by Amy Matthews | Jan 13, 2022 | Blog, Inspiration, Mindset |
A brand spanking new year! It doesn’t feel like it, yet. With Omicron still raging, we can’t exactly put the petal to the metal. That’s why January is the perfect month to reflect, reevaluate and renew.
Our landscape has literally shifted under our feet the past two years. Many of us still feel wobbly, others are searching for clarity or craving momentum. Here’s the deal. With so much uncertainty still in the air, the #1 thing you can lean on is knowing who you really are.
Authenticity is the cornerstone for creating a fulfilling life. It’s the choice to show up and be REAL. It’s your most powerful asset, always, and a direct path to your success.
I’m offering my Authentic Brand Workshop again in February! I’ll take you on a journey to discover your strengths, skills, passions, values and superpowers. The result? You’ll have more clarity and focus, and feel more confident and comfortable in your own skin. Yep, you’ll be on fire! Stay tuned for details next week.
May 2022 be the year you let go of who you think you’re supposed to be and embrace all of who you are – warts and all.
You attract the right things when you have a sense of who you are. – Amy Poehler
by Amy Matthews | Dec 10, 2021 | Blog, Mindset |
A behavior pattern of mine reared its ugly head this week.
I was sending emails last Friday and received an error that they didn’t go out. I then realized that I wasn’t receiving any either. I called Apple tech support and was told it was an issue with Google. I reached out to Google with no success. Since Bluehost is in the mix, I called them and they said it was an issue with Godaddy. Godaddy said go back to Google.
I was caught in a loop with no end in sight.
This circus went on for a week. Without boring you with deets, I hired two tech experts to help me. Finally it was resolved yesterday – that’s why you’re receiving this email. 🙂
I’d like to think I was calm through it all. Nope, not on your life. I was frustrated. I was worried. I felt helpless. The truth is, my anxiety was off the charts. It was as if the situation was life threatening.
Then it dawned on me.
For 20 years, when a technical snafu happens, whether my computer is pronounced dead, email or another application goes belly up, I become a big hot mess.
Then I realized.
Every single time I’ve had a technical snafu, it always gets fixed. Always.
We all have situations that challenge us. For me, it’s the techie stuff. For others, it’s the stress of the Holidays. Or pent up anxiety before a big presentation. Or someone cuts you off in traffic. Or your partner or friend doesn’t do what he/she has promised. It all boils down to one thing: feeling a lack of control.
And there’s A LOT that’s not in our control these days.
Since this behavior pattern was staring me in the face, I decided to adopt a new attitude I learned from the experts. Stay centered, focused and trust the tech process. And breathe.
Hasta la vista old behavior pattern. Hola to calm, cool and collected.
by Amy Matthews | Nov 30, 2021 | Blog, In-Power, Mindset |
I was talking with a client who is a super successful Business Development guy with unparalleled expertise in his field. Seriously, he’s one of a kind and at the top of his game.
Yet, like many of us, he’s having a hard time staying on task and getting what he wants to get done, done.
In a world of constant change and distractions, how do you stay on course?
You focus on your top priorities. You create boundaries with your schedule and with people. You monitor your thoughts and emotions so they are positive and don’t run on the fear track. You make discipline your mantra.
The truth is, sometimes we can control what’s going on around us, sometimes not. Here are some things you have control over:
👉 You can turn off devices or notifications when you’re working on a deadline
👉 You can create blocks of time on your calendar to get things done
👉 You can respond to texts twice a day – rather than 100
👉 You can minimize time on social media and how often you read/listen to news
👉 You can discipline your thoughts so they are “CAN DO” vs. “CAN NOT”
👉 You can make your goals a priority over those of others – YES you can
The end of the year is fast approaching. It’s up to you to say NO to everyday distractions that get in the way of meeting your goals and getting ‘er done.
by Amy Matthews | Nov 22, 2021 | Blog, Inspiration |
I love Thanksgiving. It’s a time to pause, reflect and open our hearts.
You all know I’m a big fan of gratitude practice but I realized recently, I was just going through the motions. I would do my yoga routine, meditate, connect with my intention and feel super grateful in the moment. But the feeling didn’t stick with me through the day. I felt exhausted and out of balance.
I bet many of you can relate.
To regain my “attitude of gratitude”, it was clear to me I needed to stop rushing and slow down. That included my thoughts, my activities, even the little things like how fast I drive and how hard I work out. I had a sense of urgency to move through the world and get stuff done. Wonder Woman was once my hero but she just wasn’t working for me – anymore.
With that awareness, I made a few simple changes:
I started taking the scenic route while driving instead of the direct path.
I became more selective about the podcasts I listen to and the news I read.
I stopped stressing about things and started trusting that everything I need to get done, will get done.
Plus, to feel inspired:
I’ve been playing Elton John and Dua Lipa’s Cold Heart – on repeat. Dance party for one, anyone?
I listened to Paulo Coelho’s The Alchemist on Audible. Jeremy Irons narrates it and it’s even better than the written book! It’s filled with so many nuggets of wisdom.
I surround myself with candles at every opportunity.
With slowing down and making these minor shifts, I feel more grounded and present. And, my “attitude of gratitude” is back.
It doesn’t take much to get back into balance. Grant yourself permission to slow down this holiday. Everything will get done, I promise.
In the spirit of Thanksgiving:
Seek out the things that inspire and rejuvenate you. May you feel gratitude for all the abundance in your life, especially, for those who contribute to your life.
Wishing you a heartfelt and fun Thanksgiving week.
by Amy Matthews | Nov 8, 2021 | Blog, Business, Mindset |
It’s been a while since I sent out my newsletter and I’M BACK! I’ve been busy producing a leadership course with Madecraft which is now in post-production.
I’m excited about it and can’t wait to share the finished product with you soon.
One of the first things I talked about in the course is the importance of authenticity. More than ever, the world needs you to be YOU.
It’s easy to prioritize how others perceive us and how we think we need to be over-showing up as our true selves. Because deep down, fears we’ll be judged, not liked, accepted, or even worse, someone may feel sorry for us, rear their ugly head. Especially when we’re wearing our heart on our sleeve.
I get it. It can be scary to put yourself out there and be seen for who you are, warts and all.
I’ve shared a ton about my personal trials and tribulations through the years. I chuckle when people still ask me how I can be so comfortable sharing my deep and darkest moments.
Here’s what I say:
“The things I’ve shared were hard and sometimes felt excruciating at the time. But I worked through them and grew tremendously as a result. Hopefully, by sharing, you’ll feel empowered to show up more authentically.”
We all have fears. Believe me, I have plenty of them. Just don’t let them stop you from expressing your truest and most brilliant version of yourself.
The more you embrace all of who you are, the more successful and happier you’ll be.
by Amy Matthews | Sep 24, 2020 | Blog, In-Power, Inspiration |
We all have created stories about our experiences, some of which are true, others not. Here are two stories I’d like to share:Â
One of my clients struggled to learn how to read as a child so he grew up thinking he wasn’t smart. Fast forward, he went to Columbia, got his MBA from Stanford and graduated top of his class. It didn’t dawn on him he was super smart until years later when a CEO who he worked for, told him was. He was 38 years old.
Another client wasn’t asked to her senior prom so she thought men didn’t find her attractive and didn’t want her. Though she had several long term relationships and eventually married, when we began working together, she held that same belief.
To nip a Limiting Belief in the bud, try this simple exercise:
Grab a pen and paper. Write down answers to these 3 questions:
1.What is your top limiting belief or reoccurring thought that drains your energy?
2. On the left side of the page write down all the reasons it’s true. On the right, the reasons it isn’t. Hint: the right side always wins 🙂
Why It’s True                         Why It Isn’t True
3.What new belief are you replacing it with?
There’s no better time to remove beliefs that aren’t true. Take off the Shackles and create new ones that support your happiness, freedom, and success.Â
