This week, I have learned a lot. I have been wanting to write this for a few days, but the program wasn’t working properly, so here it is. I have a lot of news. First, the exciting part is that the Gratitude Journal is in print! I have a limited number of copies, but if you would like one, it is $12.95 shipped in the US, slightly more if shipped elsewhere, but it is available!!

The Gratitude Journal is a year long Gratitude practice with monthly themes. The purpose is to bring more satisfaction into your life by seeing all the good already there. We are hard wired to look at the negative in life, and this practice brings awareness to the positive. Along with this, you can join the Gratitude Awareness Facebook group where you can share your triumphs in a group. This was created as a group to share what you are learning and to uplift one another. You can join here https://www.facebook.com/groups/6584196744948646/?ref=share_group_link

In other news, I have two job interviews this week. My first ones in a long time. I am looking forward to the experience of being interviewed without expectations. I am excited to see what comes next. It hasn’t been easy to be at home this long. It will bring more self-confidence and experience. That being said, I did have an interview last week, but it turned out to be a scam. I knew it might be when my intuition kicked in with a knot in my stomach. I was excited and fell completely for it and lost $2000. It was an online interview for a remote data entry job. It sounded so promising, and everything went well, but then they wanted me to accept a check for equipment, and I was to send that money to another for equipment for the job.

During my interview, I asked why it would be this way, and they said it was to see how I would handle company funds. They sent the check. I put it in my account as directed, and the next day, I had more contact with the hiring manager. I was wary but continued contact on Monday. Monday, they said costs had gone up, and they needed to send another check, and we would do the same thing. That is when I stopped it. I said no. If the funds are still in my account on Wednesday, I will, but as anticipated, the check was returned by the bank, and I was out the money with no recourse. Lesson learned the hard way.

More learnings came over the weekend during my Landmark Leadership Training class. I was unprepared for the weekend. I did not share myself, but still got benefit. The biggest takeaway was what I make failure to mean. For me, it meant I wasn’t good enough to accomplish what I wanted, and it was bad. What I learned was that it was just something that happened, and I didn’t meet my expectations. With this in mind, I realized I needed to set some new aspirations and move forward despite being uncomfortable. The uncomfortable would be the growth I was experiencing. It was nothing more. What I was saying to myself was not valid. I had learned something despite the failures.

The other thing I learned is how I react to my circumstances at times. Sometimes, I allow people to walk all over me, while others I stand up to. It depends on how uncomfortable I feel and how much I like the person. If I like them, I allow more, even if it doesn’t suit me. I put my foot down in a few instances and ended it with a couple of people I was seeing. It was definitely uncomfortable, but it needed to be done. I realized there are other people out there who are more suited to me, and eventually, I will find the one, but I don’t need to rush. I am also getting more picky as time goes on.

I am also learning how my procrastination is hindering me. It increases my anxiety and postpones me reaching my highest potential. I do not get done what I want in the time-frame I want it done in. I feel less motivated and less valuable. Being held accountable for my procrastination has been a helpful tool. This is how I was able to quit talking about the Gratitude Journal and get it done. I have talked about it for years. Just like moving to Sweden, when I sat down and did it, I got it done, and it felt so good.

There will always be things which make me uncomfortable. The key is to push through that feeling and do it anyway. Do it scared and not knowing what the outcome will be. I am so grateful for the lessons I have learned.