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

We all have those days. We wake up in the morning, we think we are putting on a pair of favorite blue jeans, but we get to work and discover... "Oh no! I put on my cranky pants today!" Yikes! We warn anyone who crosses our path to beware. "Do not poke the bear!" we advise them. But some people like to live dangerously, don't they. And so yes, they poke the bear. In today's episode, my last one recorded as a lovely (sometimes cranky) 53-year-old woman, I talk about dealing with the stressors in life. Some are self-imposed (as was my case this week) and sometimes we allow them to impose upon us. In either case, we and the people around us, need to deal with the person we become. Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde?   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/

How do you know what you are capable of doing if you never look back to see what you were capable of doing? "I never thought I could do it... but I did... What else can I do?" In today's episode, I share a bit of insight from my last weeks as a 53-year-old woman. I talk about the importance of looking back over time to see what you've accomplished or what you've let slide by without taking action. Then I encourage--no, I challenge--you to move forward with the bit of insight you've gained. 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/  

When you want to make changes in your life, what strategy do you use? Do you count on willpower to aid you in making lasting changes? Do you follow a strict code of discipline? Or to you build new habits into your routine? In this week's episode, I share thoughts on all three and which is the most effective for long term, sustainable changes.   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/  

By nature, I am a serious, focused person. I've always said that I don't know how to play. I never enjoyed playing as a kid, I found it challenging to play with my own children. Playing is not something that comes naturally to me--it is not easy for me. Some people are known for being fun and fun-loving. In many ways I envy them. But in some ways, I *gasp* judge them. I know, that's a horrible to thing to say, but if I see someone having "fun" at someone else's expense, or in what I perceive to be an irresponsible way, I--well, I judge. Judging other peoples' behavior, is of course, not a good character trait. Believe me, I know this. I also know that by admitting it, I am one step closing to overcoming it. So I decided to take a little time to explore and reflect upon the topic of "fun." I thought that if I knew how to have fun, I might have a better respect and appreciation for the way other people participate in fun activities. Let me tell you, today's episode on "fun" was one of the most difficult episode

Do you ever wish there were more hours in a day? Do you wonder why your friends or co-workers can get so much accomplished, and you can't seem to get anything done? It can be easy to feel overwhelmed with all that you have do on a daily basis. It can be hard to feel like you have any choice but to keep toiling away like you do every single day. But you do have a choice. You do have the power to make the changes needed to become more productive. When you are ready to start making changes in your life so you can spend time and energy working toward your goals, use this matrix to help you determine where you are currently spending your time and energy. It is within your power to change your results by changing your focus. Strive to live in Quadrant 2. It is where happily ever after lives.   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/    

Anger, hurt, frustration, and confusion are just a few of the emotions that can linger and fester after we've experienced a traumatic or disappointing event in our lives. These feelings may even creep in when we are not directly impacted by the event. We share the pain and emotions of friends and family members when they experience trauma or disappointment. I don't deny that life can throw some tough stuff at us. Believe me, I've experienced my share. In today's episode I briefly talk about one of the most devastating things a parent can experience. Yes, life can be hard. Although it can be easy to get trapped by the feelings of those moments, allowing ourselves to let those feelings linger and fester, will only slow down or completely stop our forward movement toward our goals. 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/    

Did you grow up hearing that you should always have money set aside for a rainy day? Do you have money set aside for a rainy day? If you don't, you are not alone. Many people think of their credit cards as their emergency fund. Unfortunately, using your credit card in emergency situations only adds to the pain of the emergency because you end up paying interest rates (sometimes significant in addition to the cost of the emergency). In this week's episode I talk about the peace of mind you can have by setting aside money to only be used in emergencies. I also talk about what is and what is not an emergency!   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/    

Ahhh... a clutter-free home. That would be a dream come true! Clutter is an energy sapping, time sucking, distraction. Clutter keeps you from focusing on the things that matter the most to you. In this episode, Donna offers tips on how to overcome everyday clutter. P.S. It's up to you to do the work!  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/  

Today's episode focuses on two quotes from the Disney movie The Lion King. Both have to do with believing in yourself. I hope you enjoy it!   "Believe in yourself and there will come a day when others will have no choice but to believe in you."   "Look inside yourself. You are more than what you have become. " - Mufasa from the Lion King                                  -------------------   Learn more about yourself and all that you can achieve in life by visiting 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/  

How do you manage your time and energy each day? Do you have enough of each to be sure the important things in your life are taken care of? Do you know how to identify the important things from the less important and the insignificant? In this week's episode, I share the story of The Jar of Life and challenge you to make sure you are fitting the most important things into your life.   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/  

"If you do not change direction, you may end up where you are heading.” ~Lao Tzu   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 start and restart the same goals over and over again? Are you frustrated that life gets in the way of your dreams? Would you like to have a safe place to ask your questions, share your frustrations, and revel in your successes?  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/

In this week's episode, I talk about exploring volunteer opportunities that add magic to your life. Have you ever been happy with the way something was, but then you learned there was a new and improved version? Initially, you scoffed at the idea that it could get any better. You shook your head and rolled your eyes (or maybe even rolled your head and shook your eyes!) at why anyone would think they could improve upon perfection! You gave the new "whatever" a try and found yourself impressed--even amazed! Yes, this was EVEN BETTER than the original! That's what volunteering can do. It can add even more to your already great life. And if you feel like your life is lacking in some way, volunteering might be the piece that is missing. 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/    

Many years ago I attended a professional speaking course called CLASS (Christian Leaders, Authors, and Speakers Services). Marita Littauer and her mother, Florence Littauer, led the training. Both were vibrant, high energy, polished professional speakers and wonderful teachers. One of the training sessions of this multi-day training class was based on their signature "Personalities" presentations. This is how Marita opened that presentation: "Have you ever noticed that there are people in the world who are different from you? Perhaps you live with those different people or work with them. While you can't change them--even though you may have tried--you can change the way you approach them." That presentation, and many future hours spent reviewing other personality-based training information, changed my approach to dealing with people. In this episode, I share some of my frustrating interactions with people at work and at home and how I manage to deal with them. If you ever experience the frustrations of deali

Many women do not have a positive body image. But did you know that a negative body image can actually be harmful to your health? It can lead to depression, anxiety, a feeling of not being good enough or not belonging? We can try blaming our challenge with negative body images on the media and we can try to blame it on society, but I think we need to look a little closer to home. We need to take a close look at the person in the mirror (and I don’t mean your spouse, child, or pet standing behind you!). Many times the focus on body image is applied to teenagers--especially girls. Experts talk about the changes a girl’s body is going thru as she develops breasts, starts her period, and hair grows where it didn’t before. Women our age also experience body image challenges as our once perky breasts sag, our waistlines expand (even if we have not gained any weight!), and our hormones wreak havoc with our sense of femininity when our reproductive system closes for business. I encourage you to remember that our body

In today's episode I talk about things we can do to prepare ourselves for retirement. If you, like me, have noticed that January 2017 is already half over, you probably also noticed that 2016 went by like a flash. It's crazy how quickly time passes. The older I get, the faster time passes. That means that if I want to be ready to greet my retirement years well prepared, I need to start focusing my attention on those needs now!     http://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/  

In this first episode I share a few thoughts about dealing with the negative voices that prevent us from being who we were destined to be. I also offer tips on strengthening your positive inner voice. These voices impact all areas of your life: your health and fitness, financial status, relationships and personal development. Developing a positive inner voice is one of the best things you can do for yourself!   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/    

The movie “It’s a Wonderful Life” starring Jimmy Stewart is a Christmas classic. In this episode I share thoughts on the movie and how each one of us is living a wonderful life. You never know how or when you are impacting someone’s life in a dramatic way.   http://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/  

An easy to understand formula to help you bring about the changes you want to see in your life. It comes down to the basics of knowing what you want and why you want it and taking action to bring about the results you want. It's simple, but not always easy!   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 share my reasons for starting the Reflections of a Recovering Ugly Duckling podcast and the meaning behind the title.    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/