you are like me, then you’ve wrestled with the image of the girl in the mirror. Judging her, rejecting her for all different reasons. Her nose is too big, her hair is too frizzy, and this and that and so on.
If you can get past what you think she should be and see her for who she really is, you will be able to really appreciate all she has to offer. Her kindness, her sense of humor, her loyalty to her family and friends, those things say so much more about a person than the size of her nose or hips.
She wants to be your friend, and she’s crying out for you to embrace her. Accept her. Make peace with her.
Don’t waste another precious minute rejecting yourself.
OPPORTUNITIES
COME TO PEOPLE WHO ARE ALREADY WALKING TOWARD THEIR GOALS.
day 7
TAKE ACTION
EVEN IF IT’S SMALL
Actions are what separate those who live a life of purpose from those who sit it out, wondering why they never found fulfillment. So many wonderful people with amazing gifts and ideas never act on them. Those gifts go unexpressed.
There is no “someday” when it comes to action. Why not now? Why not start today? You don’t have to wait until everything is perfect; it never will be. Do something now that will set you on your course. It doesn’t matter how small the step is. A person can cover a lot of ground putting one foot in front of the other.
The first step can be the hardest. It’s the leaping off from a place of security into the unknown that makes us hesitate, but you’re stronger than you know. You can take this first step.
Momentum joins us when we take action. Opportunities begin to present themselves. I believe opportunities come to people who are already walking toward their goals. This momentum is a game changer because it multiplies your efforts. It’s similar to a stone rolling downhill. Once it starts, it keeps going without relying on the efforts of the stone alone.
Think about the kind of world we would live in if everyone were acting on their God-given gifts and rising up to take action on the ideas they have in their hearts.
HARD THINGS MAKE YOU
BEAUTIFUL
day 8
HARD THINGS MAKE YOU BEAUTIFUL
Yes, you heard that right. I believe it. When we go through difficult times, we grow. As we grow, we are humbled. The more humbled we are, the more human connections we create. The ability to connect with others on this level makes you beautiful because human connection is beautiful.
We learn from a young age to run away from hard stuff; we learn to avoid pain. But the problem with living to avoid pain is that it keeps you from living fully.
How many times have we avoided pain by binging on a half gallon of ice cream? Maybe instead of gorging ourselves on instant pleasures, we should press into the pain and be present in those difficult situations. We learn what we can and grow through it.
I’ve often found that on the other side of those hard times, I’m more aware and more empathetic. Others are going through the same types of pain. At least now I can see theirs because I also see mine. I ALSO SEE ME.
day 9
RESILIENCE
One major quality that I have found among those living their lives with purpose is resilience. Resilience is being able to get back up after being knocked down. Those with resilience can recover quickly. It’s all in the rebound.
You don’t have to be born with resilience; it’s a skill you can develop.
I work toward being more resilient in my own life. I’ve found that after a major setback or failure, where I focus my thoughts has a lot to do with how quickly I recover.
It’s natural to take a moment to reflect on where things went wrong or what went right, but don’t live there. If you want to develop resilience, shift your focus back to your goal. Get back to your purpose, to the why. The why is what really matters. Focusing on your purpose is what will keep you motivated to get back up and begin again.
day 10
the most
POWERFUL VOICE
YOU HAVE IS YOURS
So many of us spend our lives running around in circles worrying about what people think or say about us. We worry about the judgments they make on our lives.
Instead, focus on your own voice and what it’s saying to your soul.
Negative self-talk is more damaging than anything anyone else can say to us. Yes, people can hurt our feelings with their words, but we hurt ourselves much more. We must be careful not to repeat someone else’s negative narrative inside our own minds. Let their opinion stay just that. Their words can only become a reality when we internalize their negativity and allow it to become our truth.
Your words are a powerful resource for your life. Be mindful of speaking negatively about yourself. Your mind hears everything you say and immediately starts working to align your life with your words. Continuously calling yourself dumb or fat is only going to create those circumstances in your life.
Don’t pay attention to what anyone else says about you. The only voice you need to listen to is your own.
day 11
YOU CAN
DO ANYTHING.
NO REALLY, YOU CAN.
What an exciting time to be a woman. We are living in an age of great change. Women are reaching new heights in all areas of life. Everyday women leave their mark on the world. I think one of them should be you.
We have the potential to affect the world even more powerfully if we women could do these two things: rally around and encourage one another. If we support each other’s dreams despite our differences—instead of focusing on them—we could rise above the media montage of what it means to be a woman. We could make a real difference. Isn’t that what most of us want?
