Self-reflection is my weapon against negative criticism. When I take a deep look at myself, I am able to identify areas for growth.  What negative people say about me means nothing to me, because I know myself better than anyone else. Self-reflection makes me aware of my strengths and my weaknesses. I have a plan for turning my weaknesses into strengths. Through internal reflection I get a clear picture of where I am today as an individual. My observations help me to form goals for...

Being present in each moment allows me to have days that are fulfilling. Conscious involvement in each thing that I do encourages positive decision making. When I meditate, it helps me to set my intentions for the day ahead. Each morning gives me a chance to define my purpose in life. The quiet time when I wake up helps me to formulate a plan for making the most of my time. Meditation allows me to connect to my inner beliefs. Having that connection reminds me to focus on what I truly value. I...

Are you trying to make your way through the death of a loved one? When a loved one dies, it can be devastating, and the feelings can be very powerful. It’s a very difficult process to deal with the loss a loved one. Luckily, there are things you can do that can help you cope. Use these tips to help you get through this terrible time:   Allow a grieving period. Give yourself time to cry and remember your loved one. This can be as short as 15 minutes a day or longer if needed....

When you're living in the moment, your focus is on that moment only. The past and the future can't touch you.  It can be a difficult task to put your feelings about the past or future aside. It's like when someone says, "Don't think of a pink elephant!" Did you think of one, just now? Well, your grief is sometimes that pink elephant and it seems like there's nowhere to turn. In this situation, you can look for help from present moment thinking.  Remaining in the present takes...

One of the great things about finding your why is discovering your life’s purpose.   Are you living a purpose-driven life? Or are you living daily, just moving along wherever life chooses to take you?  We live in a time and age filled with distractions. Media bombards us at all hours of the day and night. It’s easy to lose track of what’s important and what we should do.  One way we cope with this information overload is by focusing on the “what.”...

Authenticity is the sense of living to be the truest version of yourself. Rather than sticking to expectations and conventions of others, you want to push against what others expect from you in order to do what you need to do to live authentically.  While most folks likely describe authenticity as living according to their own sets of values and self-expectations, research shows that most people feel their most authentic when they’re conforming to a set of socially approved...

 If there is one thing that will hold you back from achieving your goals it's complacency. If there's one thing that will hold you back from becoming your true self it's a lack of personal development.  Unfortunately, life is unpredictable which means we only have so much control over what happens around us. So, the key to happiness and finding your real self is by focusing on what you can control. What you can control is you. You have control over your drive, your values, and your...

Many people aren’t living their lives as their actual selves. For a variety of reasons, people choose to not live their lives as openly and authentically as they could.  Besides dampening your personality and removing some of your natural shine, not being your actual self can have a ton of adverse effects on your overall wellbeing. To begin living a more authentic life where you’re able to be your actual self, it’s important to identify the different factors that stop...

A lot of people don’t know themselves that well. Because they can’t articulate their preferences, goals, and desires, people who don’t know themselves well often feel lost or directionless in life. To improve your sense of self, take some time to get to know yourself a little better! If the concept of getting to know yourself seems strange, never fear–there are some simple tricks and exercises you can do to get a better understanding of your true self.  Take some...