Break out of your comfort zone . . . .

We are told over and over again to seek comfort. Comfort is good, right? Society encourages it. I encourage it as well. But I like to use my comfort zone as a reward, not a place to retreat to because I'm afraid to venture into a new place, or take on a new challenge. Comfort zones are awesome! They're familiar, and they're safe.  But they can become stifling if we automatically retreat to them just to avoid a new challenge. First of all, remember that challenges are opportunities for growth!  They test us and makes us better. There is no question that it can be a scary thing to take on a new challenge. But seriously, what is the worst thing that can happen? Is the worst case scenario really that bad? Messing up a few times isn't that big of a deal. We all make mistakes. Personally, I think it's a bigger mistake to find ourselves in a rut due to fear. We miss out on amazing opportunities. Opportunities that could open your eyes to new and exciting things.  Don't allow yourself to get trapped in a zone that hinders your growth. There's a marvelous world out there! Check it out!

Today is a perfect day to start! 

Off you go!

"One can choose to go back toward safety 
or forward toward growth. 
Growth must be chosen again and again; 

fear must be overcome again and again."

-Abraham Maslow

That wonderful motivator . . . .

I have posted many times on this blog about facing your fears, and have even referred to the phrase 'no fear' many times, but we all know that having some fear in your life is a huge motivator! In business, when you fear your competition, it motivates you to work harder, build a better team, or provide better customer service. In life, fear can protect us from danger. It makes us more aware of our surroundings, keeps us on our toes, and hopefully helps us make smarter decisions. So when I talk about 'no fear', I am referring to that wonderful motivator that will force you to get out of your box. Unfortunately, it is so easy to get stuck in that box! We develop habits that prevent us from moving forward....trying new things....or taking reasonable risks. When you let fear suffocate you, it can prevent you from making any changes in your life. Don't forget.....life is meant for you to experience it! It is there for YOU! Use those pesky fears as your motivator! Allow them to move you forward, not hold you back!

"The greatest mistake you can make in life

is to be continually fearing

you will make one."

-Elbert Hubbard

Happy Monday!

Make it a great week!

Whatever it is you're facing today that has you apprehensive, I wish you strength & courage. May you have the audacity to approach it with the fearlessness that is deep within you. Remember......Own it! 

xo, Connie

"They can't hurt you unless you let them."

-Unknown

Photo via Patterson Maker

Life needs you . . . .

To get a handle on your fears, embrace them. Look them in the eye. Love and understand them. You've given them birth, and you've given them a reason to be in your life. Seek out that reason. Why are you afraid? What are you really afraid of? How might you have ever come to believe that your happiness was dependent upon something or someone outside of you? When you see yourself as you truly are --- unlimited, forever, and abundant --- fears and doubts will no longer cling to you for their meaning, and your natural confidence, joy, and harmony will reign supreme. 

Life needs you. We all need you.

Would you ever worry again, if you absolutely knew --- really, really knew --- that you've made no mistakes? That no matter what challenges have come your way or may come your way, all will add to your joy tomorrow? That all you have to do to live the life of your dreams is make the decision? That you've already made the difference in the world that you now hope to make? That one day, everything will make perfect sense and you'll be glad for all of it? That there is no judgment apart from what you dish out to yourself? That you are now adored more than you can possibly comprehend? That new friends and the happiest of times lie ahead?

It's time you knew!

Life needs you, entirely.

From the book Choose Them Wisely

Love yourself first . . . .

We are each responsible for our own life. No other person is or even can be. You might have experienced things that caused you to judge yourself unworthy, but it is important to know why and how you were programmed to feel the way you do so you can do the work of changing the program. That is one of the most important challenges of your life ...... to heal the wounds of your past so you don't continue to bleed. Until you do, you are literally dragging the weight of your past into your present. And that makes it nearly impossible to move forward.

If you're holding anyone else accountable for your happiness, you're wasting time. You must be fearless enough to give yourself the love you didn't receive. Begin noticing how every day brings a new opportunity for your growth. How buried disagreements with your mother show up in arguments with your spouse. How unconscious feelings of unworthiness appear in everything you do and don't do. All these experiences are your life's way of making itself whole ...... sometimes whispering, often screaming. Pay attention. Every choice gives you a chance to pave your own road. Keep moving. Full speed ahead.

From the book

What I Know for Sure

by

Oprah Winfrey

Photo via Google Images

I can't stop smiling! . . . .

What a night!  I danced in my local Dancing With The Stars fund raiser event, and we accomplished exactly what we set out to do! We landed a spot in the top 3, which means we got to dance in the 2nd round! I am completely satisfied with that! It was definitely one of my top life highlights. I learned that I will never turn down an opportunity like that, even though it would be easy to let the fear of it all hold you back. Needless to say, we raised a record amount of money for a great cause and I couldn't be happier about that.

This morning I opened my email and received this 'note from The Universe'. I laughed out loud.

Every compliment, criticism, promotion, setback, good vibe, cough or really long line you have to wait in, Connie, is a gift that was meticulously designed to make possible your becoming more than who you were, and ultimately, happier than ever before, as we dance into forever.

How do you ever keep from celebrating, all the time, Connie,

or does this explain why you smile so much? 

-The Universe

Happy Friday!

Have a lovely weekend!

Accepting the challenge . . . .

My schedule is ramping up with a few new commitments that I'm very excited about. One of which is that I have begun dance rehearsals for my local Dancing with the Stars fund raiser event that will take place in November. I was nominated to dance, accepted the challenge, and hope to raise lots of money for this great charity. As I have said before, I have chosen to live a 'no regret' life and dancing in front of 1,200 people at this event is something I might have walked away from just a few years ago. Walking into the unknown is scary (I'm dancing hip-hop!), but I am psyched about doing something new and looking forward to the challenge. Bernice Johnson Reagon once said, "Life's challenges are not supposed to paralyze you. They're supposed to help you discover who you are." Begin to look for your challenge and choose to make that discovery about yourself.

Photo via Google Images

GUTS . . . .

Happy Friday!

Wishing you a lovely weekend!

Photo by PASCHOAL RODRIGUEZ 

via One League Artists

Face your fears . . . .

I'm a scaredy cat when it comes to the water.  I love looking at it, but getting in it has not been the easiest thing for me to do ever since I had a water skiing accident when I was in my late teens. I had on a life vest that was too big for me, and when I went down, the vest rose up my body and was floating on the surface, which left one of the straps wrapped around my neck, leaving me trapped under water. I came to the conclusion that I was a goner, although I never stopped fighting with that stupid vest. It finally came loose and I surfaced. Needless to say, I spent a lot of time OUT of the water after that! But hey, you can't let a little near-death experience stop you from getting back in the saddle, right? Check out the photo below. (I'm the third one back on the right.) Not only did I know this crazy trip would require me to get back in the water, but damn, I knew if I fell off this raft, I may have to fight for my life again!  I made sure my life vest was one size too small, and it was so tightly wrapped around my body I could hardly breathe! Not only that, but I bruised my feet because I had them tucked so tight underneath a strap across the bottom of this little boat, just for extra stability. Sometimes I can hardly believe I did it. But I did, and I literally never stopped laughing. It was so much fun, extremely exhilarating, and an adventure that I would have missed out on had I not said "what the hell." Do you have a fear? Do you realize that if you were able to conquer it, you may enjoy life a bit more fully? Don't let your fears hold you back from living a life full of adventure. For me......letting go of my fear of water (at least for a little while) allowed me to enjoy one unforgettable ride!

Photo by Class VI River Runners