formspring.me

Ask me anything http://formspring.me/katielynnm14

The P’s of Travelling

Roadblocks are there to teach you patience, persistence and perseverance. But what if you're tired of being strong and just want to take your mind off of the situation. What do you do? Travel.

Yes, travel. It's not running away from your problems. It is allowing yourself distance to see your obstacle from all sides. It gives you much needed perspective. One thing I have learned, do not allow technology during your trip. Even if it is just to go see a family member in another country.

These issues will find any way they can to follow you. The last thing you need is to be reminded of whatever is bothering you. Live in the moment and free your mind. Let loose and have fun. Be sure to see the light at the end of the tunnel. Are you as tired of the clichés as I am?

But seriously, the best thing you can do when an obstacle or change comes about in your life is look it at from all sides. Spend time with family and friends; people in your life who you trust and who accept you. They are the support system you need to get through any of the curve balls life throws at you.

Take lots of pictures while you're at it. I'm paraphrasing Miley Cyrus here but, there is more to life than reaching your destination; it's about the climb.

xox Kate

It’s the end of the world!! ... Or is it?

If you're anything like me, you have a tendency to get caught up in your vision for the future. You make plans; you believe you will get there. But what happens when life throws you a curve ball? Suddenly that road you're following takes a quick turn into the wilderness.

Staying positive and looking at the bright side is easier said than done. I mean, how many "everything happens for a reason" spiels can one person take? However, I am a strong believer in trying to see the positive aspects to any situation.

It is important to look at any change or crisis from many perspectives. When you're friends are going through a crisis, you know exactly how to fix their problems. But when anything happens to you, it seems like the end of the world.

While you're in the middle of it, it definitely can seem like the end of the world. Ask yourself, will this be such a big deal in the future? It is important to see each experience, negative or positive, as a learning opportunity.

One thing I have learned is not to succumb to negativity. Being sad or depressed with not lead to anywhere you want to go. This is a stepping stone to the future you. As I said, you can either see it as the end of the world or as a learning opportunity.

No matter what is thrown at you, you choose how you are going to respond. You do have the right to be upset. Change is not usually met with open-arms.

How do you deal with change?


 

Who was the best teacher you've ever had?

Who was the best teacher you've ever had?

Answer here

Surviving the March blues

It's finally March, a month that most students have been dreading. Not only is it a month full of presentations, essays, reports and creating media kits in my public relations program, it is also the month before placement.

March is also a common time for college students to be "down in the dumps" as people call it. Staying motivated to complete all of these upcoming assignments can be a struggle, but if you are in need of some ideas, I have compiled a list.

1. Indulge
   

You just finished that essay you've been working on for weeks. Before going onto the next assignment or reading, reward yourself for a job well done. Go to Starbucks and get that macchiato you've been craving all afternoon or spend a few hours at the park. You received a great mark on that midterm you've been stressing over. Go and buy the dress you've been eying for weeks. The couple hours you spend on you will revitalize your whole mindset.

Of course, doing this for everything you do is not healthy. There is only so much Starbucks intake that can be healthy and clothes buying that your wallet can handle; everything in moderation.

1. Buy an agenda
   

It being this late into the semester, I would hope you already own one. However, there is a difference between owning one and actually using it. Knowing when assignments are due is half the battle to time management. In your agenda, be sure to map out an attack plan to getting all of these assignments done on time. Whether you are more of a couple hours on each per day or completely finishing an assignment at a time, write it down. You are more likely to stick to the plan if it is in writing.

1. Maintain your health
   

With the stress of assignments and work, sometimes your dietary needs are pushed to the side. Whether it's during midterms or exam times, students often spend their nights cramming. I know this may sound obvious, but a healthy diet and sleeping schedule will give you more energy to complete your tasks.

In case you are not aware of the Canadian Food Guide, check out their website for the recommended nutrition you should intake.

From my perspective, I feel that students get bogged down at this time of year because they lose perspective. You will survive these next few weeks. I will end with the dreaded cliché, but I truly believe that the best is yet to come.

No Support Team Needed

While discussing my blog at work, I was quite astounded with the answers I received when I asked, "what should my next blog post be about?"
It was brought to my attention that an obstacle many people face is not having a source of support. Not having anyone believe in them.

To be honest, it wasn't something I really thought was an obstacle until this afternoon. An even stranger coincidence was that I found an old "Touched by an Angel" CD with the song I Believe in You by Amanda Marshall on it, I suppose it was a sign that I must write this topic.

In previous posts, I have focused a lot of time saying you need to support yourself. The negative thoughts will get you nowhere and you need to stop self-sabotaging your endeavours.

Having someone you love or someone you admire say that you are on the right path can mean the world to a person. For most people, having their family's approval trumps all other opinions.

Sara Paddison, Hidden Power of the Heart, offers an interesting take on the idea of family. "We are one big family of people, trying to make our way through the unfolding puzzle of life. We are all connected to one another in the heart. Connecting with the ultimate source of love is possible through discovering the hidden power in your heart."

Connecting with people, whether it be friends, family, boyfriends/girlfriends, is a crucial aspect in human development. The relationships you maintain will differ greatly from when you are a child to when you are an adult. As I learned in a sociology course, most people are not friends with the people they were in kindergarten.

Why is this? Well, people change. You need to find people who you connect with. These people should be going in the same direction you are and people who share similar life goals. Let's be honest, the things we were interested in as a toddler are vastly different from the things we are interested in now.

Imagine the one thing you have wanted your entire life. Whether it is a trip, your rock star dream or a political career, without the support of your family and friends you probably won't go after it.

According to a blog entitled "How to have Great Self Confidence," this need for approval stems from self-confidence and self-esteem issues.

There is probably a reason why one persons opinion matters most to you. Take a minute to think about whose opinion that is.

Now ask yourself, why am I leaving myself vulnerable to their opinions?

Before you take what anyone says to heart, it is important to note that most people are rather self-centred. Like you, when they are thinking about other people, it is mainly in relation to their lives, their experiences and their current mood. Their opinions and thoughts are based on how they see the world, which could be completely different than you do.

If you want something badly enough, you can attain it. You just need to filter the negative thoughts and opinions of others from entering your thought process.
Mark Twain has been quoted as saying, "A man cannot be comfortable without his own approval."
I am, in no means saying that I have never sought approval, but I am learning that maintaining an air of self-confidence and self-approval is the first step in reaching any of my goals.

After all, if you do not believe in yourself, why would anyone else.

It’s true...You are your own worst enemy

Throughout the process of writing the blogs, I have realized that people are their own worst enemies. YOU are probably the reason you are not going after your goals. It is not your over protective mother or your fear of public speaking, instead it is you using those as reasons not to go after your goals.

Many people know what they want, but sabotage their efforts by acting in conflict with their goals. You probably know the person who wants a promotion but is constantly late, or the person who wants to fit into her skinny jeans but eats donuts every morning. To the world it is clear that their actions violate their vision, but they are clueless.

According to an article published in the Harvard Review, people sabotage themselves by entertaining thoughts of denial, brooding, jealousy, fear of feedback, and procrastination. Now that you have realized that you are harshest critic, how are you going to fix it? There are many theories of how to counter this behaviour.

The first step to change is realizing what you are doing.

Make a list of five specific things you are doing to sabotage yourself. Allow yourself to be brutally honest. As you do this exercise, keep in mind that to have your dream life you will have to do the exact opposite of what you have been doing.

This self-observation will guide you to then identify the five things you can do to counter the behaviour patterns that are detrimental your success. For example, if you find yourself wanting a donut in the afternoon, counter it by having fruit first. Do you routinely spend more money than you put into the bank? You can counter this habit by putting 10 percent of what you earn in a savings account each week.

Finally, as you make a list of each of these five new action steps, practices or tasks, choose the one that you can accomplish today. And then do it with great passion.