Project Lifestyle Change: Lesson #1

GET OUT OF YOUR OWN WAY. There are literally millions of self-help books written every year that can be summed up in this one statement. It's time to make a change. I know it and you know it. Doing the same things over and over and expecting a different result is, well, insane. But change is hard; it's uncomfortable. It requires effort, persistence, commitment and other words that equal WORK. This is likely why change is infrequent. Or could it be that we know that making a change could actually make us successful?

Fear of success is much more common than one would think. Many times the fear is connected to the fear of what others might think or say. If you achieve more than those around you, will they still treat you the same? Will they feel bad? Will they abandon you? The fear of criticism is intimately related to the fear of success. By continuing to fall prey to hiding your light, you fall victim to self-sabotage and become your own worst enemy.

Take a hard look at yourself and identify where you may be holding yourself back because you fear that others will criticize your decision to change for the better. Get out of your own way and you may inspire someone else to do the same!

Our Deepest Fear by Marianne Williamson

Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate.
Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.

It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us.
We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant,
gorgeous, handsome, talented and fabulous?

Actually, who are you not to be?
You are a child of God.

Your playing small does not serve the world.
There is nothing enlightened about shrinking
so that other people won't feel insecure around you.
We are all meant to shine, as children do.

We were born to make manifest the glory of God within us.
It is not just in some; it is in everyone.

And, as we let our own light shine, we consciously give
other people permission to do the same.
As we are liberated from our fear,
our presence automatically liberates others.
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"I Can. I Will. I Am."  The Official Fit Neighborhood Mantra