We may not all have opportunity, or courage, to approach someone and ask them to mentor us. If you are currently in a socially isolated situation, or - up ‘til now - have lacked courage to approach someone, there are alternatives to having a living, breathing, face to face mentor in your life. Consider these points:

Choose a person with qualities you admire, who has passed on. Read biographies, study their philosophies. This can be a close family member or friend, or even someone like Albert Einstein, Eleanor Roosevelt, or Amelia Earhart. (Okay, some of my personal favorites!) Studying successful people you admire can inspire you to success.

Another alternative, and don’t limit yourself to just one - is to study from afar, someone living and breathing, who has those qualities you admire. They don’t need know you to mentor you. Their successes and way they conduct their lives can inspire you to YOUR success.

Consider way Michael Jordan has conducted his life. At top of his game of basketball, he wanted to try baseball. That took what I consider great courage.

Whomever you choose, they will demonstrate qualities you admire. This is what I have done with Robert G. Allen and Mark Victor Hansen, authors of The One Minute Millionaire. It was in this book that I first discovered benefits of mentoring. They inspired me to think outside box I was in, to take a good look at what I wanted in my life and make plans for achieving my goals. So, though I don’t know them personally, their words have affected me personally. I truly appreciate what they have given me.

Hopefully you are now imagining a few ways to find YOUR mentor - living or not. It could even be a combination. Don’t limit yourself! You could have a casual, one on one relationship with another mother whom you consider a mentor, someone who has already been through trials and tribulations of parenting journey. You may set up a more formal mentoring situation for yourself in your work situation. Then, you may chose a distant, less formal mentor for your personal success development.

Which ever method or combination of methods you chose, mentoring gives you support you require to succeed - even if it’s an innocent illusion!

Instead of : "I am so out of shape" Say: "I am strong and healthy"

Instead of: "I am an emotional wreck" Say: "I accept my emotional challenges, knowing I am growing"

Instead of: "I’m a loser with no friends" Say: "I value my alone time as a chance to know myself better"

Instead of: "I’m stupid" Say: "I learn something new everyday"

Instead of: "I’m broke all time" Say: "I choose to spend my financial resources wisely"

Instead of: "I hate myself" (uh-oh) Say: "I love myself"

Now, with affirmations, they may *feel* silly at first, but you don’t need to say them out loud for them to work. Said consistently, positive affirmation becomes a belief. This belief will cause you to act in a certain way. This new action becomes your *new*, desired and wired for success, reality.

So what are you really saying about yourself?