Be Yourself ~ It’s the New Normal!

“If you are always trying to be normal you will never know how amazing you can be.”

  ~ Maya Angelou

Are you trying to be normal?  Do you try to act normal?  Is normal what you are striving for?  If so, then stop right there and let normal go please.  There’s no need for you to strive for that any more because you’re better than normal!  You’re more special than normal ~ you are more amazing than normal ~ because you are you!

You are unique, you are wonderful and you are a blessing to this world!  It’s time to embrace YOU and stop the constant comparing in your head of yourself against what you consider normal ~ just let go!

It’s taken me a long time to shed the normal gene from my life and to embrace the specialness that is me.  For you see, when I put myself up against what in my own thoughts I’ve decided is normalcy, I feel like I fail miserably.  I simply do not measure up to society’s vision of normal.  Nothing about me is normal ~ not even my age at diagnosis of breast cancer, the way I got it, what’s happened to me since I was diagnosed ~ simply put, none of it.  I’ve been a rarity right from the start ~ but a rarity trying desperately to be normal.

Until recently, when I decided to stretch out of my comfort zone and embrace the ME that’s been itching to develop, to stretch and to shine!  That girl has decided to embrace her uniqueness, her specialness and connect with others by showing herself, with all of her vulnerabilities, not caring if she’s accepted or not!

Why fit in when you were born to stand out? ~ Dr. Seuss

And in doing so, I’ve found happiness, fulfillment and connections far beyond my expectations!  I’ve found self-love, peace within myself and a sense of tranquility in my world.  I’ve let go of control, of what I’ve deemed normal and I’ve allowed myself and others to simply be themselves.  To love and connect with them and to accept us all as we are!  It’s being accomplished through baby steps, like everything else I do, but as I am a work in progress, so is the self-development!  That’s what’s prompted Inner Hotshot University (IHU) ~ it’s in the power of being you that you accomplish great things!

I’m shining now for all to see ~ accept me or not ~ being myself is the new normal!

Shine On!

xo

Daily Prompt: The Normal

Is being “normal” — whatever that means to you — a good thing, or a bad thing? Neither?

http://dailypost.wordpress.com/2013/06/09/daily-prompt-normal/

Who’s to Say I’m Normal?

Daily Prompt: Far From Normal  Many of us think of our lives as boringly normal, while others live the high life. Take a step back, and take a look at your life as an outsider might. Now, tell us at least six unique, exciting, or just plain odd things about yourself.

I saw this Daily Prompt this morning and I figured I’d hop on board to do this one as well!  Since I love hearing about you, take a moment and give me a glimpse of you in the comment section or better yet, join me in the Daily Prompt!  I love connecting with you!   In the meantime, here are 9 things about me!

I AM A….

1.  Wife, Mom, Daughter, Sister, Friend and Jersey Gal.   I love all the roles that encompass my life!  They make me happy to be a part of so many people’s lives whom I love!

2.  Writer  ~ Blog, E-book and Book (all in progress).   This is going on for awhile now and I have to really begin to pay more attention to these works in progress so I can finish them!

3.  Breast cancer survivor ~ 11 years and counting!   I love helping others who are enduring breast cancer and I am very grateful that I am healthy!

4.  Princess ~ affectionate nickname given by my Mother-in-Law (who really is a very good friend!)   My MIL and I are really close…she’s a blessing in my life!  When people meet us, they often think that I’m her daughter and not her DIL ~ so we allow them to think whatever they want because the In-Law part is just a title…she’s my Mom as well and I love her!

5.  Traveler ~ I love experiencing different cultures, places and foods!   I’ve been all over the world, but there are still many places that I would love to visit!  I’ve got a big Bucket List!

6.  Short gal ~ 5’2″ tall ~ haven’t grown since I was 14!   My one son towers over me now and the other one is almost taller too!

7.  Very Affectionate Person!   I can’t help myself so my family gets lots of hugs and kisses daily!

8.  Birthday~aholic because I LOVE my birthday!   I try to celebrate for at least a month every year!  There was nobody who didn’t know when I hit 40!  I was so excited to be alive (and still am!)

9.  Grateful gal who lives a blessed life!   I can honestly say that I love my life!

I have had more than my share of crazy drama in the past, but today my life is happily peaceful ~ as much as it can be!  I wanted to say something outrageous like I’m a former spy, but I just can’t lie to you!

Be Happy with Your Life!

Shine On!

xo

http://dailypost.wordpress.com/2013/02/18/daily-prompt-abnormal/

Looking for a New Normal…Continued…

Welcome to A New Normal and Loving Yourself!

When disaster strikes, be it a hurricane, tornado, tsunami, job loss, illness, addiction, depression, accident, disfigurement, death, divorce…the aftermath is always about finding a new normal.  That’s it in a nutshell as they say.  You need to find a new normal and keep living ~ taking baby steps forward in life.  And I don’t say it’s easy to do because I wouldn’t lie to you, but I will tell you that it is do-able because there are people who have done it before you…and there will be those who will come after you who will triumph as well.

Right now, it’s you who I’m thinking of…you, who in this changing world, has to change as well whether you want to or not, whether you like it or not, because it’s required in order to continue to live.

They say water finds it own level…so like water, you will find your own level, your new normal…but it takes practice, it takes courage, it takes trust and endurance.  Sometimes it takes asking for and being open to receiving help ~ having a hand to hold as you endure this journey of life.  We are all connected here…if you look long enough and not give up, you’ll find a trust-worthy person to help you.  But you must be willing to help yourself…you must take that first step…and watch out my dears…it’s a LULU!  It’s going to change your life for the better! 🙂

Because once you’ve taken that first decided step towards helping yourself, whatever the situation is, you open yourself up for change to occur.  Most people shy away from change, if not run like hell from it.  It’s most likely human nature as the unknown strikes fear in many of us.  However, that’s when the most growth occurs and when that golden ring that you’ve been reaching for, finally comes into grasp!  It’s taking that chance into the unknown that leads to the next step for the better!

The key to all of it ~ the absolute key to making the new normal easier to live,

to accept and to transition to ~ is one simple ingredient.

Love yourself.

Whew…right?  You thought it was going to be hard.  But love yourself…heck that’s easy, isn’t it?  Perhaps you’re thinking that I”m off my rocker…well, you might be right 🙂  but certainly, if you take a moment, quietly, calmly when you have a few minutes to yourself with no distractions…slowly, repeat aloud in a mirror to yourself, “I love you” 3 times and notice how it makes you feel.

How do you feel?  In the depths of your soul, how did stating, “I LOVE YOU” to yourself make you feel?

Truly, I hope that it made you feel elated, that you hugged yourself and smiled.  I hope that repeating that powerful statement gave you a warm fuzzy feeling right down to your core!  I hope that you feel comfortable saying it and that you can repeat it 3 times a day everyday!  Because as Robert Schuller of the Crystal Cathedral used to say, “God loves you and so do I.”

On the flip side, if saying “I love you,” aloud to yourself made you feel anything else, then we have some work to do so that you can embrace the new normal!  You think that you love yourself, but when you have to actually say it in a mirror and watch your face as you repeat this powerful statement, sometimes uncomfortable feelings come up.  For me, I know that I shy away from saying it to myself because I feel unworthy, I don’t feel like I’m enough and I feel uncomfortable, like I’m being selfish or egotistical.  It’s distracting to hear myself say those words and yet, I say and mean them all the time to my family and friends.  But loving myself ~ well, that’s been a tough one for me.  What’s helped me is an author whom I’ve talked about before named Louise Hay.  Below is Louise Hay’s Love Yourself, Heal Your Life Workbook.  A simple, no nonsense way of doing just that ~ healing your life ~ Louise gives step by step exercises which are easy to understand, for anyone needing a new normal ~ for those who want a new chapter in their lives ~ and for you who wants a brighter day!

Just Love Yourself…and if you don’t know how…then pick up Louise’s book for yourself!
Make it your own holiday gift ~ it’s a keeper ~ a life changer ~ and you deserve it!

Click on the picture to read all about it!

What about you?  How do you feel about yourself?  Do you love you?

Let’s start there!

Shine On!

xo