My New Year's message to you

2016 delivered many more challenges than I could've imagined in 2015. Pain and fear drive most people's complacency and acceptance of mediocrity. There are many lessons that I've learned throughout the years on how to deal with so many unforeseen things that come OUR way. I'd LOVE the opportunity to share them with YOU through this end of year message.

WE all have things that WE want- accomplishments, vacations, weight to lose, stop drinking, stop smoking, kick the addiction, more money in the bank account, start a new venture, meet new people, go back to school, learn a new skill or current challenges that you want turned around. But, it seems that many of US can go on for years or decades and still not see anything change. The “rut” becomes the accepted “norm”. The easiest thing to do is to get discouraged and believe that nothing will ever change.

Once you tell yourself that “this is as good as it gets”, YOU start believing that. In this life, WE all go through discouragement, heartache and loss. The pain that these things generate for us, is a part of this life (that WE are privileged to have). Instead of “why is this happening to me?”, shift your questions to “what can I do to make this better?”.

The key is what WE do in our times of pain. WE all know that pain will change us. The circumstances that create pain will never leave US exactly how WE were before. Each of these things WILL develop and give YOU something, the GIFT, that can only be created during these times- this is very important to understand. The pain will eventually go away, but what did YOU gain from each of those experiences to make the next experiences so much better?

Of course these real life challenges could overwhelm YOU. But, how the pain is being used, and impacts YOUR future, is up to YOU. You can come out bitter or you can come out better, it is a CHOICE. When WE have choices, WE are in full control of the direction of OUR lives. CHOOSE to come out with new drives and passions, new fire and excitement about all the opportunities that are right in front of YOU, that YOU may never have seen before the pain was delivered to YOU.

You’re a WINNER, not a complainer. YOU can handle whatever life delivers to YOU, as life always will. Allow each experience to prepare YOU for the next and see life’s challenges as OPPORTUNITIES and gifts. Even if they seem impossible in each moment, KNOWING YOU WILL learn, grow and persevere from each- as you’ve always have.

WE all have also brought pain on ourselves- bad relationship choices, bad hires, too much spending, eating too much, ongoing bad habits that jeopardize us, selfish friends or health. This pain can be reversed. It’s better to deal with the consequences now than let them create negative patterns and permanent bad habits, aka “self hate”.

All of US experience pain. But CHOOSE to not just go through it, but GROW through it. Use it as an OPPORTUNITY to get stronger, develop YOUR character, gain new confidence. That pain is not there to stop you, it’s there to prepare you, to increase you, to develop you. Eventually the pain will pass and you’ll give birth to new strengths.

It’s easy to settle for “average” in a quest for mediocrity. But, this life is too special for that. KNOW that all the strengths and powers to lift yourself above all and put YOU into a better place, are inside of YOU. Clearly low self-esteem, break-ups, financial challenges and sometimes medical news can force US to bury the thoughts of all that WE want. CHOOSE to turn it around and FOCUS your ambitions to lessen the pain. The true mark of a champion is that even though some dirt gets thrown on your dreams instead of letting it bury you, YOU keep shaking it off and getting up, moving forward.

See, the universe has a way of delivering ongoing opposition to YOU in hopes that you forget and/or never allow the GREATNESS in YOU to come out. If you’re dream wasn’t alive and on track, you wouldn’t have so many things coming against you. You got to KNOW this and feel this deep within YOU. You may have been working at your dreams for years, and it still hasn’t happened yet. Shift YOUR thinking. Learn a new way. Good things are coming. YOU just have to keep yourself in the game. Doing without, constant struggle and scraping by are not YOUR purpose for this life.

CHOOSE to light the fire NOW!

This is your time. This is your moment. Shake off the doubt. Shake off the negativity. You’re at the right place. You’re at the right time. Now all you got to do is get in the right frame of mind.

KNOW that: This is my moment, this is my time and year to get better. This is my year to meet the right people. This is my year to go further in my career. NOW is the time to step into a new level and make the changes necessary for all that I want. This is my year to accomplish all that I want. It’s time to break from this depression and get freedom from all addictions.

Get your mind going in the right direction, NOW!

Parting tips:

* Don’t consume (eat, drink, smoke, snort, body rub) anything that is bad for you.

* Never watch reality shows, since they aren’t actually “reality” and are scripted, and make US all dumber.

* Entertainment should make you feel good, not negative or confrontational.

* Don’t believe the media since they are a business using sensationalism to divide and negatively impact YOUR psychology.

*Read everything.

* Say “hello” to everyone.

* Surround yourself with ONLY those that make YOU better.

* Work harder than everyone. Make the continuous passionate efforts.

* PASSION brings so much more energy that makes it more likely to SUCCEED.

* Get mad, intensity drives change.

* Do what you MUST do, even if you don’t want to. Even if it hurts.

* Get clarity of what YOU want and FOCUS on that image all the time.

* Demand SUCCESS!

* Make mistakes, learn, fix them fast!

* Work on yourself. Spend more time on developing YOU!

* Refuse to get distracted.

* Learn to say “no” when something isn’t helping YOU.

* Have an emotional investment in everything that YOU do.

* Surround YOURSELF with people that are what YOU want to be.

* Every day IS an OPPORTUNITY.

* CHOOSE to give more than is expected.

* Protect yourself from all those that YOU give emotional access to.

* Love yourself, because YOU are worth it.

Wishing YOU an extraordinary, prosperous, euphoric, brilliant, exciting, adventurous, healthy, happy and momentum-filled new year, 2017!!!

#IcanIwillIknow