To the class of 2021 \u2013 congratulations! You’re a graduate, AND you’ve lived through a pandemic. There’s nothing that you can’t survive.\u00a0 Big round-of-applause!<\/p>\n
Here are some lessons that I’ve learned throughout my life that I hope to pass on to you.<\/p>\n
#1 Be you. Be only you.\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n
However, you manifest in life. Meaning love who you want to love, how you want to love them, practice whatever faith practice you wish to practice. Wear what you want to wear.\u00a0 Identify how you want to identify.\u00a0 Raise your kids how you want; you don’t want kids great. Whatever job you feel called to do\u2026do it (what you do for a living doesn’t define your value as a human). Just be you. Unapologetically YOU.<\/p>\n
#2. Don’t compare yourself to others.<\/b><\/p>\n
Doing this just gets you stuck and distracts you from your purpose and your ability to contribute to the world. Sometimes you will be ahead in your progress, and sometimes you will be behind.\u00a0 The only block to you reaching your highest potential is your unwillingness to go there.<\/p>\n
#3 There is no one prescribed path to success. <\/b><\/p>\n
It’s not a straight line.\u00a0 You will get knocked down.\u00a0 You will fall short.\u00a0 You will fail.\u00a0 Yet, the most valuable wisdom will come from hard-won lessons.\u00a0 Know that everyone has made mistakes on their journey through life. It’s not about the failure; it’s about how you recover from the error.<\/p>\n
#4 You can be and do whatever you want if you’re willing to put in the work.\u00a0\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n
#5 Treat your body with gentleness and love.\u00a0 <\/b><\/p>\n
It is the most fantastic vehicle you will own for the rest of your life. Be kind to your body. Be kind to yourself.<\/p>\n
#6 It’s okay not to know at 22 what you’re going to do with the rest of your life. <\/b><\/p>\n
When I went to college in 1994, I thought I would be a large animal veterinarian until I took Organic Chemistry (an experience that promptly ended my science career).\u00a0 I pivoted and tried something completely different \u2013 an internship as associate producer for a local news station. From that experience, I thought, “oh, I’ll be the next Diane Sawyer,” Right!?\u00a0 Wrong.\u00a0 Life threw me another curveball which landed me in sales, marketing, training, and promotions, for a corporate media conglomerate.<\/p>\n
Then on January 20, 2009, at the height of the recession, I found myself caught up in a round of 30,000 layoffs – a defining moment in my career. As I explored what was next, I hired a coach who subsequently changed my life. The support and guidance of a personal coach helped me realize my passion for helping others and desire to make it a career. More importantly, I recognized how impactful and life-changing a great coach can be. This lived experience inspires and motivates me to share my unique gifts and talents to make a difference in the world.\u00a0 That figurative speed bump (a.k.a. “getting fired”) became the launchpad for my calling \u2013 becoming a coach. This what I was born to do, what I love, what I live for, but I didn’t figure that out until I was thirty-two years old.<\/p>\n
#5 Listen to your inner wisdom versus your ego. <\/b><\/p>\n
Wisdom whispers ego shouts. Figure out times in the day where you can quiet your mind, get out of your thinking brain, and connect with your heart, soul, and spirit.\u00a0 That is the space where all things are known and understood. The place of confidence and quietness and peace free from the noise, distraction, and endless chatter of the world.<\/p>\n
#6 Seek opportunities to diversify your network. \u00a0 <\/b><\/p>\n
Diversity assists us in deepening the understanding that there is no one “right” way to do things.\u00a0 When we listen and learn to seek a deeper understanding of other humans, diversity enriches our lives. We become more in touch with our humanity which allows us to connect to our shared humanity. Because at the end of the day, we’re all the same, and we all have value no matter how we show up in life.<\/p>\n
#7 Practice being a better human by treating other humans better.\u00a0 <\/b><\/p>\n
For thousands of years, systems of oppression, oppressive processes, and oppressive procedures have existed, fed on, and continued to live through the demonstration of dehumanizing behaviors, actions, and language.\u00a0 Educated yourself.\u00a0 Question all your conditioning, beliefs, and thoughts. Then from a place of love, begin to dismantle anything within yourself that does not contribute to the greater good of all living breathing beings.\u00a0 Modeling genuine inclusivity and belonging inadvertently gives others permission to do the same.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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