How to Gain Confidence & handle tough stuff

This is a letter to my son, Aiden, just in case if something were to happen to me, he would get to know me a little bit more.  This is also a form of therapy for me.  I am writing out whatever is on my mind and heart.  Somehow in the end, all feels right.

Letter #2

Dear Aiden,

I want you to know how precious you are to me.

I want you to know how amazing and awesome you are!  You have limitless potential.  I treasure you and cherish you.

I adore you!

I know that you have all the tools that you need to tackle any problem that comes your way.   YOU DO!  It is ALL inside of YOU.

Do not think for a second, EVER, at any stage of your life that you are without, or that you are not enough or that you need something else.   YOU DON’T.  YOU ARE ALL YOU NEED.  Everything you need to succeed LIVES in YOU.  Cherish that.  Remember that.  Don’t go out seeking something, just look deep inside you.

Lots of times in life our very own struggles lie within us.  So the very best thing I have found is to just work on yourself individually.  You need to take care of you.

You may feel at times that you need to take care of others first, that you should give to others first, or that it feels wrong to put yourself first.  Honestly, though, you always need to take care of Aiden first.  There are times to give, and you will know when.  But don’t stretch yourself so thin that you are not taking care of you.

There are many aspects involved when caring for oneself.  You need to care for yourself spiritually, mentally, nutritionally, physically, and financially.  Many people in our society today only focus on their financial being and the result is they get so run down they can’t take care of anything else and their whole life slips through their fingers.  Life gets messy.  You need to keep all parts in perspective. There is no easy secret to life balance.  It is something you have to figure out for yourself, I’m sorry but it is true.

Hopefully, you will see how your dad and I try to live in balance every single day.  You can’t only be spiritual one day a week. You need to seek spiritual guidance every day, reflect every day. The very cool thing is that God is with you of every part of every day so you can go to him at any time.  You really do need to have a spiritual group or some place to check in to with others to share faith. Don’t do it alone.  I’ll write more about this more in depth later.  I don’t want to over whelm you now.

Don’t worry about being perfect.   There is no such thing.  Just be you and have as much fun as possible.   Laugh.  And laugh ridiculously.  There is no such thing as too much laughter. So please, laugh for me and live and enjoy life to it’s utmost fullest.

Laughter really is the best medicine.  Work, people, and life will bring you down.  It will. It’s inevitable. But laughter and good chats with people can bring you up and bring it all back into focus.  Remember that. You are never alone. God is only a thought away. Keep him close to you. Reach out to him and talk to him at any time.  Talk to yourself at any time.  Brainwashing yourself to think positive things and laughter is indeed the best prescription I have ever found (and it’s free!).

One of my favorite tricks while I was a waitress, Aiden, was when I would have a really rude customer…someone I just couldn’t stand because he was rude, snobby, both… I would visualize them with a pig snout face sitting there in the restaurant with a bright pink tutu on.  The rude customer looked ridiculous in my head which made me smile, smile real big.  Because really yes, some people have a hard soul. Some people are rude but you can’t let them ruin you. So use mental tricks to escape yourself from those that are not positive.  And if your work life or friends are sabotaging your happy mental state, then find a new job, or find new friends. You take control.  You make the changes for you.  And then laugh at the suckers later. Okay, momma really isn’t that evil.  But you know, momma likes to joke.

There will be many times when you feel down.  It will happen.  But just like when you are learning to walk …you will get up after each time you fall.  This is what you need to do when you stumble in life.  Just get back up and get going.  Pick your head up and get going.  You don’t have to be perfect.  You don’t even have to be great. You just have to try. You just have to give your best. At times you may not feel ready.  You may be nervous for something…maybe it’s a presentation at school, a test, asking someone out on a date, an interview, or launching your own business. Whatever it is that you are stumbling with…don’t worry about being perfect, don’t even worry about getting it right. Just BE YOU and get started.  JUMP IN.  Just do it!

Tackle life and situations with an “I’m in- I GOT THIS!” mentality all the time, even if you are freaked out or doubt yourself. Trick yourself.  Focus on thinking positive things all the time.  Do NOT have room in your brain for doubt or negative self talk.  Just get started. DO.  Get up each time you stumble. You can do anything you put your mind to. You have talents and gifts that are uniquely yours. I believe in you completely and fully and I know you can achieve everything that you ever hope for.

I believe in you and my biggest hope and prayer for you, is that you believe in you too.

Go Get ‘Em, Aiden!

Go grab life and give it one hell of a ride!

I Love You and am excited for you to LIVE IT UP!

Mom

(Alisha)

Are you fully living life?  What is stopping you and holding you back?  Is it just you?  Can you get out of your own way? Go DO!

Let me know what you think! I really appreciate any comments, feedback, shares and likes!

If you have anything that you would like me to write to Aiden about that is a struggle in your family/life, or a subject that you are unsure how to approach please tell me about it.  I will write out my thoughts on the subject to Aiden, and maybe it will help you.