By Guest Writer, Andie Graff, So Lucky To B Me Tees!

Did you know that the achievements we reach in our lives are affected by how we see ourselves?  Two small words…self-esteem, but one huge quality. Self-esteem is beliefs or feelings that we have about ourselves, or our “self perceptions.”  How we define ourselves influences the choices we make everyday from how we dress to who are friends are. Our self-esteem continues to change as we grow.  I feel as women it grows increasingly more difficult everyday to feel good about “who” we are and it’s because of society’s idea of the “perfect” woman. We all tend to believe that we are not good enough.

Regardless of what size you wear, your skin color, your past, the color of your hair, what you “own”, the car you drive, the accomplishments that you have or have not made, these are “things” about you, not who you are. They do not define you, you are the one and only you, and I believe that is good enough and quite frankly it’s more than enough.  Because you are a unique piece to the puzzle that makes up this world and it would not be complete without you.  You are worthy of being loved for being you.

I want to encourage you to feel lucky about the person you are, because luck isn’t just about four leaf clovers, rabbit’s feet and horseshoes. It’s about the gift of you, who you are, a confident and emotionally healthy individual. Striving everyday to be someone that is filled with compassion, caring and understanding. You bring qualities to this world that no one else can. Look at the world today so much is about improving, fixing, or changing what we have. Whether it’s as simple as your cell phone or as complex as you. Adjustments to the outside are just that, they are about exterior show.

What’s going on in the inside is where the integrity lies. We are all lucky and we matter not because we have the newest gadget. We are overwhelmed with material things starting as children. The greatest gift you can ever give to your child is a strong sense of individuality and pride in WHO they are. That will come from seeing you accepting and being happy with yourself. Positive messages reinforce positive thoughts and actions. Saying “I am So Lucky To B ME” is simply saying, “I love myself and I believe in myself”.  Embracing who you are, accepting your differences and believing in your self are what being lucky is all about.

I’m Andie Graff the creator of the inspirational t-shirt line called So Lucky To B Me. This line began as a way for me to empower myself and find my independence after my marriage of 18 yrs. ended.  Fortunately because of my strong self-esteem I knew that the material things I was losing did not define who I was. It quickly became my passion to encourage and inspire every woman to realize that your worth should be based solely on the person that you are, not the things you “own”  or who society thinks you should be ,that you are a person of value just by being the best YOU.

Always remember;  “Your castle can burn down, your riches may dwindle, your looks will fade, but WHO you are shall remain.”   I hope you will visit us @ www.soluckytobme.com and tell the world “I am So Lucky To B ME…” and believe it.  Our tees make great gifts to tell someone they matter or as a gentle reminder to yourself.

Luck always,

Andie xo

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Self Esteem Quotes are a super way to give yourself a boost to your self esteem.  Whether it’s a soft reminder, or a big kick in the butt to make certain you realize the greatness that is YOU, this set of Self Esteem Quotes can help inspire you and get you on the right track! Enjoy these Self Esteem Quotes. For more on Self Esteem, Click Here:  Self Esteem.

“We all know that self-esteem comes from what you think of you, not what other people think of you.” ~Gloria Gaynor

“The clearer the rules and the limits enforced by parents, the higher the child’s self-esteem. The more freedom the child had, the lower his self-esteem.” ~The Optimistic Child: A Proven Program to Safeguard Children Against Depression and Build Lifelong Resilience by Martin E. P. Seligman

“No one can make you feel inferior without your consent.” ~Eleanor Roosevelt

“We are each gifted in a unique and important way. It is our privilege and our adventure to discover our own special light.” ~Mary Dunbar

“The strongest single factor in acquiring abundance is self-esteem: believing you can do it, believing you deserve it, believing you will get it.” ~Jerry Gillies

“The privilege of a lifetime is being who you are.” ~Joseph Campbell

“To be beautiful means to be yourself. You don’t need to be accepted by others. You need to accept yourself.” ~Thich Nhat Hanh

“The higher our self-esteem, the stronger the drive to express ourselves, reflecting the sense of richness within. The lower our self-esteem, the more urgent the need to “prove” ourselves or to forget ourselves by living mechanically and unconsciously.” ~A Woman’s Self-Esteem: Struggles and Triumphs in the Search for Identity by Nathaniel Branden

“Resentment is weak and lowers your self-esteem.” ~Barbara Sher

“Conscience: self-esteem with a halo.” ~Irving Layton

“Never dull your shine for somebody else.” ~Tyra Banks

“Everyone needs to be valued. Everyone has the potential to give something back.” ~Princess Diana

“I am not afraid of storms for I am learning how to sail my ship.” ~Louisa May Alcott

“Be yourself. There is something that you can do better than any other. Listen to the inward voice and bravely obey that.” ~Unknown

“Because your existence in time and space is unique, there are lives that only you can touch.” ~Harry Palmer

“Self-justification, therefore, is not only about protecting high self-esteem; it’s also about protecting low self-esteem if that is how a person sees himself.” ~Book Mistakes Were Made (But Not by Me): Why We Justify Foolish Beliefs, Bad Decisions, and Hurtful Acts by Caroll Tavris, Elliot Aronson

“Put all excuses aside and remember this: YOU are capable.” ~Zig Ziglar

“Learn to value yourself, which means: to fight for your happiness.” ~Ayn Rand

“When I hear somebody sigh, “Life is hard,” I am always tempted to ask, “Compared to what?” ~Sydney Harris

“The fact is that self-esteem and your circumstances are only indirectly related. There is another intervening factor that determines self-esteem 100 percent of the time: your thoughts.” ~Self-Esteem by Matthew McKay, Patrick Fanning

“Tell me how a person judges his or her self-esteem and I will tell you how that person operates at work, in love, in sex, in parenting, in every important aspect of existence – and how high he or she is likely to rise. The reputation you have with yourself – your self-esteem – is the single most important factor for a fulfilling life.” ~Nathaniel Branden

“The best way to achieve self-esteem is to do something worthy of esteem.” ~Rush: Why You Need and Love the Rat Race by Todd Buchholz

“Self-esteem is different than conceit. Conceit is the weirdest disease in the world. It makes everyone sick except the one who has it.” ~Hartman Rector, Jr.

“Don’t live down to expectations. Go out there and do something remarkable.” ~Wendy Wasserstein

“Self-esteem is as necessary to the spirit as food is to the body.” ~Dr. Maxwell Maltz

“At the root of fear is low self-esteem. This explains why angry people have low self-esteem, are argumentative, stubborn, and quick to flare up yet slow to forgive. Those behaviors are defenses against the underlying fear.” ~Setting Boundaries with Difficult People by David J. Lieberman Ph.D.

“You cannot be lonely if you like the person you’re alone with.” ~Dr. Wayne W. Dyer

“Until you make peace with who you are, you’ll never be content with what you have.” ~Doris Mortman

“Do not wish to be anything but what you are, and try to be that perfectly.” ~St. Francis De Sales

“There is a direct relationship between self-discipline and self-esteem.” ~No Excuses!: The Power of Self-Discipline by Brian Tracy

“The things we hate about ourselves aren’t more real than things we like about ourselves.” ~Ellen Goodman

“Someone’s opinion of you does not have to become your reality.” ~Les Brown

“Most of the shadows of this life are caused by standing in one’s own sunshine.” ~Ralph Waldo Emerson

“Practice within when you’re without.” ~Daniel Pena

“Self-confidence is the first requisite to great undertakings.” ~Samuel Johnson

“The way you treat yourself sets the standard for others.” ~Sonya Friedman

“Having a low opinion of yourself is not ‘modesty.’ It’s self-destruction. Holding your uniqueness in high regard is not ‘egotism.’ It’s a necessary precondition to happiness and success.” ~Bobbe Sommer

“Self Esteem begins here: anyone who does not like you is an idiot. Really -aren’t they? You are gorgeous, talented and fabulous.” ~Chellie Campbell

For more Positive Quotes, Click Here: Positivity Quotes from Positivity Toolbox.

For more on Self Esteem, Click Here:  Self Esteem.

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Smart Goal Setting is an acronym using the word “SMART” or “SMARTER” to set goals. It helps the goal-setter put together a plan so that they are more likely to achieve their goal.  Smart stands for Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, and Timely.  Often people add an “E” and an “R” to the end making the acronym read as “Smarter.”  The E and the R stand for Evaluate and Reevaluate.

You know there have been times in your life where you have accomplished what you set out to do, but there have also been times where your goal has fallen by the wayside. The absolute truth is that you can accomplish anything you set your mind to.  The sky is your limit. Smart Goal Setting makes it more likely you reach for the sky and end up in the sky.

Here’s how Smart Goal Setting works:

S

The “S” in Smart goal setting stands for “Specific.”  It can also sometimes be referred to as “Simple” or “Significant.”

Studies show that the more specific a goal is the more likely you are to achieve it.  This is as opposed to a general goal.  Set your goal so that it is clear and discernible.  For example, a general goal would be setting a goal to have better relationships.  A specific goal would be to communicate better with your sister to avoid as many disagreements and better the relationship.   This sets forth expectations, as well as what you plan to do to make the goal happen. An easy way to make your goal more specific is to use the who, what, where, when and why.

M

The “M” in smart goal setting stands for “Measurable.” Some professionals also refer to it as “Motivational,” “Manageable,” or “Meaningful.”

This part of goal setting is about how you measure your success towards reaching the goal.  To do this means to lay out measurable steps to be sure you are on track to reaching your goal. Without a means of measuring your progress, especially with more complex goals, you cannot know how well you are doing with reaching the goal.  This also pushes the goal-setter to get more done in a timely manner and keeps the goal-setter on track!

A

The “A” in smart goal setting stands for “Attainable.” It is also often refered to in these other “A” terms:  “Achievable,” “Actionable,” “Assignable,” “Aspirational,” “Ambitious, “Agreed,” “Aligned,” and “Appropriate.”

This part of the goal setting process is making sure your goal is actually attainable.  It is okay if it is a difficult goal, but is it realistic and actually possible and not too far-reaching?  When a goal is believed to be attainable, the goal-setter is more likely to take action towards reaching the goal whereas if the goal-setter thinks it is impossible or if it actually is impossible, they will give up earlier. The attitude towards the goal is important!  So this part of goal-setting aswers a “how” question:  “How will I accomplish the goal?” Identify obstacles, but evaluate them to be sure they are not actually unworkable or impractical.

R

The “R” in smart goal setting stands for “Relevant.” Many people also refer to the “R” as  “Realistic.”

This part is where you check whether your goal is relevant to your life.  In other words, how important is it?  If it is unimportant or not worthwhile, the goal-setter will not work towards it.

T

The “T” in smart goal setting stands for “Timely.”  It can also represent a number of “Time”-oriented words, such as “Time frame.”

This is where you will match up your goals and/or steps to achieve the goal with a target date or dates. Deadlines are proven to help a person complete a task more timely.  This keeps the goal-setter on track and constantly working towards the end objective rather than just having an amorphous and indeterminate plan.  During this part, establish the answers to questions such as “When do I need to have XYZ completed to move on to the next task?”  “What do I need to do this week to complete step ABC?”

E and R

If you choose to ad the “E: and the “R,” then perhaps you are more serious about reaching your goal.  The “E” in smart goal setting stands for “Evaluate” and the “R” stands for “Reevaluate.”  These steps are used during the goal achievement process to examine how your plan is going and whether timelines or steps need to be reworked.

Write it Down

Last but not least, write it down! While this is not part of the Smart Goal Setting, written goals makes them more likely to be achieved. For more, read: Writing Goals.

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Meditation can be really difficult for many people. When I started meditating, my mind would wander, actually it wouldn’t just wander…it would run, kind of like a hamster on its wheel with no destination. I wanted to know, how do I meditate where my mind could be still. What I later discovered and what the fact of the matter is, simply put, is that there is no “proper” way to mediate. Sometimes I meditate in a traditional way where I sit quietly, but sometimes I meditate while walking or even when I’m scrubbing dishes.

So, How Do I Meditate?  Below are My Steps:

Find a quiet place where you know you will not be interrupted. This is my way of saying, lock the door!   Your meditation space should be somewhere you feel safe and a place that is quiet and comfortable. This part can sometimes be a challenge, especially for women that have young children.

Turn off your phone or better yet, leave it in another room. Turn off all electronics that can beep or make noise that could distract you. The same goes for children and spouses that may seek your attention. Let them know you need a bit of uninterrupted time by yourself.

Likewise, in addition to finding a quiet place, find a time that works best for you. Ideally, the best times for meditating are in the early morning or late at night, because this is when it typically is more peaceful and quiet and you can relax.

Some people find it helpful for their focus to have soft background noise. This can be “white noise” or nature sounds, such as waves crashing, birds chirping or the sound of the breeze through the trees.

One type of sound I love using is binural beats, which can be hugely effective for focus as well as calming the mind. Binural beats, also known as Brainwave Entrainment is a therapeutic method that uses specialized sounds to influence the electronic activity of the brain. The brain naturally emits waves in varying frequencies. Each frequency range is related to a different brain-state and can induce that state for the person listening. It is excellent for meditation time. For more binural beats, click here: Brainwave Entrainment at Positivity Toolbox.

Stretch. Some people like to stretch before meditation. This helps release physical tension in the body and begins to calm the mind.

Set your intentions for your meditation. You can say to yourself, “Today my goals are:” and then recite your goal(s) to yourself. Some examples are:

• “Today I’m seeking inner peace.”
• “Today I look for increased focus.”
• “Today, my goal is to relax.”
• “I look to find greater insight and understanding.”

While the intention is being set, many people enjoy lighting a candle. Lighting a candle can be a nice ritual during meditation. Setting your intention is the time to work out where you intend to go with your meditation. Pre-planning does not necessarily mean you will go in the direction you plan, but it gives you a good place to start. (Not knowing where your meditation will go is part of the beauty and effective nature of meditation.)

A common frustration for beginner meditators is to assume that meditation is all much the same with the same goal. This is a misunderstanding because meditation can cover many different goals, including healing, insight, calmness, energy, mindfulness, a path to happiness and self-realization. There are even meditations to help you through tough times in life, such as overcoming abuse, addiction, illness and stress. Meditation can also include cultivating love, compassion, peace and spiritual enlightenment.

Let Go and Let it Be. Whatever your intention through meditation let the chatter of the mind dissipate. You can simply observe your breath and the meandering thoughts that will pass through your mind. Whatever the thought, eventually there will be another one and then another one. Let each one appear and then dissolve in your mind – acknowledge it and return your focus to your breathe. This is an opportunity for you to find a technique of dissipating thought that works best for you – sometimes all you need to do is just be and feel being alive.

Time. In terms of the length of time to be spent meditating, it is best for beginners to aim for 10 to 15 minutes initially, and gradually build up if you want. Some people like to use a Meditation Timer that gently signals when the meditation time is coming to a close.

Posture. Often when we envision meditating, we see yoga images of people in the full lotus posture, with their eyes closed and appearing deeply at peace. Few people can actually do the lotus posture without training or strain. In fact, few people can even sit upright for a long period. In terms of posture, it is up to you. If you want to sit in full lotus, that is wonderful, but the general guideline is to sit comfortably, but not too comfortably. Reason being because you could risk dozing off and falling asleep. Some experts recommend sitting with both feet flat on the ground for ideal energy flow.

On somewhat of a side note, some like to meditate while walking and while this is a different technique than that discussed here, it is a great form of meditation.

To begin your meditation, close your eyes and start by relaxing and letting go of distractions. You can say those exact words to yourself if it helps (“I begin this meditation by relaxing and letting go of distractions”). You can practice tensing and relaxing muscle groups on by one and/or imagining a tranquil scenery. Next focus on your breath. Breathing mindfully is great for keeping focus, reducing stress and deepening your awareness.

Now, simply see where you go during your time. If you find your mind wandering way “off track” such as writing your grocery list, choosing paint for your kitchen, or thinking about how long its been that you’ve been meditating and wondering how many minutes have passed, simply acknowledge that you have wondered and move back to your breathing.

More Tips on How to Meditate

• There will very likely be times when your mind just will not relax. That is okay. It happens to the best of us and tomorrow is another day.
• Adapt your meditation to the goals you seek. As explained earlier, there are many possible goals behind meditation. Once you become clear on what you want from meditation, you will discover ways to best achieve this.
• Keeping a post-meditation journal of each meditation experience can be a great way to gain insight and perspective, new ideas and further self-development.
• Keep practicing. Meditation does work best when you do it regularly. A regular meditation practice builds not only strength, awareness and confidence, but more comfort with meditation in general. With practice, your meditation develops.
• 
  Never pass up an opportunity to relax, or be kind to yourself and let go. This does not have to be during meditation. It can be any time and in any way. Anytime you are swimming in a deep sea of anxious thoughts, take a moment to center either through meditation or just a moment of letting go. The more you practice meditating the easier this is to do when stress appears.
• If something comes up that causes you alarm or perhaps even fear, admit that it makes you feel that way. This happens to many people and there is nothing wrong with that. Then work on letting go of the fear by getting to know what you see.
• Likewise, it is inevitable that a variety of thoughts and feelings will come and go.
• Relax. It may seem like mindless repetition of this word, but it is the key and with practice, relaxing is easy.

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In order to live the happiest, healthiest life possible, we must care for more than just our physical health.  Emotional health is just as important as a healthy diet and exercise.

Stress comes to all of us in some form or another including worries about finances, job security, responsibilities and relationships – all take their toll on our emotional health. Stress is one of the biggest factors to disrupting our emotional health and ultimately our well-being. It is important to reduce stress in our lives, just like we reduce our fat, sugar and calorie intake to remain healthy.

There are many ways which we can take care of our emotional health and eliminate some of the stress from our day. Some of the steps you can take to remain stress free include:

• Manage your day and time better by setting out realistic goals which you can manage to meet every day.
• Utilize time more efficiently throughout the day by focusing and completing one task at a time before moving on to another.
• Remain flexible in your thinking when it comes to completing tasks, if you cannot accomplish them the way you had planned then do it another way.
• Take small breaks throughout the day, these will give you time to clear your head and get back on track and stay focused on the task at hand.
• Admit that you are only human and you cannot do everything, admit when you need a little help and don’t be afraid to ask for that help should you need it.
• Learn when to say “no” (See Learn To Say “No”).  While we all like to do help others, we can sometimes put too much on our plates and when this happens, we cannot manage it all and stress sets in.
• Do not overexert your body.  You can only do so much in a day. By pushing yourself continually beyond your limits will stress your body and mind.  This also weakens your immune system.
• Recognize when you are starting to get stressed and take immediate action to relieve that stress.
• Learn techniques which you can quickly eliminate stress.  There are a wide range of techniques which you can use including techniques such as breathing exercises and visualization.
• Positive affirmations can help you deal with stress effectively.  A positive mind with positive thoughts is a healthier mind and one to stress less eagerly.
• Always make time for some quiet time -  time to just relax and do something you enjoy …and be sure not to feel guilty for taking this time out!

See 31 Stress Relief Tips!

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