Sometimes what we are going through can discourage us. Maybe problem after problem is coming your way, and it never seems to get better. In these moments it is very easy to complain and get frustrated with life. But the key to joy isn’t what we are going through, but where we are looking.

Our perspective changes everything. What if instead of complaining we were able to find the good in every situation? What I have learned is that thankfulness is vital. Being grateful shifts our perspective. Instead of looking at the negatives of our experiences, thankfulness helps us look at the positives of life.

This is a practice that I apply daily. I make sure to constantly be in a state of gratitude. I believe that it is a tool to help unlock joy in our lives that isn’t dependent upon our circumstances. What if our problems became opportunities to be thankful?

Some examples of what we can be thankful for are things as simple as being alive, having family and friends, having a job, being able to go to school, or simply being able to see. It may sound ridiculous, but seeing life this way will cause us to live life to the fullest. And there is a joy that springs up when we see life this way!

Let us know what you are thankful for today in the comment section below!

What if your favorite clothing store decided to simply give everything away for free to anybody who chose to go to the store that day? Let’s say you went to this store and didn’t know they were giving things away for free? What if they told you and you denied taking any clothes because it seemed too good to be true? “The day before you guys weren’t giving away your clothes for free, so this must be a lie! You guys are probably trying to get me arrested for stealing!” You argue tirelessly with the manager and all the employees that this cannot be true! 

Now what if our freedom was like that? Being Fourth of July week, this is perfectly fitting! There were and are people fighting for our freedom every day and have even died for the freedom we have currently in America! But what if we decided to believe this wasn’t true even though it is the reality of our country? Sound ridiculous right?! But we do it all the time in our lives if we’re not careful.

Sometimes everything around us tells us we are okay except ourselves. What if the biggest war you are facing today is inside of you. Everybody around you may see the lies you area believing, except yourself. I lived like this for years. I struggled with intense anxiety, but never listened to the advice of those around me. What I believed about myself was totally irrational, but it took over my mind. No matter what people said, what I felt seemed more true. It wasn’t until I believed the truth of who I already was that I become truly free!

 What lies do you believe about yourself today? Do you know you are worth so much and are dearly loved? Sometimes we need to believe and declare truths about ourselves no matter what we feel about ourselves! What if your freedom already exists, and ALL you need to do is believe it?

 We would love to hear your story of freedom in the comments below! 

Have you ever had an experience in life that made you question? Maybe it made you question why you are alive or why you had to suffer so much? There are many reasons to question in life. Sometimes these questions lead us to hope, other times they leave us feeling empty and broken. 

But what if hope was always there? What if hope is never lost? What if it didn't matter how much you've messed up in the past? What if you couldn't be stopped no matter what happened to you or against you? Can we use the negative stuff in our lives to propel us into who we were created to be?

Something that we believe in at M57 is the fact that HOPE is never lost. We could be in the worst circumstance possible and still realize that we are on this Earth for a reason. Now, it's not always easy, but it's worth it. You may ask, "What is worth it?" It's worth it to never give up and believe that you can be your true self. No matter what pain you are walking through today, there's hope you can be healed and walk in freedom. 

Many things in life will try and take away your hope. Don't let this world drag you down. Use the very things you are struggling with to find your passion and to help those around you! At M57, it is our passion to help you lift your head and see who you really are! We want to help you, because we know what it's like to feel defeated, depressed, anxious and like a failure. It's because we have experienced these emotions, and hard times in life that we want to help! 

Comment below with your stories of freedom so that you can help us also! We are better together!

My name is Jason Russ and I am the founder of M57. M57 is much more than just a jewelry company. A few years ago I was losing my best friend, my brother. He began to struggle so severely with something later diagnosed as an anxiety disorder called OCD. Although I still physically had my brother he wasn't mentally himself anymore. Things got so bad that it caused him to drop out of the university he was attending. This became a very hopeless journey that lasted around two and a half years. We went to many doctors, counselors and even tried medications, but nothing worked. Doctors and counselors would tell us that Alex had a very severe case of OCD and this will be something he will struggle with for the rest of his life. The cool thing about Alex is that he went back to the school he left a couple years back and graduated this year! Once again, I have my brother back!

Although we ran to many doctors and counselors, there was something far simpler that brought about my brother’s healing. He had a realization of his true identity. He was transformed from the inside out basically overnight. And it was reminding himself each and every day of his TRUE identity that brought him the freedom he walks in today. What I desire more than anything is to see other people just like Alex freed from life’s destructive power. We were created for something much greater. If we can have daily reminders each day of who we are then we can actually start to live out those truths. Breakthrough and freedom comes from knowing who we were created to be.

M57 creates collections and designs based on simple reminders of who we are. When you wear M57 products you are wearing more than just jewelry. You are wearing a piece of who you were created to be. We yearn for every person to realize who they are so that they may walk in the full freedom they were designed for.

As an entrepreneur, I couldn't move forward realizing that what I did yesterday wasn't changing the world today. We truly believe that everyone can see their breakthrough through these reminders. We would love to connect with you and hear your story so that we may walk alongside you in your journey of freedom!