Expressing Gratitude and Being Happy

“If you haven’t all the things you want, be

grateful for the things you don’t have that you wouldn't want."

As you sit at your computer reading these words, you probably have a lot to be grateful and appreciative for.

You have access to the world’s information at your fingertips and more knowledge than any king or wise man in history at your disposal! However, it’s easy to take our lives for granted and focus on things we don’t have!  As a group, we humans have a tendency to always want more…and often we only realize what we had once it’s gone.

Learning to be thankful and expressing gratitude is an important part of being happy!  Being thankful gives us an appreciation for what we have.  Even when you don’t feel like you have much to be thankful for, realize that there’s someone out there in this world of 6 billion people who would look at your life and trade places with you in a heartbeat!

Thanksgiving is right around the corner!  I appreciate each of you, I’m grateful for your friendship and I wish for you much happiness as we enter this holiday season!  Enjoy the quotes below…..and everything in your life!

  

Reading gratitude quotes can be a way to remind yourself that you have much to be thankful for!  You might be able to use one of these as you begin your Thanksgiving celebrations!  Enjoy!

“We should all be thankful for those people who rekindle the inner spirit.”   -Albert Schweitzer

“As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them.”   -John F. Kennedy

“I start every day with a heaping dose of positive attitude and gratitude.”  -Jan Olson

“Let us be grateful to people who make us happy; they are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom.”  -Marcel Proust

“What can you do right now to turn your life around??  Gratitude.”  -The Secret

“Feeling grateful or appreciative of someone or something in your life actually attracts more of the things that you appreciate and value into your life.”  -Northrup Christiane

To speak gratitude is courteous and pleasant, to enact gratitude is generous and noble, but to live gratitude is to touch Heaven.”  -Johannes Gaertner

“When I started counting my blessings, my whole life turned around.”  -Willie Nelson

“I still miss those I loved who are no longer with me but I find I am grateful for having loved them.  The gratitude has finally conquered the loss.”  -Rita Mae Brown

“Breathe.  Let go.  And remind yourself that this very moment is the only one you know you have for sure.”  -Oprah Winfrey

“Some people are always grumbling because roses have thorns; I am thankful that thorns have roses.” 

-Alphonse Karr

“The deepest craving of human nature is the need to be appreciated.”  -William James

“When eating bamboo sprouts, remember the man who planted them.”  -Chinese Proverb

“Maybe being grateful means recognizing what you have for what it is.  Appreciating small victories.  Admiring the struggle it takes to simply be human… At the end of the day, the fact we have the courage to still be standing is reason enough to celebrate.”  -Meredith Grey

 

Hopefully these quotes about being thankful have inspired you to look for ways to be grateful in your own life.

If you have your own ideas or quote that you’d like to share – please send them to me!  I’ll use them in the future…and I’ll be extremely grateful!

Happy Thanksgiving and Live every day with HorsePower!

Betti

#speaker, #keynote, #communication #dallas

“Life Begins at the End of Your Comfort Zone!

“Life begins at the end of your comfort zone”….so go and make some magic happen…with HorsePower!

Everyone has a “comfort zone”…you know…that space where you live comfortably in your boundaries and your sense of emotional security is warm, cozy and safe.  Then there are those that constantly push and test the limits! You already know which of these traits lead to success and accomplishment!

Comfort zones have a purpose - they protect us. Not everyone needs to be jumping off cliffs or out of airplanes! Those zones keep us from taking on more stress and anxiety than we’re equipped to deal with. However, eventually, familiar routines will keep us from learning and experiencing new things that are potentially good for us! How do you know when your comfort zone is holding you back?  Are you noticing?

                  Excessive stress                                                                         Boredom - too comfortable

                  Self-criticism                                                                              Envy

                  Anxiety                                                                                          Excuses…lots of them!

                  Feeling stagnant - No motivation                                  Feeling Underutilized

                                                                                                                             

Okay…maybe it’s time to stretch!  Think of something that will be challenging and provide stimulation! Something you’ve never done before! Pushing yourself out of your comfort zone is key…stagnation is the enemy!  Here are some ideas to stay in the “sweet spot of challenge” and keep a distance from the “dreaded comfort zone”:

·       Create a major goal requiring incremental ones!

·       Find a hobby with physical movement…and push yourself!

·       Learn a new skill… even if it’s tango dancing!

·       Brush your teeth while standing on one leg!

·       Get intentionally lost…find your way back using maps…no GPS!

·       Get creative!  Try an art class, karate, climb a mountain, test a new recipe – something NEW!

·       Change your routine!

·       Write a book!  Become a mentor!

·       Take an improve class!

·       Get over your intimidation – hang with people more successful than you – and network!

·       Hate eating tomatoes or fish as a kid?  Try them again!

·       Take a trapeze class!

·       Volunteer at a non-profit…do a good deed!

·      Live in prime time rather than watching prime time!

Contact me for some more ideas!  Remember… “Pressure is a privilege!”

Stay Hungry…and Live with HorsePower!

Betti

Scary Communication Fears!

                 

Boooo!   Happy Halloween!

Thought we’d talk about a big fear that many people have…the fear of Communicating! 

More than anything else communication fears can limit and torment us!  This fear can prevent us from meeting new people, strengthening our relationships, moving ahead in our careers…and generally overall connecting with our fellow humans!

Jerry Seinfeld made famous the line about funerals and public speaking: “According to most studies, people’s number one fear is public speaking.  Number two is death. Does this sound right?  This means to the average person, if you go to a funeral, you’re better off in the casket that doing the eulogy.”

C’mon…let’s take that scary communication fear by its spooky, scrawny neck and gain control! Get your bucket of Halloween candy, enjoy the communication ideas below…and conquer those fears!

Fear can be a good thing!  It reminds us of our humanity, keeps us from getting hurt and activates our “fight or flight” reactions to protect us in threatening situations.  As communicators however, we need to overcome the fear that may prevent us from trying to connect with others!

FDR said “the only thing we have to fear is fear itself.”  His wife’s challenge inspires me more: “do one thing every day that scares you.” Eleanor recognized the value of fear and moved forward!

So what kind of communication fears do people have? Here are a few for you to do a self-assessment:  fear of public speaking, meeting new people, asking for help, asking someone out on a date, asking for a sale, asking for a promotion, being rejected, etc….

“Who you gonna call…Ghostbusters!” and what can you do about it?  Here are some ideas about overcoming communication fears.  It might be challenging at first, but keep at it!

#1 – Acknowledge, identify and claim your fear!  Determine what your fear is – detail it and write it down.

#2 – Get motivated!  Understand the misery this fear is giving you and take action!

#3 – Learn the tools and techniques to conquer this fear!  Take some courses, get some coaching, and get ideas from trusted sources.  Learn how to conquer this fear and be relentless!  Stay motivated!

#4 – You’re going to make some mistakes…but keep at it!  A few stumbles will actually help you.  Learn from your mistakes and “war wounds” and you’ll start seeing progress!  Your confidence will grow!

#5 – Remember, communication skills are different than technical skills – if you don’t use them, you’ll lose them!  Don’t let those fears sneak back in!  The more you practice – the more you’ll learn and the better you’ll get!

Only by pushing through our fears in communication (and life) are we able to grow and succeed.  Commit to taking action! Change is scary….but slaying that dragon will be worth it!

Betti

#motivationalspeaker #keynotespeaker #fear #dallas #horsepower

Who Are You When You’re At Your Best?

 What are you like when you’re at your very best?  How about when you’re at your worst?

Before we go further, take a few moments and write down 5 of the most outstanding adjectives that describe you.  Don’t be modest – give yourself credit! 

Now, write down 5 adjectives that describe you at your worst…and don’t go easy on yourself…be honest!

So which one is the real you?

Read below and take the reins to discover more about you…your leadership style and how better to work with people!

Ride Every Stride with HorsePower!

The answer is both!  Most of us don’t often feel like our best selves…and are not keen on acknowledging our worst selves. True leaders need real self-awareness – a fearless willingness to look at what motivates their behavior, and to recognize the impact they have on those they lead...particularly when it’s destructive.

Each of us can be pushed into negative responses when pressured, threatened or confronted.  We can be triggered! But we don’t have to fire!

The more aware we are of our feelings, motivations and reactions - the better we are at managing ourselves – and the more successful we will be! 

In all honesty, I completed the exercise above…and was proud of the first 5 adjectives! Then I became embarrassed with the last 5 because I knew that those “quick, reactive actions” affected those around me.  As uncomfortable and vulnerable as it makes me feel – I’m now trying to think before taking action…and make a choice about how to act, rather than simply reacting!

The better we understand and manage ourselves, the happier and more successful we will become – in every aspect of our lives!

So here’s to embracing all those adjectives that make you special!

Ride on with self-awareness and be in total control of your reins!

For more information, contact me at betti@betticoffeypresents.com

#motivational #speaker #keynote #dallas