By Andrea T. Goeglein
I wish I never had to be #VegasStrong or #BostonStrong or #HoustonStrong. That is my truth, plain and simple. It is also my truth that I know how to be emotionally strong because I have a habit and a practice that supports me when life calls for me to be strong.
My personal habit started with forcing myself to learn to be grateful (you read that correctly, forcing myself to learn to be grateful). After I had read a Dr. Norman Vincent Peale book and a Tony Robbins book, I thought “positive thinking” and an “attitude of gratitude” were two of the dumbest things I ever read.
My practice of gratitude was followed by the next dumbest thing I was forced to do, write my thoughts in a journal. That practice became a habit thanks to a class I needed to take in graduate school, Spirituality and Leadership, designed and delivered by Dr. Julie Indvik. My initial journal entries were so vulgar I cannot write them here. Suffice it to say, I used some strong, choice, New York words to tell Professor Indvik what I thought of her and her assignment.
I needed to be even stronger, however, when I was advised to develop the habit of investing 20 minutes a day in prayerful[1] meditation. I did not believe a word I was being told that this investment would change my life. I knew I wanted my life to change. I also knew I did not want to sit quietly for any amount of time. Yet I was strong, and I have persevered with that practice to the point now that it has become a life habit I would never give up.
I am doing something a bit different in this blog. I am including three videos, not one. Together they comprise my work called The Habit: Writing. Reading. Reflection. You will notice in the Writing video I mentioned it being the ‘first’ in the series. Honestly, start anywhere. Just start. Also, you will notice that I use prayer, meditation and reflection interchangeably. I do that to honor wherever you are when you start. Makes no matter to me. As I wrote above, just start.
[Video] The Habit: Writing
[Video] The Habit: Reading
[Video] The Habit: Reflection
Dr. Success Challenge: Watch one video a week, for the next three weeks. Then every ten days for the next 30 days, I will re-send just one of the videos, with the research that supports how creating The Habit will make you stronger.
My hope for us all is that our need to be #Strong stops, yet I know that developing The Habit will support your need to be strong.
#BeStrongAlways #BeBrave #BeLove
[1] I learned to meditate using the Prayer of St. Francis.
