“Start before you’re ready.” ―Steven Pressfield
I read somewhere that if someone wants to build a social media presence you have to create something new each day. I whole heartily agree with this statement, but the hardest thing I find is being disciplined enough to sit down and start.
The one thing writing a blog has taught me is that you have to just simply push through the distractions. There certainly can be quite a few of them when you decided to put action behind an important task. I had the same resistance when I started meditation. I would sit down, get comfy and press play on my iPhone, as soon as Deepak would say close your eyes, thoughts of what I needed to take care of would pop in my head. I couldn’t stay focused. The more I decided I was going to just sit there, I eventually got better. I became less distracted by thoughts and gained more focus on my meditation practice. I know the same will happen on my writing.
I have been working on a few techniques that have helped me get more focused on accomplishing some tasks. I have found that if I get still and take some quiet time with myself, the topics of what I want to write about come to me. When I sit quietly, I ask myself, “What is the message that I would like to bring forward at this moment?” Some of the best ideas have come to me by just waiting. They have had some A-ha moments.
I have also found that by just writing out all of the thoughts that are in your head can be a great way to determine a topic to write about. When you take a moment just to write out what’s on your mind, they don’t have to be organized at that moment, it’s just important to get your thoughts down on paper. Then when you get the chance, go back and organize what you wrote.
The last idea on finding things to write about is just pressing play on your cell phone and just record what’s on your mind. The most important thing with this method is not to leave them in the sound recording. Take a moment to go back, listen and write your ideas down in a notebook or journal. Again the most import thing is to get your thoughts out of your head and down on paper.
As with most posts I write about, there is a lesson I would like to share. This lesson is that you don’t have to things perfect to start, just simply begin with something. I know my writing will improve the more I keep writing, but what I celebrate each time I post, is the simple fact that I did.
Quote Source: http://www.goodreads.com/quotes/tag/getting-started
It was December of 2011, I was listening to Katy Perry’s “Firework “on my way to work and was balling like a big old baby. I knew I had to make a change in my life but I was a wife and a mother of three with financial obligations. Something said you can’t keep living like this, you are miserable with you job. I finally got the nerve up to go into Human Resources and put my two weeks’ notice in. I had no real idea what I planned on doing but one thing for sure was I was not going to keep working the same job I had done for almost 25 years through the military and private sector. Many people offered their opinions about my actions but for some strange reason, I felt I was where I needed to be doing exactly what it was I was doing. At that time I didn’t know that some people would call that a “calling”. My life hit some rough patches during 2012 through 2013. It wasn’t until 2014 that things started to fall into place. By now, I had my social media business for 2 years with no real growth. You may be asking yourself, how is that falling into place? Let me explain.
During that time we both were in a transitional period of our lives. He signed on with me in 2013 as a client. He had asked me to trust him and that he would do all that we could do to make his dreams come true and that if he made it, we both would make it. I committed myself to support his dreams by doing what I did best, helping him with his social media presence.
I know I am not where I want to be in career but I can honestly say I’m enjoying the journey.
Did you also know you can control how you say something, the way you say something and even when you say something? What you cannot control is how someone will react, what someone thinks or what the other person is feeling. That thought alone has been the biggest game changer in my life.
I had a layover in Dallas. The plane was late taking off in LA which of course would affect my time in Dallas. When we arrived in Dallas, I had about 30 minutes to make my connecting flight. Low and behold, the plane was not able to pull into the gate because there was still another plane parked at it. By the time we were parked and the gateway was in place, I had about 15 minutes to get off. By now, reality was setting in and there was a very high probability I wasn’t going to make my connecting flight. Got off the plane had to go to another terminal and so, I knew I wasn’t going to make it in time. I missed my flight to LA just days before. Got to the gate, boarding had ended. I knew I wasn’t going to make it and I still got mad. Here is where mindfulness played a big role in how I quickly was able to get a handle on my emotions. I realized, I didn’t want to attract any negative attitude from the ticket agent. It wasn’t her fault I missed the plane but I needed her help to resolve my issue. I was able to quickly get a hold of my anger. I realized by missing the flight, I had a chance to relax and grab something to eat before my next flight. I also took advantage of the yoga area. All things worked out. I had a pleasant flight into Cincinnati.
and process what’s important. Most of the time the situation is not really as bad as our minds makes it out to be. Since, I have been able to put my game changing insight to work, my relationship with my daughter has also improved (despite the fact, she still doesn’t have her license). I know all things will work out in the end.
My relationship with my children improved. Last summer, I implemented a mandatory “unwind time” for everyone. It was something very similar to a tech-free time out, no electronics, cell phones, TV or radio for two hours each night during the weekday. During the two hours, we would play card games, take walks or just simply sit outside on the deck and talk. I must admit, I had trouble turning off the phone in the beginning but as time went on; the kids would come and sit down in the living room without being called to join in. They actually looked forward to hanging out with me again.
I know now that I have the power to make better and smarter choices for the kind of life I wish to live. I learned that no one can steal your joy when it comes from deep within. 
Most of the time they are on the pond or on the lake. On a few occasions these birds are close to the walking trail or crossing it. As I come up on them, my heart starts racing and fear of them attacking me comes to mind.
My names are not meant to be harmful to these birds in any way. My names are meant as a visual reference for the fears generated in my mind. Instead of the sign saying “Caution Feeding Wildlife Can Be Harmful” I see “Caution Feeding Your Fears Can Be Harmful. For instance, in the picture above, I would name these birds confusion, worry, criticism and doubt. By giving the geese these names, I started learning to recognize the emotions that fear generates inside. By feeling and accepting the racing heart beat and the nervousness that arises, I recognize these are feelings of fear. It’s not that the fear will disappear, it is the fact that I have to feel the fear, breathe and keep on moving.
She was at the ice cream parlor eating an ice cream cone. As she sat there, a man not smelling so pleasant walked by and she looked up. He was wearing a sign on his chest that stated he was homeless. She said the “homeless” sign really drew her attention. She said the man sat down a little ways from her. She started looking in her purse and in her car for some money but couldn’t find any spare change. She said as she was looking, something inside her said “don’t give that man any money, that man made a choice”
Some of our signs may say victim, lonely or helpless and we don’t even realize it. It’s not how the world sees you, but how you see yourself that matters. For the longest time I wore an “unworthy” sign on my chest. I got tired of wearing that sign. Now my signs read successful, powerful, wise and worthy. My question for you is: What is your sign?
Sweet N Social 
