5 Inspiring Quotes to Help YOU Make a Leap of Faith this Leap Day!

I love Leap Days - there's something about the gift of an extra day and the idea of leaping into the future that has always resonated with me. 

I loved it even more when the totally brilliant Tina Fey created "Leap Day William' and an entire fake Leap Day holiday on her show 30 Rock. While it's definitely making fun of fake holidays, the show is all about the idea of taking risks in your life and embracing the potential of the future (while creating silly traditions out of the holiday, such as wearing blue or eating rhubarb). 

I particularly love the sentiment that comes from her boyfriend Criss says, "It's Leap Day! Real life is for March!" Of course, the idea is that this day is a gift; a time to be optimistic and stop the old routine of your life for one day and see what happens. 

It seems like a great idea to me. So, if you'd like to shake your life up a bit and commit to taking a risk to go after your dream life this Leap Day, here are 10 inspiring quotes to help you: 

1. Do the thing you fear the most (it's likely exactly what you need to do): 

It's amazing to me how many times my life changes profoundly when I do something I'm afraid of doing. Not only is it totally empowering to face your fears and succeed, it's also the very action I needed to take to get to the next place in my life. After all, making it to that next level in life means pushing out of your comfort zone, and pushing out of your comfort zone can be overnight-in-a-haunted-house scary for most of us. 

What action could you take RIGHT NOW that has the potential of pushing you forward toward the life you REALLY want? Take it now (before you get all logical and talk yourself out of it). 

Still scared and need a little extra help (and a true story of freaking out from me)? Check out this post. 

Oh, and let me know what it was (and how it worked out for you). I love to hear these kinds of stories! 

2. Not sure what your dream is? Get clear today. 

Sometimes we know that we have a haven't-eaten-in-days kind of aching hunger in our souls to DO something really big in this world, but we just aren't sure what it is. 

If that sounds like you, define your dreams today - it's actually easier than you think! This post will help you in just 3 easy steps!

3. The scariest thing you can do today? Decide you are perfect as you are.

If there is one massively huge thing that you could do to take a serious leap forward today it would be to totally, completely, and with crazy abandon love yourself. As you are. Right now. In the body you have. Without one single change. 

You see, self-hate is something that brings all of our dreams to a screeching halt. After all, if you secretly think you totally suck but you want to do something awesome that the world has never seen before (and want people to embrace this vision), how exactly do you think that's going to go? You're really likely to meet insane opposition to your dream and attract people who confirm your belief that you suck, which is a serious dream-killer. 

If, instead, you commit to seeing yourself as unique, interesting, intelligent and totally perfect as you are, you're likely to attract great people to your life that will get on board with your ground-breaking vision and will move you forward in a big way. 

And, if you aren't trying to change the world but are just trying to change your life by meeting a guy who actually treats you like a human being or finally finding a job that doesn't make you want to stay in bed all day, deciding that you are awesome is REALLY critical to making that happen, too. 

On this leap day, take a leap of faith that you are incredibly perfect. Then, commit to stopping the negative self-talk, the unneeded apologies, the crippling perfectionism, and the hateful things you do to yourself and just see how completely great life can be. (Oh, and definitely comment below to tell me about it!!)

4. Be who YOU truly are! 

In a related idea, get really clear about who you truly are and commit to simply being THAT person all the time, without apology. 

Ya know, that may not sound that scary (or maybe it does), but one of the most revolutionary things you can do is simple BE yourself. All the time. Even when your parents want you to be something else. Even when you are with your boss or co-workers and don't want to seem like a weirdo. 

The thing is that when you are truly honest about who you are and you commit to simply being you in ALL situations, you start to attract really terrific like-minded people to you that truly appreciate you for who you are. 

You know why? Because you exude confidence in yourself. So do that. 

Need help being blazing your own, confident trail to your dreams? This post can help!

5. Let go of the wrong people. Now. 

Sometimes we have people in our life that we've had for a long time, but they really just aren't people that are making us happy anymore. Sometimes we try to force a relationship into becoming "the one," when he's really just not that into you. Sometimes we are afraid that if we let go, we will become the crazy old cat lady that all the kids in the neighborhood are afraid of. 

I'm here to tell you that letting go of the wrong people is the BEST path to finding the people that are really great for you. Honestly, the biggest changes in my life came when I decided to let go of relationships that were slowly sucking the life out of me and be completely okay on my own. 

Next guy I decided to date? Enter my completely awesome hubby of 16+ years. 

On this Leap Day 2016, commit to deciding who in your life is good for you and you want to keep around, and who is better left behind. Then let go of anyone who is no longer making you feel good, happy, or loved (because seriously, anything else is a total waste of your time and energy). 

Need more inspiration? Here's a few more things you'll like: 

After the Paris Attacks: What My Sleeping Dog Taught Me About How ONE Person Can Make a Difference

I've had a hard time sleeping since the Paris attacks. I close my eyes, and all I see is the terror, the hate, the inhumanity. My mind can't understand how someone can do such horrible things. Filled with these thoughts, I've found myself caught in the belief that this is a cruel world, and sickened by the fact that I don't know how to fix it or what to do to help. 

Then, this morning, I woke to find my sweet dog sound asleep on his teddy bear. Looking at him, sleeping happily and without a concern in the world, I realized that my husband and I have created a home filled with peace and love, that allows him and all who enter to feel safe and supported. 

And it occurred to me - maybe that's what we can all do to change the world: Focus on creating peace in our own homes, in our own relationships, in our interactions with each other online and in person. Take time to be generous to others, and peaceful in our words to them and to ourselves. Reach out to those that don't seem to have friends, and help them to feel part of the community. Take time to call loved ones and let them know you care.

Sure, there are things that have to be done to combat the terrorism directly, but I'm not in the military or police, and certainly have little say in the direction that goes. But I can make changes that assure that the world around me gets better, little by little. 

I've always believed Gandhi's approach "be the change you wish to see in the world." Now, perhaps more than ever, we need to take this to heart and make a conscious choice to act with love and kindness and peace - and perhaps, just perhaps, that will begin to go viral. Wouldn't that be nice? Let's make peace go viral. I believe it can be done - if we share peace like we share posts, it can be done. Sending love and peace to all today...

Free Your Mind and Your Life: 3 Steps to Feel in Control of Your World

There are times in life when you may feel like you have little freedom in your life; and sadly, you may feel like it's been years since you felt free to be you.

Your life may feel very much like you are controlled by dictators, always trying to live up to other’s standards or views on how you should live.

You may feel that you are trapped by difficult circumstances, or that you cannot control your own life for a variety of reasons.

I am here to tell you that you absolutely can free your mind and free your life right this very moment. In fact, you can do so in in 3 simple steps:

Step #1: Realize that your mind is already free. 

No matter what your current issues are, your mind is free right at this very moment. No one can force you to believe their viewpoint on anything. You make all the decisions about what to think, feel, and do. 

Is this difficult to believe? Here’s an example that might make it easier:

What if someone walked you to the edge of a cliff and told you that you must think about an apple immediately or he would push you off.

Would you actually have think about an apple to save your life? Could you just tell him that you were thinking about an apple? How would he know if you were lying? 

The reality is that you could think about anything you wanted, and there would be little he could do about it. Saving your life would be fairly easy, as you could claim that you thought of an apple, and he would have to believe you.

While that is an extreme example, this same idea applies to your life.

All too often we think that we must believe the viewpoints of parents, friends, acquaintances, bosses, doctors, religious leaders, and even the media. Again and again, we give our personal power over to the opinions of those around us, because we think we have no choice and no right to question them. 

Worse, we’re brainwashed to believe that we must live our lives by their standards or suffer some horrifying consequences, like going to hell or our lives ending in abject failure with them standing over us saying, “I told you so!”

Let me tell you, living your life based on beliefs you don’t agree with is a recipe for a miserable life, and nothing more.

You’re free to think anything you desire about yourself, your life, and what you really want to be and do.

You’re a perfectly wonderful person as you are, and your needs and desires are good and appropriate for you.

Whether or not they are appropriate for others isn’t your concern. You have a right to make choices that live up to your standards, and no one else’s. 

Step #2: Free your life by freeing your mind from the power of other’s beliefs. 

Take a moment right now to decide whether you want to keep living by other people’s standards. Here’s a great exercise to help you:

First, take out a sheet of paper. Then, write down everything you believe you should be, should do, and should think. Write down others opinions on your decisions and their beliefs about your life. 

Then, ask yourself whether you want these things to be true for you.

For instance, you may have lived your life with guilt because you never put in the effort to become a doctor. However, when you really consider it, you never wanted to be a doctor; you only feel guilt because it was what your parents expected of you.

Or, you may have been taught that you were not good enough, not smart enough, not pretty enough, or any of a million terrible things that we all learn throughout our lives. 

Now, ask yourself if these are the beliefs that you want to continue to build your life around. How much time have you wasted allowing these beliefs to control you? How many negative experiences have you had because you believed these things about yourself? What experiences have you missed out on? 

Take back your freedom and your life. Rip up that piece of paper and mentally decide you are throwing out beliefs you don’t agree with. Decide right here and now that you and only you choose what you want to believe about yourself and how you want your life to be.

Step #3: Retune your mind with new belief statements.

Now that you have found a way to free your mind of old beliefs that were holding you back, you must replace those with new beliefs that empower you and the life that you desire to live.

Formulate some new truth statements for yourself. You might want to say something as simple as “I am free to live my life the way that I want”, or something as specific as “I am smart and capable. I choose to live up to my greatest potential.” 

Try saying these new truth statements to yourself over and over again throughout the day. You will be amazed at the new life you begin to create for yourself. 

Best of all, it will be the life that you truly desire! (Now that’s freedom!).

What do you do to feel in control of your life? Have you been feeling stuck and worn out lately? I'd love to hear your stories. 

Do you know others that could use this article? Share a little love and share the article with them today! (thank you!)

How to Not Give Up When You Are Stuck

We’ve all been there: You are working and working at something––a business idea, a project, a fitness goal, adopting a child, whatever––and you hit a brick wall in your progress. Maybe someone shoots down your business idea. Perhaps you get writer’s block. Maybe you stop seeing progress in your weight loss goals. 

Right then and there, you consider giving up. 

Don’t. 

If it was important enough for you to start going after it, then it’s important enough for you to keep going after it. 

But, how do you keep on keepin’ on when progress halts or you hit a major bump? Here’s what works for me: 

1. Take a short break.

If you’ve been working away at something for a long time and you’ve ridden out more bumps in the road than I-16 in Georgia (they call it a road, but it’s really a 157 mile long rumble strip from Savannah to Macon), then there IS a point when walking away from it for a little bit is a good idea. 

How long? At least a day, and sometimes more. Trust yourself on this one.

If you are as driven as I am, I know it’s hard to let off the gas and take a break, but I am here to tell you that it’s the ONLY thing that has helped me keep my sanity and be refreshed enough for the next push to success. 

What kind of break should you take? I highly recommend doing something that you LOVE to do but haven’t had time to do lately because of all that launching-a-project stuff you’ve been up to. Take a spa day, go for a hike, head out to a movie, go for a long drive, have a fabulous dinner out, or whatever floats your boat. Just make sure that it has nothing to do with whatever you’ve been working on. 

The amazing thing is that every time I’ve done this, the perfect solution comes into my head effortlessly, leading me to the next steps I need to take in order to see the project to completion. 

2. Ask for help. 

I am the worst at asking for help. THE WORST. 

I don’t know if it’s because I’ve had a pattern of asking the wrong people for help, or because I kind of like doing everything myself (a la Wonder Woman), or because I’ve had people help and then use it as emotional blackmail, but it takes just about an act of God to force me to ask for help.  

Well, I should day, it did. 

Lately, I’ve been practicing asking for help - and believing that I will get the right help at the right time. 

You know what? It’s worked. I’m finally getting help that is moving my businesses in the right direction and giving me time to be me (instead of “business-owner-worrier-Tara” all the time).

The truth is that when you get stuck on any kind of project, sometimes you just need someone outside yourself to take a look at what you are doing and either give you advice or assistance. 

The key is to ask help of someone who truly wants for your best. 

Whoever you ask for help, they must meet at least one of these criteria (all 5 would be great!): 

1. They’ve been helpful in the past. This seems obvious, but don’t ask help of people that you’ve never been able to count on. Reach out to those that love you and have offered their assistance before. 
2. They have expertise in whatever area you are working on. For instance, don’t ask your unhealthy Aunt Jane for help with achieving your fitness goals; instead, seek out your kind, marathon-running friend.
3. They don’t have ulterior motives. Often, close friends and family feel threatened by your desire for success. Be honest about the true nature of those around you, and only ask for help from those you truly want you to succeed. This is easier said than done, but one simple test is to ask yourself if you’ve ever walked away from a particular person and felt bad about yourself or your dreams. If so, that person is a “no.” Seek those that make you feel good about yourself and the possibilities in your life.
4. Other people recommend them. Sometimes you need professional help. For instance, if you really need help prioritizing your life or seeing a troubled relationship from a third-party’s view, you might want to ask a few friends if they know of a great coach or therapist. If you are looking for a book editor, ask your author friends. You get the idea.
5. Your gut instinct tells you that this person will be helpful to you. The right person to help will always FEEL right. If you feel like anything is off with this individual or their motives for helping you, walk away. Your gut instinct is usually right on. (Mine has never failed me!)

3. Find stories of others who have succeeded.

This is where Google is exceptionally helpful. Start looking around online for others that have succeeded in your given area. 

If you are an entrepreneur, I love inc.com - it’s filled with stories of others like you that will keep you moving (and maybe even inspire solutions). 

If you are looking for fitness goals, there’s bodybuilder.com, which is filled with people’s stories of success. 

Whatever you are seeking to achieve, someone out there has walked a similar path and has gotten through the proverbial valley of darkness to get to the light. Find their stories and let them help energize you to get through your own dark night. 

4. Take any inspiration you’ve gleaned from all of this and put it into an action plan.

What solutions came to you on your short break? What inspirations? What lessons?

Write them all down. I personally like to put them all down on post-it notes, then arrange the post-its on a poster board until a logical action plan is laid out. 

However, you do it, put together an action plan for the next steps you can take within the next day, week, and month to move you forward again. 

While you are at it, print out and post some of the inspiring stories you’ve found on your board as well! Looking at them will help keep you moving. 

It’s amazing how inspiring taking well-thought-out next steps can be! 

How do you keep yourself moving past a stuck place?