This week, the idea of Confronting Fear speaks to me. As I strive to step out of my comfort zone, I am inspired by Nelson Mandela’s quote: “I learned that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it. The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear.”

In Change the World, Change Your Life, Angela Perkey writes on the topic of fear as well: “One of the hardest parts of doing anything challenging is taking the first step toward making what you want a new reality. For example, think about how many people read books about starting a business, having children, inventing, or beginning a new career. They get excited by the prospect of doing something big in their lives, something that will change their world outlook and personal satisfaction dramatically. They want this more than anything else, and believe it would make their lives complete and meaningful.

Yet they never do it. Their dreams are intimidating, so they get scared and back away. They revert to the temporary comfort of living a comfortable life and shove their dreams aside. A few years later, they may realize that they regret their choices, and their lives are still not fulfilling. They have denied themselves what they truly want because they are afraid….

Your life can be lived to the fullest if you choose to confront the things you fear.”

Tell me, how do you confront your fear? What inspires you to keep moving forward when you feel afraid? I’d love to hear your ideas!

In Lemons to Lemonade, author Addie Johnson reminds us that simple pleasures and hidden treasures exist all around us.

What are your simple pleasures and hidden treasures? What little things bring you joy? To get us started, I’ll share my simple pleasures and hidden treasures:

The feeling of sand squishing between my toes while enjoying a beautiful day at the beach.

The way my heart melts when my daughter falls asleep in my arms.

The joy of discovering a misplaced item!

Now, it’s your turn to inspire me! I’d love to hear your ideas!

~Paula J. Fox

I have been blessed with many special teachers, so I find it difficult to pick out only one. Today, I will tell you about my fourth grade teacher, Mrs. Adams. With her precious smile and sweet spirit, she captivated our hearts from day one. Uplifting and encouraging, she instilled within each and every child a sense of positive self-esteem. At the end of each school day, we would spend 15 minutes singing silly songs, complete with funny motions and sounds. Our giggles and laugher were proof that Mrs. Adams had made the journey fun.

Who were your special teachers who blessed your life and left footprints on your heart? What did they do to encourage, inspire, and make the journey fun? I’m looking forward to hearing your stories…

~Michelle

With the knowledge and experiences that you currently have, what would you say to your younger self? If you could go back in time, what advice would you give to the teenage you? What wisdom would you impart? What life lessons would you share?

My teenage years, as I’m sure yours as well, were tricky. Transitioning from child to adult was difficult for me. If I could go back in time and talk to the 13-year-old Michelle, I’d say:
“You just wait, girl. These things that concern you now and occupy your mind today will all work out. You just hold on for the life that awaits you. Over time, you’ll learn to rely less on what others think of you and you’ll become more grounded and confident in yourself and your own abilities. We are all unique individuals and thinking differently than others doesn’t mean you are wrong, so be true to yourself. Hold steady, hang on, and get ready for what is yet to come…”

Now, it’s your turn. Tell me: What would you say?

Today, I’m delighted to have a special guest join us at the Inspired Living Cafe! BJ Gallagher, coauthor of this week’s featured book, has so graciously stopped by to talk about Oh, Thank Goodness, It’s Not Just Me!

BJ, thank you for joining us. Please take a moment to share with us a few of your thoughts.

One of my favorite quotes in the book is: “That which is shareable is bearable.” My therapist friend Jeanne Segal said it in a conversation we had several years ago, and I loved it because it’s so true. When I open up and share my pain with a trusted friend, my pain is lessened. When I confess my faults and shortcomings to another soul, I feel better when she says, “Oh gosh, I do that, too.” When I am feeling lousy about myself because I just don’t seem to be able to get my act together, I am consoled when my confidante says, “Me, too.” Whatever my burden, it’s lightened when I share it with someone else.

What is unbearable is feeling like everybody else is OK and I’m the only one with this problem, this doubt, this insecurity. I spent a lot of my younger years feeling like, “You’re OK, but I’m a mess.” I made the mistake of judging my insides by other people’s outsides. And the comparison game is one we always lose—so I try my best not to do it anymore.

Instead of comparing myself to others, I take a risk and share. I share my dreams and goals as well as my fears and concerns.  And when I share with another, I feel closer to her … I feel closer to other people … I feel closer to God. I am comforted in knowing that I’m not alone in whatever pain I’m feeling.  That’s why I love what my friend Jeanne said: “That which is shareable is bearable.”

Thank you, BJ, for taking the time to talk with us today. I love your friend Jeanne’s quote and I, too, agree… “That which is shareable is bearable.”

And to you, my dear Inspired Living Cafe community, today, I hope you’ll choose to share with others so that, as BJ says, pain becomes lessened, and burdens become light.

Live Inspired,

~Michelle

If you accepted the person you are, what different thoughts would you think? Would you forgive yourself for past mistakes? If you weren’t afraid of failure or what other people thought, what different actions would you take? Would you choose to unleash your inner talents and let your heart soar?

This week, as we look at The Courage to Be Yourself, I’d like to share a few words from author Sue Patton Thoele:

“It’s never too late to recall your dreams and pursue them enthusiastically. If you have lost touch with your dreams and desires, a good way to retrieve them is to remember what you dreamed of doing and being as a kid.”

Today, it is my wish that, by recognizing the wonderful person you are inside, you will have the courage to be yourself.

When we decide to fill our hearts with gratitude, our lives change for the better.

No longer do we mindlessly go about our day, taking for granted the abundance that surrounds us: our families and friends; the sun and the stars; the air that fills our lungs and food that nourishes our bodies.

No longer are we merely tolerating what comes our way, choosing to remain closed to the wonderful growth opportunities contained within the trials of life.

Rather, we choose to live our lives fully, being grateful for all that exists.

Helping you keep your heart focused on gratitude is MJ Ryan’s  A Grateful Heart. In reference to A Grateful Heart, USA Today writes, “If you’re looking for new prayers to enliven an old tradition, try this.”

So back to my original question, “What are you grateful for?” I’d love to hear your responses! It’s your turn — inspire me!

Today, June 30, has been declared to be Social Media Day by Mashable, one of the most widely known Social Media news blogs. As their website says:

Today we acknowledge and celebrate the revolution of media becoming social. A day that honors the technological and societal advancements that have allowed us to have a dialogue, to connect and to engage not only the creators of media, but perhaps more importantly, one another. It’s a day to celebrate the changes in media that have empowered us to stay connected to information in real time, the tools that have enabled us to communicate from miles apart…

I find it a wonderful coincidence that this week in the Inspired Living Cafe, we are focusing on How to Thrive in Changing Times. Talk about changing times! A few years ago, I didn’t even know what social media was. And I certainly would have laughed if you’d asked me to send you a tweet or post something to your wall. So while change can brings feelings of uncertainty or fear of the unknown, today, we are reminded to “celebrate the changes…”

To all of you…

Happy Social Media Day!

Let’s celebrate the changes together!

By choosing just the right cadence, selecting unique descriptions and insights, and sprinkling in hints of humor, John St. Augustine captured my imagination and led my heart and mind to far off places in Every Moment Matters. In his book, we are called to reflect upon those moments that make up our lives. Throughout the pages, we find impressionable moments from John’s life written as masterfully crafted vignettes and teachable experiences. Engaging from page one, Every Moment Matters reminds us to savor the stuff of life.

For me, it’s the little things that make me smile:

~A hug from my child

~The smell of fresh rain

~The sight of a beautiful sunset

~The sound of another person’s laughter

Now let me ask you: What makes YOU smile?