Tag: Relationships

Goals to accomplish vs. commitments to virtue

Susie LeeLeave a comment

Usually at the beginning of every year, I set goals. But this year, I decided I wasn’t going to set goals to accomplish but rather make commitments to strengthen my character and build my relationships.

Don’t misunderstand me, setting goals are important and have their place but I don’t want to neglect other areas in my life that need my attention and time. The most important things in life aren’t success or productivity but rather the quality of our relationships and the development of our character. This year, I want to focus on becoming a better, kinder, and more loving person – to love despite the hurt, to give without expecting anything in return, to forgive without the apology. I want to think the best of situations, not judge people by my interpretation, remain modest at all times, give kindness to those who don’t deserve it, and love where it’s not reciprocated. I want to use my time to make a lasting difference and strive to be selfless rather than selfish. Instead of pointing the finger at someone else, I’m going to work on myself, instead of blaming, I’m going to take responsibility for my actions.

This year, I’m going to make a conscious effort to live my days with gratitude, wonderment, contentment, peace and joy. I want to stop, breathe, listen, and take moments in. I want to disengage with my electronic gadgets and engage with people in person by being attentive and alert. Of course, I have goals I want to pursue but I believe they’ll naturally fall into place as I’m living out my best.

12 commitments for 2104:

  • Love despite being hurt.
  • Give without expecting.
  • Forgive without the apology.
  • Accept people or situations without judgment.
  • Think, believe, and speak the best.
  • Be humble and kind.
  • Be true to who you are.
  • Fearlessly share your feelings.
  • Take risks.
  • Work hard.
  • Discern what’s worth fighting for and what to let go.
  • Challenge yourself daily.

Welcome to a New Year and a better you!

©2014 Susie Lee

Exercise the greatest charity.

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The Greatest Charity

I still believe in people…

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There's still

Be that person for someone today.

-2013 Susie Lee

20 things to start doing in your relationships.

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20 things

How to remove stumbling blocks from living your best.

Susie Lee1 Comment

JRR tolkien

Living your best will change from day to day. It doesn’t mean having it all together or being happy all the time – it means doing your best under the circumstances that you’re in. Here are some ways I remove stumbling blocks from living my best. By no means is this an exhaustive list but it’s a start…

  • Don’t hold onto grudges – it’ll only damage you and hold you back from fully living and loving.
  • Work on building your character – keep your word, show up, and work hard.
  • Be kind. Always.
  • Stop being a people pleaser.
  • Work hard and mind your own business.
  • Don’t run away from pain but learn from it – it’ll make you stronger, wiser, and build character.
  • Dream big and follow your heart.
  • Don’t let anyone define you, especially your boyfriend or girlfriend, husband or wife.
  • When you say ‘yes’ to someone, make sure you’re not saying ‘no’ to yourself.
  • Get to know and love yourself – embrace imperfections & brokenness because there’s beauty in those places.
  • Discover the world, especially the world within you.
  • Learn to love those who are difficult to love, this alone will either make you or break you.
  • Have hope, faith, and love.
  • Always believe the best, say the best, and think the best.
  • Don’t compare your chapter 1 with someone else’s chapter 20.
  • Always do your best even when no one’s watching.
  • Don’t settle when it comes to dating – you’re worth the best.
  • Learn to forgive others but especially yourself.
  • Having a good attitude will make all the difference in the world.
  • A bad attitude is like a flat tire. You won’t be able to go anywhere until you change it.
  • Life always offers you a second chance, it’s called tomorrow.
  • Loving is the hardest and the best thing we can do.
  • You can’t start the next chapter in your life, if you keep re-reading the last one. Let go & move on without regrets.
  • You can’t move on to the next chapter of your life, if you keep re-reading the last chapter.
  • Stay humble.
  • Never stop learning.
  • Be thankful everyday.
  • And it’s okay to not be okay. You don’t have to be happy and have it all together all the time. Let that emotion sit with you.
  • Remember that your struggle is just part of your story. And one day, your story will inspire someone else.
  • Lastly, do more of what makes you awesome!

What are some ways you live your best? I’d love to be inspired in hearing from you!

©2013 Susie Lee

Let pain be your teacher. Lean into it.

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Pain - lesson

How to be happy

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Being happy is all relative. What makes me happy might not make another person happy. So do something that brings you life, joy and makes you feels energized. It’s important to incorporate things into your life that makes you happy because it keeps you in the moment and takes you out of your head. Feeling this way will give you a natural high, a mental and emotional break from the necessarily mundane daily tasks of your life. It’s also very therapeutic as it helps you to cope and conquer the battles you fight within and out of yourself. Whatever it is that makes you happy, may it draw you closer to embrace the fullness of life and to those around you.

©2013 Susie Lee

How to be happy

Living under the shadow of not being good enough

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Good Enough. Believe it.

Whether you’re a spouse, friend, parent or child, you may sometimes feels as though you’re not good enough because of how they treat you or how they say things to you. As a result you may feel insecure, insignificant or inadequate when you’re around them. And eventually fear will slowly begin to set in and you’ll try everything in your power to be ‘enough’ for them. But unfortunately your actions, motives, and thoughts will be driven by fear instead of coming from a place of love, freedom, and security. You wonder if you’re enough, you wonder if you’re making them happy, and overtime, you subconsciously begin to hide your true identity for fear of rejection or conflict. Often, you’ll feel like a hamster spinning frantically on its wheel but not going anywhere. At the end of it you’re exhausted, frustrated, and discouraged. And you bitterly realize your efforts are still not enough. You’re not enough.

The hard reality is you can be perfect and meet all their expectations but there’ll always be something that’s lacking in the eyes of the beholder because they’ll always find something else to be unhappy about. So stop trying. I repeat, s-t-o-p! You’re efforts are commendably futile.

Sometimes, people have a way of making you feel small or unimportant because it’s a reflection of what they feel about themselves or what lies within their own hearts. Perhaps they feel insecure or they have trouble loving and accepting themselves or maybe it’s just simply their expectations being placed on you. So remember, how they treat you is NOT a reflection of who you are but rather a reflection of who they are. Unconsciously, it’s how they see themselves and unfortunately they’re projecting this reality onto others, especially those closest to them.

You can’t live for others, at some point you have to start living and loving yourself. Once you begin to love and accept yourself, your confidence and strength will naturally diminish your fear and insecurity of not being good enough. Nothing or nobody will be able to bruise your self-confidence and make you feel unworthy. You’ll be in control of your feelings and you’ll empower your own life choices. You’ll no longer be dictated by what others think, say or do to you. You’ll be immune to their self-destructive ways because you see yourself through your eyes rather than through the eyes of what others think of you. Once you let go of pleasing people, you’ll begin to operate from a place of abundant joy and freedom.

The truth is you ARE enough, more than enough. You’re a beautiful, bright, brilliant and awe-inspiring human being. And yes you’re flawed but in your own perfect way it’s what makes you unique, unmatched and unparalleled to anyone in the history of mankind. Remember, believe and live as though you’re always enough… more than enough. Always.

© 2013 Susie Lee

After a while

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After a While