New Wings!

If you want to be original just try being yourself. -Bernard Meltzer (1916-1998), radio host of “What’s Your Problem?”

I’m still amazed by the power of Social Media, Web 2.0 or however else you like to refer to the social phenomenon occurring as we speak! I think the most amazing part is the incredible opportunity to reach out and help so many people in so many different ways. This week alone, I have had the chance to meet and speak with a couple of new friends in both a business and personal capacity…no way to explain it other than plain old fun! But why? I think because it’s personally fulfilling and that just makes us feel good! Why? Because when you are pursuing ideas or goals that are important to you, there is a chemical change in the brain for the better as the ‘feel good’ chemicals like serotonin are released! Yet in even simpler terms, consider that you can start a blog for free, which offers you a public place to share your thoughts about what moves you, but even better is that anyone from anywhere in the world can read your thoughts and jump in the conversation…we are no longer so intellectually isolated! Stay with me there’s more…you see, isolation and the lack of the ability to express your thoughts can lead to a feeling that you are alone in this world and crush your self esteem! But now there is hope…from your safe perch at home you can test the waters…throw out some bait…and see who responds! No more worrying about saying something stupid and having someone laugh in your face! There are more people than you think who have the same interests that you do!

So what’s the real point here? I think it’s that isolation and lack of communication can lead to inaccurate thinking and that can be very dangerous! Over the past several months I have experienced first hand just how far off your thoughts can be…one of my coaching clients and more importantly a good friend, decided to take a path which has no return! Losing her was certainly a tragedy and like me, all of those around her would have loved a chance at helping her, but that never came because we were not aware of how far off base her thought process had become. I have had the chance to speak with her husband and reminded him to make sure he realized that no matter what he could have said or done would not have mattered because we all make our own choices based on our own beliefs…and none of us can think for someone else! This week I was also touched by the story of Mary, who after having read this blog, asked if I could somehow help her son who has been in and out of prison! I’m humbled by the opportunity and would give this passionate response: I believe that the only reason we repeat self destructive behavior is because of inaccurate thinking! You don’t have to have a PhD in Psychology to realize that we are made up of a picture that we paint of ourselves based on the beliefs that we have formed over a life time! We often become who other people or circumstances say we are and that should just be unacceptable!

There is a clear action step for all of us and that’s to STOP worrying about what everyone else thinks of us! I’m not asking you to start a revolution with your parents, your boss, your friends or whomever! I’m just asking you to think! Do you want to look back on a life of misery and think that you simply should have never really cared about the opinions of those who sought to keep you down? Why can’t you be who you really want to be? Why can’t you do what you really want to do? You know why…because you have accepted the world’s inaccurate view of what’s possible! You have stopped thinking that you can create a new image of yourself and the only reason for that is because you’ve lost hope! Well hope is internal and it waits to be called upon! It doesn’t come from me or any other motivational drummer…you own it! Stop keeping it hostage…set it free and don’t be afraid to try a new you! Your subconscious or the place where you keep the picture of you needs to be cleaned out! And it’s easy…because all you need is a mental eraser! So as you begin to rebuild your self image start by building a new set of wings…powerful strong wings that can carry you over anything that gets in your way…because we can all get out of prison if we just use our wings!

Tags: Motivation, Self Improvement