In the movie Footloose, Kevin Bacon stood out by taking on a whole town because he wanted to dance. In Legally Blonde, Reese Witherspoon was ridiculed by her peers for how she dressed and spoke, even though she got into law school just like them. In these movies, and hundreds like them, we cheer for the outcasts and the underdogs — our heroes — because most of us know how that feels. And we watch the (mostly) happy ending. The hero or heroine goes against the norm and wins. Watching … [Read more...]
When other people’s advice doesn’t work
The shoes looked fantastic. On sale, and they had my size. My little arrow hovered over them, and after staring, debating, picturing them with my best jeans, I hit the 'x' and left the site. In my efforts to accumulate less stuff and occasionally flirting with minimalism, I gave myself a pat on the back. Those shoes were really, really cute. But a sigh later, I went to bed. A couple of weeks ago, I was looking at my book wish list (which keeps growing), and in the mood I was in, … [Read more...]
21 Ways to Step Up Success in 2016
There's something about the fresh slate of a new year that's so inviting. Possibilities seem more possible, success more achievable. This is the year for me! Things are gonna happen! Truth is, each day, each week, each hour is a chance to start over. But when we're caught up in our stuff, when there's no countdown or a ball drop or a champagne toast, it doesn't seem special enough to take it seriously. Why start now? Can I just quit? But hey, it IS a new year, so there's no reason not to … [Read more...]
On Scoring Critical Wins With Your Inner Critic
I've hated myself over many things. I'd tell you, but why feed the beast? Getting that voice inside our heads to behave, now that's the tricky part. It starts young, this voice, this critic. It's like we were never set up to win. At least not long after we were kids. At some point it hits you, this delicate balance, the fine yet blurry line. This critic crosses over ever so smoothly, from the protective arm across your chest as you hit the brakes to gripping you so hard it bruises your … [Read more...]
The 10-Step Take-Charge Guide To Conquering The Overwhelm of HARD WORK
WHEN CONSIDERING MAKING a big change or starting a project, my first hurdle is getting over the overwhelm at the (long) path ahead of me. Maybe you've felt the same, and can recognize the signs. (OMG) That's a lot of hard work! This thought is either accompanied by mild panic or a sinking feeling in my stomach, depending on what the case might be. Your brain starts spouting things like this is too difficult, there's no way I can do this, or it's tooooooo much for me to handle. Before you … [Read more...]
How To Remind Yourself To Be Successful
JACK WAS VERY successful. He started his career as a teacher, but over time he worked hard and became a bestselling author, living in a gorgeous estate, with appearances on TV and a multimillion dollar income. He was doing great, to say the least. A few years later, however, he found himself in the midst of a tough divorce and on the brink of an ugly legal battle. Jack felt betrayed and fell into a depression. The stakes were high, both emotional and financial. A few weeks … [Read more...]