May you be reminded today (and everyday) that YOU are greater than any obstacle placed in your way. 

To your success….creatively!!!

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I cannot begin to count the number of times in my life that I stopped doing something because I thought I had failed.  I know it was so many times that I began to think of myself as a failure.  Those thoughts were so heavy it was weighing me down and preventing me from rising.

I’ll never forget the moment I realized that years later the very things I thought I was a failure at I had achieved.  And in that moment I became clear that it wasn’t the actions that made me a failure, but the belief in the words, “I’m a failure.”

For those who have had years of self-doubt, limiting beliefs, and low self-esteem, the head is full of “garbage” thoughts.  Every day they face a battle – the battle between the heart and the head.  The heart is full of love and desperately wants the mind to remove the self-limiting beliefs and to rise up.  The head is full of the “garbage” thoughts that keep pulling one down.  Until the heart wins over the head (or shouts the loudest so it can be heard) changing from ”I’m a failure” is nearly impossible.

But it can be done.

It will take a lot of repetition.  And it requires one saying I have had enough of not believing in myself and I am ready to soar.  It isn’t an easy journey.  There’s a lot of backtracking.  There are days when the “garbage” just seems to take over.

But it can be done.

Listen to your heart and tell your “garbage” it’s time to be tossed out.  Repeat that again and again.  Yes, the “garbage” isn’t going to go down without a fight, but speaking from personally experience, it can be done.

I believe in you.  Do you?

She gave us her heart and soul….

and she took a little bit of ours with her.

Farewell Casey….

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Be in the moment…laugh so hard your belly hurts and tears run down your face.  For truly those are the only tears that will do you any good – they bring joy, laughter, and happiness.  They might bring a little melancholy as they should.  But tears should never tear you down, make you feel less then you are, or be because someone is hurting you.

Bob Newhart said, “Laughter gives us distance.  It allows us to step back from an event, deal with it and then move on.”  Let us laugh and move on.

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“Life’s up and downs provide windows of opportunity to determine your values and goals – Think of using all obstacles as stepping stones to build the life you want”  Marsha Sinetar

I haven’t posted here, nor have I written my E-newsletter, nor have I blogged – yet by not doing these very things I have determined some values and goals along the way.  I am creating stepping stones that are defining my windows of opportunity.

How about you?  What stepping stones are in place to open your window of opportunity?

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A few years ago a good friend of mine started writing something she was thankful for throughout the month of November.  30 days of thankfulness and gratitude.

That is now a tradition with her.  And with a good portion of her friends.  It’s quite inspiring to see 20 people or more all posting about what they are thankful or grateful for that day.   Without even trying your day becomes brighter and more joyful simply because you read their words.

I would like to share this with you and will be adding postings throughout the month of things I am grateful and thankful for.  I hope it inspires you, encourages you, and allows you the opportunity to be grateful for what you have right now, in this very moment!

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Today I am grateful for the fact that 12 weeks ago I began running simply because I’ve always wanted to run a 5K.  I ran that 5K, signed up for a 2nd later this month, and am running 10-12 miles per week.  I am grateful for creating better health for myself and thankful that I have stuck with it and am doing so well!

How about you?  What are you thankful or grateful for?

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People think a soul mate is your perfect fit, and that’s what everyone wants. But a true soul mate is a mirror, the person who shows you everything that is holding you back, the person who brings you to your own attention so you can change your life. ~ Elizabeth Gilbert

I was talking with someone yesterday and she brought up Elizabeth Gilbert, which made me go out and take a look at some of her quotes.  I LOVE this one!  The older I get the more I realize that we must first love our self in order to be the best for our loved ones.

We spend so much of our life responding to others needs, taking care of them, assuring ourselves that they feel loved, cherished, and treasured that we forget it must begin within. And when our soul begins to sing what we are able to give to others is ten-fold and what we begin to attract is ten-fold as well.

It’s not easy.  We often get caught up in what the world tries to dictate that we must have a soul mate, a spouse or significant other.  The joke is on the world though, as we do.  Our soul mate is the one looking back at you when you look in the mirror.  And if you happen to find another soul mate that enhances who you are, it’s kind of like having cookies and coffee or tea and a scone.

But I believe the secret is learning to first be your own soul mate.  Learn to love the face in the mirror and the love you begin to receive in return will knock your socks off.

I’d almost guarantee it.

But don’t take my word for it.  Live it, do it, be it.  Look in the mirror in the morning and tell yourself, “You’re alright”, “I love you”, “You complete me”.  Write in your journal the things that fill your soul with joy – knitting, crocheting, scrapbooking, running, walking, (notice these are all things you do on your own!).  Take care of yourself – eat healthy, exercise, meditate (sit quietly in a room and listen to the sound of you inhaling and exhaling for five minutes).  Discover what feeds your soul, write them down in your journal (or share them here), and refer back to them once a day and most importantly DO them!

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This month I’m looking at taking care of yourself and how important that is.

Click on the link and take a peek!    http://conta.cc/nz9CdJ

To your success…..creatively!

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I ran a 5K.

Yes, I know that isn’t grand like creating penicillin or the telegraph, but to little old me it’s the world.  It means that I have taken the first step towards eradicating another piece of baggage.  The first cousin to negative self-talk and it’s called limiting self-beliefs.

Here’s the thing, our minds are fantastic at feeding us the information that we THINK we want to hear.  And even when you KNOW that what you are thinking is wrong; your mind continues to wrap itself around you in circles until you have swept away what you KNOW with what you THINK.

What we know is in our heart.  Our heart tells us the truth.  Our heart acknowledges all the beautiful and wonderful things there are within us and it desperately tries to get that message to our brain.

Our brain on the other hand tends to believe all the garbage out there.  It has listened to all the negative talk there has been in our past and it believes it.  And not only does it believe it, but it feeds and waters it until it has grown to the point of where you don’t think you’ll overcome it.  Our limiting self-beliefs take control and they are a BUGGER to gain control back. 

How do you gain control?  To coin Nike’s phrase, “Just do it”.  No fancy answers, no gold-covered chocolate bar, just the plain, old simple truth.  Get up, make a plan, and do it.  No matter what your brain tries to tell you.

9 weeks ago I sent in a registration form for a 5K.  I was not consistent with any exercise routine, I am overweight, and to be honest I thought I was little crazy.  I set a goal of walking/running 3 times a week.  I picked days where I knew my schedule was lighter so I wouldn’t have as many excuses to not follow my plan.  And I did it.

Was I completely successful at my plan?  Nope.  At one point during the 9 weeks, I didn’t exercise for almost 10 days.  And I’m not going to lie, that first walk after missing I did nothing but beat myself up for the majority of the walk with limiting self-beliefs and negative self-talk.  Telling myself how stupid I was for thinking I could do this and other garbage until it dawned on me.

It wasn’t the destination that was the reward but it was the journey.

And that I had already achieved.  I went from no exercise to some exercise 3 times a week.  YEAH ME!

And so yesterday I participated in my first ever 5K.  And guess what?  I’m signing myself up for another one that’s in 2 months.  I ran the majority of the time, something I hadn’t done until yesterday.  I proved to myself, and every other limiting self-belief I have, that they are wrong.  I CAN do it and I DID!

And so can YOU!  Is there a limiting self-belief you want to set a plan for and kick its little heinie out the door?  Take it one step at a time and I would just about guarantee that those limiting self-beliefs will start dwindling and losing their power until you’ve tossed that baggage out with the garbage.  This I will guarantee and that is….you will feel a whole lighter and it’s an incredible feeling.  Take it from me!

Journal Challenge:  Identify one limiting self-belief you want to eliminate.  Determine the goal, and identify the journey.  Create a timeline for working on this plan and dig in.  Write down why you want to eliminate this limiting self-belief and refer back to this list when your mind starts playing tricks on you and telling you that it can’t be done.  Don’t give up on yourself because if you don’t believe in you who will?  I know you can do it!  If you need a cheerleader reach out and contact me.  I am in YOUR corner!!

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