Let's start with this reality: people aren't paying nearly as much attention to you as you think. I promise you, they aren't.

They have their own lives, their own problems, their own dreams... They don't go home, sit on the couch and think about you.

So we need to stop giving other people's opinions and feelings so much weight in our lives. They say one negative thing to us - and we change our entire lives based on that comment. Meanwhile, they forget that they even said it.

Instead of giving other people the power in your life - hold it for yourself! And start using it today.

When I got these photos back from a speech I gave last week, I thought, "these don't even need a caption." I am so thankful to photographer Phelan Marc for catching moments of pure joy from that day... which is an accurate description of how I felt.

There is something special when you find a place you are supposed to be - and you start living there every day. 

​Thank you to AWE for letting me share that joy with you.

I first met Richard Dyer five years ago at a job interview in Cincinnati, Ohio, where he was the General Manager of WLWT. I interviewed there a couple times actually, but never made the move back to Ohio.

Richard's personality and energy were impossible to forget - even after knowing him for just a couple of hours. And as it all turned out - I did end up working for Richard after all... when he moved to D.C., where he is our General Manager at WUSA 9.

His leadership is genuine and his desire to learn as much as possible is evident from the daily motivational stories he tells. 

As a mentor to me and a guru of self-improvement, he was the perfect "Minute Motivation" guest. I'm so thankful to have this chance to share his stories of being told no, finding his path, and making the most of his time with you.
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Plus! The segment we ran from Richard's interview on air this morning on Get Up DC.
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Can you tell I listened to Jessie J on the way to work this morning? "It's ok not be ok..." I love that line. And it's so true.

​Some days, I'm just not feeling it. Some days, the alarm clock rings and I want nothing to do with the day ahead. Some days, I'm just feeling overwhelmed and uninspired. 

First - it's ok to feel this way. You are normal. We all go through bad days or even bad stretches of time.

On the days when I feel fear and anxiety overwhelming me, I find it's most important to take action. That means fighting against the urge to call in sick and so you can stay in bed. Or fighting the urge to isolate yourself from everyone and all of your responsibilities. 

Sometimes all it takes is getting around other people or getting one thing crossed off my to-do list to turn my mood around.

And if that doesn't work, I just keep pushing through the day anyway. Things will turn around... maybe not today, or tomorrow, or next week. But they will. And in the meantime, know that it's ok not to be ok.
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I like to know I am good at something before I do it. Who wants to try something new and fail?

If you feel the same, you're choosing to live in comfort. A place where you know you are good at what you do and don't have to worry about making a fool of yourself.

While comfort feels nice, you will never grow into your full potential if you stay there. Get out of that comfort zone. Try something new and fail. Anyone who's done anything important in this world started out by feeling like they were in over their heads.

​It's time to get uncomfortable.

Angelica Talan comes from a place of yes, but she also comes from a place of genuine kindness. She was my first interview for taking Minute Motivation to TV - and I can't think of anyone better to be my first guest.

From building the successful online blog Clarendon Moms to being a community leader, Angelica opened up about her journey in D.C. and the woman behind the gorgeous photos you'll see on her Instagram page.

Above is a highlight reel of our conversation together! Below is the piece we aired on Get Up DC this morning - a discussion that saying "yes" to the things that are most important in your life actually starts with saying no.

Anyone want to have lunch on Friday?!

Ladies. I am so excited! I was curled up on the couch this morning, planning out just what to say at the AWE meeting next week... and just the thought of sharing my message with you filled me with so much energy - to the point where I'm off the couch dancing around my apartment!

Want to have that own energy about your dreams? Want to stop second-guessing and just trust in your journey?

SIGN UP to join me for lunch this Friday!

This is the day. A new day. A chance to start again.

I've been telling myself this for a long time now. I wake up and think, "Ok. That's in my past. Let's start fresh today." And it works... for an hour or two. But then the day gets into full swing - and my bad habits creep into my routine, until I'm right back to (or even worse than) where I left off yesterday. 

Breaking habits can feel extremely defeating. You are denying what has become natural for you over time - and your body and mind are going to fight like hell for control.

It feels impossible to stay positive. It feels like a lie when you tell yourself at the dawn of a new day that today, today is the day you turn yourself around and leave the old you in the dust.

In those moments, when you feel helpless and hopeless... keep going.

Yes, change will not happen overnight. Change will never happen on your own timeline. And unfortunately, the moment when you bottom out might still be ahead. But eventually with time and relentless work, things will get better.

So keep your chin up. Start again. It's a new day.
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Sleep changes everything!

Once upon a time, I bragged about how little sleep I needed. 3, 4 5 hours? Perfect. That's good enough for me! Somehow, I explained my weight gain and stressed attitude to other factors in my life.

Then I read a book that stressed in order to be your healthiest self, getting enough sleep and drinking water must become top priorities. So. I focused on getting at least 7-8 hours of sleep a night.

​And... It. Changed. Everything.

My weight stabilized as I didn't need sugar and caffeine simply to keep my eyes open. I could see challenges in my life more clearly and they didn't overwhelm me as much. Plus, I had more patience and productivity throughout the day.

Today, I am so protective of my sleep schedule. (Which is very tough because I wake up for work as nearly everyone else is going to bed.) But I can tell a HUGE difference when I don't get sleep.

Try it. Make sleep a priority.

You never know what someone is going through. His or her interactions with you are a reflection of internal feelings in that person's life, not reactions to your actions.

I had to remember this last week when dealing with a very rude rental car saleswoman. Her attitude frustrated me so much! But I stepped back and took a look at her life - or work life at least. There was no air conditioning in the building (in Florida!), she had to check the returned rental cars herself, and there was only one shuttle bus making trips to the airport - forcing her to be with the angry customers while they waited for it to return.

Are these excuses for a bad attitude? No. But taking this perspective helped me to let go of my frustration and find compassion for her.

It can be tough, but take a step back when someone is upsetting you. Most of the time, you'll realize that person isn't acting this way to hurt you - but that he or she is hurting and dealing with something on their own.