


It’s no secret that some of the most successful, happy and admirable people we know are those who don’t seem to give a f*ck. You know the type: the woman who unapologetically shares her opinion regardless of its popularity or who boldly leaves an unfulfilling job (and tells the boss where to go); or the man who makes a drastic and unexpected life change simply because it feels right to him. Too often, giving a f*ck gets in the way of our goals and limits our personal growth and happiness. By increasing our self-awareness and being more intentional about what and whom we take to heart, we can take our wellbeing to the next level.
We are each wired differently and have unique triggers in terms of what does and doesn’t affect us. For instance, I never really gave a f*ck about others’ opinions regarding my decision to pursue music professionally; even when my family was initially unsupportive, my passion and self-confidence always won out. Meanwhile, I’ve given way too many f*cks about others’ perceptions of me in business situations throughout my career and this has held me back. My point in sharing this is that we are all works in progress and it’s never too late to improve ourselves and our lives.
As Robin Sharma, author of the awesomely inspirational fable The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari, points out,”What you focus on grows, what you think about expands and what you dwell upon determines your destiny.” Deciding to care less about things and people who drain your energy will uplift and empower you in beautiful ways. I use the verb decide because it’s ultimately a choice whether or not you give a f*ck. It’s similar to when you have a negative thought; you can allow yourself to dwell on it, in which case its power will grow, or you can decide to intentionally let it go and move forward. As someone highly sensitive, believe me – I know this can be challenging – but I can share from personal experience that conscious effort works.
4 Reasons Why You Must Give Zero F*cks:
1/ It means owning who you are. It doesn’t mean you don’t care; it just means you’re willing to accept that the consequences of your actions or words may not be greeted with nods and smiles. It’s about embracing your difference.
2/ People think about you much less than you realize. It’s exhausting to be concerned about what others think of you. The truth is, while we worry about others judging us, those same people are usually worried about us judging them. (What a waste of energy.)
3/ Not everyone is going to like you (even if you give every f*ck in the world). You already know this, but a reminder can’t hurt. No matter what you say or do, some people out there are not going to like you. And that’s totally okay.
4/ It’s about freedom and independence. Once you’ve relieved yourself of the weight of giving a f*ck, you can finally be an active participant in your life rather than a spectator, debating and waiting to make your next moves. Your authentic (and kickass) life awaits.
* Song For This Moment: “I Love It” by Icona Pop.
The other day I caught myself just before it rolled off the tip of my tongue. Where I would normally have opened with ‘I’m sorry, but’ — this time I left that part out and simply explained to a potential client that my fee is non-negotiable. And it worked. By being direct and showing my true confident self, I gained a client and likely earned his respect. Like many others (and women in particular), I’m personally guilty of over-apologizing – it’s even become a reflex. Sometimes we apologize when we feel uncomfortable asking for something or to avoid being perceived as rude (even when our perception of impolite is way off base). Why on earth would anyone apologize for stating their fee, right? Ridiculous.
The subject of over-apologizing has gotten a lot of attention recently, and with good reason. As a New York Times Op-Ed article points out, the word ‘sorry’ is taking up too much airtime in our lives. Saying it too often and unnecessarily has a negative impact on self-esteem and can cause a lot of miscommunication and confusion. If you haven’t seen it, it’s worth checking out Amy Schumer’s quick comedy sketch about successful women over-apologizing – it’s disturbing, yet eye-opening.
If you’re someone who naturally gives opinions openly and without apology, I applaud you. But if you find yourself saying, ‘I’m sorry’ too often, it’s worth working on. The best part: with just a little bit of effort, positive results are pretty much guaranteed. Through increased awareness and continual practice, you can drastically improve how you communicate with others and noticeably boost how you feel about yourself.
3 Tips to Help Kick the Habit:
1/ Ask yourself if you’re truly sorry and why. If you can’t answer this one in a heartbeat, you probably shouldn’t be apologizing. If you’re saying ‘sorry’ out of habit or to avoid awkwardness: stop. You’re diminishing your strength. There should always be a clear reason.
2/ Are you responsible for what you’re apologizing for? Be sure you’re not saying ‘sorry’ for something that’s not actually your fault.
3/ Remember “I’m Sorry” is a sentence (not a disclaimer). When you begin a sentence with, ‘I’m sorry, but’ — it’s a sign you may be apologizing without reason. Make sure you’re not using ‘I’m sorry’ as an opening to a question or before asking a favor of someone.
* Song to get you in the mood:
“I’m Not Sorry” by Celeste Buckingham. Eloquent, powerful and true. Don’t be sorry.
Related Links:
* Great Pantene commercial, “Not Sorry”
* Disturbing ‘I’m Sorry’ comedy sketch by Amy Schumer.
* New York Times Op-Ed article, Sloane Crosley
* “Why Over-Apologizing Could Make You Sorry”, The Muse,
“The amount of happiness that you have depends on the amount of freedom you have in your heart.” – Thich Nhat Hanh
Sometimes life spins by so quickly that it’s hard to keep up. Over the last few weeks I’ve felt this way, while in the midst of an exciting transition that has consumed most of my energy, time and focus. Some days it’s as though three blinks later, morning has fallen into night. And with this sense of living in fast-forward, I’ve managed to miss a work deadline — which almost never happens. As a self-driven and highly motivated person, I pride myself on finding solutions and working well under pressure; and on this rare occasion of running late, I was surprised to notice that my first reaction was to be really hard on myself. Instead of giving myself a pass and acknowledging that this has been a ridiculously hectic time (which I would have naturally done for someone else), my first reaction completely lacked self-compassion.
A day or two later I received an insightful email from a friend in New York (who happens to be a meditation expert). Maybe it was her choice of words or that I received her message at the perfect moment; but for whatever reason, I was able to easily take her advice and make a conscious decision to give myself a break and basically just chill out. Almost immediately, I felt a positive shift take place. (I realize this sounds a bit crazy but it’s true.) The moment I exercised self-compassion and accepted the situation, I felt less stressed, happier and more self-assured. It was as though there was a little switch in my brain that I thought was on but had been accidentally mis-set to off. Over the last week I’ve also noticed a more effortless flow taking place in my personal and professional life.
This minor yet impactful experience prompted me to reflect on the importance of self-compassion and what we can do to avoid neglecting it. Because as basic and straightforward as it ought to be, self-compassion is a challenge for many of us and especially when we’re under stress (which is of course when we need it most). As author and Dr. Heidi Grant Halvorson shares, “Most of us believe that we need to be hard on ourselves to perform at our best, but it turns out that’s 100 percent wrong. A dose of self-compassion when things are at their most difficult can reduce your stress and improve your performance, by making it easier to learn from your mistakes.”
After browsing through many experts’ strategies on developing self-compassion, I’ve come across a few that are worth sharing, like “comfort your body, write a letter to yourself, give yourself encouragement and practice mindfulness.” Practicing mindfulness seems to be the most essential factor because the more mindful and self-aware we are the more quickly we’re able to recognize our moments of weakness and shift our behavior. In order to be our happiest and most successful we absolutely must embrace who we are and where we are with a deep sense of kindness and connectedness. Sometimes we just need to nudge ourselves back on track.
* Song For This Moment: “Whole Heart” by Griffin & Bipolar Sunshine.
Related Articles:
“4 Ways To Boost Your Self-Compassion”, article in Harvard Health.
Sources & Related Links:
“What Does It Mean To Love Yourself”, article by Dr. Margaret Paul for Project Happiness: http://goo.gl/ZIf4TO
“Refreshingly Honest Celebrity Body Confessions”, article in Shape UK: http://goo.gl/MjXKYE
¨Thirty Ways To Learn To Love Yourself And Be Happy With The World”, article in Elite Daily: http://goo.gl/NLxU6c
This week we’re thrilled to feature outstanding entrepreneur, fashionista and humanitarian Jia Wertz. As she is founder of Studio 15, an online marketplace for trendy and affordable women’s apparel, one might suppose our interview would begin with a description of how Jia became interested in fashion and what prompted her company’s launch; instead, after a quick hello, Jia dives right into the good stuff and shares a personal gem about her passion and purpose.
“Fashion isn’t really what feeds my soul. But turning a hobby into a job has been amazing.” This isn’t too surprising, considering her company’s manifesto reads, “We believe that everything should be done with a higher, more meaningful purpose – including fashion – and that everything counts, big or small.” Reflecting this tenet, Studio 15 donates 5% of all online proceeds to Kleos Microfinance Group, an organization providing economic assistance to those in developing countries. More specifically, Jia points out, “all donations go directly to women and support them in launching their own businesses.” Throughout our conversation it becomes increasingly clear that a desire to help those in need is an integral thread throughout Jia’s personal and professional life.
An Introduction to Fashion. “I’ve always been petite and, as a teenager most of my clothes didn’t fit properly. My mother would adjust pieces for me and eventually taught me how to sew. And I loved it.” Several years later, Jia began her first full-time job as manager of a boutique in Calgary. “At the time, I was 18 years old and fresh out of high school. The boutique carried 100 different brands and I thought I was in the best place in the world (smile). The two boutique owners noticed that I was increasing their sales (most customers were around my age) and gave me a lot of responsibility. I’m very lucky to have had the best teachers and role models at an early age.”
A Career is Born. Soon after, Jia moved to Toronto where she received a degree in Fashion Merchandising and Management; and over the next decade, she developed a reputation for excellence through her work at the corporate offices of powerhouse women’s retail companies Aldo and Bebe. The majority of her career has been spent in San Francisco, where she worked as Senior Manager of Communications, Sales Development and Operations for Bebe – until a defining moment several years ago inspired Jia to make a major career shift and move to New York.
Taking Power Into Her Own Hands. Since managing a boutique in Calgary at 18, Jia has known she would like to “launch something” some day. At the time, the industry was vastly different (online shopping was pretty nonexistent) and her business would have required a completely different setup; however, the seed had been planted. Years later, a personal realization at work prompted Jia decided to step away from her corporate career and to begin building a business that unites her experience in the fashion industry with her desire to create positive impact. Jia had proposed to her employer that over the winter holidays the company donate the proceeds of an internal project to a nonprofit. “They were making a lot of money and this would not have meant a loss for business, as this was all internal — but the moment I proposed something that would benefit others, I received a cold response. This didn’t sit well with me and was a signal. Soon after, I quit – cold turkey. No job, no nothing.”
An Awakening Trip to Uganda. Although Jia had always been interested in volunteer work, her hectic work schedule had largely prevented her; so when she left her job and suddenly had time, she jumped at the opportunity to volunteer. Her brother is actually co-founder and Executive Director of a non-profit organization that does work in Uganda, and Jia eagerly signed up to volunteer there for one month (sweetly adding that this would also allow her to check up on her little brother – to see where he’d been staying and to ensure his safety). Witnessing the living conditions of many Ugandan women, who are single parents raising children without enough basic necessities like water and shoes, reconnected Jia with her mission to assist those in need. Jia aims to continually develop her impact in this area in the upcoming years.
Baby Steps + Beta Test + Launching Studio 15. Recalling what it was like to leave her corporate job without a back-up plan, Jia asked herself: “How can I take what I’m good at and use it to also help others?” Combining her expertise in the fashion industry with her desire to give, Studio 15 was born. “I would have loved to have had a physical store, but I saw the market was shifting to online, so this made a lot more sense business-wise.” Jia worked on the website with a freelance designer and tested it in beta for 1 year prior to Studio 15’s official launch.
New York. Just Because (It’s New York). Although on a personal note, I must admit that Jia’s vibe pretty much exudes ‘New York artist and entrepreneur’ (she happens to also be a gifted photographer), Jia has spent her pre-Studio 15 career elsewhere. A native of Alberta, Canada, Jia has lived and worked in Toronto, Houston and San Francisco, before moving to New York two and a half years ago. “New York has always been my favorite city in the world. When I was 12, I said I was going to move to New York – I don’t even know why. (smile) And now, here I am.”
Passionate Leader + Activist + Adnan Syed. Some of you may be familiar with the name Adnan Syed (or the podcast Serial), who was wrongly convicted for the murder of his girlfriend in 1999 and currently remains in prison. The story has been breaking headlines this summer since Syed’s petition for a re-trial was granted in July, thanks in great part to increased public awareness. (How does this relate to Jia, you’re asking?) After listening to the Serial podcast (long before the story was receiving much media attention), Jia decided she needed to do something to help Adnan’s family. “The fact that an innocent teenager lost 17 years of his life and is sitting in jail because of a faulty system bothers me so much.” Soon after, she co-organized and launched a concert fundraiser in New York to help raise money for the Syed family and to increase public awareness. The event was a tremendous success – so much so in fact, that Jia was later put in contact with Adnan’s close family friend, Rabia Chaudry, who has been extremely active in the fight for his release. Jia Wertz’s courage, initiative, resilience and sincere need to do good in the world is truly inspiring. May we each tap into this part of ourselves, and work to be more active in initiating positive change while remaining true to ourselves.
* Song For This Moment: “Shine” by Lolo.
Whether you enjoy goal-setting or not, here are 4 actionable tips to be your best, most authentic and empowered self. I’ve selected these steps specifically because they first come to mind for me as powerful tips we’d do well to remember.
4 Concrete Steps To a Better You:
1/ Don’t wait. Many of us learn the hard way that things don’t just happen. Up until recently (gasp), I unconsciously believed that talent rises to the top eventually; it doesn’t. Believing in your success is essential but it’s only one element. Action is your best friend and resilience your second best. Particularly when you’re pursuing something unconventional and that involves a lot of risk, you simply can’t afford to wait. You also can’t afford to make any decisions coming from a place of fear or self-doubt. You need to consciously leap into your mother-f*cking discomfort zone and go for it. And if you fall down, congratulations – because when you get back up, you’ll be stronger than you were before. We are meant to rise and fall, and rise and fall again – over and over. This just means you’re truly living with intention and going after what you want.
2/ Speak up. As obvious as it sounds, many of us need a reminder to speak up. Asking questions or voicing your opinion (especially an unpopular one) can cause anxiety in certain situations. I relate a lot to this personally, especially when I was younger — when I would stay silent at home to avoid tension and refrain from asking questions at school to avoid being the center of attention (it didn’t help that our near-retirement-aged Calculus teacher routinely made dumb blonde jokes). However, this doesn’t apply only to highly sensitive people or women; most people remain quiet at times to avoid confrontation or the possibility of being viewed negatively. We need to push through these feelings and speak up even when it makes us uncomfortable – and especially when it’s about a subject we care about (or need to know about). The less we communicate, the worse things become. And as uncomfortable as it may feel in the moment, the reward is more than worth it. (Side note: Tact is also key.)
3/ Know that change is always possible. Even if you are feeling stuck and emotionally or physically drained in your personal or professional life: know that you absolutely have the ability to shift your life in a positive direction. Logistics, financial and family-related stress at times weighs so heavily that we can’t see beyond our struggles. Through hard work, strategic planning and creative thinking, you can and will find a way out. Trust your journey and be patient and keep pushing forward. It is during our darkest moments that we develop our greatest strength.
4/ Hang (only) with positive people. It’s that simple: avoid those who bring you down and drain your energy. This can be a challenge, especially when it involves childhood friends or family members with whom unhealthy relationship patterns were developed long ago; however, the importance of surrounding ourselves with positive people can not be overestimated. Our potential expands when we do and decreases when we don’t. As Jim Rohn famously points out, we are the average of the five people we spend the most time with. So save your energy, be intentional and selective.
* Song For This Moment: “Shed a Light” (Robin Schulz with David Guetta)
Why is it so hard to be heard? As I lay with my eyes closed and my face frozen in a half-smile during a photoshoot for a facial massage last week (#randomgig), I knew I had to leave at noon. In fact, I had initially turned the job down for lack of time but was assured it wouldn’t be a problem. So when 12 o’clock rolled around and no one else in the 6-person team seemed to notice, I mentioned to the photographer that I needed to go. The others exchanged surprised glances and shared that the director had told them they would have more time with me. It was soon clear that this wasn’t an oversight; the director had intentionally been dishonest in order to be sure I’d be there.
Without trying to make this particular incident larger than it was, the fact that so many of us can relate to being taken advantage of is frustrating. As a genuinely kind, caring andconfident woman, I realize that I still haven’t mastered allowing my confidence to shine through in certain situations (whereas on stage or while coaching it comes naturally). This stereotypically feminine need to be polite, to avoid confrontation and to just ‘make everything okay’ is something none of us should be holding on to (eye roll, please). If you are, it’s important to work on consciously letting go of this unnecessary and harmful weight, in order to reveal your true badass self to the world — even when it is a little uncomfortable. The more you’re aware of it and practice, the easier it will become, until you naturally own who you really are in every circumstance. (And I’m right there with you!)
Convey Confidence. No one wants to be the person others assume will just go with the flow and put others’ needs before his or her own. So don’t be that person. If your natural way of being leaves you susceptible to being taken advantage of – and you want this pattern to end – you need to shift your behavior in a way that reflects your true strength and confidence. This is especially important in business situations where the risk of not asserting yourself may lead to working more hours than were agreed to, receiving less compensation or both. Avoid the risk of being misunderstood by keeping the following tips in mind during business interactions.
7 Ways To Make Sure Your Confidence Resonates:
1/ Maintain eye contact. Eye contact is one of the strongest indicators of self-confidence so be sure keep a steady gaze throughout the conversation.
2/ Don’t fake smile. Listen to the words being said and process them without using an inauthentic smile to make the other person feel appreciated or accepted (decreasing your strength in a business situation).
3/ Don’t nod in agreement while someone speaks. Again, actively listen and engage in the conversation without passively agreeing to whatever is being said.
4/ Don’t self-touch. Resist fiddling with jewelry or tucking your hair behind your ears. Fidgeting is a quick indicator of insecurity and low self-confidence.
5/ Point your feet toward whomever you’re speaking with. Doing this shows you are serious and an equal partner in the conversation.
6/ Take up space. Stand straight with your legs spread apart to show you aren’t afraid to take up space.
7/ Don’t lean in. Listening intently and showing interest may cause you to lean in slightly, but doing this too much suggests you’re seeking approval and decreases your strength in the conversation.
This Ted Talk about power poses takes things a step further and shows that when we practice certain postures we can actually increase our self-confidence and how we are perceived by others, improving our chances for success.
* Song for this Moment: “Express Yourself” by Labrinth.
Source Articles:
“10 Ways Body Language Can Help You Convey Power at Work”, Huffington Post.
“How Body Language Helps Shape Who You Are“, Ted Talk by Amy Cuddy.
These days we’re inundated with information about wellness. Between our favorite health and fitness websites, apps, newsletters, instagram and twitter feeds — there’s no shortage of content. However, it’s not always easy to find quality content that resonates, educates and empowers us on a real level. So when someone’s words, class and vibe authentically inspire in a powerful way, it’s only natural we feel the urge to share it with others. This is how I felt when I took my first yogaSati class with founder Patricia Moreno several months ago. And after learning more about her personal journey and how the intenSati method came to be, I’m even more convinced about the importance of Patricia’s role as a force for positive change.
With over 30 years of experience as a trainer, educator and mentor, and as founder of a fitness concept based on mindfulness (or sati), Patricia Moreno has earned a stellar reputation in the wellness industry. The testimonials on her website speak for themselves, and with 620 intenSati instructors around the globe, her impact on the fitness industry has already been outstanding. However, through speaking with her it’s clear there’s much more Patricia aims to (and will) accomplish.
A Tough Beginning in Fitness. Patricia Moreno’s introduction to the fitness world began at a young age and was tragically linked to feelings of shame regarding her body. Growing up in northern California as the 9th of 11 children, Patricia’s family owned Mexican restaurants; she recalls “conversations both in and out of the restaurants were always, always about food.” Fast food was a significant part of her regular diet and every few months the family would go on diets and take diet pills or shots to increase metabolism. These quick-fix methods never lasted and a cycle of deprivation followed by over-indulgence continued.
As an eight year old, Patricia recalls, “I will never forget the sound of my parents gasping when the doctor told them I was 130 pounds. This is the first of many times I remember feeling ashamed and absolutely horrified about my weight and body.”
Patricia Moreno fell in love with group fitness classes as a teenager, lost weight, became fit and began to inspire others to workout. She began teaching aerobics before graduating from high school and quickly became known as a kickass fitness instructor. Sadly though, her body image issues persisted for years to come, even after she had become a renowned fitness instructor with a daily televised workout program.
2 Breakthroughs That Inspired IntenSati: Years later during a particularly rough time in her private struggle, Patricia experienced two major revelations that led her to create IntenSati:
1/ Self-concept. Patricia explains, “You have to live in accordance with your own self-concept. When I was working out – no matter how thin I got, I would still believe I am fat and unlovable. So ultimately, I would keep returning to however I believed I was. The truth is, being fat was never how I am or how I was; I am just a person and my weight is the result of my actions and thoughts. This concept was revolutionary for me because even when I was physically thin – in my mind and in my heart I still believed I was a fat person. This made total sense and was a major revelation.”
2/ Activating a State. The second breakthrough came shortly after during a Tony Robbins retreat, when Patricia was asked to repeat the words, ‘All I need is within me now.’ She was suddenly struck with the desire to create a workout that would change people’s self-concept by activating a state of being.
“Your state of being determines your results. You can activate a state of courage, love, acceptance or gratitude – and you can turn this on within yourself. I wanted to design a workout that would activate joy for no reason except that if it could be done during class, it could be done in life. And I wanted people to turn up the volume of gratitude. I decided to marry this information with my expertise in exercise. I didn’t want to use exercise as a way to fix, punish and force — but as a way to change how we move and how we speak to ourselves. We have the ability to use the body to change our inner conversations. This eventually became IntenSati.”
IntenSati beautifully uses fitness as a spiritual practice. It reminds us to live consciously and with intention, and provides a solid workout for the mind, body and spirit. Check out the Sati schedule for more information on its range of classes, schedules and leadership courses. (If you’re in New York, intenSati leader Natalia Petrzela is also an exceptional instructor.)
Choosing Gratitude. “I’m not teaching something that people don’t know. We all know it’s better to be positive than negative. But how do you become positive? Through gratitude. It all begins with gratitude. This is a conscious choice. You need to constantly remind yourself that you need to create greatness from a state of consciousness.”
Living Your Vision. “The most important part of class is the end, when we visualize our final goal and sit in it as though it’s already done. It can be hard to let yourself dream however big you want to dream; we naturally downscale and worry. But the game is to really immerse yourself in your final vision — to breathe it and to feel it. This is the creative process. You need to have the vision to get there and life reveals itself based on your vision.”
Believing It In. Ask yourself, ‘What do I really want? If there was a magic wand and someone said you can have it, and that whatever you pick is going to be a huge success – what would it be? ‘ Stay in that vision and believe it in.
Stay up-to-date and inspired by Patricia Moreno here.
* Song For This Moment: “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough”
As William Shakespeare brilliantly put it, “our doubts are our traitors“. Yet even while knowing this, many of us continue to let negative thoughts control our behavior and limit our possibilities in life. We may not even know we’re doing it, as an endless stream of thoughts runs throughout our brains each day; but the longer we hold on to self-doubt, the greater its power becomes. It takes conscious effort to discard thoughts of self-doubt. But we can and we ought to, because ultimately our mindset and attitude not only affect – but create – our life.
In order to become our best selves, we need to consciously let go of thoughts that hold us back and to embrace those that empower and inspire us. Here are some useful tips to help you power through negativity and to armour yourself with positivity and strength. You’ll find that with just a bit more self-awareness and practice, your inner light will shine that much brighter – and your potential for happiness and success (whatever these mean for you) will be that much greater.
How to Knock Out Self-Doubt:
1/ Acknowledge. That’s right: own your negative thoughts. (Ignoring them will just cause them to resurface and grow in importance.)
2/ Double Punch Back. Think of 2 positive qualities or alternatives for each doubt, worry or negative thought. (It’s always better to double up on the positives because sometimes it takes more than one of them to counteract a negative thought.)
3/ Remember The Two W’s. In order for great things to happen in life, you need to understand two things at a deep level: you are worth it and you are working for it. Believing you deserve to be happy and successful is a must — and as long as you’re committed to continually working toward your goal, there’s no reason you can’t accomplish it. Remind yourself of this when you begin to worry or doubt yourself.
4/ Consciously Let Go. Once you’ve acknowledged your self-doubt, given each one a double punch back (#2) and reminded yourself that you are worthy and working for it — it’s time to actively let go of the negative thoughts. (Note: Don’t over think this: think of it as a simple exercise. Once you’ve experienced positive results, you’ll be encouraged to continue and this process will feel more natural.)
photo: Miguel Bruna
Remember that you’re not alone in feeling weighed down by doubt at times. It’s comforting though to realize you have the ability to decide how much importance you give negative thoughts. As with most things, you’ll improve with practice; discarding negative thoughts when they pop into your head will eventually become second nature.
As always, positive change begins and ends with you. It requires that you trust yourself and that you’re willing to do the work (for some, the above steps may feel strange but minor; for others it will be much more challenging). You don’t need to dive into them with full blind faith but you do need to take sure-footed baby steps in order for them to be effective. If and when letting go of self-doubt feels too difficult or overwhelming, just focus on #3 and remind yourself: “I am worthy and I’m working for it.” 💯
“Doubt kills more dreams than failure ever will.” – Suzy Kassem
* Song For This Moment: “Worry” by Jack Garratt.
Related Articles:
“Don’t Let Caution Turn to Cowardice”, article in Entrepreneur.
“Seven Strategies To Control Your Thoughts”, article in Mountain Moving Mindset.
“Do We Have Control Over Our Thoughts”, article.
“Impossible is just a big word thrown around by small men who find it easier to live in the world they’ve been given than to explore the power they have to change it. Impossible is not a fact. It’s an opinion. Impossible is not a declaration. It’s a dare. Impossible is potential. Impossible is temporary. Impossible is nothing.” – Muhammad Ali
Reflecting on the life of one of the world’s most influential sports figures and humanitarians of the 20th century, it’s no wonder many of us feel heavy-hearted about Muhammad Ali’s recent passing. I personally surprised myself by getting hooked on video footage of Ali in the weeks after his death, scouring the Internet for clips displaying his magnetic charisma, conviction and sense of humor. (It’s impossible not to smile in admiration while watching him speak, isn’t it?) For a man to proclaim himself The Greatest and for the world not only to recognize it – but to applaud him for it – is beyond inspiring.
Muhammad Ali’s life story is as compelling as his personality. As a two-year-old, he knocked his mom’s tooth out and as an eight-year-old he told the neighborhood kids he would be champion of the world. When others called him arrogant, he responded that he wasn’t conceited, he was convinced. And being the greatest boxer of all time is only part of what made Ali so exceptional. Growing up in segregated Louisville, Kentucky, Muhammad Ali experienced a great deal of oppression that took years to overcome; yet he never succumbed to bitterness or violence. He legally abandoned his “slave name” of Cassius Clay and converted to Islam, not because anyone else was doing it but because it’s what he believed in. He was an unapologetic game-changer and a messenger of peace. For refusing to fight in the Vietnam War, Muhammad Ali faced federal prosecution, was stripped of his title and license to box, and was even sentenced to prison. He stood by his unpopular decisions and faced their consequences, and years later won back love, respect and admiration from the world. Muhammad Ali’s authenticity is nothing short of awe-inspiring.
This article was a bit challenging for me to write because it feels so important – urgent even. As I’m writing, I’m reminded of and awakened to the reason I launched No Bubblegum: to inspire and empower others to live and be their best. In a world full of distractions (from Instagram to Snapchat to Netflix), authentic connection and genuine inspiration are more critical than ever. Muhammed Ali’s life and accomplishments remind us of two fundamental points that we’d all do well to remember: 1) we each have the power to change the world and 2) we owe it to ourselves and others to be our greatest.
6 Quotes to Live By: In Muhammad Ali’s Words. Nine days after Ali’s death, as we’re painfully aware, the United States experienced its most deadly mass shooting in history in Orlando, Florida. One person is killed every seventeen minutes as a result of gun violence in the US today because, despite President Obama’s many efforts over the last 8 years, our gun control laws remain not nearly strict enough. And although this tragic news has nothing to do with Muhammad Ali, it reminds us that the world is in dire need of courageous leaders like him. Like you, and like me. Real change often requires struggle, perseverance, an incredible work ethic and unrelenting resilience. We can not sit back and watch as life happens; we need to actively engage and be the change in order to create it.
As eloquently spoken by wife Lonnie Williams during his funeral service, “Muhammad Ali was a great man and he makes all of us proud. We need to take notes from his life as to how we can make our world better.” Williams continued by beautifully pointing out that her husband believed in the boundless possibilities of love and the strength of our diversity, and that he was a work in progress — just like each of us. When we tap into our higher selves and increase our self-love and self-awareness, there’s no limit to what we can achieve.
* Song For This Moment: “Glory” by Common and John Legend.