“It’s inevitable that at one time or another life will punch us hard in the gut; no one is immune to experiencing tragedy or failure,” Anderson says. “But when it’s our turn to feel life’s stomach blow, how will we handle it? Will we ‘go the extra mile’ and passionately keep on living, or will we just give up and go through the motions?”

In his interviews, Anderson learned that extra-mile people who transition positively through life’s toughest moments practice at least one of these seven regrouping strategies.

1. They don’t quit on life. “Tragedy might have happened, huge mistakes might have been made, but the world continues. People who have walked successfully over life’s hot-coal moments always keep going. They never quit living,” Anderson shares.

2. They live day-by-day. “It’s easy to get overwhelmed by the ‘What am I going to do now?’ feeling, but extra-mile people focus on the now. They don’t let thoughts of how they’re going to deal with tomorrow defeat them,” Anderson says.

3. They find support. “By forging relationships with positive, move-forward type people, survivors trigger positive energy to flow back into their lives,” Anderson points out.

4. They get involved again. “Extra-mile people transcend life’s tragedies by not choosing isolation when life knocks them down,” Anderson shares. “It’s easy to want to hide in a cave after something bad happens, but the longer we stay in the cave, the more challenging it is to ever leave it.”

5. They remain optimistic. “Extra-mile people support themselves with their own words and actions. They don’t let negative self-talk rule their brains, and they make sure not to surrender to negative, self-defeating emotions,” Anderson says.

6. They trust their faith and look for a higher purpose in their loss. “Extra-mile people believe that there is a stronger power at work in the world. Faith in a higher power…and yourself…works miracles in overcoming bad events,” Anderson quotes.

7. They seek to add value to the world. “People who have weathered a life storm recognize the opportunity to re-evaluate their own contribution to the world. They use their event not as a forever defeat, but rather as an igniting spark to do something meaningful,” Anderson says.

The author of six motivational books, including A Better Life: An Inspiring Story About Starting Over and Extra Mile America: Stories of Inspiration, Possibility and Purpose, Anderson is not only committed to support others in overcoming life’s toughest moments, he is also a leading voice on “going the extra mile” in order to maximize potential and contribution. Last year, his Extra Mile America organization led 444 cities to declare 11/1/13 as “Extra Mile Day”… a day recognizing the capacity we each have to create positive change in ourselves, families, organizations and communities when we “go the extra mile.”

“When something bad happens, we have the choice to either throw our hands in the air and give up or ‘go the extra mile’ and keep giving life our best effort. When we achieve that extra-mile distinction, we change our destiny.”

CREDIT:
Shawn Anderson is a six-time author, keynote speaker and motivational success coach. His “go the extra mile” philosophy and ability to produce results have been praised by political leaders, world record holders and media outlets across the world. His book titles include A Better Life: An Inspiring Story About Starting Over and Extra Mile America: Stories of Inspiration, Possibility and Purpose. For more information, visit www.ShawnAnderson.com.

The post 7 Strategies for Getting Up When Life Knocks You Down appeared first on AKAMom Magazine.

“Draw four cards! Ha!” He threw that UNO card down with intensity. 

Sitting to his left, I added another Draw Four card to his, and then his daddy added one too. 

“Oh Grandma! You have to pick up TWELVE cards!” He pointed and laughed, obviously enjoying the bit of revenge he was getting for her previous win.

“Oh no, I don’t!” She stuck her tongue out at him and threw down another one.

His daddy and I gasped in unison with him and waited for his reaction. He sat there, stuck in the moment, for almost a minute before the tears started.

“Sixteen cards? I don’t want to play anymore!” He said it, but started to pick up the cards at the same time. He loved this game and the family time that surrounded it, so he took a deep breath and started to count cards into his hand.

About the fifth card in, his face shifted from sadness to excitement, and he told us why through some slightly sadistic laughter, “Oh, you guys better watch out. I have only picked up five of the cards, and they are all deadly.” The smile slipped across his face, and we all laughed, grateful to see him finding the opportunity in the challenge.

His dad and I giggled about the funny moment, and how he ended up kicking our butts, before we went to bed that night.

As I drifted off to sleep, I thought about how amazing it was to see him so quickly shift from an upset to an opportunity, and I thought about what a perfect mirror that was for my life. 

He was 5 years old at the time, and I was just learning how to dream again. I’d found my message and the value I bring to the world, I’d attracted a Secret Teacher into my life in just 3 months, and it was all magic…until I felt like God made me “draw sixteen on my dreams” again!

How many times have I gotten excited about a dream,
only to watch it die?

How many times will God allow the doors to slam,
before I just say “Screw it” and give up?

Have you drawn sixteen on your dreams?

And just a few years later, I found myself in the same spot…again. All I could do was shake my fist at the heavens and scream for an answer.

The one that came blew my mind, and made me vow to share it with everyone who crosses my path.

Essentially, I did what my son had done many years before…I found the opportunity, the purpose, for all of those slammed doors.

And it changed my life…FAST!

Just three years later, I am living my dream – running a business that is transforming lives and delivering powerfully healing messages into the world. 

What are you going to do with the cards you have -–
let the dream die, or find the opportunity?

As a Transformational Speaker, Bestselling Author, and Message Coach, Amanda Johnson helps aspiring and struggling speakers, authors, coaches…and parents…change their lives and their world with powerful messages. In her #1 bestselling book Upside-Down Mommy, Amanda shares The Butterfly Approach philosophy responsible for her successes as a parent, wife, coach, and entrepreneur.

The post Draw Sixteen on Your Dreams! appeared first on AKAMom Magazine.