Embrace Your Weaknesses

When there is no enemy within, the enemies outside cannot hurt you. ~ African Proverb ~

Loving yourself is this best defense.  When people are hateful they will target your weaknesses.  Protect your weaknesses by accepting them as part of you.  As a very necessary part of you.  Begin by taking away the hurt and pain of your weakness, then no one can attack them.  No one can attack you.  When you practice mindfulness then you understand that your weak parts give you the reason to explore and grow.  You also, begin to understand that others weaknesses are important and attacking them only hurts their growth.  You must forgive their weaknesses.  The journey in life is to share and cultivate your strengths together and to make your weaknesses irrelevant.  When you embrace weaknesses they become less controlling and you become more powerful.

1. Close your eyes
2. Breathe
3. Empty your mind
4. As thoughts come in, acknowledge and whisk them away
5. Focus on your breathing
6. Think about the affirmation:

I embrace my weaknesses and do the same for others.

Take a Chance

Thrivers constantly re-invent themselves, they are mentally agile and willing to risk. ~ David McNally ~

You are just going to have to put yourself out there.  Turtles don't get anywhere until they stick their heads and legs out of their shell.  Get moving, get to it, get out there!  You will not truly grow until you have taken a chance on yourself and your ideas.  Never fear that an idea doesn't work, as you can always find another one.  All great leaders have taken a risk on more than one occasion! They adjust and try again. It starts with being mindful and having confidence in you own abilities.  If you don't get out there and try, then the world will never benefit from your gifts.  Be willing to risk.

1. Close your eyes
2. Breathe
3. Empty your mind
4. As thoughts come in, acknowledge and whisk them away
5. Focus on your breathing
6. Think about the affirmation:

I will take chance in order to thrive.

Scary Moments

A good scare is worth more to a man than good advice. ~ Edgar Watson Howe, Country Town Sayings, 1911 ~

"Next time, I will_______!" You can fill in the blank.  Experience really makes you who you are as a person, as a leader.  Even when you account for risk, something always happens for which you didn't plan.  Those heart racing moments teach you and embed the lessons you need to remember.  These events are important.  They give you the chance to grow.  As a leader, you can dispense advice and be a great mentor but those that follow you will only grow when they are thrown into the deep end.   Don't coddle those around you.  Challenge them to learn the hard way.  Not the mean way but the way that shows you care about them as people.  When things get hairy - ask them questions that really make them think about what they would do differently.  That is coaching, that is teaching...that is leadership.

1. Close your eyes
2. Breathe
3. Empty your mind
4. As thoughts come in, acknowledge and whisk them away
5. Focus on your breathing
6. Think about the affirmation:

I will help others learn from the scary moments.

Keep Moving

“Be not afraid of growing slowly. Be only afraid of standing still.” ~ Chinese Proverb ~

Patience for what we truly desire is one of the greatest tests. Things just don't always happen overnight, however, as long as you are moving in the right direction things will happen for you.  Take steps daily to achieve.  It is when you stop that you run the risk of never attaining or worse retreating.  It is true that from time to time you need to take a break and assess your journey - but that is not the same as standing still.  You are still moving toward success, just more slowly.

1. Close your eyes
2. Breathe
3. Empty your mind
4. As thoughts come in, acknowledge and whisk them away
5. Focus on your breathing
6. Think about the affirmation:

I will move mentally and physically toward my goals.

Make Fear Give You The Edge

Turn your face to the sun and the shadows fall behind you. ~Maori Proverb ~

For many of you there are very real and valid reasons to worry.  Fear keeps you alert and warns of danger.  It is a necessary part of your emotions.  Worry and fear will never go away for anyone.  The difference maker is how you deal with fear and worry.  You can let it eat at you and occupy important areas of the brain - where you need to think.  Use the alertness that fear provides to get focused.  Some leaders feed on danger and risk because it can be very exciting.    As a leader, know that risk means that you have the opportunity to grow and flourish.  With risk comes fear but with fear, can come bravery.  Trust that you will prevail and overcome.  Instead of fear ruling you - use it's energy to create success.

1. Close your eyes
2. Breathe
3. Empty your mind
4. As thoughts come in, acknowledge and whisk them away
5. Focus on your breathing
6. Think about the affirmation:

"I will use fear to my advantage - with it, I will be more alert and focused."

To Grow, Recreate Yourself

To exist is to change, to change is to mature, to mature is to go on creating oneself endlessly. ~Henri Bergson

Over time if you cannot be creative about your life then you will be stagnant.  Running water always looks to create a new path.  It is always changing looking for a better way to move about the earth.  Water that is still looses it's oxygen and looses it's life.   Leadership that doesn't recreate itself and look for a better way to lead will soon end.   You must have the will to explore and create, otherwise you are like a pool of water that cannot sustain life.

1. Close your eyes
2. Breathe
3. Empty your mind
4. As thoughts come in, acknowledge and whisk them away
5. Focus on your breathing
6. Think about the affirmation:

"I will always look to grow and recreate myself."