Tag Archives: Confident

Monday Gets Writer’s Block

Posted on by
Reply

I think I have writer’s block today….Wikipedia defines it as “a condition, primarily associated with writing as a profession” (hmmmm…questionable though because this really isn’t my profession), “in which an author loses the ability to produce new work”.  It goes on to indicate “the degree this “disease” can escalate to “some ‘blocked’ writers have been unable to work for years and some have even abandoned their careers.”  Can you imagine just not been able to write anything that made half-way sense for YEARS??

It seems I’m in good company though….F. Scott Fitzgerald struggled with the affliction as did the amazing Charles M. Schulz.  Maybe I should just ‘go with this’ and just consider myself among the famous writers.  You know…kind of like a prestigious club member.

The scientific theory is that “under stress, a human brain will shift control from the cerebral cortex to the limbic system.  The limbic system is associated with the instinctual processes, such as fight or flight response.  Because the person is primarily thinking in instinctual (learned) behaviors, creative processes are hindered.”  Guess that makes sense.  Guess scientists don’t consider that a person is really tired….or maybe just lazy sometimes.

I think it’s funny how we have all the perfect words put together to say sometimes.  We rehearse them over and over before we’re ready to present them on our “chosen life stage”…..and then when the moment arrives….all those perfectly rehearsed words are just lost in space somewhere.  We all have this super brain that is capable to doing so much more than what we use it for in our daily lives….but most really don’t.  In fact, some people seem like they leave theirs at home sometimes.  My Dad use to say that some people just use that container where the brain is for a place to hang their hat!  I’m sure you’ve met a few people like that, huh?

Did you know that the statement we only use 10% of our brain is a myth?  If it were true, then surgeons could remove more than half our brain and nothing would be affected….not the case….something is ALWAYS affected…speech, walking, talking.  What is true, however,  is that most of us only reach the potential of 10% of our brain capacity.  That’s right….we all have the potential of becoming great inventors or scientist or even great writers or whatever we might want to pursue.  If we want to do that….we have to push ourselves…and our brain to work harder, longer, with more accuracy every single day.  I always bought into the myth of 10% brainpower, but now I’m thinking that I’ve just been wasting time.  Like now….in the same time that I’m “declaring” that I have writer’s block, I could have written the first few pages of a best-selling novel.  Right?!!

What masterpiece will you create today by using ALL YOUR brain?!!

You could be a famous painter or maybe you could discover a cure for some of the horrible diseases that one of your friends or family are suffering with right now.

A brand new symphony would be nice.  Or maybe a new Broadway play.

Whatever “masterpiece” you have in mind, don’t be afraid to, at least, TRY to start to create it. Everyone has SOMETHING that they have said at some point that they “wish” they could do.

How will you ever know if you can do something, if you don’t at least try to do it?!!

Start now….start today.  It’s Monday….a good day to begin.

Well, guess I better get busy.  I’ve got a masterpiece to produce.

Smiles,

Nancy

Advertisement

Monday Gets A New Hero

Posted on by
Reply

There is a lady who lives in my neighborhood that really inspires me.  She is an older lady….maybe in her 70s who is one of the strongest, most determined ladies that I have ever seen.  I say “seen” because I have not officially “met” her and I’m not even certain she can speak English and I only know her from seeing her as I pass by.  She is afflicted with some type of peripheral neuropathy that prevents her from walking faster than baby steps with very stiff leg strides.  But yet, I see her every day out walking and carrying her bags of groceries or goods recently purchased.  I know from the bag labels that she has walked at least 4 or 5 long blocks to the retail stop….there and back.  Time and time again, I have asked if I could help her carry her load to her final destination.  And…each time, she waves me off with annoyance it seems that I have even suggested that she might need any assistance.

I find myself feeling helpless and annoyed all at the same time.  I want to help her make her day a little easier and let her know that someone cares about her….but she refuses to allow it!  But then, when I take my needs  and wants out of the equation, I realize how strong she really is and maybe I am the weak one.

Monday Gets A New Hero

My lady Hero is like a determined soldier who probably knows as long as she keeps doing these things for herself that she will continue to function.  Her determination is her strength and in many ways, she is stronger than I am.  What appears to be stubbornness and aloofness is really power and others should perhaps fear her capabilities.  I swear I think she could climb a mountain if she wanted to accomplish it.

We all get so comfortable in our high-tech conveniences that make our lives easier.  We think that it is giving us more power; but it is, in fact, making us weaker.  Everything has to be built bigger and faster and with more gadgets.  I miss my old-fashion Schwinn that didn’t come equipped with any kind of multiple gears to change.  A bell was, however,  a must because I thought I was going so fast that I needed to alert others that I was coming down the road!  Awww! the good ole days, right?

Today….think about what gives you strength and the ability to get things done.  It’s not that new iPhone or iPad or the new software or that car with all the fancy gadgets.   Maybe we need to realize that the really strong people in this world are the people like my lady friend…..not the ones that just spent 3 hours at the gym.  They survive because they are focused on their goals and don’t let anyone get in their way.  They are not afraid to go it alone and rely on their own strength to get them where they want to be…..even if it is baby steps at a time.   Just because someone could make things easier for them, doesn’t mean they will choose that option.  Their focus is to survive and they are doing a great job for sure!

Who’s your hero?  What gives you strength?

Do you expect others to always help you out?

Maybe try to get through today and do everything without asking a single person to help you out……You do it All!  Think you’ll feel good about yourself at the end of the day?  I sure hope so.

We all need to dig deep inside the core of our being to find the ability to push ourselves to be the very best we can be.  It’s there!  You just have to believe You Can Do It!!

So go climb that mountain.  I hope you make it to the top!

See you there.

Smiles,

Nancy

Monday Gets Confident

Posted on by
4

I have been recently evaluating my work related skill level and trying to assess how many things I can attach the word “Proficient” in my Resume.   It is a funny word to me as I think it has many boundaries that are defined personally by each person who uses it.  Defined by Webster, it means well advanced in an art, occupation, or branch of knowledge.  Synonyms include: accomplished, ace, adept, complete, crackerjack, educated, experienced, expert, good, great, master, practiced, professed, skilled, versed…..which kind of adds to more confusion of how to determine the measurement of someone’s skills that has included the word.  It seems if I say I am proficient in typing that I could be anywhere from just a good typist to a master typist….pretty big gap I think.

What I realized in trying to determine my own skill level as well as determine its meaning is that when it is used, it is really about someone trying to feel and project confidence about what they do.  Let’s talk about what we can do to feel “Proficient” in all the things we do and also helps others feel the same.

Monday Gets Confident

I think our confidence level rules so many things about us.  Our feelings can be elevated to new heights of accomplishment or we can sink to such pits that we don’t feel we are competent at anything.  Sometimes, it even fluctuates in a matter of moments.  We can be feeling really good about a job we completed at work; and suddenly, a co-worker or manager comes in and points out all the negative points and our confidence goes flying out the window!  Words are powerful tools and can sometimes be harmful.  I guess it is one of those human nature things that we sometimes open our mouths without thinking through what we allow to pour out.  I know that constructive criticism is needed at times, but it is important to give an unbiased judgment by indicating all the good stuff too.  It will go a long way in helping a person feel really great about what they contributed to the task at hand.  It also encourages us to make improvements and increase our level of “Proficiency”.

This not only applies in the workplace, but also in our personal lives as well.  Children need lots of guidance in their lives to do things correctly; but they also need to know that they are not doing everything wrong.  Spouses, friends, even our parents need that little bit of applause from time to time for daily routine tasks that might become mundane and also resented if they are not from time to time given at least a few moments of appreciation.

When was the last time you told your child how beautiful they were or maybe how proud you were of them that they could now make their own breakfast or even that you liked the friends they had chosen?  Does your mate make coffee every morning and you stagger to the kitchen to get your caffeine jolt without even acknowledging how delicious it might taste or that it helps you start each day a lot easier?  What about when you go to the grocery store, do you thank the person who bags your groceries?  Many people every day make our lives a little easier and we just become so accustomed to the tasks being done for us that we forget to even thank them.  Wouldn’t it be nice to boost their confidence level and let them know how “proficient” they are at what they do.  It only takes a moment and so little effort to do that!!

Are you ready to make a difference today?

Here’s what you do.

Each person that you come in contact, take a moment to find something about them that you can bestow some praise on them.

It doesn’t have to be anything profound…..and EVERYONE has a special thing about them that deserves some applause.

You will know that you have completed your mission when you see a smile come to their face.  You might even notice a slight change in their posture as the feeling of confidence straightens their spine.

And Hey! Don’t stop with Monday, do it tomorrow and the next day and every day of the rest of your life.

How better to help people during a time of a struggling economy where we are feeling we have somehow done something horrible to be in such difficult times.  We can blame it on the Republicans or the Democrats….whichever party preference you might lean…..but it doesn’t mean we can’t do something to make some changes.

Have a great day!

Let me know what your tally of smiles was today.

Here’s one to start you off.

Thank you for reading my Blog.  It puts a smile on my face every time someone leaves a comment or decides to be added to the list of followers.  I truly appreciate your support.  You Matter!…..and I Matter too!!

Smiles, Nancy