Believe in Yourself--Delight in Your Weaknesses; Learn from Mistakes; and Leave Your Critics at the Door

I am what I am--Creative and Messy

'To make mistakes is human; to stumble is commonplace; to be able to laugh at yourself is maturity.'    William Arthur Ward

Do you ever catch a glimpse of the truth of yourself as you go about your day? I do—and it always puts a smile on my face.

I am a person fraught with weaknesses that make other people shudder. My weaknesses are of the large variety that others love to point out to me--just in case I miss them.

One of my more notable weaknesses is my messiness. It's always been a great conversation piece among friends and family.

I have the unique ability to storm a room in a fit of creativity, creating a whirlwind of activity that leaves an untidy mess in its wake.  Some refer to my messiness as a force of nature while others just call it wrong. Me? I call it the creative process.

My inclination towards messiness arises out of a natural preference for organizing in piles, not files. I'm a girl who likes to have all her resources laid out before her when she works. As soon as I put it all away--neatly stored in files--my creativity disappears. I have to see it to be inspired--and for me it's all about the inspiration!

A Sheep in Form-Fitting Wolf Attire

Sure, over the years I've learned to put up false fronts and outfit this sheep in form-fitting wolf attire for the comfort of others. I've learned to live comfortably and calmly in the world of others expectations—but it's not my preferred way of being. So retreating into my inner world is where I go to be free of judgment.

The Extrovert's Wondrous Inner World 

'Even the knowledge of my own fallibility cannot keep me from making mistakes. Only when I fall do I get up again.'   Vincent Van Gogh

Although I am an extrovert who loves interacting in the outer world—the truth is--I relish retreating into my own world where I can fully appreciate my own company--unencumbered by the critical eyes of others.

In my own private world I fully accept, roll in, embellish and enjoy the person that I am. I answer to no one--leaving judgment on my person to dwell outside while I move into my fully-loaded free-flowing and uninhibited self. In that private moment I am incorrigible—and I love it. 

Delight in Your Weaknesses 

Like me, you probably have weaknesses you try to hide to maintain a better image in the world. But don't be so fast to put those weaknesses down--learn to delight in them instead.

Our so-called weaknesses have an upside to them--they are in fact the flip-side of our strengths. 

Your weaknesses can more effectively be viewed as strengths overused.  (I.e. Your  strengths only show up as weaknesses when overused--too much of a good thing.)

By learning to revel in and appreciate your weaknesses instead of being ashamed of them--you'll quickly discover the key to becoming your best self is to learn to exercise control over your strengths, not hide your weaknesses. 

'It's a whole lot easier to gently pull back on doing something you do well than it is to attempt to rid yourself of something you see as bad.'

Exercise Control over your Strengths 

My son, Sean--an extrovert--has a great sense of humor that used to get him in trouble when he was in middle school. He would talk too much and joke around during class--and ultimately annoy his teachers who would note these weaknesses on his report card.

Back in middle school, I told Sean his lesson was to learn how to exercise control over his fabulous strengths--his gregarious and fun-loving nature--so he could wield them appropriately. By  practicing  control over his assets as he matured, he became more effective.

The upside of being able to engage others with a great sense of humor is these are personal assets that--when managed properly--can help you go far in life. As an adult, Sean has put those strengths to use in his work as a project manager. 

Before you can change or improve upon yourself, you must accept and love the person you are now--warts and all. Change begins with a belief in yourself--and that means learning to leave your critics at the door while you enjoy your so-called weaknesses. 

If and when you are ready to balance your nature, practice exercising control over your strengths by gently pulling back on what you do well instead of attempting to get rid of something you view as bad.


When You're Being Run Out of Town, Get in Front and Make it Look Like a Parade

 'When you're being run out of town, get in front and make it look like a parade' has been my life mantra (always thought it was PT Barnum quote...but not sure).It gets at the heart of 'embrace your weaknesses and showcase them as strengths'. Stop hiding yourself--put it out there for all to see.

Don't be too quick to accept other's judgments on your imperfections. Within your imperfections lie great treasures worth parading in front of others. Learn to laugh at your foibles--and be ready to forgive yourself for your weaknesses. 

'Forgive yourself for your faults and your mistakes and move on.' Les Brown

I meant to do my work today

Lyrics from Elton John Song in Friends Soundtrack 1970

I meant to do my work today

But a brown bird sang in the apple tree

I know that one too

And a butterfly flitted across the field

And all the leaves were calling me

And the buttercups nodded their smiling heads

Greeting the bees who came to call

And I asked the lizard the time of day

As he sunned himself on a moss grove

And the wind went sighing over the land

Tossing the grasses to and fro

And a rainbow held out its shining hand

So what could I do but laugh and go

http://www.eltonography.com/songs/i_meant_to_do_my_work_today.html

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For more than 30 years, Susan has been helping people lighten up and step over invisible barriers to change one step at a time. She speaks to your heart, puts you at ease, and makes changing easier than ever before.


If you're interested in learning more about closing the gap between where you are now and where you want to be, join the Lightarted Living mailing list. Sign up for free e-mail updates from this blog in the top right-hand corner of the page.

Maya Angelou: People Will Never Forget How You Made them Feel

Life is Good!

Susan J Meyerott, Artist

What you leave behind is not what is engraved in stone monuments, but what is woven into the lives of others. Pericles

With fond memories of Maya Angelou--

whose thoughts are woven into the lives of so many.

This is Your Life!

~20 years down the road, when you look back at your life and career, what do you want to see you've contributed or accomplished?

~How do you want to be remembered by others?

~What will your legacy be?  Will it be engraved in a stone monument or woven into the lives of others?

This is your life--Make something of it each day. Strive to do good in little ways. Make a difference in the life of one living being today~be it human or animal or earth.

Be Humble: If you want to be remembered~be humble. Humility is not thinking less of yourself, but thinking of yourself less in the service of others. Your little acts of kindness offered up with humility are what are woven into the lives of others.

I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel. ~Maya Angelou

Plant Kindness~Harvest Love

Susan J Meyerott, Artist

 The smallest act of kindness is worth more than the grandest intention.~ Oscar Wilde

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For more than 30 years, Susan Meyerott has been helping people lighten up and step over invisible barriers to change one step at a time. She speaks to your heart, puts you at ease, and makes changing easier than ever before.


If you're interested in learning more about closing the gap between where you are now and where you want to be, join the Lightarted Living mailing list. Sign up for free e-mail updates from this blog in the top right-hand corner of the page.

Who Are Your Influencers of Attitude?

Communing with Nature:
Pre-fabricated green house/garden shed kit designed by Ville Hara and Linda Bergroth for Kekkilä Garden (Finland.) shown on linen and lavender website.

http://www.linenandlavender.net/2014/05/communing-with-nature.html

'Your love of life is rekindled in times of stillness, and in turn your sense of purpose is revealed. Slow down to enjoy those moments of stillness.' Susan J Meyerott

Who are Your Influencers of Attitude? 

Ahhhh...I love the conversations I have with you--the people in my life--my chosen influencers of attitude! 

Some of you share stories or poems of inspiration with me, and some share images to soothe. You are the people who, in your desire to have a positive influence on those around you, send out positive messages and images to lighten the mood or give hope to the weary.

In my morning meditations--which really consists of lingering over the tasty tidbits you share so I can turn around and share them with others--I imagine our conversations to be like prayerful 'responsorials' planting positive seeds in each others lives and attitudes. 

"Peace be with you"

"And also with you"

You are my chosen influencers of attitude who help me see the world with a refreshed set of eyes. So who are yours? 

'Who do you chose to give the power to be a compelling force on your actions, behavior, and attitudes? Do you actively choose or do you leave it to chance?'

Imagining a Womb with a View

Lee is one of my influencers of attitude. The image 'communing with nature' came from Lee, with whom I share a love of art and imagination. When we get together we spend hours lingering over photo and art books firing our imagination. We enter a place where time stands still and  we get lost in a sea of pleasure and tranquility.

Sometimes I put off opening an email from Lee until I can savor what is sure to be a treat. I ready myself for what gift will be waiting for me before allowing myself to peek.

So when I opened the 'communing with nature' email titled YES! I immediately saw myself in that 'Womb with a View' enjoying life's lingering moments--providing me a moment of tranquility to start my day.

When I asked Lee if she was going to build it (she lives on a beautiful island in the North) she replied: 

"I have already built it in my heart and you are resting in it."

And that is why I give Lee the power to be one of my influencers of attitude--she imagines good things for me!

Choose Your Influencers of Attitude

Choose who your influencers of attitude will be in your life--don't leave it to chance. 

Don't let your outlook on life be accidentally shaped by the negative naysayers. 

Actively acknowledge those who positively influence you and let yourself be guided by their good counsel.  You deserve a good outlook on life!

'We can’t direct the wind, but we can adjust the sails. For maximum happiness, peace, and contentment, may we choose a positive attitude.' Thomas S Monson

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For more than 30 years, Susan Meyerott has been helping people lighten up and step over invisible barriers to change one step at a time. She speaks to your heart, puts you at ease, and makes changing easier than ever before.

If you're interested in learning more about closing the gap between where you are now and where you want to be, join the Lightarted Living mailing list. Sign up for free e-mail updates from this blog in the top right-hand corner of the page.

Lao Tzu: Be Still--Stop Trying to Control Your Life

Photographer: Sean Royce
Just Bee

'How are you living? As the summer months creep closer and closer, reflect on your most subtle habit to try and force, push and control the beauty of the present moment. Allow yourself to experience life without trying to make life happen. Perhaps, as you are ever-changing within the depths of a perceptive stillness, you discover you are an in-progress precious work of art.' 

From the Rebelle Society      https://www.facebook.com/RebelleSociety

Artist: Susan J Meyerott
Just Bee

Experience life without trying to make it happen

Sometimes when our life picks up speed--and chaos and uncertainty loom large--that is the very time we need to slow it down and just 'sit in it'. 

Learn to: 

• Give yourself timeout from focusing on your 'all important' future--a focus that keeps your anxiety level high and you on constant fear-danger alert. 
• Allow yourself to relax to enjoy where you are and what you have now. This is your time to experience your blessings--not count them.

Photographer: Sean Royce
Be Still

Allow yourself worry-free moments of wonder

Stop pushing, pushing, pushing.

• Take a walk to enjoy the beauty in nature. Stop pushing yourself to pick up speed to get your heart rate up so you can hurry up and get back to work to make it through another day.
• Make a photo journal of your discoveries. Take a camera with you to capture in-the-moment treasures to help you stay present as you look for gems in your environment that tickle your curiosity. 
• Seek ways to waste your time creating delicious meals to share with family and friends. Let your creativity and taste buds lead you on a journey to slow you down and enhance your social life. 
• Enjoy that cup of coffee or tea outside while listening to the hum of the birds and bees and the soft rustle of trees while doing nothing. Stop pushing yourself to be productive.

'Be content with what you have; rejoice in the way things are. When you realize there is nothing lacking, the whole world belongs to you'. Lao Tzu

Sean Royce enjoys lingering with Rosie

Be a Lollygagger

'By letting it go it all gets done. The world is won by those who let it go. But when you try and try the world is beyond the winning'. Lao Tzu

To put more in to life and get more out--you must allow yourself times of quiet when you practice doing nothing purposeful. 

Strive to be a lollygagger--a person who understands the importance of enjoying life's lingering moments. 

• Practice the art of wasting your time and puttering aimlessly. 
• Learn to regularly slip times in your life to dawdle, dally, dillydally, linger, shilly-shally, tarry--and smile.

Your love of life is rekindled in times of stillness, and in turn your sense of purpose is revealed. If your life has felt frenetic and scattered of late, take time to rekindle that fire of purpose. Slow down to enjoy those moments of stillness.

Artist: Susan J Meyerott
Be Still--Open Your Heart to Your Dreams

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For more than 30 years, Susan Meyerott has been helping people lighten up and step over invisible barriers to change one step at a time. She speaks to your heart, puts you at ease, and makes changing easier than ever before.


If you're interested in learning more about closing the gap between where you are now and where you want to be, join the Lightarted Living mailing list. Sign up for free e-mail updates from this blog in the top right-hand corner of the page.

Walk Away from Drama and its Creators~Surround Yourself with People who Make You Laugh

Irresistible Women

"The World is in desperate need of Irresistible Women~

Women willing to be enthusiastic, alive, and expressive regardless of the circumstance;

Women not afraid to tell their truth or speak up for what they believe in;

Women at ease being intelligent, sensual, and compassionate all at once;

Women who do not compete with, demean, or do battle against others but who see everyone for who they really are: 

Fellow human beings also in search of a great life and love"  

Marie Forleo

Walk Away from all the Drama and People who Create it

There comes a time in your life, when you walk away from all the 

drama and people who create it. 

You surround yourself with people who make you laugh. 

Forget the bad and focus on the good. 

Love the people who treat you well, pray for the ones who don't. 

Life is too short to be anything but happy. 

Falling down is a part of life, getting back up is living.

Marie Forleo

My Table of Eight Incredible People Includes 

YOU!

Thanks to Christine Veloon for sending these thoughts 

from Marie Forleo in an email inviting me to send it on to eight women who have touched my life as I touched hers~and she has touched mine. 

Never one to do things small, I chose to send this message out 

to all of you out there~met and unmet~who make the world a 

great place for all of us. 

Because of you, I am blessed beyond my wildest dreams.

Please share this with the people in your life who make you feel 

blessed beyond your wildest dreams...and let them know how 

much they touch your life!

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For more than 30 years, Susan Meyerott has been helping people lighten up and step over invisible barriers to change one step at a time. She speaks to your heart, puts you at ease, and makes changing easier than ever before.

If you're interested in learning more about closing the gap between where you are now and where you want to be, join the Lightarted Living mailing list. Sign up for free e-mail updates from this blog in the top right-hand corner of the page.

A Mother's Day Message to the Children We Love

A Mother's Message to Children Everywhere

A mother's greatest wish is that you'll find your place in the world where you can enthusiastically contribute to the people and environment around you. 

You'll discover your greatest enjoyment in life will naturally evolve out of making the world a better place.

Don't be deterred by obstacles. Discover your passion and let it drive you past the challenges you face.

Know you have everything you need within you to deal effectively with whatever challenges life brings you.

Seek to do your best today—and every day.

Enrich the world....And of course....LOVE YOUR MOTHER!

'I arise in the morning torn between a desire to improve the world and a desire to enjoy the world. This makes it hard to plan the day.' E.B. White

Believe in Yourself and Improve Your Outlook on Life: Switch from the Negative to the Positive

How to ReCreate a Positive Outlook on Life 

In a single moment of quiet you can choose to turn your focus from the negative to positive.

In a single moment of choice you can decide to reach out to others instead of dwelling on life disappointments.

In a single morning you can decide to wake to a heart full of love and a world that is safe and full of opportunity.

Small Daily Decisions Over a Lifetime Add Up

What do you want yours to add up to at the end of your days? 

Do you like your daily outlook? 

If not, do you care enough about yourself to make the switch?

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For more than 30 years, Susan Meyerott has been helping people lighten up and step over invisible barriers to change one step at a time. She speaks to your heart, puts you at ease, and makes changing easier than ever before.

If you're interested in learning more about closing the gap between where you are now and where you want to be, join the Lightarted Living mailing list. Sign up for free e-mail updates from this blog in the top right-hand corner of the page.

Listen to the Exhortation of the Dawn--An Uplifting Sanskrit Poem by Kalidasa

Listen to the Exhortation of the Dawn! 

By Kalidasa, 5^th century Sanskrit poet

Listen to the Exhortation of the Dawn! 

Look to this Day! 

For it is Life, the very Life of Life. 

In its brief course lie all the 

Verities and Realities of your Existence. 

The Bliss of Growth, 

The Glory of Action, 

The Splendor of Beauty;

For Yesterday is but a Dream, 

And Tomorrow is only a Vision;

But Today well lived makes 

Every Yesterday a Dream of Happiness, 

And every Tomorrow a Vision of Hope. 

Look well therefore to this Day! 

Such is the Salutation of the Dawn! 

Thanks to Sneha Bhat,  Counseling Psychologist & Wellness Coach at Creative Excellence Actualized, Ostrich India for sharing this poem in our LinkedIn MBTI and quote discussion group.

To Feel Good Act with Integrity

I have value and wealth inside me

'The man who cannot believe in himself cannot believe in anything else. The basis of all integrity and character is whatever faith we have in our own integrity.' Roy L. Smith 

Integrity--Don't Leave Home without it!

• Who are you? How do you want to live your life?
• How do you want others to see you? 
• Are your internal beliefs in sync with your actions?
• Twenty years from now, will you feel good about how you acted today?

I don't know about you, but when I have to speak up about something I know the other person isn't going to like I get that sick feeling in the pit of my stomach. 

I don't like conflict and I don't like hurting (or being hurt by) others so I'm always paralyzed into inaction while I ponder if and how I want to open my mouth. Even after I speak up--no matter how carefully I've crafted what I had to say--I still feel uneasy. 

But is this dis-ease around speaking my truth a bad thing? I don't think so. For me it is the short-term consequence to choosing to act with integrity. And acting with integrity is what makes me feel good overall about my life.

Your Life Path and Satisfaction Determined by Small Daily Decisions over a Lifetime. 

What difficult decisions do you face? In the last three days--what decisions did you face about how to conduct yourself? 

Life is full of intrigue and drama--especially in love and work. Every day you make decisions about getting in, staying in, or getting out of relationships. Your choices determine the course of your life and how satisfied you are. 

The one constant throughout your life is you--you are the only one who travels in your inner circle 24/7. 

You are the only one who sees behind your eyes and deep into your heart. Only you know whether you act with integrity.

Integrity: How do You Experience Yours?

While choosing to act with integrity may feel scary or uncomfortable when you're in the midst of turmoil, after the emotional fog lifts you can see this is what strengthens you for life ahead. 

Acting with integrity is what gives you the strength to be brave enough to speak up the next time in such a way as to achieve the best outcomes--despite the initial dis-ease.

Make a conscious decision to be strengthened, not hardened by your life experiences. 

"When you choose to act with integrity, you are strengthened by the experience; when you choose to act out of fear, anger, retaliation or hate, you are hardened by the experience."

What IS Integrity? Words to Live By

"Real integrity is doing the right thing, knowing that nobody's going to know whether you did it or not." Oprah Winfrey 

"The integrity of men is to be measured by their conduct, not by their words." Junius 

"Integrity means that you are the same in public as you are in private." Joyce Meyer 

"You are in integrity when the life you are living on the outside matches who you are on the inside." Alan Cohen 

"If you have integrity, nothing else matters. If you don't have integrity, nothing else matters." Alan K. Simpson 

"Integrity without knowledge is weak and useless, and knowledge without integrity is dangerous and dreadful." Samuel Johnson 

"Nothing more completely baffles one who is full of trick and duplicity, than straightforward and simple integrity in another." Charles Caleb Colton 

"Calamity is the test of integrity." Samuel Richardson 

"Tragedy in life normally comes with betrayal and compromise, and trading on your integrity and not having dignity in life. That's really where failure comes." Tom Cochrane 

"Perhaps the surest test of an individual's integrity is his refusal to do or say anything that would damage his self-respect." Thomas S. Monson 

"Goodness is about character - integrity, honesty, kindness, generosity, moral courage, and the like. More than anything else, it is about how we treat other people." Dennis Prager 

"Once you get rid of integrity the rest is a piece of cake." Larry Hagman 

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For more than 35 years, Susan Meyerott has been helping people lighten up and step over invisible barriers to change one step at a time. She speaks to your heart, puts you at ease, and makes changing easier than ever before.


If you're interested in learning more about closing the gap between where you are now and where you want to be, join the Lightarted Living mailing list.