Learn the importance of connections - the benefits as well as the negative effects of a lack of connection. Discover simple ways to make connection throughout your day. In a world where we understand the importance of connection, how do we do that from afar - during a pandemic or when distance gets in the way? In a world where we don't know the state of other people's mental health - we don't know their story - you can be a reason for them. You can be that connection that they so desperately need. Make connections a priority every single day. 

What does happiness even mean? I am not a happiness expert but I'm a pretty happy person. I definitely know what doesn't make me happy - I'm very clear on that. Get clear on what doesn't make you happy so that you can be clear about what does make you happy. Research shows that 40% of people's happiness comes from the choices they make. What kind of choices are you making?

DREAMS: Direction, Relationships, Enthusiasm, Attitude, Motivation, and Self. You are not going to master your life in one day. Just master today. Then do that every day. Make today better than yesterday. Be the best that you can be and don't be afraid to go big. You can't settle. Everytime you settle, you lose a little piece of yourself. If you settle, you'll never find what you are looking for. Be true to you. 

You are enough -  Just the way you are. Don’t compare yourself to anyone except who you were yesterday. Are you doing it better today? Then that’s a win! If you’re not, then you better get on the stick and figure out how you can make tomorrow better than today. How you can do you - better. What action will you take? What are you willing to do? Write it down and do it.

It is my hope that this week’s episode gives you many ways to deal with your stress, shows you the importance of using your breath intentionally, and that some of these strategies will provide you with a sort of toolkit for reducing stress. Hoping that you'll leave this episode with enough strategies and techniques available to you, so that when stress rears its ugly head, you know what to do. You'll know how you can make it better - even if just a little bit better.

Pain is a given. Suffering is optional. It's a choice. When you don't forgive, you are suffering. You can always move on from the person but without forgiveness, you can't move on from the pain. Forgiveness is for you - not them. It won't change the past but it can help to bring you some peace. 

Ladies, you know... when you are at happy hour with the girls... you gripe. We all do it! We know that when we are with our girlfriends, it is a safe place to vent so that nobody's feeling get hurt. These are not huge relationship problems, these are small things that irritate us - the simple things that drive us a little crazy. I will focus on the big picture and what is really important - push you to focus on the positive when you are tempted to focus on the negative - find that renewed appreciation of your partner. 

Why not you? No excuses - figure out who you are, find and use your gifts to make a difference in other’s lives. Use those gifts to achieve your dreams. Use those gifts to spread your sunshine - whatever that might be. Somebody is going to do that thing - that thing you dream about - why not you? Believe in yourself.

Your beauty will never shine through if you don’t Love yourself. You can’t love other people either - not completely if you don’t love yourself. You should love all of who you are. That doesn’t mean that you have to think you are perfect - just beautiful. That doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t work on yourself - maybe lose some unwanted pounds, maybe push yourself to do some personal growth or set goals, maybe shift your attitude some. It doesn’t mean you can’t get better. It just means you are beautiful just the way you are. Can you get better? Sure. Can you be even more beautiful that you are right now? Sure. But accept who you are right now - all of you - your body, your mind, your spirit, your people, your gifts, all of it. And know that you are the picture of beauty. Beautiful You.

How can you serve others by looking from within? For me, when I looked inside myself for the answer to this question, I think about my gifts. Every single person has unique and special gifts - that’s what makes you, you. Find yours. Use your gifts. Share your gifts. Celebrate your gifts. The world needs you! How can you look outside yourself to somehow serve your community. This is a big one but it can be as small as paying it forward by buying someone a coffee all the way up to as big as volunteering at a local charity that speaks to you. Whatever you do, find a way to serve others. In whatever way feels good to you, find a way to serve your community. When you find a way to serve others, it is filling someone else's cup but it’s also filling yours. It’s a win win.