Smart Women Believe

Last night, our family went to The Grove here in Los Angeles. The Grove is a large retail shopping center that really goes above and beyond decorating for the holidays. They have a beautifully decorated tree larger than the one at Rockefeller Center in New York. They "create" falling snow every evening. For children who live in So. Califo ia, this is a delight! As we strolled through the crowd, I noticed a very long line of children waiting outside a rather large gingerbread house. As my children and I peeked through the windows, we could see old St. Nick sitting inside with a child on his lap. You could see the look of excitement and intent on each child's face. These children believe that they will meet Santa. They believe that he has come from the North Pole just for them and he will hear each one of their wish lists and make their dreams come true. I sure do remember what that felt like when I was a little girl. This got me thinking about how Smart Women need to believe in their dreams with a lot of excitement and intention in order to make them happen. The first step to realizing your dream is to Believe that you can and will turn it into a reality. Believe in yourself. Believe that you are worthy of the goal. This mindset is the seed that must first be planted before any other plan of action can be taken. Remember: Mindset first, details later. In order for you to accomplish something new in your life, you must first Believe. Many times, we take some sort of action on a dream or goal. If our first attempt does not work, we can be quick to give up or begin to think that it was not a great idea after all. We "hoped" it might happen. We did not fully "believe" that it would, without a doubt, happen. Rarely does anything work out perfectly the first time--remember your first kiss? Here are a few examples of "hope" instead of "belief": "I hope it will happen." "I will give it a try." "I hope it works." Do you feel moved by these statements? Do they sound like statements filled with courage and conviction? It is you who must first believe in your idea or dream before anyone else will believe. You are the messenger, the spokesperson for your idea. Your attitude or belief about your idea will be the reason that others will follow you. Whatever it is, before any plan of action can be taken, you must believe and have a clear vision that it will happen. I have a plaque on my desk that reads in big bold letters: "It Can Be Done." It serves as a reminder to me about the power of Belief. How about you? Do you have a Big Idea or dream that you want to accomplish? Are you excited about 2009 and all of the possibilities it holds for you? Here are a few solutions to help you Believe: 1. Surround yourself with "nutritious" people who Believe in you. People who are positive that are also accomplishing their dreams. You want to be with people who champion you. I would not be where I am today without my coaches, mentors, and all of the positive people in my life. 2. Write down all of the great compliments and rave reviews you have had from other people and place them where you can see them daily. You need to remember just how wonderful you are! This will help you continue to Believe in yourself and your idea. 3. Celebrate your progress along the way. Treat yourself to something you enjoy when you cross a milestone. There is a great book that I always enjoy reading to my children at this time of year, "The Polar Express." It's a magical story that I recommend for both children and adults. In the story, it is those who believe that have the most enjoyment and excitement along the way. Success comes to those who Believe. Start believing in yourself today. When you do, others will too. Anything is possible. Everything is waiting for you. *****