May 11 2009
How to Start over…
So today begins the day when I can erase the slate and start over? No one person on the planet starts out wanting to fail, however, WE DO. So in honor of MENTAL HEALTH MONTH here is …
THE “TO DO” list!
1. FORGIVE YOURSELF! You are not the sole cause of the issues you have to deal with. Yes be accountable for where you are and your participation, however, you are learning and every single moment in the past has brought you to where you are now; where you are heading in the future has yet to be determined!
2.KNOW THAT YOU WILL MAKE MISTAKES! We are not perfect. We do fall once in a while. Pick yourself up and be honest about what you did wrong…. LEARN FROM IT!
3. BE FIRM IN YOUR DECISIONS! Once you feel (yes I said feel because most often our gut instinct is correct) what you need to do to quote NIKE “just do it”. Don’t look back or waiver in the process. It may be a mistake but that is all a part of the learning process! RINSE AND REPEAT 
4. YOU ARE NOT ALONE! There are so many different avenues to reach out. Don’t be afraid to meet new people and open up to them, confide in them (which is risky sometimes but very worth it to relieve some pressure)…. even if it is online to start with. Face to face contact with others is essential for life so get out there and be someone!
5. SMILE AT YOUR OWN REFLECTION! This is so incredibly simple. LOVE who you are and others will notice and opportunities will surface all because you are a “happy and confident” person. Try it daily, I promise it works.
6. LISTEN! This one is hard. So many times we want to interject our own additives (especially when you are in the midst of starting over yourself) to the conversation. But by listening you will understand human behavior more and be able to contribute more effectively or even help someone else.
7. BE LIMITED! Limit television; read instead. Limit junk food; keep fruit and veggies around( fiber fills you up and junk brings you down in more ways than one). Limit contact with negative surroundings (as much as possible); no whining, no complaining, no boredom, no excuses! Limit neediness; be self-supported at least in mind and body~ YOU CAN DO ANYTHING YOU WANT TO IF YOU JUST PUT YOUR MIND TO IT!
I am a mother of three. I have endured death of a sibling, divorce and remarriages of my parents after 30 years, a broken marriage, an affair, an incredibly difficult teenager, job loss, and depression. I erased my slate and started brand new! This is a new beginning for you. You will understand and grow from each “to do”. Try one, NO NO NO… try all of these and put them into practice and help yourself START OVER! You are so worth the effort!
