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

December 31, 2016 by

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!




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(New Video Post) Stepping into Your Light

December 30, 2016 by

I created my youtube channel trailer this week and in doing it, I realized I’ve done a lot. Not to toot my own horn but I’ve been pursuing this thing for awhile and in creating my channel trailer it kind of felt more like I was creating a demo reel on my life’s work lol. It was an interesting experience on deciding what to put in, and how I wanted it to come across and just who and what is “Andrea Lewis Channel”. In the end I was proud looking back at it, thinking about where I started my career and then why I started this youtube channel and if my initial goals met my current ones.

My mission and my goals for my career are still the same as they’ve always been since I was a little girl but in reflecting on my career and my life as an artist I had a sad realization that I’d yet to truly step into my light. I looked back on my work and realized that I had a lot of moments that I could’ve done more. And this is not one of those “we’re our own worst critic” moments, this is real honesty, that I am actually capable of being, doing, acting, giving, living, having, believing, dreaming and did I say BEING more!

When I look back, there is always a moment that I can reflect on where I wasn’t giving my all, I wasn’t truly giving myself a fair shot at winning. The slightest and simplest self sabotage in the most irresponsible of ways. Not always consciously but most of the time just simply being lazy. As I’m writing this, I’m actually having an “ah-ha” moment of just trying to think why? The word safe immediately comes to mind. Maybe I found safety and comfort in holding myself back just enough? Like as if I’ve been willing to take just a little bit of risk, just a small leap of faith lol. But the full thing? The real pressure on myself to go 150% though? To be in the best shape of life? To work on my craft and my skills so feverishly that I could never doubt them? To think about my looks strategically and to be vain for just a moment so that it would benefit me? To finally find my light and actually stand in it? I haven’t done that, I know that I’ve just been comfortable and doing just enough.

One of my best friends, boyfriend always accuses her of only going 30% “She hasn’t tapped into her real potential yet, she’s not really trying yet.” Whenever he says it, I feel like he’s talking to me and not my friend. But birds of a feather stick together right? And he’s right my friend is only operating on her lowest setting, but her and I had a real conversation one night about her fears about herself. Her reasoning for holding back was simply her own doubt that she could handle the pressure. Afraid she’ll disappoint and not measure up to the requirements. But you’ll never know if you don’t try right?   

I’ve been fortunate to witness a lot of my friends and peers, take the challenge of stepping into and owning their light. Stepping up to the pressure and making the changes necessary to be and do what they wanted. They all found a way to own it, even if that meant they had to fight harder than they’ve ever fought before, but in the end that fight took their lives and careers to another level. And though I’ve gotten far and I’m grateful for all that I’ve learned and experienced, I’m now at a stage where my “cutting corners” and playing it safe is beginning to catch up with me and make me very frustrated and restless.

I’m sharing my honest thoughts and progress with you guys because I know that I’m not perfect, but I’m striving to be the best version of myself that I can be and that requires me to be open. I say all of this to say, if you’re anything like me, ask yourself honestly if you’ve found your light? And if you haven’t what do you need to do find it and own it?

You’ll never know if you don’t try

-Sincerely my nagging conscience.




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(New Blog Post) The Analysis of ‘Choice’ #SelfLoveSatuday

December 24, 2016 by

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Happy Self Love Saturday. Today I’m talking about choices.

Lately I’ve been analyzing my choices and why I do what I do, where it stems from? What these choices say about who I am, and what I want in my life and as well what my choices are highlighting about my mistakes?

Why does “drama” and stress come into my life,  And did I make a choice to invite it in? Because I really do believe that even in the negative or not so good things that happen in our lives we still had a choice in how we dealt with it and sometimes we had a choice in letting it in all together.

How many of us say, I don’t like “drama” but still have friends, people or situations regularly in our lives that invites drama or we may in directly find ourself involved?

I’m naturally very maternal and I find that along with this trait comes my need to help solve and fix the problems of others, especially if I feel like I have a lot of knowledge or understanding of the scenario. I’m also an empath,

Being an empath is when you are affected by other people’s energies, and have an innate ability to intuitively feel and perceive others. Your life is unconsciously influenced by others’ desires, wishes, thoughts, and moods. Being an empath is much more than being highly sensitive and it’s not just limited to emotions

I will easily scroll through my twitter or Facebook feed and read 2 or 3 stories, watch a couple videos and be in tears for a multitude of reasons. And my intuition is literally like a wifi signal for my friends moods and problems. I’m only realizing now that I’m like this, and in order to not feel overwhelmed with the problems of others I have to protect my energy and time because I will easily give myself to people and situations that can  drain me. I’m still learning this lesson and adjusting it regularly though.

I recently experienced a situation where my time and effort were taken for granted and the best way for me to explain the way I felt was, played. I was definitely disappointed, but my intuition kept saying to me in this moment “you played yourself”. Somewhere in this situation, I let my maternal instinct get the best of me and I made the choice to give my energy and my time. I made the choice to be forthright and involved in a way that I should’ve known would naturally put me in a place of vulnerability because I would end up expecting reciprocation or face disappointment. But either way my maternal and empath ways were going to end up depleted and I didn’t need to be. I made the wrong choice. I should have made the choice to help from the sidelines instead of carrying the baggage of someone else.

But I couldn’t help but ask myself why I made this choice? Why did I set myself up for disappointment? Did I not listen to my intuition or did my ego think I was capable of fixing something that was meant to be a lesson for someone else? I’m still not sure to be honest but all I know is somewhere I made a choice and the choice has made me analyze a simple and subtle problem that I think could’ve been avoided. I don’t like stress and drama but I walked right into it, I opened the door wide open and invited it in, so being annoyed in the end is no ones fault but my own.

But the loop hole that I missed has made me think, and think and THINK about what my choices say about me and how do they help me to move ahead in life? Do I make positive choices for myself? Am I self sabotaging even within a good intention because I am ignoring clear signs of “drama”? Sometimes self sabotage is not as obvious to us as we think it is, and one simple choice can lead you down a wrong path.

There’s nothing wrong with helping your friends, and there’s nothing wrong with being empathetic but taking on baggage, or parenting grown ups, these are choices that can lead to problems. And even within a good intention you can be making the wrong choice. A good intention should help both me and you in the end and that’s not being selfish, that’s just being smart.

I sincerely hope to learn and have a better understanding of my choices in 2017 and to leave the unintentional drama and stress behind.

 Have analyzed your choices? How have your choices affected you? Let me know in the comments below and have a wonderful Self Love Saturday & Christmas Eve! xo




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(New Blog Post) #WCW My Mama – Happy Birthday!

December 21, 2016 by

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The first Queen I ever met was my Mother. 

Today is my Mom’s birthday and it only felt right to publicly acknowledge the GREATEST person in my life.

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Happy Birthday Mom, I love you more than words can tell. You are my best friend, my biggest inspiration, my confidant, my cheer leader, my coach, my business partner and the person I care most about in the whole world.

We have grown and experienced so much in this year and all of it has made us stronger and more prepared for God’s purpose on our life. He has proven that through Him all things are possible and shown that when you love God, you love yourself.

I hope in my lifetime to be half the woman that you are and I hope in this year of life that all of your wildest and most beautiful dreams come true because you are so deserving.

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Happy Birthday!! Xoxo 🎉😘❤️🎂

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(New Video Post) Broken Camera – But The Show Must Go On! #SelfLoveSaturday

December 17, 2016 by

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Happy Self Love Saturday!

My camera is broken 🙁 It hurts me to type that. I gave it in to the repair shop yesterday and all the camera stores I went to gave me the same report that it would take 3-6 weeks because of the holidays…womp womp :(.

But as disappointed as I am the show must go on. That was the lesson for me this week, regardless whatever bumps, heart aches, unexpected repairs, and whatever other BS comes in your way, the show doesn’t stop! You have to keep going.

What is “the show”? The show is your goals, your dreams, your long term plans, your true self, your best self, it’s the thing that is most important to you — The path to this doesn’t stop because of stress, depression, defeat, financial strains etc. Stay focused on the course, deal with the problems as they come in the best way possible, in the way that serves you in the end. Learn the lesson, grow and prosper! All week that message has been slapping me in the face, asking me “what is important to you? Why? How will you do it?”  I have a cough/cold right now and I had an audition yesterday where I had to sing SING 4 songs. So I tied my boot straps tight, drank all the tea my pantry had to offer, hot tottied my way to bed every night and sweat through all the layers of clothes I had on to make sure something resembling “Andrea the singer” would show up to my audition.

My camera’s broken but that doesn’t stop me from posting and talking about my weekly Self Love Message because it’s not about my camera in the end, it’s not about a super polished image and a bunch of likes, it’s about my journey and talking about it with the community of people who have constantly encouraged and inspired me to keep going.

The show must go on.

Today my message to you, is no matter what you’re going through, stay focused on the long term goal,  take a deep breath, talk to a friend or family member if you can’t solve the issue on your own and aim for success. Your goals don’t stop, your growth don’t stop. YOU don’t stop! The show must go on.




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(New Blog Post) What is your Morning Routine?

December 12, 2016 by
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What is your morning routine?

It is incredibly important to have a consistent and structured morning routine. Many successful people talk about their morning habits and the significance the structure has had in their overall success in life and business.

When you start every day with healthy habits and focussing on what is important for you in your life you consciously and subconsciously take actions towards the life you want.

The main benefits of a morning routine performed every day is that not a day will go by without you thinking about your goals and what you want to reach which in turn helps you achieve them

Depending on what your morning routine consists of it can help you with everything from getting more focussed and effective to getting into physical shape.

My morning routine could definitely use some work and a big goal for myself from now and into 2017 is to set myself up for daily success.

My morning routine in reality: 

I wake up, my first thoughts and words are “Thank you God” and then I grab my phone, and check emails, I do a bit of social media scrolling, I get up out of bed, brush my teeth, wash my face, prepare a glass of water, lemon and apple cider vinegar, I drink 2 glasses, then make a smoothie. Then I tackle the work for the day. Which usually consists of emails, and planning a shoot, event or video drop.

I don’t take much time for myself with this routine, I don’t meditate, my prayer time is not set into place, but instead just happens as a conversation with God while I multi-task. And exercise? That is more of an after thought rather than a “must do” part of my day. The only true structured part of my morning is my water consumption and not sleeping past 8:30 am. I’d really like to do better.

My morning routine goals?

Wake up by 7am (7:30 latest, I love sleep lol). “Thank you God”, drink my 2-3 glasses of water, meditate on my goals and thoughts. Conversation with God, and 30 mins to an hour of free form, creative writing.  Head to a hot yoga or bootcamp class. Check emails when I get home, and then get into work mode!

In a perfect world this is the regular start to my day. I’m learning daily, that life is all about, “How to Win” and “what do you need to do to win? What does winning look like for you? Because it’s different for all of us, some people can operate on 4-6 hours sleep while others need 8. Some people need quiet time before bed and others can fall asleep in the middle of a party and wake up 30 minutes later refreshed! It takes a while to learn what you need and don’t need, what a perfect situation looks like for you and what you can tolerate or handle. My 2017 education plan is going to focus on what “winning” looks like for me and what are the chess moves that I need to make, personally and professionally in order to WIN.

Today I’m starting with my morning routine.

What does your morning routine look like? What habits have helped you?




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

December 10, 2016 by

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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.




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(New Video Post) Gloing Up? What Now? #SelfLoveSaturday

December 3, 2016 by

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Happy Self Love Saturday!!!

So we’re in phase one of the “Glo Up” what do we do now? This is when we plan, strategize and then execute. We know we want better for ourselves and to change and now the only thing to focus on is how? How, why and what do we need to do? I love strategy, it gives me energy to come up with a new plan and I’m truly excited when I begin to execute it. The last 2 weeks have been spent, dreaming, analyzing and planning for my future and accepting my present state. I feel hopeful, grateful and a lot more energized.

Take this weekend to make a plan for yourself, check out my video below and let me know how your beginning is going!

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(New Post) A Quick & Beautiful Stay @GodfreyHotel #SoloTravel #Chicago

November 28, 2016 by

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A few weeks ago I had the pleasure of taking my first solo weekend getaway to Chicago and staying at The Godfrey Hotel and I had an amazing time!

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Chicago reminded me of my home town, Toronto it had a small-big city energy and my uber driver told me people refer to it as “A cleaner NY” which is the same thing that people say about Toronto. Chicago is a beautiful city, full of friendly people and it really was as clean as an average Canadian city lol.

I stayed at The Godfrey Hotel in downtown Chicago and the staff treated me amazingly! Big shout out to Molly and Joey for being so gracious! My room was huuuuuggggge, with a simple but elegant decor, 2 big screen TV’s and an amazing view of the city. This was my first time having a solo getaway, I was in Chicago for my #BlackActressEvent but normally my work trips are a day in and out of a city but this time I wanted to treat myself and have a chance to be in a new city and have a bit of quiet time. The Godfrey Hotel has an amazing italian restaurant located in the lobby called, “Dolce” and italian food being one of my favs naturally I had to go and they had my favorite fish, Branzino, on the dinner menu and they did not disappoint. I did a couple vlogs (watch HERE & HERE) while I was there, a lot of meditation and put into action the practice of gratitude in the present moment. I felt very happy and at peace focusing on the present and loved every moment of my trip. Thank you again to the friendly staff at The Godfrey, Molly and Joey, The Creative Cypher and everyone who made my trip to Chicago so much fun.

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(New Video Post) “The Glo Up” Challenge Yourself #SelfLoveSaturday

November 26, 2016 by

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Happy Self Love Saturday!

So announcement to make guys… WE’RE GLO-ING UP!

I’ve been so inspired by the 21 day detox and how amazing it made me feel, inside and out. It was one of the first times in my life that I started to see the “SHE” in myself that I’ve always wanted to see and then I had a great conversation with my friend Karyn, who also did the 21 day detox about continuing on this path. We both agreed, the pressure to grow, and become our best selves couldn’t stop after 21 days, but we needed to keep with this energy until we completely became HER! I’m going back to the daily vlogs starting on Dec 1st so please subscribe to my channel  to keep up with everything.

So what does a glo’up mean? What does that look like? It means bettering yourself in every way until you are completely satisfied with who you see in the mirror and then figuring out how to improve that person again lol. For me that means, hot yoga, God, singing, acting, love, self love, creativity, exercise, weight lifting, wellness, being as natural as possible, find joy, faith over fear, new goals, executing my goals, running, 10k race, Half Marathon Race, laughing A LOT, strengthening my friendships, hanging out with my mom, filming all of the time, writing daily,  and more.

So are you ready to challenge yourself?

 

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