feel scared around money - that our savings might run out, that we won't earn enough, and kept on thinking about the future. The same thoughts that many of you are feeling right now. Let me tell you, it's okay to acknowledge this feeling. It's actually good to own up to these emotions, process them, and face them head-on instead of shrugging it off and pretend you're okay.

You possibly think that you're attracting negativity by having negative thoughts. If you can't shake off that bad feeling no matter how hard you try, even with repeated "God will take care of everything" mantra doesn't mean you don't have faith. Faith is a very good armory to wear because it calms us. Knowing that God is in control is the most blessed thing that can happen to any human being. But the reality is, all humans have fear. We're designed this way to keep us alive. Our human existence continues because we all have this instinct not to die.

So fear is not something to be afraid of. It's there for a reason and I've learned to process my fear in a good way. Instead of having the 'I'm-not-afraid-attitude', I learned to identify what really worries me and just confront it once and for all.

So when I was feeling down during the last week of March/early April, I knew I needed to shake it off.

 I started with my mantra, "I am safe. I am blessed. I deserve all the good things in the world" then began writing my fears.

What if the lockdown continues and our businesses won't operate for months. Where will we get our income?

What if someone gets sick in the family and requires hundreds of thousands if not million pesos to have treatment?

Is 2020 still a good year?

I need to renew my domain, where will I get the money?

So many injustices and bad things are happening, when will this end?

These are some of the things I wrote and I also kind of blamed myself for not saving more, for being lazy, for not being confident or savvy enough. "Have I made the biggest mistake of my life by quitting my job?" I let it all out! All the negative thoughts that I didn't even want to entertain, that I was trying to mask, that I didn't like to admit even to myself - I wrote it all down. 

After two days, it was not like I'm "healed" from my negative thoughts but I wrote this entry in my journal:

"Guard your thoughts, Lyn Joy!

You are on Facebook and Twitter too much. You know that the news affects you then why do you keep on scrolling and reading them? Are you bored? Lazy? Torturing yourself? (By the way, I deleted my FB and Twitter app on my main phone so I won't unconsciously check them every five minutes)
Nothing will come out of it. Why not do something more productive? Like, finish your course before Biel's birthday. Consider it as your gift to her.

You are amazing Lyn Joy"

While writing in my journal, an idea also came to me: it takes the same time and effort to earn 1 peso and 1 million pesos. The Universe doesn't recognize time and size. The only reason why there is a delay in getting the 1 million is because we think that 1 peso is easier to generate than the 1 million. It is us who is putting a barrier between ourselves and our big goals.

Another two days passed...

After my "therapeutic" journal entry, I received $100 from my Adsense account. It was for the ads that were running on my other blog. Wow! Just 4 days ago, I was thinking where to get the money to pay for my website, and now the money showed up. I'm always amazed how magical life really is.

Apart from receiving that hundred dollars, I started thinking, how can I earn? Because you know, if we want money then we should create money - as simple as that. I actually applied as an ESL teacher and got hired after going through some training and actual lessons. Yet, my heart was heavy all throughout the process. My instinct tells me that taking that job was against the freedom I'm enjoying right now. I'm not against doing tasks especially if it pays the bills and puts food on the table. You gotta do what you gotta do, no question about that. BUT what I'm not comfortable with, at this stage in my life, is doing things that don't feel right because I know I'm only acting out of fear and scarcity.

To cut the story short, I declined the ESL offer and instead stumbled upon a content writer role. It was a freelance gig and I'll be paid per words. Hmmmn, not an earth-shattering pay but at least I'm earning and I wasn't feeling bad compared to the ESL job. So for a month, I was writing for someone else and kind of enjoying it until the boss asked me to double the number of words I was producing a day. Instinctively, I know that was not I wanted but, heck, that means double the amount so I agreed. After two days of forcing myself to produce content, I knew I can't to do the task long-term. The quality of my writing was deteriorating and I'm not okay with that. After almost a month, I said goodbye but managed to earn around 14k for that project. Again, not earth-shattering but enough for groceries. It also turned out that lots of people wanted to make their own milk tea at home or start their own milk tea business so we almost doubled our sales during the quarantine period - credit goes to my husband for that. Instead of waiting it out, he took actions.

And this reminded me that MONEY IS EVERYWHERE. You should just be willing to receive it. When a door closes, find the frigging window!

God is giving us the opportunities (since we keep on praying for them) and it's up to us which one to take. The situation we are right now could potentially our chance to pivot. You might be feeling depressed due to lack of work or income but this moment might be your answered prayer. Maybe God is giving you the opportunity to finally take that leap of faith. Stress stems from worrying in advance. Yung tipong wala pa nga, anticipated mo na yung worst. The best thing to do when we're stressed is tap the logical part of our brain and recognize that we're actually stressing on something that is not happening yet or we don't have any control of. By recognizing the emotion, you're already half way of sorting out your issue.  

I'll end this post with a word of wisdom....
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Choz, wala akong wisdom haha! 

Seriously though, I'm always praying for you. Every night, during my meditation, I know that I'm able to amplify and transmit the abundant and positive energy I'm feeling at that moment (all of us have that ability) so I would exactly do that. You might not be aware but I am now transmitting the positive energy to you. 

As you read this, I hope you feel the abundance, love, and serenity that you needed right at this very moment. Can you feel it? Some tingling sensation, your heart beating faster, your emotions overflowing? Thank you for allowing the magic to happen. Thank you for being open and accepting. Continue welcoming all the graces. Say "thank you, thank you, thank you" as often as you want - while walking, while brushing your teeth, while cooking, while reading this - and know that you are very blessed, from the moment you were born and until now. I'm very excited for you. 

P.S.: If you want to talk, I'm here.