Vida Guide to Successful Living

“If you can learn how to use your mind, anything is possible” Wim Hof Our perception(s) and our reaction(s) to anything and everything in life is the only thing we have any control of. This Thanksgiving weekend 2019, I have been reminded constantly of this very key lesson of life. It all started with my son (soon to be 16) not wanting to travel with his boring Mom to San Francisco for our annual post-Thanksgiving camping trip. I don’t think I’m boring at all but I figured that’s how he probably feels about me right now at this age. That’s my perception mind you, he hasn’t actually told me this is how he feels. He was excited about the trip until neither his girlfriend or friend’s could make it. I was a bit hurt Thanksgiving evening and had a good cry about it and thought about enticing him with a shopping spree but then I said to myself “it’s OK if he doesn’t want to go”. I was pretty proud of myself for not letting his decision make me too upset, start blaming him or his Dad or f...

"Life begins at the end of your comfort zone" Neale Donald Walsch  Below is an excerpt (in bold) from Chapter 3 of my book: "You have balls the size of melons" this is what my friend and quasi-business mentor told me shortly after we met in 2014. I knew myself to be a pretty confident person and particularly a confident and independent woman but I had never been told that before. It always makes me laugh when I remember her telling me this, so I thought it would be fitting to title this chapter on confidence with her phrase and praise. It is essential to develop confidence so that we can change the world and ourselves. OK, I know some of you might be thinking "I don't want to change the world and I definitely don't want to be told I have balls the size of melons", well, maybe guys do? I do think however that we all secretly wish to make a lasting contribution or difference in this world. Or at the very least, to know that our lives have purpo...

I was listening to Impact Theory's (Tom Bilyeu) interview with Trent Shelton. Trent was talking about sharing our gifts with the world and how we usually doubt ourselves, how we doubt that we actually have anything of value to contribute. Then he shared how his mother inspired him to speak, to share his message, when she said to him " Trent, s omebody needs your story"  As usual, the timing of certain messages never ceases to amaze me. This was a message I really needed to hear. You see, lately I have been wondering if my 2 year delay in publishing my first book was a sign that it shouldn't happen. I was wondering and doubting that I really had written anything of value to share. Despite mind you, being told many times over the years by different people (both males and females) from all walks of life, that I have helped, inspired or influenced them in some way. Although, these moments of hesitation and self-doubt are infrequent, lately I have been having them a li...

"Your mindset is your greatest superpower" Nick Santonastasso I was listening to one of my favorite You Tube channels, Impact Theory, when I heard this quote, it struck a chord, I resonated with it. I love quotes and I love quotes about the power of our minds. I had never heard of Nick Santonastasso and it was an interesting and inspiring interview. I have listened at this point, probably to hundreds of interviews by Tom Bilyeu and most of his guests speak about the power of mind. Ultimately, I do believe our mindset is in fact our greatest superpower.  Lately however, I have been contemplating a lot just how difficult it is for most people to tap into our greatest superpower, myself included. I have been somewhat disillusioned with the lack of long-term, positive changes in people's lives despite years of counseling, therapy or coaching. Sure some people benefit and can make significant changes to their lives but it is  usually a very small percentage. With all the...

"Most human beings live like a bird in a cage whose door is blown away. Too busy gold-plating the cage to soar to their ultimate possibility" I am subscribed to Sadhguru's daily quotes and when I received this one, I thanked the Universe for sending it. It was a much needed reminder especially, as I will be making a very significant change in my life in the next few months. A change that had already been in motion but got placed on hold for a year, while the journey of grief and healing took place. As these next months progress, I need to be careful not to fall into the trap of thinking I'm free when in fact, I am still caged. I have never been one to spend too much time and energy gold-plating my cage, to the chagrin of my husband and probably horror of family and friends. We have bought and sold several properties in the past 20 years and have both earned and lost a lot of money along the way. In fact, I am still paying some of it off. I have never been one to h...

"Cry yourself a River, Build yourself a Bridge, then get Over it" I saw this quote on a bumper sticker many years ago and thought how wise. It represents my model of living life and particularly how to deal with the hard times and crisis in our lives. I have always felt it is necessary and nothing to be ashamed of to have our own pity party when we confront troubles no matter how insignificant they might seem to others (and it's usually our own minds doing the comparison). Or when we are just feeling sad, down or sorrow for whatever reason or circumstance. You are feeling whatever you are feeling and that's it and it's ok...cry yourself a river. Stay in bed, feel sorry for yourself even if just momentarily, see a counselor, find someone to talk to, whatever it is you need to do to give expression to your hurt, pain, sorrows, etc...just don't try to deny, justify, intellectualize or try to answer why you shouldn't be feeling this way. If you try t...

The title of this post is a quote from Lord Byron. It speaks to the amazingly complex and beautiful thing most of us have the privilege of having (full use of) and yet so few of us know how to really use and that is our Mind. I have been in complete awe since about 2013 with the amazing power of our minds, in essence the higher faculties of our minds which are; reason, memory, perception, will, intuition and imagination .   However, I must admit that I have been equally amazed at how challenging it can be to harness this power. I believe harnessing this power leads to what’s referred to in the personal development/self-help field as “transformation” and in doing so, be able to live joyful, purposeful and fulfilling lives. Sounds great right? Yet, I have at times been very discouraged at just how challenging harnessing this power can be for most us. Especially for those of us that have never been taught anything about these higher faculties of the mind and those of us who have...