Everyone is a critic. We choose what we like and what we don’t like every moment of each day.I just recently started posting short video messages on my Instagram and I received a few lukewarm responses to it. At first I was a little disappointed and pondered the idea of maybe not posting any more but then I thought, everyone has the right to express their opinion including me. If I stop now because of a few opinions of others I am basically saying I value their opinion over mine. Learning how to handle criticism is a part of the journey and I will not turn back now. I will and I hope you also stay the course.
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I was talking with a friend this evening about relationships and some how I recalled a time I was on vacation where I was on a canoe trip. It was a two person canoe and I was in the bow (the front) and the other person was in the stern (the rear). What was suppose to be a fun little excursion, turned into a heated exchange between two very frustrated people.
On Instagram the other day, someone asked me if I love money. My answer was “No, I don’t love money, I love the freedom that money brings.”
A few years ago I used to manage social media accounts for a few Hollywood clients. I had an amazing time traveling back and forth to California to work the red carpet events. It wasn’t until one evening at an event that I had a thought : Why am I so focused on following behind people who are busy following their dreams? That’s when I decided to stop working for other people and start focusing on me. I closed down my social media business and took time out to work on and discover the true me. I must admit, it has been by far one of the best yet hardest jobs I ever done. Working on yourself may not make you rich but it does have the greatest return on investment.
I had two lovebirds for almost 13 years until one bird died last year. The one remaining bird sits in the cage and sings when he hears the outside birds when the windows and the doors are open. The cage is the only thing he has ever known. I share this because the other day on my walk, I passed an injured bird that looked like it was gasping it’s last breathe. Despite the dangers and the uncertainties that life offers there is a sense of freedom that life offers when we choose to fly. Some of us are living life safe and sound in a cage like the lovebird. If the cage door was opened, would you be willing to leave it?
For years I stuck to the axiom of “fake it till you make it”, but unless you know what you like and what brings true meaning to your life, you could end up faking it forever. Choose to take time out and discover the true authentic person you are within. Be willing to let go of the old thoughts, ideas and beliefs that have been passed on to you by others. When you discover your true self, you will no longer desire to be a cubic zirconia because know you ARE a natural diamond.
Instead of hiding from the Jehovah’s Witness that started coming to my home a few weeks ago, I invited the two women in to discuss “The Good News”. It’s been an amazing learning experience not in the sense of religion or spirituality but as in learning who I have become over the past few years. I think the Bible study sessions have become a form of checks and balances in my beliefs. As for me, I have no desire to convert but I enjoy discussing a hot button topic and do not feel diminished when we do not come to the same conclusion. I know in order for anyone to grow and expand into the best version of themselves, one must not be afraid to step out of their comfort zone. I must admit, I don’t know why or how long we will continue to meet, but I do know that what ever is happening is only for my good, and that’s great news.
Sometimes in life we have to have those difficult conversations that have the potential to not stay on the “mature level”. The true sign of your maturity is your response to those types of conversations. Just because the conversation is taking a turn for the worst, does not mean you have to participate. It’s like playing in the sandbox, just because you’re invited in to play and throw sand does not mean you have to. You always have the right to choose even if it means walking away.
There have been many times that I have gotten my car stuck in the mud and there are valuable lessons I have learned from this experience that I can apply in life. One of the most important things to remember is: Don’t panic. When things are not going your way, the worst thing you can do is just and switch into something without having some type of game plan or destination in mind. When you feel panicky or anxious when things are not working out the way you plan, try and compose yourself first, take a step back, take time to think and assess the situation and then decide what to do. You don’t want to got from one mud hole to the next.
Sweet N Social 
