The Celebration

I am a HUGE fan of Gratitudes! You probably already know that, especially if you follow me on FB or Snapchat. While we are wrapping up presents and 2016, it's especially important to be grateful.

There are numerous benefits of having a daily gratitude practice. Here are three of my favorite:

It genuinely makes me smile :).
It provides positive perspective.
It cultivates resiliency and the ability to see positive in any situation.

Our gratitudes don’t have to be huge. They can be everyday things like, I’m grateful for the smell of fresh bread. I am grateful that I can blink. I am grateful that I can speak. I am grateful for Rihanna.

Do you have a gratitude practice? Here are mine:

Share with someone. Every day, Adaora and I share with each other three things we are grateful for. Plus we share one thing we are grateful for about each other.
Share on social. I post my gratitudes on social media and invite others to join me.
Write it down. Every morning, I write down at least 3 things I am grateful for. Yesterday, I wrote down 20 :).

Do any of these practices resonate with you? Pick one and start there!

If you need a gratitude partner, post your’s on my gratitude videos, email me, or send me a snap!

What are 3 things you are grateful for in 2016? Shared below are some of my favorite gratitudes of the day from this year. Enjoy!

For more info: www.tomearl.com

I love running in parks! Not only am I inspired by nature but also by the people around me. For instance, the other day I heard a soccer coach tell his team:

“Momentum is Power.”

He was teaching them about soccer but I immediately began to apply it to leadership. Before I could finish my thought, I heard him clarify:

“Accuracy is greater than power.”

By this point, I was thinking, “Wow! Middle school soccer coaches are the best!” Throughout the rest of my run, I kept turning these two points over in my mind. By the end, I had developed three takeaways.

This week's 'Year of Expression' breaks down how Momentum, Accuracy, and Power apply to our Leadership!

For more info: www.tomearl.com/blog

You are worthy of love without requisite! We don’t have to prove ourselves or win people over to be loved. We are worthy just as we are.

My journey to this truth started with Brene Brown and all her awesomeness. I began to understand that I believed I had to prove myself before I deserved love. Or that I had to accomplish _________ or succeed at _________ or get a car first or a high paying job or whatever other fill in the blank it was that week. I notice that when I’m feeling anxious or insecure, this belief is right there under the surface of it all.

The truth is, we are all worthy of love just as we are! Do you ever find yourself running through this same line of questioning? Have you ever felt you had to prove yourself first?

Here are 3 practices that have really helped me:

- Self-talk in-front of the mirror!
- I am statements.
- Daily Gratitudes.

For more information, please visit tomearl.com.

I've been telling myself a story and it goes like this: "Everything has to be hard. Growth must come through bumps and bruises. If it wasn’t difficult, I didn't try hard enough.” By making this my belief, I was demanding it be my destiny. Like most limiting beliefs, I had no idea it was even within me.

In this episode, I share my personal journey of working through this limiting belief.

This week's episode is a recording of the interview I did for Black Hollywood Live. My great friend Kalima Music Art Wisdom was an amazing host. In this interview I talk about my new release, my journey as an artist, and I perform 2 poems!

I am excited to bring you this episode of the Expression Session. This is a once a month special episode of my show/podcast - T.H.E. Celebration. My guest is my teammate, my brother - Dennis Amadeus. Dennis shares with us his writing journey, why youth development matters to him, and performs 3 AMAZING POEMS!

Dennis Amadeus will be the feature for the Live and Online Expression Session on November 20th - 12 PM PST - 2 PM PST.

This event is Live and Online, which means you can attend from anywhere in the world via internet or phone. It is a writing workshop for both beginners and experiences writers. It is engaging and interactive. Plus, it culminates with featured performance by an international acclaimed artist. This month our feature is Dennis Amadeus.

To register and for more info visit: tomearl.com/events

What is something that makes you feel inspired? When was the last time you felt connected? What is something that made you feel humbled and in awe?

This week I'll share with you my answers to those questions. It is a place I've been coming to since I was 5 years old.

This is one of my favorite places in the world to visit. It is a sky hill near my cabin in up north Wisconsin. Every time I am there I am able to relax and refresh. My energy becomes rebalanced and I remember what it feels like to be completely at peace.

It makes me wonder, how do I maintain this even when I'm in a busy city like Los Angeles? In this week's Year of Expression, I share with you some strategies and techniques on how to do that.

Kyla joined me for an episode of T.H.E. Celebration. During this interview she shares what it's like being a full time artist, being in facebook jail, and she performs two powerful poems.

Kyla will be the feature at the Live and Online on October 23rd at 12 PM PST - 2 PM PST. This is a monthly expression session I host where you can attend from anywhere in the world via internet or phone. It is a writing workshop, open mic, and featured performance.

For more information visit www.tomearl.com/events.

I'm in up north Wisconsin once again! This time I'm on the trail to a beautiful waterfall. I'm reflecting on, what are the cycles in life that we move through? How can we have patience and perseverance? And what else can we learn from nature and apply to our lives.