Reflections Of A Recovering Ugly Duckling | Self Acceptance Improves Self Esteem | Discover Your Talents And Accomplish Your

Sometimes an amazing thing happens when we are living our lives. We transform into the person we always wanted to be. Take a few minutes to think about who you were, who you are, and who you want to be. It isn't too late to start a new hobby, a new athletic endeavor or a new career. If you want to "be" someone else, now is your time to do it!   www.donnadoyon.com   The music is Drifting Upstream by Hyson. Source: http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Hyson/Soundtrack_for_the_Weary_Vol_I/Hyson_-_Drifting_Upstream License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Life can be exhausting... even (especially) the fun stuff. Sometimes we need to allow ourselves to experience some down-time to regroup and reconnect with ourselves. In this episode, I share some ways to restore your energy even when you only have a few minutes to do so.   www.donnadoyon.com The music is Drifting Upstream by Hyson. Source: http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Hyson/Soundtrack_for_the_Weary_Vol_I/Hyson_-_Drifting_Upstream License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

It isn't always easy to ask for what you want in life. But sometimes, that's the only way you can hope to get it. People can't read our minds, and expecting them to do so, may lead to disappointment and hurt. Learn how to ask for what you want. Sometimes you'll get it. Sometimes you won't. But you can move on without it.   www.donnadoyon.com The music is Drifting Upstream by Hyson. Source: http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Hyson/Soundtrack_for_the_Weary_Vol_I/Hyson_-_Drifting_Upstream License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

I have a challenge for you... Take a quick few minutes to list the people who have made an impact on your life (for better or worse). Think of people who exist in your current world, and people from your past. Think of people you grew up with, went to school with, worked with, lived with or near. Now count the number of people you've connected with in recent months. Consider the quality of that connection. Was it a quick "like" on a Facebook post? Was it text message reminding someone to do something? When was the last time you reached out to someone just to let them know you care? In this week's episode of Reflections of a Recovering Ugly Duckling, I share tips on the lost art of connecting with the people we love with short, personal notes. www.donnadoyon.com The music is Drifting Upstream by Hyson. Source: http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Hyson/Soundtrack_for_the_Weary_Vol_I/Hyson_-_Drifting_Upstream License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/  

Do you have a lifelong dream? A dream that has been a part of you for so long that you don't remember a time when you didn't want to do it? Perhaps your lifelong dream is to something unique or fun. Perhaps your dream is to meet someone you admire. Perhaps your dream is to see a specific place on this planet. Whatever your dream, whether it's practical or not... likely or not... do you have the courage of heart to pursue it? In this week's episode, I share a couple of my lifelong dreams and offer ideas on how you can experience your own. www.donnadoyon.com   The music is Drifting Upstream by Hyson. Source: http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Hyson/Soundtrack_for_the_Weary_Vol_I/Hyson_-_Drifting_Upstream License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/  

I don't know if you've noticed... but I am not perfect. I know... it's hard to believe. But there it is. And you know what? I bet you aren't perfect either. And do you know what else... do you know the MOST IMPORTANT "WHAT ELSE" is? It doesn't matter! We are all imperfect beings. Accepting our own imperfections and learning to embrace the imperfections of others is one of the keys to happiness and fulfillment. In this week's podcast episode, I'll share a list of my imperfections and how I stopped caring about them (or am trying not to care so much about them). Enjoy!   www.donnadoyon.com The music is Drifting Upstream by Hyson.Source: http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Hyson/Soundtrack_for_the_Weary_Vol_I/Hyson_-_Drifting_Upstream License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

A backhanded compliment... unfair criticism... we've all experienced them. They don't leave you feeling all warm and fuzzy inside, do they? Instead they leave us feeling worse than if nothing had been said at all. In this week's episode I share my extremely frustrating and disheartening workplace environment that frequently explodes with unfair criticism and backhanded compliments. This practice wreaks havoc on my morale and my level of "give a darn." The most frustrating thing is that is doesn't have to be this way! Read more tips on dealing with unfair criticism in the show notes. www.donnadoyon.com   The music is Drifting Upstream by Hyson.Source: http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Hyson/Soundtrack_for_the_Weary_Vol_I/Hyson_-_Drifting_Upstream License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/  

Do you consider yourself creative? Do you actively pursue your creative interests? If you do… YAY!! If you do… do you share your creative projects with others or do you create in secret like I do… er… did.  If you don’t, why don’t you? Are you concerned with what others might think or say? Have you been convinced that creative pursuits are a frivolous waste of time or money? In this week’s episode I break free of a few of my self-imposed restraints so that I can freely share and celebrate my creativity. I never really appreciated how much courage it can take to be a creative.   www.donnadoyon.com   The music is Drifting Upstream by Hyson. Source: http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Hyson/Soundtrack_for_the_Weary_Vol_I/Hyson_-_Drifting_UpstreamLicense: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/  

I love quotations! I can scan through image quotations for hours. It never ceases to amaze me how many search results there are for "motivational quotations" or "leadership quotations" or "quotes about Monday." The words of other people impact us. They can guide our thoughts, they can direct our actions. Our own words can guide our thoughts and direct our actions, too. Unfortunately, I know too many people who talk a good game, but never seem to actually play the game. I think perhaps, I was over-exposed to such people this week, because this week's podcast topic came to me easily. HA HA Which do you think has a greater impact? Actions or words? In this week's episode, I'll share my thoughts on the topic. Enjoy! www.donnadoyon.com The music is Drifting Upstream by Hyson. Source: http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Hyson/Soundtrack_for_the_Weary_Vol_I/Hyson_-_Drifting_Upstream License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/  

One morning I awoke to the sound of rain hitting the skylight above my bed. The rain didn't leave me feeling discouraged or bummed about the rainy day ahead of me. Instead I became more aware of the wonders of water. From the soothing sound of rain on the window panes, to the comforting sound of a toilet flushing, to the refreshing taste of a thirst-quenching gulp--water is a wonderful and amazing gift. If you enjoyed today's episode, please share it with your friends. www.donnadoyon.com   The music is Drifting Upstream by Hyson. Source: http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Hyson/Soundtrack_for_the_Weary_Vol_I/Hyson_-_Drifting_Upstream License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/  

Shiny objects... what are they and how are they impacting what you accomplished yesterday and what you hope to accomplish today? In this week's episode, I talk about the distractions that steal our attention from tasks or opportunities that we'd previously chosen and committed to focusing upon. www.donnadoyon.com     The music is Drifting Upstream by Hyson. Source: http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Hyson/Soundtrack_for_the_Weary_Vol_I/Hyson_-_Drifting_Upstream License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

I'm sorry... Do you mind if I ask you a question? I know I should probably know the answer... Has anyone ever asked you a question that starts with an apology? Do you start your questions with an apology? In today's episode, I talk about how that diminishes your power as a learning individual...   www.donnadoyon.com   The music is Drifting Upstream by Hyson. Source: http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Hyson/Soundtrack_for_the_Weary_Vol_I/Hyson_-_Drifting_Upstream License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Imagine writing your life story. What are the most important accomplishments you've experienced? What are the challenges you've overcome? What have been the high and low points that have made you the person you are today? What title would you give your book? Next. imagine if someone else wrote about your life? Now, now... don't tell me you are boring and there is nothing to say about your life. I know that is not true! You've made an impact in this world. And the reality is, just because something may seem small to you, doesn't mean it's small to someone else! So... back to the question... if someone else were looking at your life, from the outside, what would they write about? What would they call your life story? In this week's episode, we explore this topic. Have a listen...   www.donnadoyon.com   The music is Drifting Upstream by Hyson. Source:  http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Hyson/Soundtrack_for_the_Weary_Vol_I/Hyson_-_Drifting_UpstreamLicense: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/    

Anyone who has known me for long, knows I enjoy reading. I enjoy fiction for relaxation and non-fiction for self and business development. Books were a key part of my relationship with my kids when they were little. They became more important as my children grew into teenagers. I loved seeing my children read and would frequently ask if I could read their books when they were finished. This accomplished a few things: It showed them that I was interested in what they were interested in. We'd have great discussions after I finished reading their books. It taught them both the importance of not spoiling books (or movies) for someone who hasn't read/seen them yet. :-) It opened my eyes to genres and authors that I probably would not have explored on my own. BOOKS. ARE. AMAZING! What are you reading these days? www.donnadoyon.com The music is Drifting Upstream by Hyson. Source:  http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Hyson/Soundtrack_for_the_Weary_Vol_I/Hyson_-_Drifting_Upstream License: http://creativecommons.org/l

How do you see the world around you? Do you look at it from a positive perspective or do you focus on the negative? Do you give people the benefit of the doubt for their choices and behaviors or do you pass judgment upon them? Perspectives change everything. In today's episode, I challenge you to look outside your own frame of reference and try to see the world from someone else's point of view. It isn't as easy as it may sound.   www.donnadoyon.com  The music is Drifting Upstream by Hyson. Source:  http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Hyson/Soundtrack_for_the_Weary_Vol_I/Hyson_-_Drifting_Upstream License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/    

We all make mistakes. We need to remember, though, that our mistakes and bad decisions do not define us. We also need to learn how to accept our mistakes, learn from them, and then move on. www.donnadoyon.com The music is Drifting Upstream by Hyson. Source: http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Hyson/Soundtrack_for_the_Weary_Vol_I/Hyson_-_Drifting_Upstream   License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/  

There are times when I spend too many hours obsessing over things that I know are silly. Things like should I cut my hair short or keep it long? Does it matter? Does anyone care? Do YOU care? Probably not. In this week's episode I share my dilemma AND my interpretation of what's really going on in my brain. If you find your mental energy consumed with making a decision on something that you know really isn't important, then perhaps this week's episode will give you a new perspective on how to deal with it. www.donnadoyon.com The music is Drifting Upstream by Hyson. Source: http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Hyson/Soundtrack_for_the_Weary_Vol_I/Hyson_-_Drifting_Upstream   License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Quick. Give me three words to describe yourself. No, don't think about it too much. Just tell me what words pop into your head. Got them? Three words? Good. Now take a little time to think about them. Think about why they are your first thoughts. Then dig a little deeper to come up with a dozen or more other words to describe you. In this week's episode, I share some thoughts on the words we use to describe ourselves and how limiting they can be. I also offer a few tips on how to expand our vocabulary when it comes to choosing those adjectives and nouns that convey to the ourselves (and the world) who we are and what we have to offer. www.donnadoyon.com The music is Drifting Upstream by Hyson. Source: http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Hyson/Soundtrack_for_the_Weary_Vol_I/Hyson_-_Drifting_Upstream   License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Time management. There are books written on the topic; classes taught on the topic. It is something most of us want to become better at, but yet we don't have the time or take the time to figure out a better way to do things. In today's episode I am introducing a new audio challenge program that will soon be released (hopefully it will be available upon publication of this episode) to help you reclaim some wasted time in your day. The goal is to free up 30 to 60 minutes each day so you will have time to consistently pursue activities to improve your health, relationships, or overall sense of satisfaction with your life. The time to reclaim your time is now!  www.donnadoyon.com The music is Drifting Upstream by Hyson. Source: http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Hyson/Soundtrack_for_the_Weary_Vol_I/Hyson_-_Drifting_Upstream   License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Sometimes I get tired of hearing people say, "Quitting is not an option!" I get tired of hearing and reading the motivational quotations that urge me to continue traveling on whatever path I've taken to whatever destination I thought I wanted to reach. Sometimes I believe that quitting IS an option. Sometimes I think quitting is the BEST option. And that's the topic of this week's episode of Reflections of a Recovering Ugly Duckling. www.donnadoyon.com The music is Drifting Upstream by Hyson. Source: http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Hyson/Soundtrack_for_the_Weary_Vol_I/Hyson_-_Drifting_Upstream   License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/