Would you hand over your paycheck to someone who makes you unhappy?

Have you ever felt unhappy because of someone's actions or behaviors toward you? I once felt that way about a former boss. In hindsight, I allowed myself to feel like a victim.

Over time, I discovered that no one holds the key to our happiness; not our parents, not our children, not our boss, not our friends, not our boyfriends. When we blame others for our unhappiness, when we feel unhappy because someone does not validate for us that we are special, we disempower ourselves by placing our happiness in THEIR hands.

Think about it. You wouldn't hand over your paycheck to these people and empower them to spend your money, so why give them power over how you feel?

TAKE BACK YOUR POWER!

Reconnect with Your Authentic Self "I am the master of my fate. I am the captain of my soul." These are powerful words from the poem Invictus by William Henley. It has become a mantra I use throughout my life. Use these words to help you reconnect with your authentic self.

Take a walk through nature. Observe the miracle of life and remind yourself that you are part of this miraculous Universe. You are here for a reason. You serve a purpose.

No one's opinion or treatment of you can change that. They cannot dim your light for you are always Divinely supported.

Learn and Move Forward
 Every experience teaches us something. So, learn from your experience and move forward. Many times the lesson is about love. Love of self and others. Send these people love. This may be hard at first. Know that when you put LOVE into the Universe it comes back to you.

Take Responsibility
Assess your situation and take responsibility for how you allow yourself to be treated. "If you want to be successful, you have to take 100% responsibility for everything that you experience in your life" advises Jack Canfield. I took responsibility for allowing myself to feel disempowered. I released blame and reclaimed my power.

Remind yourself that no one has dominion over your happiness and your life. This profound truth liberates you.

What You Can Learn From the Romantic Period (Part 2)

"When dealing with people, remember you are not dealing with creatures of logic, but creatures of emotion." ~Dale Carnegie

The fascinating period in history known as the Romantic Period is the basis for this three-part blog which examines three “Romantic” principles you can apply to your life to achieve positive change and fulfillment.

Last week, part one gave an overview of the Romantic Period and covered the first principle, Express Yourself. You may catch it here.

And now for principle two…

2. Remember the Importance of Emotions
Romantics such as Beethoven and Schubert placed emphasis on emotion rather than intellect. They explored their minds and FEELINGS and they used art and literature to express their emotions.

While intellect plays an important part in our lives, emotion is also important to us and our relationships. Yet, sometimes we choose to hide our emotions because in many instances, it is what we have been conditioned to do.

When I was 12 years old, my father passed away unexpectedly. Perhaps through being conditioned by society, I thought I was being strong by not CRYING at his funeral.

We are afraid to cry and we view people who cry as weak. We are afraid to hug others because it is too “touchy-feely,” and we sometimes refrain from using the word “love.”

I once worked in an organization where the culture allowed us to express our emotions. We greeted each other with hugs instead of handshakes, the CEO told us he loved us, and it was not unusual for people to express themselves through TEARS. We were encouraged to live our lives with passion and enthusiasm!

This type of work environment allowed us to create strong bonds and made us feel like part of a family. It did not prevent us from maintaining a professional work environment or professional relationships.

Choosing to express your emotion can be as simple as telling your child you love him/her, expressing your genuine appreciation to a co-worker, letting a parent know how grateful you are for his/her love and support, or expressing your passion and enthusiasm for something.

You may also choose to perform a kind deed for someone; sometimes action speaks louder than words.

Expressing your emotion does not mean you have to hug every person on the street; although, this approach may help make the world a better place and has worked well for others. Watch video

In what ways will you choose to express your emotion?