To live a well balanced, rewarding life of our dreams by day and sleep restfully at night.
Perfectionism is overrated: Getting over people pleasing.
Published June 17, 2012 | 
I’ve always admired and envied those people that were confident, ballsy, and just didn’t give a rip about what others thought. These are the types that just say what’s on their minds, knew what they wanted to major in in college, tend to do well in business, and (I’m assuming) sleep peacefully at night.
Me, on the other hand… I always had to be “perfect little Debbie”. I sat on the front row in my classroom always with my hand shooting up with the correct answer for my teacher. It was important to me that my teachers adored me. I had to make straight As (an A- would have been absolutely devastating).
For those of you who have been visiting here a while you know I am naturally an introvert and have been challenged with social anxiety my whole life. The funny thing is if you met me you probably would never guess. I am not a wall-flower, am quite friendly, and on the surface can appear very outgoing. It would not be until I am home from meeting you that I might stay awake at night worrying about the impression I gave to you…
Well, “sweet perfect little Debbie” is now 45 years old and is figuring some things out for herself…
It really doesn’t matter what others think.
I Am enough and perfect just as I am.
It is quite fun and exhilarating to stretch myself and do things that are outside of my comfort zone.
If any of you out there can relate to this, I encourage you to stretch a bit. Don’t worry so much…
Have fun and do what you want (providing you are not breaking any laws)!
For as far as I know this life is what we’ve got. And we’ve heard it be said and it’s true:
LIFE IS NOT A DRESS REHEARSAL!!!
With love,
Debra
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It’s magnificent to be different! Accept your true self for less anxiety, greater peace, increased self confidence, and restful nights of sleep
Published April 13, 2011 | 
“I celebrate myself, and sing myself” ~ Walt Whitman
Not accepting ourselves can cause much anxiety and loss of sleep. We grow up in a society where fitting in is all-important. You could not pay me enough money to go back and be a teenager again (my daughter is 13 now, bless her heart). The pressure to be like the others was so great. I tried a lot of things that really were not authentic and genuine for me at the time- but I so wanted to feel like the other girls.
Even as an adult, I’ve experienced times of feeling inadequate in some way; of being different and somehow being on the sidelines because of that perceived difference.
I now know that I put myself on the sidelines. I caused myself much pain, anxiety, and loss of sleep over the years because of my fear of “if the world really knew what I am like it would not like me” kind of thinking.
If any of you out there experience shyness and social anxiety you know what I am talking about. This kind of non-acceptance of our true selves is brutal and debilitating.
We are meant to shine. Each and every one of us has something special to offer. We are enough. Just as we are.
For a lot of my childhood and early adult years I suffered from a lot of sore throats and strep throat. Louise Hay wrote a wonderful book a while back called “Heal Your Body”. In it, she describes ailments of the throat coming from the inability to speak up for one’s self. For those of us who are shy or have some form of social anxiety, this may resonate.
I truly believe:
1. that our voices are meant to be heard.
2. Not only is it okay, but it is fantastic to be different.
3. Being like everybody else is boring.
4. Our uniqueness makes the world a much more interesting place.
5. If we were to truly accept ourselves and live authentically (without worrying what others think), we would discover a blissful place of peace,
acceptance, much less anxiety, greater self-confidence, and sound nights of sleep.
Tell yourself: “I Am enough”!
Believe it.
Live it.
(Yes, this is me!)
In Peace,
Debra
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Posted in anxiety, Getting a good night sleep, Happiness, insomnia, Positive living, Self-empowerment, Tips to help insomnia | 
acceptance, accepting ourselves, anxiety, authenticity, being an introvert, being different, embracing our uniqueness, genuine, loving ourselves, shyniess, social anxiety | 
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