I don’t know about you, but the feeling of helplessness isn’t alien to me.  Far from it, actually, cause I seem to have this strong affinity with it (God forbid!).  I’ve gotten really sick to the point of getting paralyzed; I’ve been lied to, betrayed, belittled and heartbroken more times than I would care to count.  However, every time misfortunes happen and I can’t do much about it, I just laugh the sadness away, really; cause obviously, being helpless doesn’t lay down a lot of choices for me.  I can either give up or move forward.  I always choose to move forward, so I have learned to adopt a ‘no-big-deal mentality’ to attack any situation where I find myself feeling powerless.  Don’t get me wrong.  I know that getting sick, caring for somebody who’s sick; or losing opportunities, lacking in resources, getting heartbroken and somehow abandoned —  these are all no laughing matter.  Still, I have realized that in my life, adding a bit of humor into any of my otherwise saddened or miserable stages, helps a lot in preserving my self-esteem and building up my courage, everytime.  I cannot undervalue the importance of confidence and grit.  

As kidshealth.org says, “confidence helps us feel ready for life’s experiences”.  This is so true.  Science has proven that the world is basically a mere reflection of how each individual perceives it to be.  A positive mindset is a mentality that  Xenia’E adheres to and for me, laughing at my problems as I find my way through obstacles keeps me strong.

Find your strength.    

“Strength and growth come only through continuous effort and struggle.”

• Napoleon Hill

Do not be easily deterred.  See that even the greatest of all weaknesses brings with it an opportunity which when taken, could bring you to even more opportunities that can ultimately solve even the most difficult problems.  

Be of service to others.

“Happiness comes from serving others.”

• Orrin Woodward

If you can’t yet see the light from where you stand, make others smile.  Then, you will see the vivid glow facing you from where they are standing.  We feel good, especially when we know we are a source of somebody’s joy.  Feeling good about one’s self may start to fuel passion and strength.

Find a way towards your support system.

“You can’t achieve anything entirely by yourself.  There’s a support system that is a basic requirement in human existence.  To be happy and successful on earth, you just have to have people you rely on.”

• Michael Shur

Basically, no man is an island; and, obviously, more things are possible when done together.  When stuck in a rut, it is important to find people to go through the rut with, who can be reliable enough to give sound advice that can help one to move towards breaking barriers and finding all means necessary to be free.

**

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Even as a child, I always looked forward to game nights that my family would schedule to hold, usually during weekends or summer out-of-town trips.  One of the opportunities that this pandemic has given my household for over a year now is the chance to schedule game nights more often, and even shift from playing at night to holding fun table tournaments in the daytime whenever we  feel like it. I enjoy the bonding, the jokes, the food; basically, the wonderful memories that all this playing with family brings.

Chess, Mahjong, Gin Rummy and Memory Game.  These are my family’s go-to table games for fun — all relaxing, yet challenging; all concepts are easy to understand, yet each has depth in meaning and perception when compared to real life.  Yes, just as animal behavior can show wisdom and teach us about ourselves, I find it so interesting to see values that many ‘man-made’ creations can teach us to build good character and self-love that can help frame a happy and fulfilled life.

Patience.  Our games require players to wait for our turn and quickly design tactics in our minds to plan our moves, no matter how brief the wait and planning need to be.  As in life, we need to develop appropriate systems needed and have the good sense to work hard to achieve our goals and patiently wait for what we want.  We don’t have to win all the time because there’s bound to be something worth getting in the end, be it a different outcome that can work for us or another chance at something. This is a big lesson we can get from having patience, too.

Confidence.  We basically play individual games where we need to rely only on ourselves to come up with good strategies that we feel will bring us to win every game played.  In real life, we need to believe in ourselves; our own capabilities and strengths to get us through every trying moment that we can possibly come across throughout our every journey in this world.

Respect.  Winning does not give anybody the right to gloat.  Each game allows everyone the opportunity to encourage every player to understand that anybody can still win the next game.   Everyone needs to be given his time to play and do with his turn what he feels is right.  Respect gives us the ability to show high regard to others not because they may be popular, or they always win, but rather because we allow them to be the kind of unique individuals that they are.

Resilience.  It is so easy to give up on anything, really.  In both play and actual life though, we have to learn to adjust to situations that face us so we can keep on going even when things get difficult.  When we’re losing, we remember it’s not the end of the world; someone has to win and if this is not my time, then I should be happy for the winner as I keep on striving for my time to come.

Perseverance.  We all need to strive for the never-give-up attitude.  Games are called that because somebody wins and somebody has to lose.  Just because we, possibly, don’t win first should not result in us giving up.

“No matter what happens, you can get through this day.  Inhale.  Focus on the word, relax.  Exhale.  Say, ‘I can do this!’, and then do it.”

-Ace Antonio Hall

Always remember that life has its ups and downs.  That’s just the way it is for everyone and it is each one’s responsibility to remember this and live each day to the fullest, without succumbing to disappointments, doubts and losses.  

**

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I started scrolling to find interesting news on Google, and the 1st headline I saw, read “Psychologists say a good life doesn’t have to be happy, or even meaningful”. A-ha! I had to read that. 

Ah.  Headlines.  Apparently, the news article for this one wasn’t saying that people don’t, not need to be happy.  Social psychologists, Shige Oishi from the University of Virginia and Erin Westgate from the University of Florida, were merely presenting the importance of psychological well-being to the overall disposition of an individual:  “The researchers aren’t saying that psychological richness operates completely independently from happiness or meaningfulness, but that it’s a part of our well-being that needs more attention.”  

Headlines are meant to catch attention.  Everybody gets that.  It should be the number 1 rule in headline-writing; and it’s also a big way for even lousy videos on social media to get opened!  It can be annoying, though, how headlines and storylines at times get confusing — on the verge of deceiving in some cases.  I’m not criticizing “influencers” (genuine ones or wanna-be’s).  They may just be doing what they perceive SEO standards to dictate.  Still, just as headlines are meant to catch attention, man needs to be careful not to overly polish the “us” that we know for others, in our pursuit of love and belongingness.

Be yourself.  

“Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don’t matter, and those who matter don’t mind.”

― Bernard M. Baruch

I love sweet, idealistic, tactful, respectful and friendly me.  I love annoying, overly-sensitive, forgetful and unreasonable me, too.  I may not be perfect with exemplary adjectives to describe me through and through, but I know I am perfectly imperfect and I try to be better each day.  That’s all I can do and that is enough.

There is, obviously, a lot of pressure to be the best in everything everyday; but, unless we develop a firm sense of acceptance for ourselves, these pressures can get to us, stress us out and possibly break us and turn us into pulp.  Breaking down is not an option if we want to live the best life possible for ourselves.  Why?  Because we have to know this to be true:  We are all worthy of being loved and taken cared of.

Some points worth pondering on, to live an authentic and accomplished life:

1. Know that if others can, you CAN, too!  Believe that you are strong.  Man is very resilient, and can endure the toughest of situations.  We see this in real-life stories of people around the world, from kids who need to walk for two hours just to get to school, to those people who were able to find healing within themselves and rise up from the ashes of slavery and unfathomable abuses.  
2. Know that you can ask for help.  When you can’t yet, somebody can, and is willing to help you.  Man is inherently good.  There’s bound to be somebody who can support you; but you need to choose to find that person so you can feel better.
3. Know that your past, IS past.  Don’t be ashamed.  We all have to take pride in our willingness to change for the better.  We may not be perfect; in fact, we’ll probably keep on making mistakes even as we strive for perfection.  Let’s just keep on striving.  People who matter will understand; those who don’t can make up all sorts of stories in their heads, for all we care.  Stand firm.
4. Know that you are alive.  Yes, there are people who breathe but somehow don’t feel anything anymore.  That cannot be us.  If we can relate with, “Life is like a wheel — sometimes you’re up, sometimes you’re down.”, then we understand the phases of life that we just need to contend with.  We cannot allow ourselves to be distracted from seeing our worth everytime we see ourselves down.
5. Know that there is a greater Power that tells us to take it easy.  If there is no God, then there is no hope.  If we make choices that we feel can somehow make tomorrow better for us and our loved ones, then hope exists from within.  We’re going to be OK.

Life is not fair, but we also do not have to wait for it to be so hard before we can find strength from within us to fight for what we need and to really know who we are.  Everyday is basically about choices.  It is my prayer that each of us will be confident enough to show who we truly are even when it’s difficult; and find ourselves looking for the light in any dark situation that we might find ourselves in.

**

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Nobody in my family really understands me.  I mean, I know they love me very much and they try as hard as they can to put good meaning into the kind of work that I do, but empowerment coaching, online coaching programs and affiliate marketing?  It’s a bit confusing for a family whose members (except for me) are all experienced in working for big, multinational companies; in management and finance.

I would love it if I can enjoy logic and deskwork as much as, say, my CPA mom who worked so hard throughout her professional life, to climb the corporate ladder and achieve her highest potential (she became President of two multinational companies before retiring 16 years ago.  Wow, I can’t believe it’s been that long ago!).  

Change is scary, but it may be necessary.  My family would be less concerned about my plans, I think if I decided to work according to the structure of a corporate job and be like my mom and my sister who seems to be following in her footsteps.  I am not like my mom, though.  I’m, kinda, more like my dad who has taken on an entrepreneurial spirit.  Before he retired, he forged a career in real estate (like me).  Our difference is, I didn’t end there because of my abiding passion for literally helping individuals find meaning and strength in their own pain, whatever that may be for them.  This part, nobody really understands.  However, just because nobody quite understands where I’m coming from does not have to mean that I should give up on my passion and stick  to what is already in front of me just because other people say so.

Follow your own passion — not your parents’, not your teachers’ — yours.

• Robert Ballard

Following my passion may mean more expenses (I’d much rather think of these as investments) and new, unfamiliar territory for me, but it also means breathing better, excitement for the unknown and fire in my drive to succeed.  I will not give up when I can clearly see the prize that I have my mind and my heart set on, right in front of me… right?

I am an empowerment coach; and as one, I am all about mindset.  It is one thing to feel empowered to transform oneself after moments of realizations, but it is definitely another to actually live up to the decisions made and stay consistent when difficulties arise and the urge to go back to what is familiar (yet unsound) starts to build up.  When I find myself stuck on an idea, an unfinished action plan or a tricky financial situation for any reason, I always go back to one of my mantras.  “Discomfort is a sign of progress”.  Then, I just push myself to not think too much, and move on.  I, of course, am not perfect, but my coaches (yes, of course I have my own.  Everybody needs a coach) hold me accountable, so I am always reminded of what is at stake if I don’t go forward.  Mindset is necessary but consistent action is the key to success.

Ahh… success… “don’t give up 5 minutes before the miracle!”.  We all know that most victories don’t happen overnight.  It takes time to win a battle!  So when I find myself overwhelmed and on the verge of stress, I try my best to refocus on the essentials, take time to accept what’s not working for me, breathe, then plan again.  I am happy to be growing my coaching business and I love growing with my clients as they find their ‘a-ha’ moments and get clearer about their purpose, too.  I do not give up on my dreams.  I just try to be more mindful of my environment — all the time.  I try to teach myself to see the good despite any bad, determine action steps that can make situations better and get up and move my butt to work on freedom from being stuck in a rut, and finding my true happiness.  

My definition of success may be different from anyone else’s.  It’s OK.  What I know for sure is that there is so much success in the world merely waiting to be achieved.  We all only have to develop a positive frame of mind and the eagerness to really focus on the essentials in order to find them.

**

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When Walt Disney was planning to build the first Disneyland in Anaheim, California, people think he was crazy because they thought, who would put a huge theme park in the midst of barren land. Unperturbed, Disney stuck out to his plan and vision, and the rest is history.

Hence, his inspiring quote, “All our dreams can come true, if we have the courage to pursue them”, redounds in the minds and hearts of the dreamers.

The story

One of my family’s friends grew up dirt poor in the Philippine province of Negros.  She never pitied herself and knew great things were gonna happen for her and her family if she worked hard enough for it.  Long story (a bit) short, Di was able to finish high school, pursued and got a license in midwifery, found her way to Singapore in the early 80’s as a cleaning lady in an international infrastructure company there.  She worked her way up to being a supervisor and one of the company’s overseas officers’ relations personnel (when she met my mom). Di seemed to love the work she did, as she shared her dreams of bringing her and her family out of the clutches of poverty.  A few years after my mom would frequently be sent by her company to do work in Singapore, we found out that Di resigned and got a job in Saudi Arabia.  Not surprising to those of us who knew her, she saved enough in Singapore to manage to bring herself through college in Saudi.  She got a nursing degree, worked as a nurse there for, I’ve forgotten how long; she eventually met her future doctor husband there (with whom she had a son), and moved to Ireland where the family now lives.  Needless to say, Di is finally untroubled by finances, and she’s uplifted the lives of her family in the Philippines (one of her sisters actually got to study in Ireland, and lives with her today).  She has a wonderful son who earns enough now to help take care of her and his dad, and she’s now set to fulfill her next dream of travelling the world more after the pandemic.

The unfortunate reality

People seem to get stuck in wondering, “What if…?”, that they just stay in that state; they keep on dreaming.  Di’s story can be very inspiring, but I am sure it is not an uncommon one because I know that determination and hard work are inherent to a lot of people.  I am also aware, though, that there are still those of us who dream and get stuck in that position of just imagining, too.  They don’t take action on reaching for their dreams because of fear, self-doubt, complacency; God knows how many excuses there can be.

The important truth

It may not be easy to change a person’s ways, but there are always opportunities for progress.  We need to bring out the fighter from within, in order to grab the opportunity that we know we need, to propel us towards achieving our dreams.

1. Decide to just start.  Read up, watch videos, reach out to others; find out what other people have done to be successful, emotionally, financially, intellectually, physically, socially or spiritually.  Then, figure out how you can break down what you can do with your own time in order to somehow duplicate, not necessarily to completely imitate, the example/s you got inspiration from.  There is power in organization.  You have to plan out what you feel you need to do for yourself.  Schedule in action steps within your days so you don’t miss out on doing necessary work. 
2. Have a determined attitude.  Don’t be shy to share your dreams with people you trust.  It’s a way for you to hold yourself accountable, and a way to get others to support you throughout your journey.  

Think of next year.  How are you going to feel about not having done anything again, if you don’t push yourself to start doing the work you need to do this year?  

Remember that failures will come; just keep on striving.  Set deadlines that you will try hard to achieve, but do not give up whenever you fall short.  Reset your deadline and just keep on trying if necessary.  Persistence pays off!

3. Keep smiling.  Dreams may not become reality easily, but just because something is hard doesn’t mean you have to forget about all the beauty that’s happening around you.  Learn to appreciate the small things in life; all the effort that you do, whether or not these make a big impact right away.

En fin

Never run out of dreams, but do not allow yourself to just have that.  There is, obviously, so much more to life than mere images in the mind.

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It’s one thing to just be mindful of mindset for relief — whether to see life as a glass half full or a glass half empty — and another to necessarily need to work on it so as not to get overtaken by stress because of all the goings-on in our lives that may just seem to pile up, one after another.  

Yes, apparently, people with even a growth mindset (that is, positive and resilient) can get stressed, too.  Of course.  Stress is, basically, a natural occurrence.  What’s interesting is that there seems to be a good kind of stress and a bad kind of stress.  The good kind comes from accepting and enduring current difficulties that we expect happiness from, eventually; and the bad stress comes from the loss of inspiration which can bring with it a possibility for panic, and the loss of motivation to work for and pursue goals.  

Considering the many situations that can challenge even the sun shiniest soul around, it is imperative to be aware; to strive for wellness, no matter how difficult life can be.  Remember that tomorrow is another day.  Situations can always get better so we should never give up on ourselves and everything positive that we believe in. Surely as we practice wellness, we all need to realize the simple ways necessary to cope with any given stressful situation.

1. Breathe.  Call me Ms. Breathe; I won’t mind.  I just totally believe that the very simple activity of deep breathing, especially when under stress, can put the mind at ease, keep blood pressure on normal levels and therefore still allow us to smile through the worst situations so we can focus on finding ways to make circumstances better.  The strategy doesn’t have to be complicated.  Just breathe from the diaphragm. (Big tummy) inhale for 4 seconds, then exhale through the mouth as the tummy flattens, for 8 seconds.  A fairly healthy person shouldn’t have a problem doing this at least 3 times per set.
2. Break down tasks.  Whatever circumstance we all are faced with definitely involves action steps which when taken, can lessen; if not get rid of the stressful situation at hand.  So, break down tasks.  Figure out what steps need to be done in order to solve problems.  A couple losing the romance in their relationship, for example, need to agree on activities that they need to consistently do with each other in order to keep the ‘spark’ intact.  Breaking down different tasks into simple action steps — a regular weekly date, holding hands or even dancing with each other, are easy-enough-to-do activities that they can agree on.
3. Work on your tasks, from the simplest to the most complicated/time consuming.  Practically ensure success by doing simpler action steps first; moving towards more complicated ones, after.  The couple working on their relationship in our previous example seems to have a fairly uncomplicated strategy to take care of their bond.  As we know, though, affection is not necessarily easy to regain.  So, the broken down strategies still need to be grouped into daily, simple-to-follow activities, like the holding of hands and regular weekly dates; then, into a bit more focused introspection from each individual where they need to maybe commit to meditating on their given situations daily, writing on journals and finding activities which would enable them to focus more on the strengths of the other and the characteristics that they found endearing about each other in the first place.  They both need to be open to doing the tedious task of waiting, and possibly even finding a third party to help them help themselves better. 

Being organized brings out a sense of control over situations and the feeling of being in control brings about confidence.  Confidence means less stress; and less stress means happiness and peace of mind.

Life isn’t easy but we can have the tools to get by with success.  Let us choose to learn how to implement these tools so we all don’t have to worry about life being hard, too much.

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“Are we there yet?”, would seem to be the question we’re all asking each other at this point in time.  Everyone, after all, would like to already see the end of this pandemic journey that everyone in the world (!) is going through.  It’s been a rough year, though; and with a rise in daily new Covid-19 cases all around the country this week, it looks like we’re all gonna be asking the same question a little longer, without getting a clear answer just yet.

There’s so much grief around us; there’s so much pain.  Amidst all the necessary logistics to get vaccines into the country for immediate dispensation, too, there are still selfish and corrupt individuals and groups who would rather grow in wealth and power as our countrymen suffer in sickness and even possibly die.  How does each one cope?  Where should we all look for comfort and strength so we can continue to thrive despite so many blows?  It just seems so much easier to stay in misery and give up.

1. Looking towards a greater power beyond ourselves, will allow us room for acceptance.  The knowledge of God, Who may be allowing circumstances to happen as they do, but is, still, in full control of every  situation and will definitely lighten our burdens somehow along the way, would be a great place to start looking for hope and comfort;
2. Looking deep into ourselves will show us the wonderful ways we can get up from a major slump all on our own.  In coaching, we always say that clients have all the answers to questions they need answered, and that’s so true.  If we only look more closely into our own life situations without biases, then we can also find our necessary solutions from within.  Really, everything is about mindset; and making a choice, to either move towards one direction or the other;
3. Looking for the good in our neighbors.  Although there is so much grief and misery around, there is also so much goodness.  The community pantries, the volunteerism that we see, the considerations being given by companies, as well as individuals in business.  Things may not be perfect, but blessings brought about by others still abound.  Do not take these for granted and instead, find ways to move forward knowing there will always be good people around.

Being in a pandemic is, obviously, bad.  We cannot forget, though, that it is not going to last.  If we can keep ourselves from panicking and start looking within and around us, then we’ll start to see so much light in the darkness, too.  Hope will rise and strength will come out.

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Hahhhh… Metro Manila is back on ECQ.  We’re back on “house arrest”.  A lot of our countrymen are going to get hungrier.  How can anxiety be eased when we seem to be going back to where we started; and at this point, faced with an invisible monster that has gone airborne!

According to Reuters’ coronavirus tracker during the writing of this article, 10.7% of the Philippine population had already been administered the doses necessary to fight the virus.  Considering the evolving strains of COVID-19 and the efficacy of these vaccines (which, respectively, vary and may not necessarily even be effective for a lifetime or even past 3 months at the least), however, blood pressures are rising and constant worrying in the communities is clear.

The situation we are facing now reminds me of ‘Outbreak’, a Dustin Hoffman and Cuba Gooding, Jr. movie, that (as I am able to remember at the moment) first introduced me to the terror of being in a pandemic.  The characters all did what they could to cope, but the apparent uncertainties undeniably still brought so much tension and fear in everyone.  Pretty much like our situation now.

What are we to do in a crisis like this?  Panicking is definitely not an option, but what SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic and anchored within a Time frame) measures can just about anyone take in order to keep on going and eventually get past this world struggle?

1. Take deep breaths.  I cannot stress this enough, because I swear by this.  For 17 years, I lived with a deformity in my brain, which triggered blood to flow too fast and allowed veins to burst whenever I hemorrhaged as a teenager.  With the high probability of danger then, I felt comfort whenever I took deep, long breaths.  I felt my brain easing in heaviness, and I seriously believe that I would have hemorrhaged more often than I did if I didn’t keep my cool and do those breaths.  

Several studies have shown the importance of purposeful deep breaths coming from the diaphragm to relieve tension and slow down the heart rate.  A heart rate within its regular levels is a sign of relaxation.  According to the Mayo clinic, “Relaxation techniques can help you cope with everyday stress and with stress related to various health problems, such as heart disease and pain”.

2. Meditation – prayer/chanting/writing.  A number of my coaching sessions start with a prayer of praise and wonderful expectations; simply because it moves an individual to be focused on all that is good (positivity beyond all negativities), in order to move our sessions to a place where good vibes may flow and work wonders in and around any situation.  Any form of meditation which allows a person to tune in on the essential — peace and harmony — would be good to relieve stress.

Psych   Central  reported,    “For  many   people, God  is  a  source  of  comfort  and strength, says   researcher Matt Bradshaw, Ph. D; and through prayer, they enter into an intimate relationship  with Him  and begin  to  feel  a  secure  attachment. When  this  is  the case,  prayer  offers  emotional  comfort,  resulting  in  fewer symptoms of anxiety disorders”.

3. Be of service to others.  It just feels good to help make other people happy.  Nothing can compare to the sense of accomplishment I feel when I know somebody is thinking better about himself and has a bigger smile now, partly because of me.

According to behavioralhealthsystems.com, “Putting other people’s needs before our own can reduce stress and improve mood, self-esteem, and happiness. Here’s how it works: Helping Others Feels Good – Helping others, promotes a rush of endorphins in the brain brought about by positive physiological changes.

Covid-19 has been with us for two years now, and nobody yet knows how long it will stay.  One thing’s for sure, though.  The citizens of the world are fighting together, in order to win this battle for the human race.  Pandemics come; it has happened before.  Now that this pandemic is here with us, let us choose to be one with each other, to hold each other’s hand through all this (metaphorically, of course), support each other by following protocol, and to trust in a Higher Power that assures us, “this, too, shall pass”.

Be part of the family!

🔥 Visit, Xenia’E.  

🔥 Schedule a complimentary call (Xenia’E) for more clarity on your intentions, so you can make

     better choices and live the life you want.

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We all, most likely, dream.  Just because we do, though, obviously doesn’t mean that every desire can be a reality.  Why?  Well, other than the reason that some dreams may be fantasy; if we don’t take action on achieving what we can imagine, then dreams are what they will remain to be.

There are a lot of action-takers though, who still don’t reach their dreams; individuals who keep on trying but always come up short of achieving what they want.  Why does this happen?  What could be missing?

A determined person gets what he strives for once he is clear about what he wants, then lays out the plan of action necessary to get it, before he finally moves to implement the action steps.  The problem with a lot of dreamers is, they have a dream, they set a goal, and so they take whatever action steps they feel would serve their purpose.

They take whatever action steps they feel would serve their purpose.

One of the qualities of an excellent marksman is precision.  He is exact with his movements and is very accurate with his shots.  He doesn’t take any variable that can affect his shooting, for granted — distance, the direction of the wind, steadiness of hand, type of tool being used… the list goes on.

A determined person who wants to get the best chance of achieving his goals should perfect the art of reverse-engineering.  It is only by actually determining the exact steps necessary to reach a goal, can one accurately determine success in the actions he takes.

You have a dream.  You can already see it on the horizon, all you have to do is take action to get it; but, be patient.  As author, Dr. Stephen Covey taught in his book, The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People, “begin with the end in mind.  You have to clearly imagine what obstacles lie much closer, in front of you, that need to be taken on before reaching that goal.  To see these hurdles, you’ll need to visualize yourself with your goal in hand, first.  Then, imagine, again.  What was the final step that actually brought your goal to you?  Before that, what did you do to get to that final step?  Before that, what did you do to get to that step; the step before that; and, the step before that… reverse-engineer until you come up with the first step that you need to take in order to reach the ultimate goal.  Actually do that first step, first.

It is always necessary to take action in order to reap results.  Let’s not get too focused on merely taking whatever action steps we feel would serve our purpose, though.  Let us just be tactical as we continue to remember that small steps may not seem so important, but these small steps make up the giant leaps that mold our worlds into the big, wondrous things that they are.

A dream written down with a date becomes a goal.  

A goal broken down into steps becomes a plan.  

A plan backed by action makes your dreams come true.

• Greg Reid

To Greg Reid’s beautiful quote, I’d like to add, “tactical”, before, “action”.

Have a wonderful day!

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Be a part of the family!

🔥 Visit, Xenia’E.  

🔥 Schedule a complimentary call (Xenia’E) for more clarity on your intentions, so we can help

     you can structure a plan and set tactical action steps to reach your goals.

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I did not choose to hemorrhage at 15, 16 and 17 years old, but I did choose to develop my love for musical theatre; and I was willing to go through physically and mentally taxing performance workshops that would have helped me get closer to my dream of being on stage, but actually had adverse effects on my health at the time.

I did not choose to get pregnant out of wedlock.  I am not proud of having done wrong, but I did choose to keep on seeing my daughter’s dad, and it was my choice to do more than just make out with him when she was conceived.

Ahhhh…choices.  According to various internet sources, an adult makes an average of 35,000 of them each day (is this for real?  I don’t know.  ‘The Leading Edge’ says it is).  

The capacity to take on one option or another started surrounding our beings at 12 months old, according to, ‘Early Childhood Today’; and our lives, as we get molded to become the people that we are, also depend on the different decisions — and non-decisions — that we’ve been making throughout our years.

Nobody makes all the right choices, all the time.  Obviously, we are not God.  Frustration and discontent, nervousness and fear, may naturally come as part of wrong judgments that we make, and we can possibly sulk for a while, grieve, maybe ask why bad things happen to us because of these then eventually, we learn to come to terms with ourselves; cope and say, “Ok, I just made a blunder”, then move on.  This would be the regular mistake cycle, as I see it.

It is unfortunate, though, that according to the World Health Organization in January 2020, more than 264 million people of all ages suffer from depression around the world.  Although much importance is presently being given to this illness, so much more needs to be done as the disease is not easily remedied and the numbers are still climbing.  People are being paralyzed and unable to become productive citizens; for themselves, their families and their communities.  Full potentials are not being developed and so the world is being deprived of wonderful opportunities that these people can, otherwise, bring.

Being too self-conscious, emitting a lack of confidence, and allowing sheer anxiety and depression to settle within us are choices that are born of a fearful mindset.  What we think of ourselves matters most.  No… it actually is the only thing that matters, most of the time.  So.  When we decide to turn this way of thinking around and find all means to recover from a slump or downright get out of holes we find ourselves in, then healing happens.  Our perspective in life will start showing beautiful possibilities, reachable goals and doable action steps.

“Nothing is impossible.  The word itself says, ‘I’m Possible’!”

• Audrey Hepburn

Be part of the family!

🔥 Visit, Xenia’E.  

🔥 Schedule a complimentary call (Xenia’E) for more clarity on your intentions, so you can make better choices as well as accept and appreciate (!) the choices you’ve already made.

🔥 Follow Xenia’E on Instagram and Facebook