Here’s a quick 2 part series about one of the words I really love.

VITALITY.

A glorious word full of possibilities. But what does it mean, and why might you care, anyway?

On the quest for a better understanding of the word, I looked it up in the dictionary. Here’s what I found:

vitality: 1) a. the peculiarity that distinguishes the living from the non living b. the capacity to live and develop; also: physical or intellectual vigor, energy 2) a. power of enduring b. lively and animated character. 3) the capacity to live, grow, or develop. Synonyms: life, stability, strength.

I just love that what makes us alive is characterized as a “peculiarity”. How perfectly splendid.

“There is a vitality, a life force, a quickening that is
translated through you into action, and because there is only one
of you in all time, this expression is unique. And if you block
it, it will never exist through any other medium and (will) be
lost. The world will not have it. It is not your business to
determine how good it is; nor how valuable it is; nor how it
compares with other expressions. It is your business to keep it
yours, clearly and directly, to keep the channel open.” Martha Graham

So here you are, already possessed of one of the greatest gifts life has to offer: vitality. It is your birthright, and it is up to each and every one of us to safeguard it, to nurture it and cultivate its employ in our day to day lives, lest we be reduced to merely existing.

Most of all, enjoy your glorious vitality. Let it flavor your life and fill your days with abundant energy to fulfill your desires, dreams, and Life Purpose. More on Purpose and vitality in the conclusion of this series. Stay tuned!

An affirmation about vitality: “I, <your name>, act with abundant vitality in the service of my dreams.”

Molly Burke CPCC MSU
Queen of Confidence
www.lifepurposeworks.com
“I’ve bottled confidence and I share!”

This is an ongoing series of posts on various subjects for which I lacked a decent Google-searchable keyword title. Searching Google for ideas produced, “PEARLS OF WISDOM”, which has such a rich flavor of hubris and chuzpah that I just HAD to use it.

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Here’s what I’ve learned about Life Purpose and and Universe at large: the Universe delights in giving us gifts. All the time.

Really.

The trick is to follow the juice. Okay, so what the hell is “the juice”?

“The juice” is that which lights you up, makes you happy, feels good and right and natural and most of all feels effortlessly powerful. It’s the energy that keeps you up ’til 3AM working on a project, the magic elixir that turns a long day of work into something to be proud of and excited about. It’s also the people that come into your life seemingly by “accident” (there’s no such thing, by the way) that are dynamic and inspiring and healthy to be around. “The juice” is enriching and forwarding and delicious. Always.

“The juice” is the river you ride that makes your dreams into goals and then into reality. It is the empowering force of Nature that beckons us towards our best selves. It is ever present, pervasive, ubiquitous. It’s everywhere, and everywhen.

Where’s your juice? It’s usually in your Grand Passions, and your Life Purpose. It’s in your great loves and your humble service. To access it, practice giving in to it. Let it guide you into shops and parks, museums and grocery store, libraries, forests, tree houses and other unexpected adventures.

Say, “yes” to your own juice. Follow your curiosity, your instincts and your nose. Take a chance and prove to yourself that this simple awareness has the power to change the world for the better. Try it, you’ve got nothing to lose, and everything to gain.

Start with you. Follow the juice. Do the doing, be the being, LIVE.

Life is where the juice is.

Where is your life juicy?

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Molly Burke CPCC MSU
Queen of Confidence
www.lifepurposeworks.com
“I’ve bottled confidence and you can, too!”

You’re out of work and feeling discouraged. So many applicants for the jobs you see advertised, however will you set yourself apart from the competition?

It’s overwhelming, right?

This is what I hear time and again. So, as is my wont, I’ve got some tips for you, to shake things up and make good things happen for you.

TIP # 1: Write down the kind of work, work environment, coworkers, location that would be optimal for you. Then do some homework online and find 10 companies who best embody those qualities. Send those companies an invitation/cover letter to get to know you better. In this way you become the buyer, not the seller, the colleague instead of the job seeker. This shift of perspective alone will boost your confidence tremendously. Pursue what you really want, not just what you think you might get, and watch what happens!

TIP # 2: Own your own business, even if you want to work for someone else. Regard your income earning work as your professional business concern. It really is, when you think about it. You are the CEO of your money making company: You, Inc., if you will. Begin to view/experience yourself more and more as a speculative collaborative partner than prospective employee. This particular perspective is mega-empowering and lots more fun than being another “hat in hand” job seeker.

TIP # 3: Do it differently. One of the most effective and innovative new techniques that successful seekers are using these days are video resumes. Not the boring old “talking head” resumes, but vibrant new snapshot videos that allow you to showcase your talents and skills right there, right now. They don’t have to imagine you, they can SEE you. And videos are more fun than resumes, trust me on this. The point here is: THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX. Go beyond the colored paper strategy and think bold, think engaging, think FUN! Being yourself and having fun while you’re doing the “getting work” dance will improve your overall confidence as it improves your results.

BONUS TIP: Be proactive. Don’t wait to be approached after you send out communications. Follow up relentlessly. Go for the work fulfillment you really truly want. That sets you up for greater success by making yourself your own courageous advocate and devoted PR representative. Folks would rather hire someone who shows that they are consistently motivated than some guy with equally great skills who isn’t actively pursuing their own dreams and goals. Goals are attractive. Use ‘em.

Well, there you have it. 3 confidence builders to make you stand out from the job competition. Three tips for setting yourself apart from the hoards of folks out there who are looking in the same old ways, getting the same old results.

How do you stand out?

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Molly Burke CPCC MSU
Queen of Confidence
www.lifepurposeworks.com
“I’ve bottled confidence and you can, too!”

This is an ongoing series of posts on various subjects for which I lacked a decent Google-searchable keyword title. Searching Google for ideas produced, “PEARLS OF WISDOM”, which has such a rich flavor of hubris and chuzpah that I just HAD to use it.

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Insanity: doing the same thing over and over but expecting different results.

I submit, Gentle Readers, that many of us engage in a kind of sad, self defeating insanity called New Year’s resolutions. And riiiiiight about now, if not before, most everyone who makes those superficially laudable resolutions fails to follow through.

Don’t worry, this is NOT a motivational pep talk post. Some other day, maybe, but not today.

We’re grown ups, well, most of us at least, and right now I am talking to and with those of us who identify as adults. Right about now you’re feeling badly about not keeping those earnestly made New Year’s resolutions. And pretty much like clockwork, you spend every January doing some version of this sick little dance.

How do I know this? Nevermind how I know.

Isn’t it about time you respected your word a bit more and stopped the futile habit of making those damned resolutions in the first place? Cut yourself some winter slack, assess your past annual resolution performances, and decide THIS year not to make yourself wrong and crazy and a liar NEXT year. Reserve the power of your word for the kind of resolutions that have a chance, those born of insight and an inner desire to make a positive change, not ones that are enacted in response to some arbitrary date on the calendar.

Stop setting yourself up for disappointment. Resist the urge to get caught up in New Year’s resolutions if you’ve got a history of not following through. You beat yourself up with those “resolutionary shoulds”. I should lose weight, I should quit smoking, I should go to the gym. And then you feel like crap even more when you fail yet again. So stop. Just stop. Don’t heap more evidence into the “I can’t depend on/trust myself” basket. You don’t need that.

What you need to do is get really clear about what is it that you really truly want. You know what I’m talking about, the deepest, most cherished dreams of your Soul. Ponder those things instead of those cursed “resolutionary shoulds”. Spend your precious time and energy dwelling upon, concentrating on and taking action on the dreams of your Highest Self.

When you get clear about what it is you really want, and take action on that, you’re MUCH more likely to follow through. And isn’t that what you ultimately want? To act with intention, secure that the direction you’re going is the right one, rich with lasting internal motivation?

Screw New Year’s resolutions and the same old same old. I’ll take a risk and do something different, starting now.

How about you?

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Molly Burke CPCC MSU
Queen of Confidence
www.lifepurposeworks.com
“I’ve bottled confidence and you can, too!”

During my long reign as Queen of Confidence I have witnessed many triumphs and tragedies of confidence. Periodically I’ll be sharing what I hope shall be pithy insights intended to act as cautionary tales and inspirational anecdotes as well as practical tools for improving one’s own sense of confidence. You’ll also find powerful questions, confidence [...]

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The rain has washed away the fog enough to clear the [...]

This is an ongoing series of posts on various subjects for which I lacked a decent Google-searchable keyword title. Searching Google for ideas produced, “PEARLS OF WISDOM”, which has such a rich flavor of hubris and chuzpah that I just HAD to use it.
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This is the third and last post in the series, “Faster horses, [...]

This is an ongoing series of posts on various subjects for which I lacked a decent Google-searchable keyword title. Searching Google for ideas produced, “PEARLS of WISDOM”, which has such a rich flavor of hubris and chuzpah that I just HAD to use it.
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This is the second in the series, “Faster horses, younger women, older [...]

2009 was rough for me. Family upheaval, economic upheaval, such a crucible! Through it all, I managed to make progress. Miracles came. Affirmations of the rightness of my path made themselves known. Allies appeared. Healing opportunities presented themselves. Magnificent mistakes were made, and some learning occurred. Not everything was resolved, nor healed, nor made right.
I [...]

This is a series of posts for which I lacked a decent Google-searchable keyword title. Searching Google for ideas produced, “PEARLS of WISDOM”, which has such a rich flavor of hubris and chuzpah that I just HAD to use it. It makes me laugh at myself with delight and a bit of wry sarcasm. Enjoy!
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I’ve [...]