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Continually grow as a person and find your work/life balance

What’s Holding You Back? Break Free and Step Forward with Courage!

Written by Maria Connolly. Posted in Stepping Forward.

What's holding you back? You want a better life, but you sabotage yourself. Why? Here’s what you can do to Step Forward.“Sometimes the future changes quickly and completely, and we’re left with only the choice of what to do next. We can choose to be afraid of it. Just stand there trembling, not moving. Assuming the worst that can happen. Or we step forward into the unknown, and assume it will be brilliant.” ~ Sandra Oh

Carla (not her real name) came to me as she was beginning to dream big dreams. She felt like she’d spent her whole life waiting for her life to begin. She wanted desperately to start stepping forward into life, but she wasn’t sure how. Yet, at every turn, she seemed to be sabotaging herself. She’d say, “I can’t, because… I want to, but I’m just not ready. I just don’t understand what’s holding me back!” I recognized that she was a very strong and capable woman, but her limiting beliefs were holding her back. 

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Boldly Stepping Forward with Confidence On YOUR Way to an Amazing Life

Written by Maria Connolly. Posted in Stepping Forward.

You can be stepping forward with confidence, not doubt or worry, when you identify these things....“In a moment of decision, the best thing you can do is the right thing to do, the next best thing is the wrong thing, and the worst thing you can do is nothing.” ~ Theodore Roosevelt

Now is the time for transformation! We want something new, something better, something different in our lives so we feel more alive and more fulfilled. Does this speak to your heart? It does mine. We have been through major upheavals in the last year or so. We’ve had time to think and assess our lives. But wanting to and actually stepping forward with confidence are two different things. Let’s talk about how you bridge the gap between desire and action.

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How You Can Take Risks with Confidence and Improve Your Success Rate

Written by Maria Connolly. Posted in Change Your Life, Fearless Mindset.

If you’re scared to take risks, you’ll enjoy the principles outlined in this article that will increase your tolerance for beneficial risk taking.“You must accept that you might fail; then, if you do your best and still don’t win, at least you can be satisfied that you’ve tried. If you don’t accept failure as a possibility, you don’t set high goals, you don’t branch out, you don’t try, you don’t take the risk.” ~ Rosalynn Carter

“It’s such a risk!” These words are sure to make your palms sweat and your heart beat faster. In our brains, which are designed to protect us, the word ‘risk’ means DANGER. I, however, like to think of risk as a currency, just as much as money in the bank is currency. It allows us to trade up in life. We decide a new opportunity, experience or choice is worth letting go of something that doesn’t make us as happy any more. We wouldn’t think of taking a risk if it didn’t tempt us with something we want. But how do we get from paralyzing fear to being able to take risks with more comfort and peace of mind?

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The Art and Science of Trust — 7 Proven Ways You Can Master It

Written by Maria Connolly. Posted in Life Skills, Self-Leadership Skills.

“Trust is the glue of life. It’s the most essential ingredient in effective communication. It’s the foundational principle that holds all relationships.” ~ Stephen R. Covey

Do people trust you? And are you a person who trusts easily? If you’re like most people, you have trust issues, especially if you’ve been abused, lied to or cheated. It hurts!  And when it comes to trusting ourselves, we’ve experienced a lifetime of ignoring our inner voices or second-guessing ourselves. More than ever, we need to hone our understanding of the art and science of trust and learn to master it.

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Dealing with Disappointment — How to Renew Hope When Expectations Are Crushed

Written by Maria Connolly. Posted in Handling Change, Self-Leadership Skills.

When you’re dealing with disappointment, it’s important to feel your feelings, learn from them and use them as springboards to new opportunities.“Disappointment to a noble soul is what cold water is to burning metal; it strengthens, tempers, intensifies, but never destroys it.” ~ Eliza Tabor

We are the only living organisms on this planet who build our lives around our hopes and expectations. It’s what makes us human. Without hope or expectation, we would be existing, not living. However, with these highs come the lows of disappointment, because we don’t always realize our expectations. And that makes us sad, angry or even despondent. So how are you dealing with disappointment? Could you use some tips on how to handle it a little bit better?

Whether professionally or personally, when we’re in the realm of hope and expectation, we’re dealing with things far beyond our control. We can work hard and set ourselves up for success the best we’re able, but success isn’t guaranteed. We can’t control how others will react or how situations go awry. 

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How to Step Forward to a Future You've Created

Discover how to replace your old, self-limiting map with a new map full of possibilities for the future

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