Seriously...Is It Time To Just Give Up??????

So......today we begin Week number 10 of our 20 Week journey with the Vocational Police Preparation Course (yes if you've ever thought about this as a career option, check out the link and see if this course is a fit for you!)

To pretend that this is anything other than massive amounts of HARD WORK, EFFORT, DETERMINATION and SINGLE-MINDEDNESS would be an outright lie! 

To pretend that over the past week I haven't had thoughts of giving up and going back to the daily mundaneness of laundry, housework, cooking and television watching, would also be a lie. (Did I mention that all the aforementioned chores still have to be done on top of trying to achieve SUPER-HUMAN feats of physical and mental prowess?!?!)

So when the going does get tough..TOUGHER than this 38 year old exhausted body has any right to feel, do I just give up?  Throw in the towel?  Admitt defeat?

This is where my FAITH kicks in.  This is where a power greater than my own has to take over.  This is where I trust, that on the days when my BEST is far, far from the 120% I need to consistently hit, that God hears my prayers and knows the desires of my heart and the intent of my mind.  He can make me better, faster, stronger, this I know for sure.

We all have weaknesses.  Moments of self-doubt.  Times where we question the journey and worse still, question ourselves.  Today as I ran a 2.4km Mock Test, I had MASSIVE stitch, worse than I have EVER had since we started this journey.  I was hunched forward in granny mode and I just could not find relief.  Towards the end one of the girls from my course came to meet me and gently told me it was all good, that there was no need to push if it hurt that much.  And yes, I was almost in tears.  Thats when my WEAKNESS kicked in! 

I am STUBBORN when it comes to reaching goals and pushing myself.  There was no way I was stopping.  As I ran those last 200 metres (supported by two awesome classmates by then, thanks Muffy & Dee) a scripture came to mind from the Prophet Ether in the mighty Book Of Mormon.  He promised "If men come unto me I will show unto them weakness.  I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and HAVE FAITH IN ME, then will I MAKE WEAK THINGS BECOME STRONG UNTO THEM" 

As much as STUBBORNESS could be seen as a weakness, in this instance, it's pushing me quite simply, to just not give in!  My run time was only 10 seconds faster than the last time.  I found myself feeling so angry at myself for letting my body control my mind.  Then got angrier still as I found myself wiping tears from my face.  Again my STUBBORNESS kicked in.  I still had the Vertical Jump, Grip Test and Pushups to complete.....I improved my Jump by another 2cms, my pushups went from 10 to 27, the grip test was well above what was required.  Two weeks ago I made the swim time 5 seconds under what was required.  And this morning I passed the Defensive Driving Exam.  It quite plainly was time to GET OVER MYSELF and focus on the SUCCESSES.

I have 10 more weeks to go and NO it's far from time to give up. 

The Amazing Bonnie reminded me tonight to focus on every improvement from one day to the next.  She is right. 

SMART goals are the only goals to have.  The end goal is vital, but will never be achieved if one does not have specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, time-bound goals along the way. 

"What we call failure is not the falling down, but the staying down."~ Mary Pickford

And to the two women who I ran past around the lake last week - you know who you are, the ones who said "WHAT DOES THAT FAT CHICK THINKS SHES DOING????".....

I'm not giving up, I'm just beginning!

From Queen of the Couch to GI JANE?!

After a blogging hiatus, I find myself tentatively dipping my toes back into the arena.  Dipping only because so many of you amazing people have asked what's going on & why I haven't been blogging about the whole POLICE PREPARATION course.

So as today (SATURDAY) marks the end of our 4th week of 18, I thought it would be the perfect time to look at what's been happening, where I started from and where my goals are taking me.

I feel impressed to remind one and all of the REALITY that more or less WAS my exercise world, circa Jan 2011.....

I look HAPPY in this picture.....YES? 

Weighing in at 113.5 Kilograms I had somehow managed to find the time in my very busy parenting schedule to become a well roasted potato, skilled in the arts of evasion, denial and dreams.  Convincing myself ALL WAS WELL just the way things were.

Author John Bytheway has much advice to offer in regards to the humdrum of listless living -

 "If you're trying to be miserable it's important you don't have any goals...Your only objective should be to inhale & exhale for 16 hrs before you go to bed again. Don't read anything informative, don't listen to anything useful, don't do anything productive. If you start achieving goals, you might start to feel a sense of excitement, then you might want to set another goal & then your miserable mornings are through!"

After I decided in JANUARY to make the changes needed to reach for this goal, I have had less and less miserable mornings.  And now 4 weeks in I can honestly say that all the SWEAT, PAIN, TEARS (yep, for real!!), JUGGLING, PUSHING, NOT-QUITTING, and just plain FIGHTING FOR WHAT I WANT are worth every, single, incredibly  UN-MISERABLE moment!

An example - My 2.4km run time prior to the course starting was 23.5 mins.  And that was struggling to even jog.  One week ago my run time changed to 17.5 mins.  A-MA-ZING!  Everyday my recovery times lesson and my confidence increases.  What decreases is my weight (as of this week approx 16 kilos gone, with over 5cms off my arms, waist, thighs etc).  Big BIG BIG! changes for this Professor of Coach-Potatoness.

The PUSH - the DRIVE, comes from an amazing group of people.  My family & friends who babysit, encourage and amazingly don't have ANY doubts at all that I can do this.  My INCREDIBLE classmates.  Our POLICE PREPARATION class is made up of 20 people.  Our ages vary from 18-38.  Our circumstances vary from single, married, divorced, employed, unemployed...BUT there is power in a common goal!  Together we tackle our weaknesses and celebrate our strengths, then we push each other to do and be more than we think is possible.  Connected to that group of 20 is an amazing support crew of teachers and police officers that want nothing but the very best for us.  They give up time to teach, instruct, push and encourage and most influencial of all, they lead by example.  They run the runs, they attend our classes and they believe in US and our desire to better our own worlds and the world in which we all live.

Three hours ago I did something I thought I would NEVER be able to do.  I ran just over 5kms without stopping.  Then was told we would be walking 200m fast, then jogging at 50% for 200m, the jogging at 75% for 200m then SPRINTING the final 200m.....for another 800m.  (Heck people, this was after the run, in which I never stopped or gave up!)  Then sadly she still was not done.  We headed to the CCNZ hills that surround the track, she found the steppest section possible and we had to run up & down those too - multiple times!

And now I sit in realisation that I have something in common with Robert Downey Jnr.  When he feels that Iron Man suit attach to his legs I bet it feels exactly like my thighs feel right now - weighted down, like lead and totally exhaustedly HAPPY!

14 weeks people till Saturday December 3rd when our class sits the New Zealand Police Recruitment Test.  So my goal by then?????

The Cat's Outta The Bag! - Where Have I Been & What's My Secret?

Mmmmm you're thinking - and what exactly does that mean????  I still had about a month to keep my "cat in my bag", but since I was officially outted this week (thanks Lei & Maraea!), I'm going ahead and sharing my big secret with the world.  Cue the drumroll....stop it, not the EYEROLL, I said the DRUMROLL, this is big I tell you, BIG!

Remember back to January when I posted on - My New Years Revelation come Resolution?, I know, I know that was a very long 6 months ago!  But I have been very busy trying to organise my world and prepare my children to enter a new phase of our life.  For SEVEN very long, tiring, fulfilling, hideous, hilarious, learning, inspiring, dedicated, infuriating, needed YEARS I have toiled and struggled with what comes next for this 'slightly-over-the-hill' single, government dependant Mum of Four.

I have long been over the mantra 'A Time And A Season For All Things'.  When one is stubborn in nature and impatient in general, waiting is not always a pleasant experience.  But with the gift of hindsight, it's easy to see that things happen exactly when they're meant to.  (Excluding Christchurch Earthquakes)

Well - can you?  You and the other 188 people that follow this blog on Facebook!  In less than a month I am leaving the realm of STAY-AT-HOME slave and going back to school.  Why? you ask?  To do what you beg!?! 

For 18 Weeks I will be participating in the "Certificate in Vocational Preparation (Police) Level 3".  Yes my friends I am making the step to become a POLICEWOMAN! 

For 6 months I have been excercising hard out so that I can meet the requirements of the fitness test.

At my ripe old age of 38 I need to be able to do the following -

• Run 2.4 kms in under 13 minutes & 10 seconds
• Have a minimal 40cm Vertical Jump
• Do at least 20 Push Ups
• Have a Grip Strength of 52 kgs
• Pass a Physical Competency Test (200mt sprint, push a trailor, walking raised beams, crawling under hurdles, climbing through windows
• Swim 50 metres in 54 secs
• Tread water for 5 mins
• Duck Dive 3 Metres & retrieve a rubber brick
• Pass the First Aid Course
• Pass The Defensive Driving Course
• Pass The Personality Profiling
• Pass The Scope Tests
• Pass The Academic/Numerical/Abstract Reasoning Requirements
• PC/Keyboard Test

THEN I will be accepted into the Police Training College in Wellington, New Zealand which is a 19 Week Course.  On graduating I WILL become a 'Probationary Constable'.

There are 76 careers to be had inside the New Zealand Police Force.  The ones that jump out at me at the moment are Youth Education, Family Safety, Forensics & the Child Abuse Team.

We shall see.

So there we have it.  My reason for being M.I.A is that I have been busy, BUSY, BUSY!  Busting my gut and trying to convince myself I CAN do this.  From Stay-At-Home AwwwButMum slash Hairdresser to a MUM fulfilling a DREAM!

I'll keep you posted :)

Follow The Yellow Brick Road to 2011 Success!

We all know the story of the wonderful journey to find "The Wizard Of Oz".  The Scarecrow hoping to find his BRAIN, the Tinman who pined for his HEART and the lovable Lion who knew his life was incomplete without COURAGE. 

Last but not least, Dorothy, with her HEART aching over having her precious pup, Toto taken away, was racking her BRAIN over what to do when the tornado struck sending her to the farway land of Oz, where she too would need COURAGE to complete the journey that would deliver her home.

Brilliant concepts for an ENRICHMENT MEETING that would launch this new year with a bang!  I have had a few requests that I post up what we did using this OZ concept for our meeting last week, so here are all the details you need to re-vitalise and inspire your sisters to meet this new year with a  new determination!

Room Set Up 

Through the middle of the room lay our gold pavers (yellow painted wallpaper slabs).  At the top of the room the path lead to three separate table displays, whiteboards etc for the presenters.  (Each sister was encouraged to wear either red ribbons in her hair or red socks or shoes). 

Opening Message

I wonder Sisters, if you've ever likened the magic of the Yellow Brick Road to our journey here on earth.  On arrival at the end of their journey - the Scarecrow, TinMan, Lion & Dorothy were all hoping to be made whole again once they received the rewards for following that yellow path.  Likewise we have been promised by a loving Father in Heaven that we too will be made whole if we follow OUR yellow brick road - the straight & narrow path back to Him.  Tonight we've come up with THREE ways we can more fully enjoy our journey along our paths and inspire others on the way.  Our presenters tonight will give YOU the keys to receiving your HEART, COURAGE & BRAIN during 2011!

Presenters/Topics (15-20 mins each)

The TINMAN - HEART

Quotes used - "If I only had a HEART" - Tinman. 

"Never regret anything you have done with a sincere affection, nothing is lost that is born of the HEART!"

Purpose - To inspire our Sisters to keep the committment (certificates for signing on the night were provided!) - of VISITING TEACHING 100% - EVERY month of 2011.

Our wonderful presenter played a short movie with a skit showing the do's and don'ts of Visiting.  She shared stories and experiences that were personal and reminded us that we are building friendships for the eternities via promptings and impressions that when heard, change lives!

The LION - COURAGE (in the face of Adversity)

Quotes used - "In every day are found a few hard moments, which if we are strong in, make everything else like a piece of cake" 

Purpose - To inspire our Sisters to keep the committment (again certificates for signing provided) to RECORDING A GRATITUDE JOURNAL FOR 21 DAYS.

Our amazing presenter made up booklets - each page had 4 days on it - a quote for every day and lines for recording all the things we are grateful for.  We all joined in a discussion on the daily frustrations that may at times cloud our vision of the bigger picture and make us the momentary grumps we cans sometimes be.  Knowing the mantra "this too shall pass" can at times seem trite, but as President Monson encourages, 21 days creates a habit - so after 21 days of recording the blessings found in daily adversitys we may be better able to focus on the glass ALWAYS being half full!

The SCARECROW - BRAIN

Quotes used - "Wisdom is the guardian of our choices.  It helps us to discren the right path at the right moment.  Wisdom is the messenger of my soul" - The Virtues Project

Purpose - To inspire our Sisters to accept the Bishopric goal for the year of having all our adult members take part in the Youth programs - (males, Duty to God & sisters Personal Progress Program).  Signing on the bottom line our inspiring Young Womens President committed us all the begin with the new value - VIRTUE.  We stood together and recited the Young Womens theme and as we did so I realised that there is great power when we stand together and choose to do what is right.  That by doing this and sustaining our leaders together, GREAT things can happen!

Tying it all in together I encouraged our Sisters on their Visiting Teaching Visits to check up on the Gratitude journal keeping , and each month this year to sign each other off on the completed Young Womens tasks -all in preparation for a graduation ceremony at the end of the year when we will all receive our HEART, COURAGE & BRAIN for completing this years challenges.

To end the evening the following poem was shared -

SISTERS

A young wife sat on a sofa on a hot humid day,

drinking a cool drink and visiting with her mother. As

they talked about life, about marriage, about the

responsibilities of life and the obligations of

adulthood, the mother clinked the ice cubes in her

glass thoughtfully and turned a clear, sober glance

upon her daughter.

'Don't forget your sisters,' she advised, swirling

the ice in the bottom of her glass. 'They'll

be more important as you get older. No matter how

much you love your husband, no matter how much you

love the children you may have, you are still going

to need sisters. Remember to go places with them now

and then; do things with them.'

 

'Remember that 'sisters' means ALL the women...

your girlfriends, your daughters, and all your other

women relatives too. 'You'll need other women. Women

always do.'

What a funny piece of advice!' the young woman

thought. Haven't I just gotten married?

Haven't I just joined the couple-world? I'm now a

married woman, for goodness sake! A grownup! Surely

my husband and the family we may start will be all I

need to make my life worthwhile!'

 

But she listened to her mother. She kept contact

with her sisters and made more women friends each

year. As the years tumbled by, one after another,

she gradually came to understand that her mother really

knew what she was talking about. As time and nature

work their changes and their mysteries upon a woman,

sisters are the mainstays of her life.

After more than 50 years of living in this world,

here is what I've learned:

 

THIS SAYS IT ALL:

Time passes.

Life happens.

Distance separates.

Children grow up.

Jobs come and go.

Love waxes and wanes.

Men don't do what they're supposed to do.

Hearts break.

Parents die.

Colleagues forget favors.

Careers end.

BUT.........

Sisters are there, no matter how much time and how

many miles are

between you. A girl friend is never farther away

than needing her can reach.

When you have to walk that lonesome valley and you

have to walk it by yourself, the women in your life

will be on the valley's rim, cheering you on,

praying for you, pulling for you, intervening on

your behalf, and waiting with open arms at the

valley's end.

Sometimes, they will even break the rules and walk

beside you....Or come in and carry you out.

Girlfriends, daughters, granddaughters,

daughters-in-law, sisters, sisters-in-law, Mothers,

Grandmothers, aunties, nieces, cousins, and extended

family: all bless our life!

The world wouldn't be the same without women, and

neither would I. When we began this adventure called

womanhood, we had no idea of the incredible joys or

sorrows that lay ahead. Nor did we know how much we

would need each other.

We had a fabulous turn-out for this evening and a wonderful spirit prevailed thanks to the efforts of our incredible presenters and those Sisters that sacrificed their time to attend.  So for those of you that wonder if it's worth your time and effort to attend your Enrichment Meetings with your Sisters once a month, I say IT SO IS!!!!!  Mark it on your calendar and start making 2011 YOUR best year ever :)

LIAR LIAR Pants Are On FIRE!

Yesterday, much to my astonishment, I found 1/2 an hour of free time, so I decided to see what  our girl OPRAH was sharing with most of mankind.  Flicking on the TV, the screen screamed the phrase "ARE YOU NORMAL?".  I spent the next few minutes in hysterics, as with the help of the ever-forthright Dr Phil and manned with statistics, polls and survey facts they answered a varied spectrum of INSANE questions!

The studio audience also got to vote on the questions before the true statistical number was revealed.   For example......How many of you mothers squeeze your sons pimples - was a question that have the audience voting on the high 70 percentile - statistically the same.  Couples sleeping in separate rooms, housekeeping naked, checking what your bowel movements look like, the amount of times WE touch/pick our noses a day (5 statiscally, would you believe it?!?!?)....HILARIOUS!

BUT the question that got my attention the most, even had me writing down the facts, because I knew I had to blog about this one.....

LIES people!  LIES....The Pinocchio moments in a day can be varied.  Be it a little white one, a well-intentioned fib, or a malicious rumour, LIES have been known to be the cause of many a drama. It's here I have to admitt that the discussion about what really constitutes a LIE fascinated me.  The statistics were eye popping.

Did you know that WOMEN tend to lie about 3 times per day.  MEN are double that a 6 times.  WOW makes me wonder just what we're all lying about...good thing Dr Phil had the TOP 4 THINGS so we can all be well informed!

THE TOP FOUR FEMALE LIES

1 - "I'm FINE, nothings wrong"

2 - "What this old thing?  I've had this in my wardrobe for ages!"

3 - "It was so CHEAP, got it on SALE, a really big SALE!"

4 - "I've got the worst HEADACHE"

THE TOP FOUR MALE LIES

1- "I'm FINE, nothings wrong"

2- "This is my last DRINK, then I'm off home"

3- "NO! Of course that doesn't make you look FAT!"

4- "Hey honey, Yes, I'm on my way now"

OK, now we're informed, let's analyse....Being that I am no longer MARRIED I don't have to resort to either FEMALE LIE 2, 3 or 4!!!! WOW, I am almost ANGELlike in my existance :)  I was FLOORED to see that men too like to play the NOTHING game and as equally UNFLOORED to see they don't play the HEADACHE one!  I find it equally interesting that my bestie is a CHICK and uses MALE number 4, daily! (Yes, you know you do)  MALE number 3 is a concern but ladies, honestly NO SURPRISE or then he'd have to deal way more often with the FEMALE number 4!  Now taking all Dr Phils, Oprahs and our intelligent analysis there are still a couple of small clarificational points that must be made.

 

There are TYPES of Liars it must be said.  Are you the "EXAGGERATER" liar type (truth with ABS) or maybe the "AMNESIACTIC" liar type (too old to remember anyway so ya mix it all up a little), the "CORPORATE" liar (always topping everyone elses stories with the bigger & better YOU), or maybe you're just the "SEASONAL" liar - ie: Mum or Dad - Toothfairy, Father Christmas, Babies, Sex, - age appropriate half-truths that lead our kiddies into their grown up years with as little scaring as possible.....Be they big, little, white or to save someone pain or hurt it seems we ALL do them from 3 to 6 times a day! 

 

Now you may beg to differ and be the rarest of humans and NEVER tell a LIE of any kind, even those by ommission.  BUT I would then have to wager that you are currently standing to read this little post because LIAR LIAR ya pants are on FIRE!!!

 

(All shared in good fun with no ill intent intended!  We all have our own weaknesses to work on and HOPEFULLY this was a laughable look at how we live)

Shock Horror! There IS Wisdom in my Madness!

This is the view from our Christmas/New Year Holiday.  This view greeted me for about 20 days.  I feel asleep each night to the sound of the waves and woke to the continued melody of their soulful song......absolute BLISS! 

 The kids and I spent our days feasting on spectacular grandparents,  playing hard.  We fished, we built castles, huts and memories.  We hiked, swam, rode our boards, bikes, scooters & skateboards.  We t-balled, cricketed, swingballed, basketballed, handballed...If it wasn't tied down we barbequed it!  We watched movies, played boardgames, did jigsaw puzzels - stayed up late, got up later.  Amongst all this brilliantness I discovered the joy of just BEING!  No pressure.  No deadlines.  No worries mate :)

And then the impressions, promptings and inspiration came.  For years (almost 7!!!) I have wondered, pondered, prayed, queried, lamented, complained and just plain begged for direction.  Over time I came to understand the beauty of the concept of there being a TIME & A SEASON FOR ALL THINGS.  My time was without a doubt, best spent re-building our shattered little world.  Feeding my precious childrens self-worth and giving them the security and structure on which young minds and hearts thrive.  I knew in my heart that MY time or the next stage of MY journey would come when the time was right.

So as the waves pounded the beach during a visit to the mystical buried ship the 'HYDRABAD' (the kids spent many a day trying to uncover this ship buried under about 180 years of sand!!)  I blurted out to my amazing mum (completely randomnly and unrehearsed) just what I was being prompted to prepare for.  Between you and me I really thought she'd laugh!  Or maybe tell me I was in way over my head..BUT no.  She did just what she's done my whole entire life.  She supported and told me I would be AWESOME!  As she said those words, I believed too that the power to change our world lay in my hands.  Hands that I had long forgotten are more than capable to create, build, strengten and succeed at anything I choose to dedicate myself to.

Now the details....these are not for sharing just yet.  I have much to do health and fitness wise to prepare and over the next few months I will keep you updated on my journey....scratch that...on my SUCCESS!  Failure is NOT an option.  This dream I put on the backburner for 20 years - time & a season - NOW is the time.  Changes are afoot and I am loving them.

On arrival home something else BIG in our world happened.  The kids went for there first ever more-than-3-day holiday time with their Dad.  Big props to him for agreeing to let me coerse him into this - 2 weeks people!  2 weeks for me to get sorted. 

As I come to the end of that time (3 days to go - I have survived daily, multiple phonecalls, pleas to come home, crying...maybe they will realise how lucky they are to have the home they do have :)) I have completely overhauled our world - herein lies the KEY - THE WISDOM TO MY MADNESS!

THE MADNESS - I have cleaned out (and blatently chucked stuff from) each childs wardrobes/bedrooms, kitchen cupboards, pantry, laundry cupboard and any other cupboard that needed to be sorted, de-cluttered or organised.  I have bought and covered 52 school books AND labelled ALL thier supplies.  I have set up a home gym, workout board & schedule (THAT I'VE STUCK TO!!).  And then I hit the yard & gardens with a vengance.  I've mowed (my lawns are HUGE!!), cut, chopped and cleaned up the lot.

THE WISDOM - and yes there really is a lesson in my madness.  I realised at the beach that only when we are free from the clutter of the world and the day to day chaos that can often take over our lives, then and only then will we be in a position to really FEEL and HEAR the promptings, the personal messages sent from heaven to direct and guide us on this earthly journey.  I wanted to keep that feeling, that channel so much clearer this year, hence the MADNESS, the effort to put our world in ORDER so we can just be still and know that HE is God. 

I am so grateful fo answers.  For direction.  For the opportunity to live a dream and make changes that will provide for, protect and teach my children that ALL things are possible when we put our faith in God.

A belated Happy New Year one and all!

The Beauty of Self-Acceptance

"Not in the clamor of the crowded street, not in the shouts and plaudits of the throng, BUT, in ourselves, are TRYumph and defeat" ~ Henry Wadsworth Longfellow.

I have just had the most incredible "WHY DIDN'T I SEE THIS ALL ALONG?!?" moments.  Something so simple, that I offer unconditionally to others and that I raise my children to believe.  YET - here I have been, living my merry little life without the benefit of this amazing concept working for me, in my own personal day to day living. 

Of what am I insanely raving about now you ask????  The most precious of life's gifts that we can extend to ourselves and others - the gift of SELF-ACCEPTANCE. 

I can hear a few of you mumbling is that it???! And already reaching to click away...BUT hold it!  Hang with me for a few more moments and maybe you too can wake up tomorrow with a slightly different view on an old tried and tested topic.

Robert Holden writes "At any given moment you are either ACCEPTING yourself or REJECTING yourself..this means you often say NO to yourself.  No to your real desires.  No to having any needs.  No to stopping and relaxing.  No to making time for yourself.  No to letting yourself be helped and No to loving yourself more."  

Robert - ya killing me here!  Stop reading my journal and pick on someone else.  PAUSE....get over myself and scream HECK YES!!! I just had never quite thought of it THAT way.  I had brushed the feelings away with concepts of 'a time and a season for all things', 'I'm a busy single Mum', excuses, reasons, justifications all covered up in a smokey haze of rejection of ME!

He follows up that face-slapping inspiration with another wham...OHHHHH!

"Why not give up working so hard at self-improvement and see what a little self-acceptance does for you - GIVE YOURSELF A BREAK!"

A break?!?!  What busy parent wouldn't want one of those?  Raise your hand with me and scream YES PLEASE.  BUT hang about...what if the break isn't so literal?  What if we can feel renewed, refreshed, revived daily by just learning the art of true Self-Acceptance?

Maybe now would be a good time to clarify his meanings between these two phrases.  His definition of self-acceptance is heart-warming for sure! "Being aware that you are whole, innately good, loveable just as you are and endowed with god-given talents and qualities to share with the world"  Wouldn't it be amazing to feel this, to believe this for more than a fleeting moment in a day??  The self-improvement concept he reminds us, starts from a belief that something is lacking in us.  Do you, like me, fill your days up with thoughts of what is lacking in you???? 

And then the next knock-out Tyson punch line is delivered...

"No amount of self-improvement can make up for any lack of self-acceptance"

So I can paint my toes a pretty colour.  Get a great new haircut.  Buy that way-out-of-my-budget pair of sexy shoes and still that empty feeling remains.  Because it seems in doing so we, and most definately I, am covering up a lack of acceptance in myself with moments of self-improvement.

"A small business owner once said; I have 100 percent TRUST: 40% TRUST in FEAR, 30% TRUST in SELFDOUBT, 20% TRUST in CERTAIN FAILURE; 9% TRUST in SOMETHING GOING WRONG, & 1% TRUST in LOTS OF HOPE!" - Unknown

What a wonderful reminder that it may not be so much that we have TRUST but what we put our TRUST in!?  On any given day I can honestly find myself running the gauntlet of that TRUST scale.  As different situations occur those percentages scream for attention swaying me from the desired objective of HOPE.  Self-Doubt is without a doubt MY biggest cheerleader.  Even admitting that ticks me off!!

Surely having more Self-Acceptance would increase our TRUST levels.  "The more you accept yourself, the more you trust your innate goodness, wise heart and natural intuition" ~ Robert Holden

Of course there was also a little quiz that invited you to be as honest as possible to get the most accurate of readings on your current self-acceptance levels.  My result?

"Self-Acceptance is like a miracle ingredient that helps you grow more fully into your true self.  It activates the law of attraction.  The more you accept yourself, the more abundant you feel and the richer your life becomes.  It's time to really go for it!"

On reading this result I am instantly reminded of a lunchtime conversation with the girls today - LDS Singles....mmmmmm, Maybe :)  Or maybe it really is time to grow up, not be afraid of looking at my naked self in the mirror, embracing the well-earned laughter lines and putting on my big girl panties and dealing with it!

♫I am woman hear me ROAR!♫