For Speaking Ease, Forgive Your Younger SelfWritten by Melissa Lewis
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meeting, perhaps you who completely forgot to include those important statistics when making big proposal to Board of Directors. That younger self looks at you timidly, filled with embarrassment and shame for poor performance. After years of being angry at and embarrassed by this younger self, you feel compassion. Looking at this poor suffering soul, you realize it’s time to let him/her off hook. This younger self has suffered enough. As you let go of your judgment, you realize that that younger self did very best job possible, given where he/she was at time. (Your corny meter may be going off but stay with me here!) Now, reach out, embrace and forgive that younger self. Give that younger self some comforting words of encouragement and soothe pain they’ve been carrying around all these years. Take burden off his/her shoulders as you both let it go. Imagine a conversation between your present and former selves. What went wrong that day? What was learned? How can present you and former you work together to speak up with more confidence in future? You may have several past “selves” to forgive. Picture each past self who disappointed you and go through same process. You might be surprised at how this can lighten your load and ease your discomfort. We can’t improve in an atmosphere of self-blame and criticism. When we speak, all we can do is best we can do. Sometimes we succeed. Sometimes we fail. But chastising ourselves for past mistakes can only hold us back. Let your “selves” off hook and move on. Forgive person you were and accept person you are. It’s through compassion that you'll create even better person you are becoming.
Melissa Lewis turns traditional thinking about public speaking upside down to give people more comfort, confidence and charisma in front of groups. She is a former comic actress, a certified facilitator of SPEAKING CIRCLES , president of the National Speakers Association Kansas City Chapter and author of the soon-to-be-released book, Upside Down Speaking. For more information call (913) 341-1241 or visit www.upsidedownspeaking.com.
| | Are you really ready?Written by Jennifer Lester
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Ask yourself following questions and write your answers down. Who am I? What do I want? Where do I want my life to be in 5 years? What type of person would I want to share my life with? What are my strengths? What are my weaknesses? Is there anything I would change about myself, and why? What are things that I will not tolerate in a relationship? Take your time answering all of these questions. It is a small price to pay for time you will not be wasting dating wrong kind of people at wrong time for you. In long run it is better to be alone for a while then always lonely. Love yourself first – others will follow.
Jennifer Lester is an online dating expert who offers her advice and guidance through the world of online dating at her web site: http://www.lovepersonally.com – The tour guide for your online dating experience.
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