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I’d like to welcome Stephanie to the blog today, a writer for houstonnanny.com. With a love of children, Stephanie has many years of experience as a nanny and has always been involved in childcare activities.
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Many of us were raised in environments that weren’t conducive to a positive upbringing. The opinions and teachings of our parents and role models have a profound impact on how we view life and adapt to our circumstances. Being raised in a volatile family myself, I know its difficult to separate oneself from certain conditions. But, it doesn’t mean we have to continue our typical cycles of behavior. By centering ourselves in our own world, we each can begin to develop a stronger self image to break repetitive cycles.
Self-Confidence – Building self-confidence can be a difficult task regardless of your situation. In my case, it literally took several years and two daughters for me to find my own methods for building self confidence. It’s not simply enough to “think positive” to facilitate changes within yourself. You have to “know” these changes are positive. If you waiver from this frame of mind, you can inadvertently instill doubt within yourself. Building self-confidence doesn’t guarantee you’ll be successful in your future endeavors, but it greatly increases the chances.
Cause and Effect – As you may have heard others say, “no one can force you to change.” In a sense this is true, but we have to realize that if we can’t follow through, we have to live with the consequences. Although I did love my ex, I tried to change for him when I should have been focusing on myself. While that relationship ultimately ended, I know I am a better person and I’m also now in far more positive relationship for the true me.
The Power Within – Inner power can do amazing things in life. Unconditional faith in ourselves is not always easy, but it truly helps us handle what is to come. While it’s OK to lean on the support of others, we can’t become dependent on them to fix our problems. Believing in a higher power may give strength to overcome obstacles, but always remember it is you who is accomplishing the task. I recharge my batteries with religion, but I always know I am controlling the outcome.
Getting Psyched Up – Many people get themselves psyched up in order to prepare for upcoming tasks. For myself, this included a daily pep talk in front of the mirror reminding myself of my daily goals and how I “will” accomplish them. With the right self-talk, you can empower yourself and even get an adrenalin rush, goosebumps, and feel more energetic than you have in years. Getting motivated is worth it to you and your children.
Learn from Experiences – Very few people succeed on a first attempt. Since childhood, we’ve all been learning through failed attempts. As long as you don’t turn those failures inward, you can learn what went wrong and how to adapt for next time. I’ve failed in quite a few attempts in my life, but I truly don’t see them as failures. I consider them important “learning experiences.”
For me, I slowly built up my courage and self-confidence, first by setting small goals that were easier to accomplish. With each success, I grew more and more confident about the next set of goals. By setting the bar higher each time, you can cultivate that blooming flower within yourself. You’ll never know what you may have missed if you don’t take control of your life. I know I wouldn’t have met my spouse without developing the strength to break my old cycles, and it has been the most rewarding relationship in every aspect of my life.
If you want to get in touch with Stephanie, contact her at stephanie.houstonnanny@gmail. com.
