The Key Word is ENHANCE

Professional Speaker-Personal Development-Positive Attitude

You’ve heard it hundreds of times. As each New Year begins, you read articles, see TV ads, hear podcasts – all about New Year’s Resolutions.

How are you going to make your New Year better??

What changes are you going to make to be a better person???

It makes me want to scream! Don’t they know how hard it is to change?  Don’t they realize that I already feel guilty for not losing weight, not spending more time with my family, not saving more money, and a list of other failures?

I start each year really strong and work hard at my resolutions – until mid-January. Then I start to fade.  PLEASE, don’t remind me again of all the things I should do, but don’t.

So, this year, I’ve decided to try something different. Instead of looking at my failures and trying to correct them, I’ve decided to look at my successes and ENHANCE them.  Isn’t that a great word – ENHANCE.

This year, I’m going to make a list of all the things I got right this past year, and figure out a way to make them even better in 2016. For instance, I’m going to take more walks with my husband, enjoying his company, spending quality time together, and MAYBE a nice side effect would be better fitting jeans. But the difference is to concentrate on the positive – on what I got right, and just make it better.

What do you think? Is there something that you’re proud of doing this past year, and now you just want to take it to the next level?  Write it down and think of the word ENHANCE, then reach for the stars.   Take a close look at how far you’ve come this past year, and give yourself a pat on the back.   Nothing can stop you now.

What will you ENHANCE in the New Year?

Categories: Personal Development Positive Thinking Professional Development
Tags: , , ,

Google Your Mind

Personal Development-Professional Speaker-Positive Attitude

I was listening to the radio the other day – yes, I still listen to the radio. My younger friends make fun of me, but I’m ok with that.

At any rate, the guy on the radio was talking about 2015, and mentioned the top five Google searches for this past year – Adele’s new album, the Paris attacks, Donald Trump, Caitlyn Jenner, and if you were searching today, you could probably add Star Wars to the list.

It got me thinking – what if I Googled my own mind for the events that made a difference in my personal life this past year?  What top five events would make my list?  Who are the people that I have touched and who touched me in return- possibly changing my life forever.

My list certainly would NOT be the same as the Google list. Even though I enjoy Adele’s music, I can’t say that it has made a profound difference in my world.

So I decided to take a few minutes, reflect and make a list of the top five positive turns my life has taken in 2015. I decided that I wanted to face the new year with a positive attitude, and that is where my focus lies.

At the top of my list, not surprisingly, are the new friends I have made along the way, and the old friendships that I have nurtured. And at the top of that list is my husband.  It’s so comforting to know that each and every day, there is someone who has my back.

Just as important is my family and the stronger ties that continue to build between my brothers and myself.  Rounding out my list would be having a profession that I love, going on my dream trip, and learning to live a more peaceful life.

Have you given any thought to what your personal top five Google list would be for 2015?  Even if you just have one, share it with me.  I’d love to hear what you absolutely loved about 2015.

Categories: Personal Development Positive Mindset Positive Thinking Professional Development
Tags: , , ,

The Sights and Sounds of the Holidays

Personal Development-Professional Speaker-Positive Attitude

I LOVE the holiday season. There are certain smells, sights and tastes that you can only experience this time of year.  Let’s see – there’s eggnog lattes, decorated trees, gingerbread cookies baking in the oven, and so much more.

I spent the last few days in Chicago and it made me realize that I really enjoy the hustle and bustle – it gives me a natural high. Everywhere I look, there are lights twinkling, fabulous decorations, and people laughing.  It brings back so many special memories.

When I was a kid, my Dad used to dress up as Santa Clause. We lived in a very small house on the south side of Chicago, and one year I was sitting on a chair in the kitchen.  There was a knock on the window, and on the other side was Santa peering in, looking straight at me.  I jumped so high I almost hit the ceiling.

And isn’t that the most fun of all – bringing joy into the lives of others. Creating smiles and memories that will last a lifetime.

What memories do you have of the holidays – either the ones you experienced years ago or the ones you are experiencing right now – this year.  Share them with us and share a smile.  I would love to hear from you.

My wish for you is that you find all the love and joy your heart can hold during this special time of the year.

Categories: Personal Development Positive Mindset Positive Thinking Professional Development
Tags: , ,

You Want Me To Do What???

The holiday season is upon us. In full blast!

The holiday season is upon us.  In full blast!

Cooking!  Decorating!!  Shopping!!!  You barely have time to catch your breath.  So what I’m about to tell you may not make any sense…

Find some time this holiday season to try something new!

Yes, that’s right.  I’m challenging you to STOP, take a breath, and quit worrying about everything and everyone else.   Find some time for a little fun.  Carve out a few minutes to enjoy a little laughter.

Every year I promise myself that I will try one new thing during the holidays.  This year, it was riding the Polar Express.

Remember that kid’s movie?

Well, there are several places that have now recreated that experience both for kids and for the young at heart (that’s adults who still act like kids from time to time).

My Polar Express experience happened to be out of the St. Louis Union Station, and what a hoot!  We actually rode on a real train – it came with a conductor, elves, and Santa himself.  We sang Christmas carols at the top of our lungs, and for one hour, I was definitely a kid again.

Check it out – Google it – and see if there is a Polar Express close to you.  And if this doesn’t tickle your fancy, find something else that does.  The point is to take a “time out” from all the holiday craziness and find something that makes your heart smile.

And please, share your experience with us.  We just may be able to add a few new things to our own list for next year’s holiday season.

Categories: Personal Development Positive Mindset Positive Thinking Professional Development
Tags: , , ,

Trust Yourself

Professional Speaker-Personal Development-Positive Thinking3

Lessons I learned from the Polar Bears on my recent trip to Churchill, Canada, amaze me every day.  And I promised I would share the top three with you – so here’s the third one:

TRUST

Trust who?  Mostly yourself.

In my two previous posts on Lessons Learned from the Polar Bears, I shared thoughts on focusing on your goals relentlessly, then standing your ground and not letting others shake your pursuit of your goal.   Now, learn to trust that decision and even more importantly, trust yourself in reaching that goal, in attaining that dream.

How many times have you decided to do something that’s a little difficult – lose weight, change your career, improve your relationship – and you are really committed to it!   Until you hit a hurdle, a roadblock, and instead of rolling up your sleeves and working harder, longer, you take the easier route and  quite.  You tell yourself that maybe it wasn’t such a good idea after all.

I’ve been guilty of this so many times.  After all, it’s easier to reach for that chocolate bar and tell myself I’ll start that diet tomorrow.

But the polar bears taught me to trust my instinct and find a belief in myself that is unshakable – to not give up when the journey becomes difficult.

One morning, while in Canada, we ventured out in the Polar Rover, slowly driving over the frozen tundra, when our guide spotted a mother polar bear with her very small cub.  At first, she wanted nothing to do with us, but our guide decided that we would wait and give her some time to learn to trust us.  Slowly but surely, she sauntered over to our vehicle with her cub in tow.  The mother sniffed and explored and finally decided she could trust her instincts.  In fact, she trusted us so much, that she actually laid down in front of our rover, with her cub beside her, and went to sleep.

After researching, investigating and scrutinizing, she decided to trust her instinct.  And that is my hope for you.  That when others question your belief in your dreams, and you begin to falter, that you dig down deep and learn to trust your gut.  If you fall down, get back up again.  And if you make a mess, clean it up and keep going.   That is my hope for both you and me.

Categories: Personal Development Positive Thinking Professional Development
Tags: , , ,

Subscribe via Email

Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Recent Posts

Recent Comments

Categories

Archives