Lyoshi Esters, Author at AlrightNow

About Lyoshi Esters

Lyoshi Esters’ is a native of Virginia his heart pumps with passion as he promotes positive change. He motivates and educates people on how to overcome the challenges of this world. His life story has inspired many people to believe that their life is never over unless they believe it’s over. He is the Pastor of Fire for Christ Ministries, in Farmville, Virginia. He has also studied and became a professional life coach at Erickson Coaching International where he successfully completed certified coursework in the area of "The Art & Science of Coaching". Lyoshi Esters attends Southern New Hampshire University majoring in social psychology. He is a soon to be author with the release of his first book "Let There Be Light" How to think positive when darkness is all around you. Lyoshi’s mission is to motivate others to not limit themselves, so that they can step into their greatness to find their light and purpose in the world.

How to Cut Toxic People Out of Your Life

“Hold up your cup here is some positive tea that I want to pour out for you”. The world turns out to be more competitive than one can ever imagine. People will do anything to ensure that they emerge at the top. Some people will even go as far as sabotaging and threatening others in pursuit of self-improvement. These people are toxic, and they are never happy with one’s success despite their close relationship to the person. They may include family, friends, or mates; and they may express their dissatisfaction differently. The most important thing is how to identify them and manage them for the sake of your success and happiness. First, we have to recognize toxic people in our lives. We should avoid most of the people who have undesirable traits or are unpleasant. For example, a manipulative boyfriend or girlfriend who compromises with your plans so that you can attend his or hers. These kinds of people would use different means to make up for their desperation. Secondly, such people lack respect for boundaries. They would do anything that pleases them, even when it hurts you. True friendship is a two-way process. Friends that take from you and never give back when you are in need are toxic, and you should avoid them. Thirdly, toxic people pretend to know everything. They present as a friend who thinks they are right about everything. They never acknowledge their mistakes and would even lie to get out of trouble. These people like to be viewed as victims of any problem and provide excuses and blame others for their failures. Lastly, toxic people are lazy and lack a sense of responsibility. They are, therefore, unreliable. One should devise ways to handle such people. I truly believe it is best to tell your toxic friends and family the truth. First, you should approach them kindly and tell them that you do not need them in your life anymore. I would prefer you not to debate with that person on the subject and suggest that you keep the conversation simple. I also suggest that you do it in a public place where their chance of raging and exposing anger are minimal. Secondly, I propose that you cut contacts with them, which includes blocking them on social media and direct lines. This breaks any chances of them insulting or trying to reconnect with you. Thirdly, I propose that you do not in any instance argue with the toxic person after breaking up with him/her. Toxic people are more likely to be violent, and in case of an argument, you might fall into being a victim of toxicity. I prefer that you restate your boundaries and explain nothing less. Otherwise, you could push them away and ignore them whenever they call for negotiation. Lastly, you can write a letter to the person and express all your emotions and feelings about the relationship. The good thing about a note is that [...]

2020-10-05T17:16:41-07:00By Lyoshi Esters|

Seven Reasons Why You Should Never Give Up On Your Dreams

“Hold up your cup here is some positive tea that I want to pour out for you”. People have different capabilities of handling tough problems and the failures that may come along. Some would give up even before they get started. Others persist and achieve their dreams no matter how difficult the path proves to be. A philosopher once said that one’s ability to deal with obstacles, as well as their failures determine how successful they will be. This essay discusses the reasons that encourages not giving up on one’s own dreams. First, everyone struggles at some point in life. You are neither the only one nor are you the first one to be in tough situations. In the same way roses grow amidst thorns, and it calls for struggle to pluck them, no perfect outcome comes from no struggle. A wise man said that nothing comes on a silver plate. The life story of Oprah Winfrey provides a clear demonstration of how this successful woman emerged from rags of poverty, to be among the richest icon producers in the world. Other icons such as Dwayne Johnson and Lewis Howes have the same story of consistent struggles and later success. Secondly, there is more than one option in every situation. Success calls for proper evaluation of one’s past successes and failures to identify the best path to take towards the pursuit of their dreams. Thirdly, past failures should not determine one’s own future. In fact, setbacks improve creativity and thus, one should embrace them, learn from them and use them as a stepping stone to success. After noticing that his production was not selling well in the market, Dwayne Johnson learned from his failures and laid down his agents, and again emerged at the top of the market. Fourth, no struggles last forever and one should stay positive that the situation will get better sometimes. Some writer advises that staying focused on the prize and being persistent no matter the price attracts some fine reward. If one has true interest in gaining something or attaining a goal, they should never give up and finally they will achieve their objectives. Remember, a faint heart never wins a fair lady. Fifth, you were born and, therefore, there is no way you won’t face challenges on earth. Every human being exists to find a course in life; which presents a rough path at some point. The fact that you are alive gives you no chance to do nothing less than struggle. Scientists suppose that you were the luckiest among the four hundred trillion gametes to be conceived. Thus, you are a fighter and you can do anything you dream of with sufficient effort and determination. Whatever happens in one’s own life is directly proportional to the choices they have made as well as their ability to pursue their dreams and goals in life. The only excuse that you can give for failure or despair is death. Age, [...]

2018-04-29T07:14:08-07:00By Lyoshi Esters|

5 Things to Give Up On

How Bad Do You Want the Life You Want? “Hold up your cup here is some positive tea that I want to pour out for you”. In order for one to be successful in entrepreneurship, there are certain things that one must be ready to give up on. Entrepreneurial success does not come in a day, meaning that one must be able to lay down short-term and long-term goals. In that process, one needs to give up on things that may hamper progress as well as attainment of the set goals. More so, one needs to sustain personal discipline and commitment to goals and objectives. The list of things to give up on are individual-centered, hence everyone has a specific list. The following section looks into five items that one needs to give up on in order to realize success in entrepreneurship. One, giving up on procrastination is the first step. Most people tend to procrastinate, hence end up failing at meeting their goals and responsibilities in a timely manner. In entrepreneurship, one needs to meet the needs of customers and clients, which must be done in a timely manner. Failure to meet their needs in a timely manner may impact their loyalty, hence leading to low returns. On the other hand, procrastination makes an individual waste precious time. After planning for certain responsibilities, they must be executed as planned in order to avoid time wastage. Two, a person needs to give up on leading an unhealthy lifestyle. It has been established that such a lifestyle impacts one’s performance, hence may positively or negatively impact it. For instance, for someone who does routine physical activities, he is able to refresh energy and will perform better than one who does not. In this light, one needs to give up on an unhealthy lifestyle that gradually impacts performance and productivity. Third, it is highly important for one to give up on the ‘magic bullet’ mindset, which makes an individual believe that at a particular time things will work out. Normally, an entrepreneur makes decisions regarding how to attain financial goals over a period of time. Making short-term as well as long-term goals is where the key lies without waiting for a day when everything will magically work out. One needs to have a mindset of cause and effect where planning and decision-making will lead to favorable outcomes as desired. Fourth, it is important for one to stop spending unnecessarily. Mainly, every successful entrepreneur invested and made savings before climbing up the ladder to become a known entrepreneur. Actually, investing and saving have been recommended as the most effective ways of attaining financial stability. One needs to spend when it is necessary and should not buy items that are not needed. Impulse-buying and wastefulness have been the leading causes of financial instability for majority of working individuals. Further, in spending, it is imperative for one to prioritize so as to do it optimally. Finally, it is important for [...]

2018-04-06T03:00:48-07:00By Lyoshi Esters|

It’s Your Winning Season

Have you ever wanted something so badly that you fought to the bone to get it? “Hold up your cup. Here is some positive tea that I want to pour out for you”. “There is no easy way to victory. The highest values in life must be fought for and won.” –Duncan Campbell Everything achieved throughout mankind has been from those who were driven enough to get it. One of the greatest boxing matches in history was the “Mike Tyson vs. Buster Douglas” historical match, in which, then undefeated heavyweight champion Mike Tyson, lost to a knockout by the underdog Buster Douglas. In the time leading up to the historical fight, Douglas faced a number of setbacks including the death of his mother days before the fight, and also health issues due to the flu the day before the “BIG” fight. In the 8th round,Tyson landed a thundering right uppercut that sent Douglas to the floor. No one thought he would get up, but after 9 seconds just before the bell ending the round, he got back up on his feet. Then in the 10th round, Buster Douglas accomplished something that no one had ever done. Buster Douglas knocked out Mike Tyson. The TRUTH is that a winner knows when to quit and when to stick it out. A winner never quits on a worthy goal. If you want to be a winner at whatever it is that you do, you need to start doing what winners do. Speak positivity to your mind and spirit. Say to yourself right now, “I AM A WINNER, THIS IS MY SEASON, I CAN’T LOSE.” Positive thinking is essential because it is BETTER THAN toxic thinking. With toxic thinking, you don’t even stand a chance to win. At least with positive thinking, you establish belief that your promise land awaits you. Don’t let yourself remain a victim of toxic thinking. Embrace your “winning season” now. Change your circle, be around winners. When you surround yourself with people who loves winning it awakens your desire to improve and push yourself even closer to your limits. Toxic people are in love with losing. They create drama deliberately in order to attract more attention and engage in manipulation. Toxic people’s behavior sucks away all of your desires, dreams, and ambitions. Their mentality will offset you, giving you no chance to win. Instead, go out and find some people who you can learn from, then the opportunities to win will be endless. Finally, don’t publicize your failure, but analyze them. What dream have you given up on based on last year’s failures? No matter who you are or what you do for a living, believe in your heart something good is about to happen. If no one else has told you today, you are an overcomer. That means you are a winner, not a loser. You are not your mistakes. That may have been your past, but today is a New Day! Utilize [...]

2018-03-20T01:09:20-07:00By Lyoshi Esters|

Say Goodbye to Your Past

“Hold up your cup here is some positive tea that I want to pour out for you”. Learning to let go of something in your past can be one of the hardest things in life. Yes, letting go is very difficult. I once thought it meant a sign of weakness if I didn’t hold on. We often feel that if we let go of something or someone, we are giving up. Actually, the best thing for us is to be set free. To let go of that old jacket that you know you will never wear again, to let go of that old car that’s no longer drivable, to let go of that person that we once loved, and might still love, but deep down know they aren’t right for us. Yes, it’s easier said than done. As humans we’re used to holding on, it makes us feel strong, it’s comfortable, and it’s what we know. However, if we’re stuck on the past, how can we open our hearts and minds to new things? In the process of letting go, you will lose many things from the past, but you will find new things in your future. We hold the key to our future and it can be designed to our own liking. But often what we do is we let our past determine the design of our future. And as a result, it looks quite similar to our past. The desperate attempt to hold on to the things that were familiar to us limits our capability to experience happiness and joy in the next chapter of life. If we are going to open the door to our future, we have to throw away our key to the past. We have to let go of all the pain, all the agony, and all the grief that’s in our heads. Forgive the People Who Hurt You It's one of the greatest gifts you can give yourself, to forgive. Forgive everybody ~Maya Angelou When you’ve been hurt by someone, it’s not always easy to let it go. But holding on to a grudge will only make you feel worse. If you hang on to bitterness, disappointment, and ill will towards those who have harmed you, you are willingly handing your future to them. Zig Ziglar once said “just because somebody screwed up your past, it doesn’t mean you should give them permission to screw up your future.” Forgiveness is about braking free from the chains that bind you. Forgiveness is about moving on. Forgiveness is about refusing to replay the same event in your mind over and over again, like a broken robot. Forgiveness is about giving yourself a clean slate. Forgiveness is our choice and often our pathway to freedom and a brighter future. Gratitude Toward the Present See what’s right here, Right Now! What do you see? Can you be grateful for something in front of you right now? There are always things to be [...]

2018-06-10T23:42:12-07:00By Lyoshi Esters|

Take “Never” Out Of Your Vocabulary

“Hold up your cup here is some positive tea that I want to pour out for you”. "I give up! I'm not going to bother anymore!" You've said things like that at some point, I'm sure. So have I. When you just can't seem to get something right, it seems a waste of time to try any more. We all have our ways of limiting what we think we can do and what we believe we can accomplish. When we limit our thinking we limit our growth and then we totally miss out on opportunities because we think we can NEVER do it. Never is such a discouraging word. Why do we say we’ll never do something? “I’ll NEVER lose weight.” “I’ll NEVER get a better job.” “I’ll NEVER graduate from college.” “I’ll NEVER be able to afford college/a house/to have kids.” “I’ll NEVER pay off this debt.” “I’ll NEVER be able to retire.” NEVER is a very narrow way of looking at things. That leads me to tell you, “NEVER SAY NEVER.” I know, I know. It’s a Justin Bieber album, but it’s actually a true statement. Thinking of the word “NEVER” with one of your dreams really isn’t going to help. It’s going to frustrate you and drag you down. If I thought to myself, “Ugh, I’m never going to be an article writer,” would I be here? Most definitely not. Achieving a goal is a wildly exhilarating thing. If you’re flirting with the idea of giving up, you could be throwing away something wonderful―your best future. “Character consists of what you do on the third and fourth tries.” ―James A. Michener There’s going to be anxiety about uncertainty and fear about failing, but push yourself to keep going. After all, you’ll never know how close you are to succeeding if you quit now. Resilient people are known for their grit and determination, an outlook that acknowledges that challenges lie ahead, but rather than fearing them, welcomes them and the growth that will surely accompany them. They are inclined to think ahead, display characteristics of optimism and positivity, and a refusal to capitulate to external pressures. “You just can’t beat the person who won’t give up.” ―Babe Ruth Resilience is all about positivity. We must try to actively bring positivity into our lives as it becomes a resource, a well from which we can draw strength in times of need. We must absorb all we can from the good things in our lives. All your life you wanted other people to believe in you and yet you do not belief in yourself. Now, hopefully you realize that you project into others what you feel inside. Therefore, if you want others to belief in you, first you have to belief in yourself. It doesn’t even have to be about your career. It can be with anything—friends, love, family, money, etc. Just always have hope, think positive and avoid being a Debbie Downer. Oh yeah, and NEVER SAY [...]

2018-06-10T23:40:12-07:00By Lyoshi Esters|

Knock Down Your Obstacles

“Hold up your cup here is some positive tea that I want to pour out for you”. If achieving goals were easy, everyone would do it quickly and without difficulty. Even if your vision is clear and you can articulate a detailed destiny, there are always obstacles in the path. An obstacle is an object, thing, action or situation that causes an obstruction. We stumble not because the goal is out of reach, but rather because of unexpected obstacles. When these obstacles arise they make the goal seem kind of improbable. The reason obstacles prevent us from moving forward toward the attainment of our goals is because of the thoughts that we allow ourselves to dwell upon. Thoughts like: I don’t have a degree. That’s the reason why I am not succeeding. I have 3 kids. I barely have time to do my business, so that’s the reason why there is no result. My parents did not teach me anything, so that’s the reason why I am not successful. My family does not believe in me, so that’s why I don’t create success. I work overtime including weekend. I barely have time for creating success. Realize, your obstacles or giants want you to surrender before you even try. They want you to keep making excuses that hinder your future progress. They want you to embrace your negative thoughts. They want you to disqualify yourself. Your giants want you to focus on your past, squander your present, and forfeit your future. One of my favorite stories of victory over a perceived insurmountable obstacle was David versus Goliath. Goliath was the obstacle that was standing in the way of Israel’s victory. He did not issue his challenge one time and then leave. For forty days, every morning and every evening he challenged the men of Israel. He intimidated them with such fear that they would run and hide when they heard his challenge. One day, a kid name David accepted the challenge. Instead of running in the opposite direction from his obstacle, he ran towards him. He did not just talk a good game about how he was going to defeat Goliath. His faith and determination showed through his actions. Everyone thought that David did not stand a chance against the giant, but they failed to realize that David was ready to knock down his Goliath. My question for you: Are you ready to knock down your Goliath? It is time to shut your mouth and put your faith in action. It is time to stop talking about what you dream of doing and develop a plan and execute it. Do not let storms or anyone tell you that you cannot do something in your life that you want to accomplish. This is what dreams are made of. Although it may be a cliché, it really is true that you can achieve whatever you want in life if you put your mind to it. Attitude is everything, and [...]

2018-06-10T23:39:21-07:00By Lyoshi Esters|

Are You a Risk Taker

“Hold up your cup. Here is some positive tea that I want to pour out for you”. What is a Risk? You can say it’s a dark tunnel before you reach the end of it. It’s a storm before you can see a rainbow. In other words, it’s a path of uncertainties and insecurities before something great happens. Too many people “play it safe.” This is the playground of mediocrity. It’s where average people live. They color inside the lines and always play by the rules. They fear the unknown and rarely, if ever, venture outside the boundaries. People who “play it safe” are predictable. Their life is run by rules and routine. Their actions are often dictated by the opinions of others. This is the crowd that fights to keep things the same. Risk-takers, live in the realm of possibility and greatness. They are not afraid to live beyond the boundaries and to color outside the lines. To them, there is no such thing as failure; only experiments that didn’t work! Risk-takers are marked by a sense of adventure and passion. They care little for the accolades of the crowd. They are more focused on squeezing everything they can out of every moment. They are not afraid to “boldly go where no one has gone before.” For instance, several years ago I was asked by a friend of mine to go hiking in Southern California. He asked about twenty people to go with him. Everyone eventually backed out except me. That trip became one of the defining moments of my life. Why did I do it, but so many others backed out? Because I am a risk taker. Becoming a risk taker seems to have a negative connotation to it. The word brings up images of danger, hazards or even loss. But no matter how dangerous the idea of risk taking is, there is an even greater danger of not taking risks. Risks are a key ingredient to living life to the fullest. Think about it. Try naming one historical figure that made a difference by playing it safe and being average. We are inspired by people who go beyond the norm and push the boundaries of possibility. Mediocrity, on the other hand, does not inspire. For example, Bill Gates has consistently made big moves to get what he wants. It is this bold, 'buy it or bury it,' risk-taking personality that has made Gates the success he is. Henry Ford would have never invented the automobile if he had paid attention to his critics. David would have never defeated Goliath if he had allowed his own family to discourage him. The list goes on and on. If you are not willing to risk the unusual, you will have to settle for the ordinary. – Jim Rohn Fortunately, the skills of becoming a successful risk taker can be learned. The first thing you need to do is make sure you’re looking at risk [...]

2018-06-10T23:38:27-07:00By Lyoshi Esters|

Don’t Let the Monster In

“Hold up your cup here is some positive tea that I want to pour out for you”. It is so easy to start thinking about all the things that are bad in the world from our economy to deranged killers in our world. How can we not have negative thoughts or feelings most of the time? This world is scary, crazy and it is hard not to think about all that could go wrong or bad. In life, there may be times when negativity seems to surround you, suffocating your dreams and destroying your hope. When that happens, many go through their day being saturated with negativity and accepting it as a way of life. Recently I was around someone and every word out of his mouth was something negative. It drove me nearly insane and I realized at that moment, that it does make a huge difference on how you look at life, and how you express yourself to others. This person could not say anything encouraging, positive or at all inspirational. What purpose does being negative have? NONE! Negative thoughts are sneaky little monsters, creeping into our minds, consistently trying to scare us away from the positive. Unfortunately, once we open the door to one negative thought, a bunch of others seem to sneak in. So how can you stop the negativity from taking over? Here are some things I try to remember and exhibit when I'm inclined or tempted to embrace negative thoughts: Have an attitude of expectancy. You will get what you expect. Complaining, blaming and criticizing aren’t going to change the situation. Regardless of the situation you face, your attitude is your choice. Remember, you can’t have a positive life with a negative attitude. Expect something great to happen for you every day and it will. Say aloud each time you’re tempted to embrace negativity, “Negativity you will not have me, I expect something great to happen for me today!” Spend more time with optimistic people. You are the average of the people you spend the most time with. In other words, who you spend your time with has a great impact on the person you eventually become. If you are around negative people all the time, you will become negative instantly. Start spending time with nice people who are smart, driven and likeminded. Relationships should help you, not hurt you. Surround yourself with people who reflect the person you want to be. When you’re surrounded by wonderful optimistic people, you’re surrounded by life. You will find happiness, and you’ll find more peace in daily things. Focus on results. Once you’ve identified the problem, turn your thinking around. Don’t start thinking, I don’t want this. Instead, think, “This is where I’m at, but where do I want to be?” Start asking yourself questions like, “What do I want?” “What’s the solution?” “What could I do right now that would help me change my circumstances?” Don’t dwell too much on what went wrong. Instead, focus [...]

2018-06-10T23:37:12-07:00By Lyoshi Esters|

Fill Your Cup Up With Positivity

How can you make your New Year resolutions stepping stones to a positively blazing and joyous year ahead? To start off, you can resolve to approach them positively. Negativity is painful. It drains your ability to get things done and makes you doubt everything, even yourself. Negativity affects a person’s wellbeing drastically. So, this year watch out and guard your own thought process. Think twice before you act. For instance, if you make a mistake, instead of castigating yourself, you should accept it and learn from it! Don’t let that one rotten banana ruin your year! Always remember that you are amazing in everything you do and it is okay to not be perfect in everything you do. When you frequently tell yourself or others that there’s no point in trying, that the world is out to get you and others are against you, in your mind, shout “STOP!” or “NOPE, we are not going down that path again!” as soon as thoughts of this kind starts to spin in your head. After you have disrupted the thoughts by shouting stop sit down and just be still. Breathe with your belly and focus on just inhaling and exhaling for a minute or two to calm your mind and body down. Being cool and calm – meditating – listening to music or just ask yourself questions: Am I doing the right thing? Am I being positive? Can help you regain the courage to start over by replacing the negative with the positive. After that, continue the positive prelaunch by doing something you enjoy, hang out with your friends, families, or if you’re like me go exercise and block the negativity from reentering your mind. It is important that you understand and appreciate that your happiness lies within. Consider this – no one can make you unhappy if you have decided for sure that you will be happy in every situation. If you have made up your mind to be happy, you can always seek out the positive aspects of a situation and remain happy. Let’s be honest, this year may be challenging but solutions will come faster if you face them with a smile on your face. Begin looking at life half-full, rather than half-empty. Begin looking for solutions to problems, rather than complaining about what is wrong. If it’s broke, go ahead and try to fix it. Instead of fretting over a set of new “New Year’s Resolutions”, a better alternative would be to declare a statement of “New Year Affirmations”. Instead of saying, “this year, I will try to be…” boldly declare to yourself the statement “this year, I am…” this is a better way to attack your goals. I want you to ask yourself this… “If this was the best year of my life, what would have to take place?” Think about this, and write it down. If you really want to achieve it, you can. There is no greater guarantee of a [...]

2018-01-08T19:10:56-08:00By Lyoshi Esters|

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About Lyoshi Esters

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