Wednesday 11 January 2012

It's Only Paint -or is it?


We reveal our fears in what we say and do, how we see the world, what we're willing to do and what we're not--and why.   Paula Renaye

I bought my condo three and half years ago, did significant renovations, including popcorn ceiling and wallpaper removal and retexturing and paint throughout. A few months ago, I painted most of it again. The living and dining room is now a fourth color, kitchen is on its fifth and my master bath is on color number six.
Now, you may think that's crazy--and for some people it would be! But our inner and outer worlds both reflect and influence each other, and for me, the paint is just a part of my ongoing personal evolution. I'm not the same person I was when I moved in here--or that I was three months ago. When I birth new inner versions of me, I like to upgrade my outer world accordingly--a way of marking the changes that aren't visible with ones that are.

It is worth noting that some of us will use anything--including painting and decorating--as our drug of choice to avoid dealing with the internal voice that's telling us we need to make changes in our lives. That's a different thing and we all have to determine the truth of our own situations--and self-police accordingly.
We all fear change, and our particular quirks show up in what we say, do and how we see the world--what we're willing to do and what we're not, and yes, even how we feel about painting the walls.

I have a friend who has recently begun to see how her fears have limited her life. She had worked hard to get her home about ten years ago, moved in and hadn't done a thing to the place since. Her walks were stark white and her furniture and decorations were from her mother's estate, right down to the crocheted doilies on the tables. Honestly, it was like walking into my grandmother's house--and she died 30 years ago. Granted, it could have been simply a style preference and certainly none of my business, but it wasn't. It was fear.
Her fears showed up in everything she did and said. I once joked that she should get a job as an actuary because she could identify the worst possible scenario for anything. These scenarios kept her from doing most things or required her to make extensive preparations to guard against all the "what ifs" her mind created. But what really got me was when I mentioned I'd bought more paint and was painting, her comment was, "Well, what if you don't like this color either?" 

Now, to me that is a crazy question! For me, it isn't even a question at all. If I don't like it, I'll change it! For her, however, it was such a huge risk. After all, she hadn't changed anything at all in over a decade. If she did, at her age, she believed she'd have to live with it until she died!

This condo has been hugely important for me on so many levels. It represents my reclaiming of my life and making my way as individual--and the rapid changes that are still taking place.

Being afraid to change manifests in a lot of different ways--and it can un-manifest just as uniquely.
Whatever your fears are, now is the time to face them. Do it and make 2012 the best year ever for yourself. Because, you see, when you face your fears and change your way of looking at the world, it affects everyone one else around you--for the good!

Start living your joy, now!
Paula

* * * *

Paula Renaye is tough love motivational speaker, certified professional coach and author of the multi-award-winning self-empowerment guide, The Hardline Self Help Handbook. Hardline is available in paperback and just about every ebook format out there (Kindle, Nook, Apple, Mobi, etc.). It's still on sale at amazon.com so get it now! Also, read the FREE now: Most Likely to Succeed--A Short Story of a Woman's Journey Back to Herself.

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Books Sold - 6 Nov 2011 to 31 May 2012

Some of you have asked me for my total number of books sold to evaluate KDP Select so here it is. Bear in mind, that results will vary based on genre and author. Good luck and remember, Keep Moving Forward.

Total - 120,836

1. Excuse Me, My Brains Have Stepped Out
Amazon Kindle - 42,559
Paperback -
Smashwords -

2. Frequent Traveller
Amazon Kindle - 35277
Paperback -
Smashwords -

3. Dora's Essentials - Books, Blogs & Smiles 1
Amazon Kindle - 462
Smashwords -

4. Mirror Me Martha (Short Story)
Amazon Kindle - 281
Smashwords -

5. Drive On Hope (Short Story)
Amazon Kindle - 190
Smashwords -

6. Blog-A-Licious Directory 2012
Amazon Kindle - 1
Smashwords -

7. Pandora's Reading Room 1
Amazon Kindle -
Paperback - N/A

8. The Cat That Barked (Short Story)
Amazon Kindle -

9. Dora's Essentials - Examining Anxiety
Amazon Kindle -

10. Dora's Essentials - Books, Blogs & Smiles 2
Amazon Kindle -

11. Elevenses from Around the World
Amazon Kindle -

12. Genetically Modified Foods vs. Sustainability
Amazon Kindle -

Blog-A-Licius - Sherbet Blossom

SherbetBlossom

Blog-A-Licious

Dealightfully Frugal

Blog-A-Licious - The Few, The Proud, The Wife

Blog-A-Licious

My Soul Slippers

Blog-A-Licous - Textbook Mommy

Blog-A-Licious - Blue Frogs Legs

Blog-A-Licious - Pretty All True

Pretty All True

Blog-A-Licious - tbaoo

tbaoo

Blog-A-Licious

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Blog-A-Licious - The Invisible Art

Blog-A-Licious - Rediscovering Domesticity

Rediscovering Domesticity

Blog-A-Licious - Quiver Full

Blog-A-Licious - Cori's Big Mouth

Blog-A-Licious - Great Fun

Greatfun4kids

Blog-A-Licious - Busy Wife

Blog-A-Licious - Steps To Happiness

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Blog-A-Licious - Toby & Max


Blog-A-Licious - Amelie

Raising Amelie

Blog-A-Licious - Peas In A Pod

Blog-A-Licious - Riley

Blognostics - Poetry

BlogNostics

My Awards - September 2010

My Awards - September 2010
Awarded By Jo Frances

My Awards - May 2011

My Awards - May 2011
Awarded By Alejandro Guzman

My Awards - May 2011

My Awards - May 2011
Awarded by Kriti Mukherjee

My Awards - April 2011

My Awards - April 2011
Awarded By Roy Durham

My Awards - June 2011

My Awards - June 2011
Awarded By Sulekha Rawat

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