OWNING: There's Only One of You

Martha Graham, a famous dancer and choreographer in the early 20th century, wrote in a letter to one of her students:

"There is a vitality, a life force, a quickening that is translated through you into action, and there is only one of you in all time, this expression is unique, and if you block it, it will never exist through any other medium; and be lost. The world will not have it. It is not your business to determine how good it is, not how it compares with other expression. It is your business to keep it yours clearly and directly, to keep the channel open."

Graham's words ring true. There is only one of you in the world:

The way you think, the way you see things, the way you respond, the way you nurture yourself and other people, the way you go about doing mundane things.

The way you love, the way you express, the way you tell a story, the way you write.

The world will know of and witness only one you. The totality of you -- talents, nuances, thought processes, expressions -- will never be repeated.

Hide the real you from the world and the world is deprived of your uniqueness.

But graver than hiding is constantly measuring yourself against others, and finding and deciding you are not good enough. Too much self-criticism is the downfall of many. It derails many a pursuit, dream, passion.

Look honestly within and find if you have been doing this to yourself. And if you have -- it doesn't matter up to what extent -- take out a measuring cup and get a scoop or two of self-kindness.

And then apply Graham's words to your life:

"It is not my business to determine how good I am, not how I compare with others. It is my business to do what I believe is true to who I am, and pursue the passions that fulfill my sense of self."

Make it your business to own you with no reservations or conditions.

Then bask in the knowledge that there will never be another with a soul that is exactly as unique as yours.

Writing activity: Write about how you nurture others -- your child, a parent, your spouse, a friend. Write about how you do it -- the ways that are uniquely yours.

Write under the comfy blanket of self-acceptance.
Copyright © Shery Ma Belle Arrieta-Russ

About Shery: Shery is the creator of WriteSparks!™- a software that generates over 10 *million* Story Sparkers for Writers. Download WriteSparks!™ Lite for free at http://writesparks.com

Book Discussion With Host Fran Lewis

Join Fran on April 3 at 4PM EST 3PM CST and her guest David Morrell for a great discussion.David Morrell is the author of First Blood, the award-winning novel in which Rambo was created.

He holds a Ph. D. in American literature from Penn State and was a professor in the English department at the University of Iowa. His numerous New York Times bestsellers include the classic spy trilogy The Brotherhood of the Rose (the basis for the only television mini-series to premier after a Super Bowl), The Fraternity of the Stone, and The League of Night and Fog. An Edgar, Anthony, and Macavity nominee, Morrell is the recipient of three Bram Stoker awards and the prestigious Thriller Master award from the International Thriller Writers organization.

His writing book, The Successful Novelist, discusses what he has learned in his four decades as an author. Publishers Weekly chose his Victorian mystery/thriller, Murder as a Fine Art, as one of the top 10 crime novels of 2013.

Learn more about the host and our network at http://worldofinknetwork.com
Read articles, discover books and much more on our blog!
Keep up to date with The World of Ink Network at our Facebook fan page!

Listen to the show live or later as a podcast at http://www.blogtalkradio.com/worldofinknetwork/2014/04/03/book-discussion-with-host-fran-lewis

Blog Talk Radio's Families Matter Show - Topic: Alone Together

Join Irene Roth and Virginia S Grenier every 3rd Friday of the month for the Families Matter Show here on BTR's Freatured World of Ink Network.

Each month the Families Matter Show will cover topics on the importance of family to empowering our children.

This months topic: Alone Together: How Technology has Separated Us from Each Other
We are all over-connected through cell phones and other technological gadgets. Even when we are together as a family with our children, we seem to be texting and playing video games. We are multi-tasking masters. But it is at the peril of teaching our children the true art of communication. Kids are having a harder and harder time to really connect with each other, be they friends, siblings or parents. We as parents should find ways to show kids the importance of empathic connection.  We could this in the following ways:

• Having unplugged times when we could related to one another personally and face to face;
• Having times when we are doing things as a family as opposed to watching television all the time;
• Going out for walks as a family;
• Doing family activities;
• Just hanging out as a family;
• Having a sit down meal at least a few times a week.

By taking these steps we could saving our children the hardship of not being to effectively communicate when they get older. We need to be parents who are not alone together but openly and empathically together.

Listen to the podcast at http://www.blogtalkradio.com/worldofinknetwork/2014/02/21/families-matter-show--topic-alone-together

5 Tips to Overcome a Lack of Motivation

Often times just getting started is the hardest part of any project due to a lack of motivation. This frustrating mental barrier is a very real obstacle that confronts each and every one of us from time to time. Developing certain habits to restore and maintain your motivation in order to start and complete any given task is the basis of today's article.

Here are 5 tips to that will help you get motivated and maintain your drive regardless of what your goals may be.

Plan Your Work

It is important that you organize your efforts in a way that makes sense and proves most effective towards reaching your goals. Set up a schedule of when you intend to work on a particular project and how much time you intend to devote to it. Be realistic with your goals, the amount of time you'll need and when that time will be available to you.

If the project is important, enough you'll want to consider scheduling the best time of day when you are at your best and most productive. For some people it is easier to get motivated in the early stages of the day when their energy level is at its highest.

Work Your Plan

Now with your plan in hand it is time to take immediate action. Your planning stages were the time to thoroughly think through the most efficient and effective process that will get you the results. Here is where you put that plan into motion and without hesitation. Simply following the plan you've developed will bring you closer to your desired results while increasing your sense of accomplishment.

Pay close attention to not second-guessing yourself or reworking your plan. This will only burn more time and decrease both your self-confidence and your motivation. This is a dangerous scenario that could end up completely sabotaging your drive.

The busier you stay the more progress you'll make and the more your self confidence will grow. Along with this will be a renewal of your own motivation to continue to move forward! This is the type of cycle you want to be in!

Set Short Term Goals

One of the best ways to motivate yourself and maintain your drive to complete your project is to set short-term goals. These are a great way of measuring your progress and helping you to recognize that you are moving closer to the completion of your project.

Achieving your short-term goals and taking the time to identify that you have done so increases your own self-satisfaction. This helps make your efforts seem less like work and the last time I checked there wasn't anything wrong with that!

Avoid Routine

If the efforts you are putting forth involve any sort of repetition change things around to keep yourself more stimulated. Perhaps perform certain tasks at different intervals. Maybe even alternate these tasks to keep things more interesting. What you want to do is to minimize your boredom and increase your interest. This will lead to you becoming more fully engaged therefore making your efforts all the more productive!

Schedule 'Down Time'

As with most things it is easier to give it your best when you're fully rested. Be sure you include 'down time' in your scheduling to recharge and re energize. It will be easier to motivate yourself and keep your focus once you get back to your scheduled tasks.

Overcoming a lack of motivation, in most cases, is essentially overcoming procrastination. By simply getting involved in any given project, you will begin to see progress, which in turn will further motivate you. It is the underlying dread that perhaps our efforts won't bring the results we seek that weaken our motivation and make the first step usually the most difficult! As Nike used to say 'Just Do It'!

About The Author TJ Philpott is an author and Internet entrepreneur based out of North Carolina. For additional online success tips and a free guide that demonstrates how to find both profitable markets and products visit: http://affiliatequickstart.com