Sometimes we can derail our life from our own vices. Yet, there is always hope to get back up with confidence, get on track, and ease on down the road.
“The only person who can pull me down is myself, and I’m not going to let myself pull me down anymore.” C. Joybell C.
“Stop beating yourself up. You are a work in progress, which means you get there a little at a time, not all at once. ” Unknown
“Forgive yourself for your faults and your mistakes and move on.” Les Brown
“Embrace and love all of yourself – past, present, and future. Forgive yourself quickly and as often as necessary. Encourage yourself. Tell yourself good things about yourself.” Melody Beattie
“If only you could sense how important you are to the lives of those you meet; how important you can be to people you may never even dream of. There is something of yourself that you leave at every meeting with another person. ” Fred Rogers
“Because you are not the first to get across the finish line, this does not mean you lost the race. Set your pace for the course. As long as you do and have done your very best to reach the finish line and cross over, then you have succeeded, able and capable, based on your abilities to give it a try.” With love, Kym
There were times when I pushed myself to exhaustion, trying to keep up the pace of achievement with others on rules they set. I felt by a certain age, I needed to have acquired certain things and achieved desired results. That is what society led me to believe, and I fell for it. The older I got, I found out that I could not march to the beat of stretch goals made by others for themselves because it was impossible. Plus, we were operating on an uneven playing field. First of all, with some things, I didn’t have the same resources, whether it was financial or personal connections. My circle was clearly different, and I had to operate with what I had, maximize my resources and do the best I could.
If someone or some system ever gave you the impression that you are a failure because you didn’t finish first in a particular race, just remember that some of the most successful, compassionate, and content people didn’t always come in first place. Don’t allow negativity of any kind to steal your joy or your stamina. Instead, they enjoyed the experiences and lessons of the pace and journey they walked, unaffected by a blur of forgetfulness from the mad dash of furor.
We have heard people ask, “What would you say right now to your younger self?” “What advice would you give to your younger you?” What would you change or not change if you could talk to your inner youth right this moment, where you are in your self-care zone? How do you respond to yourself?
Becoming adults, we sometimes ruminate on our youth, our experiences, our triumphs, and even occasionally our regrets. Sometimes we find ourselves fizzling and worn around the edges and wonder how we ended up where we are, whether it was by choice or chance.
So why not write a letter to your younger self? (Dear Younger Self) – will you be able to finally free and forgive yourself of things that were holding you hostage for far too long? Even if that younger you is from five or ten years ago, write anyway. Will you tell that younger you to believe in yourself? Will you tell that younger you to learn to be more discerning about your relationships? Would you tell your younger you to stop giving other people your power and use your power to build greater confidence to go for your dreams, goals, and aspirations? Would you tell your younger you to stop procrastinating, and don’t leave so many things undone. Would you tell your younger you to stop holding on to things you should have let go of long ago? Would you tell your younger you to stop looking at fear as failure or rejection, and instead use it as an ice axe to help you climb that scary mountain?
I find that writing things down holds me accountable for what has to be done. This is a challenge for all of us, should you choose to do so, that can give us a swift kick in the butt to remind us to recondition our minds and spirits to live, especially since we are adults. Shine your light and make your purpose become a reality that empowers instead of inhibits. This can be so redeeming, refreshing, and help to regerminate those dormant seeds within. So, what would you say to your younger self?
People with determination are those who get up and keep going, who learn from what went wrong and adjust course, and who believe in themselves despite all obstacles. -Unknown
Sometimes it feels like you are so exhausted and have given out of gas as soon as you fill up. We are constantly reminded that despair is always there, and despair is everywhere. Yet, do not allow unnecessary despair to occupy your mind, or commandeer your chair. If this happens, it could block you from your goals, by incarcerating your mind, and you might want to give up. We may fall down, but we can’t stay down, so we get back up anyway.
Determination is defined as” the ability to keep trying”, and to keep moving towards a goal, no matter what. -Anonymous
OK, so what’s your next step? For what or for whom do you ask? For you, of course! We are embarking on a new day. You should look at this new gift as a blessing and opportunity. Now, trust me, I understand how things can seem daunting when you don’t feel well or if a tragedy has found itself nestled deep within your heart. Of course, it would be asinine to tell you to overlook these tribulations because all of us face those challenging times, as well as those moments of victory.
As we take a deep breath, let’s take it one step at a time, to step up (get up and go), to step out (move out of your comfort zone), and then to step into a new path uncovering some exciting things you never knew existed (that leap of faith). Don’t “you” be your problem about why you didn’t get up and get going. Look for that open door to walk on through, or that open window to spread your wings and fly through. A change is gonna come, oh yes, it is.
You know, social media and their influencers make such a powerful impact on people, especially surrounding physical beauty and appearances affecting females. It’s disconcerting to learn that so many ordinary, everyday women, especially teens and tweens are infatuated by model appearances on social media sites and other beauty channels that may not be all they think they are cut out to be.
Retouching software is nothing new, but it has taken a very distorted turn with the popularity of retouching apps. I am pleased to learn that the self-images, especially for teens is being addressed on a national scale. I discovered that Dove is promoting a movement called #NoDigitalDistortion that I find is a needed mission in this day and time.
According to Dove’s report, by age 13, 80% of girls distort the way they look online. This is alarming and can be harmful and quite possibly deadly. Dove goes on to express that social media is a big part of young people’s lives, but the digital distortion they see online can impact their self-esteem, confidence and well-being.
To reverse the negative effects of social media and build resilience, the folks at Dove are working to help young people build confidence and a positive body image on social media. To take the digital pledge #NoDigitalDistortion, or to share with any young lady or adult who needs to be reminded of the inner and exterior beauty they possess, while standing up to unrealistic beauty standards, please go check out this empowering campaign at Dove.com. The Dove Self-Esteem Project can show you how.
Courage…some days you are feeling it and some days you don’t. On those days when your confidence level is down and courage seems elusive, that’s when you cannot fear, nor be dismayed, nor give up.
One of my favorite movies is the Wizard of Oz, which debuted in theaters across the U.S. on August 25, 1939. If you are a fan of this cast of characters, Dorothy, Toto, Tin Man, Scarecrow, Cowardly Lion, the Great Wizard of Oz, Glinda the Good Witch and the Wicked Witch of the West, then you are swept away by the storyline about matters of the heart.
Just as the Cowardly Lion tried to put on a front and act ferocious, he was, for whatever reasons, lacking confidence. I loved the advice Dorothy gave the lion that encouraged his confidence and helped him regain his courage:“The true courage is in facing danger when you are afraid.” Sometimes, challenges can beat the courage out of you, but even in those moments of discouragement, we rise when we face these challenges head on, and take back our confidence with a boldness that surpasses our understanding.
From Behind the Pen 