When legendary US TV reporter Barbara Walters interviewed Oprah Winfrey, she asked her, "Why do you put yourself on the line week after week, year after year, on the cutting edge of human emotion?" Oprah replied "Teaching people how to behave when they take. I think the key to life is taking responsibility. Once people understand that, I think everything changes in their lives. When people understand it and live it, they are in charge of their lives instead of living as a result of what happens to them."
Aside from his problems with the public, most people agree that Bill Clinton was a very charismatic leader. Yet, he admits in his autobiography that there were painful things that happened to him as a child, as well as anger and other feelings that pushed him to live a better life. He reached a point where he was finally unhappy enough with his life to want to change it. He was literally pushed forward to improve his life and dream and use and learn the tools and strategies to help himself and those around him. It's up to us to make a choice, let go of all our bad feelings, live in the present, and improve as we move into the future. The best thing about the past is that it's done.
Decide right now to let go of any old feelings you have about other people and move forward in a powerful way. Raise your shoulders. Now, stop being so serious and do something silly. Imagine you're way up in the air and near a big canyon. Put 100 singers on each side of the canyon and hear them singing now. Listen to the lightning coming down the cliff. Feel the air's static electricity. Now, picture a big puma licking its lips in front of you. Step into the puma, feel its muscles and strength, and look down the bottom of the cliff. There, so far away that it's barely a speck, is a person or situation you were dealing with. Listen to them sing "Your Butt is Mine." Most of us don't feel good because we don't do what could be called "ridiculous mental conditioning."
Stop right now and picture a room in your mind. Walk down the stairs. With each step, let go of something bad and gain strength. There is a door at the bottom. Open it. There's a beautiful garden inside. Think about how it would look, sound, feel, and smell. And there are some people you need to meet in this garden. You need to have a talk with them that goes something like, "I forgive you." You might not yet know how you are still connected to these people.
Now, stop and drop two huge blades on those ropes to cut them, and watch as the people fly away to do their own growing. Now, try to feel good in your body. Hold on to how you feel.
Feel the release in your mind. Now, picture yourself as you want to be, but better than you are now. You can fill it with whatever good feelings you want. Stop and think about what you need. Look at how different you are now. Take note of how his new you feels? Notice how you sound now? If you haven't already noticed, this new you will give you strength. Notice how you stand and breathe now. Now step into this new you and take on all of its traits. Make a promise to your deepest self that you will take this new you with you wherever you go.
What would you do with this new you? What would you stand for with this new you? What would be different about this new you? What about this new thing would interest you? How will you deal with getting off track? How will it feel when this new standard is how you live your life? Step into this new you and let your body tell you how it feels.
Choose to move your relationships forward. People like to talk about things that are important to them. If you learn to be a good listener, people will like you, even if you have to give up some of the fun of conversation for yourself. Watch how your own life changes. People get along with each other better when they talk at about the same speed and volume as the other person.
Think about something that makes you feel powerful. Get your mind right. Take on some of the good traits of a role model. One of the best ways to feel more confident is to decide right now that you already do.
