Help

“Tell everyone what you want to do and someone will want to help you do it.” -- W. Clement Stone

Many of us are too proud to ask for help. Or maybe it’s just not in our personality. Also, it’s possible we want those to pay better attention to our struggles and help us. Guess what? Not everyone is that in tune to you. Not everyone can read your mind or is focused on what you might need.

People want to help you! I promise. They just need to be asked.

Affirmation -- Say: I will ask for help when I need it.

Your Gift

The meaning of life is to find your gift, the purpose of life is to give it away ~ Joy J. Golliver 

If you have discovered your life passion, yet you do not share, then you are not living your life purpose. As a matter of fact, you are being rather selfish if you do not share your gift with the world. You need to shout to the world all that you have to offer. You are not pushy, you are genuine. There are people in this world that will only be able to connect to you and no one else.

Affirmation – say: “I will share my gift to the world.”

Opinions

“Risk! Risk anything! Care no more for the opinions of others, for those voices. Do the hardest thing on earth for you. Act for yourself. Face the truth.” - Katherine Mansfield 

It’s good to get feedback – but only when you ask for it. Heed good criticisms but don’t let them paralyze you! Others will try to influence you but they might not be coming from a place that is right for you. It’s easy to take other people’s advice because if it doesn’t work out then we can blame them! No more! There will be many times when you just need to do what you have to do – regardless of others warnings. They aren’t always right!

Affirmation – say: “I will trust my own judgment and go for it.”

Lean

“The best day of your life is the one on which you decide your life is your own. No apologies or excuses. No one to lean on, rely on, or blame. The gift is yours - it is an amazing journey - and you alone are responsible for the quality of it. This is the day your life really begins.” - Bob Moawad

It's super important to get support from others and get help - but, be very careful to not lean too hard. They might not be able to hold you up or they may not know that are supposed to hold you up. This could lead to a hard and unpleasant fall. When you ask for help be sure to also figure out a way to do it yourself later. Let them teach you to be stronger!

Affirmation – say: “ I will ask for help and then learn to do it on my own.”

Alone

“You're only lonely if you're not there for you.” – Phil C. McGraw

The lonely times in life are when you don’t love yourself. Relying solely on others for self worth will create loneliness. If you are lonely reach out to yourself first – do something for yourself that brings a smile to your face. Loneliness is a world you create for yourselves and only you can undo the loneliness. First desire it and then act upon it.

Affirmation – Say: “I will choose to leave loneliness behind me. I will find love within myself.”

Adversity

“Sometimes we think that if we hang on to our anger and bad attitude, we show that it’s not ok – but real strength is smiling in adversity.” - unknown

Life can be tough – there is no doubt. It’s only as tough as we make it. We have choices on how we view the rough times in life. It is easy to complain. It takes real strength to let things go or see the good in a situation. If you are angry at someone or a situation, try letting go. It drains your energy and makes you ineffective at solving problems. In other words, take the high road and make wonderful things happen.

Affirmation – say: “I will let go of anger and I will forgive so that I may become stronger.”

Problems

“Happiness is not the absence of problems but the ability to deal with them.” - Unknown

There is another saying, if the only tool you have is a hammer then everything is a nail. If everything is a problem you will always be negative. Mentally, shift your problems into learning moments and / or opportunities. Think to yourself – how can I change this into something good.

Affirmation – say: “I will flip my problems into opportunities and lessons to learn.”

Abilities

“Ability is what you're capable of doing. Motivation determines what you do. Attitude determines how well you do it.” - Lou Holtz

Sometimes it is hard to have faith in our abilities. We are all capable in some way or another. Don't let the small things get you down or the harsh things others might say stop you. Believe in yourself and your abilities - the only thing keeping you from where you want to be is yourself.

Affirmation – say: “I will achieve because I believe.”

Risk

“The policy of being too cautious is the greatest risk of all.” - Jawaharlal Nehru

Go ahead and take that risk! What are you afraid of? That your life will be different? Better? You will have to settle with your life, as it is, if you take no risks. Status quo is only ok for a moment - if only to catch a breath but, the moment you stop taking risk is the moment you stop growing…moving…improving.

Affirmation – Say: “I will take that risk in order to grow and prosper.”

Try

“Courage doesn't always roar. Sometimes courage is the quiet voice at the end of the day saying, "I will try again tomorrow.” Mary Anne Radmacher

Are you trying to leap Mount Everest with one bound? Are you trying to do it ALL at the same time? Think out the process of what it is that you are trying to accomplish. Break it down to small steps and do only what you can today. No one says you have to finish your entire goal today. Start with something small and simple. Build upon what you start.

Affirmation – say: “I will try a little today and a little tomorrow and I will create success one step at a time.”

Determination

“Success means having the courage, the determination, and the will to become the person you believe you were meant to be.” -- George Sheehan

You will become the person you were meant to be when you realize that there are no other options. Determination is when you decide that nothing is going to stop you. Are you letting things and people stop you? What are you telling yourself? What excuses are you using?

Affirmation – say: “I am determined to keep going and nothing will stop me.”

Fear

“Courage is doing what you're afraid to do. There can be no courage unless you're scared.” Edward Vernon Rickenbacker

Fear is a good thing. It helps us protect ourselves from the things that can really harm us. But, we use it too much as an excuse. It readily available to use for not doing...for not changing. Use fear wisely to protect yourself BUT, don't use it as a crutch. To get any happiness or success, you must be willing to set aside fear and take that leap of faith. Take risks or you will always get the same thing.

Affirmation-Say: “I will have courage even when I am scared.”

Believe

“Keep your dreams alive. Understand to achieve anything requires faith and belief in yourself, vision, hard work, determination, and dedication. Remember all things are possible for those who believe.” – Gail Devers

Don't let your fear or self-esteem hold you back from anything. Don't think for one minute you can't do something! Whatever that "something" is - there are others less capable than you who do it! What's the worst that can happen if you try? Feeling less than courageous? Look in the mirror and write down what you love about yourself - brains and all!

Affirmation – Say: “I will believe in myself and my abilities.”

Pick your battles

“Pick battles big enough to matter, small enough to win.”- Jonathan Kozol

Is life with others a constant struggle? Do you look at others with a negative eye? Do people in your life constantly go against you? Is it you or them? Do you go head to head with people all the time? Chances are you are struggling with something on the inside and you are taking it out on those around you – family, friends, and strangers. As you fight the fight, look at yourself in the mirror and decide, is it really them or really you. If you make everything a fight in life then you are always fighting. What are you really fighting about?

Affirmation – Say: “I will relax, make peace with myself and not make all issues a battle.”

Purpose

“You can have anything you want - if you want it badly enough. You can be anything you want to be, do anything you set out to accomplish if you hold to that desire with singleness of purpose.” - Abraham Lincoln

Do you know your purpose? Do you honor that purpose with each and every decision? Do you move forward only to keep your eye on your failures or your past. Look ahead and crave something better – if you do not you are not alive. Do not settle! You were not put here on this earth to just go through the motions. Find your purpose and honor it. The world needs you and all that you have to offer.

Affirmation – Say: “My purpose is to share my gifts with the world.”

Reinvention

“We must reinvent a future free of blinders so that we can choose from real options.” David Suzuki

Don’t like what you see in the mirror? Reinvent yourself! You don’t have to do it over night. If you work on it a little at a time, others will begin to see the new you and more importantly accept the new you. However, you must look at the whole you. All of us have blind spots that hold us back. Set yourself to discover what those are whether through journals, meditations, or another person’s feedback. Once you have the truth of “you” - you can be anyone you want to be.

Affirmation – Say: “I am going to reinvent myself with all the options the world has to offer.”

Honor

“The greatest way to live with honor in this world is to be what we pretend to be.” Socrates

You may have heard the term or saying: “Honor one self.” What does this mean to you? I like to call it “fake till you make it.” If your outside is confident, kind, helpful, motivated – make your inside catch up. Pretend on the outside but tell your inside it’s the truth. After a while you might actually believe that you can be anything you want to be. The way to honor your self is to start with trying and end with doing.

Affirmation – Say: “I will honor myself by no longer pretending and by being my best self.”