Fall Down Seven Times Get Up Eight

The ABCs of Standing Back Up. Today letter V. Our word is value.

You have value.  You do.  More than you can even imagine.  You may not feel like that if you have fallen...and are working to get back up.  But I know it's true!  And I am a very wise woman...so you can trust that. :)

You absolutely have to believe you have value.  You have to believe it because if you don't...getting get back up can be even harder.  You may think you deserve what happened.  Maybe you have been down so many times you can't find the energy or spirit to get back up.

Knowing you have value can help you marshall what you need to get back up.  And if you have to start again...it gives you the faith in yourself you need to do it and get it done.

Don't believe you have value anymore? Over the coming weeks we will talk about ways you can rediscover yours if you have forgotten.  I will help you remember...I will. And if you have never believed you had value...by the time we are done you will know it for sure.

Tomorrow letter W.

The ABCs of Standing Back Up. Today the letter is U. Our word is universe.

I want you to know that there is a whole big world out there...a universe for you to explore and live your life in.  It's easy to forget that when you have fallen... I know the world...the universe... felt very small to me for about two years when I was dealing with my post traumatic stress.  It was about the size of my house and that's about it.

When you have experienced something that has made you fall...it's normal to be aware of very little around you.  Your ability to take things in may have been affected.  For instance if your partner is gone...whether they died or left you in another way....the stress of that, the impact can do a lot to affect your view of the universe.

As you pull yourself together you will find the universe starts to open up to you again. The more you gather your strength and your plan together...the broader your view will become.

The universe.  It's here waiting for you to starting discovering it again. Do worry it will wait for you.  It's not going anywhere :)

Tomorrow letter V.

The ABCs of Standing Back Up. Today letter T. Our word is time.

Time is our biggest ally and it can also feel like our biggest obstacle...because things take time. And most of us want things fixed or over NOW.

I don't know if you have noticed...but things don't usually happen when you want them to.  They seem to come together on their own time line.  There is that word...time.

So come to view time as your friend.  Your ally.  Use time to heal and time to pull yourself together.  Use time to plan your next steps...

A good experiment to try to get a sense of how much you can do with any segment of time is to set your alarm for 5 minutes...then sit there...and see and feel how long that is.

The next time you say you only have five minutes...you'll realize how much time that is and now see what you can accomplish with it.

Tomorrow letter U.

The ABCs of Standing Back Up. Today letter S. Our word is stress.

Stress and how you deal with it can have a major impact on your ability to stand back up.  Stress is a killer.  Really...it can kill you so figuring out how to deal with it is important. It's not always as easy as that sounds.

There's a couple things you can do...make a list of things you can do when you are stressed.  Whatever you do...you should do it in moderation.

If on your list you write having a drink.  Well one or two drinks is okay. That's for you to judge.  Drinking a bottle of booze every night...not such a good idea.

I like to eat ice cream when I am stressed.  One or two bowls are okay.  A gallon a night.  Not so good.

Make your list. Some folks exercise.  Some folks listen to music.  Some play with their pets.  Whatever makes you feel good.  Do it.

Another idea is to write down what is causing you stress.  Write until you cannot write anymore. Then read what you wrote and make a list of what you can do.  Then do those things.  Movement has a way of helping to defuse stress.  So do what you can.  It can give you a sense of control over your part of the situation.

Tomorrow letter T.

The ABCs of Standing Back Up. The letter today is R. The word is rest.

To stand back up you need to be rested.  Rest in a work crazy world is not a bad word.  It is the word that can help get you where you want to go.

Rest is the state where you stop all movement.  You are free from activity or action. It may be a new state for you..but one you need to visit.

When you are stressed and tired..you cannot think straight.  The facts are that you can run out of energy.  I never thought that I could and I am here to tell you that you can and when you fall..and you are exhausted...the fall is harder and it takes much, much longer to get up.

So the lesson I am sharing from very personal experience...rest is important.  Rested you make better decisions...you think clearer...you can live the life you want and deserve.  Rest...have you had some today?

Tomorrow letter S.

The ABCs of Standing Back Up. The letter today is Q. Our word is Qi.

Were you wondering what word the letter Q would bring? :)  The word for today is qi.  Qi "chee"... means life force, it's spiritual energy in all things.

When you have fallen your qi...your life force can be altered.  I think it can get all twisted up and that can do a number on you.  Just think about it...anything that is crumbled up doesn't have a clear path.

Standing back up and stretching out can get your qi moving again.  You feel different when you stand.  It's like your energy circuits can flow again. Another benefit of getting back up...free flowing qi.

Tomorrow letter R.

The ABC's of Standing Back Up. Today letter P. Our word is peace.

Peace..that's what I wish for you.  It's a benefit of standing back up after you have taken a fall for whatever reason.  When you find your way back ... you will find peace.

Peace is calm, peace is assurance in your stomach that you are okay.  Peace is defined as calm and quiet. It's also defined as a lack of war or strife.  It is where I think we all want to be.

Chaos and crisis can get a person moving...but peace can bring you back "home". Home to yourself and who you are.

When you are at peace, I believe, you make better decisions and choices.  You make those decisions based on a different criteria then you do when you are in crisis mode. I think your decisions are more authentic for you.

Peace in your life can be a benefit of regaining your footing.  I think it's reason enough to risk standing back up.

Tomorrow letter Q.

The ABCs of Standing Back Up. Today letter O. Our word is open.

Ahhhh to be open.  It can be one of the hardest things to be if you have been hurt.  When people have been hurt their natural instinct is to close up...pull themselves tighter.  But truly being open is where you need to be.  You can take it step by step.  But it IS the direction you want to be heading.

I saw this quote yesterday on twitter that I love..."Not knowing when the dawn will come, I open every door." - Emily Dickinson.

You need to be open to every possibility as you start standing up again.  Be open to the feelings you are having, be open to the opportunities that may be ahead of you.  Be open to a future that may not look like your past.  Be open to the possibility that it may be even better.

Tomorrow letter P.

The ABCs of Standing Back Up. Today letter N. Our word is never.

Never is an interesting word.  It's an absolute and if I have learned anything over the last years...it is that nothing is absolute.

Everything changes...it is only a matter of time.

Never is a word that can trip us up and keep us in a space that is not healthy.  'I will never meet someone else who will love me. I will never get out of my financial challenges. I will never find a job I will love as much as the one I just lost.  I will never regain my health.' 

You set the tone for the future by what you say and if you frame everything in the "I never" format...you are setting yourself up to stay where you are.

Everything changes...it is only a matter of time.  How it change has everything to do with how we frame our intention and direction.  "Never" keeps us where we are.  "Any day" takes us down a whole new path.

You already know what it looks like where you are.  I say...let's go for the change of scenery.

Tomorrow letter O.

The ABCs of Standing Back Up. Today letter M. Our word is music.

Music...it can fill your soul and lift you right off your feet!  A good thing to have happen if you have fallen!

Music can just make you feel better and that is a very good thing indeed.  Of course there can be that song that was "your song" and every time you hear it on the radio you start crying because you are not together anymore.

Well when that happens...I say...switch stations.  And find a new song that is YOUR song.  How about Respect or I will survive?!  Two great songs with great messages. 

Lost your job?  I will survive is still a good one and so is Take This Job and Shove it!  LOL!!!

Ally McBeal, a great TV show several years ago, spent quite a bit time with Ally the main character trying to find her theme song.  It was good humor but also a good idea.

What's your theme song?  What music can you put on in the morning or really any time you need a boast? 

Mine is Believe from the movie Honey soundtrack.  I love that song and it says everything I need to remember.

Music...it can life you up and take you to another place.  Find your theme song and you will really enjoy that ride!

Here's a great hint...google motivational songs.  You'll be happy to discover how many sites there are to look at!

Tomorrow Letter N.