Leana Delle

I’m a bit of a fan of mistakes, which may explain why I’ve never stopped making them. There are so many benefits to screwing up, that I just can’t help myself. You don’t even have to be a risk taker to rack them up; you just have to be human. But I do know that the only way to avoid them altogether is to lock yourself away from the world and never interact.

And why are we so damned afraid of mistakes? It’s not like our lives will be snuffed out if we make one – well, in most cases anyway. Unless I’m wrong, it’s the dreaded “what if”s that get to us. Those pesky imaginary scenarios that keep us awake at night and leave us unable to take a chance. A couple of the more popular ones, of course, are: “What if people talk?” “What if they think I’m crazy?” Who cares. Give them something to talk about, I say. The only “what if” that really needs answering is, “What if it doesn’t work out?” Answer being? “I’ll pick up the pieces and try something else.” End of story. It’s that simple.

Making mistakes for me is a process of elimination game. I’ve narrowed down what I want out of life by making mistakes, and some of them were doozies. I wasn’t always sure about what I wanted, but my mistakes have sure made me clear on what I didn’t. When faced with the same situation again, we always know which way to turn if we’ve made that particular mistake in the past.

So, come out from behind the fence, feel the fear if you need to, and trudge forward. If it doesn’t work out, tuck the lesson into a safe place and leave the mistake behind, but always, always be grateful that you had the chance to make it.

I am of the opinion that “networking” gets a bad rap. Of course, the word itself has gained more attention in recent years due to the online social variety, but I’m talking about rubbing elbows; hobnobbing; schmoozing.

You know the old expression, “It’s all in who you know?” Well, that’s basically true, but why does that have to have such a negative connotation? It may imply that knowing someone forfeits the chances of others to achieve based solely on hard work, but think about the benefactor here. Wouldn’t you rather give to, hire, sponsor, or mentor someone you’re familiar with versus putting your faith in a perfect stranger? I know I would.

The key to networking is to be reciprocal when you receive and to be generous when you don’t. Networking purely for the sake of personal gain is obnoxious, but done in the right context, it’s a win-win for everybody. So, be yourself, show some interest, and get to know people with the intent of bettering their lives, not just your own. And they don’t all have to become “lay down my life for you” friendships either (we reserve a handful of those in our lives if we’re lucky). They just have to be good people, and there are a lot of them out there.

I yammer on about this to introduce the concept of helping others stoke the flame. I’ve recently contacted a group of talented friends of mine who take great photos, and smatterings of their work are going to appear in future blog posts. I like blogs with pictures in them, and I genuinely like the folks whose work I’ll be sharing, so keep an eye out for mesmerizing magic from the likes of: David Cole, Torrey Cook-Pless, David Pless, Roma Assaff, Tara Johnson, and D’Arcy Evans (visit his website at: http://darcyevans.com/links.htm ) to name a few. Oh, and if anyone else has pictures/artwork they’d like to see on here, please message me through the “contact” link on this website. If they suit my fancy, and are in context with a future blog topic, I’ll be happy to share them and give you full credit as I have with the ever talented Helene Anne Fortin’s portrait pic on my homepage.

So, pull up a chair, say hello to someone, and make an effort to foster their creativity. It takes nothing from us to support the dreams and talents of others. In fact, it gives back in abundance.

 

1.)    I’m not sure that worrying is ever worth the effort

2.)    I’m not sure that making mistakes is such a bad thing

3.)    I’m really not sure that we’re spreading our wings to their maximum capability

4.)    I’m not sure that following the rules leaves much room for creativity

5.)    I’m not sure if anyone’s bumper sticker ever changed the opinion of someone else

6.)    I’m not sure that we’re celebrating the right people

7.)    I’m not sure that a saddened soul doesn’t create a sickened body

8.)    I’m not sure if following your head instead of your heart is strategically sound

9.)    I’m not sure that we meet anyone by accident

10.)  I’m not sure that I’ll ever tire of pondering the big questions

…and felt like sharing:

1.)  Self is our most reliable ally

2.)  Following our passions is the only way to sustain lasting joy

3.)  Broken hearts mend

 

4.) Creativity expresses itself

5.)  Kids laughing is the all-time best music ever

6.)  True friendship survives distance, time, and circumstance

7.)  If we don’t spend quiet time alone, someone else will do our thinking for us

8.)  Comparing ourselves to anyone else is an absurd and destructive exercise

9.)  Trees are giant bouquets of greenery, and, yes, hugging them makes us feel connected

 

10.) Gratitude is the best catalyst for abundance

Stay tuned for the ten things I’m not so sure about.  Oh, and please share some of the things you know for sure. Would love to hear from you.

 

Ah, yes. One of the greatest challenges we face, and one of the richest opportunities for growth.

I’ve been hearing a lot about various forms of rejection lately from friends and family members, and I’m sure it’s no surprise to any of us that we put far too much stock in the opinions of others. If we take stock at all, it should be kept to a minimum and only accepted from people who have genuine interest in our wellbeing.

The opinions or tastes of others – in regards to who we are – aren’t worth crap. Really, I could end my rant with that simple point and be done with it, but you know that’s not going to happen.

I can honestly say, in hindsight, that every time I’ve experienced rejection, it’s turned out to be a positive in the end. That includes jobs, relationships, contest losses, you name it. If we’re not right for them, then they’re not right for us. It’s when we try and force an issue, and become what we’re not to please others, that true opportunities elude us.

If you are experiencing a form of rejection right now, and feeling unworthy because of it, that’s your ego talking. Tell it to shut up. Don’t change for anything or anybody – ever. It’s simply the wrong place for you right now – bottom line.

I actually have an exercise that really works for me. Try this:

When you’re feeling rejected, think of one special person in your life who truly loves you for who you are. I mean the real you – the deep down inside you. Now, close your eyes and see yourself through theirs. If you’re not smiling, pick someone else.

We’re all worthy, so break away from anything that makes you feel otherwise. Signal the universe to send only those people and situations that support your authentic self. The more we fault ourselves for the non-acceptance of others, the more that false reality is perpetuated. Just turn your head, look in a new direction, and move on.