Tag: Personal Growth – Professional Growth

Got a Plan for Personal Growth? Set Intentional Goals for an Optimum Life

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

“One can choose to go back toward safety or forward toward growth. Growth must be chosen, again and again, fear must be overcome again and again.” ~ Abraham Maslow

Before any captain sails from port, she has multiple, detailed, and documented plans that include checking each operating system. The Navigator creates a passage plan, (a comprehensive, step-by-step description of how the voyage will proceed from departure to destination) and advises course corrections, as needed, throughout the trip. Every crew member has prepared a mental game plan for any contingency they might meet. If one trip involves this much planning, how much planning do we invest in our lives? Do you have a plan for personal growth, so you can live your optimum life?

How to Let Go Of Unrealistic Expectations Before They Destroy Your Happiness

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

Managing our expectations is one of life’s greatest challenges. Positive expectations can lead to positive results. Too often, however, we make ourselves unhappy because we have unrealistic expectations.

Unrealistic expectations can also have a ripple effect. For example, when you expect the best from someone, you’re more patient and supportive. You invest time and resources in them because you believe it’s worth it. On the other hand, when you expect the worst from someone, you downplay or dismiss their efforts. You don’t invest your emotions in them and you withhold time and attention that could help them do better.

What you expect becomes your reality, because the brain believes what you are thinking. Life is too short to let unrealistic expectations stand in the way of happiness. So from time to time it’s a good idea to assess our expectations and adjust to the way life really is, not the way you wish it to be. Because life isn’t a fairy tale where everything magically has a “happy ever after” ending.

How to Rewrite Your Story to Live the Life of Your Hopes & Dreams

Written by Maria Connolly. Posted in Stepping Forward.

“If you change the way you tell your own story, you can change the color and create a life in technicolor.” ~ Isabel Allende

The story began with a shy, timid woman dreaming of being a princess. In the end, she became a Queen. If only life was that simple…flipping a few pages takes you from dreaming to achieving. But we’re stuck with the story we’re born with, right? NOT AT ALL! You can rewrite your story if you skillfully employ the secret weapon I’m going to reveal to you.

No, we’re not venturing into the realms of fantasy or talking about secret potions, powers or tricks that you have to slay dragons to discover. You already have this secret weapon at your disposal. You may not have thought of it as a weapon, though. And that’s the secret…changing how you think about a powerful skill you already possess.

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

Written by Maria Connolly. Posted in Stepping 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.

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

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

“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?

Tag: Personal Growth – Professional Growth

Got a Plan for Personal Growth? Set Intentional Goals for an Optimum Life

How to Let Go Of Unrealistic Expectations Before They Destroy Your Happiness

How to Rewrite Your Story to Live the Life of Your Hopes & Dreams

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

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

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