Keep the Faith

I have spoken about change on this blog many times in the past. It's the only constant (that, death & taxes, right?) and, although I don't fight it as vehemently as I once did, I still push back from a place of fear more often that I'd care to admit.

So, WHY is it so scary to pursue our dreams?

WHY is it easier, albeit more painful, to stay STUCK in the quagmire of the situation that no longer (if it ever did) serves us?

WHY does fear sometimes roar louder than faith?

Sadly, I don't have the answers to these questions, but I know that I'm not alone in feeling this way.

It takes tremendous strength & courage to KEEP GOING when fear screams loudest.

It seems so much easier to retreat and let fear list the million and one ways why "this" is not such a good idea, not practical, frivolous, or just plain STUPID.

KEEP. GOING. ANYWAY!

I have come to believe that fear is a great, big scaredy cat and does NOT have MY best interests in mind. It's simply looking to save it's OWN ass!

I also have come to believe that, those who try to show me how unreasonable and impractical my dreams are, may not be trying to talk me out of pursuing my dreams; they may simply be trying to keep me safe in the best way they know how.

.

However, ultimately, the decision of how to live my life lies with ME!

I have to turn the volume down on the voices in my head that tell me that I'm "not good enough", or I'm "gonna be an epic failure, so why risk it"?

A very wise man recently told me that, taking a risk can, at the very worst, end up being a bad idea. As long as I'm not doing something to jeopardize my health or hurt someone else, I can bounce back from pretty much anything. 

I'm a pretty tough chick!  ;-)

Instead of letting my fears paralyze me, maybe I would be better of remembering how "crazy" risks I have taken in the past have either (a) led to better things, (b) served as great lessons about what NOT to do, or (c) made for GREAT stories that I have laughed about years later.

So, what would you rather do?

Stay in a situation that make makes you miserable.....OR....take a baby step the other way into the unknown?

Here's a big, fat reality check....(I'm saying this to myself as much as I'm sharing it with you):

You already KNOW how sucky the place you're in now is....how much worse could it be? 

AND....the sucky place will be right there waiting for you if you decide to retrace your steps and come back. That's the thing about sucky places....they don't change!

YOU can!

You deserve a SPECTACULAR life....not one that you merely tolerate.

Why not, at least, turn & face the opposite direction...see if THAT view is any better?

I'm fairly certain that it's a helluva lot better than what you're staring at now....

KEEP.THE.FAITH.....

You got this!!!

(me too!)

<3 <3 <3

Challenging the status quo

You are in the perfect position to get there from here.
—Abraham-Hicks

Fall.

3rd season of the year and the one that precedes death/hiberation/retirement.

This is the season of the harvest...

Tonight is also the New Moon, cycle of new beginnings.

I love thinking about the symbolism found in nature.

Every day includes the cycle of birth and death. Each sunrise signifies a rebirth, a new beginning.

We get a "do over" every day...a fresh start....a chance to change the course of our lives and shake up the status quo.

Sounds like a pretty sweet deal, right?

Then how come it's so easy to feel stuck in a life/job/habit/relationship that seems impossible to escape from?

Why is so easy to forget the immense opportunity that we have to make a change in every second of our lives?

Why do we feel powerless when the reality is that we ALWAYS have the ability to choose something different?

We've just forgotten that we do....

Sounds pretty simple, huh?

It also sounds harder than climbing Mt Everest.

The analogy is a good one because the way to change your life is the same as the way you get to the peak of the mountain....simply by putting one step in front of the other.

Baby steps add up over time.

Consistency can change the most deeply embedded habit....

The funny thing is that while you're making those small changes, they may seem inconsequential in the moment. Barely worth repeating, because, really...how can such a small thing add up to anything worthwhile?

That's the beauty of it!

Anyone is capable of making significant, lasting change, but not everyone is willing to put in the time and the effort to go the distance.

This is something I've been struggling with for sometime. I have some challenges that have kept me stuck in old, unhealthy patterns and negative self-talk. While I have access to all the support and information I could ask for, I keep finding myself stuck in the same, frustrating predicament.

I'm giving up (on myself) before the REAL change begins. Just when it starts to get difficult, I slip back into the familiar place that I've occupied for FAR too long. The place I no longer want to be in...and yet....

I know I'm not alone in this behavior. Doesn't make me feel much better knowing that.

I have to be very careful not to let myself slip into the other old behavior of negative self-talk which serves only to plant me more firmly where I'm at. It's almost as if those old tapes keep me distracted from my goals and aspirations by repeating over and over how badly I feel about myself and my life until I am unable to hear anything else.

Big, fat reality check:

I have a fabulous life!

I am surrounded by love from my friends, family and new people finding their way into my life.

I am taking risks and finding my way to a passion filled life.

I am saying a heartfelt YES to the opportunities that arise on a daily basis.

I am willing to ask for and give help to others when necessary.

I am living a life of abundance!

I am challenging the status quo and I truly believe that I AM capable of AMAZING things!!!

How are you shaking things up in your life?

What ways have you found to stay focused and committed to your goals?

Let's support & encourage each other on our journey to greatness!

Peace & Love

<3

Coming home

“The biggest failure you can have in life is making the mistake of never trying at all.” – Unknown

As September draws to a close, I'm taking the opportunity to reflect on the last 9 months. I have been bold in trying new things and pursuing new opportunities. I have definitely said, YES to my life more this year than I have in in the recent past. Perhaps that's one of the advantages of getting older (and hopefully, a bit wiser) is that fear of the unknown doesn't paralyze me quite as much as it used to. Not to say that I'm reckless, not by any means! But I am willing to do a little recon and explore my options. 

As I become clearer on what I DON'T want, I can make space for the possibility of what I MAY want; I can try it on, see how it "fits" me, and decide to keep it or move on to the next option.

This blog has been calling to me. I took a break for awhile and now I feel pulled back, to share my experiences, lessons learned, and try to find my way through the daily challenges of life. I believe that life is better shared, much like a gooey, decadent dessert. Sometimes it makes you feel really good and sometimes it makes you feel sick. Either way, the experience is better when you have someone to share it with!

The most profound lessons of my life have come from allowing myself to be vulnerable with others, even when I didn't know how to do that. When I admitted that I needed help, support, or just someone to share my feelings with, more often than not, what I needed was there. I learned that not only did I have to ask for help, but I also had to allow people to help me, even when their help didn't look exactly the way I expected. 

I believe that each of us is born with a unique gift that is ours alone to share with the world. No one else can do or be that one "thing" in exactly the same way that we can. The world is made so much richer by our contributions. The tragedy of today's society is that we're conditioned to conform, to fit in, to dull our special light. I think there's a huge difference between self-confidence and conceit. In an attempt to avoid the latter, we often sacrifice the former. I have suffered from feelings of "not ___ enough" my whole life, and, even now, I am uncomfortable when someone acknowledges a positive attribute that I possess. I am so conditioned to minimizing my strengths; I wish that I could provide myself with the same support and encouragement that I give to others.

But...

I'm working on it.

I'm a work in progress.

I can accept that today.

I'll never be perfect and that's OK.

As long as I'm a little better than I was yesterday, I'm moving in the right direction.

I'm glad to be back and look forward to sharing more adventures & insights with you.

Sweet dreams, lovelies!

<3

Back in the saddle again...

“If you want to make your dreams come true, the first thing you have to do is wake up.” – J.M. Power

Hello friend....It's been awhile since we last got together. I hope all is well in your world. I'm sorry I've been M.I.A. I didn't feel quite up to sharing...haven't been thrilled with some choices I've made lately. I've been stuck in a rut of ickiness and didn't feel that I had much of worth to share with you. I guess it would have been the ideal time to share my struggles & imperfections with you...I know I'm not alone in my negative feelings of self worth and self-medicating with food & social media, but who wants to hear someone complain about their life, right?  I want to provide inspiration and support, not wallow in my own crap. Misery loves company & I am determined NOT to contribute to the already excessive amount of negativity in the world. SO, I chose to stay silent.....for far too long, as it turns out.

I'm ready to take baby steps to loving myself again and treating myself the way I want to be treated.

I'm sick & tired of being sick & tired! Ready to make some MAJOR changes...starting with my physical health.

Can any of you relate?

Have you experienced periods like this?

What's worked for you? |

Maybe we can help each other....

Would love to hear from you!

Peace & love...

<3

Oh, the places you'll go.....

“You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes.
You can steer yourself any direction you choose. You're on your own, and you know what you know.
And you are the one who'll decide where you'll go.
Oh the places you'll go.”
― Dr. Seuss

What a weekend!

I am finally a graduate of DePaul University....class of 2014---wooo hoooo!!!

When I began this journey several years ago I had no idea how much the experience of completing my college degree would change me.

A friend introduced me to the program that would allow me to complete my college education in a manner that was accessible and manageable with my full time job. The curriculum was creative and flexible and I jumped at the opportunity to register.

During my time there, I learned how much I enjoy writing and that I'm pretty good at it. My curiosity for learning was reignited and I developed confidence in myself in a way that I hadn't been able to before. Another friend who attended my graduation yesterday remarked that this accomplishment is something that no one can ever take away from me. 

I agree...

But it's more than that.

I've realized that I can do anything I set my mind to.

I've learned to push past the boundaries of what I believe to be possible....there are NO limits to what can be.

I know that I have an incredible support system....many of whom showed up yesterday to cheer me on as I accepted my degree.

I've learned that my actions can serve as inspiration for others to pursue their own dreams...which shocked the hell out of me.

I learned that it's never too late to begin something new...

I am so very grateful for the support and good wishes from friends and family and others from all around the globe.

YOU inspire me to take risks and to be better than I was before.

YOU give me courage to be myself even when I don't know exactly what that looks like...

...and when I stumble, you love me in spite of myself.

You allow me to speak from my wide open heart, and for that and so much more...I thank YOU!!

What a difference a day makes....

05/20/01

Thirteen years ago tonight, my life was very different than it is today.

People who know me now might not recognize the person I was then.

I was sick.

I was broken.

....and I didn't even know it.

I knew I was scared.

I knew I hated myself and my life.

I didn't know there was a way out.

There is.

That night I prayed for help to anything that could hear me.

I was desperate.....

and I was also heard.

When it seems as though all else is gone, please remember that hope is always there. If you can hang on to even the teeeeeniest bit of hope, you've got a chance.

Ask for help.

Share your fears.

There are other people who understand and can help.

You are not alone.

Miracles happen every day.

I'm one of them!

xox

Lifting me higher....

I am a firm believer in quality over quantity...especially in relationships. I would rather have a few, good friends...you know, the kind of friends who you can call at 3 a.m... the kind who you can count on in good times and in bad...honest, trustworthy friends.

I always found the phenomenon of social media interesting in that regard...some people seem to collect "friends," as if whoever has the most at the end of the game, wins.

I get it....social media isn't real life, but it's an interesting glimpse at today's society....how does this relate to real life relationships?

Do folks put as much effort into building & sustaining relationships as they used to? Have relationships become so transient that they've become disposable?

This is not the main focus of tonight's post....just some food for thought.

I went off on this tangent because I had the privilege of spending a few hours this afternoon with a dear, dear friend of mine, who was in town on a layover. She left the States last year and is back for a short time. One of the many things that was so special about this visit is that, even though we haven't seen each other in a very long time, once we were in the same room, it was as if no time had passed. Of course, we had all sorts of stuff to catch up on....but what is truly important, the deep connection that we share, was just as strong as it was when she left...maybe even moreso. I am so grateful to have people like this in my life.

These are the type of relationships that I want to cultivate.

I would much rather surround myself with people who are positive, gracious, and full of integrity...people who inspire me to be a better version of myself. And people for whom I can do the same...

I am so very fortunate to have some amazing people in my life like that. They are an integral part of a support system that I can count on. We are available for each other and encourage each other through good times and bad. We celebrate each others successes and provide comfort & strength during the rough times.

Today I want to say THANK YOU to all the special people that lift me up every day....you bring inspiration, love, and joy to my life and I am forever grateful for your friendship!

xox