5 Ways to Face Fear and Doubt

The only thing worse than doing something new, is trying something new for the first time. And, the only thing scarier than that is taking your first step towards your dream. It could be a dream that you have held dear to your heart for years, or only five minutes, it doesn’t matter. At this point in my life I believe that if it is on your heart and stays on your mind than it is for you. You already have the wings to soar (succeed) you just need the courage to make them flutter. Once you get the courage you will be flying in no time.

1. Sincerely pray for confirmation and guidance. If your prayer is sincere than your path will become clear, there is nothing that can subside fear like the feeling that God is on your side. Being on purpose is one of the greatest feelings ever. I didn’t say that everything will become easy. Nothing ever is. With assurance you will have the courage to forge through any and all circumstances.

2. Write down exactly what you are scared of. Than read it. Have you ever had a thought that stopped all of your progress? Just as you start to become comfortable with the thought and lack of progress that comes with it, someone shares that doubt out loud about themselves. Than you realize how ridiculous it sounds. Don’t get me wrong, all of the things we fear are real. But, most of them loose power when they get exposure outside of our mind. And about another 90% are dismissed when you examine them.

3. Ask yourself questions. Be honest with your answers. Ask yourself: How will my life improve? How will I feel when I accomplish this goal? Am I now the person that I was meant to be? What is my heart yearning for? What is the worst thing that can happen? Can I live with that? If my life keeps going in the direction that it is now, can I live with that? What are my would have, could have, should have’s? Why aren’t I doing them? Remember, it is never too late to become the person you always wanted to be.

4. Seek guidance. Whatever you want to do, there is someone in this world that has done it before. Everyone’s experience is different. The road you travel doesn’t have to be as rough as someone else’s. Sometimes, meeting someone that has accomplished your goal is inspiration enough to take your life to the next level. For others, getting advice from someone that has done it before can set them on a good path. Find that person, they may be glad to hear from you.

5. Devise a plan. You know what you think you are a capable of. Now is the time to even surprise yourself with your abilities. Set a high goal with a realistic deadline. Give yourself weekly assignments. At the end of four weeks, check your progress. Reward yourself for what you have accomplished. Reexamine your goals. Sometimes, we start on a dirt road, only to discover that it leads to highway of opportunities. With that said, you never where life will lead you.

Once those wings start fluttering you will be surprised at how you start to view yourself. The higher you soar, with each goal accomplished, more and more will be in your reach. Will you have fear and doubts? Sure. Those are human emotions that we all feel but they will be that much easier to push aside.

Have a good one,
Kenya


Quotes of the Day

"There is a vitality, a life force, a quickening that is translated through you into action, and there is only one of you in all time, this expression is unique, and if you block it, it will never exist through any other medium; and be lost. The world will not have it. It is not your business to determine how good it is, not how it compares with other expression. It is your business to keep it yours clearly and directly, to keep the channel open. You do not even have to believe in yourself or your work. You have to keep open and aware directly to the urges that motivate you. Keep the channel open. No artist is pleased. There is no satisfaction whatever at any time. There is on a queer, divine dissatisfaction, a blessed unrest that keeps us marching and makes us more alive than the others."
~ Martha Graham

"If you can dream it, you can do it. Always remember this whole thing was started by a mouse."
~ Walt Disney

"Do not wait; the time will never be "just right." Start where you stand, and work with whatever tools you may have at your command, and better tools will be found as you go along."
~ Napoleon Hill


K.M. Abney has been a featured writer on the web. She loves feedback and can be contacted at kenyascorner@hotmail.com.

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Long time no hear. A lot has been going on, and not much at the same time. For the second time in my adult life I went on vacation. Last weekend, I went to Viva Las Vegas. I had a blast. I recommend a vacation for everyone. If you go, I recommend bringing along comfortable walking shoes. I am not a gambler so I was more interested in seeing the sights.

I stayed at Bally’s which turned out to be the perfect location for a first timer. We were pretty much in the center of the strip. We went to all the casinos on the strip, old Vegas. Yes, I did see the Marlboro Man, his girl Wendy and the Golden Nugget. Did you know that the strip is being expanded? And, they are planning to build another airport. It is hot as hell, but an interesting place to go.

Other than walking, I went to the following places:

House of Blues – (Gospel Brunch - I recommend it for everyone. The food is excellent. The entertainment was excellent.

Commander’s Palace – the service is excellent. The food is excellent. The drinks are excellent. Please make reservations if you are going to Vegas. We had such a great time with the staff that we went there for drinks two nights in a row.

Mamma Mia - I wanted to see this show because I like ABBA. I expected it to be an okay. It exceeded my expectations. I had a really good time. It was really entertaining and lots of fun.

The shopping was fantastic everywhere. The strip has a Fashion Show Mall that has everything that you can think of. I also went to the Vegas outlet which is on the opposite end of the strip. There were a lot of great deals to be had there also.

Words to the wise, if someone tries to rope you into going to a timeshare presentation, don’t do it. It isn’t two hours. It is more like five. And, no doesn’t mean no. No, means another opportunity to present another deal.

You know me; I like to pass on good information. I was able to go to Vegas because I got a package deal that I paid for in March. My airfare and hotel was under $500. I don’t know if you are interested in a vacation or not but this something that I heard about that you might be interested in:

BEST OF BARBADOS 2006 PACKAGE FEATURES

1. An air credit of $200 per person - value $400 per couple
2. First night free at participating hotels - minimum value of $80 per couple
3. Free full breakfast daily - value of $280 per couple
4. $25.00 meal voucher per couple at the authentic Oistins Fish Fry or Moontown Fish Fry (Transfers not included)
5. Buy one get second at half price at participating Attractions
6. Minimum 7 night stay required
7. Effective dates: June 15 to December 2
8. Black out dates July 15 to August 12.

Total value - a minimum of $800 per couple

All prices are in US dollars.
"The Best of Barbados" is based on a maximum of 2 persons per room and is subject to change without notice.

With over 30 hotels participating across the island, "The Best of Barbados" program offers a wide range of accommodations to suit any traveler's budget and special interests.

For further information on "The Best of Barbados" program, travelers may call the Barbados Tourism Authority at 1 (800) 221-9831, or visit Barbados online at http://www.visitbarbados.org. For reservations, consumers should contact their favorite travel agent.
* "The Best of Barbados" offer available at time of release from http://www.travelzoo.com
For a list of participating hotels, restaurants and attractions, please visit http://www.visitbarbados.org.
** NOTE TO EDITORS: "The Best of Barbados" program is available for travel from the U.S. only, not from Canada. Passports are required for travel to Barbados.

Lastly, here are a few tips for boosting your confidence by Barbara De Angelis:

"There's a saying -- 'we either make ourselves miserable or make ourselves strong, but the amount of work is the same,'" says Barbara. "Learning how to use our personal power to boost our confidence rather then undermine it is one of the most important keys to happiness."

Barbara shares these tips for building confidence:

* Evaluate Your Day and Yourself From the Inside Out -- When you base your sense of accomplishment each day on the outer events of your life, which aren't always in your control, your self-esteem will go up and down. Stay grounded and define your success by how much wisdom, courage and clarity you've accumulated on the inside, not the outside.

* Small Improvements Can Make a Big Difference -- Little changes in how you present yourself to others can give you more confidence both professionally and socially. You can do simple things that will instantly boost your sense of self-esteem like whiten your smile with a tooth whitener like Crest Whitestrips.

* Focus on What You Have Accomplished and Not What You Haven't – There will always be tasks you don't complete or goals you haven't yet achieved. Focusing only on what we haven't done sabotages our sense of confidence. At the end of each day, celebrate your "wins" and identify three things you have achieved, whether it was choosing to eat healthy foods, making an important phone call, or comforting a friend in need.

* Dress To Reflect Your Most Confident Self -- When we are feeling insecure, nothing makes us feel worse than putting on the outfit that doesn't fit right, or the clothes that do nothing for us. Don't save your favorite attire for special occasions -- wear what you feel best in when you need a boost, even if you're just staying home!

* Conquer Fear By Taking Just One Step -- Don't get overwhelmed when goals seem out of reach. Take one step at a time and things will seem much more achievable.

By incorporating these simple tips into your daily life, you can become one step closer to emotional empowerment and to a happier, more confident you. Barbara's latest book, How Did I Get Here? in which she discusses how to build confidence by mastering change and challenge in our lives.

Have a good one

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I read this today, I had to share it. I am a work in progress, as are most people, I hope this aids in taking your life to the next level.

Kenya

10 Life and Leadership Lessons I Learned from Superman (and How They Changed My Life Forever)

– By Eric Taylor

For many, the actor who epitomized the character “Superman” is Christopher Reeve, and as millions know, at the height of his career he suffered a tragic accident that left him totally paralyzed, unable to care for himself or, initially, even to breathe unassisted.

With the support of his wife, Dana, Chris persevered and battled back, becoming a vigorous advocate and the public face for research that develops treatments and cures for paralysis caused by spinal cord injury and other central nervous system disorders. The foundation that now bears his name has awarded over $55 million in research grants to the world’s best neuroscientists and Quality of Life grants worth over $7 million to nonprofit organizations that help improve the daily lives of people living with paralysis, particularly spinal cord injuries.

Christopher Reeve redefined courage and hope. His strength, determination, and compassion inspired the world, but what I think is the superhuman part of the story has not been fully told. There’s more to this story for me and greater lessons for us all--in fact, 10 of them.

It was my distinct privilege to produce Chris’s last public appearance in New Jersey, where he filled a baseball stadium. I’ll never forget it—or him. He died 10 days later. He is my hero.

Chris Reeve taught me 10 lessons on that day. I know that they apply to you, and when you decide to take them to heart and act on them, they will change your life, too.

1. Empower yourself first! The only way to truly connect with another human is to connect with yourself first. Compassion, rapport, and caring all come from allowing, understanding, and knowing yourself first.

Action Idea: Take time out of each day (even if by self-appointment) to reflect on the day, week, month, or year, evaluate the words you chose to speak and the actions you chose to take, and ask yourself the critical question, “Am I being congruent with what I truly believe and value?”

2. Refuse absolutes. There are no absolutes! Anyone who says “that will never happen” doesn’t understand faith, persistence, and belief. The world was once thought to be flat; Christopher Columbus debunked that myth and created a paradigm shift for mankind. Christopher Reeve should not have survived as long as he did and accomplished as much as he did after his accident.

Action Idea: Have you embraced false absolutes with “security thinking,” believing that absolutes actually exist? Remove all self-imposed limitations and boundaries that you or someone else have placed in your mind.

3. Become a respected and feared competitor. Both are equally important. Have the respect of your peers, but be sure that they are aware that you are playing to win every time!

Action Idea: Get close to your competitors, and let them get close to you—but only in physical proximity! Treat them with kindness and respect, but keep your eye on the prize.

4. Get moving as soon as possible. There is never time to get ready. When you set a goal, make a decision, or experience adversity, get moving on it immediately! Christopher’s tragedy was something for which he could not have prepared. Chris knew that if he didn’t take action immediately to find a cure and to move toward walking again, he might begin to think that death was a better alternative.

Action Idea: Decide! Once you make up your mind to achieve a desired outcome or goal, never let anything or anyone stop you.

5. You have more talent and gifts than you realize. You possess all of the resources to lead an extraordinary life. Accept the gifts, and use them to serve.
Action Idea: Ask “what if” questions. “What if I could discover the cure for AIDS?” “What if I could run a three-minute mile?” “What if I give love first without expecting anything in return?”

6. Give yourself a chance--you are worthy. Let the people who love you, love you. Share your dreams and desires with those who can, will, and want to help you. Don’t beat yourself up when you fail or create an undesirable outcome.

Action Idea: Everything is an experience, not a test. The events that take place in our lives are not a thermometer to gauge our self-worth. The most important opinion you must possess in your life is the opinion you have of you!

7. Nothing is impossible--use your personal power, and have faith that you can overcome and achieve anything you set your mind to. The phrase “nothing is impossible” is a mind-set each of us should embrace.

Action Idea: Faith equals persistence. If you believe you can, you can.
Walt Disney said, “You will see it when you believe it.”

8. Ignore your own feelings of inadequacy. There is always someone doing better than you are. What’s more important is what you are doing and what your goals are. The grass always looks greener on the other side, and it is almost always a false assumption. If you honor self-promises and stick to your dreams and goals, your time will come. Beware of negative self-talk and negative thinking. The real truth is that the glass is always half full, and it is always partly sunny. These small distinctions can pay huge dividends in your life.

Action Idea: Protect your mind and your body and what you allow to enter it; they are your most prized possessions.

9. Negativity will kill empowerment. Avoid negativity at all costs: negative people, negative news, negative thoughts, and all the things and people in your life that are dream-stealers. You are a leader. Become a leader in your life first.

Action Idea: Just as empowerment begins with you, positivism in your world begins with you as well. Negativity drains energy, diminishes hope, blocks creativity, and steals faith and one’s ability to persist. Surround yourself with everything and everyone that makes you feel good. Life is too short not to be happy.

10. Giving up is not an option. After Dana told Chris, “I still love you, you are still you,” his giving up was not an option. He knew that he had only one choice and one life to leave his legacy. Quitting does last forever--quitters never win, and winners never quit. You are not automatically entitled to everything in this life, but you are entitled to become your personal best. What will your legacy be? What will you create? What is your purpose for being here?

Action Idea: If you have yet to discover your calling, get excited! It is about to be discovered. If you know your calling, go there with passion and serve!

Those, in a nutshell, are the 10 life and leadership lessons I learned from Superman--my real-life hero, Christopher Reeve. I strive to live them every day.

There’s one more quote from Chris that takes a bit of thinking to understand, but I’d like you to consider it.

“If there is no great glorious end to all this, if nothing we do matters, then all that matters is what we do.”

Now, go forward!

About the Author:
This article was written by Eric Taylor, contributing author to "101 Great Ways to Improve Your Life." Eric, known as "Mr. Energy," is frequently called upon by some of the most respected companies in the country for motivational speaking, training, and consulting.



Quote of the Day
"Just as a small fire is extinguished by the storm whereas a large fire is enhanced by it - likewise a weak faith is weakened by predicament and catastrophes whereas a strong faith is strengthened by them."
Viktor E. Frankl
1905-1997, Holocaust Survivor and Author of "Man's Search for Meaning"

Prayer of the Week
Dear heavenly Father, You created me, and you are well aware of the pressures and emotional turmoil that surround me everyday. God, thank you that before my circumstances were ever set in motion, you created a plan for my victory over them. Thank you for your wonderful word which promises special protection and deliverance when I am tempted to feel overwhelmed by stressful circumstances. Thank you for making it possible for me to walk in your divine health for my total being, body, mind, and spirit free from the physical and emotional ravages of stress. In Jesus’ name Amen.

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Hello, I am still alive and kicking. I had a Mary Kay party yesterday that went well. Thank you, Tanaya. I am preparing for Destiny's graduation day. Soon it will be summer time. I am looking forward to having time for me. Enjoy your week!! I'll type later.

Quote of the week

As you move through this day, make it a point to replace troubled thoughts with thoughts of peace. Replace thoughts of weakness with thoughts of strength.

Replace thoughts of limitation with thoughts of possibility. Replace thoughts of anger with thoughts of compassion.

Let go of any thoughts of frustration and helplessness. In their place, put thoughts of creativity and empowerment.

Gather your various and scattered thoughts together, and point them all in a positive, productive direction. You'll be amazed at the power that's yours when each thought is working to enhance the others.

Your thoughts determine what you decide to do with all that you have. And you determine what your thoughts will be.

So put them to work in a positive way, moment by moment, day by day. Make them all thoughts that serve you well.

-- Ralph Marston

Prayer of the Week

Dear heavenly Father, You created me, and you are well aware of the pressures and emotional turmoil that surround me everyday. God, thank you that before my circumstances were ever set in motion, you created a plan for my victory over them. Thank you for your wonderful word which promises special protection and deliverance when I am tempted to feel overwhelmed by stressful circumstances. Thank you for making it possible for me to walk in your divine health for my total being, body, mind, and spirit free from the physical and emotional ravages of stress. In Jesus’ name Amen.

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