L. Krystalina Soash's Blog: Your Positive Potential, page 3

Positive Role Models Wanted

Hear Ye! Hear Ye!




Positive Role Models Wanted!




Have you thought about how you could become one? Maybe you're asking what's a positive role model and what does a positive role
model look like?




A positive role model is someone who sets a good example for others and possesses qualities that benefit others
with good intentions and is deserving of merit and respect.




If you're considering auditioning for the above position, here's how YOU can be a positive role model.




Always keep your word: This means you say
what you mean and you mean what you say.
Admit a mistake: This is one of the most
courageous acts a positive role model can do. 
 Make healthy choices: The choices you make today will make an impact on
your tomorrows.







So where do you start? Look for a positive role model that contributes to making this planet a better place, such as someone you could look at and say, “Someday, I’d like to
be just like you!” 




Have an outstanding day,




Positively Writinghood5

Negative Thoughts as Affirmations?

After being restless all night, and now feeling tired and extremely
unmotivated, Sarah Jean turned off her alarm clock and rolled over in bed to
face the wall. She stared at the wall wishing her life was different... Her only thoughts were those of disgust with herself and her
living situation. Her day had already been ruined, and she knew it. 

 


As usual, it was going to be another no–good, intolerable day. She rolled
over again to lie flat on her back and stared at the ceiling above her.
Thoughts of despair grew and grew as tears rolled down both sides of her face. “Oh
no, another day,” she grumbled and cried in silence... as she whispered audibly, “I hate my
life!”






Sarah Jean’s feelings of despair didn’t begin in the morning; they had
been strengthened enough to become a habit. This habit became nightly, and she’d
go to bed every night in the same manner: crying in the dark. And in the
silence of her own shrinking little world, her feelings of despair just brought
her closer and closer to the end of her rope.






“I wish, I wish, I wish …” she’d cry in despair. Sarah Jean wished
the same wishes every night at bedtime and then the same wishes every morning
upon awakening, the same old wishes:






I wish I was pretty; then maybe somebody would love me (wanting to be
loved)
I wish I had my own house (wanting peace and quiet)
I wish I had my own room (wanting privacy)
I wish I had my own food (wanting to eat healthy)
I wish these people were not here (wanting her own space)
I wish I’d never gotten married (having regrets)
I wish I’d never had kids (having more regrets)





    “I
wish, I wish, I wish …” went her list.








But how could Sarah Jean escape that vicious cycle of wishes and regrets?
Having sought solutions to her living situation by reading literature on
positive thinking, she had already read and heard others talk about how
positive thinking could change her life... Positive thinking
was just idle chatter. How could she even try to do that again?










The term ‘affirmation’
has come to be a common household word today, but what exactly is an affirmation?
And what’s the ultimate purpose of an affirmation? To affirm means to declare
positively that something is true, so an affirmation is the act of affirming—declaring
positively that something is true, asserting support or agreement, asserting
the existence of something to be true.






Oops
… I Found Out the Hard Way






But here’s something really interesting that I found out the hard way. Wishes,
like those Sarah Jean was repeating, are also affirmations, but in the negative
form. Unbeknownst to Sarah Jean, her wishes only reinforced the lack in her
life. The wishes became stronger as negative affirmations, which included how
much she hated her life. It’s really sad that many of us, like Sarah Jean, are
unaware that thoughts and wishes are very powerful affirmations. Yes, even
negative thoughts are very powerful affirmations.






We usually think of the term ‘affirmations’ as being positive simply
because ‘to affirm’ means to confirm something as positively or absolutely
true.

 

Sarah Jean had tried positive affirmations before but considered them to
be useless and a waste of time. Why? Because she didn’t get the immediate
results she wanted. That’s another problem some of us have encountered. We
expect results immediately after we’re done saying the affirmation!

 



For years I too was very impatient like Sarah Jean and expected immediate
results from those and any other types of self-help techniques. I thought affirmations
were just some hokey-pokey, mumbo-jumbo lies people told themselves to feel good
temporarily... 




Using false statements just to feel good was no way to live, as far as I
was concerned, and no one was going to convince me otherwise. Like Sarah Jean,
I thought that anyone in his or her right mind could see that affirmations were a
waste of time and energy. I used to be one of the worst persons to talk
to about affirmations—till it happened
to me! Who would’ve thought? Personal transformations can happen to us when we
least expect them...





Today I attest that positive affirmations are very
real. Within those positive affirmations I’ve discovered life-giving powers.





(Excerpt from "Your Positive Potential: Action Steps for Self-Empowerment" )
  

~Positively Writinghood



 

Crash Landed... Again?!

LOL... Can you relate to the story below? I can, keep reading...




Here's
a story I heard in a 12-step support meeting years ago that goes like this: 



Three very
big, burly guys wanted to go moose-hunting, knowing there was no moose
where they lived, they packed up their moose hunting gear and flew out to
Northwest Territory. They'd done this before. They arrived up north,
got their room and after a few phone calls they hired Joe, a helicopter
operator, to drop them off at a mountain top for moose hunting. They told Joe
they'd radio in when they were ready to get picked up with their moose.




Hours
later Joe gets the call "We're ready, we got ourselves a Big One!" Joe arrives at
the mountain top and steps out of the helicopter. Eying the BIG moose he turns
to the three big burly guys and says, "Fellas, I don't think we can haul all
three of you and this Big moose in this helicopter".




Surprised
one of the big burly guys responds, "Well, why not? We did it last year!"




Hesitantly
Joe says, "Hmm, … Okay…"




Throw
in that BIG moose and throw in those three big, burly guys. Shortly after
takeoff, they crash landed!




"What
happened?" asked, one of the big burly guys.




"We
crashed landed! Said Pilot Joe.




Where
are we?" the question continued.




 "We're just a few feet from where we crashed
landed last year!' Pilot Joe yelled out.




Remember, learning is a gift that grants us insightful
opportunities; if we're willing to pay attention. Insightful opportunities such
as learning from our past mistakes or better yet, learning from others' mistakes
can be lifelong lessons so we can live a better life. Then of course there
are some of us (me included) that just have to test the waters for ourselves. Testing the water? Well, that's another blog for another day. Stay tuned :) 

 

~Krystalina







 
                       

Add Restful Sleep to Your 2012 Goals

Woo-Hoo... It's a brand new year !

I know many of us have set out some awesome goals to accomplish. That's' great, however, let's remember to place our beauty sleep as a top priority, okay? If you have a tendency to neglect your required beauty sleep, beware; because one day you'll wake up, look in the mirror and be in for a BIG SURPRISE! Those dark circles will have appeared out of nowhere. Yes, we joke about getting our beauty sleep, but it's a fact that getting a restful night's sleep can do wonders for our appearance.

Following is just one helpful tip on getting a get a good night's sleep so you may wake up feeling refreshed in the morning, or as some of us like to say "bright-eyed and bushy-tailed."

Here is the helpful tip:

Tip: Don't read newspapers or sift through your bills. You'll either have nightmares or those news stories and bill due dates will cause restless sleep. Try to read materials that are uplifting, inspirational, or write in your gratitude journal. These activities will help you relax so you may get a good night's sleep.

I'm a morning person and my restful sleep is a priority as I tend to have more energy when I sleep well and I'm sure you will too. Here's to a good night's rest so you may do your part to avoid the surprise of dark circles.

Here's to our positive potential in the year 2012.


~Krystalina





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Good Intentions Require Learning

Have you ever had good intentions to better your life? Yep, I have, many, many times throughout the years.



Now, here's something interesting. Pursuing a better way of life doesn't have to happen the hard way, though some of us tend to take that route, yep, been there done that. And why would we take the that route anyway? It's either because we don't know any better or because we just choose to do it our way without a guide. Either way we choose it's a risk.



Can you relate? If you can, I encourage you to keep reading...



Any time we have an intention to better our life, we have the opportunity to help others with what we've learned along the way. As long as we're moving forward and learning from life, we open ourselves up to learning new skills and with those skills we learn to cope with life when we encounter obstacles. Here's a huge benefit, with those new skills we're better able to serve others, and by serving others we learn that we have been granted the capability to give. Now isn't there an ancient saying that says it's better to give than to receive? 



Learning is a gift that grants us insightful opportunities, if we're willing to pay attention. Insightful opportunities such as learning from our past mistakes, or even better yet, learning from others' mistakes can save us a lot of headaches, heartaches, tummy aches, joint aches, etc. You get the picture.



The bottom line is that we should never stop learning from life, when we stop learning then we're headed for trouble. So let's keep on moving forward, learning, and living a better life.



Here's to our good intentions ~ Krystalina



                         
                 

Do You Have Valid Reasons for Procrastinating?

"Yes, yes, I'll do it tomorrow," we've all said it at one time or another, but some of us say it more often than we'd like to admit. You may have many things you need to do, but instead tell yourself you'll do it later. But you can stop procrastinating! Procrastination means that later turns into tomorrow, tomorrow turns into next week, next month, next year, even the next decade. Take for example that old chair in the garage, when did you say you were going to fix it?



Excuses can be relentless and you may be feeling powerless over them. But wait a minute! Could you possibly have legitimate reasons for procrastinating? Either way procrastination wins, but only because you give it that power!



Do you find yourself procrastinating by using any of these excuses?



-- I don't have the time.



-- I hate making lists.



-- Maybe they'll forget I said I'd do it.



-- I'm waiting for (name) to arrive before I start.



-- If it needs to get done, it will get done.



Honestly, the above list may be excuses, but any of those listed below may be legitimate reasons.



• You'd rather do it for yourself instead of someone else.

• You honestly can't do it all by yourself, you need help.

• You don't want to make a commitment for fear of failure.

• You don't have the work space in the house, the garage, or the office.

• You don't like being told what to do.

• You lack the skills and supplies.



If you're honest with yourself you'll see the difference between excuses and reasons. You'll also notice that excuses come easy, but reasons can be resolved.



Sometimes you just might have a legitimate reason for not getting things done, but depending on the importance placed on that reason, it won't get done by making room for excuses.



Procrastination doesn't have to win; you can eliminate excuses and/or resolve those reasons.



Take that power back, it's Yours!



Positively Writinghood

Recovery is a Process: 3 of 12

Does addiction to substances hinder you from achieving your positive potential? Are you on a path to recovery? It's a tough road to travel and it's a process, not a destination. Fortunately there are others on the same road and they're called 12-step groups.



When it comes to recovery, you never arrive. To arrive, means to get there, to unpack, and relax, just like when you're on a vacation. To arrive also means to get to your designated area, just like at your job.



Some people like to believe that because they've abstained from their addiction for a while they're cured and no longer need to continue working on their recovery. However, here's proof that recovery is really a process in a 12-step program.



Here's something to think about in regards to the three proofs that recovery is a process in a 12-step program:



1. You admitted that you were powerless over your addiction, that your life had become unmanageable. To continue in your recovery and have a manageable life, you must admit your powerlessness. If you were to deny this first step you would be lying to yourself. Honesty is a process.



2. You came to believe that a Power greater than yourself could restore you to sanity. Restoration of your sanity is a gift that doesn't come overnight. It's the efforts and the belief that a Power greater than yourself can work with you to help restore you. Restoration is a process.



3. You made a decision to turn your will over to the care of God as you understood Him. When you made this decision, you took action with the awareness that you would get better results in your life by carrying out your Higher Power's will instead of your own. Turning your will over is a process.



With your daily practice of these three steps, you're proving that recovery is a process while reaping astounding benefits on your way to reaching your positive potential. Remember, when it comes to recovery, you never arrive. Apply these principles and you'll have your own proof that recovery is a process, it is not a destination.



Here's to your awesome day!



Writinghood

Your're Being Watched!

Have you been practicing some new positive self-esteem statements or behaviors lately? Be advised that you're being watched by others.



You may have been struggling with low self-esteem for years but when you start practicing some empowering statements or behaviors someone might say to you, "Wait a minute, now you're being over confident!"



So right away that statement prompts you to ask, "What's the difference?"

Take a look at the following descriptions of healthy self-esteem and over-confidence, then decide for yourself.



Healthy Self-Esteem:



• You're satisfied with yourself

• You don't judge yourself harshly

• You can laugh at your own silly mistakes

• You're resourceful

• You take responsibility for your own actions



Over-Confident:



• You don't care what others think

• You will do it your way

• You blame others for your mistakes

• You feel you don't need anyone for anything

• You are overbearing



There's a fine line between having a healthy self-esteem and being over-confident. Having a healthy self esteem is defined as having confidence in your own merit as an individual and not having to rely on outside approval for your overall self-worth. That's a tall order for someone who struggles with low self esteem issues.



On the other hand, over-confidence is defined as going over your quota in your level of confidence for example, over stretching your merit unrealistically to an exaggerated confidence point. As you begin to practice your new empowering statements and start changing your behavior to raise your self-esteem, you'll want to go through this checklist and ask yourself which description you fall into.



This of course, is but a short list to help you identify the differences between having a healthy self esteem and being over confident. Check it out and see how you can boost your self-esteem and avoid being over-confident.



Here's to OUR positive potential,



Writinghood

Wait a Minute - Don't Embrace Change

You've heard the phrase embrace change. Well, I don't know about you, but for me embracing change is definitely out of the question!



The world is full of advice on embracing change, yet I've never heard anyone say they embrace losing their skin elasticity due to aging, or embrace going gray or even embrace losing their hair. And most certainly I've never heard anyone say they embrace change when they lose their job or lose a loved one. For me the real key has been not to embrace change but rather to work with that change.



So how in the world do you go about doing that? Like this:



1. Accept the fact that what is, just is. If you've lost your job use your skills to get another one. You are far more knowledgeable and skilled now than when you first started the job you just lost. Change says ~ That milestone has served its purpose, it's time to move on to the next one as there are several yet to go.



2. Realize that life must have its ups and downs. It's a law of nature that to every up there must be a down, to every hot there must be a cold, to every joy there must be a sorrow. And of course, what goes up must come down. Better yet, Nature shows us this fact with the displaying of summer versus winter. Change happens without our permission.



3. Apply your years of acquired wisdom. With every experience forward you have knowledge from the past. Acquired wisdom comes with age and experience. What you knew yesterday, last week or even last year is not the same as what you know today. Apply that wisdom to that change and become a better person inside.



4. Appreciate what you have now. Look at the many positive things in your life that you have right now, because there are others in worse conditions than you. And that is a guarantee. The greatest things to appreciate right now are your beating heart, your brain synapses, and the breath of life. Never take any of these for granted.



Embrace change? Not I. I'd rather work with change. I have found that life is a flow of give and take, and these four points have proven to be very realistic answers to change. Go with the flow and don't fight that change. Think about it, when you fight any life change you end up frustrated, hurt and miserable. Yes, grieve the loss of your job, your loved one, you natural hair color and/or your skin elasticity. You cannot bring back any of these back (naturally), but you can work with that change, accept life and turn the page to a new chapter.



There are new adventures to be had :)



Writinghood

Think OMG - Optimism, Mindfulness, Gratitude

Woo-Hoo...It's another beautiful day :)



I'm sure you're familiar with the concepts such as mindful eating, mindful walking, and mindful just about anything. The purpose for any type of mindful anything is to help make us aware of our thoughts and actions that can guide us into making healthy choices. So in the spirit of being mindful today, what do you say we try the following just for today?



Optimism: Optimism is the tendency to hope, believe and expect a beneficial outcome for all persons involved. Optimism can be a very healthy tool for living a fulfilling life. Optimism can help carry us though those tough times.



Mindfulness: Mindful is being actively attentive of our thoughts and being watchful of our actions. Being mindful benefits us and those around us by keeping us in check of our thoughts before our actions unfold.



Gratitude: Gratitude is the feeling of appreciation and we may choose to be grateful at any given moment during our waking hours. It doesn't have to be a special moment. We can be grateful for our breath, our health, our family and friends.



So in the spirit of thinking OMG, what do you say we become willing participants and try these thoughts on for size? Are you with me, at least just for today?



Let's go for it!



Have a Fantabulous Day !



Writinghood