Have You Ever Felt Incarcerated?

You don’t have to behind bars to be incarcerated. I think we have all felt trapped at one time or another.

Ask yourself these questions:

Do I feel incarcerated when I spend my life doing theshoulds and not thewants?

Do I feel incarcerated when I only do for others and don’t do for myself?

Do I feel incarcerated when I don’t get to do what I love to do?

Do I feel incarcerated when I give my power away to others?

Do I feel incarcerated when I don’t ask for what I need or want?

Do I feel incarcerated if I am in a relationship which isn’t working?

Do I feel incarcerated if I struggle with paying my monthly bills?

Do I feel incarcerated if I don’t reach out to others for help?

Do I feel incarcerated if I don’t have HOPE?

I’ve been thinking aboutHOPE lately after speaking to 300 women at the Ohio Reformatory for Women and also since my book, Sparks of Hope is soon to be published. According to dictionary.com, HOPE is defined asthe feeling that what is wanted can be had or that events will turn out for the best.

If you are incarcerated in some way, what is ONE LITTLE STEP you could take so that you will have HOPE?

Here are some ideas:

1. Schedule at least two hours a week just for youthat’s the minimum..this could be scheduling a massage, going to a park, doing an exercise class, reading a non-fiction book, going to a movie.

2. Practice this week, saying what you really want to say to someone.be sure to say it kindly. This means you are being authentic and telling the truth, instead of keeping it in.

3. Take one little step towards something you would love to do.schedule a class, go to the library and check out books on a subject you love, call someone up (who is doing something of interest to you) and interview them, google’ websites of people you admire.

4. Get together with someone with whom you are struggling. Sit and just listen to them and hear what they are upset about with you. Don’t react. Just listen and sayYou are right. This could be on the phone or in person. Call a family member with whom you haven’t connected in a long time. Have a 1 on 1 (when you sit knee to knee) and take turn saying what you need and want in the relationship.

5. Be pro-active about your financial situation. Meet with a financial planner, put your credit card in a can in the freezer, work on paying one of your credit cards off, review your monthly budget and see if there is a place you can cut spending, go on www.couponmom.com, use Valpak coupons, start putting your change in a piggy bank.

6. Connect with friends. Start a book club, schedule lunch once a month with a small group, start a Mastermind Group, go to www.meetup.com and go to a new network group.

The point here is:

TAKE SOME ACTION STEP SO YOU DON’T FEEL INCARCERATED

AND YOU START TO FEEL HOPE!

Hope is the thing with feathers

that perches in the soul

and sings the tune

without the words,

and never stops at all.

Emily Dickenson (1830-1886)