Hidden Within

Over the past month I have been focusing on the life area of Curiosity & Learning. As the dawn of the last day of this focus approaches, I am finding that there are many sides to this soul that God has made in me. It truly is exhilerating to open myself up and discover the multi-faceted dimensions that are the layers of Mandy Lynn Anderson. I have discovered many treasures that have been hidden within myself for far too long, tucked away in the dusty corners of my heart. I'm so glad that I am taking this season to unpack them all and finally find a home for them.

FAITH - My faith is something that fuels me day in and day out. It is one of the biggest parts of my puzzle. I enjoy reading about God, and lately I am finding that I am drawn to Bibles in a bookstore. I am also drawn to really great devotionals that challenge me to dig deeper into my faith.

FUN - This part of me has been hiding for a really long time, and I have allowed it. Well no more! I love listening to great music and I love bursting into song for no specific reason other than I just want to be silly and sing. I love to laugh! Not just small giggles, but big belly laughs that bring tears to your eyes and cause your entire body to laugh. I love the layers of being a girl and having the ability to experiment with makeup and fashion.

ARCHITECTURE - I love contemporary designs that are full of clean lines, amazing color, sleek materials and classy detail. I also love French inspired homes and big cities. Yes, I love big cities! I love to get lost in the details of downtown architecture; it inspires me to be myself and challenges me to aspire to be the person I have locked away deep down inside myself for too many years.

ART - I love to gaze into amazing art pieces. There is something so soothing about getting lost in a great painting and really studying the detail of each stroke, the vibrance of each color, and the story hidden within each canvas.

ALONE - I am no longer afraid to have an adventure by myself. There was a time where sitting alone in a restaurant waiting for my guest would intimidate me and make me feel apprehensive. Not any more. I relish in the moments when I can sit and observe my surroundings in a restaurant - I even go early just so I can take it all in by myself! I frequently go into Barnes and Noble and spend 45 minutes just getting lost in the books and stories that fill the shelves. And I am anxiously awaiting my next trip to California when I can have the pleasure of an airplane adventure completely by myself!

Recently there are moments through out my days where I stop and wonder who this person inside of me is and how long she has been waiting to get out. I have settled for mediocrity for far too long. I am dreaming again and let me reassure you that the possibilities truly are endless when you set your mind to it. I leave you today with a quote. May you always aim high! Be blessed. Be healthy. Be inspired!

"The greatest danger for most of us is not that our aim is too high and we miss it, but that it is too low and we reach it." - Michelangelo

"The jump is so frightening between where I am and where I want to be, but because of who I may become, I will close my eyes and JUMP!" - Kelle Centineo, NMD

I completely agree with the above quote, and I am feeling it! So much has changed over the last month and a half. I recently joined a life coaching group where I will be peeling away the layers that are within me over a 12 month period. This month, I am focusing on becoming aware of my thoughts, reactions, what I'm curious about and what I enjoy learning about. All I can say is WOW - I'm learning a lot about myself! I would like to take this time to share what I have discovered so far. Over the last two weeks I have been acutely aware of my thoughts . . . in a stronger capacity than I have ever experienced. I have surprised myself with how many thoughts go through my head that are more negative than positive and more limiting instead of empowering.

I have often heard that awareness is the first step to being open about change. I am so COMPLETELY AWARE of my thoughts/reactions lately that I feel as though a floodgate has been opened and freedom has been released and found. I have more fears than I ever realized – fears that seem just plain silly (fear of success) and fears that I have secretly been aware of for years (fear of losing friends). Through all of this awareness, I have also discovered that the ability to overcome these fears is fiercely approaching the surface, and that not only am I capable of overcoming them, I WILL overcome them!

Sunday was the first day where I tasted this ability. It was a turning point in my life. Through a mundane task as simple as flying, I found that I can rise above and knock down a fear wall with a tenacious gusto! I tackled a milestone head on that arrived in the form of traveling in an airport completely alone. I knew no one and it forced me to grow. Not only was I alone, but I found within myself the ability to reach deep down and grab hold of courage, determination, and a savvy sense of traveling that I always knew existed but couldn’t act on.

I took the opportunity to get bumped on my flight back home, resulting in 7.5 hours in an airport alone (something that would’ve bored me before, thus making me extremely frightened because I absolutely loathe forced boredom). This single decision was instantly rewarded with a travel voucher worth $300, $20 in food coupons since I was going to be at the airport all day, and a spot in first class all the way home to Fargo. I was completely ecstatic because I saw God’s hand in every aspect of it! It was as if God himself was rewarding this new found independence and travel wisdom simply for the fact of cheering me on and encouraging me to stay the course of jumping outside of my comfort nest.

I have never felt more empowered and free! This experience was not scary at all, contrary to the thoughts that swam around in my head previously. In fact, it was more exhilarating than I could’ve imagined. I’m coming out of my shell and it’s only a matter of time before my fears are but a tiny token of who I used to be. I’m learning how to LIVE OUT LOUD and I truly can’t wait to meet myself even six months from now as I board the plane to Long Beach, CA for my next conference – bought with the travel voucher from today, yet another provision from my Heavenly Father!

Inspired . . . to run!

I am overflowing with so much joy and excitement right now because today I ran further and longer than I ever have before without stopping! I ran 1.5 miles this afternoon and for someone with Cystic Fibrosis, that is a major milestone. Never in a million years did I think that I could run that far and not die; I never imagined that I would enjoy it either!

When I was in 7th grade I participated in track. I hated it. My dad was a track star in his high school days and I know that he was hoping the dream would've been passed down to me. It was not. I hated running, practice was boring, the bus rides to track meets were too long and noisy, and the only thing I enjoyed about track meets was the fact that it was one GIANT PICNIC in between each race! I was not an athlete; I was there for the socializing and the eating.

I don't consider myself an athlete today either, but I am becoming very passionate about wellness. I have been working out with a personal trainer for 1.5 years and I've been diving into the world of nutrition. Through numerous Juice Plus conferences I have learned valuable information about nutrition that has made a tremendous impact in my lifestyle and my health. I give God all praise and glory for my health and I am thankful that he has provided me with tangible solutions to establishing better health. I credit my great achievement of running to Juice Plus and to the fact that I exercise on a daily basis. I am seeing amazing results in my health and I am determining to forge ahead mightily! I'm sure my doctor is going to flip tomorrow when I tell him this exciting news!

If I can accomplish something like this, I know without a doubt that you can accomplish whatever you set your heart on. As always, be blessed, be healthy, and be inspired!!

Once Again

I am a person that strongly believes in baring my soul to others in order to inspire them. With that in mind, I share the following piece of my history - how one of the first songs I wrote came to light and how the lessons revealed in that song continue to surface throughout my journey on earth.

In 1999, after being suddenly dumped by someone that I really loved, I broke down. It may not have been apparent to everyone around me, or even to this other person, but inside I was devestated and broken. Instead of burying these feelings to the depth of my being, I let myself feel it all to it's fullest. I dug deep within myself and allowed the full measure of pain, betrayel, and regret to be experienced, and then I curled up under God's arms and allowed him to sew my broken heart back together again. The result was one of the first songs I ever wrote, entitled "Once Again."

Several months after writing it, when the wounds were starting to scab over, I was asked by one of my teachers to submit it for my Honors English class as a special project. I was excited and willing to do so, until she informed me that she wanted me to record myself singing it so the entire class could hear it. This was a scary thought for me because my ex was in this class and I wasn't sure that I was ready for my feelings to be put out there for everyone to see, especially him. I decided that if I truly wanted to become an artist in the future, I needed to get used to the idea of letting people into my inner most thoughts, so I went forward with it. (It really wasn't as bad as I thought it would be.) Little did I know that only two years later this song would end up on my first recorded album. I have decided to share the words of this song with you:

Once Again

copyright 1999 and 2001 Mandy Brakel and Lonely Moose Records

Broken hearted, lost beyond control

Tears have started and I can't seem to let go

Of the pain that's dwelling deep inside

But Lord, I know what's happened is right

chorus

Once again, I'm coming before you

Once again, please make my heart brand new

I'm always trying to do things my own way

Once again, I'm down on my knees, Lord I pray

Once again

I know you're fed up with the way I've come to act

Taking my whole life into my own hands

But every time I've come to find

That Lord, your way is always right

Lord, I know you hear me

I know you know my every move

Now I'm giving it all back to you

Fast forward to 2008. I have recently discovered that the words of this song still ring true to my heart. Situations may have changed, but many times I find myself feeling the same way. I keep trying to take my life into my own hands, manipulating situations to fit my idea of perfection. Whenever I do that, I find that I only screw things up. I make them worse and I lose sight of where I am going because I let my selfishness take over.

As a woman of God, I am devoting myself to living his perfect will for my life and sometimes this is not an easy thing to do. Recklessly abandoning my agenda and diving into God's exciting adventure is not always the story book life that I envisioned. More often than not, it's easier, and less painful, to regress or stay in one spot than to move forward. I know that there will always be times in life where, once again, I have to come before God and let him make my heart brand new. There will always be times when I am broken hearted or feel lost beyond control. The exciting thing is that this only happens when growth is taking place and I am so thankful that God is always there, ready and waiting to pick me up, strengthen me, and encourage me on his desired path for my life.

Thank you for letting me share a piece of my heart. I hope this testimony is refreshing for you. Be healthy, be blessed, and be inspired!

The Traveler's Gift - Decision #1

I recently read the book "The Traveler's Gift" by Andy Andrews and I have challenged myself to commit to memory and heart each decision from this book for 21 days at a time. Wow, talk about revealing sleeping giants and learning how to tame them!

THE BUCK STOPS HERE

For the last 11 days I have been waking up every day and going to bed every night by applying this decision to my life. I walk into my bathroom, look myself in the eyes through my mirror, and repeat the following:

1. I accept responsibility for my past.

2. I control my thoughts.

3. I control my emotions.

4. I am responsible for my success.

5. The buck stops here, with me, Mandy Lynn Anderson.

I have realized many amazing details about myself since I have been doing this. For one, I have discovered that I have a tendancy to dwell on my past way too much. Lately I have been reliving memories and wallowing in things that never were and I have wasted precious time, therefore delaying my own success.

I recently also had the revelation that I have not forgiven certain key people in my past, including myself. Well no more missy! From now on I am going to make a conscious effort to forgive myself and anyone else who comes to mind. I plan on forgiving these people every single day if I have to until finally the grasp is released.

This exercise of the mind is proving to be a valuable technique that I do plan on pursuing for the rest of my life. I am not proud of the fact that I somehow manage to hold on to thoughts, emotions, and events of my past and let them slow me down while trying to attain greatness. I am, however, thankful of the fact that I have not yet reached my desired potential. I am blessed to have this opportunity to dig deeper into the depth that is my soul, knowing full well that I will be stronger on the other side.

I encourage you to get this book and dig deeper within yourself to discover potential you didn't know was buried. You'll thank yourself for doing so!

As always, stay healthy, be blessed, and be inspired!

the little things

the little things - TRYING SOMETHING NEW:
"Unless you walk out into the unknown, the odds of making a profound difference in your life are pretty low." - Tom Peters

I absolutely LOVE this quote! The past 13 months of my life have been about trying new things and I have made a more profound difference in my life than I ever could have dreamed. Here are just a few examples of steps into the unknown that I have made this year:

1. Quit a full time job to start my own business with no guarantees.

2. Said "yes" to becoming the Women's Events Coordinator at my church.

3. Said "yes" to speaking in public! (scary!!)

4. Tried boogy boarding in the ocean for the first time! (very scary but so worth it!)

5. Started writing articles for magazines and finally began writing my first book.

6. Took the first steps in stretching myself on a continual basis through personal growth exercises!

7. Realized for the first time in my life that I am not in a comfort zone anymore. (What a refreshing and completely invigorating experience that is!)

Earlier today I heard that in order to be successful in anything, you must have a desire to change and a willingness to do so. Realize that the discomfort is only temporary, but the lessons and the results are life long. What an incredible thing to keep in mind. I want to encourage you to walk into the unknown, realize that it will only be uncomforable for awhile, and embrace the excitement that awaits you just around the corner! Feel free to share with me your list of new experiences!

Have a great day - be blessed, stay healthy, and be inspired!

the little things

the little things - EMBRACING YOUR UNIQUENESS:

"By being yourself, you put something wonderful in the world that was not there before." - Edwin Elliot

How many times have you heard someone apologize for who they are? How many times have you done that yourself? Whether we are trying to be humble or simply have low self-esteem, we all at some point have apologized out loud or to ourselves for who we are. But why? Why don't we embrace it?

A few months ago I was given a personality test by the Senior Pastor at my church. He was giving this to all of the pastors and since I am the Women's Events Coordinator I was given permission to take the test as well. After a few weeks I went through the test results with my Pastor and his wife and I couldn't help but laugh at how accurate it was. The most obvious detail about this personality test, however, was that I have learned to use my adapted behavior far more often than my natural behavior. In a nutshell - I tend to not embrace my uniqueness.

Instead of apologizing for my strengths, or trying to hide them so I don't intimidate someone, I am now focusing on fine tuning them. After all, God made me the way I am for a reason - strengths and weaknesses alike. I truly believe the opening quote and I'm so glad that we are all made with different abilities and have different missions. Wouldn't life be boring otherwise?!

Maybe you are struggling with how to accept a compliment, or maybe you are trying to be more timid because your ambition scares others around. Maybe you haven't had a chance to truly discover your strengths. Whatever path you are on at the moment, I encourage you to embrace your uniqueness. Trust me, you don't want to miss the opportunity to add something beautiful to the world that wasn't there before you came along!

As always, be blessed, stay healthy, and be inspired!