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Affirmative Statements

Afirmative statements (or affirmations) are positively phrased sentences in the present tense. We strip out the “I should, I will, I’m going to…” and replace those words with “I am.” Let’s use the basic example of health to show how this process feeds the mind.

Example A: A woman is full of unhealthy habits that she wants to change. Month after month she says, “I want to become healthier.” When her favorite dessert is passed around at a dinner party, she takes some. Why? Because she wants to become healthier—at some point! Not today. She sees that in her future, not in her now. As long as that remains in her future, she won’t take any action toward it in the present.

Example B: The same unhealthy woman says, “I am a healthy person.” (An affirmative statement) At that same dinner party, when her favorite dessert is passed, she doesn’t take any. Why? Because she is a healthy person. She has already identified with it and become it, simply by affirming it. She’s not taking action tomorrow; she’s taking action right now.

The differences between this woman in Example A and Example B are very subtle. She didn’t go out and buy a membership to a club, or revamp her cupboards, or purchase expensive exercise equipment or diet plans. She changed her thinking, and her thinking changed her action. Isn’t it incredible to realize that the changes you desire are within your reach? The primary tool you need is your mind. Change is a matter of learning how to work with your mind, versus against it.

Also in this above example, that simple shift of mind did make her a healthier person. The person in example B is making better decisions both physically and mentally.

Attitudes are a lot like our hair! If not maintained daily we will get snarls and split ends! Brook Noel

Also in this above example, that simple shift of mind did make her a healthier person. The person in example B is making better decisions both physically and mentally.

That seems too easy… More »

Thoughts on Success

Every time I am asked about “secrets of success” I notice there is an underlying theme. Each formula I have shared has contained, in essence, intent-action-belief - faith-and then letting life happen. Reread today’s quote several times and really absorb what the words mean. Remove “success” and try “peace” or “happiness” or “contentment” or “joy” in its place.

When I seek success in something, I first focus on what I want and why I want it. When I know that it matches my mission of helping women create more positive lives, I then make an action plan. After all that homework is done, I believe with my heart and soul that nothing will stand in my way from realizing the vision. And then I do something else that many people forget to do when chasing a dream: I let it go.

It might seem odd to let a dream or vision go, especially right after we take our first action steps. And, I don’t mean that I literally let it go and never think of it again. It means that I have faith and trust in the mystery of miracles and life. When we hold onto what we want very tightly, we don’t give it room to grow into what it might be. Instead, we mold it and twist it to match only what we can see and believe. Yet life often has wonderful things in store for us that we may not yet be able to envision or believe. We have to let go of our limited scope of seeing a result in order to let life meet us halfway-to transform a goal into a vision.

Your Turn: Where in your life is letting go the next step to moving forward?

Are you bigger than your troubles?

“Expect trouble as an inevitable part of life, and when it comes, hold your head high. Look it squarely in the eye, and say, ‘I will be bigger than you. You cannot defeat me.’”-Ann Landers

Good morning! When Ann Landers was asked to give advice about successful living, she shared the above quote, which I hadn’t heard until recently, when I read it in a book I received for Christmas.

When I read Ann’s words, I was filled with a feeling of: Yes!! That is what it takes to live our best life. We don’t shy from trouble, we stare it down.

As a business owner and an entrepreneur, I have lived this quote over and over again. There is nothing more rewarding than the day you realize that you have everything you need within yourself and are perfectly capable of overcoming whatever life throws your way. When we get to the place where we can welcome all of life-the good, the bad, and the ugly-with confidence, we know a peace beyond measure.

Your Turn:
Realize that we cannot run from trouble; it is an inevitable part of life. However, we can learn to rise above it. Welcome all of life’s experiences-the good, the bad, and the ugly. Challenge yourself to look these experiences in the eye and use them as catalysts to become the “very best” you can be.

Today’s Affirmation:
I am bigger than any troubles.

The Golden Rule

“Always do right. This will gratify some people, and astonish the rest.”-Mark Twain

Good morning! When my daughter was in the difficult school years featured in movies like Mean Girls she lashed out at a bully who had been picking on her. When I asked her why, she explained she was following the golden rule “treating others like they were treating her.” I explained that although that is how much of society lives, she had the golden rule backward. I explained that she was half-right. If the bully was practicing the golden rule, then she wouldn’t pick on Sammy in the first place-but just because the bully picked on her, that didn’t make it right to lash back.

Then I uttered all those wise statements that we get to say as moms like, “If a friend told you to jump off a bridge, would you?” and, “Two wrongs don’t make a right.” My daughter, being the inquisitive child she is, wanted to know how far the bridge was from the water (in case it would be fun, like a diving board.) She also wanted to know if two wrongs don’t equal a right, what they do equal, because in algebra two negatives make a positive.

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Road trip ahead? 23 games to play in the car

How many of you find that travel or riding to or from an event, school or camp accounts for some of the quality time you have with your children? Instead of spending that time in silence or frustrated because you are listening to the same child-music CD for the 18th time that day, try a fun car game. These games often lead to laughter and memorable moments. These are also great when trying to keep children entertained in lines, waiting rooms, etc.

Here are a 23 games I have learned over the years, heard about from friends, or created with my daughter.

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A Gift of Perserverance

When I was seventeen I was a sophomore in college at UW-Milwaukee. I worked full time five days per week at a Big Boy restaurant on Kilbourn street in Milwaukee. Tuesday’s and Thursday’s I had off from work and on those days I walked to campus where I fit in a full course load between 9AM and 9PM. The employee break room at the restaurant was like many diner break rooms-kind of dark and cluttered. Amidst the clutter was an old brown piece of wood with a fake-gold plaque mounted on it. The plaque read:

Nothing in the world can take the place of perseverance. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent. Calvin Coolidge

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A Sample Quote Card

Experience Everything

When I was 16 I stumbled across a small book titled “Letters to a Young Poet” written by Rainer Maria Rilke. In 1903 a nineteen-year-old Franz Kappus wrote to Rilke looking for guidance and a critique of some of his poems. Franz was about to enter the military. The resulting five year correspondence is the most eloquent how-to guide for living a life of meaning, purpose and passion. Amazingly, Rilke was only 27 when he wrote the first letter to Franz.

While I highlighted more of the book than I left white, one particular quote always stuck with me. At 16 I don’t know if I really understood it–but I knew it was important and I knew it was how I wanted to live my life.

Have patience with everything unresolved in your heart Try to love the questions themselves, like locked rooms and like books written in a foreign language.  Do not now look for the answers.   They cannot now be given to you because you could not live them.  It is a question of experiencing everything.  At present you need to live the question.  Perhaps you will gradually, without even noticing it, find yourself experiencing the answer, some distant day.

Don’t Quit

When I was 10 my favorite thing in the world was to visit Book World-a quant bookstore thirty miles away in the town of Minocqua. I remember when Blue Mountain Arts released their poetry collections. I loved Helen Steiner Rice and began collecting each book as I could afford them.

When Book World began carrying small wallet cards I was in Heaven. I didn’t have to save as long! I bought several cards throughout the years but one is still in my wallet today. I guess it would be 24-years-old now. The rectangular gold card shares the following poem:

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My Favorite Quotes of All Time

I have always been a “quote collector.” Even as a child my allowance funds were spent on inspirational wallet-cards at the local bookstore. Just after college, I started a “Quote Collection” in a beautiful blank book I had received for Christmas. With my best penmanship (which isn’t so great) I would write phrases, sentences or paragraphs that resonated with me. Whenever I needed a pick-me-up I would turn to these inspiring and encouraging words. Over the years I started adding my own affirmations, favorite memories, and kind emails or letters.

During times of stress, emotional letdown, or discontentment, I would turn to this wellspring of rejuvenation. Each time I flipped through the pages, I found inspiration and encouragement. Years later I began adding a daily dose of this “Soul Food” to my life. This practice helped reduce my stress, emotional letdown, and discontentment.

I experimented with many ways to digest these nuggets of wisdom. Ultimately I decided the book wasn’t a practical means of delivery. This daily dose of Soul Food needed to be portable, not a bulky book

I transformed my quote book into inspirational cards and for over a decade have reaped the benefits. These cards are fun, easy and rewarding to make. I created a set of affirmation cards early on in my work and then shared the practice at both of my Orlando Disney Retreats where we made cards as a group. The feedback from women who have used these cards testifies to their benefit.

You can view the cards I have created www.maketodaymatter.net

There are so many great quotes I wanted to start recording my all-time favorite–and what better place to do it than here where I can share them with you… here are my favorites

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