7 Day Happiness Challenge Day 2

September 9th, 2014 Day 2 of the Happiness Challenge

1. Today I am happy for my health. I am grateful that my body is responding well to my pregnancy and that both mommy and baby are doing just fine. It is amazing to see how quickly my motherly instinct to protect has developed. I so look forward to nurturing my little man and keeping him safe. I am more mindful of my surroundings everyday and am more cognizant to welcome good health, peace and tranquility into my life. “Our environment, the world in which we live and work is a mirror of our attitude and expectations.” -Earl Nightingale I welcome a positive environment where I can be nurtured, can nurture others and thrive. 

2. Learning makes me happy. When I was younger I would always say that my dream was to be a lifetime student. I remember always being curious about the world and about my future role in it. I found it difficult to pick one particular interest that I was drawn to and found that I dabbled in lots of different areas. Choosing just one thing to focus my attention on always felt so restricting. I find that my list of interests is endless these days. I am drawn to art, to people, to history, to science, to music, to spirituality, to nature, to travel…etc. I thirst for knowledge and look for every opportunity I can get to learn and grow in this life time. One doesn’t stop learning when they leave school. There is so much more to uncover if you just choose to be curious. Life is a an endless cycle of learning and transformation. I seek out and welcome any experience that will bring forth additional knowledge and continued evolution. “Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever.” Mahatma Gandhi 

3. Being playful makes me happy. As much as I love a good conversation among mature adults, I find that I love being playful with people around me. Not only do I think it keeps you young, but it permits people to see a side of you that is innocent and free of judgment. It is not easy for many adults to tap into this side of themselves. It is almost as if their inner child has been locked up and left to collect dust. I say let your inner child out to play every once in a while! There is nothing wrong with focusing your day on both the things you find useful/necessary and the things you find pleasant. Attacking life in this way will leave you with very little regret and a life full of beautiful experiences. “You can discover more about a person in an hour of play than in a year of conversation.” Plato 

Ambition in the City 

 

 

Chasing Happiness

I never thought I was one to chase happiness. I was always taught that happiness was just a by-product of your gratefulness towards life. When I think of where my life has taken me in this past year, I now realize that I was in fact one of the many people who chased goals and accomplishments down in an effort to  truly feel satisfied with my life. While the journey and all its ups and downs are what really help people to achieve a happy life, I like so many others, lost sight of the hours and days spent trying to achieve happiness and never allowed myself to just be. In my 28 years of life, I struggled to find happiness in all things. Whether it was in my academic career, my romantic relationships, or even my work life, my motivation was always to do great now so I can be even greater later. I never sat down to enjoy small success or minor victories. My actions were all a means to an end that in some respect were never later achieved. So what can we do when we realize we’ve been chasing happiness all along? I for one have decided to embrace choice and move forward. No longer worried about what will be, I look to embrace what is now. Like the quote states, “Happy people don’t have the best of everything; they made the best of everything.” Embrace each day for its limitless possibilities. Strive to be happy everyday and not “one day” soon. It is the moments we experience now that matter most. After 28 years of chasing my happy future, I have decided to allow happiness to finally catch up to me. It has been here all along just waiting to be acknowledged. I’m ready to embrace it and find it in all things around me. What will you decide?

Embrace Choice and Keep Moving Forward

10 Tips to Finding Happiness Now

1. Be Present

Commit to living for the experience. It’s so easy to get caught up in our “future thinking” that we forget to embrace true moments of happiness as they happen. BE PRESENT! Commit to enjoy each day as it passes. Regardless if you are wondering what will come next embrace the now and allow its gifts to present themselves. There is so much learning and growth that can be experienced if we just permitted ourselves to be more present. “True happiness is… to enjoy the present, without anxious dependence upon the future.” Lucius Annaeus Seneca

2. Let Your Passions Be Your Guide

Regarding our daily activities or career meaningful is vital to living a happy life. As a tool for self exploration, I find it helpful to create a passion list. What are your passions? What have you always wanted to do but never went after? As children we change career ambitions like we change our underwear, but as we get older these early desires begin to fade for the more “realistic” path. Look to your inner child and ask them what they are still yearning to experience in life. As someone who once gave up my passion for writing, I have to tell you, its feel amazing to be back! I feel as though I have reconnected with an old friend and it’s as if we never skipped a beat. List your passions on paper and determine for yourself what it is you have been looking for all this time. It’s never too late to acknowledge that inner yearning. Cultivating your passion with commitment and enthusiastic curiosity will only bring you closer to experiencing true happiness. While it is hard to adopt this type of mindset, attention must be given to our passions. If your motivating factor is the paycheck, you may be depriving yourself of a chance to do your true life’s work. When you can attach purpose to your work, satisfaction and happiness are sure to follow. “Your work is to discover your work and then with all your heart give yourself to it.” Buddha

3. Respect the Body

The healthier you are, the more you exercise and eat right, the more likely you will lead a happy life. While it is so easy for us to take our bodies for granted, it is vital that we protect and preserve this beautiful shell we reside in. Take time to nourish the body. Be mindful of the things you put in it and be mindful of the messages our body regularly sends us. Only you can be responsible for the care of this fragile vessel. Be proactive and take the necessary preventive care measures. Your body will be so grateful to you and your mind will be all the more at peace. Adopting a healthy lifestyle helps to reduce ones stress level and has been known to increase ones overall energy towards life. If you intend on living a long life filled with wonder and exploration you must protect the vehicle that is vital in getting you where you want to go in life. “In yourself right now is all the place you’ve got.” Flannery O’Connor

4. Nurture Relationships That Matter 

When it comes to wanting happiness for yourself it’s vital that you surround yourself with positive people who exude happiness themselves. There is no better feeling then the one you get when you cultivate a circle of like-minded, loving individuals that share in life’s special moments beside you. These people are with you during good times and bad. They build you up and share in your accomplishments and significant life experiences. They are honest and dedicated to nurturing the relationship you represent for them. Take care of these relationships as they bring meaning and clarity to your life. Nurture those people who matter to you most. Never take these invaluable people for granted. “The quality of life is the quality of your relationships.” Anthony Robbins

5. Lend a Hand 

It feels so good when you can help your fellow-man/woman. I have often heard it said that when you lend a hand to others you are filled with feelings of joy, appreciation, and inner goodness. Seek opportunities to help others. Not only will you make someone’s day, week, or life, you will bring joy and happiness into your own heart and that’s a beautiful thing. “There is no exercise better for the heart than reaching down and lifting people up.” John Holmes

6. Look to the World around You 

Whenever you come to a crossroads in your life look to those around you for strength and inspiration.  Happiness and the courage to change your situation can come when we see others around us who have overcome similar struggles. While no two people are the same we can pull valuable lessons from others stories of courage and perseverance. It is possible to change your course at a moments notice. We see people do it everyday. Why go through life on autopilot when you can take back that control and be the steward of your journey. Transformation occurs when we allow ourselves to be inspired. Listen to others stories of change and allow yourself to see that we too can be transformed when we are open to it. Look to these stories to awaken your inner curiosity and creativity. The possibilities for change and transformation are limitless if you open to uncovering them. I admire people who open themselves up to experience what I like to call an awakening. While once they would consider themselves unhappy and dissatisfied with life, they now have complete control and are happily moving forward on the course they were destined to travel all along. Look to others for inspiration and empowerment. You too can decide to make a change to be happy now. “Change is the end result of all true learning.” Leo Buscaglia

7. Keep Love Alive 

A huge part of the journey to achieving true happiness consists of giving and receiving love. To have love in your life requires that you practice having both an open heart and an open mind. Love is an emotion when embraced can really help you to become the person you always knew you were meant to be. Love and happiness easily go hand in hand. Love can lift you up during the darkest times and can motivate you during the best of times. When we feel loved we feel secure in our lives and as a result are empowered to do and be better. Sky’s the limit when you have love in your life. Open your mind to accepting love and watch as your perception of the world shifts. You will be more likely to love and happier because of it. “When we love, we always strive to become better than we are. When we strive to become better than we are, everything around us becomes better too.” Paulo Coelho

8. Give Value to Experiences

I live for experiences! Memorable experiences make me feel alive and they make me feel connected to the people that matter most to me. Happiness is long-lasting when we take time to place value on the experiences we have and share with others. You can get so much more from an intimate dinner with friends or loved ones than you can from a new expensive purse that will probably go out of style in 6 months. When it comes to happiness create opportunities that will having meaning for you. Plan a romantic vacation with your significant other. Send a handmade heartfelt card to someone close to you that needs it. The emotions that emerge during these moments are powerful and everlasting. While the accumulation of possessions can be nice, these things only provide temporary happiness. “Life is about experience…You can’t hold on to everything.” Sarah Addison Allen It’s the experience and the moments you create that you remember the most. Allow yourself to experience these moments fully. A happy memory can be tapped into at anytime and can result in the recharging of your happiness levels. Live for the experience and keeping making memories. “The purpose of life is to live it, to taste experience to the utmost, to reach out eagerly and without fear for newer and richer experience.” Eleanor Roosevelt 

9. Get Out There! 

Building community is a vital component to achieving inner happiness.  Whether you are part of a religious community or a friendly reading group, being a part of a greater whole can bring joy and purpose to one’s life. Spend time reviewing your passion list and see if any of those interests you identified can connect you with like-minded people. Get out there and build relationships. Joining a group can not only help you to cultivate your interests but it can also aid you in your search for authenticity and true happiness. “Interest and enthusiasm are the wellspring of continually evolving community life: they create bonds which unite us whether we are young or old, nearby or far from each other; they allow human warmth and love to be the formative forces in personal and community life and striving.” Henning Hansmann

10. Know When to Ask for Help 

When times are tough and you feel stuck seek guidance without fear of judgment. Look to your close friends or family members with whom you can confide in. Listen to your inner voice as it tells you that you need more and that something needs to change. If family or friends just don’t seem to get it, you might come to realize that a coach or therapist is the more suitable person to hear you out. There is no shame in asking for help and there is definitely no shame in loving yourself enough to take charge of your own happiness. Seek out the help of someone who will empower you to see your true potential and inner strength.  Get to know yourself again by identifying those things you love and are passionate about. As your coach challenges you and champions your efforts you will begin to see that happiness, clarity, and a new outlook on life are sure to follow. “The less you open your heart to others, the more your heart suffers.” Deepak Chopra

“Happiness is the highest form of self-respect. A person who allows himself to be happy shows his self-respect.” Maery Rubin

Ambition In The City 

Related articles

• Three Little Words to Unlock Your Happiness (breatheoutandsmile.wordpress.com)
• Daily Prompt: Happily Ever After (ttanvi.wordpress.com)

Maintaining A Youthful Spirit

“Youth is happy because it has the capacity to see beauty. Anyone who keeps the ability to see beauty never grows old.” – Franz Kafka

The video of this wonderful grandmother brings a smile to my face every time I watch it. Not only is she just the sweetest thing I have ever seen, but what I love about her the most is her youthful spirit. I am a firm believer that age is nothing but a number. It is a concept that succeeds at making us believe  we need to give certain things up as we get older. Whether it’s trading in our sense of humor for a more serious way of thinking, or sacrificing our sense of adventure out of fear that others will think we’re crazy, we are always convincing ourselves that our age should somehow dictate how we behave.

“Nobody grows old merely by living a number of years.  We grow old by deserting our ideals.  Years may wrinkle the skin, but to give up enthusiasm wrinkles the soul.’  -Samuel Ullman

I say let’s keep our youthful enthusiasm and spirit for as long as we possibly can! Stop telling yourself you’re too old to do and be what you want. Keep smiling and laugh when you feel like it. Breath in all that life has to offer as you tackle the day with energy and youthful vigor. We are only as old as we feel, so be silly, be curious and continue to be as creative as you were when you looked at the world through 5-year-old eyes. It is possible to maintain a youthful spirit, you just have to make the conscious decision to think young.

“There is a fountain of youth: it is your mind, your talents, the creativity you bring to your life and the lives of people you love. When you learn to tap this source, you will truly have defeated age.” -Sophia Loren

Remember that there are still adventures to be had, still lessons to be learned, and powerful transformations yet to be experienced. Think young and reinvent your spirit each and every day. As Mark Twain said, “Wrinkles should merely indicate where smiles have been.” As we get older we tend to resent the way we look. We find ourselves making comments like “I used to be handsome” or “I used to be so active”. Getting older doesn’t mean you that you cease to be what you once were. We are still the same person inside and we can reclaim that person anytime we want. Older individuals tend to love story telling. They enjoy sharing their life experiences with younger folks because it’s almost like they get to relive the experience all over again. Why not tap into that energy more often? Think young more and reconnect with that energy and aliveness you once had. Take a risk and try to do something you once did when you were younger. What would it be like to dance salsa again with your partner? What would it be like to put on a red dress and get dolled up? You’re not too old. You’ve got a lot of life yet to live. The problem is you have to start believing that you too deserve to live life to the fullest.

Live life to the fullest by extinguishing the idea that you are too old to live the life that you want. Break free of this limiting belief and permit yourself to get reacquainted with that younger version of yourself that always saw possibility. That version of you that knew how to live because they did the things that made their hearts sing. While our faces will surely carry a wrinkle or two as time goes by, our spirit has the potential to remain ageless. The ship has not sailed when it comes to maintaining a youthful spirit. Your youth has been waiting patiently for you at the dock this whole time. Step into your power today reconnecting with that youthful spirit. There is no time like now to realize that you’ve still got it in you to be young at heart. Keep living and take it from the beauty in the video above, life is still fun no matter your age.

Ambition In The City

 

It’s Nice To Be Nice

“It’s nice to be nice.” My grandfather always used to tell my brothers and me this saying whenever we were being awful towards one another. As children we would always find ourselves arguing over the most simplest of things. Whether our squabbles were over whose turn it was to battle on the Nintendo, or who ate the last fruit snack pack, I always remember the summers we spent with grandpa involved him pulling us apart and saying these 5 little words. Somehow hearing “It’s nice to be nice” would stop us all dead in our tracks. While his words seemed silly at the time they always helped our fights to dissipate. We would quickly get passed our frustration and return to being nice to one another again. Grandpa really had a way with words.

When my grandfather passed away I was only 10 years old. While I’ll never feel I got enough time with him, my grandfathers lessons and advice are still very alive with me today. He was an amazing role model and always had such a simple way of explaining things so a child could understand. While he was firm when he needed to be, he was also one of the gentlest men I have ever come across. His advice and guidance was straightforward and powerful. His generosity and humility were qualities I always admired. For as long as I can remember, my grandpa truly lived by those 5 words. He was a hard-working man who experienced a great deal of adversity. He persevered with very little education and very little support. He found love, raised a family, and attained what many would call the “American Dream”. He did this all by practicing what he preached. He was nice to everyone he encountered. My grandfather was generous to anyone who needed a hand, and trusted people wholeheartedly without question. My grandfather’s life was motivated by love and kindness and that’s a beautiful thing. 

The thought for this post came to me this morning while I was walking to work. I stopped at a local deli to pick up my usual breakfast when I witnessed an unfortunate case of meanness. While I waited on line to get my order I noticed an older gentleman yelling at the young men behind the counter. As he yelled at these men about that fact that he didn’t receive the type of bread he had requested for his breakfast, I watched the other patrons in the deli look on at this horrible display with disgust. The staff members tried to calmly show the man that they did in fact give him what he had asked for. They showed that his order was correct, but without hesitation the man continued to berate them in the middle of the deli. Without any type of apology he snatched his food from the deli workers hands and walked to the front of the store to yell at another worker to make him some coffee.

After the incident the men behind the deli counter shared a few words with one another about their frustration. As other patrons approached the counter to collect their breakfast, they offered their apologies for the older gentleman’s behavior. The fact that other patrons were able to acknowledge the older gentleman’s inappropriate and unnecessary comments was such a refreshing thing to witness.  You could tell that the staff appreciated the genuine words of kindness being said to them. I like to think the kinds words helped to repair their mood for the rest of the day. As I approached the counter that morning the only words that came to my mind were the words of my grandfather. “It’s nice to be nice.” I apologized for the gentleman’s behavior and I commended the men for keeping their cool under such uncomfortable circumstances. When they expressed that they get treated in this manner often by patrons I had to interrupt them and explain that while this type of treatment might be common, it isn’t right. I thanked them for my food and wished them a pleasant day.

When I got back to my office I really started to think about the scene that had just played out in the deli. Why did that man feel the need to be so rude to these hard-working gentlemen for no apparent reason at all? Why did he not apologize for his comments when he realized he was wrong? These situations can get so blown out of proportion when in actuality they can almost always be avoided if you just change your attitude.

While our mood can impact the way we interact with people at any given moment, it important that we practice the “It’s nice to be nice” approach whenever possible. Our words are very powerful and can sometimes have very lasting effects on the people we say them to. I am reminded of a wonderful quote on this very topic that states “Don’t mix bad words with your bad mood. You’ll have many opportunities to change a mood. But you’ll never get the opportunity to replace the words you spoke.”-Author unknown. These words are so simple and yet so true. If this patron had only acknowledged that his poor mood had nothing to do with the person in front of him, he might have treated these people more kindly.

Being nice regardless of your mood can sometimes prove to be quite the challenge. I can admit it’s not always easy to put on a happy face when you are going through a tough time, but what do you gain by spreading your poor mood to someone else? I think you gain much more by spreading kindness even when you aren’t feeling especially happy yourself. When you are nice and come from a place of good intentions and love, you more often than not get love and kindness in return.

Being Nice Makes Life Better For Everyone.

NICE TIPS 

1. Smile Even when it’s Hard: Whether you are walking down the street, traveling on a train or elevator, or just walking down a hallway, smile at the people around you. Sending a smile someone’s way is harmless and costs you nothing. The power of a smile can help make someone’s day and depending on the situation it might help to lighten an awkward mood that may exist between you and another person. I like to think I practice this nice strategy often, but we all have our days that we just aren’t in the mood to smile. When you are having one of those days force yourself to spread the love. You might get a smile or a nice comment back that will help brighten up your day. 

2. Acknowledge Others: As a native New Yorker I sometimes worry I get too consumed with my own priorities that I sometimes rush past people. Sometimes just acknowledging someone around you by saying hello or asking them how their day is going can have such a huge impact. It’s hard to extend this type of kindness to strangers but a simple hello can really go a long way. You never know, you might be the only person that notices them in that entire day. Spread this simple act of kindness and watch, one day it will be extended to you when you need it the most.

3. Be Considerate:  Open doors, say please and thank you and I make sure to boil enough water for 4-6 cups of tea and not just enough to fill your cup at the office (this really gets some people’s blood boiling). You wouldn’t think being considerate to the people around you would prove to be such a difficult task to master, but when you’re in a bad mood you tend to make the lives of those around you very difficult. Whether we do it because of the old saying “misery likes company”, or because we genuinely can’t find the time to be considerate towards others, there just isn’t an excuse that exists that would justify not extending these simple courtesies. When you role model these types of considerate behaviors people tend to pick up on your positive vibe.  Create a “nice” culture wherever you go. Show people how you want to be treated by treating people the same way.

4. Put on a Happy Face: When times are tough it’s very hard to just put on a happy face. While i don’t expects people to check their emotions at the door, I do encourage people to develop feel-good strategies to help pick themselves up. No one can help you get out of a “funk” but you. Allow yourself some time to get your bearings. Take a long walk to center your mind. Take the scenic route to work or home. Seek some motivation from a trusted friend or loved one. While it may be hard to just put on a happy face there are ways to recharge your happy batteries. Identify your feel-good strategies and pull them out when you need a boost.

5. Be Mindful of Your Intentions: What purpose would it serve if I went out of my way to ruin someone’s day just because I’m in a bad mood? So what if my tea spilled all over me this morning on my way to work? Who cares if I didn’t get a seat on the train home tonight? What does this have to do with the person next to me? We are so quick to lash out at people when we let our mood control the actions we take throughout our day. Be mindful of your intentions. If your intention is to spoil someone else’s day then you will definitely be successful, but if you are not even aware that you have let your mood take a hold of you, you may have to self regulate. Acknowledge the challenge or stressful moment when it arises and decide how you will address that specific issue. If it is something that can be addressed in the moment, great! If it is something bigger that may need some time and preparation, then place the negative feelings attached to that moment into your mental filing cabinet for a later time. There is no sense dwelling over a situation you cannot change right then and there. When you place these feelings aside and allow for the rest of your day to move forward, you leave room for the remainder of your day to be both productive and positive.

6. Open Your Heart: When it comes to spreading kindness, it’s important that we acknowledge every individual on this planet is deserving of it. While we are each unique in many ways we must always remember the common quality that unites us all, and that is love. No matter our differences we all are capable of both feeling and spreading this emotion. Open your heart to others and be kind towards your fellow-man.

7. Open Your Mind: Create moments for positive self-realization. Open your mind to increase self-awareness. Reflect on those moments that caused you to feel negative emotions. While we don’t always have control over the events we encounter in life, we do have control over how we react to them. When you open your mind to uncover those things you value, you help to decipher between those things that bring you joy and those things that do not. Nurture the things you value and try to eliminate those things you don’t.

8. Open Your Ears: Listen to people when they are talking to you. While you might be consumed by your own distracting thoughts nothing upsets people more than when they are being ignored. Be aware of the people around you and be present in the moment. There may be a million thoughts running through your mind but you can really hurt a person’s feelings if you give off the sense that what they are saying isn’t important. Be kind and open your ears.

9. Think Positive: While it may be hard, it’s always better to look for the positive in every situation. Focus your energy on the things you can control and on the things you can take away that are positive. There are lessons and opportunities for growth in almost every challenging experience. Spread these thoughts to those you care about and maybe one day it might help to cheer them up.

10. Just Be: If you are true to yourself and are aware of the kindness you expect from others, you can fight the urge to be unpleasant and just be nice instead. Be authentic and learn to be motivated by kindness and love. If we could just put more effort into being nice we would come to realize how good it makes us feel, and how good it makes people feel as a result. The power behind kind acts whether big or small is infinite. Be nice to others and help change the world.

I love you Grandpa

Ambition In The City

Related Video: 

Please watch. If we just had more people like Mr. Johnny Barnes, the world would be such a better place.

<p><a href=”http://vimeo.com/36673515″>Mr. Happy Man</a> from <a href=”http://vimeo.com/mattmorrisfilms”>Matt Morris Films</a> on <a href=”http://vimeo.com”>Vimeo</a>.</p>

With Gratitude: A Special Offer

Sending thoughts of gratitude to all my loyal readers. Ambition In The City continues to grow and it is because of all of you. Thank you for all your positive comments and emails, they inspire my posts and keep me motivated to continue on my journey to inspire and motivate others.   As a token of my appreciation I would like to extend a complimentary coaching session to the first 10 people interested in partaking in a Skype video session. Email me at creyeros@gmail.com to schedule your appointment today.

With gratitude,

Cristina

 

Dream. Believe. Unlock.

Cristina Reyeros Coaching

Do you find yourself at a crossroads in life and are in search of some clarity and direction? I am looking to build my life coaching practice with open-minded  and highly motivated individuals eager to be agents of change in their own lives. I am offering a complimentary life coaching session to all friends, family and acquaintances interested in unlocking the best version of themselves. If you feel that you are ready and willing to step into your power by awakening your creativity and curiosity then take the first step towards change and email me at creyeros@gmail.com 

“Magic is a sudden opening of the mind to the wonder of existence. It is a sense that there is much more to life than we usually recognize; that we do not have to be confined by the limited views that our family, our society, or our own habitual thoughts impose on us; that life contains many dimensions, depths, textures, and meanings extending far beyond our familiar beliefs and concepts.” ~ John Welwood

Promise Yourself

The Optimist Creed

I came across these beautiful words last night as I was working on a new blog post. I decided to put that post on hold to share these powerful words with you all.  In his book Your Forces and How to Use Them Christian D. Larson challenges readers to use positive thinking to aid in their transformation to becoming greater, happier, and more fulfilled individuals.

As a huge believer in the power of thought, I found these words to be quite inspirational. Each of us has the power to create the life we envision for ourselves. Step into your power and allow yourself to feel what life will be like when you fully embody an optimistic way of thinking. Accept that you have the power to impact positive change both within yourself as well as within others. Spread thoughts of love, joy, and optimism wherever you go. Open your heart, mind and spirit to receiving all the gifts that come when you step fully into your truth.  Share your gifts with the world, and challenge yourself to be the best version of you every day. Inspire others to see beauty and excellence in all aspects of themselves. Acknowledge and celebrate in others joys and accomplishments. For when they are at their best they can help bring out the very best in you.

Hold those lessons from your past that will push you forward close to your heart. The mistakes, the risks, the struggles have all brought you to this very spot. Challenge yourself to let go of whatever might hold you back. Pack light; take only those things that will help you to become better. There will always be more for you to overcome and even more for you to achieve. Transcend your limits by grabbing hold of new challenges and experiences. Make time for whatever will aid you to cultivate your passions and bring you joy. Leave little time for envy, judgment, fear or doubt to distract you from being great. Live these truths each and every day. They are within us all and can be tapped into at any point in time. We have all the power we need to become greater, happier and more fulfilled individuals. We just need to believe it.

“The energy of the mind is the essence of life.” Aristotle 

Ambition In The City

Liebster Award

I’d like to thank Katie Robinson from Ask The Young Professional for nominating me for the Liebster Award. Thank you for following Ambition In The City and for acknowledging my work with this kind gesture. I really appreciate all the wonderful feedback my readers have posted thus far and I hope that Ambition In The City continues to touch people in a positive way. Thank you once again Katie.

Liebster Award Rules:

1. Thank your Liebster Blog Award presenter on your blog and link back to their blog.

2. Answer the 11 questions from the nominator, list 11 random facts about yourself and create 11 questions for your nominees.

3. Present the Liebster Blog Award to 11 bloggers who you feel deserve to be noticed. These blogs must have 200 followers or less. Leave a comment on their blog to let them know they’ve been nominated by you.

4. Copy and paste the blog award on your blog. Post all the items listed in item 2 on your blog also.

My responses to Ask The Young Professional

1.What qualities matter most to you in a job?

Having creative freedom and a flexible schedule mean a lot to me in my job. I can question and make suggestions and its acceptable to explore new possibilities for growth. The ability to manage my schedule also demonstrates a huge amount of trust and I really appreciate that. When you are respected for what you can bring to the table at a job your dedication and talents tend to shine through more naturally.

2. What is your dream job? 

My dream job would have to be my coaching career. As a successful transformational coach and inspirational speaker I will get to help people everyday. I aspire to make deep connections with my clients as I assist them to unlock what is authentic and meaningful in their lives.

3. Who are your role models?

I would have to say my parents have and always will be two of my top role models in life. They are two of the most hard-working, dedicated individuals I have ever known. They bring passion and excitement to everything they do and they never cease to amaze me with their undying thirst for knowledge. They inspire me to never stop learning. Every time I think I have studied enough they remind me that my days as a student never come to an end. We are students of life and therefore should continue to pay attention to all the lessons that life presents to us. They are my biggest teachers and I just adore them.

4. What inspires you?  

A few months ago I might have not been able to answer this question, but recently my perception about what inspires me has really emerged.  Life inspires me.  Everyday I wake up with the desire to learn something new, to share my love with others, and to open my heart to all the good things that are waiting to present themselves to me. I have reconnected with those things that are good and true about myself and am inspired by the universes response to my shift perception. Things are changing for the better because I approach and look at things very differently. I am truly inspired by life.

5. What is your favorite quote?

I have way too many quotes that I adore. Please refer to my favorite quotes page. The list keeps growing and I think that’s a beautiful thing. If you haven’t noticed I am constantly including quotes in my writing. I don’t think this will ever stop. There are just too many inspiring thoughts out there.

6. If you could travel ten years back in time, what advice would you give yourself? 

Be patient. Stop chasing happiness.  Give it a chance to catch up with you. 🙂

7. What special or unusual skills do you have?

I’m not sure if this is a special or unusual skill, but I like to think I am pretty in tune with my intuition. Whenever I have been faced with a moment where my intuition jumps out and screams at me I tend to follow it. It has gotten me out of some pretty scary moments in my life and I am grateful that I was able to stop myself and just listen.

8. What is your greatest achievement? 

My greatest achievement thus far was the day I decided to walk away from my doctoral program in psychology. While in the moment it was a decision I struggled with, I was able to come to the realization that becoming a psychologist wasn’t what I was meant to do.  Deciding to take some time to analyze what I wanted in life was huge for me as I have never walked away from a goal. Looking back on this moment in my life now, I realize what a huge achievement this was for me. It’s hard to walk away from something to go into the unknown, but today I am so grateful I did. My desire in life has always been to help people and today I can honestly say I am getting to do that in my own unique way. Life really has a way of helping you get on the right path. Just be patient and the natural openings for enlightenment will present themselves.

9. What is the most unexpected fact you’ve learned from your job search?

It’s really unfortunate that individuals with graduate degrees and a lot of related job experience are being so underpaid. On the flip side, if you know your worth you can find a way to charter your own course in life. Be creative and perhaps you might discover you have an inner entrepreneur just waiting to come alive.

10. What are your best qualities?

I’m lively and loving. I’m polite and considerate. I’m empathetic and sincere. I’m loyal and honest. I like to live my life with youthful enthusiasm and I am always looking to create lasting memories. I am ambitious and highly self motivated.

11. Who would you want to play you in a movie about your life? 

Reese Witherspoon. She is always so bubbly and energetic in the majority of her movie roles. She also seems to have such a cooky personality. Anytime I watch her movies I always find myself smiling from ear to ear. I see a lot of the same personality traits she portrays in her movies within myself. If she doesn’t mind making herself a brunette to play me I would love for her to tell my story one day. 🙂

11 Random facts about me: 

1. I am toying around with the idea of coloring my hair a lighter shade  brown/blonde. I am looking for a fun change for the spring and summer months. Let’s see if I have the guts.

2. I have successfully worked out at least 4-5 times a week in this past month. I hope to keep this momentum going all spring and summer.

3. I am highly anticipating my trip to Disney World this year. It will be my  boyfriends first time there so I look forward to experiencing that with him.

4. I have been working on the logo for my coaching practice over these past few weeks. I cannot wait to share it with you all once its complete.

5. I wear glasses but am highly considering getting lasik surgery in the next year or so.

6. I want to explore my interest in painting. I have had a few opportunities to make murals for the kids at my job and I loved the experience. I should start painting for fun again.

7. I look forward to this month of change and growth. Lot’s of big things are happening. I plan to embrace it all and enjoy the ride.

8.I started reading Daring Greatly this week. Thus far I am really enjoying it. I need to remember to add this book  to my running reading list page.

9. I love to sing. I miss the days when I had a car and I used to sing along with my stereo. I can’t carry a tune but it’s still a lot of fun to try.

10. I am terrible at math.

11. I never liked vegetables as a child but as an adult I can’t get enough of them.

And the nominees are…

1. Sorrygnat, World Citizen

2. good enough grace

3. Healthy: A Synonym for Happy

4. BE GREAT BLOG

5. THE GIRL WITH THE SCORPION TATTOO

11 Questions for the nominees

1. What 4 words would you use to describe yourself?

2. What inspires you?

3. What did you want to be when you were little?

4. If you could travel ten years back in time, what advice would you give yourself?

5. Favorite way to spend your day off?

6. If you could own any animal what would it be?

7. Given the choice of anyone, alive or dead, who would you want to have dinner with for an evening?

8. What is the best and worst about blogging?

9. One skill you wish you had!

10. What advice would you give a new writer?

11. What topic should I blog about next?

Ambition In The City

Ponder This

Do you think your life’s purpose is something you create or discover? 

Ambition In The City

 

Turn Worry Into Action

“Worry pretends to be necessary but serves no useful purpose.” Eckhart Tolle 

Worry Defined 

1. To give way to anxiety or unease; allow one’s mind to dwell on difficulty or troubles.

2. A state of anxiety and uncertainty over actual or potential problems.

When was the last time you allowed your worries to push you further and further away from your truth? When it comes to the topic of worry, I think we can all say we are guilty of giving into our own anxieties and uncertainty at one point or another. We dwell on issues and allow our minds to be inundated with limiting thoughts. Often times our worries can even take over our everyday functioning. Worries can cripple our ability to get on with our usual day. We find that we are distracted and highly unmotivated all because we can’t seem to let our worries go.

It is when we allow our worries to paralyze our ability to function that we permit our worries to have access to our power. The power that would usually drive us to take risks and have confidence in ourselves is silenced the moment we entertain our worries. While each of us innately has the power to push away our worries, effort must be given to change our perceptions from negative to positive. It is only when we learn to silence our worries and shift our thinking to motivate us into action, that we truly embrace our power and attract those positive outcomes we so greatly desire.

Turning Worry into Action

1. Be Inspired

Inspiration is everywhere. When you open your heart, mind, and body to what the world has to share with you, it is then that you allow yourself to truly be inspired by its wonders. Allow for your curiosity and creativity to emerge. Ask questions of those people and things around you and watch as moments of clarity and inspiration present themselves to you. “What if everything would just work out for the best?” “What can I do about this now?” Allow for the questions to flow naturally and watch as you’re inspired to see what is true and within your control.

2. Keep Moving Forward 

Life will continue to move on even if you allow your mind to be clouded by your own limiting thoughts. Don’t allow yourself to be left behind. Adopt the mindset of wanting to move forward. Ask questions of yourself to determine the purpose of your worry. You will come to realize that worrying serves absolutely no purpose other than to pull you away from taking action. Seek a better understanding of the situation that is affecting you, and allow your questions to motivate you into taking steps towards action. Self reflection and curiosity will allow for greater self-awareness and a true connection to your inner power. Tap into your power and keep moving forward. “Worry does not empty tomorrow of its sorry. It empties today of its strength.” Corrie Ten Boom

3. Envision the Positive

What if you took the stand that you were going to get past this difficult moment in your life? Try envisioning the desired outcome as it if has already happened. Spend 5-10 minutes in silence and ask your mind to take you to a place of calm and relaxation. Call upon your creative power and envision your desired worry being resolved through action. Whenever I worry I won’t have enough time to get the things I need done, I envision myself completing all the tasks I give purpose and value to being completed efficiently and without stress. One cannot function effectively if they put unnecessary pressure on themselves to get everything done.  By doing so, you not only set yourself up for failure, but you also sacrifice some tasks that you really could have given 100% to.  More often than not, I find that doing this exercise helps to set the tone for my day. I am less concerned about getting everything done and more concerned about doing the things I give value to well. When you allow yourself to see the bigger picture you make room for your desired outcomes to be experienced.  “I never worry about action, but only inaction.” Winston Churchill 

4. Acknowledge Your Worries in Writing

When seeking clarity, it’s always helpful to get things in writing. Create a running worry list. As worries surface write them down and take some time to examine each ones true value in your life. Sometimes seeing a worry in writing helps the person to see how silly and unnecessary the worry truly is. What you are also able to uncover through logging your worries is that a fair majority of them are absolutely out of your control. Rather than waste your time ruminating on something that is out of your control, acknowledge your worry in writing and then let it go. Look to your worry log to determine patterns that may exist. Don’t allow your worries to become a broken record.  If you have experienced the same worry before you must have survived it. What’s the sense of getting all worked up again? It will all work out for the best.

5. Build Momentum by Being Present In the Moment 

Nothing feels better than when you attack a worry head on and face uncertainty. The moment immediately after you do so you feel liberated and powerful. When these types of moments present themselves allow your worry to build momentum inside you, not as a deterrent from action but as a motivator to be present in the moment and deal with matter as it presents its self.  An example that comes to mind in me is times where I am called upon suddenly to speak in a large group. While the initial fear and anxiety experienced has the power to immobilize me, I use it as fuel to be present and allow for my inner strength and confidence to emerge. It’s a wonderful feeling when you stand against your inner limiting thoughts of how others might receive you, or how foolish you might sound in the moment, and allow for the stirring of your own power and creativity to shine through. Take advantage of moments like these and commit yourself to being fully present. It is these moments that help to build your character and shift your perspective when a new worry emerges. You’ve done it before you can do it again!

6. Refine Your Power

As you continue to grow and learn from one experience to the next, fortify your inner power with images and memories of past victories. What may have worried you once before is no longer of concern to you now. You persevered and overcame many obstacles and you came out on the other side better for it. Refine this power by pulling it out when you need it the most. This can often be done alone or with the help of someone supportive. Ask yourself empowering questions that will help you to remember past success. Have a supportive friend or loved one champion your efforts by reminding you of past victories. Your journey in life has no fixed destination but holds great promise and rich rewards. There is no telling what is possible. “Do you remember the things you were worrying about a year ago? How did they work out? Didn’t you waste a lot of fruitless energy on account of most of them? Didn’t most of then turn out all right after all?” Dale Carnegie 

7. Learn To Say “NO” Just As Easily As You Say “YES”

Why is it so easy to say “Yes”? I think it just stems down to good old peer pressure. When we feel pressured to say yes it’s because we want others to like us. We take on more than we realistically can and sacrifice our mental stability in the process. We worry about having to do it all when no one has asked this of us in the first place.  We were the ones that accepted every request made of us and now we are alone to suffer the consequences. Learn to say “No” just as easily as you say “YES”. Save yourself from the unnecessary stress felt when you create problems for yourself by always saying “YES”. All that will result is you feeling overloaded and anxious that you ultimately end up letting someone down. Learn to be selective. This practice will not only help to keep your anxiety levels down, but it will help to showcase your natural strengths. When you can learn to say “No” people will begin to respect you for what they know you can bring to the table. You wouldn’t agree to volunteer to sing at a charity event when you know you can’t carry a tune for your life.  Why don’t you stick to collecting donations at the charity event? You are an excellent speaker and have been known to be quite the people person. If there’s anyone who can convince people to open their wallets for a good cause, it’s you!  When you are realistic with yourself people will not only respect you but they will learn to see you for your talents and dependability. Taking on tasks or responsibilities that you have time for and can do well is way more important than taking everything on and doing it poorly. Trust yourself and learn to say “No” when appropriate.

8. Striving to do Things Well 

Let’s face it sometimes we let our ego get the best of us. When you allow your worries to result in being overly critical of yourself, you diminish your true power and create a never ending cycle of insecurity and anxiety.  Remember the golden rule that anything worth doing is worth doing badly.  When you allow yourself time to do something you are passionate about badly you never know you might eventually become quite good at it.

Don’t allow your desire to be perfect pull you to a place of comparison and competition. You will lose sight of your own uniqueness and will never be content. “Perfectionism is self-abuse of the highest order.” Anne Wilson Schaef  Strive to do things well and watch as your concern for perfection diminishes.

9. Don’t Allow Others to Push Your Panic Button 

It’s easy to feel pressure when you allow the opinions and expectations of others to get the best of you. Don’t allow others to push your panic button. When you concern yourself on how others perceive you, you push yourself further and further away from your truth. Seeking out the appreciation and admiration of others will only appease your ego temporarily.  When you don’t receive this type of attention from others you begin to doubt your strengths and talents. Slowly but surely panic and worry begins to settle in. While it may be difficult, one must find ways to muster the confidence necessary to strengthen their innate power. Worry less about the opinions of the world and more about the way you perceive yourself and in turn perceive the world. “I do not care so much what I am to others as I care what I am to myself.” Michel de Montaigne Our self-worth can not and should not be determined by others. When we can learn to detach ourselves from judgment then and only then can we believe in ourselves and the world around us. When it comes to this strategy I think the first step to diminishing this worry begins with you. When you can stop being judgmental of others you model how you want the world to respond to you. Be less critical of others and eventually others will follow suit. If we don’t want our panic button pushed then we surely shouldn’t be pushing others.

10. Be Consistent. Practice Makes Perfect

When it comes to making any shift in your life you need to be consistent in your efforts. Identify realistic strategies for yourself and stick to them. Accountability is huge! When you hold yourself accountable for the way in which you feel you will put more effort into creating your desired outcomes. If you want to worry less by placing less importance on how others perceive you then practice strategies that will build your inner power. “Accept who you are; and revel in it.” Mitch Albom Give yourself permission to try new things and fail forward. Stay in the present and continue to work towards doing things well instead of doing them perfectly.

“Let your advance worrying become advance thinking and planning.” Winston Churchill

Ambition In The City

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• Worry never robs tomorrow of its sorrow, it only saps today of its joy. (despicablewonderfulyou.wordpress.com)
• Fear, and the futility of worry. (jpmonagle.wordpress.com)