HOPE AND GRATITUDE IN A CHALLENGING TIME

Happy Thanksgiving to those in the US, and here’s to a beautiful day if you are not in the US or are listening to this another day.

Let’s talk about gratitude in a new way, given the crazies of 2020, and how to have it in spite of and because of what we have and are experiencing in the world with the Pandemic.

Gratitude is a word that is often and easily bantered around.

"Start with gratitude. Gratitude gives you more of what you want. Do a daily gratitude journal."

Bleh, bleh, bleh....

What is gratitude, really? And how do we manage to feel grateful when we are in a challenging situation?

Life is 50/50. Always. We have joy, love, peace, happiness. We also have, conversely pain, grief, disappointment, frustration. 

We can’t know the bountiful fall harvest without the scorching suns of summer. We can’t know the blooms of spring without the frozen ice of winter. 

It gives us lemons,...

My life completely changed when I began a sincere morning routine and daily thought work process.

I have done pieces of it for years, starting as far back as junior high school, with a journal required for my English Creative Writing class. I didn’t totally grasp the benefit back then, but I was aware how much better I felt after getting my thoughts down on paper.

Through the years, I have done a number of things, including journaling, affirmations, visualization, meditation, yoga, and reading plenty of self help and motivational books.

In 1997, I went on a TV, news and negativity fast and have really never picked it back up. I rarely watch the news, and don’t have any shows I binge watch.

After reading Hal Elrod’s book, "The Miracle Morning" and listening to his podcast, I got re-energized to put it all into a formula that works for me.

It’s based loosely on his SAVERS format, and I mix things up some days to fit me:

Silence...

Seeking External Validation is a Recipe For Disaster

I don’t know who first said this, or where I heard it, but it is truly a freeing concept when we embody it and take it to heart.

Seeking external validation is always going to lead to some degree of dissatisfaction, and feelings of unworthiness.

Today's Monday Motivation Minute:

You can be the juices peach in the bunch, and someone doesn’t like peaches. In today’s social media world, they are going to tell you that.

So, if you are seeking the approval or recognition from others to validate your choice es, your worth or your abilities, you miss the potential that you have to grow and empower yourself to be and achieve the best that you can.

Validate yourself, your worthiness and abilities each day with some mirror work. Look yourself in the mirror and state - I am bold, I am sassy, I am worthy, I am the right person to achieve all that I desire and assist my tribe along the way....

Does Success Come From Self Confidence?

Most people think that success comes from having self confidence.

But, it’s a funny thing. In most interviews I listen to of successful entrepreneurs, most say the same thing - they struggled terribly with lack of self confidence.

You may know exactly what I am talking about.

I think back on my own journey and struggles with not feeling good enough.

It’s funny though. I have always spoken the words - I am self confident.

Looking back, I’m not sure that this was true. I just used different words. Because I know for sure that “self worth” or being good enough was an ongoing struggle.

I had a lot of “mean girl” issues from 4th grade to 6th grade. A circle of 4 of us and one or two of us - mostly me and one other girl - where always the target of mainly the ring leader, and her side kick.

In 7th grade, when I moved on to Junior High School, I bolted from that group and made...

Are We Too Goal Obsessed, Losing Sight of What Matters?

I'm thrilled to share my Mastermind and Transformation Decoded partners, Isabel Banerjee and Lee Woodward with you, today, as we discuss Achievement Vs Fulfillment.

We are about 17 episodes into a project, Transformation Decoded, that we are working on. Our mastermind meets for an hour to 90 minutes each monday morning and we "Get Stuff Done!"

Here are our thoughts on Achievement Vs Fulfillment:

Achievement Vs Fulfillment, what roles do each of these play in our lives and businesses, and what REALLY matters?

Jackie Ulmer shares - as a 3 on the Enneagram, “achievement” is something I know well. We are known as achievers and performers and life is all about accomplishing, Also, as a 26 year Network Marketing veteran, I have lived most of my life in a profession that is always about achieving the next goal.

Make a rank advancement and one is immediately looking toward what...

Resistance Leads to Unhappiness

Using the CTFAR Practice for Success!

We’ll cover:

How to Manage Your Thoughts

How to Manage Your Feelings

How to Drive Your Actions

How to Create the Results You REALLY Want

How to Release the Past

Life is full of circumstances. Situations. Things that happen. We don’t always control these, but we do control our reactions and how we hold on to them. Learn how to navigate any situation to succeed.

Circumstances

Life is full of circumstances. Situations. Things that happen. It all starts here.

Write down CTFAR

Circumstance - it’s just a fact. It is not the same as a thought. Its just is. We don’t control those. Our past is all about circumstances. More later.

People create circumstances

Life events

Elections

Disasters

Tragedy

Neutral, until we have a thought about it.

The sky is blue today. It’s 10:00am. This person said this… When I was 15, this...

It kinda feels like the world is upside down about now, doesn’t it? 

Like we went to bed one night and woke up in a parallel universe…

Or, is it a dream?

And, then you find out your friends and neighbors are in the dream with you.

You run to check your toilet paper stash.

Phew…

There is enough….

For now…

Interesting things happen during times of uncertainty.

People panic.

They become engulfed in fear.

Doubt.

Scarcity.

Some people worry.

Others view this as an opportunity.

I am writing this in March, 2020, as we are experiencing the CoronaVirus Pandemic across the globe. Not sure when you may be reading this, but being prepared is relevant regardless of the date or circumstances.

We all have some extra time because we sure aren’t going to -

Sporting events, concerts, movies, on cruises, St. Patrick’s day parades….

...

Emotional and Business resilience is important to your overall success and peace of mind.

Life gives us lemons 50% of the time. Let’s make lemonade from them.

We count on that superstar in Network Marketing, and then they don’t join or quit. Someone laughs at our decision.

Real Estate can be the same - EVERYONE seems to have their Real Estate license.

We must learn to stand out, get noticed, get the sale.

First, we must learn to navigate life’s challenges.

This week has been a whirlwind.

My son and his wife welcomed their first child and our first grandchild into the world. So excite to meet this new little bundle.

Less than 24 hours later, a devastating tornado blew through Nashville, Tennessee, literally right next door to my daughter’s apartment.

She is fine, but the aftermath and going through something like that alone, in the darkness is rattling. And, the power is out all...

Manage Your Thoughts, Master Your Happiness and Success

How a Daily Thought Download Creates Success in your life and your business.

Starting your day with an exercise in intentional thinking can truly change your life; your business and your happiness.

We have a choice each day - we can run the day, or the day can run us.

When we start the day by digesting the negative news; scrolling social media; scanning our inbox or anything else that gets us thinking in repetitive, often negative mode, chances are the day is not going to start on a high note.

Here is how to take control over your day, your thoughts and run more efficiently, effectively and happily with a daily thought download process that is intentional.

First, know this - there are no rules.

No right or wrong.

You can do it different each day.

Okay, there is one small rule, that can be broken, but I encourage you not to.

That rule is this - you MUST write it out. On paper. With a pen.

There is a connection between your brain...

Are You Clear on Your Values? Your Priorities?

I run my life and my decisions around a few key concepts. One of those is the 3 Cs for Success, which are Clarity, Commitment and Consistency. Today, let’s cover Clarity on Your Values and Priorities.

My focus word for 2020 is accomplished, and I’ll cover how these all fit together.

The definition of clarity is the quality of the “state” of being clear. Having a clear understanding of what and why.

And, ideally, so others are clear as well.

Do you have clarity around your life goals and priorities?

When these are clear for you, it creates more joy and simplicity in your life.

I base my values and proprieties around my 5 Favorite F Words. My value and marketing “buckets” come from this.

I started with my WHY in each area, and also incorporated my focus word into each one.

My key phrase ion journaling and doing my Thought Download on...