(New Video Post) What I forgot About #SelfLove

Hey guys, Happy Self Love Saturday!!

Today’s video is a reminder about the maintenance of #SelfLove. I often meet people who think starting a “self love journey” means now life is perfect and your confidence is perfect and everything should just come together in a nice little bow. But in my experience that’s definitely not the case! The point of Self Love is awareness, acceptance and improvement. Maintaining that cycle is all that matters and understanding that in order to keep your self esteem up, and your self confidence then you have to constantly be doing the little work. This video is a reminder of some of the steps that I forgot to maintain my own self love.

(New Video Post) What Do You Need to Succeed? #SelfLoveSaturday

Happy Self Love Saturday,

This post is going up late because I was speaking on a panel for The Toronto Black Film Festival on “How to Make A Web Series” It was a great panel with a packed room and it gave me a good boost. Literally last night I was feeling a little doubtful and confused and today I was reminded that I’ve done a lot of work and still have more to go. I’m grateful.

Anyway today’s video goes with my thoughts for today and I ask a simple question? What Do You Need To Succeed? Once you think about it, then ask yourself if any of this stuff currently in your life? The environment? The people? Whatever it is, whatever you need, start today.

(New Video Post) Stop Sabotaging & Find Your Purpose #SelfLoveSaturday – Last Post of 2016

The video above and message below is for anyone who has spent this year and all the other years sabotaging themselves out of their purpose. Stop doing it, find your peace, believe in yourself, let go of your bad habits and step into your light.

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2016 was a weird year for me, I’ve said this a bunch of times on this blog, but once again, it was really weird! Kinda felt like Mercury was in retrograde the whole year lol. So I’m going into 2017 positive, ready and realistic. I’m not setting goals for the whole year like I usually do, or making any grandiose promises of how “2017 is going to be MY year and last year was just a warm up” blah blah. Instead I’m just setting up my goals month to month which is what I usually do, and it helps me to stay on task.

I learned a lot of important lessons this year about myself, one being that I have a lot of ideas, but in order for me to accomplish them I have to plan them out in the most realistic way possible. Write them down, give them a deadline and I will complete it. That was a positive discovery.

The 2nd being that I have a pattern of doing self sabotaging behavior, both consciously and unconsciously and this is something that I have to actively work on and unlearn. I sabotaged myself all year in ways that I have already done in the past (gaining weight, cutting off my hair, falling into a depression and relying on other people to fix it) so realizing that I was on a loop was equally shocking and annoying for me. This was also a positive discovery because once you realize where the problems are in your life, the only thing left to do is fix it.

I am very confident in the fix and in the conscious changes that I’ll be making to my life for 2017 and on ward. I’m not ashamed to say I’m not perfect and some of my issues and mistakes are solely brought on my own choices, but life is about growth and becoming your best self for the time and place. I’m going to continue to figure it out, in the best way that I can and I am going to unlearn as much as I can. There’s a quote that I read this week that basically said, Hell is meeting the person you could’ve became. I would hate to get to the end of my days and I realize I held myself back from being all that I could be.

2016 was the year of shining a spotlight on my dark spots which now in hindsight I’m realizing it was exactly what I needed because in 2015 I felt like my self love journey was in a rut and was lacking inspiration, but God said “hold up little girl! You still have work to do!” LOL.

So here’s to hoping that in 2017 I surprise myself!

Thank you all for your continued support, have an amazing New Year’s Eve and a fantastic first day of 2017!




(New Written Post) 2016, Discomfort, Patience & Faith

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I broke my camera. I honestly feel lost not being able to use it everyday, edit and post a video. I hate missing a #SelfLoveSaturday so today I’ll be writing instead.

I’m in between apartments right now so my life feels a little more chaotic than usual, and even though I think I’m doing a pretty good job of riding the wave I can’t wait for just a bit of calm and to be settled. I think Mercury is in retrograde though so the uneasy feeling I have doesn’t surprise me. I have a mix of emotions going on that I need to settle but i’m not exactly sure how, which is why this post is going to seem like a big vent session. For the Leos:

Mercury enters Capricorn, one of the hardest working signs in the zodiac, on December 2. Mercury in earthy Capricorn will stimulate the sector of your chart that rules your day job and your responsibilities, as well as your health and habits. Expect to do a lot of talking about these issues this month! But don’t expect everything to move full speed ahead: Mercury retrograde begins on December 19.

I have a friend that I love dearly but there’s a few things that are annoying and concerning me that have come up in the last little while and truthfully my guard is up. I have a love/hate relationship with my own guard because 1. I hate the uneasy feeling & 2. It takes a while for it to go back down.

I know that my intuition is sharp and I don’t gain these feelings for no reason, but I haven’t figured out yet how to deal with the emotions & energy in a positive way. In a way that helps me to understand myself, my boundaries and my friends. In the last 5 years of my life I’ve had a few changed friendships because of this feeling but I’ve yet to come to terms with it. I still blame myself for the discomfort and loss of friendship, I question if I’m just a bitch or too sensitive. And I get frustrated that I haven’t learned how to channel and express these emotions in a clear and positive way.

I want to, I need to.

I’m ready for 2016 to be done with, it was a rocky year for me. I made a lot of upward progress in 2015 and then ’16 came and said “lets walk through this Quick Sand instead.” I fell into a depression again, I gained, lost and gained weight. I’ve struggled all year with what I’m supposed to be eating, if i’m not on a detox, then I regularly wake up with an upset stomach. Literally as I type this right now i’m in discomfort. I lost my relationship with my boyfriend (though I’m in a better place with it now) and I had a good chunk of the year where I had no clue what I was/should/need/want to do. And i’ll be honest I’m only holding on by a thread to the few confirmations that I’ve had in this later portion of the year. And that’s probably the most interesting part of it all — normally in my business as soon as Thanksgiving approaches things slow down a lot, but right now for me, its actually picked up. I’ve been filming for my production company like crazy, and its great! Its rewarding and exciting! I’m doing my best to have a different new year, a different outlook and experience and I actually think the work is going to pay off.

Like I said 2016 was not my favorite year of life but through it all I’m still optimistic for next year. I think a lot of good is going to happen so i’m anxious and ready for it to start. I’m going to try to figure out how to deal with my discomforts in a positive way that serves myself and those around me. And i’m going to continue to apply patience and faith to myself, and my years. Patience while in a struggle and faith that in the end it will all be okay.




(New Video Post) 21 Day Detox Complete! [Vlog] #SelfLoveSaturday

Happy Self Love Saturday!!!

I did it! Woop! Woop! Completed the 21 Day Detox and look and feel great! Like seriously, so much more energy, focus and positivity was brought into my life over the last 21 days. My next challenge is a 5 day raw challenge, I’ll only be eating raw vegetables and fruits and nuts, seeds, juices and smoothies. Writing it out, it sounds pretty extreme lol but it’s only for 5 days and I really want to cleanse my system in every way possible so I’m excited for the challenge. For those of you who are doing the 21 day challenge with me, keep going! And if you’re thinking about starting it, I strongly encourage you to! You can find all the rules HERE

To follow my 21 day Detox Vlogs, click the links below

Day 1

Day 2

Day 3

Day 4

Day 5

Day 6

Day 7 &8

Day 9 & 10

Day 11

Day 12

Day 13

Day 14

Day 15 & 16

Day 17 & 18

Day 19

Day 20 & 21

 

#21DayDetox [Vlog] #SelfLoveSaturday

Happy Self love Saturday!

It’s official, we’re cleansing! I have a lot of toxins to get rid of from my body, mind and spirit and I’m starting with a 21 Day Detox! I did this detox earlier in the year and I prefer to call it a “reset” because that’s what it was for me, removing certain foods from my diet not only resulted in over all weight loss, but I had more energy, felt better about myself and my mind set was in a better place — THAT is where I want to be now.

I’m in a new phase of my self love journey and I think it’s important to start with a blank slate and for me that always begins with taking care of my body. To hold my self accountable I’m going to be doing 21 days of daily uploads following my meal plans and day to day changes along the way of this cleanse and I highly encourage you to join me. You can use the hashtag #21Day on social media and tag me Twitter @MissAndreaLewis or IG @AndreaLewis. Check out the guide below and let me know in the comments if you’re down for the change! screen-shot-2016-10-29-at-2-40-23-am

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(New Post) Art & Positive Affirmations #words #prettypics

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Yesterday myself and one of my dearest friends, Rosco Spears had a day of art, palm readings and Shake Shack aka rejuvenating our spirits.

I’m working on listening to my intuition, enjoying my present moments, finding inspiration in everything I lay my eyes on and accepting where my journey has taken me and ENJOYING it! The good, the bad, the ugly, I just want to laugh, learn and love! Today was one of those days where I knew I was in the right place, at the right time, doing what I needed to be doing. Spending time with one of my closest friends, talking about our lives, our lessons learned, looking at beautiful and thoughtful art and eating a cheese burger.

It was a good day.

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(New Post) 10 Habits of People Who Follow their Dreams

I’ve always been dreamer.

For as long as I can remember I’ve had a very strong point of view and always felt that life is all about pursuing your dreams and doing what you love! So naturally when I saw this post on BroccoliCity.com I had to repost it here because reading it confirmed all of my beliefs and inspired me to keep going at the same time, and I think it will do the same for you guys! Enjoy, and keep going after your dreams, you have them for a reason! Happy hump day! 

1. They see challenges as opportunities

Most people interpret fears as obstacles and tend to run away from them. People who live their purpose successfully have developed the capacity to see fear as a sign of what they really need to go for and put all their courage and energy into it.

2. They see life as a game

Having this vision of life opens up space for playfulness and creativity instead of limitation. This also cultivates qualities of resilience, problem solving and confidence that helps them take risks to get to the next big place.

3. Living the life they want is the only option

They’re so committed to making their dreams a reality that they banish any possibility of a backup plan whatsoever from their mind. They don’t think things like, “If it doesn’t work, I’ll just go get a job.”

4. They always speak their truth

They’re able to speak it because they make a conscious effort to connect to their truest desires, their inner voice, and their spirituality without fear of judgment. This connection is typically fostered through meditation, journaling, being mentored and being surrounded by like minded-people.

5. They aren’t just dreamers: they act on their desires

Instead of getting stuck in their dreams, they snap right into action, no matter what it takes. Whether it’s quitting a job, getting out of a relationship that holds them back, investing in themselves or moving to a new location, they have the courage to do it. They do this by listening to, and then acting on, their intuition.

6. They expect and know that they deserve the best

They expect that what they want is going to happen as if it were an inner-knowing. They expect and feel they deserve to earn well, do what they love, serve others using their gifts. The secret is that they still expect the best even when they don’t have all the answers as to how it’s going to happen.

7. They have no fear or guilt when asking for what they want

Because they’re so connected to their passions, they aren’t afraid to ask for what they want. In fact, they understand that their success depends on others, so asking for what they want is part of the deal. They set their boundaries and express their needs without fear, guilt or shame. Best of all, this is a trait that earns them respect from others.

8. They create their own rules

They create their own rules instead of fitting into society’s norms. They make decisions from a place of what they want to have instead of what they think they can have. This gives them the freedom to design their destiny.

9. They’ve learned to be comfortable being uncomfortable

They don’t get stuck in having all the answers, making things perfect or trying to gain comfort by controlling everything. Instead, they’re aware that they’re not going to see the next step until they make the decision to move forward despite the discomfort.

10. They have teachers, mentors and role models

Having teachers increases their awareness. They clearly understand that each time they’re getting ready to pursue their dreams all their limitations are going to come up to the surface so that they can let go of them. Having role models and mentors helps them quickly identify where they’re stuck so that they can immediately change their results.

And just incase you need a little more convincing, here’s a video I did a few weeks ago on #SelfLoveSaturday“Let Your Dreams Be Your Motivation”

(New Video Post) “Let Your Dreams Be Your Motivation” #SelfLove

Happy Self Love Saturday!

Recently I’ve done a few interviews for different blogs and online magazines and I keep being asked the question, “What motivates you?” I think this is a great question and the first time I got it  I was a bit stumped because honestly I hadn’t ever stopped to think about What keeps me going. I realized as I was answering the question that what motivates me is simply my dreams. I have BIG Dreams, like seriously HUGE and they keep me up at night and sometimes distracted in the day from day dreaming and I honestly feel like until these dreams become my reality I have to stay motivated and keep going.

It’s being on My Self Love Journey that has helped me to feel confident in my dreams and to have  a sense of peace and not worry when I think of them because I know I can have and achieve all of them, and in the words of Lupita, “my dreams are valid”.  My dreams are apart of me, I have them for a reason. My dreams are my heart and soul and keeping them in my heart and on my walls, computer screens, phone screens in apart of my day to day conversations is what helps to keep my motivated and truly excited for life! This video below is to encourage all of you to use your dreams as motivation! Keep going, don’t stop until your dreams are real!

Happy Self Love Saturday! 

(New Post) Don’t Wait To Be…

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“Don’t wait to be cast, you cast the cast” 

Today a friend sent me that message with a picture of Chaka Khan, I may have mentioned this before but playing Chaka Khan in a bio-pic is my dream role.

That message is really what I needed to read today because of late I’ve been feeling a little overwhelmed and down. I have so many ideas and things that I want to make happen for my career and life but at times it can feel like I’m moving at a snails pace and it’s very frustrating. I try my best to not complain and over think and worry about all of the things that I need but instead I try my best to focus on what I can do to keep moving forward. I’m a big believer in the idea that if you want something done you’re going to have to do it yourself. Even if you need a team you’re the only one to put that team together and you’ll probably have to work harder than everyone on that team because it’s your dream and no one else is as passionate about it as you are.

I wish that a lot of my goals could just magically get accomplished and that the work involved would come very easy and I wouldn’t have to worry because a large pile of money, a great distribution team and even better PR team would come with it waiting for me. But unfortunately that’s just not the case and the word “work” and “easy” don’t go together because a dream isn’t supposed to be easy, the journey wouldn’t be as fun if it was.

My 2014 motto is “Find A Way” and the message from my friend reminded me of why I constantly need to find a way and not be overwhelmed, discouraged or worry about the “speed” of my life because I am making it happen and that’s all that matters. So for my friends who may have been feeling how I’ve been feeling lately, don’t worry, don’t wait and do the work. It’s not about how long it takes as long as you keep going and make it happen in the time that it’s supposed to happen.