Last  #LITA Blog Article:

Rejecting Negative Thinking That Stunts Our Growth And Potential

July 2, 2021

 "I will never succeed," "I'm not worth it," "I won't graduate," "I'm nothing but a failure."These thoughts can plague the mind and feel like the truth. Many times as individuals, it's hard to pinpoint these negative thoughts because much time is spent believing these lies. The moment you entertain these thoughts, they start to become a reality for you, changing your positive outlook on life. Negative thinking saps your energy and leaves you feeling demotivated. Your ability to be creative and plan diminishes. We tell ourselves whispered lies every day, knowing and unknowingly, and today is the day rejecting them will become your new normal.Growth and unlimited possibilities, here we come!
How to identify negative thinkingThe predisposition to think negatively happens on a somewhat unconscious stance. Being unconscious makes the tasks to separate from your thoughts difficult. Negative thinking is highlighted by thoughts that pop up in your mind; not all details add up; you feel disturbed mentally and physically. It causes you to function differently. It affects how you live, you don't question them, and they are very intrusive.Understanding how to recognize patterns of thought that are negative proves to be helpful. Changing your negative thoughts to ones that entertain a more favorable structure happens by embracing positive feelings and actions. Negative thoughts can cause you to think in the following ways:

• Absolute thinking in only worse case scenarios 
• Discredit the strength of positive outcomes
• Interpreting every situation in a negative way first without the requisite facts
• Focusing only on the bad that can happen even amid a favorable situation. 
• Predicting things will turn out bad in the future.
• Overstating your mistakes 
• Putting others  achievements above yours
• Thinking low of yourself 
• You ridicule yourself with guilt if events don't turn out exactly as you planned.
• Blaming and putting yourself down is a norm for you. 

Why does one lie to self?At the core of whispered self-lies is self-protection. Life has a way of throwing you cards that can be emotionally taxing without any warning. We have no control over what happens in our lives. Interestingly and ironically, subconsciously, we try to sell ourselves worst-case scenarios just in case they happen so we can guard ourselves against the pain.Whispered lies may feel soothing but they leave you ridden with anxiety and a lack of self-confidence. 

What strategies can be applied to dismiss negative thinking?Everyone at some point in their life has struggled with negative thoughts. The person who has overcome their whispered lies is the one who has held the negative thought captive as soon as it entered their minds. They left no room to entertain or exalt it. They did not try to figure it out; they choose continuously not to believe it. Choosing to believe the truths and declare positivity over your life automatically brings peace and increased respect for yourself. Negative thoughts are dispelled when you choose to be happy and decided to have a positive attitude. Make feeding on positive thoughts, affirmations, and inspirational quotes a norm.

How will positive thinking change your life?It's funny how the root of thinking negative was to receive control over your life. Thinking negative imprisons you and traps you within your mind. Negative thoughts intensify fear and can be pretty crippling. On the other hand, positive views set you free and put you back in true control of your life. Operating positively gives you direction to set goals and accomplish them. Positive thoughts have the power to impact your physical and mental well-being by giving you a generalized 'good feeling' because of the endorphins that become engaged within the body.  Thinking positively will transform your entire outlook on life. Will it remove bad things from happening? No, but your positive outlook on even a bad situation will be more of how you can learn from it. The beauty of thinking positively is it knows no boundary, and it never takes failure as the destination. Making positive thoughts a habit, impacts your subconscious thoughts – your mind will no longer allow you to entertain doubts or worse case scenarios. Growth in thinking positively happens when you let go of thoughts that limit you. Every thought now entertained pushes you beyond your point yesterday and uplifts you to the place you desire. 

Final thoughtsToday, it's time to believe that you are more than your whispered lies and aggressive negative thoughts. The best version of yourself awaits you at the end of every positive thought. Glow, grow and be grateful in all things. 

Don't miss our  lastest Episode on #LITA:! Episode 2: Don't believe your Whispered Lies  

Sources https://benevolenthealth.co.uk/12-ways-to-recognise-negative-thoughts/https://medium.com/the-understanding-project/the-reason-you-shouldnt-lie-to-yourself-79f03835659dhttps://www.briantracy.com/blog/personal-success/positive-attitude-happy-people-positive-thinking/ 

#LITA Blog Article:

June 11, 2021

THIS BIG SECRET I'VE BEEN CARRYING AROUND

I remember feeling so deeply ashamed. Even after all these years, I still can't understand why. Of course, now I can look back and truly understand that I was misguided to feel shame. Back then, shame held me and ruled my world.
I suffered in silence, like so many victims. My life was put on hold, due to anxieties that stemmed from what I had been through, not just in ‘those’ moments, but also in the on-going battles in my mind ever since. Like many victims, I was made to feel powerless. BUT NOT ANYMORE. 

For me this is no longer the case because I've sought the help I needed. I'm still healing, yet now I know that what happened to me DOES NOT DEFINE ME. Now I understand that I have nothing to be ashamed of.

I decided to REVEAL this BIG SECRET I've been carrying around in hopes to help others. [Click here to listen to my secret reveal]. If this story of mine helps only one person build their courage, face their past, and aids them on a path to regaining their love and power... I will be forever thankful. My journey will have been worth it.

In society, we are taught to believe that child abuse doesn’t happen, and that when it does it’s simply a fluke, an aberration of a sick, twisted mind.Yet statistics say otherwise. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there are more than 42 million adult survivors of child sexual abuse in the U.S.

It is estimated that 1 in 4 girls will be sexually abused before their 18th birthday. For boys, that number is 1 in 6. The real prevalence of child sexual abuse is not known because so many victims do not disclose or report their abuse. 

Childhood sexual abuse victims are often too young to know how to express what is happening and seek out help. When not properly treated, this can lead to problems in adolescence and adulthood. 

But what really constitutes “sexual abuse”? The Incest Survivors Resource Network states that "the erotic use of a child, whether physically or emotionally, is sexual exploitation in the fullest meaning of the term, even if no bodily contact is ever made." It’s important to notice this clause about “no sexual contact.” Often, victims of sexual abuse will try to downplay their experience by saying that it “wasn’t that bad.” It’s vital to recognize that abuse comes in many shapes, colors, and sizes—and that all abuse is bad.

The CDC states that child abuse can affect how a person thinks, acts, and feels over a lifetime, resulting in short- and long-term physical and mental/emotional health consequences.

Examples of physical health consequences include:· sexually transmitted infections (STIs).· physical injuries.· chronic conditions later in life, such as heart disease, obesity, and cancer.

Examples of mental health consequences include:· depression.· posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms.

Examples of behavioral consequences include:· substance use/misuse including opioid misuse.· risky sexual behaviors, meaning behaviors that could result in pregnancy or STIs such as not using condoms or other contraceptives, or sex with multiple partners.· increased risk for suicide or suicide attempts.

Another outcome commonly associated with child sexual abuse is an increased risk of re-victimization throughout a person’s life. 

For example, recent studies have found:· Females exposed to child sexual abuse are at 2-13 times increased risk of sexual victimization in adulthood.· Individuals who experienced child sexual abuse are at twice the risk for non-sexual intimate partner violence.

According to Psychology Today, 35% of child sexual abusers were once abused (and the number is higher in males). Counseling can help to reduce the possibility of a victim repeating the abusive pattern.

Speaking out about our own abuse also offers courage to those who might not yet be able to share their stories. Will you completely heal from your pain once you speak out? The truth is… No. It’s not without pain. A part of you hurts almost every time you think back to those dark times. But knowing we can provide support to another’s healing journey can make the discomfort of disclosing our past worth it. For most of us, speaking up, confiding in someone we trust, who loves and supports us is just the first step towards our recovery.

Together, despite our different circumstances and reactions to the trauma, we are stronger. And, with the community’s help, we can confront this society's sickness, using hope, love, and compassion.

Don't Miss This Week's Episode on #LITA LISTEN TO PODCAST: Season 2, Episode 1: This Big Secret I've Been Carrying Around 

This Weeks's #LITA Blog Article:

ADDICTION/RECOVERY: THERE IS ALWAYS HOPE, SO NEVER QUIT QUITTING!

By Jordan Corley

I thought the worst thing my best friend could ever tell me was that she ‘accidentally took too much trying to get high.’ I thought it was the worst thing because we shared a room, our beds just inches apart and I had no idea what she had done until the next morning when it was almost too late and I was rushing her to the emergency room. But I was wrong. The worst thing she could ever tell me was ‘I did it again.’ And when it’s your friend, what do you do? Because when I got that call I was three hours away, in a different state with a nauseated, helpless feeling in my stomach as she told me she had started using again. Until this point, I had never before felt the gut-wrenching fear of responsibility I assumed after learning of my friend's addiction. My knowledge spanning just the surface of what it really meant to have a substance addiction, I couldn’t understand how she could start using again after coming so close to death multiple times.(Scroll to bottom of page to access entire article) 

This Week's Guest- LISTEN NOW   

Tim Grimes, author of The Joy of Not Thinking: A Radical Approach to Happiness is on with me and we discuss his discoveries on the most effective ways to stop thinking.  So, if you've got the monkey brain and cannot stop your continuous stream of thoughts, this is for you.  If you've tried meditation and get frustrated, like me, because you can't silence your mind, you don't want to miss this episode!

LISTEN TO EPISODE 16 with  Tim Grimes

Next Week's Guest- Airing September 21, 2020
Bonnie Lemke and I went to high-school together and she now manages a sober-house.  Bonnie has been addicted to alcohol for most of her adult life and is now experiencing 15 months of sobriety.  Hear about some of the childhood trauma that led to the feelings she tried to numb with alcohol.  Join us in her determination to re-write the ending to her story.

Book I'm Reading This Week:
Love Money, Money Loves You by Sarah McCrumA few weeks after the failure of her business in London, Sarah was asked a question in a book she was reading. “What does money want to say to you?” She started writing a response and found words coming out of her pen that weren’t her own. They started with, “I would like to tell you to love me.”  She was deeply touched, and intrigued to explore more about the source of this message. She went on to write in the same way every day for 3 months and ended up with a collection of surprising, funny and inspiring advice, apparently from the energy of money itself.

Quote of the Week:  

"We're always going to get what we need, not what we think we need.  Then we come to see that what we need is not only what we have, it's what we want.  Then we come to want only what is.  That way we always succeed,  whatever happens."-- Katie Byron

Most days I go for a 45 minute walk and I've been meaning to take a trash bag with me so I can pickup the trash along the road where I walk.  I've been meaning to do this for weeks and keep forgetting to get a bag.  This morning, I forgot again, so when I reached the end of my driveway and saw an empty plastic grocery bag, I picked it up and realized I could use that for my trash pickup project.  Nature provided me with what I needed.
I quickly realized this bag was going to fill quickly, and just as it got to full, I found an empty salt pellet bag that I could fill with the grocery bag and still have room for more.  Again, I got just what I needed.  
As I continued my walk, the salt bag began to get full and just when I thought I couldn't fit anymore in it, I passed a small park I go by each day.   I never noticed the trashcan outside the basketball court, but today I did. It showed up at the exact moment I needed it!  I emptied the contents of the salt bag into this trash can and continued, getting home to empty more trash.
I will keep this salt bag and use it regularly to continue picking up trash on my future walks.  It will be a reminder that what I need will show up as I need it.
How often do we get exactly what we need and don't even recognize it?  I could have just kept walking past that original grocery bag.  I could have not seen the perfectness of the salt bag or the trashcan being where they were.  I'm thankful for noticing I got what I really needed- a trash bag and proof that we always get what we need.

Don't Miss This Week's Episode on #LITA  LISTEN TO EPISODE 16 with  Tim Grimes

   *As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

This Weeks's #LITA Blog Article:

Can You Really Stop Thinking? Let's Find Out!

Thinking. Have you ever thought about thinking? Or thought about not thinking only to continue thinking about what it would be like to not think, thereby undermining the process of not thinking. The concept can become quite cyclical and the notion that one cannot think is believed to be impossible. The truth is, if we could choose when we wanted to think and what we wanted to think about, a lot of the internal problems we face every day would probably disappear or at least become significantly more manageable. Our thoughts get us into trouble, especially when they take shape as unprompted chatter and rumination.
There are three generally accepted types of thought; insightful, experiential and incessant. Insightful thought includes our curiosity and pattern of thinking used to solve problems. Experiential thinking occurs when we focus on completing a task and incessant thinking is the background noise, the thoughts that never seem to truly stop, only dull when we have something else to focus on. As you can imagine, incessant thoughts are the ones that create and exacerbate internalized problems. (Scroll to bottom of page to access entire article) 

This Week's Guest- LISTEN NOW  

Erl Morell-Stinson and I have an extraordinary conversation together and we spend a great deal of time discussing religion and spirituality.  I really enjoyed his perspectives on Christianity and found it to be refreshing and uplifting.  Here's more about Erl from his own LinkedIn profile:
"I'm a bridge builder! I connect leaders in communities of abundance, with those in communities of need. Thus, I do my best work with leaders of noble character -- the kind-hearted, generous, compassionate leaders who want to increase their capacity to do greater good in the world. Success, for them, is merely a foundation for even greater significance in their lives.  "A 30-year veteran of the Personal Development industry, I have been a highly effective Mentor, Trainer, & Executive Coach to these high-impact leaders around the world. From entrepreneurial Founders & Owners of small businesses, to the corporate offices of governing Boards, CEOs, Executive Leadership, and their teams.  "Why? Confronted as a child with the inequities of apartheid in South Africa, I devoted many years to an intense study of human change dynamics, with a particular emphasis on how to cultivate the mindset, habits and character that bring prosperity at a personal, corporate, and community level."
LISTEN TO EPISODE 15 with Erl Morell- Stinson

Next Week's Guest- Airing September 14, 2020
Tim Grimes, author of The Joy of Not Thinking: A Radical Approach to Happiness is on with me and we discuss his discoveries on the most effective ways to stop thinking.  So, if you've got the monkey brain and cannot stop your continuous stream of thoughts, this is for you.  If you've tried meditation and get frustrated, like me, because you can't silence your mind, you don't want to miss this episode!

Book I'm Reading This Week:
Jesus and The Essenes by Dolores Cannon
If you are interested in reincarnation, life after death, and the journey of our souls, this is a fascinating book.  The author is a hypnotist and does past life regression with clients. This book is based on the experiences from one of her clients who proved to have a past life as one of the Essenes.  They were a community that was around before and during Jesus' time and many of their teachings mirror what Jesus preached through the Gospels.  It's interesting to consider new paradigms and possibilities .

Quote of the Week:   "

You are what you are and where you are because of what has gone into your mind."-- Zig Ziglar

This idea has come up in two separate conversations today.  Just like our body is formed by the food we eat, our mind is formed by the information we consume.  If you find yourself feeling negative or of a low opinion of anybody...take a look at the information you are getting and where it's coming from.  If you are getting a lot of information from news and social media, you may be overdosing on some bad info.  Remember, GIGO- Garbage In equals Garbage Out.
When I think of the ignorance of some people around race, especially those who live in areas where there are no or very few people of color, all their information about other races is coming from other people, the news, TV movies, etc.  It's almost no wonder people develop such strong and incorrect biases.  Please be careful about how you get your information.

Don't Miss This Week's Episode on #LITA

  LISTEN TO EPISODE 15 with Erl Morell- Stinson
   *As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. 

This Weeks's #LITA Blog Article:

SPIRITUALITY AND RELIGION: CAN YOU HAVE ONE WITHOUT THE OTHER? 

The concepts of religion and spirituality are often used synonymously, further intensifying the misconception that one cannot exist without the other. However, there are significant differences between the two terms and understanding these differences can be the crucial step needed towards self-improvement and self-awareness.
Religion is meant to help you connect with a higher power and implies worship of God or the supernatural. The ideal is an institutionalized system, deriving practices and teachings from the livelihood of a historical or archetypal figure. Because of this, religious practices are often taught in a very structured manner, encouraging followers to adhere to strict rules and criteria. When these rules are broken, feelings of guilt may arise. Religions that teach eternal punishment and selective acceptance in the afterlife can leave followers anxious and hyper-observant of their everyday actions, performing out of fear of disobeying a religious rule and condemning themselves to hell after death.  (Scroll to bottom of page to access entire article) 

This Week's Guest- LISTEN NOW   

Leslie Jackson is the author of her book titled “Change Course; One Lady’s Race from Acceptance to Adventure”. She has professionally raced cars on a WISSOTA dirt track for 7 years and is the co-founder, president & CFO of a top 5 Minnesota commercial roofing company for the past 14 years.Leslie believes God has given everyone unique gifts and encourages you to dig deep, grab hold of your potential, and live life to its fullest. She also invites you to live with love and meaning, act with purpose, and aim to make a positive difference in the world.

Connect with Leslie on LinkedIn and her Website, www.ladyracing.com

LISTEN TO EPISODE 14 with Leslie Jackson  

Next Week's Guest- Airing September 7, 2020 

Erl Morell-Stinson

Erl and I have an extraordinary conversation together and we spend a great deal of time discussing religion and spirituality.  I really enjoyed his perspectives on Christianity and found it to be refreshing and uplifting.  Here's more about Erl from his own LinkedIn profile:

I'm a bridge builder! I connect leaders in communities of abundance, with those in communities of need. Thus, I do my best work with leaders of noble character -- the kind-hearted, generous, compassionate leaders who want to increase their capacity to do greater good in the world. Success, for them, is merely a foundation for even greater significance in their lives.  

A 30-year veteran of the Personal Development industry, I have been a highly effective Mentor, Trainer, & Executive Coach to these high-impact leaders around the world. From entrepreneurial Founders & Owners of small businesses, to the corporate offices of governing Boards, CEOs, Executive Leadership, and their teams.  

We work together on the strategic clarity, unity, & direction that creates "spiritually sustainable initiatives" that contribute directly to the causes you care about.  

An International Speaker, Master Trainer, Mentor, & Coach, I go right to the core of the culture, communication, & character development of your team, and the initiatives & movements you lead.  

Why? Confronted as a child with the inequities of apartheid in South Africa, I devoted many years to an intense study of human change dynamics, with a particular emphasis on how to cultivate the mindset, habits and character that bring prosperity at a personal, corporate, and community level.  

From this perspective, I developed keen insight into the heart of an enterprise, providing a whole-hearted approach to leadership development and the integrity of the enterprise.  

My focus is to inspire leaders to greater excellence by helping them understand and master the inner dynamics that make it work - whether in private conversation with world-class leaders, training trainers internationally, coaching six-figure executive coaches to greater significance, or helping community or national leaders transform their organizations into instruments of greater good. 

Book I'm Reading This Week: 

The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch

"A lot of professors give talks titled "The Last Lecture." Professors are asked to consider their demise and to ruminate on what matters most to them. And while they speak, audiences can't help but mull the same question: What wisdom would we impart to the world if we knew it was our last chance? If we had to vanish tomorrow, what would we want as our legacy?

When Randy Pausch, a computer science professor at Carnegie Mellon, was asked to give such a lecture, he didn't have to imagine it as his last, since he had recently been diagnosed with terminal cancer. But the lecture he gave--"Really Achieving Your Childhood Dreams"--wasn't about dying. It was about the importance of overcoming obstacles, of enabling the dreams of others, of seizing every moment (because "time is all you have...and you may find one day that you have less than you think"). It was a summation of everything Randy had come to believe. It was about living.

In this book, Randy Pausch has combined the humor, inspiration and intelligence that made his lecture such a phenomenon and given it an indelible form. It is a book that will be shared for generations to come."

"We cannot change the cards we are dealt, just how we play the hand." --Randy Pausch

Quote of the Week:  

"In order to create peaceful family, first the individual person himself or herself should create inner peace, joyfulness. Then share with other family members. In that way, one family, ten families, a hundred families. That way, we change and bring happier community, happier society, then happier humanity. Seven billion human beings, we all have same desire, same right to achieve happy life." —Dalai Lama 

As we explore and deepen our own understanding or your religion and spirituality, I think it's important to think about this quote from the Dalai Lama.  We are all just trying to be happy.

Don't Miss This Week's Episode on #LITA

 Episode 14: Leslie Jackson- Adversity Leads to Perseverance and Fast Cars!

   *As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. 

This Weeks's #LITA Blog Article:

Self-Forgiveness: The Key to Overcoming Adversity 

We are all dealt a lot in life— a lot of obstacles, a lot of heartbreak, a lot of sadness. We face a lot of hidden challenges too. Some we choose to hide from people out of embarrassment, shame or denial and others dismissed and forgotten about by those around us because the problem can’t be seen or isn’t as obvious a struggle. Sometimes, it’s these hidden challenges that create the biggest obstacles in our life because we don’t know how to face them.   Leslie Jackson, a motivational speaker, author, business owner and pro race car driver shares her own challenges and the steps she took towards not only overcoming them but turning her obstacles into memories she now appreciates for the strength they have given her. Her book, Change Course, takes an in-depth look at the rare health problems Jackson was diagnosed with as a child, the unimaginable pain of losing a brother and the overarching belief that something was wrong with her because of her differences.  (Scroll to bottom of page to access entire article) 

This Week's Guest- LISTEN NOW 

Teresa Thomas connects people, possibilities and purpose as an award-winning professional speaker, networking expert, facilitator, and author of Win/Win Networking and 50 Fun Things® – Enjoy the Small Things.

This week, Teresa and I have a wide-ranging conversation talking about her latest book, 50 Fun Things. We cover topics like giving, gratitude, self-love, being silly and playful to reduce stress & the danger of trying to please everyone.

Teresa is a master connector and her book, Win/Win Networking helped my entire sales team at my catering company get better at networking to increase their sales. She brilliantly tied what she does to the #LITA Movement by saying,

“We are all Connected, when everything else is stripped away, it's how we treat each other that matters.”

If you, like most of us, find yourself taking things too seriously and are filled with anxious feelings, our conversation and the highlights of her book can help you stop that cycle and connect to what truly matters…creating a life of joy!

She is the recipient of the 2019 Women in Business Champion through the Small Business Association (SBA) of Minnesota. Teresa is also named as one of the 2019 50 Over 50 leaders by AARP and Pollen.

Connect with Teresa on LinkedIn and her Website, 50FunThings.com

LISTEN TO EPISODE 13 with Teresa Thomas 

Next Week's Guest- Airing August 31, 2020

Leslie Jackson is the author of her book titled “Change Course; One Lady’s Race from Acceptance to Adventure”. She has professionally raced cars on a WISSOTA dirt track for 7 years and is the co-founder, president & CFO of a top 5 Minnesota commercial roofing company for the past 14 years.

Leslie believes God has given everyone unique gifts and encourages you to dig deep, grab hold of your potential, and live life to its fullest. She also invites you to live with love and meaning, act with purpose, and aim to make a positive difference in the world.

Book I'm Reading This Week:

 Long Walk to Freedom an autobiography by Nelson Mandela I'm a 130 pages into this book and am really enjoying hearing how Nelson Mandela formed his views and beliefs over his life.  Starting with childhood and moving through his professional development so far has been fun and interesting.  I've just reached the point where the Nationalist Party took over in South Africa and introduced Apartheid.  Below is the official description of the book:  

"Nelson Mandela was one of the great moral and political leaders of his time: an international hero whose lifelong dedication to the fight against racial oppression in South Africa won him the Nobel Peace Prize and the presidency of his country. After his triumphant release in 1990 from more than a quarter-century of imprisonment, Mandela was at the center of the most compelling and inspiring political drama in the world. As president of the African National Congress and head of South Africa's antiapartheid movement, he was instrumental in moving the nation toward multiracial government and majority rule. He is still revered everywhere as a vital force in the fight for human rights and racial equality."

Long Walk to Freedom is his moving and exhilarating autobiography, destined to take its place among the finest memoirs of history's greatest figures. Here for the first time, Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela told the extraordinary story of his life -- an epic of struggle, setback, renewed hope, and ultimate triumph."

Quote of the Week: "

For a long time it had seemed to me that life was about to begin- real life. But there was always some obstacle in the way, something to be got through first, some unfinished business, time still to be served, a debt to be paid. Then life would begin. At last it dawned on me that these obstacles were my life.” --Alfred D’Souza

Looking at some of the most notable characters throughout history, we see a trend of overcoming adversity.  I once wished I could have a problem free life and I was really miserable because no matter how badly I wanted to not have problems, I always did!

When you overcome your own obstacles and help others do the same, you are providing huge value.  I believe that's a big reason noteworthy people became noteworthy...they helped others overcome problems as they learned to overcome their own.

Now, I embrace obstacles because I know I will be better off down the road.

Neat Person(s) I am Following

Nelson Mandela because I'm reading his autobiography.

SiaAustralian singer/songwriter who wrote and performed the hit song, Chandelier. I recently heard an interview with her on the Tim Ferris Podcast and really enjoyed hearing her story and her battles with depression and anxiety.  She talked a bit about Attachment Theory, which has to do with how much we are impacted by the things that happened to us when we were infants.

  
Don't Forget to Listen to This Week's Episode on #LITA

 Episode 13: Teresa Thomas- Stop Being So Serious and Connect to Your Inner Joy
  

 *As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. 

This Weeks's #LITA Blog Article:

Why So Serious?  How Enjoying the Small Things Makes You Happier
Think about your younger self, one uninhibited by work, a strict schedule, time commitments and stress. What was one activity that you loved to do, one hobby that made you happy no matter what else was going on. Do you still do it? And if you don’t, do you miss it?Teresa Thomas, author and networking expert, reminds us of the importance of reconnecting with activities, hobbies, places and people that bring us happiness in her book, 50 Fun things. Happiness can be found in everyday moments and encounters, whether it comes from a small act of kindness or a life changing event, but so often we discount the small joys for the larger ones we think we should have. She reminds us to recognize and appreciate both. (Scroll to bottom of page to access entire article)

This Week's Guest- LISTEN NOW

Sayre Darling: Sayre unknowingly began her professional journey when her parents gave her the name that describes what she does: She is a Say-er.   Sayre began her career in corporate communications, including media relations, internal communications, brand development, and, marketing and communications planning and implementation.   Along the way, she was asked to create communication strategies for organizational change, transitions and crises for management/labor issues, regulatory and legal mandates, and crises and mitigation.   All of her life’s work has helped her create a consulting and leadership practice for entrepreneurs, leaders and organizations working at the intersection of leadership, culture, change and growth.   She has developed a unique combination of skills to facilitate cross-functional projects across an entire organization to create alignment, excellent communication skills to drive clarity, the ability to make the complex simple, a calm demeanor to infuse confidence, a positive perspective to shift challenges into opportunities. As Sayre often says, “never waste a good crisis to drive change and growth.”   Sayre received her coaching certification from The Hudson Institute in Santa Barbara, California; she received her Master’s in Business Communications at the University of Saint Thomas, and her Bachelor of Arts in Broadcast Journalism from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.  

 LISTEN TO EPISODE 12 WITH SAYRE DARLING 

Next Week's Guest- Airing August 24, 2020 

Teresa Thomas connects people, possibilities and purpose as an award-winning professional speaker, networking expert, facilitator, and author of Win/Win Networking and 50 Fun Things® – Enjoy the Small Things.This week, Teresa and I have a wide-ranging conversation talking about her latest book, 50 Fun Things. We cover topics like giving, gratitude, self-love, being silly and playful to reduce stress & the danger of trying to please everyone.Teresa is a master connector and her book, Win/Win Networking helped my entire sales team at my catering company get better at networking to increase their sales. She brilliantly tied what she does to the #LITA Movement by saying,“We are all Connected, when everything else is stripped away, it's how we treat each other that matters.”If you, like most of us, find yourself taking things too seriously and are filled with anxious feelings, our conversation and the highlights of her book can help you stop that cycle and connect to what truly matters…creating a life of joy!She is the recipient of the 2019 Women in Business Champion through the Small Business Association (SBA) of Minnesota. Teresa is also named as one of the 2019 50 Over 50 leaders by AARP and Pollen.Connect with Teresa on LinkedIn and her Website, 50FunThings.com 

Book I'm Reading This Week:

Zapp! The Lightening of Empowerment by William Byham & Jeff Cox I'm enjoying this book as a good reminder of how empowering people and being in a beautiful state gives people energy, hence the Zapp! The opposite is when you are in a negative state, you tend to suck the life out of other people, this is called Sapp! Written as a fable, and packs a powerful message.     

Quote of the Week:

"Stay where you are.  Find your own Calcutta. Find the sick, the suffering and the lonely right where you are--in your own homes, in your workplaces and in your schools...You can find Calcutta all over the world, if you have the eyes to see.  Everywhere, wherever you go, you find people who are unwanted, unloved, uncared for, just rejected by society--completely forgotten, completely left alone."-- Blessed Mother Teresa     

Wow!  Not sure much more needs to be said on this.  So often we think that to be effective at changing the world, we must do something huge. Mother Teresa reminds us that we can change the world right in our own back yard. If you want to make a difference in this world, look at the needs of people all around you and put yourself into action to help them, right where they're at, right now.  Go ahead...do it.   I'd love to hear the things you're doing to make a difference in this world- big and small.  

     
Don't Forget to Listen to This Week's Episode on #LITA

Episode 12: Sayre Darling- New Ideas for Tough Conversations That Will Better Your Relationships    

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This Weeks's #LITA Blog Article:

Tough Conversations- Why Are They So Hard to Have? 

There are certain conversations we all know we ought to have, with co-workers, friends, family or a significant other, but for one reason or another, always seem to be avoided. Whether the reason for avoidance stems from fear of offending someone, fear of creating an uncomfortable work environment or fear of speaking out of turn, the underlying reason remains the same — fear. And unfortunately, these conversations often cover some of the most important topics we should be discussing with others to optimize the environment the problem originated from. (Scroll down to access entire article)

Next Week's Guest- Airing August 17, 2020

Sayre Darling: Sayre unknowingly began her professional journey when her parents gave her the name that describes what she does: She is a Say-er.

Sayre began her career in corporate communications, including media relations, internal communications, brand development, and, marketing and communications planning and implementation. 

Along the way, she was asked to create communication strategies for organizational change, transitions and crises for management/labor issues, regulatory and legal mandates, and crises and mitigation.

All of her life’s work has helped her create a consulting and leadership practice for entrepreneurs, leaders and organizations working at the intersection of leadership, culture, change and growth. 

She has developed a unique combination of skills to facilitate cross-functional projects across an entire organization to create alignment, excellent communication skills to drive clarity, the ability to make the complex simple, a calm demeanor to infuse confidence, a positive perspective to shift challenges into opportunities. As Sayre often says, “never waste a good crisis to drive change and growth.” 

Sayre received her coaching certification from The Hudson Institute in Santa Barbara, California; she received her Master’s in Business Communications at the University of Saint Thomas, and her Bachelor of Arts in Broadcast Journalism from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

This Week's Guest- Aired August 10, 2020

Kevin Fortune: Founder, President, & CEO- Liberty America, Inc., a national organization dedicated to putting the fundamentals of liberty (individual freedom, free markets, smaller government, & nonaggressive foreign policy) in action.

His nickname is “KK” (King Kevin because he is called the king of liberty.

Personal testimony of how libertarianism can take you from welfare to wealth via laissez-faire capitalism.  He runs his own business (Kevin Fortune, LLC) where he invests in the financial markets.

He is very involved in the community as an activist & volunteer. He is especially recognized for his fundraising where he has raised great amounts of money for worthy causes.  He is also very active in one of Atlanta’s most prominent churches (Briarcliff Baptist Church), a historic institution that has stood for individual freedom and liberty.  Kevin is proud to be a Christian and has been a leader in the Christian libertarian movement.

But, most of all he is proud of the many new people he has introduced and brought into libertarianism!

Host of The Liberty Show: The Liberty Show is a podcast and call-in show which works to inform people on the principles of liberty and how to put them into action. We deal with contemporary topics that are relevant to our day-to-day lives from a liberty-informed perspective.

LISTEN TO PODCAST

Book I'm Reading This Week:

The War of Art: Break Through the Blocks and Win Your Inner Creative Battles by Steven Pressfield

I just finished this book and I highly recommend for any aspiring artist or entrepreneur. This book is all about overcoming our resistance to getting our creations out into the world. 

Rational Optimism: How Prosperity Evolves by Matt Ridley

I mentioned this book a couple weeks back and am just getting to the end. It’s worth mentioning again because of his unique message of societal optimism in the future. 

I also recommend Googling Matt Ridley and watching some of his current news clips concerning the current pandemic and state of affairs in the world. He makes some compelling arguments that I’ll leave to you to judge for yourself.  

Quote of the Week:

"Nothing in the world can take the place of persistence: nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not: unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not: the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination are omnipotent." --Calvin Coolidge

I just love this quote and it reminds me that education and genius are not the key’s to success. Henry Ford, during a lawsuit trial, was cross-examined by the opposing attorneys who were attempting to prove he lacked a vast amount of knowledge. His response was something like this, “Why should I know any of that when I have people working for me who know those answers?”

You see, Henry wasn’t a genius, but he had an idea and a vision. Then he had the persistence of will to turn these into a reality. I heard the story of how he turned to his research team and told them he wanted an 8-cylinder engine. They told him it wasn’t possible, he said keep at it until you figure it out. They kept telling him it couldn’t be done and he said keep at it. He was persistent…and now we have 8-cylinder engines! Not because Henry figured out how it could be done, but because he was persistent in his belief that it could be done.  

Interesting People to Check Out:

Matt Ridley- the author of the book I mentioned above called Rational Optimism- How Prosperity Evolves.

I’ve been watching some of his appearances in the news and other videos and he has some very interesting ideas on innovation and the state of world affairs.

Ivie, Tate & Tanner- Three entrepreneur siblings. I saw them on a Facebook Live feed from HeartCore Business yesterday and fell in love what they are doing. They have formed a T-Shirt line called, “Create Or Complain”. 

Check out the video on the Lita For Life Podcast Facebook Page

And most importantly, support them by buying a T-Shirt!

Don't Forget to Listen to This Week's Episode on #LITA

Episode 10: William Israelson- Transformation From 350 Pounds to Becoming a Fitness Trainer and Helping Others Claim Their Best Lives

*As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

This Weeks's #LITA Blog Article:

FREEDOM AND LOVE- YOU CAN’T HAVE ONE WITHOUT THE OTHER

Given the particularly polarized state of the world right now, the idea of freedom and being free to act as one pleases, within the law, has sparked a lot of conversation and criticism.  

The news is overrun by clips of protest, some regarding the Black Lives Matter movement and others in an uproar because face coverings are becoming mandatory. While completely different issues, both stem from the belief that freedoms we are inherently meant to have are being taken away. But taking a step back from what is broadcast on television, less publicly recognized freedoms such as the freedom to enter into a relationship with whomever you choose is and has been tested for quite some time. (Scroll down to bottom of page to get entire article)

Next Week's Guest- Airing August 10, 2020

Kevin Fortune: Founder, President, & CEO- Liberty America, Inc., a national organization dedicated to putting the fundamentals of liberty (individual freedom, free markets, smaller government, & nonaggressive foreign policy) in action.

His nickname is “KK” (King Kevin because he is called the king of liberty.

Personal testimony of how libertarianism can take you from welfare to wealth via laissez-faire capitalism.  He runs his own business (Kevin Fortune, LLC) where he invests in the financial markets.

He is very involved in the community as an activist & volunteer. He is especially recognized for his fundraising where he has raised great amounts of money for worthy causes.  He is also very active in one of Atlanta’s most prominent churches (Briarcliff Baptist Church), a historic institution that has stood for individual freedom and liberty.  Kevin is proud to be a Christian and has been a leader in the Christian libertarian movement.

But, most of all he is proud of the many new people he has introduced and brought into libertarianism!

Host of The Liberty Show: The Liberty Show is a podcast and call-in show which works to inform people on the principles of liberty and how to put them into action. We deal with contemporary topics that are relevant to our day-to-day lives from a liberty-informed perspective.

This Week's Guest- Aired August 3, 2020

William Israelson

Founder of Ascension Fitness Training

I think you'll really enjoy this discussion on the importance of taking care of your physical body to help you give and love at a higher level. 

Episode 10: William Israelson- Transformation From 350 Pounds to Becoming a Fitness Trainer and Helping Others Claim Their Best Lives

LISTEN TO PODCAST

Book I'm Reading This Week:

The War of Art: Break Through the Blocks and Win Your Inner Creative Battles by Steven Pressfield

Interesting read on how to overcome your internal resistances to doing what you are meant to do.  

*Buy On Amazon Now

Quote of the Week: “If a person focused too much on a future that could not be controlled, he would become too careful, calculating, cautious in word and act.” --Theodore Roosevelt

This quote really sums up, for me, the danger of spending time imagining a future that doesn't exist.  The fact is, right now, we don't know what the future holds and we're not in control of it.  Too often we sabotage our efforts to get started because we try to figure out "how to" before we make a decision to go for it.

My suggestion...decide to go for it..get committed to whatever idea or outcome you desire.  Really commit and be willing to do whatever it takes to get there.  Write it down and commit to keeping this promise to yourself.  Then, and only then, after you've made your decision, figure out how.

You can drive from California to New York, in the dark, and never see more than 300 yards in front of you.  Life is pretty similar, you've just gotta have faith that what you need will show up as you need it.

So start driving, don't worry about the obstacles and detours you will face.  Start the journey and know that you can handle anything that comes up along the way.

Interesting People to Check Out:

Michael Franti: Michael Franti is an American rapper, musician, poet, activist, documentarian, and singer-songwriter.  He created a documentary film called Stay Human. In this film, Michael takes us on a personal journey where he meets extraordinary humans who inspire him to overcome cynicism with optimism in today's challenging times and stay human.  Features new music from Franti's tenth studio album.

Watch Stay Human on Amazon Prime Video

Check Michael out. I'd love to have him as a guest on the #LITA Podcast.  Help me by sending him a message that you want him on this show!  Connect with him on Twitter at @michaelfranti

Don't Forget to Listen to This Week's Episode on #LITA

Episode 10: William Israelson- Transformation From 350 Pounds to Becoming a Fitness Trainer and Helping Others Claim Their Best Lives

*As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

This Weeks's #LITA Blog Article:

Fitness for Happiness: Why You Should Take Care of You

Have you ever gone for a run, come back out of breath, sweat dripping in your eyes, but felt eerily clear headed and calm? That’s the power of exercise. 

During a workout, your body releases chemicals such as endorphins, dopamine and adrenaline, which the brain associates with feelings of happiness. Endorphins are an especially important neurochemical in the brain, responsible for reducing stress and anxiety levels by blocking feelings of pain and increasing the feeling of euphoria. (Scroll down to access entire article)

Next Week's Guest- Airing August 3, 2020

William Israelson

Founder of Ascension Fitness Training

I think you'll really enjoy this discussion on the importance of taking care of your physical body to help you give and love at a higher level. 

This Week's Guest- Aired July 27, 2020

Listen to This Week's Podcast with Lorie Corcuera

Lorie Corcuera

Current Guest on #LITA Episode 9: LOVE, SELF-LOVE, RECOVERING FROM TRAUMA & SAYING NO

Book I'm Reading This Week:

Change Your Thoughts - Change Your Life: Living the Wisdom of the Tao by Wayne W. Dyer

This is an excellent book on living The Way, called the Tao (pronounced Dow). Wayne writes an essay on each of the 81 verses that make up the Tao Te Ching to help give us a better understanding of its meaning and how to apply it to our life. I recommend this book for anyone who wants to understand spirituality better.
 

*Buy On Amazon Now

Quote of the Week:
 

"The chief cause of failure and unhappiness is trading what you want most for what you want right now.”—Zig Ziglar

This applies to so many areas of our lives. When we go on a fitness regimen or diet, we have a reason for doing so. The reason may be to get healthy, to have more energy, to feel better mentally, to extend our lives and our quality of living. No matter the reason, one of the biggest hurdles is what Zig says, trading what you want most for what you want right now. 

I know I’ve sabotaged plenty of fitness goals because I wanted an ice cream cone now. Or, I didn’t build wealth because I wanted that new car now. Zig’s advice is to think carefully about what you want right now and weigh it against what you want most. Keep those promises to yourself and you’ll improve your success and happiness immensely.

Interesting People to Check Out:

Andy Frisella

Creator of 75 HARD and host of the Real AF Podcast. You’ll hear next week’s guest, William Israelson and I talk about Andy and 75 HARD.

75 HARD is not a fitness program, it’s a mental toughness challenge. Think about Zig’s quote above…the reason we trade what we want most for what we want right now is because we don’t keep promises we make to ourselves. This challenge is about keeping those promises and it’s really simple. Here’s the basics for 75 days do the following:

- Work out twice a day for 45 mins each and one must be outside

- Take a daily progress picture

- Drink 1 gallon of water each day

- Read 10 pages from a real, paper non-fiction book each day

- Follow a diet, any diet, that helps you reach your goals

- No cheat meals/days or alcohol, ever

Andy explains it well and has a nice podcast episode to tell you more and inspire you to do this. Learn more here

Listen to This Week's Podcast with Lorie Corcuera

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This Weeks's #LITA Blog Article:

Overcome Trauma to Live a Fulfilling Life

Trauma. Merely typing the word elicits a return of unwanted feelings in my mind, reminding me of all the memories I've tied to the concept. Trauma is painful, unpredictable, and at times, all encompassing. 

The American Psychological Association defines it as “an emotional response to a terrible event.” But what does that really mean?... (Scroll down to access article)

Listen to This Week's Podcast with Lorie Corcuera

Book I'm Reading This Week:

The Rational Optimist by Matt Ridley

I'm really enjoying this book! We've all heard our parents and grandparents tell us that the world is falling apart.  Well, Matt shows how this isn't really true.  One example is that centuries ago, the average life expectancy was somewhere in the 20's.  Men died in combat and women died in child-birth.  Not to mention the fact that we were not at the top of the food chain! If you want to feel a bit better about the state of our planet, this is a great read!

*Buy On Amazon Now

Quote of the Week:

"I asked for strength and God gave me difficulties to make me strong. I asked for wisdom and God gave me problems to learn to solve. I asked for prosperity and God gave me a brain and brawn to work. I asked for courage and God gave me dangers to overcome. I asked for love and God gave me people to help. I asked for favors and God gave me opportunities. I received nothing I wanted. I received everything I needed.”- Hazrat Inayat Khan

Interesting People To Check Out:

Lorie Corcuera

Current Guest on #LITA Episode 9: LOVE, SELF-LOVE, RECOVERING FROM TRAUMA & SAYING NO

Erl Morrell-Stinson

Impact Strategist - Helping Compassionate, Entrepreneurially-Minded Leaders have Greater Impact in Causes You Care About

Next Week's Guest- Airing August 3, 2020

William Israelson, founder and partner of Ascension Fitness Training

You'll love this discussion on the importance of taking care of your physical body to help you give and love at a higher level. 

Listen to This Week's Podcast with Lorie Corcuera

*As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.