"Stories submitted by people who
feel great about themselves"

 

"It is not the mountain we conquer but ourselves." Edmund Hillary, first to climb Mount Everest, 1919.

My book of life is being re-written every moment, and I am learning to be grateful for all that comes to shape me and my world. The quote above says it all: learning to conquer or master or re-create oneself is no easy task. My first benchmark in life was losing my mother at ten years, then through the teens and into my 20s, searching, finding, and experimenting with relationships, interesting characters, music, value systems, lifestyles, personal growth, and eventually moving to my home here in Hawaii.

I led my life with not a clear compass in my head about what I wanted, yet somehow, I survived. And I lived life with passion, risk, and curiosity.  Friends and family admired me from afar, but deep down, even with the right grades, intentions, hard work, and smile, I just didn't feel I had it all together or could make the pieces of my life work. I don't think I loved myself at times.  I'd surrender to others' views, trends, social conditioning, until I realized I had to author my own chapters of my life before someone else did.  And not apologize.

From finally leaving home to "grow up", emotionally as well as physically, to job-hopping, navigating shallow or dead-end relationships, to being in constant debt and staying in mediocrity, my world has changed- I am now married to the love of my life, feeling clear about my purpose and building a business close to my heart, and am debt-free for the first time since I owned a credit card in college 20 years ago. A life make-over, a new chapter? I feel the fun is just beginning. What did it take? Persistence. Continual commitment to growth. Inspiration from others. Self-love. And a "quiet pursuit of my own excellence" once I realized life was too short to take a short cut. I want to truly smell the roses and enjoy the coffee, and in some ways, I do...every day.

Cat Wong
Entrepreneur, Honolulu, HI
www.catwongstudio.com

 

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My Self-Help Story by Steve M Nash

"Do at least one thing everyday that makes you feel great about yourself"

What a great motto for life that is and Mimi should be proud of herself for creating such a helpful, positive website.

Anyway, she's asked me to share my story with you. Well we all have a story, after all - from the most successful in the world to the least successful in the street.

Hello my name is Steve M Nash - yes, that M is important, especially if you live in North America (which I don't) - and I make a full-time living from websites like TextMeFree.com and SelfHelpCollective.com. Y'know a bit like the guy who started Facebook but a billion times less wealthy than him. :-)

Okay, I'm waffling; back to my story. At first, I was going to tell you how I had 'solved' one of my biggest problems - finding a long-term partner - and how my problem had always been *my* problem, and it had never been because the women were too difficult to get along with etc. But this story was a bit too personal and a bit too boring.

So, instead, I thought I'd talk about the main issues covered on my self-help website, SelfHelpCollective.com. And I thought I'd (very) briefly explain to you how I have suffered from each and every self-help 'problem' listed there, and how I have also self-improved in all those areas.

So - and as my time is clearly running out here (it should only take 5 mins at most to read this) - without further ado. SelfHelpCollective.com currently covers the following topics:

* Anger Management
* Assertiveness
* Communication Skills
* Happiness
* Inspirational Quotes
* Personal Development
* Positive Attitude
* Self Confidence
* Self Esteem
* Self Help
* Self Improvement
* Success

(and Fear is coming soon! Ooh!)

ANGER MANAGEMENT

I never thought I had anger issues because I never used to get angry. Oh oh! Bad sign, huh!

So now I get angry, if appropriate, at the right time and then deal with the issue there and then.

ASSERTIVENESS

I never used to think I was a very assertive person, actually. But, again, I surprised myself when I took note of how I communicate with people and how often I get my way. So now I consider myself to be assertive, but also be a work-in-progress in this department too! :-)

COMMUNICATION SKILLS

I've got great communication skills! No, I'm being serious, I have! Can't you tell? And that's why it always puzzles me when I get communication completely wrong. And it happens a lot. So never take communication skills for granted is my advice.

HAPPINESS

I'm as happy as I want to be! I just wish someone would have told me this years ago. Lol.

INSPIRATIONAL QUOTES

"Most folks are about as happy as they make up their minds to be." - Abraham Lincoln. (What a clever chappie he is, eh!)

PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT

I used to think that one day I will be 'fixed' and I'll be as confident and assertive as I want to be and my self-esteem will be oh so high. Now I realize that you're never fixed; you're always growing. It's good to grow! :-)

POSITIVE ATTITUDE

Most of my life has been spoiled by a negative attitude. I'm positive about that.

Thankfully, I started to realize this in my 30s and have made BIG improvements since that time. Still, this is most definitely a work in progress.

SELF CONFIDENCE

Ditto with self-confidence. I have good days when I swagger down the road, and bad ones when I hide under the blankets. Bit like you, probably.

SELF ESTEEM

"Every day in every way I keep getting better and better." :-)

SELF HELP

Dear Doctor, I think I'm addicted to self-help. Help! "Go and build a self help website for all," said the Doctor. And I did! :-)

SELF IMPROVEMENT

Self-improvement sounds so selfish doesn't it. But it's not. If you're more confident, more assertive and you have dealt with your anger management issues then you're just a friendlier human being and the world is a better place because of it. That's what I say, anyway.

SUCCESS

Success is finishing this story. :-O Yes, I'm successful - I work for myself and make 'enough' money - but I have many challenges ahead of me too. Onwards...

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Okay. That's me. How about you? Do you have a success story? I'm sure Mimi would like to hear it - I would! Get scribbling.

And if you want to find out more about you, you can, simply by visiting http://www.selfhelpcollective.com/about-us.html

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Submitted story, July 24th 2008

What makes me feel great about myself? The fact that I have changed greatly as a person and can use my experiences to help others who need it.

When I was thirteen years old, my Dad was hit by a drunk driver while walking with me. I sat right by him as he died and remember it more clearly than anything. After that, my Mum started beating me and my siblings. Being at home was horrible and we became terrified of her. She was an alcoholic and didn't care much about any of us, just herself. I started drinking, smoking and trying different drugs. By the time I was 14, I was a heroin addict and also dealt cannabis locally. I would go out every night to parties and get drunk on a daily basis. I mugged people, stole from shops and lied to family to get the money I needed for heroin. I wasn't a nice person at all, I was arrested multiple times and got into fights frequently. When I was 17, my girlfriend gave birth to my son. She then left us two weeks later and I became a single Dad. I was scared and didn't know at all how to be a parent, so I decided I had to change. I started trying to give up heroin and kept failing and having to start again. I became depressed and developed schizophrenia so had to go on medication for that. I became suicidal and ended up in hospital from overdoses and other suicide attempts. I was even hospitalised and sedated because I was a threat to myself and others.

I'm now twenty and have been clean for just under two years. It's hard and I still have the occasional relapse. I'm the Dad of three lovely children and engaged to a great woman. I still take medication for schizophrenia and have never had a problem with depression since. I work as a professional photographer and work with youth who have different problems such as mental issues or who are just ill. I've done different projects within the community to help youth who need it and I'm proud of how far I've come. My three-year-old son suffers from leukemia and the doctors say it isn't looking good. But I have all the hope in the world that he'll get better and love spending time with all my children.

Four years ago, I was a selfish boy who stole and lied to get what he wanted. I never thought I'd be a Dad, or have a good job and I never thought I'd stay clean for so long. I think that's something to be proud of myself for and even though I regret my past, I feel good every day about the person I am now.

20 y/o Dad of Nathan (3), Eleanor (3 weeks) and Joshua (3 weeks)

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Submitted story

After 20 years of suffering from an eating disorder - I have finally found peace "Within myself". It's actually been there all along - I just never knew how to get access to it - I searched and searched for answers/solutions but still nothing changed - Until the day I decided to trust and to listen to that inner part of me-the one with all the answers - the part of us that is always there, but we can never access it until we are ready.

It only takes a moment, just to sit quietly, to be silent and just feel calm within yourself - Then it happens - your mind stops, it gets put on hold and you are free...to explore and just enjoy the silence. Congratulations you have met your inner being - You will discover from this peace the real part of you and the best part is you get to allow yourself this time, and the more you access it, the more you want to make this special time for yourself - nobody can take it away from you - because nobody else has it - Its totally - Nobody else can access it or can interfere with it either!!

I have rebuilt my life on working with my inner self just listening to what it is that my soul wants - then attracting the right people and circumstances to support me through it. Through this I have discovered "myself " and just how much I contribute to all those people and circumstances out there now in a positive way rather than feeling sorry for myself and contributing to the negativity of the planet - I had become accustomed to feeling a certain way and that there was no way out - I will always be like this and there is no end to this misery - I am so relieved, happy and grateful that I became to the perfect resource to help me - My inner being. Life has just begun and I am enjoying every step of the journey of rebuilding my body - this wondrous vehicle which supports me day in and day out.

Anonymous

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