Saturday, January 28, 2006

Who Turned Off the Power?

No one can make you feel inferior without your consent - Eleanor Roosevelt

Of all the quotes that I love and have shared, this is the one that is the most powerful for me. It is taped on my computer screen at eye level where I can be reminded of it regularly. It is also on the back of my business cards.

It is true that no one has the right to make us feel powerless or less of a person. NO ONE! And while it is a bitter pill to sometimes swallow, we do have a say/choice in how someone makes us feel.

OK, then why is it so easy to feel inferior or powerless?

There are many reasons…

Maybe someone we loved put us down and because we loved them, we believed them. (Hey, people we love and/or love us know us best, right? NOT ALWAYS.)

Maybe it is because we have always been afraid to stand up for ourselves in fear we would rock the boat or make someone angry.

Maybe it is because we spend time comparing ourselves with others and wishing we had what they have.

Maybe it is because we just don’t ourselves and our abilities.

Does any of this sound familiar?

If so, please don’t despair because reclaiming your power (and I am not referring to maniacal power) is absolutely possible. Give the following a whirl and see what happens…

1) Make a list of your MANY amazing attributes. (Yes, you have many!!) You should even write down all the attributes you wish to have. At the top of the list, be sure to write the words, “I am…”

2) As you write, if your (that little contradictory voice) rears its head, thank it for its contributions and then tell it to be quiet. ;) Please be sure just to keep writing!

3) Take your list and over the next 90 days read your list to yourself five times in the morning and five times at night before bed.

Just remember, you do have the power and no one has the right to turn it off.

Posted by Pam at 2:33:43 PM in Quotes with Impact (30) | Permalink | Comments (2)

Great Resources for Stepfamilies

Today it is not uncommon for someone to have grown up with a stepfamily, remarried and gained a stepfamily, or be in the process of being introduced into a stepfamily. It’s not always an easy transition, but it is certainly one that does not have to be handled alone.

A friend and colleague of mine is offering a FREE introductory teleclass, 3 BEST-KEPT SECRETS TO CREATING A SUCCESSFUL STEPFAMILY and I wanted to share the information incase you or someone you know may be able to benefit. (Thank you, .)

From Sue’s “Stepfamilies That Work e-Newsletter”…

Is your stepfamily struggling? Are you worried that things will never settle down in your stepfamily and become ‘normal’?

Very few couples realize the enormous, often overwhelming, challenges they will face when they decide to enter into a stepfamily relationship. For this reason, second marriages break up at an alarming rate of 66% each year, according to The Stepfamily Foundation in New York.

Being in a stepfamily is tough. However, once you have the proper tools and know the guidelines – how to manage a stepfamily and the roles of each family member – the new stepfamily system can and does work.

Join Sue Rasmussen and Aileen Braun DeAugustine, both stepfamily coaches and stepmoms, as they lead you through this content-rich, powerful, one-hour teleclass. This session is an introduction to their proven, time-tested stepfamily success program series.

Teleclasses fill quickly, so don’t wait to register.

For more information or to register for this free teleclass “3 BEST-KEPT SECRETS TO CREATING A SUCCESSFUL STEPFAMILY please visit .

Posted by Pam at 1:44:27 PM in Creating Change (85) | Permalink | Comments (0)

Saturday, January 21, 2006

Celebrating YOU!

I celebrate myself, and sing myself. - Walt Whitman

You know, I could not have said it better than Walt Whitman and sadly, many of us do not take the time to celebrate and sing ourselves. How come?

Oftentimes we are too busy, or we have been told that to celebrate ourselves is boastful and bragging…maybe it just comes down to the feelings that we do not deserve to celebrate ourselves and what we do.

I want to tell you, celebrating you, celebrating all that you do, celebrating your accomplishments is important. It’s an important part of growth, it’s an important part of change, and it’s an important of achievement.

This is my challenge to you, if you choose to accept it…

The next time you accomplish a goal or even a step towards the end result of a goal, celebrate!

Heck, the celebration does not even have to be attached to a goal or end result of something; just take some time to celebrate you and all the wonderful things you bring to the table. Oh, and the nice thing, celebrating does not have to cost money, it does not have to take up too much time…

It can be a letter of congratulations written to yourself, a book that you have always wanted, a long soak in the tub…whatever strikes your fancy...just please do not let another moment go by without celebrating.

Posted by Pam at 2:31:05 PM in Quotes with Impact (30) | Permalink | Comments (4)

Saturday, January 14, 2006

Is it Déjà Vu?

Have you ever had an issue or situation reoccur time and time again which left you asking, “OK, when will this go away?” OR “Why me?”

Yes, why you? Great question!

The answer; oftentimes repetitive issues and situations present themselves until we learn to master them. It is usually the Universe’s way of telling us we have something to learn and we need to pay close attention.

As a personal example…

For as long as I could remember I was always fixing, rescuing, making things right for everyone around me. Partly because I never wanted to let anyone down and partly because I had this need to be liked. Needless to say, I encountered people (repeatedly) who would take advantage and walk all over of me, leaving me feeling angry and powerless.

It was not until I learned that I didn’t have to make things right for everyone in order to be liked… the only person I was really letting down was me… I could help empower people to make things right for themselves…(OK, you get the idea)…that the situation of always fixing, getting walked on and feeling angry and powerless dissipated.

I learned that it was OK to draw . And guess what? No one disliked me for it. As a matter of fact, my boundaries and my feelings were respected much more.

So here is a challenge for you...

The next time you are up against a situation that you wish would change or stop, take some time to consider the following:

1) What it is about the situation that bothers you.
2) How you feel every time the situation occurs.
3) What you can do differently to handle the situation (differently from the past times).

Use the situation as a learning experience and find a way to master it. By doing so you will help eradicate or change it. As always, if you have any questions or wish to share, you are welcome to do so right here or feel free to contact me directly.

Until next time, please be well…

Pam

Posted by Pam at 2:20:15 PM in Creating Change (85) | Permalink | Comments (7)

Saturday, January 07, 2006

Define Success

Since the inception of Make the Most of U we have touched on but nothing seems to define it more succinctly (for me, anyway) then the following poem by Ralph Waldo Emerson….

Success

To laugh often and too much
To win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children
To earn the appreciation of honest critics and endure the betrayal of false friends
To appreciate beauty
To find the best in others
To leave the world a bit better, whether by a healthy child, a garden patch or a redeemed social condition
To know even one life has breathed easier because you lived.
This is to have succeeded.

Think about it.

(Thank you, for the wonderful reminder.)

Posted by Pam at 2:16:14 PM in Quotes with Impact (30) | Permalink | Comments (4)