How Regular People Find Their Purpose Maybe finding your life purpose is easy if you have special gifts like Picasso or Einstein. On the other hand, if you're way past 21 and still asking yourself what you want to be when you grow up, the process starts to seem less clear. Even if it takes some effort, it's still a question worth answering. Numerous studies suggest that finding work that aligns with your purpose is more motivating and satisfying than any pay increase. If you're still searching, it’s time to discover your mission! Use this checklist to help you find and fulfill your purpose. 
Finding Your Life Purpose:

 1.    Calm your mind. Ease yourself into a creative state of mind. Meditate or take a long walk through the park. Soak in a warm bath or read poetry. Your thoughts become more expansive when you take a step back from daily concerns.
 
 2.    List your passions. Ask yourself what you value. What would it take to make you excited about getting out of bed in the morning?
 
 3.    Identify your strengths. Focus on what you do well. Think about the kind of compliments you receive or tasks that come easily to you.
 
 4.    Analyze flow. Recognize the activities that create a flow experience for you. When do you lose track of time and find that your work becomes effortless?
 
 5.    Focus on service. Your purpose takes on more meaning when you look beyond yourself and think about how you can have a positive impact on others. Try to find an underserved need that you can help fill.
 
 6.    Do research. The internet makes it easy to learn more about any topic related to your purpose. Look up information on careers in education or take cooking classes.
 
 7.    Talk with others. Learn from others who are already working in the fields that you find interesting. Attend networking events. When you're at parties, ask other guests what they do and follow up with relevant questions.
 
 8.    Keep a journal. Writing about your search can help you organize your thoughts. Over time, you may spot patterns that will guide you in moving forward. 
Fulfilling Your Life Purpose:

 1.    Be flexible. You may be surprised by some of your discoveries. You may even find that you have more than one purpose. Try to keep an open mind.
 
 2.    Change your assumptions. If you're hesitant to act on your ambitions, you may have self-limiting beliefs that are holding you back. Remember your past accomplishments and focus on what you have to gain.
 
 3.    Make realistic plans. It's okay to aim high, but you want your targets to be feasible. Not everyone who loves opera can sing soprano, but there are plenty of other roles in the same industry, from costume design to fundraising.
 
 4.    Set a daily intention. Keep your purpose fresh in your mind. Figure out something you can do each day to bring you closer to your goals. Consistent effort builds momentum, and small victories add up.
 
 5.    Evaluate your progress. Assess your development on a regular basis, so you can devote your efforts to activities with the highest payback. Weed out distractions and make adjustments as needed.
 
 6.    Find balance. Give equal attention to contemplating your purpose and taking action. Otherwise, you can wind up overlooking your top priorities or missing opportunities.
 
 7.    Seek support. Pursuing your purpose is rewarding and challenging. It helps to have partners on your side. Ask your friends and family for the assistance you need. Team up with others who share your vision. Being driven by purpose will make you happier and more successful. Examine your experiences and discover how to share your unique gifts.   Affirmation: Everything I need, I already have.    Authentically yours,  Dr. Jada Jackson 

Action Strategies to Help You Stop Overreacting  We can often overreact to situations without even knowing it. How does this happen?  Well, we allow our emotions to take over.  Once you gain control over your emotions you'll be able to choose better reactions, which leads to better solutions.  It's important to remember that no one is perfect. Everyone overreacts from time to time. It's when your overreactions become the norm that you should seek a better way.  Consider the following action strategies to help you stop overreacting:        1.     The art of not reacting. In order to stop overreacting, you can try using the art of not reacting. This means that when you're presented with a certain situation, your goal will be to not react at all. Instead, you'll take the time to think about the situation and then formulate your action.  2.     Let out your emotions. Let yourself feel your emotions as they come to you and find positive ways to express them. When you let your emotions build up, they become stronger inside of you. It's difficult to stop yourself from overreacting when you're full of pent up emotion. 3.     Take a time out. If you tend to overreact with anger, it's vital to allow yourself some cool down time. If you feel emotions building inside you, instead of bursting out, go somewhere where you know you can be alone. Cooling down will help you to react with a clear head. 4.     Write it down. Instead of reacting to a situation at all, go write it down. Writing it down is another way of giving yourself time to think over the situation. Later on, once you read what you wrote, you may be able to see whether your reaction was an overreaction or not.  5.     Practice relaxation techniques. When you adopt relaxation techniques, you'll find that you're automatically more in control of your emotions. Try deep breathing or attend a yoga or meditation class. Relaxation will stop your stress and you'll be less likely to lash out with any negative emotion.  6.     Avoid judging. Make it a point to stop judging yourself and others. Judgments can give you strong opinions that may be unwarranted, which can lead you to overreactions. In the same vein, when you judge yourself for overreacting, you aren't allowing yourself to make mistakes, which is a self-defeating attitude. Don't Sweat The Small Stuff If you find that you're overreacting to all of life's situations, it's time to start with the small things. Ask yourself why you're reacting to small situations with such negative passion.  There could be an underlying issue you need to deal with first. Are you overly stressed? Is your mind focused on something else? Answer these questions and solve these problems first. Just take it one thing at a time.  Change For The Better Once you've discovered a method that works well for you, incorporate that change into your life permanently.  It's important to expect that you will make mistakes along the way - but that's okay! You may still overreact from time to time, but we are only human and it happens. Don't let mistakes discourage you from jumping right back into the methods that work for you.  If you're having trouble changing, remember to take small steps. It's quite difficult to become a different person overnight. Try to bring an overall awareness to your life so you no longer feel the pull to overreact. Soon enough, you'll regain control over your emotions!   Authentically yours,  Dr. Jada Jackson

8 Strategies to Open Your Mind to Change  Have you ever found yourself in a position where change was inevitable? You may have felt annoyed, frustrated, or even scared about how that part of your life was going to change. Maybe you felt trapped—the change was going to happen whether you liked it or not. If you rebelled against the change, you know how alarming these types of situations can be.  You might have felt out of sorts or stressed out for days, weeks, or even months. But what if you were to undergo a paradigm shift and begin to view change as opportunity? What if you could reach out and embrace change with open arms? Read on for some mind-expanding, eye-opening ways to regard change as opportunity in your life: 1.     Accept the idea of change. When you get comfortable with the idea that change is going to happen, it will help you go into a change with less stress. John F. Kennedy once said, “The one unchangeable certainty is that nothing is certain or unchangeable.” Change will, in essence, always be occurring. Recognizing this fact will make life easier for you.
 
 2.     See that change implies progress. Whether you’re ready to admit it or not, when something changes, it’s progressing toward something. As you probably realize, living life on a day-to-day basis often involves making progress on some level.   3.     Recognize that change introduces unknowns into your life. The aspect of change that probably shakes you up the most is that it introduces unknown factors. It can be a bit discombobulating to not know what could be coming your way. Still, the unknown aspect of change must be acknowledged.
 
 4.     Be ready to experience the “newness” that change brings. If you can shift your thinking from a focus on the unknown to recognize that change involves “newness”—new things, people, places, and ideas—with at least some of it bringing excitement and interest, you’ll feel a whole lot better about it.
 
 5.     Believe that change can be transformative. You could be exposed to better products, knowledge, and skills as results of change. Many changes also have great aspects that open up your life in ways you hadn’t imagined before. Your experience at work or home—wherever the change occurs—can transform your life for the better.
 
 6.     Notice that a wider array of choices often accompanies change. Along with change often come more options. A whole new world opens up, in a sense. You’re in a position to take advantage of new choices.
 
 7.     View change as “the spice of life.” There’s an old saying based on something the poet, William Cowper, wrote that states, “Variety is the spice of life.” If you can apply that attitude to how you see change, your whole approach to it will be different.
 
 8.     Tell yourself that you can adjust to change. The fact is that you’ve probably experienced hundreds of changes so far over your lifetime. And you’ve adjusted to them. You’ve worked things out. You’ll be able to adjust to more changes in the future. If you shift how you regard changes, you’ll feel more comfortable with them. Accepting change, viewing change as progress, recognizing there will be unknowns, and embracing the newness of change will help you get ready for change.  If you can see change as transformative, notice that it creates more choices for you, view it as “the spice of life,” and remind yourself that you can adjust to anything that happens, you’ll approach change more positively. Now you can go forward into the next change with an open mind!   Authentically yours,  Dr. Jada Jackson

Summary:   This podcast episode will discuss 5 Ways to Deal with Negative People. Description: Dr. Jada will explore several approaches to address negative people in your everyday life.   5 Ways to Deal with Negative People No matter what our occupation, we all come in contact with negative, difficult people from time to time. Our primal instinct is to fight back, defend ourselves, and react to their negativity with some of our own. However, we are not animals who are led by instincts. We are human beings with the ability to control our responses. ·      To fight anger with anger merely depletes our own energy and brings us down to the same level.  Why are people difficult? When people act negatively, it’s a reflection of what’s going on inside them. It’s not about you; it’s about them. It may be a complicated, troubled past or something as simple as a bad day that makes a person angry. ·      People who are bored and unhappy with their own lives will seek out conflict to boost their egos. Our ego then responds by thinking, “I have to be right. If I don’t respond, I’m conceding defeat.” Then we find ourselves engaged in a conflict that hurts us emotionally, mentally, and maybe even physically. Ways to Deal with Difficult People Here are some ways to deal with these difficult people. They may not all be easy (heck, none of them are easy!), but they will give you some peace of mind that you’re doing the right thing. 1.     Wait before responding. Our first instinct is to immediately react and retaliate. However, reacting to another individual’s negativity usually only eggs them on. You may even realize that a response is not even needed. Maybe the other person was merely venting and needs to simply be ignored because the attack was not personal at all. 
 
 ·      If you spend some time cooling off before you respond, you can gain perspective on the situation.If necessary, remove yourself from the room when confronted with a difficult person. Go for a walk outside or walk up a flight of stairs to vent your frustrations. 2.     Stop rehashing the situation. This is especially a problem in office job situations where gossip spreads like wildfire. There will always be someone ready to listen to bad things about another. This is a waste of your time and energy.Drop the subject and move on.
 
 ·      The longer you dwell on the situation and talk about it with others, the more negative and angry you’ll become. Take the high road and step away from those who are gossiping or speak up and tell others you don’t want to listen to it. 3.     Express your feelings. If you simply need to get your emotions off your chest, try writing a letter. Vent all your thoughts, feelings, and hurt onto the piece of paper. Let it all out until there’s nothing left to say. Then crumple up the paper and throw it away. As you do, imagine your negative feelings being thrown away with it. ·      Don’t let your partner or spouse prevent you from speaking your mind. A true partnership is one in which the ideas and thoughts of each partner are heard. 4.     Put yourself in their shoes. This can be very difficult, but study the individual who’s hurting you. What’s going on his life right now? Maybe he’s having family issues or a health crisis.
 
 ·      Try to look at the situation as an objective observer detached from the situation. This can help give you some compassion for the difficult person in your life. ·      Prayer or meditation can help you stay calm and see a situation differently. Consider the difficulties this other person might be facing in life and think about how you would handle a similar situation. 5.     Respond positively. This may not always be possible and certainly won’t be easy. After looking over the situation and trying to understand where the other person was coming from, find something positive to say about him.  ·      Remember the phrase, “Kill ‘em with kindness”? Very often responding calmly and with a friendly tone will diffuse a difficult situation.  Negative people are everywhere. Don’t let them take your happiness away or affect your mood. Teach these difficult people by leading a good example, by responding calmly, and by showing kindness. As a result, you’ll bring more happiness to others and find that you feel a greater happiness yourself.  Authentically yours,  Dr. Jada Jackson

Summary:   This podcast episode will chat about common ways to overcome symptoms of Anxiety. 

Description: Dr. Jada will explore 12 Tips to fight off Anxiety and establish healthy ways to deal with life’s stressors.

Key words: Counselor, counseling, self-esteem, self-concept, relationships, success, reframe, cognitive behavioral therapy, CBT, couples, depression, anxiety, purpose, passion


12 Tips for Overcoming Anxiety

Anxiety is part of the human condition. Try to find someone that never feels anxiety. Some people are more resistant to anxiety that others, but everyone can strengthen their ability to manage anxious feelings. Developing a high level of anxiety is a skill. Lowering anxiety is a skill, too.

The key to managing anxiety is to begin minimizing it as soon as possible after it hits you. The more it builds, the more challenging it is to control.

Deal with anxiety quickly and easily:

1. Break your day into small chunks. Only worry about the small amount of time in front of you. If you’re sitting in a meeting at 9:00 AM, there’s no reason to worry about how you’re going to pay the electric bill or what you’re going to have for dinner. Take the day one minute at time and keep your attention on that minute.

2. Create a mantra and use it. Have a positive and uplifting phrase you repeat to yourself. You’ll eventually start to believe it and you’ll block any negative self-talk.

• “I’m happy and capable of handling any situation.”
• “My life is filled with joy and positive energy.”

3. Exercise. The quickest way to relieve anxiety is to exercise enough to sweat. A casual walk is better than nothing, but to get the greatest benefit, it’s necessary to get your heart beating hard.

4. Make use of distractions. Distractions never solve the underlying issue, but can provide relief. Watch a movie, play cards, or do a crossword. Spend time with a close friend. Give yourself a break and put your focus elsewhere.

5. Keep going. Anxiety occurs because some part of your brain is trying to stop you from taking action. It has learned that it can control you by making you feel miserable. You can minimize the anxiety you feel by plowing ahead. Your brain will learn that making you feel anxious doesn’t work.

6. Give yourself 20 minutes to worry each day. Schedule your worry time. You’ll find yourself less inclined to worry during the other 23-plus hours of the day.

7. Change your environment. Get out of your current environment and give yourself a change of scenery. Go to the park or spend some time at the coffee shop. Spend an hour window shopping. Shake things up a bit. 
8. Spend time with your pet. If you have a dog, you already know how comforting they can be. Sit on the floor and have a heart-to-heart with your favorite pet. How could you not feel better?

9. Write in a journal. Get your anxiety out of your head and down on paper. There’s something cathartic about writing when you’re stressed. Make a habit of writing about your life each day.

10. Find the right scent. The right scent can be soothing. Take a trip to the candle store and find something that makes you feel good when you smell it.

11. Find a hobby that requires concentration. It could be chess, playing the piano, or knitting. It doesn’t matter what the hobby is as long as you enjoy it and it commands your complete attention. It can be a great way to spend your down time.

12. Visualize. Visualize something positive. Daydream about Maui or remember a positive experience from the past. Imagine your perfect day.

Dealing with anxiety is important. Successful people are successful due to their ability to manage anxiety successfully. When you feel worry begin to build, deal with it immediately. A high level of anxiety is very challenging to manage. Develop a list of strategies that can be implemented quickly when anxiety first appears.


Authentically yours, 

Dr. Jada Jackson

Summary:   This podcast episode will explore 4 ways to celebrate the lives of lost loved ones during the holidays.
Description: Dr. Jada will discuss her personal losses and give you practical ways to honor your loved ones while enjoying your holiday season.
Key words: Counselor, counseling, change, resilience, self-esteem, self-concept, relationships, success, reframe, cognitive behavioral therapy, CBT, couples, depression, anxiety, regret, grief, loss, hope, joy, self-worth, Christmas, Thanksgiving, holidays
SHOW NOTES:
Lost a Loved One? Celebrate Their Life During the Holidays
When a loved one has passed on, the next group of holidays can be painful, sad, and scary. But your loved one would've wanted you to be happy and joyful, smiling as you remember the good times you shared. To work toward that peaceful feeling, find a way to celebrate your loved one's life this holiday season.
The great memories you had with that person can be a place to start. Pictures are always good, too. They may make you feel a bit sad, but there are usually times in that sadness where you'll find yourself smiling or laughing over something silly or touching that you remembered or saw in a picture. Incorporating that loving feeling into your holidays can help you to heal.
Let Your Faith Guide You
No matter what your religious faith, you can use prayer and your spiritual beliefs to help you get through trying or lonely times when you miss your loved one. Sometimes, those feelings are magnified at special times like holidays, and more time to pray or meditate is needed. Don't be afraid to take the time you need for prayer. 
Hold onto the understanding that your loved one is at peace. Remind yourself that the struggles they faced here in their lifetime are no more. There is comfort in those thoughts.

Dwell on the Happy Times
Of course you miss your loved one, but you also have the joy of having known that person for a period of time.
Use these tips to help you focus on your happy times together: 

• Cherish what you had. When the holidays come around and you start to get sad over what you don't have, think about all the times you did have. What would your loved one want you to remember about him or her?

• Focus your energy on being joyful for what was. Whether you had your loved one a long period of time or a short one, you had love in your life for that time. That's a very precious gift. Elevate the value of that gift by savoring the happy moments you remember.

• Remember the good times. Everyone has memories of their loved ones that make them smile or that they re-live again and again. Take those memories out and look at them over the holidays. 
  
  
• Do what's in your heart. You might like to hang up your loved one's stocking at Christmastime, light a candle for them, or make a favorite food or dessert. 

Mourning is part of the healing process, but remember to celebrate, too. Everyone does things differently when it comes to how they want to show their love for someone who has gone on before them. Focus on a celebration that feels right to you. No matter what it is, if it's right for you, then it's perfect for the occasion. 
Because everyone is different, some people might question what you're doing or why. That's okay. Honor your loved one and celebrate their life in a way that brings you joy and peace this holiday.

Authentically yours, 
Dr. Jada Jackson

6 Easy Ways to Say “No”

Sometimes we have a hard time telling others “No.” Unfortunately, leaving it unsaid cancome at your own expense. You lose time to do the things you really want (or need) to doand you can even feel resentful towards the other person and yourself.

Telling others that you can’t acquiesce to their request doesn't have to be difficult. If youstruggle with the concept, here are some ideas you can put to use immediately.

1. Explain that your other commitments are taking up all your time right now.Everyone is too busy at times; the other person will understand that you have a heavyload of other responsibilities. It might help to go into a little detail about the other thingsyou have going on; it will increase their level of understanding.

2. Say that you're in the middle of something and that you'll get back to them. It's notuncommon to get hit with requests for immediate help. You can let them know that youcan’t help right now but that you might be able to help soon. If it really is urgent, they’llfind someone else and shouldn't feel resentful towards you.

3. Tell them that you'll think about it. This is more of a “maybe” than an absolute “no.”Avoid using this option if you really do want to say “no.” Take the time you need toconsider it and remember to get back to them. You can suggest your own deadline or analternative that works for better for you if you can’t comply fully with their first request.

4. If someone is trying to sell something to you, tell them that their offering doesn'tmeet your needs but you'll get back to them if your needs change. This puts an end tothe matter quickly without the other person feeling insulted. After all, you're rejectingtheir product or service; you're not rejecting them personally.

5. Tell them that so-and-so would be a better help. In this case, you're not refusing tohelp them. In fact, you are helping them by suggesting someone more capable ofsatisfying their needs.

6. Tell them that you'd like to help, but…. This lets the other party know that you wouldlike their offer or would like to provide assistance to them, but you that you are either toobusy or their offer doesn't meet your needs. It's similar to #1 and #4, but is moresupportive and encouraging.

If you'll learn to say “no” to the things that you really don't want to do, don't have the timeto do, or don't fit your needs, your life will be much richer for it.

Like many other things in life, it gets easier with practice. After you get used to it, you'll besurprised how easy it is and how receptive others can be.

Remember to only tell the truth. One of the options is bound to be true. There's no reason tofeel like you’re being dishonest. Now go tell some people “no” and see how much better youfeel!

Affirmation: Saying, “No,” is powerful. I will value my needs as I honor the needs of others. It is notmy responsibility to rescue others; and their individual responsibilities are not mine. I will show upto support, but I will not accept the problems of others as my own. I am not God, and I will notattempt to choose the lessons for them to learn.

The holidays can be a very challenging time. You may have concerns about weight gain, family members, work, money, and all kinds of other things and especial COVID!  The good news is that, even with all these concerns, you can keep your mental health strong and vibrant during the holidays…EVEN DURING SOCIAL DISTANCING. 
You can have great joy during the busiest of times with some positive choices. Joy comes from within, and taking control of your life brings you both confidence and joy. During the holiday season, though, it can seem like your life gets out of control very easily. There's always so much to do, and people are generally more demanding of your time and energy; and even though many of us are not traveling as much due to COVID restrictions, there are still emotional and mental challenges that hover over head because of the drastic changes due to the pandemic. 
Follow these steps to protect and preserve your mental health during the holidays:

• Remember the value of quiet time. One of the biggest stressors you may have to deal with when the holidays are in full swing is the lack of personal time. It's easy to get wrapped up in everyone else's drama and not take any time for yourself. Take time for yourself so you have the energy to pour into others. Self-care is key! Do not neglect yourself.
  
  
• Take a few minutes each day to unwind and relax. You'll be happier and more interested in doing things with others. Recharge emotionally, mentally, and physically. 

• Find time to pursue your inner peace. You can pray, meditate, exercise, or just sit and watch some television or read a book. No matter what you do in your downtime, remember that having that time is vital.

The Busy Holiday Season is Only Temporary
The holidays require more of your time and effort, but the season will soon pass. Keep your head up when you're doing all the extra things you have to do. Those extras will only be required for a few weeks. Things will be back to normal and your life's balance will be more easily restored. 
If you're having trouble coping with the holiday season, do the things you'd normally do when the holidays are over. That way, you'll feel more focused and your routine will be more familiar to you. For example, consider:

• Exercising each day to stay fit and work off accumulated stress
• Getting your work done on time, so you're not frustrated and overly busy at home
• Keeping your house clean, so you have less to do after the holidays are over
• Eating right to provide your body with the fuel it needs for energy
• Planning something special so you can relax after the holidays are over

There are plenty of ways you can keep your mental health strong. You can even say affirmations to yourself each day in order to help maintain a positive attitude. You may feel a little strange at first, but you'll soon see the benefits of incorporating positive thinking into your daily routine. Take a few minutes each morning when you get up and before you go to bed to recite positive affirmations to yourself, for yourself and about yourself. Be grateful for all of the good in your life instead of rehearsing the bad. 
Your mental health and strength are very important to you and the people who rely on you. Because of that, you must keep yourself fresh and energized during the holidays. Focusing on what matters to you and paying attention to what's really important go a long way toward keeping you mentally healthy.

Affirmation: I will only focus on what I can control. I cannot control others. I can only control my reaction and responses to others. I will control Me. 

Discovering Your Self-Worth Despite Challenging Circumstances
Does life seem to be a struggle for you? Do you feel overwhelmed and frustrated much of the time? Do you wish you could experience something better? Fortunately, you can enjoy the exciting life you deserve.
Success is available to you despite challenging circumstances. It's important to remember, also, that your self-worth is not defined by your circumstances.
What holds you back? Take some time today to question the beliefs you hold that limit your potential. If you look at a challenging circumstance as a wall that's impossible to climb, you need a fresh perspective. Within you is everything you need to thrive and excel. The more you question the validity of your limiting beliefs, the more success you'll experience in your life. 
Think of a circumstance in your life that you believe is preventing you from something you want. Write it down, then get ready to challenge that limiting belief. If you do, you'll begin to move toward the success you deserve. 
Use these strategies to maintain a positive self-worth, regardless of your circumstances:

• Find the cause. What is the cause of the circumstance in your life? Sometimes, limiting beliefs can serve as warning signs that help you avoid danger. What can you learn from this so you avoid triggering a similar situation in the future? 

• If the cause of your situation is unclear, ask friends and family for their input. Others see your life from a different perspective, and their input can be valuable in determining the root of your difficulty. 

• Get past the blame game. You can often be your own worst critic. Fortunately, negative self-talk often has very little basis in reality. Choose to replace the doubts of your inner critic with more productive thinking.

• Once a negative thought has taught you its intended lesson, it has served its purpose. If you choose to hold onto those negative thoughts, they will begin to form a negative self-image in your mind. This unbalanced view of your talents and strengths holds you back. 

• Instead of dwelling on negative thoughts about your circumstances, learn the lesson and resolve to move on. Find out what you can do differently to avoid a repeat of your present situation. Then, when negative thoughts enter your mind, choose to replace your self-talk with productive thoughts instead.

• Cut yourself some slack. Recognize that you're human. Everyone makes mistakes, but your attitude determines your altitude in life. You are valuable regardless of your present predicament. You are worthwhile even when you slip up or falter. Your circumstances simply provide feedback and an opportunity to learn and grow. 

• Make the most of it. When you recognize that you're valuable despite your circumstances, you'll begin to make the most of every opportunity. Stumbling blocks you face can become stepping stones to the success you deserve, simply by changing what you focus on.
  
  
• Instead of feeling helpless, ask yourself: "What's great about this?" Every situation provides something of value if you look for it.

• Ask for help. Loved ones and friends often see strengths in you that go without notice. Ask them what they believe your strengths are. This is where your self-worth is found.Everyone has something of value to contribute. 

• Once you recognize your unique talents, gifts, and abilities, you'll see life in a whole new way. You'll seek opportunities to use your talents to bless others. You'll gain confidence that comes from conquering challenges that once made you cringe.
  
  
• Instead of allowing your circumstances to dictate who you are, you'll make the rules!

• Live one day at a time. Despite your best efforts, some days simply provide one frustration after another. When this happens, you have a choice. You can let your circumstances defeat you, or you can choose a more positive perspective.

Resolve today to find your strengths, learn from your difficult circumstances, and experience the joy you were created to experience. Instead of tying your self-worth to your circumstances, choose to see things as they really are. You were created with unique talents and gifts. When you find those gifts within yourself and put them to use, you'll know how valuable you truly are.
Affirmation: I am self-sufficient and hold realistic expectations of others. 
Authentically yours, 
Dr. Jada Jackson

Dr. Jada will discuss simple steps to create a clear road map toward freedom from your past.

Affirmation: I understand that the surest way to improve my life is to play an active role in my success.
Do you struggle to rise above any life challenges that come your way? Maybe you’ve gone from having plenty of money and a big house to living from paycheck to paycheck in a small apartment. Or perhaps you’ve experienced the loss of a relationship that devastated you but you’ve been able to bounce back and continue to live the life of your dreams.

However, if you find yourself feeling stuck looking back wistfully to earlier years, and wishing things could have remained “that way,” you’re probably living in the past. 

If you notice you still suffer a lot of emotional pain over an upsetting event you experienced long ago, you might be stuck in your history and unable to move forward.

Although some would argue, “What’s so bad about living in the past,” the fact is that doing so means the present—your reality—is flying by without you grabbing on to it to move forward and achieve your life aspirations.

You’re living in the past if:

1. You think every day about some aspect of how your life used to be. Maybe you call it “nostalgia” or simple yearnings for what your life was like before. Reflecting daily on the past can get in the way of moving forward.
   
   
   
2. You try to sleep as much as possible so you can dream about earlier years. When you sleep at night, your dreams become fantasies about how your life was before. You look forward to those dreams. 
   
   
   
3. You spend a lot of time on the computer. Being on the computer keeps you busy and you don’t have to think about how your life has changed.

1. You use other methods to “escape” from reality, like reading, cleaning, or even drinking alcohol. Perhaps you’re constantly in motion and doing something so you don’t have to face life as it is now.
   
   
   
2. You’re in denial about your current living situation. It’s hard to accept that you no longer have a partner or live in the home you thought you would for the rest of your life. Maybe you don’t want to rearrange the furniture or get rid of some things you don’t use because they remind you of a person who’s no longer in your life.

If you see yourself in these 5 points, you’re living in the past. Examine the following steps to get started living in the present.


Start Living in the Here and Now

Now that you’ve identified the issue(s), it’s time to re-connect with yourself and move forward to create a fulfilling life. Here’s how to do it:

1. Openly acknowledge to yourself what you’ve been doing. The first step toward healing is acknowledging the error of your ways. “I’ve been living in the past and I want to stop doing that.”
   
   
   
2. Decide what you must do to shift into the present. Do you need to clean out closets, get rid of old possessions, and maybe even move your residence? Sometimes, moving forward in your life literally means moving. 
   
   
   
3. Know your life goals. Make a plan you can follow to actively pursue your goals.
   
   
   
4. Take care of yourself. Face yourself in the mirror. Take excellent physical care of yourself. Re-focus your efforts on the current state of your physical body and take care of yourself.
   
   
   
5. Vow to practice special efforts with your feelings. Work to gain understanding of your feelings. Allow yourself to grieve who or what you’ve lost if you need to. 
   
   
   
6. Contact professionals if needed. Seek out medical care if you’ve overlooked doing that these past years. Have an annual check-up. If you require psychological assistance to get things in perspective, contact your local mental health center or ask your general physician for a referral to a counselor. 
   
   
   
7. Waste no more time. Be in awe of each day. You can do something positive with every 24 hour period. Start immediately.

Living in the past robs you of the life you truly deserve. Re-state your life goals to yourself and then begin living out your dreams in the here and now.



Affirmation:

I understand that the surest way to improve my life is to play an active role in my success. I let go of the tendency to resist changes and, instead, I embrace the new attitudes, thoughts and actions that self-improvement requires.

“One thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”  Phil 3:13

For more information, visit www.JadaJackson.com