Fueling the Journey With Affirmations, Gratitude & Perseverance

There were many, many, many days last year when I would go to bed crying, praying that I wouldn't wake up in the morning and crying again in the morning when, I indeed woke up. At some point I realized that it was not my time to go - no matter how much I wanted to, so instead, I decided to just get on with the business of living.

What made the difference was gratitude. I started to focus on all that I had instead of all that I had lost. Instead of crying over a lost job, I was grateful for the four job offers I received. Instead of missing Florida and my beautiful home, I started to feel so grateful for my condo and the cozy and safe way it made me feel. Instead of feeling alone because of the friends and family that had abandoned me, I counted my blessings on the ones who stayed. I was truly blessed. When you start looking for the blessings you will see them all around you....and then, miraculously, they start to multiply.

We take for granted how truly blessed we are...did you wake up in a nice bed this morning? Enjoy a hot shower and nice breakfast before you headed out to a job that pays all (or most!) of your bills? How much more we have that so many other's don't. We take things like hot water and electricity for granted. That Starbucks you grabbed this morning - a family of four would use that for dinner of rice and beans and be forever thankful. Gratitude is a powerful feeling. It shifts your focus from difficulties to personal growth. In addition to everything you have, be thankful for the lessons learned from your tough experiences, Those hard times that you survived are a powerful source of inner strength. Be grateful for every hardship you have made it through.

They say that repetition is key. I didn't know it at the time, but all those times that I sat cross-legged on the floor, hugging myself and rocking back and forth saying "I'm going to be okay, I will make it through" over and over again was an affirmation. I made it through and I am okay. Affirmations are powerful. The words we speak to ourselves have meaning. Find some affirmations that work for you and say them every day...the ones I'm currently using are:

• I am confident & resilient in the face of challenges

• I am grateful for the abundance in my life

• I attract positive energy and opportunities

• I am worthy of love, success and happiness

• Every day, I take steps toward my goals

First, I wrote my affirmations down in my journal. I would say them every morning and every night. When you repeat your affirmations, do it with feeling. Visualize yourself already living the reality they describe. Feel the emotions associated with these affirmations. The more feeling you can evoke, the more impactful they become. Try also doing them in front of the mirror and look at yourself in the eyes...The direct eye contact can intensify the connection with your statements...and don't just limit it to morning and night - you can say them throughout the day - on your commute to work, in the bathroom or on your lunch hour...you cannot over affirm!

And my final tip on this subject is perseverance. Just don't give up. One step at a time - sometimes it's baby steps...and that's okay - as long as the steps are forward moving. Try to maintain a positive mindset (affirmations), set some realistic goals and break them down into smaller, manageable tasks, ask for help and learn from any setbacks you encounter. Visualize yourself succeeding and stay consistent.

This is your journey, and it is a testament to your resilience and your ability to persevere through life's twits and turns. Once you know what you are capable of, getting through this holiday season will be a breeze!

#HolidayStress #Gratitude #Affirmations #Consistency #GoHappyYourself