Pursuing Your Passion at Any Age!

Research shows that 80% of our thoughts are negative. That means the one most responsible for the outcome of our lives is us! Self-esteem is a state of mind and has a powerful hold on our emotions: happy, sad, afraid of failure, confident, determined, or a myriad of feelings that govern what actions we take. A healthy self-esteem is the number one key ingredient to achieving your goals in spite of what the world may throw at you at any given time!

Although you need to associate with positive individuals to help keep self-esteem intact, never allow anyone’s opinions to determine what you accomplish or what your value is. Learn from the Queen (Alice in Wonderland):

“There is no use in trying," said Alice, "one can't believe impossible things."

"I dare say you haven't had much practice," said the Queen. "When I was your age, I always did it for half an hour a day. Why, sometimes I've believed as many as six impossible things before breakfast." - Lewis Carroll, Alice in Wonderland

True self-confidence, value and worth will NEVER come from society or media’s definition. Not from Barbie dolls – Reality Shows – Magazines – or anything else!

You do not attract what you want…you attract what you BELIEVE you are! Don’t worry about those who talk behind your back…they are behind you for a reason!

We delight in the beauty of the butterfly, but rarely admit the (excruciating) changes it has gone through to achieve that beauty. Maya Angelou.

What happens when you get your wings? When you allow yourself to be transformed into that beautiful butterfly, some of your friends and family who you used to be comfortable around may not understand or even like or appreciate your differences, however wonderful they are. They may just see them as weird or mock them. They may even want to change you back to what you were before. Never! Now that you have wings, fly higher. Surround yourself with those who appreciate you and will fly together with you.

When life rains on you and you stumble, make it part of the dance! (unknown).

Put your raincoat on (your protective device – positive confessions, a supportive friend/neighbor/relative, inspirational tapes). Let no embarrassing event ever define you or your future. As soon as you see yourself through the eyes of God, as His beautiful child, and have then become comfortable within yourself, even those things you don’t like about yourself can never tear you down again. Soar higher, kick farther and knock out any obstacles that threaten your self-confidence and pursuit of your destiny. Continue to rearrange your life pieces into even more beauty, excitement and the self-esteem you truly deserve!

Jim Rohn: You can’t change your destination overnight but you can change your direction overnight. “Later” is a dream killer. Think about creating your own growth plan.

*** Chapter 5 Uncover Your Inner Architect

Silence that Screamer Inside! People often don’t realize that the reason they’re not happy, enjoying life or moving forward is simply because they have unwittingly trained their minds to continue steering them in that same, familiar (and wrong) direction. The good news is that just as we can train our minds to focus on the negative, we can also reprogram our fascinating mental machinery to leave those negative memories behind and focus on a constructive, positive lifestyle. It all depends on what we consciously “choose” to meditate on!

Stop waiting for the person you want to become and start being the person you want to be! John Maxwell

Do you have a growth plan? A Life Game? What is in Your Boat?

Imagine you are in a boat, what would you take for necessary life protection? Safety? Fun and relaxation? What would you pack? A GPS to explore new places? Life jacket (a nurturing group, material needs, etc.)? Beer and bad relationships? Friends who have your back and are there to support you, or ones who would knock you out of the boat if they didn’t get their way? Stressful people who weigh your boat down? Friends and associates who have a good sense of humor? Those who are always grouchy and negative? What we plan for the future is like packing our boat. What happens if an emergency strikes? What happens if the boat breaks down or we run out of gas? Lay out your plan for every area of your life. Create categories and subcategories for Yourself, family, education, recreation, relationships, career, etc. Keep it? Toss it? Fix it? Think carefully of the impact your choices will have first on you, then on those around you. Write them down!

It is time to revisit those dreams, so let's get going. You can not move forward while looking in the rear view mirror! Add more scenic roads (steps) to your life map and enjoy the ride. Begin to write down (not just think about) your crucial steps to accomplishment: classes to help you reach your career goals, ending a negative relationship that may be holding you back, bartering your gifts and services with others (trading off child care for technical or business marketing help you may need, using your awesome cooking skills in exchange for someone who can tutor you in giving confident presentations at work) for example.

The Chess Game Against the Enemy: When it looks like you ran out of moves and are stuck where you are (defeat/poverty/illness/loss), remember: The King (and you, His child) have one more move! We win this game of life!