Posts tagged with “Change”
One Simple Word That Can Change Your Life (And No, It’s Not “Thanks”)
“It’s not what happens to you, but how you react to it that matters.” ~Epictetus
About nine years back I was at the lowest point of my life.
We had been trying to start a family for close to four years by that point.
The forty-plus consecutive months of “not pregnant” verdict were starting to take their toll on me. That second line on the pregnancy test strip seemed like it would never appear. Life felt like it was a never-ending cycle of false hope that was always crushed in the end.
I wouldn’t wish that kind of despair on …
Trying to Change Your Life? 6 Reminders to Help You Keep Going
“You can’t change what’s going on around you until you start changing what’s going on within you.” ~Zig Ziglar
When you’re studying for eighteen years to have a chance at a better future, you’re not expecting to end up wearing yellow gloves and washing dishes, right? But what if I tell you that it made me happier than a job sitting behind a desk at a renowned institution?
You might be thinking now, “If this post is about how to change from a job behind a desk to one behind a sink, I better not waste my time reading it.” …
Why We Shouldn’t Force Advice on People & What Actually Helps
“Most people do not listen with the intent to understand; they listen with the intent to reply.” ~Stephen R. Covey
This is a post about listening.
I know it’s really unsexy. It’s a topic that’s like the sun; nobody looks directly at it. But you want to create deep and lasting connections with others, and real changes for your loved ones, right?
Right. Stick with me.
Think about your typical day. How often do you listen in a conversation with others without being fully present?
Go on, be honest.
You find that you float in and out of awareness. Certain …
What You Need to Know When You’re Considering a Big, Scary Change
“May your choices reflect your hopes, not your fears.” ~Nelson Mandela
Ten months ago I found myself floating on my back in an outdoor pool somewhere in California. Overhead was a clear blue sky, leaves dancing in the breeze, and birds singing their morning song.
I felt more alive in that moment than I had in years. And so I made a promise to myself, right there and then, not to forget this feeling. I made a promise that I’d follow it. I made a promise that this feeling wouldn’t just be a three-month trip to a new country, but …
How I Stopped Feeling Hopeless and Healed from Depression
“Abandon the idea that you will forever be the victim of the things that have happened to you. Choose to be the victor.” ~Seth Adam Smith
I come from a history of abuse and mental illness on both sides of my family. I felt the effects of both growing up. By my twenties, I was a mess.
I suffered from wild mood swings and severe depression, either lashing out or completely numb and disinterested. I was using alcohol to numb myself from reality, and it was only a matter of time before I’d end up in jail or dead.
I …
How to Let Go of the Limiting Stories That Keep You Stuck and Unhappy
“It’s not what you look at that matters; it’s what you see.” ~Henry David Thoreau
We don’t see with our physical eyes, we see with our minds. I learned this lesson the hard way when I turned fifty-five. Suddenly, new wrinkles, deeper crow’s feet, dry eyes, and dryer skin seem to enjoy welcoming me each morning when I looked in my mirror.
I began to notice other people my age and I would automatically compare my appearance to theirs. Was she younger looking than me? Did she still appear under fifty (even when I knew she wasn’t)?
As you might …
You Don’t Have to be Shaken Up to Wake Up
“They always say time changes things, but you actually have to change them yourself.” ~Andy Warhol
I’m in my late thirties now, but I remember getting my first car like it was yesterday.
Even though I would have loved a shiny new car, my dad had suggested I go for a reliable junk box instead. Since I had been known to take out a few mailboxes and was somewhat of a menace on the road, I begrudgingly agreed.
Dad had a friend who worked on cars, and I proudly purchased my first clunker for $1000.
The catalyst for wanting my …
10 Things to Remember When You Feel Lost and Alone
“Accept what is, let go of what was, and have faith in what will be.” ~Sonia Ricotti
I would lie awake at night aching for rest and relief from my racing mind. Hot milk with honey, yoga postures with my feet above my head, no chocolate after three in the afternoon—I had tried it all.
I was weaning myself off sleeping pills. Wrenching myself from my love affair with the tiny white disc. I’d pop it under my tongue to slide from the shackles of adrenaline. They felt impossible to escape.
I’d started using sleeping pills in my last semester …
How to Make a Hard Change and Avoid Future Regrets
“If you do tomorrow what you did today, you will get tomorrow what you got today.” ~Benjamin Franklin
If you want change, it has to come from inside. You can’t rely on someone or something to change you; you have to do it yourself.
However, it’s one thing to want it, but it’s another to actually do it. That’s the hard part—doing it. Change can be hard.
But there’s a technique to get yourself to take action to make a change. It’s simple, and truly powerful.
A Technique to Get Yourself to Make a Change
It’s just a matter …
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