5 Easy (and Surprising) Secrets to Get Out of Your Style Rut

Secrets to Get Out of Your Style Rut

5 EASY (AND SURPRISING) SECRETS TO GET OUT OF YOUR STYLE RUT

Article by Eyenie Schultz
Photo Credit: Dasha & Mari
Magazine: Issue #29

One of the biggest complaints I hear from women is, “I feel so frumpy and uninspired! I’m in a total rut with my style and don’t know how to get out of it…”

Do you ever feel this way when it comes to your clothes? Like what you wear has absolutely nothing to do with the badass you truly are inside? It sucks!

Let’s face it, between growing your business, taking care of clients, spending time with family, friends, etc., style probably doesn’t feel like much of a priority. And if you’re like most of the whip-smart and creative Overachieving Misfits I work with, chances are you sorta roll your eyes at style and think it’s fluffy, shallow and girly to care about it (despite your off-the-hook taste). 

What happens when something like style isn’t given care, attention, love and energy? It gets dull, boring, heavy, and uninteresting. And when something feels this way – like more of a burden or task - we tend to ignore it or do the bare minimum. Yikes. 

This is where you fall into that trance or fog, where you go through the motions without really being connected to what you’re actually putting on your body. 

Well, I say BASTA! Style is way more than just clothes and fashion, it’s about how you’re showing up in the world and visually expressing who you are. 

Here are 5 easy ways to shake yourself right on out of that uninspiring rut and up your style ante in a major way!

1 :: Dress with intention. This means actually giving time, mindfulness, care and energy to what you put on your body and owning it instead of just reaching for whatever’s clean or handy. It doesn’t have to take lots of time or feel daunting; in fact, we want it to feel like the total opposite. It’s more about taking ownership of and pride in what you decide to wear by seeing it as an expression of who you are and how you feel that particular day. Dress in a way that says, “I meant to do this, and I own the EFF out of it!” 

2 :: Use clothes to make you feel how you want to feel. The mega smart women I work with often find themselves putting together outfits using logic and following lots of rules that they either learned from a family member or friend, or picked up along the way. 

But, if you think of style as art – as a true expression of you, your emotions, energy and desires – there’s no room for thought! Get dressed from a space of feeling, and ask yourself, “How do I want to feel today?” then go from there.

3 :: Play dress-up. Go into your closet for one to two hours with the intention of having fun! Explore, discover, play, create…. Put things together in a way that doesn’t make logical sense and experience how it feels. It brings freshness and excitement to your current wardrobe. I guarantee you’ll come up with some pretty smokin’ outfits that would have never occurred to you (because again, you’re feeling, not thinking.)

4 :: Reconnect with yourself. What are some things that you love? Some stuff that makes you swoon and gives you butterflies? It’s easy to forget something as simple as what makes us giddy and floaty, but it’s super duper vital to avoid slipping into a rut and staying there. 

Start paying attention to the things around you and what gets your attention – this goes for clothes! When what you wear is in alignment with what you desire and love, it feels WAY more exciting than just throwing on a default outfit. 

5 :: Keep your mindset/limiting beliefs in check. Are there recurring thoughts or deeply-rooted limiting beliefs that keep you from fully expressing who you are through what you wear? If you don’t feel worthy or deserving of wearing beautiful things (even though you have kick-ass taste and really want to), you’ll keep reverting back to the standard meh outfits that communicate, “I’m not worthy or deserving.” 

If you believe that you have to lose X lbs. before you can start dressing in a way that makes you feel beautiful, chances are you’ll find another excuse even after losing the weight. 

Ch-ch-checkity check yourself before you wreck yourself and your style! Remember that no matter your shape, size, circumstances, budget, you deserve to feel AH-MAZING and in alignment with what you wear! 

Here’s to jumping out of your rut and getting into your NEON style groove!

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It’s a Sign is a compilation of self-improvement articles written by entrepreneurs seeking to bring holistic solutions to everyday problems. Read more articles from this feature.

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Eyenie Schultz, the Technicolor Priestess, is Brand & Style Alchemist who helps the Overachieving Misfit entrepreneur just like you, to show on the outside who she is on the inside, up her confidence ante and stand out with her distinct brand. 

Download your free e-guide, 7 Steps to Giving Your Style a French Twist to learn more about how to use your style to showcase your uniqueness. 

3 Quick Tips to Making Your Big, Glamorous Dreams Come True in Your 30s

3 QUICK TIPS TO MAKING YOUR BIG,
GLAMOROUS DREAMS COME TRUE IN YOUR 30s

Making Your Dreams Come True

Article by Keisha Shields
Photo Credit: Dasha & Mari
Magazine: Issue #29

Overachievers this is especially for you. So, you know those big, glamourous dreams that you’ve been secretly (or not-so-secretly) keeping from most of the people around you? You know, the idea that one day maybe you could own or have access to a private jet, or homes on multiple coasts, or being able to write out six-figure checks to the charities that you adore the most, or maybe all of those (I’m not alone in this, right?) plus many, many more. How about the big, glamorous dream you have of running a mega-successful brand (or two, or three) where you have so much time freedom, where you can choose what you want to do during your days, where you could take extended vacations or staycations with the ones you love?

So often we spend our 20s and the early part of our 30s beating ourselves up for not accomplishing more. More, more, more. The issue with this is that you need to be sure that you’re celebrating the goals that you are accomplishing while you’re on your way to making the bigger dreams happen.

Here are 3 quick tips to making your big, glamourous dreams come true in your 30s.

Quick tip #1: Consider whether or not reinventing yourself would be a fabulous thing for you to do!

So what do I mean by this? Pick one of your big, glamourous dreams (hmm, rather than BHAGs maybe we should focus on BGDs –big glamourous dreams) and evaluate whether or not who you are showing up as in this world is the person that would be able to bring that dream to life.

Quick tip #2:  Feed one dream at a time.

Eek! Ok, so before you overachievers break out into hives or sweats, let me explain. Feeding one dream at a time is all about you deciding which dream is a priority for you right now. This doesn’t mean you can only work on one dream at a time (heck, that would be so tough for someone like me) it just means that there is one dream that needs to be a strategic focus. Your deadlines, your milestones, your celebrations need to be mapped out so that you can track how close you are to making it your reality.

Quick tip #3: So what if it doesn’t come true in your 30s.

Yes, that’s a complete statement, rather than a question. When we have big, glamourous dreams (BGDs) they can often be the dreams that might necessitate long-term planning at this phase in your life. That’s ok. Some people might be able to cash in on their investments and make their BGD happen more quickly and someone else may need several years for that same BGD to come true. Guess what? That’s perfectly ok! Your journey belongs to you and after all, it is a journey. That means let’s enjoy the process of imagining, and feeling how amazing and glam we’re going to feel when the BGDs are what we are living.

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It’s a Sign is a compilation of self-improvement articles written by entrepreneurs seeking to bring holistic solutions to everyday problems. Read more articles from this feature.

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Keisha Shields is a luxury brand ambassadrice and reinvention dreams & glam mentor at Pink Label International for amazing women with big dreams. Her mission is to help as many women as she can (including herself) to explore and find out what all they are capable of doing in this world so they can live life in a big way. Ready to unleash and share some of your big, glamourous dreams? Realize that reinventing yourself might be a fun and fabulous way to stick with your BGD goals?  Register for Pink Label International’s free Reinvention Glam Guide for Brainy Girls with Big Dreams. 

How To Prevent Being Audited in 3 Easy Steps

HOW TO PREVENT BEING AUDITED IN 3 EASY STEPS

Article by Kathia V. Toraño, CPA
Photo Credit: Dasha & Mari
Magazine: Issue #29

How To Prevent Being Audited

The possibility of a tax audit haunts most business owners and keeps them up at night. The good news is that the IRS audits approximately 1% of all returns every year and the probability of being audited is actually quite slim. The not so good news is that you still need to be prepared and in this case, prevention truly is the best medicine.

Have no fear. Below you will find three easy steps to turn your business nightmare into your favorite bedtime story. 

Step 1: Maintain Good Record-Keeping

Good record-keeping begins with properly separating your business from your personal life. Most of us will be diligent enough to open a separate business checking account and perhaps also a business credit account. However, it seems that as life goes on and the bills come our way, we continue to pay for business expenses out of our personal accounts (missing out on possible business tax deductions) or pay for personal expenses out of our business accounts (distorting the true financial picture of your business and unintentionally claiming false tax deductions).

Reporting higher than average deductions is a red flag for the IRS, as is reporting income higher than $200K. In no way is this meant to discourage you from making the big bucks and deducting all the business expenses that you are entitled to. On the contrary, make sure that your expenses are properly classified into the accounts that they correspond to and that you have properly documented bills, receipts, and account statements to support your deductions.

Step 2: Double-Check for Accuracy

It is no secret that reviewing your tax returns before signing them is something you rarely do. This task certainly falls into “the boring stuff” side of the business. After all, your tax preparer is a professional and so whatever they choose to report seems to be good with you. Until, of course, the IRS comes knocking at your door. 

The truth is that management is always responsible and you should certainly compare the amounts reported on your tax returns to your financials. Ideally, your tax preparer will walk you through the return and explain what the numbers mean. Embrace the opportunity and ask questions. 

Also, remember back in school when the teacher used to remind us to write our names on all the exams, quizzes, and homework? Do it. Make sure to review your name, address, social security number, date of birth, and other identification data at the top of each tax return. You may be surprised by what you find.

I emphasize that you review your returns for accuracy, but no matter how much we double-check our work, typos do happen. Depending on where that typo is located, the IRS will contact you for additional information. Simply prepare a report or written explanation as necessary and return promptly to the address provided along with a copy of the original notice you received. Continue with timely follow up until the matter is closed. 

Remember, the IRS only communicates by mail correspondence. Any other type of communication is most likely fraudulent. For instructions on how to handle suspicious IRS-related communication, go to http://www.irs.gov/uac/Report-Phishing.

Step 3: Lead with Transparency and Honesty

In the words of Billy Joel, “honesty is such a lonely word… but mostly what I need from you”. Well, both the IRS and I share Billy’s feelings. 

After having maintained good record-keeping and double-checking for accuracy, your tax returns and financials may still draw questions when reviewed by someone who is not familiar with your business. It might be the outrageously big bucks you made throughout the year or a series of expenses that are specialized for your business. Whatever the case, be sure to lead with transparency and honesty.  

Already, the IRS requests that certain amounts reported on your tax returns be accompanied by additional information, listed in the form of “schedules” at the end of your return. If you feel that an additional explanation is necessary at some point, even though not required by the IRS, discuss with your tax preparer and include along with the other schedules. 

As we wrap up, I’d like to remind you that you are not alone. If you are a creative creature and the thought of managing the financial side of your business seems overwhelming… Well, thank goodness because it means that people like me will still have a job! Jokes aside, find a trusted financial partner – interview as many of them as you need to – and begin to face your financial situation head-on. 

Your financial peace-of-mind is just around the corner.

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It’s a Sign is a compilation of self-improvement articles written by entrepreneurs seeking to bring holistic solutions to everyday problems. Read more articles from this feature.

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Kathia V. Toraño is a CPA and founder of Noble Lion Financial, where she provides business consulting to passionate entrepreneurs. Visit www.NobleLionFinancial.com today and begin taking control over the finances of your business. Don’t wait. Start now by Separating Your Business and Personal Finances in 5 Easy Steps.

5 Super Simple Online Marketing Strategies For The CLUELESS Solo-Preneur

5 SUPER SIMPLE ONLINE MARKETING STRATEGIES FOR
THE CLUELESS SOLO-PRENEUR

Online Marketing Strategies

Article by April Ray
Photo Credit: Dasha & Mari
Magazine: Issue #29

Online marketing is confusing…!!

…At least it was for me when I first started way back in 2009.

The strategies haven’t changed much since then but, putting it all together was like pulling one hair at a time from my rather large head- painful to say the least. Maybe you feel the same way. Maybe you’re not quite sure where to start or what you should or should not be doing to promote your business online.

There are a lot of moving parts when it comes to building an online marketing business, I’m going to attempt to give you a few basic nuggets to jump from that will hopefully take you from CLUELESS to A LITTLE LESS CLUELESS in 5 simple steps. ;)

1| Online Marketing Strategies #1- Defining a Keyword Strategy.

In the simplest explanation of how online marketing works, people use keywords to find your site which increases your sales. Of course, it's much more complicated than that, but that does give you a sense of just how important your keyword strategy is. Keywords are the words that people type into search engines to find what they are looking for. If you're a dog grooming company in Boise, some of your keywords will be "Boise" and "dog grooming". But because you're probably not the only groomer in Boise, you're going to have competition out there for those keywords. That's where your keyword strategy comes into play. The goal here is to find keywords that have a high search volume but low competition. This means that people are searching for these keywords, but your competition hasn't optimized their sites for those words. By using keyword tools such as Google Keyword Planner from Adwords or Wordstream's keyword tool (both free), you can research and plan your keyword strategy effectively.

2| Online Marketing Strategies #2-Optimizing your Website to Increase your Online Presence.

Once you have your keywords, it's time to use them in order to optimize your website. Optimizing simply means creating a website that is more easily found by search engines. To do this, you'll need to sprinkle your keywords throughout the content on your page, including site titles, tag lines, your URL, alternative text, in your subtitles, etc. Basically, you want the keywords to show up so that when a query is entered by your potential customer or when a search engine crawls your site and indexes your pages, it will understand that your site is relevant to those keywords. The search engine will then direct traffic to your site, thus increasing the chances that you make a sale, which is the goal of online marketing.

Tip - If you don’t have a website... get one!

3| Online Marketing Strategies #3-Creating a Blog and Content Marketing.

Part of the content on your site that can be keyword optimized will be your blog posts. Blogs are a form of content marketing, or content that has the specific goal of creating relationships with your readers and driving sales. In fact, all content on your site should be driving sales as per online marketing 101, but it should also present some value to your viewers. This will keep them interested as well as attach value to your product or service. Plus, blogs have a few additional benefits such as creating fresh content (which helps you rank higher and stay relevant in the eyes of search engines and customers) and having the ability to go viral. An item that goes viral (most likely through social media, but sometimes email and other mediums), will increase the reach of your brand and message.

4| Online Marketing Strategies #4-Promoting your Content through Social Media.

Social media is a huge and free online marketing platform that is a must-have for anybody looking to increase their online sales. If you aren't on social media sites like Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram or Pinterest already, you need to be on at least 2 (some not listed here) by the end of the day. Social media allows you to connect and interact with fans and clients, tailoring and delivering your branded message for free while creating more in-roads to your website and keeping you fresh in the minds of your customers—and that's just the tip of the iceberg. The bottom line is that social media is the most popular online marketing tool nowadays.

5| Online Marketing Strategies #5- Turning those "Potentials" into Buyers.

Once you have a potential customer checking out your site, you want to have a sales funnel structure (don’t let me lose you here) that constantly pulls customers further towards making a purchase/signing up/downloading/etc. This is vital to the success of your online marketing efforts. To do this, your website should provide an easy-to-use customer experience that doesn't distract them from the final goal (the purchase). The customer should receive increasing value at each step of the way, further pulling them into the sales funnel. The site should also make it clear what the customer should do through the use of clear and concise calls to action.

Ok, what do ya think?

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It’s a Sign is a compilation of self-improvement articles written by entrepreneurs seeking to bring holistic solutions to everyday problems. Read more articles from this feature.

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April Ray is CEO and Founder of the Introvert Mogul Studios and creator of the "3 Must-Have Marketing Systems You Will Ever Need..." free audio mini series. Through her online courses, exclusive free trainings and engaging blog posts, she is here to help you craft your approach to a celebrity style business while feeling safe and secure in the privacy of your own home. Her adoring fans + customers have called her "Smart and Creative". If you would like to get the deets on the "3 Must-Have Marketing Systems You Will Ever Nee …”, listen to her free 3 part audio mini-series here.

Go Suck a Lemon! For Real... I'm Not Even Kidding.

GO SUCK A LEMON! FOR REAL... I'M NOT EVEN KIDDING

Article by Heather Jadus
Photo Credit: Dasha & Mari
Magazine: Issue #28

Go Suck a Lemon!

Lemons are so good for us that you should be part of your daily diet.  The best way to partake?  Squeeze a whole lemon into a glass, then pour at least 8 oz. of warm water. Drink away.  Doing this first thing in the morning before you do anything else is said to be the best way to do it.

So what are the benefits of fresh lemon juice when you drink it with warm water?

1. It helps the liver eliminate toxins and waste products.  The liver has various roles in the body including detoxification, protein synthesis, and production of bio chemicals to aid in proper digestion. Lemon water increases the livers detoxifying enzymes and helps the liver carry out these functions more efficiently.

2. It's alkalizing.  The body functions best in a more alkaline state and cancer cells tend to breed in an acidic body. Unfortunately due to the foods most people eat, the things they expose their skin to, and the environment they live in, most people’s bodies are very acidic. Lemons are alkalizing to the body and blood (although lemons are actually an acidic fruit).

3. It's a rich source of vitamins and minerals rich in vitamin C (anti-oxidant, anti-bacterial, & helps immune system), vitamin B (energy production), riboflavin (tissue repair, growth, & development) and minerals like calcium, phosphorus, magnesium (these minerals all help build strong bones & teeth).

4. It's super healthy for your skin. Lemon juice in water can act as an anti-aging remedy by removing wrinkles and improve the overall appearance of your skin. Your skin can’t look healthy if your body is holding onto toxins.

5.  It's good for weight loss.  Lemon water can help burn fat faster. When the liver is full of toxins it can’t metabolize fats as efficiently. 

I'm going to try this every morning for 30 days to see if it really helps.  I will keep you posted on my results for sure. 

Be Informed. Be Safe. Be Healthy.

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This class is FREE. Register for Toxic Beauty:101 now!

Knowledge is Power. So's Sharing it.

Knowledge is Power. So's Sharing it.

KNOWLEDGE IS POWER. So's Sharing It.

Article by Cinthia Singleton
Photo Credit: Dasha & Mari
Magazine: Issue #28
 

Knowledge is power. Well, that’s what Sir Francis Bacon first said, then many many others after him in one way or another. Then we all assumed that if one KNOWS something, extra-special, super powers are bestowed upon us. This, of course, also assumes a few things, that our knowledge is:

1. a vast amount of information
2. exclusive and specialized, unlike another’s
3. recalled swiftly and on demand
4. providing deep enlightenment
5. not only guaranteeing the extra-special, super powers but in perpetuity

Problem is this is also assumes that knowledge is wisdom when, without application, it’s just data, statistics, etc. So use it or lose it. Share it. THIS is part of being a compassionate member of a community, and it’s wise. True wisdom is the act of sharing the information you got. Therein lies the empowerment. 

So what’s the reason not to? No good one but the very real one is insecurity. We fear not being as expert as we perceive in our own head.

The Chopin preludes we play at home sound pretty darn good and skilled. Then we meet that person who can play anything by ear. [Insert Sound Effect: sad trombone] 

Question is asked of us, “How do you prune roses?,” and while we can garden like Mother Nature herself, we suffer a sort of stage fright as the librarian for the Gardening Dept. in our head can’t get to the filing cabinet fast enough. [Insert Sound Effect:  crazy run-slip-crash] 

Maybe it’s difficult for to explain step by steps and dry hows in an interesting, energized way. [Insert Homer Simpson loop: Youreboringeveryonequitboringeveryone] 

Perhaps we’re too attached to our title of Expert to share an iota of what we know because, well, then everyone will know and it/we won’t seem as precious. On the flip side, we might feel like only the real experts (Nobel Laureates, Golden Globe winners, published author agents) are listened to so why bother?

Yes, it can be awfully scary and risky to share this stuff but …

THE INFORMATION DOESN’T BECOME KNOWLEDGE UNTIL IT’S SHARED.

This is the true super power bestowed upon us. The dynamic of sharing. You and another. You and the class, workshop or the people who read your blog. The discussions. The questions. The comments that make you think. The answers that aren’t quite being grasped and need further extrapolation. The person who asks WHY in such a way we really need to deviate from rote explanation and challenge ourselves. New seeds are planted and from them grow further curiosity and passion. Doesn’t matter if it’s native “intelligence” or laboriously acquired with years of study; to not share what we know or what we’ve learned it is wasted arsenal. Henry Miller said something interesting about books, which also holds true for the information we can share with others: “When you have possessed a book with mind and spirit, you are enriched. But when you pass it on, you are enriched threefold.”

So whether it’s treating laundry stains, speaking a foreign language, splitting atoms or dancing swing, the dynamic of sharing (teaching, helping, healing) is the glue. It, not the information we amass, is why we’re here.  Sharing it is the power, wise one.
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“It ain’t no fun if the homies can’t have none.”  — Snoop Dogg

The Secret Wisdom of a Flow Creative

The Secret Wisdom of a Flow Creative

THE SECRET WISDOM
OF A FLOW CREATIVE

Article by Jennifer Nesbit Holt
Photo Credit: Dasha & Mari
Magazine: Issue #28

The words 'collective consciousness' come to mind when I think about the definition of a Flow Creative. But not in the way you think. A true artist embodies the ability to observe the world and collect a lifetime of data to skillfully see the relations and inner workings of life itself. As creativity pushes you further and further out of the confines of social rules and acceptance, you gain a balanced wisdom and inner knowingness.

Creativity might require a new way of looking at things but don't let times of challenge fool you. You are still a mighty source of creative flow and a true visionary.

So what is a Flow Creative?  

A Flow Creative is someone who wisely accepts an evolution of her life-cycles of creativity, as well as the dedication and persistence of the process itself. Revision, repetition and iteration (Returning time and time again to the creative process to birth a final truth).

Being a Flow Creative means that you create for your message, for your mission.

...and it means being able to find the flow in every second with an endless supply of insatiable curiosity to create.

It's creating pieces of art that has immeasurable and infinite value and energy.

It's being unforgettable when you confidently show up to the world, creating in a way that transforms you and those around you from the inside, out.

Embarking on a quest for artistic freedom is not without sacrifice, but it is in those impermanent, fleeting times your process is preserved and captured taking an, otherwise, intangible idea into a collective reality. More and more wisdom is gained and the bridge between life and art is built. As hard as it is to digest, disturbance is essential to your process. Transformation cannot be planned, yet an acceptance of a breakdown of ideas (and maybe even your psyche) is crucial to producing. These are the times we feel blocked or broken and fearful of our existence as an artist. 

The secret is to ride out the feelings and not abandon the work. Although potentially shattered, remember to continue the simple interplay of your materials, your space and your inner artist. Disequilibrium is just as cyclical as equilibrium, look deeper to discover the courage to continue.

Healing power resides in your art. Your creativity is the source of a therapeutic imagination for the creator, as well as the recipient. You are a Flow Creative!

What To Do When Everything Seems Out Of Control

WHAT TO DO WHEN
EVERYTHING SEEMS OUT OF CONTROL

What To Do When Everything Seems Out Of Control

Article by Ling Wong
Photo Credit: Dasha & Mari
Magazine: Issue #28

Have you ever felt like everything is spinning out of control and you are so overwhelmed that you have NO idea what to do?

The solution is not to do more, or to run yourself to the ground.

The first thing is to assume personal responsibility that we CAN take back control. When we feel like everything is out of control, we are relinquishing our personal power to external circumstances and taking on a victim mentality.

I don’t mean being a control freak – trying to control circumstances we cannot control adds a lot of undue stress, and further confirm that we are not in control! But we can decide how we perceive a situation and hence change how we react.

By surrendering, we often open up possibilities that we are unable to see because we are fixated on one specific outcome. There is a fine line between being empowered in a situation and letting go. For me, it always helps to stop, be still and listen.

After stopping and being still, the next thing is to exercise discernment and discipline. When we exercise discernment, we go back to understanding what’s important for us and get clear on the outcome we want. 

Then we can strip away things that don’t contribute to that end. More often than not, you will find that a lot of things just don’t matter, and you can stop doing them!

You also need discipline because it’s one thing to identify what can be stripped away, it’s another thing to really do it. We may be afraid that we are not good enough to make that judgment or let go of whatever we need to let go of. We may be afraid that if we don’t do certain things for other people, we will be considered not worthy. We may be afraid that if we don’t perform certain task a certain way, we will get criticized or judged. We may be afraid of missing out if we don’t do certain things.

We have to be able to see through our fears, and have the discipline to take the actions that will lead to the desired outcome.