The Power of Positive Thinking

Through a life of many failed attempts, I've learned that no one is a harsher critic of myself than I am. It's so easy to focus on the mistakes, the things that didn't go according to plan, the disappointments and regrets. It's easy to look back and see where we went wrong. As they say, hindsight's 20/20 and if you're anything like me, it's hard not to fixate on the things we didn't see. The best thing I've learned from this is to look forward and avoid hitting the same bumps in the road in the future. You can look back on a life of mistakes and see a road map to success - a cheat-sheet of obstacles you'll inevitably encounter, and an entire manual of what not to do when you stumble upon them.

Of all the things I've learned in my life, there are a few that I keep permanently tattooed in the back of my mind as a constant reminder that I'm the one in control of my journey, detours and bumps in the road aside.

As Eleanor Roosevelt so wisely said, "no one can make you feel inferior without your consent." No one knows you better than you know yourself, and the opinions of others really have no meaning when it comes to how you define yourself. Be proud of who you are, imperfections and all, and you will never feel inferior.

The question "Would you rather be liked or feared?" is a trick question. On some level, everyone knows this. The answer just isn't one you would think to jump to when the question is posed this way. I think if anyone was given secret option #3, everyone would rather be respected. To be respected, however, you must earn the respect of others. I was taught that you teach people how to treat you. If you want to be respected, you must behave in a way that deserves respect. If you don't, then you teach people to treat you otherwise. Therefore, it's really up to you.

The battlefield of job-searching in the current economy is littered with failures, disappointments, rejection and regret. For a self-critical person like myself, it can be difficult to simply learn from the past and look forward. It's stressful. It's overwhelming. Damaging to the ego. Shitty. There's not a lot we can do to change the situation we've found ourselves in. Most of us didn't land here by choice. But we should never underestimate the power of positive thinking. It's a long road ahead, and we have to be prepared. Learn from mistakes from your past, know who you are and be confident in yourself, always earn the respect of those around you, and stay positive. The sun will come out tomorrow, right?

My Life "Project"

As a kid, people ask you "What do you want to be when you grow up?"

I never had a definite answer to that question. A ballerina, a firefighter, a doctor, a lawyer, a veterinarian. I changed my dreams more often than I changed my shoes. It didn't bother me, not knowing exactly which road I would take in life. I always figured I would end up doing whatever I was good at. The search to find my strengths was what I enjoyed: trying something new, challenging myself, finding out what I was capable of when I pushed myself hard enough, seeing what I could accomplish. Even when I failed, I cherished the experience: evaluating where I went wrong, what I could have done differently, what I had learned. A student of trial-and-error, I discovered things about myself and what I wanted from my life that I might not have learned otherwise. More than anything, I learned what kind of person I wanted to be..

A smart, independent and critical thinker. A team-player. Honest and hard-working. A problem-solver. Empathetic and encouraging. Passionate. A responsible, reliable individual. A fast, self-directed learner. Enthusiastic and easy-going. Always looking for ways to improve. Outgoing, fun. Confident, bright, and driven.

My life has been a project; an experiment in what I can accomplish by being myself. This blog is a chronicle of what I discover, an outlet for my ideas and opinions, an attempt to portray who I am now and what I hope to become in the future.