Photo by Sneaky Elbow on Unsplash
I didn’t just wake up one morning and think “you know, I’ve had enough of this baggage, I think I’m going to set it down.” Part of me wishes it had been that easy, but then what would I have to write about? Instead, I took the long road of realization that I was even dragging baggage around. The process of identifying the baggage and figuring out how to set it down (and not pick it back up) has been a long one. It’s a process I expect to be going through right up until they put me in the incinerator.
I’ve amassed a nice collection of tools in the process that I use daily, recommend regularly and am constantly adding to. Some you may be familiar with, some may be new. Either way, each one has helped me along the path to where I am today and will continue with me through the rest of the journey.
- My faith. I can’t say enough about this. Believing that there is a God who loves me, has a plan for my life and wants what is best for me has kept me moving forward every time I felt like everything was falling apart.
- Celebrate Recovery. CR is a Christian 12 step program, using the same 12 steps in AA, NA, CoDa, etc. The biggest difference is that while the secular recovery programs list “God, as you understand God” as the Higher Power, CR specifically names Jesus as the Higher Power.
- Flylady (www.flylady.net) I was sent the link to the Flylady website at a time when I was drowning in depression. Using compassion, common sense, and humor, Marla Cilley, AKA Flylady helped me break down the overwhelming mess of my life into bite-sized manageable chunks and gain some semblance of control. One of her sayings that has become a mantra in my own life is “you can do anything for 15 minutes.”
- Jim Rohn. “America’s Foremost Business Philosopher.” I was introduced to the teachings of Jim Rohn when I got into Network Marketing. While he was mostly known in the business community, his message is relevant to anyone wanting to achieve balance in their lives. While Jim Rohn is my favorite, there are many coaches that I love that can also be found at www.success.com
- Books. Some close to me would tell you that I’m a book junkie. I can accept that. I have a wide variety of personal development, “self-help,” financial, devotionals, etc that have helped me to develop my own philosophy. I love opening my mind to new ideas and hearing the expertise of people far more education and experienced than myself. You will probably see me refer to a lot of different books should you decide to hang out and follow this blog.
This is just a quick list of my most important “go to’s.” They are the biggest influencers of who I am today. They’ve helped me shed some baggage, teach me to identify more and help me figure out where I want to go in life.
Are you familiar with any of the specifics I’ve named? Do you know of something I haven’t named but would probably want to check out? Drop me a line in the comments and tell me about your favorite tools!
