Tag: Motivation

Quarantine is a scenario that none of us ever wanted to live through. Unfortunately, here we are. Through all of this, I have found that there is more that connects us than divides us. Today’s conversation is a reflection of what’s in the hearts and minds of me and my guest. It’s a raw conversation of how we’ve used perspective to find joy and hope in an otherwise difficult situation. Keep your heart light, your mind open and you will surely invite sunlight back into your life. Stay strong.

The impact that we have on each other is more powerful than you think.  Twenty years ago, I met an amazing young girl named Mae Lee.  She was quiet, impressionable and thirsty for wisdom. I’ve spent these last 2 decades teaching her what I’ve learned about life through my experiences. The shoe is now on the other foot.

Mae Lee, now 31, has gained valuable life experience and is excited to share what she’s learned. She speaks from the heart in hopes that she may help another young person navigate their way through the gauntlet of life’s difficult emotional experiences. She emphasizes the power of awareness, authenticity and environment in shaping a future full of peace, happiness and purpose.  You won’t want to miss this!

If you’ve lived past your 20’s, then you have some of the all-important life experience.  Sharing your experiences with someone else, who might feel forgotten by life, is a chance to make a difference.  There are so many that struggle to make sense of things around them but with your help and experience perhaps you just may affect their perspective and bring hope back to an otherwise bleak situation. Putting your arm around someone while expressing the strengths that you see in them just may be what it takes to make their journey seem valid.  We all need help.  People need tribes like bees need hives.  There’s power in being part of the solution rather than a part of the problem.

In order to fashion a successful life, you must be aware of the decisions you’re making and the impact that these decisions are having in your life. Every so often you’ll find yourself at the crossroads. It’s in these moments where awareness of who you are and what you want become paramount. Life is a lot like the ocean tides; it ebbs and flows constantly. When things are not going your way, reassess and be aware of the decisions that you’ve been making. The more skilled you become at this, the more effective you’ll be at navigating through the dark moments. The light from a lighthouse is invisible during the day but it rips through the night as a beacon which owes its brilliance to the darkness from which it emanates. You cannot have one without the other. Be aware of your choices and assess if they’re bringing you closer or further from what you want in life.  Mistakes are inevitable but with a great sense of awareness, these mistakes will serve you in the future and remain with you as wisdom.

It’s been said that life does not happen to us but rather for us.  If you embrace this statement, then it’s probable that you’ll be in control of your life. If not, life can seem hopeless.  Life is not trying to screw you. It just happens and you are its’ guest.  You get to make the events of life mean anything you want. This is the understanding behind the statement life happens for us. Life will provide countless events for which your brain has to formulate a meaning. When things are going well, it’s easy to celebrate. When heavy emotional or physical pain hit (like a kidney stone), that’s when the real growth happens.  You are destined to experience the low points of life.  In these moments, with the right mindset, you can develop the wisdom necessary to navigate life’s treacherous landscape and experience consistent happiness. In the difficult moments, remind yourself that you can handle anything and that this too shall pass!

The modern-day medical paradigm regarding depression is that you have a problem producing serotonin in your brain. That is to say that you have a chemical imbalance that will respond to medications that help increase the amount of serotonin in your brain. This will alleviate your depression and make you feel normal again. This of course is the dogma, but is it accurate? The answer is, maybe but not for the reasons you think. It is now well understood by brain researchers that depression is heavily linked to loneliness. Loneliness is a lethal disease that will kill you faster than alcoholism, cigarette smoking or obesity. You’re in control of your choices but you have to know the truth.

Life can have us running in a number of directions at once.  This can overwhelm the brain and increase the production of stress hormones that, over time, can damage your health.  Often, it’s difficult to detect that you’re in a tailspin because it has become so “normal” to you.  When there’s time off, like the holidays, and you allow yourself to rest, it’s amazing how the body responds.  Sleep improves, mood softens, the body heals and connections deepen.  It’s a reminder that perhaps you can sometimes overdo it and you MUST take time to restore balance and repair before you break.  There’s nothing wrong with working hard to achieve things you want in life but to what end?  Embrace the journey as strongly, if not more than, the destination. 

Christmas is a magical time for many but for some it is a painful reminder of love ones lost.  When you suffer the loss of a loved one, the magic of Christmas might seem more like an emotional burden.  Perhaps rather than feeling pain year after year, ask yourself what that person you loved and lost would think of your perspective.  If you once shared Christmas with them, then continue to share it even in there physical absence.  You get to CHOOSE  how you want to feel.  Perhaps you celebrate their life and continue the traditions of love and giving to others who also might be suffering.   This is what they would’ve wanted.  Christmas didn’t steal your loved one.  Their journey ended when it was supposed to.  Yes sometimes that means at Christmas.  Think about getting back in the game and feeling the love of Christmas and your loved one.  Then take a deep breath, know that you’ll be OK, and help someone else in need.  Merry Christmas.