Brey Noelle

10 Things in Life that my Personal (and often painful) Experience Has Taught Me:

Friends... if you’re reading this... thank you for being here! I have not shared my written thoughts here for a while and yet, I’m here again... and I look forward to sharing more :)   See below for 10 VALUABLE things Life has taught me that I was pondering over the weekend and beyond...

1. Seek the full and complete TRUTH… it will always set you free.

---> even if it’s painful, humbling, devastating, heartbreaking... there is Love and wholeness available on the other side of discovering the TRUTH no matter how messy the healing process may be.

2. Love Heals... Tolerance isn’t love… choose LOVE

3. Deception isn’t blatant... otherwise it wouldn’t work. TAKE CAUTION.

4. The easiest way to be convinced of a lie, is when you’re told the truth SLIGHTLY twisted … which is still a lie. TAKE NOTE.

5. FEAR is one of the easiest ways of controlling people … don’t give into the bait!

6. Follow the money trail … nuff said

7. The hunger for more money, power and control never satisfies … it’s an endless appetite for more. PURPOSE is GREATER.

8. If we believe we don’t have a choice, it’s often because we’ve been convinced that we don’t have a choice... not that we ACTUALLY do not. CRITICALLY THINK for ONESELF.

9. At the end of the day (month, year, decade, century, or world), LOVE always wins 💕

10. Lastly… RELATIONSHIP really IS the most important thing 💕💕

I’d love to hear from you! Do any of the above statements resonate with your own experience... or something you might be encountering now?  

I have so many stories and examples of things I’ve walked through around each of the above statements.  And as I was processing them, I found it helpful to  write these statements down before unpacking them.  If you’re curious to hear more, please let me know!  I love sharing my story in hopes that it benefits others :) 

In the meantime... HAPPY MONDAY!  Have an amazing week!  I look forward to sharing again soon! 

TRUTH IS POWER

You hear it said over and over that “knowledge is power”.  But I believe that the root of knowledge is often overlooked.  The preceding factor of knowledge is actually TRUTH.  Therefore, the foundation of this principle actually lies in this statement… TRUTH is power.  

TRUTH is a touchy word these days.  Truth can take many forms such as, “your personal truth”, “your truth”, “my truth” and such.  These phrases may be accurate in certain contexts, however, I think the “truth” that is least discussed is, “absolute truth”.  Just because it isn’t discussed, doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist.  I believe “absolute truth” carries the greatest power.  

Truth and knowledge work hand in hand.  You can’t have one without the other. However, truth has ALWAYS been in existence, where knowledge is always gleaned FROM the truth.  Here’s the thing, the antithesis of knowledge is ignorance.  Ignorance is blissful, which means that knowledge is NOT and leaves us with this… truth and knowledge may often be uncomfortable.  The reason is, the more we know, the more we need to change, and stretch, and grow. And we all know that growing pains are uncomfortable!  But I think we assume “growing pains” are meant for our early years of development…but in actuality…I don’t think we should ever stop having growing pains unless we want to live a life of “ignorant comfort” (as I like to call it.)

I think most people would prefer to live in “ignorant comfort” rather than “knowledgeable discomfort”.  I STRUGGLE WITH THIS!!  And let’s be honest, AMERICANS tend to idolize “comfort”.  Comfort has become the new god of this age.  We want it – we get it, we want it NOW – we get it NOW, we feel it – we do it… COMFORT.  Whatever numbs discomfort – we get it. Whatever keeps us away from discomfort – we do it. Whatever creates comfort – we have it, whatever keeps us safe and comfortable… WE GOT IT!  COMFORT!  

 Why do you think this is?  Are we afraid of discomfort?  Are we afraid of knowledge?  Are we afraid of the TRUTH???

 This is what I think: I don’t believe the TRUTH was ever meant to keep us comfortable. …I believe the TRUTH is meant to shed light on the REALITY of things… which reveals darkness, ugliness, beauty, strength, weakness… EVERYTHING.  TRUTH sheds LIGHT.  LIGHT reveals TRUTH.  It’s a cycle. If it was meant to bring MOOD LIGHTING to MASK the reality of what lies in the darkness we would live a life in “ignorant comfort” rather than “knowledgeable discomfort”, which can be scary.  

When I look over this past year, I’m kinda shocked by what it looked like lol.  Isn’t it funny that we think we know exactly how life is going to turn out, but in actuality, we never REALLY know.  Our plans always change.  At least, for me that’s what happens.  And in all honesty, I’m happy about it.  

“Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it’s the Lord’s purpose that prevails.” Proverbs 19:21

I’ll be honest, I’m not really sure I had a solid plan for this past year; I began the year living in a new state, on a new coast, with a new weather pattern and a blank slate of what the year would look like.  I was planning on writing the story of 2015 as I went…and that’s exactly what happened.  :)

 Well hello New York City, how I love you!  After living in NYC for a few months in 2014, by January of this past year, I decided to officially relocate and MOVE to Manhattan, New York!  The city of Manhattan is MAGICAL.  There is an electricity in the air that causes me to come alive in a new and exciting way… I feel like I can conquer the world!  For a moment, perhaps I AM conquering the world in small ways, but there is another side to the conquer.  I am also exerting physical, mental and emotional energy getting from one place to another.  I’m navigating one train to the next, walking 5 miles a day, trudging laundry 3 blocks to the nearest laundry-mat in the 2nd blizzard of the week and  trying to stay looking fresh for the modeling job that I am late for with my wet snowy hair, a red freezing nose, while sweating bullets under my 5 layers of clothing. Not the best picture right?!!!  Oh but how I love it.  I know it sounds “awesome”.  But really, it is.  I love the hustle, the work ethic, the energy, the tenacity, the vibrancy, the struggle, the…magic!

 Perhaps I needed this challenge to prove something to myself.  There is something telling when you can survive and thrive in a place like NYC.  I had advisors tell me, “if you can make it in New York City, you can make it anywhere.” Maybe there’s truth to that, I’m not really sure, but I AM sure of one thing…living in NYC for a year shaped something in me that has been undeniably valuable to my character, my tenacity, my mental strength, and my way of life.  Here are some valuable things I learned - I learned the difference between:

what’s urgent vs. what’s important

what I need vs. what I want

what I CAN do vs. what I WANT to do…

and so much more.  

While working as a spokes-model in NYC during this past year, I decided to be intentional about taking time to simply enjoy the city.  I had never really done that before.  I have always been a success-oriented, striving, hustler who found a lot of my identity in my “doing”.  But this time, I chose to have a bit more fun instead of focusing on striving.  In addition to performing a few, low-key acoustic music gigs, I took ample time to find myself, my preferences, discover new things, search introspectively, rest and have fun.  As weird as it sounds, I actually learned to take time for solitude and rest.  Yup…I learned how to REST in NYC.  (I bet you don’t hear that every day).  I also learned to PLAY and prioritize FUN!  As Brene Brown states in her book, The Gifts of Imperfection, “rest and play are just as important to one’s overall health as nutrition, exercise and sleep.”  (I’m so glad I finally realized this truth.)  Intentionally adding PLAY to my life brought me into a balance that I had not discovered until this year.  Even though one of the most consistently stated pieces of advice my dad tells me is, “don’t forget to have fun Brey!” It took 29 years to really see the necessity of it.  (Thanks Dad…and sorry it took so long to believe you ;)

 And finally, NYC taught me the importance of shaping myself apart from my environment; not letting my environment dictate my decisions, or determine how I should live, but choosing to live in a way that is in line with my values and preferences in SPITE of what my environment may be telling me (either consciously OR subconsciously).   I have KNOWN the importance of this for a while, but I actually learned to LIVE this by positioning myself in one of the busiest cities in the US.  I was continually bombarded with demands, advertisements, wants and needs, and I was forced to reconcile the distinction between the distractions and the things that were actually important.  This has proved (already) to be one of the most valuable lessons I learned while living in New York City.  

 The highlight from this past year took place in February when some of my relatives from Norway decided to come to New York and visit me for a WEEK!  I had met them after filming the Norwegian Reality TV show in 2014 called, “Alt for Norge”, and we continue to stay in touch and remain connected in each other’s lives.  We had a BLAST!  It was their first time to the States, and their 1st experience was in New York City…talk about magic!  We did everything that screams “New York City”, and built life-long memories and adventures together.  THIS is what I’ve found is most important…investing in relationship, loving one another, building memories that last and encouraging each another through the process.  No matter what happens throughout our lives, it’s family and friends that will remain through the ups and downs that come our way.  I have seen the value of this and hope to continue fostering a rich, relational life and inspire others to do the same. No regrets!

 Ok, so I absolutely LOVE New York City, and definitely see a part of me in NYC.  But after flying back to LA a couple times for work, and after taking some time with friends and family in my hometown of Seattle over the summer, I discovered something…

Life takes unexpected twists and turns and REALLY, life IS an adventure. The adventure can look a million different ways, but we don’t have to know each step along the way, in fact, it’s best if we don’t!  Ultimately, we live life one step at a time, and as much as the “planner (aka. controller)” in me wants to plan out my every step for the rest of my life, I have found freedom in releasing my plans to God, seeking him and trusting that ultimately, He has already written the BEST plan for my life and is constantly at work orchestrating it all “for the good of those who love Him.”  I have learned to TRUST that PROMISE.  And in doing so, I have been living an adventure I could never have planned even if I tried.

So here I am…I actually moved back to LA and am expanding my life and career here…BUT…I am flying to NYC periodically for work (and PLAY) and truly embracing the adventure of it all. I have also discovered a renewed love for my hometown of Seattle!  I decided to embrace that travel is just going to be a way of life for me.  Why not!?!  My life has expanded all over the country (and world)…so I’m going to keep it that way.  :)

When push comes to shove, I say, “just step away and create my own game”…

 The Holidays tend to be a perfect time to experience pushing and shoving, stress and anxiety, and a million demands flying at us from the right and from the left.  It’s easy to get swept up in the chaos of it all and forget why we actually have a holiday to celebrate.  The entire PURPOSE of the holiday is ROBBED by the artificial demands we put on ourselves and each other.   Hmmm…so much for “Happy Holidays” or “Merry Christmas!”  It’s more like, “Happy Coping with the Chaos”!  (Somehow that doesn’t ring as nicely in the ear.)

The truth is, I think the Holidays just simply enhance the realities of our everyday lives by putting a magnifying glass on the root of how we live.  The Holidays can reveal a lot of things if we allow it.  We’re faced with making choices that reveal our values, our motives, our hearts, our deepest desires and even our idols.  At least this is what I’ve found for myself.  Are the holidays about me?  About money? About looking good, doing good, being good?  I don’t know, I think it’s probably different for everyone.  But I have discovered a vital need for allotted times to self-reflect amidst the pushing and shoving around me.

Pushing and shoving implies a need to react with the same urgency of the demand set before us.  But perhaps instead of joining the pushing and shoving, or allowing it to determine our steps, maybe we simply step away for a minute.  In that step, we may suddenly see a million other options of how to move forward.  We just have to know that the options exist.  We are often presented with TWO options, either “this or that”.  For example:

·      We either need to PLOW THROUGH, or GIVE UP!  

·      We HAVE to make a decision NOW or NEVER!

·      If we don’t do it this way, then THAT will happen!

·      There are only TWO OPTIONS and I don’t like either one AHHH!!

But I think there is almost always a third option of how to respond.  I have found a great practice in looking for the 3rd option…or even the 4th and 5th.  Just step away from the pushing and shoving for a moment.  

Who knows what solutions or life opportunities we may activate by simply stepping way and putting our creativity to work!  Aren’t the best solutions outside of the box anyway?  I’ve always been a fan of “being different”.  As my friends say, “Brey likes to be ‘UNIQUE’”.  But I’m telling you, being “unique” sure pays off when everyone around is pushing and shoving, and I am just on the sidelines creating my own game to play.  (And it’s way more fun btw).

Reflections Over a Bowl of Oatmeal

 As I sat down with my oatmeal on “National Oatmeal Day”, which I discovered was an actual DAY thanks to @SimplyLuxurious (one of my favorite blogs).  I was reflecting on growth.  In one of my previous posts I stated, “I may be at the bottom of where I am going, BUT I am at the top of where I have come from”.  With this statement in mind, no matter how you look at it, we are always at the top! We are ALWAYS at the top of where we have come from. (Count on me to see the glass half full.)

 Our life is a series of building blocks.  I am who I am today because of the building blocks of yesterday, and the day before, and so-on and so-forth.  I am happy about this sentiment because it means life never stands still…it is always building; we are always growing. There is always forward movement and no matter what happened yesterday or what happens today, the fact is, we can STILL move forward tomorrow.

 Here are some thoughts I had while reflecting over a bowl of oatmeal…

 I am learning the need to PAUSE even when I feel a desire to GO. So often I “get on a roll” in my thoughts, my actions, my work, and I feel a need to KEEP GOING!!  But then it all seems to come to a HALTING STOP.  This is when I think to myself, “maybe it’s supposed to stop”?  Or maybe a better word is pause.

I have often assumed that the “pause” button in my life is actually a “stop” button.  When I have thought this, I have fought it.  Then I come to my senses and think, there is probably a good reason for this.

We usually “pause” the TV when there is something else more important that needs our attention, but we have every intention of hitting the “play” button again.  Same with life.  When things feel “on pause”, then it’s time to recognize the more important matters of the moment.  Maybe I need to pray, maybe I need to think through something, maybe I need to take a moment to be thankful and trust. The “pause” is valuable if we see it as an opportunity, rather than an inconvenience.  It’s all how we choose to see it.

 I am learning to take additional time for introspection… taking time to just sit, to think, to wait, to trust, to CHOOSE the higher options vs. the lower options when space presents itself.

When there is no space, it’s easier to just choose the most urgent thing in front of us, but when there IS space, we have opportunity to choose the IMPORTANT vs. the UNIMPORTANT.  Here are some simple choices I have recognized…

·      Reading about world events rather than scrolling through Social Media

·      Listening to a TED talk rather than watching a show

·      Eating Yogurt instead of chocolate

·      Drinking Tea instead of wine

·      Making that phone call instead of putting it off another day

·      JUST FINISHING IT instead of leaving the final stretch until another day

·      THINKING while waiting instead of BUSYING oneself while waiting

·      Asking questions instead of Assuming the motive or the answer

·      Reaching out instead of Avoiding

·      Interacting instead of Isolating

I don’t think there is anything wrong with any of the “options” I’ve listed above, but sometimes it takes a little space to learn to make choices that position me for growth rather than comfort.  If I am constantly depending on urgency and deadlines to determine my growth, then what will I choose when I have all the time in the world and am faced with the option of growth vs. comfort?  Just a thought.  I want to WANT to choose growth instead of comfort.

 I am learning not to chase; not to chase ANYTHING…fantasies, dreams, people, desires etc.  I don’t think it’s ever good to live one’s life on a continual CHASE.  It means to rush, to hurry, to race…YUCK!!! Life and the dreams in life should NEVER be THAT!  In fact, that’s what sets us up for failure.  If we see it as a chase, we never stop, rest or reflect and we find ourselves constantly living from a place of anxiety and hustle rather than REST. We need to take action from a place of restful peace, not RUSHING ANXIETY.  I am learning this.  

 So from one 29 year old to another…person (lol). Maybe you have learned all these things and are conquering additional challenges.  Well GREAT!!  I encourage you to continue on the journey of growth and to embrace the place where you are at. Smile at where you have come from.

I sit here pondering the events of this past year and can hardly believe that it is already the end of 2014…I am concluding another chapter of challenges, growth, adventures, fun and new experiences.  It truly was a remarkable year.  If there is one thing that sums up the year of 2014 for me, it would be, “a year of authentic self-discovery”.  I think every year is an opportunity for greater self-discovery, but for me, this year in particular was an extreme year of this.  And as I embrace the discoveries I’ve found, I’ve made a lot of changes in my life that have positioned me in a stronger place more fit for the “me” that I have discovered myself to be.  I’ve gone back to the drawing board on many occasions, intentionally remembering the foundation of WHO I am, WHAT I desire, WHERE I’ve come from and HOW I’ve made it this far.  Facing these realities really puts things in perspective; I have been humbled, more thankful, more grateful, more vulnerable and authentic and found that contentment is possible when at peace with oneself, and at rest in Christ Jesus.  More often then not I have gone back to the scripture that states, “Be Still and KNOW that I am God.”  And it is in that stillness and knowing my God where I have tried to REMAIN while being proactive in a continual state of surrender to Him. I think it is the most difficult thing to do, yet it is the most beneficial, rewarding and fruitful way to live.  The challenges of this year have magnified this truth for me in a way that has left a lasting imprint on my life.

I started 2014 still living in Los Angeles with lots of questions.  A few months into 2014, I moved my belongings into storage and then moved to Norway to film a TV show.  I came back to LA after filming, then a few months later went back again to Norway.  Returning to the states a second time from Norway, I worked a spokesmodel job in New York City and then...I never left! haha.  I remained in NYC with more answers, more discoveries and more questions!!  Do they ever stop??  Nope, not in my life.  I hope they never stop, because I want to keep growing, keep discovering, keep being pushed out of my comfort zone and keep taking risks.  It’s then when my faith is truly tested, my abilities are stretched and I give God opportunity to do the miraculous…and He does. 

I was talking to my friend about how impossible certain things seem to be at the moment!  She responded with a reminder of what I have always prayed for since I was a little girl.  She said, “Brey, God is just answering your prayer, remember??  You have always prayed that everything in your life would be a miracle so you wouldn’t be able to take credit for anything.”  Oh man…what was I thinking when I prayed that??  I had child-like faith that’s for sure, and I’m glad I did then, so it would remind me of how to think and pray NOW as an ADULT.  Thank you McCallann for that continual reminder :) 

One of those miracles was being cast on a Norwegian reality TV show called “Alt for Norge” – Season 5 on TVNorge.  I give all the credit to my friend Karmen who insisted I apply and try out for it.  I almost DIDN’t apply a hundred times before I decided to just do it for the heck of it.  After that, I just kept being called into the following interviews and then the following interviews after that.  One interview I was even in my pajamas on video and had to email it in 30 second clips by sending 4 different emails because my iPad wouldn’t send it otherwise.  I figured that was the end for me.  But before I knew it, I was flown to Chicago for the final interview and then suddenly, I was cast on the show!  My life drastically changed that very moment when I received the news that I was going to Norway!  I was shocked.  Soooo…I was going to Norway to film a Norwegian reality show as a Norwegian-American who had never been to Norway, never met my Norwegian family, and had NO IDEA what to expect!  Little did I know that it would change my life…forever.  And I am utterly grateful.

I call that a miracle because I would never have sought out that opportunity for myself or even thought it would be a good idea.  I recognize that God truly orchestrated that opportunity and I responded to it without thinking it would come to anything…but it did!  I not only experienced a trip to Norway, I experienced the LIFE of a true NORWEGIAN from different geographical locations within Norway.  Here’s a little bit of what I experienced:

I stayed in tents, sleeping on wolf-skins and built my own fire on the highest glacier in Norway; I stayed in a tree-house in the forest in Norway, I caught and cooked fish and mussels and…other weird sea creatures and ATE them!  I chopped down trees and "hunted" in the forest.  I stayed on a sailboat on a little island off the southern coast of Norway.  And then, I competed in multiple challenges WEEKLY against my new Norwegian-American best friends!  In the meantime, I’m befriending the locals and learning and loving the Norwegian culture; all the while being filmed and often times, saying crazy or bizarre things that I was unaware of at the time.  PHEW!!  That was a lot.  And it was incredible.  I learned about the “Viking Blood” in me.  I am so proud to be a Viking at heart! 

This is a PROUD Norwegian-American speaking; and I expect more adventures to come!  If you’re interested at all in seeing the show and don’t mind trying to interpret Norwegian (since half of the show is in Norwegian), then visit HERE and watch an episode or two.  And just so you know, I made it to the finals. :) Yay! 

I shared in a previous blog about the impact “Alt for Norge” had on me.  But in short.  I remembered parts of me that I had forgotten.  I remembered the foundation of what I stand on, who I am, what I stand for, and where I’ve come from.  My great great grandfather left everything and EVERYONE in Norway with pennies in his pocket and a simple dream…a dream and a HOPE…hope that he could create a better future for his family in America if he just took the leap of faith and risked it all.  He had faith, a hard work ethic, courage and a dream.  And he did it all from a place of love…love for his family and love for God.  THAT is how I want to live.  I hope to follow in my great grandfather’s footsteps.  I hope to carry on the legacy of faith, hope, love and courage.

  From the renewed mindset Norway helped shape in me, I came back to the states and moved to New York.  I had been thinking about the move for over a year, and now the time was right.  Here I am.  Welcome to New York! And I LOVE it :)

  So in 2014, I’ve completed a single, written many more songs (that have YET to be produced, and hopefully will be in 2015), been on a Norwegian Reality TV Show that changed my life forever, met my Norwegian relatives (who are AMAZING and I LOVE them dearly!!), moved to New York, continued working in modeling, spokes modeling and commercial work, and NOW I'm starting ANEW!!  Thank you JESUS for your provision, orchestration and grace over 2014.  Farewell 2014, you were amazing to me.  Now 2015…let the Adventure Begin!!

"Boy You Got Me" (single)

"Round and Round Again" (video)

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