To subscribe to this free weekly newsletter go to: cherylrichardson.com/newsletter/subscribe.htm
Dear Friends,
Thanks very much for the positive feedback about shifting our
newsletter to HTML with Constant Contact. While we finalize our new
look, you'll be receiving a temporary format to insure that your
issue comes through on time and without a hitch. Stay tuned for the new one!
If you missed the telegathering with Louise Hay, please give yourself
the gift of listening to it either on your computer, or by
downloading the MP3 file. Our discussion offers a rare chance to
hear a pioneer in the self-help field share wisdom gleaned from years
of experience. You'll find it
here.
For more info on Louise, click here, and for
more info on the "You Can Heal Your Life" movie, visit here.
Finally, please remember that if you have someone in your life who is
struggling with self care issues, the loss of a loved one, a
challenging life transition, or the desire to make a change, you can
put his or her name in the "comments" section of the store order from
and I'll personally sign the book and include a special,
inspirational note. You'll find the books (with intros online) here.
Have a wonderful week...
Love,
Cheryl
p.s. - Need a little Divine Direction? Use the "Touch of Grace" button on our homepage here: http://www.cherylrichardson.com.
"If a man would move the world, he must first move himself."
--Socrates
I love how synchronicity works. Recently, while browsing through
newsletters looking for a past issue for a member of our online
community, I came across the following advice about getting unstuck
and found myself reading it as if someone else wrote it. I needed a
reminder of these steps. If you're feeling stuck in an area of your
life -- relationships, career, finances, a creative project, or while
trying to accomplish an important goal, this info should
help. Here's what to do to get unstuck...
First of all, it's important to remember that the thing you need to
do most in preparation for getting unstuck is the opposite of what
most people do -- you need to stop beating yourself up and instead,
give yourself a break. Yup, that means being kind to yourself in
spite of your stuckness. It means accepting your feelings
of hopelessness so you can stop using so much precious energy trying
to push these feelings away. Getting unstuck means embracing the
total you -- the person with good
intentions, the one who takes action now and then, and the one who
keeps tripping you up. The message is simple: Don't resist your
stuckness -- it only keeps you stuck :).
Once you embrace yourself and the situation, the trick to getting
unstuck then lies in three behavior changes:
1. Take back your power. One of the biggest mistakes we make when
feeling stuck is telling ourselves that our inability to move forward
is due solely to outside circumstances -- a lack of money, too many
problems, or the influence of other people, for example. All of us
will be faced with real-life challenges. That's a fact. But our
place of power always lies in the recognition that we have
choices. They may be tough choices like selling a home to relieve
financial pressure or walking
away from an abusive relationship to reclaim our self-esteem, but
never mistake tough choices with having no choice at all. You always
have choices.
2. Manage your mind. Feeling stuck is first and foremost fueled by
our state of mind -- the thoughts we think from moment to
moment. When we feel unmotivated, it's because we're thinking
unmotivated thoughts. When we feel trapped, it's because we
consistently tell ourselves that there are no options. When we feel
hopeless, there's a good chance that the mantra running through our
mind is something like: "Why bother?"
So, the key to turning this self-defeating habit around is to take
control of your thoughts. Easier said than done, I know. Rather
than offer an elaborate process for doing so, try this simple
technique. For one whole week, take a tip from my sister Michelle
who instills the following message in her kids, and repeat this
phrase throughout the day:
I CAN DO ANYTHING!
Regardless of whether or not you believe it or whether it seems
rational, do it anyway. Say it to yourself when you first wake up,
repeat it in your mind while brushing your teeth, sing it to yourself
while driving to work or getting the kids ready for school. Then,
keep at it through lunch and dinner, all the way up to when you fall
asleep. Just keep telling yourself that you can do anything and
notice how your mood and perspective shifts.
3. Keep good company. Every successful person I've ever spent time
with has emphasized the importance of having highly motivated people
around them. As a matter of fact, just this morning as I watched
Queen Latifah on The Actor's Studio talk about how to stay motivated
while building an acting career, her first response was just
that: "Surround yourself with motivated people who are just as
committed as you."
People who feel stuck tend to associate with people who like to
commiserate about the unfairness of the world. This is a recipe for
disaster -- you all stay stuck together. Find people who are up to
something big and who feel excited about life, and spend your time
with them. If you don't have anyone, consider joining or starting a
Life Makeover Group. It's free and it's a great way to meet
like-minded new friends. You'll find more info here.
Finally, if you're really ready to move forward, get help. Remember
that any anxiety you feel about being stuck is simply related to
inaction. The first step toward getting unstuck is making a
move. Hate your job? Contact a recruiter or job counselor today and
find out how to start a job change. Faced with financial
pressure? Call your accountant, financial planner, or credit
counseling service and ask for help in putting a recovery plan in
place. Are you going to fail along the way? Of course. Will you
lose motivation now and then? You can bet on it. But the key is to
get started. Getting unstuck is only one tiny step away from where you
are right this minute. All you need to do is move your feet :)
~*~ Take Action Challenge ~*~
1. Choose one area of your life that you'd like to change and
identify three choices you do have available to you right now. If
you can't come up with any, ask a friend for help.
2. Create a new screensaver that marches the words "I CAN DO
ANYTHING!" across your screen. If you're not sure how to do this,
let your first action step be requesting help from someone who knows how.
3. Pick up the phone and schedule lunch, dinner, tea, or a catch-up
conversation with a highly motivated friend who will support you in
your quest for positive change. Ask him or her for help in creating
a simple 5-step action plan.
|
