D: Destiny.  What is yours?  Why are you here?  Are you willing to declare your gifts and talents to share with the world?

I: Insurmountable Odds.   There will be obstacles along the way.  No path is ever clear sailing.  There will forces that will work against you.  Circumstances of which you have no control.  Conditions that you didn’t anticipate.  Can you break through and stay focused?

A:  Attitude.  We all know attitude is a key factor toward success.  How do you handle situations and individuals that cause you stress?  Do you recognize that you have choices between responding to situations with clarity  and control or re-acting in non-productive behavior?

M: Mantra.  What you say to yourself over and over again has a major role to play in your life.  Are you reminding yourself how wonderful you are?  Are you acknowledging yourself and your accomplishments?  Self-talk is a critical component to your well-being.  Never let anyone or anything define who you are.

O: Overcome – Plain and simple, quitting is never an option.  No matter what.  You have everything inside of you to achieve what you want for your life.  N: Negative People.  They will overshadow you.  They will keep you from your journey.  They will de-rail you IF you let them.  There is simply no room for negative people in your life.  Period.

D:  Diamond – The precious stone that you are.  Fashioned out of coal, the diamond is a precious and valuable stone.  Live your Destiny.  Break through Insurmountable Odds.  Demonstate a great Attitude.  Speak your Mantra loudly and proudly.  Overcome whatever gets in your way.  Avoid Negative People.  Show the world the Diamond that is YOU.

When was the last time you told yourself how terrific you are?  When did you last honor your competence, beauty, intelligence and strengths?  If you’re like most of us, you’re quick to point out something you did that was “stupid” but when it comes to acknowledging yourself for all your incredible qualities you hesitate. Why?

Once while traveling, I met an amazing woman who shared a powerful concept with me.  When she first told me what she did twice daily to honor herself by affirming her attributes, not only was I skeptical, but I  couldn’t see myself doing what she suggested. 

Imagine telling yourself how wonderful you are! Initially I thought the exercise was egotistical and self-serving. She really challenged me.  She told me that  to serve others effectively and  be at my best would require generating  a personal list of 100 of my  positive qualities!   The task seemed impossible.  Could I really find 100 ways to praise myself?  Would I be willing to read my completed list  twice a day, in private?

I began.  Linda calls it the “I am 100’s List”.  I took a blank piece of notebook paper, numbered spaces 1 – 100 and began. At first I didn’t have any difficulty writing positive things to say about myself. After all, I am happy; I am resourceful;  I am intelligent; I am healthy; I am humorous, etc. When I reached  number 45 it got increasingly harder to think of other words to affirm my true self. It took perseverance to keep going and not get discouraged.  And you know what?  A week later I completed my list of 100 attributes! That was a long time ago and I continue to read my list twice daily!

The personal benefit in acknowledging yourself is enormous.  Not only does it increase your self-worth, it also eliminates the negative things we say to ourselves because we aren’t perfect! I’m still capable even when I make a mistake.  I’m loving even when get I’m in a bad mood. The truth is I can get off track and still be capable and loving because those two qualities define me most of the time. I invite you to begin today to acknowledge your greatness. Take out a blank piece of paper.  Write down 100 wonderful, positive qualities that describe who you are.  The results will amaze you.  In fact, put “I am amazing” as your first entry!  Minute by minute, hour by hour, day by day……enjoy all the moments along the way.