January 20, 2009
Forward to a Friend
In This Issue
Featured Article: Yes We Can!
Audio Tip: Optimism in Action
Announcements
Speaking Schedule
Daddy's Little Girls
Greetings!
Welcome to another issue of Appreciation in Action. I hope that you and everyone around you are doing well and enjoying the new year so far. We each have so much to be grateful for, always!
Michelle, Samantha, Annarose, and I are excited to be in Washington DC today to celebrate the inauguration of President Barack Obama. What a thrilling experience!
Thanks for being on my email list. Have a fabulous day and week.
With Appreciation,
Yes We Can!
These three words, “yes we can,” became the mantra for Barack Obama’s successful presidential campaign. Whether you voted for, support, or agree with President Obama or not, these three words are powerful and important for each of us in our lives, especially in the face of the challenges that many of us are facing these days.
When we believe in ourselves in an authentic way, we know that we can do whatever it is we desire and that no matter what our current circumstance may be, we always have the power within us to overcome, accomplish, or manifest anything. As Henry Ford famously stated, “Whether you think you can or you can’t, you’re right.”
Being optimistic is and always will be a personal choice. And, it’s not always the easiest choice to make. Some of us are more predisposed to be negative, while others of us are more predisposed to be positive – based on a variety of factors (personality, beliefs, family background, environment, focus, and much more). However, all of us can practice and enhance our ability to be optimistic in our daily lives. It’s both a choice and a skill.
Being hopeful and positive doesn’t mean we avoid the challenges of our lives or pretend that there aren’t problems around us, it’s that we choose to focus on the good stuff, find what’s working, and trust that things will work out. This does take a certain amount of faith and it challenges us to let go of our need to control, explain, and understand everything at all times.
Here are a few simple things you can do to enhance your own ability to be optimistic in life:
1) Tell the truth – Admit to yourself and to others your own fear, worry, and negativity. While we don’t want to complain or dwell on things in a detrimental way, so often we deny or avoid our true negativity or pessimism, which keeps it stuck. When we admit it and own it, we have a chance to move through it and to let it go consciously.
2) Practice looking for the good stuff – This is an art and a skill that we can practice all the time. It can be challenging to find the good stuff in the midst of adversity, but that is the most important time to do it and the most valuable way to practice being optimistic. The more you do it the easier it gets. This is all about us giving up our desire, need, and right to be a victim in life!
3) Surround yourself with authentically optimistic people – Choose to be around people who are genuinely positive and hopeful. This doesn’t mean that they’re happy all the time or always super upbeat (although they often will be, most likely). Seek out people who choose to appreciate life and to focus on what’s working. Doing this will not only be more fun and empowering for you, but it will also support you in your desire to be more optimistic in your own life.
Optimism is essential to our happiness, fulfillment, and our ability to overcome and persevere in life. It takes courage, boldness, and trust – things that as we all know are important, but not always easy in life. As you look at your own work, relationships, and life in general, where can you say “Yes I can?” and allow that statement to empower you in an optimistic way? The more we say “yes” to ourselves and to life, the more life and others say “yes” back to us.
I say to you, me, and everyone around us – YES WE CAN!
How will you enhance your ability to be optimistic in life? Share your thoughts on my blog here.
Optimism in Action
For some additional ideas and specific tips about how to become even more hopeful and optimistic, check out this week's audio clip.
Click here to listen.
Great New Book:
The Art of Extreme Self Care, by Cheryl Richardson
Cheryl Richardson, bestselling author and frequent guest on the Oprah Winfrey Show, has come out with a powerful new book about the importance of us truly caring for herself called The Art of Extreme Self Care. I recently read this book and loved it! My wife Michelle and I have committed ourselves to practicing the simple, but profound principles and program that Cheryl lays out throughout the course of this entire year. As I have written about and spoken about recently on my blog – I think that this book and the art of extreme self care as Cheryl teaches are so important for all of us in our lives, especially right now. We can’t truly be there for others or take care of anyone else until we take care of ourselves first. Check out this book today and practice its wisdom, you’ll be so glad that you did!
Exciting Teleclass:
The Art and Science of Infallible Health with Jeanna Gabelinni and David Di Francesco
My friend, master coach, and author Jeanna Gabelinni has put together a powerful teleclass – using both the law of attraction as well as solid coaching, personal training, and scientific techniques and information to help you create the type of health and body that you truly want. Join Jeanna and personal training guru David Di Francesco as they take you on this empowering ride towards optimum health and wellness. For information about this teleclass, which begins February 10th, check out the link below:
http://www.masterpeacecoaching.com/health.htm
Below is a list of where I’m speaking for the next few months. All of these events are for my corporate or organizational clients (i.e. not open to the public). If you live in any of the cities where I’ll be traveling and want to contact me about setting up a speaking engagement for your group or company while I’m in town, feel free to contact me. I will have more public events scheduled later in the spring and summer (when my new book comes out)…stay tuned. Thanks!
1/28/09 – Palo Alto, CA
1/30/09 – Lincoln, NE
2/17/09 – Columbus, OH
2/20/09 – San Francisco, CA
2/27/09 – San Francisco, CA
3/6/09 – San Francisco, CA
3/9/09 – San Francisco, CA
3/10/09 – San Francisco, CA
3/11/09 – San Francisco, CA
3/13/09 – San Francisco, CA
3/20/09 – Huntington Beach, CA
3/21/09 – Tucson, AZ
3/23/09 – Washington, DC
“Back on February 1, 2007 I met Barack Obama with my mommy and daddy when I was just one. Pretty cool!”
– Samantha Robbins
“I’m excited to meet him one day too! Yes I can!”
- Annarose Robbins
