What I Know for Sure

What I know for sure is that whatever your situation is right now, you have played a major role in creating it. With every experience, you build your life, thought by thought, choice by choice. And beneath each of those thoughts and choices lies your deepest intention. That's why, before I make any decision, I ask myself one critical question: What is my real intention?

Live so that at the end of each day, you can say, "I did my very best".

If life teaches you nothing else, know this: When you get the chance, go for it.

Dream big - very big. Work hard - very hard. And after you've done all you can, fully surrender to the Power.

Move in the direction of your goal with all the force and verve you can muster - and then let go, releasing your plan to the Power that's bigger than yourself and allowing your dream to unfold as its own masterpiece.

You start to notice moments of what some people call serendipity but I like to call marvelisms. Because when I'm doing everything I'm meant to do to keep my mind, body, and spirit whole, I constantly marvel at how other experiences fall into place.

And if you have no life to live for yourself, then why are you here?

I know for sure that taking care of your body, no matter what, is an investment, and the return is priceless.

Every Sunday, I would go to church, sit second pew to the right, take out a notepad, and write down everything the minister said. At school the next day, I would recite the sermon on the playground. I called it Monday-morning devotion. The other 8-year-olds would see me coming and say, "Here comes that preacher".

The truth is that the naysayers in your life can never be fully satisfied. Whether you hide or shine, they'll always feel threatened because they don't believe they are enough. So stop paying attention to them. Every time you suppress some part of yourself or allow others to play you small, you are ignoring the owner's manual your Creator gave you. What I know for sure is this: You are built not to shrink down to less but to blossom into more. To be more splendid. To be more extraordinary.

Beginning when we are girls, most of us are taught to deflect praise. We apologize for our accomplishments. We try to level the field with our family and friends by downplaying our brilliance. We settle for the passenger's seat when we long to drive.

...but I also know for sure that having the courage to stand up and pursue your wildest dreams will give you life's richest reward and life's greatest adventure.

What I know for sure is this: Whatever you fear most has no power - it is your fear that has the power. The thing itself cannot touch you. But your fear can rob you of your life.

The Creator has given you full responsibility for your life, and with that responsibility comes an amazing privilege - the power to give yourself the love, affection, and intimacy you may not have received as a child. You are the one best mother, father, sister, friend, cousin, and lover you will ever have.

One of my greatest lessons has been to fully understand that what looks like a dark patch in the quest for success is the universe pointing you in a new direction.

If you're holding anyone else accountable for your happiness, you're wasting your time. You must be fearless enough to give yourself the love you didn't receive. Begin noticing how every day brings a new opportunity for your growth.

It's important to know when and how you were programmed, so you can change the program. And doing so is your responsibility, no one else's. There is one irrefutable law of the universe: We are each responsible for our own life.

I was the only child for miles around, so I had to learn to be with myself. I invented new ways to be solitary. I had books and homemade dolls and chores and farm animals I often named and talked to. I'm sure that all that time alone was critical in defining the adult I would become.

Whether you flounder or flourish is always in your hands - you are the single biggest influence in your life. Your journey begins with a choice to get up, step out, and live fully.

I have always adored the word delicious. The way it rolls off my tongue delights me. And even more delectable than a delicious meal is a delicious experience, rich and layered like a fine coconut cake. I had one a few birthdays ago - both the cake and the experience. It was one of the moments I call a God wink - when out of the blue everything lines up just perfectly.