| I was preparing for a couple of presentations | | | | indicators; one that will remind you of when |
| last week for the Women On the Way (W.O.W.) | | | | you are in integrity, and the other that will |
| program at our local St. Petersburg College | | | | remind you know of when you are beginning to |
| (my A.A. /A.S. degree alma mater). | | | | leave your integrity. Review the list daily |
| | | | and commit yourself to the path of integrity. |
| I am always honored to go back to my old | | | | |
| "stomping grounds" to do presentations, but | | | | - Purpose - Your purpose is your own personal |
| even more so for this group, as most of the | | | | "True North". It becomes the compass of your |
| people connected with the WOW program are | | | | Life Journey that pulls you forward to your |
| coming back to school after some major life | | | | Highest Good. When you know your life |
| transition. | | | | purpose, and you live on purpose, you are |
| | | | fulfilled and have an "inner knowing" that |
| This program is designed to be a support for | | | | you are going in the direction that you will |
| their success. They are my heroes, as they | | | | serve you and humankind the best. |
| all use this support network to help each | | | | |
| other be successful. I do believe the world | | | | Homework: Spend some time with the following: |
| could learn something from WOW. | | | | The purpose of my life is ___________. Keep |
| | | | working it until it is a perfect "10" for |
| The workshop that I was presenting was | | | | you. Then, make it a daily mantra that you |
| entitled The Secrets Of Relationship Success: | | | | live by. |
| Know Your Roots and Bear Good Fruit. I like | | | | |
| to use acronyms when I present, as they are | | | | And then there is the flipside of V.I.P., |
| easy for me to remember, and they seem to | | | | which is S.A.D... |
| have a lasting impression on the audience. | | | | |
| There were two that came up that have been | | | | - Selfless - People who do not know their |
| very helpful: V.I.P. and S.A.D. | | | | values or their purpose have difficulty being |
| | | | true to themselves, much less walking their |
| The standard V.I.P. is traditionally | | | | own Life Path. By default, they often succumb |
| translated to Very Important Person (which | | | | to what others value and often find |
| you are, by the way!!), but for the purpose | | | | themselves being pulled from one direction to |
| of this workshop it stood for Values, | | | | another. They are controlled much of the time |
| Integrity and Purpose. I believe these three | | | | by outer influences instead of their inner |
| elements build the "foundational triad" which | | | | self. |
| enables us to have fulfilling and lasting | | | | |
| relationships. Let me elaborate... | | | | - Assuming - Because these people have a poor |
| | | | sense of their self, they live by making many |
| - Values - This is what you determine to be | | | | assumptions. They often assume that if |
| most important in your life. When you know | | | | someone shows them attention or affection, it |
| your values, it is easier to make decisions | | | | must be a good thing since it feels good, and |
| because you know what fits and what does not. | | | | they can easily get into a relationship or |
| Therefore, decisions about what to do, who to | | | | situation that is unhealthy. They have a poor |
| share your life with, and when to exit due to | | | | "filtering", or screening system since they |
| a values clash, all become much clearer. | | | | do not know who they really are. |
| | | | |
| Homework: Spend some time this week and write | | | | - Dependant - These people are prone to |
| down your ten highest values. Check in with | | | | become very dependant. They allow others to |
| your values list regularly. | | | | make their choices for them. They take on |
| | | | others values. They become fearful of others |
| - Integrity - Integrity is the path that you | | | | leaving them due to their dependency, so they |
| walk according to your values. When your | | | | often give up more and more of their self the |
| actions (your "outer self") match your values | | | | longer they stay involved. |
| (your "inner self") you are walking a path of | | | | |
| integrity. Integrity comes from the word that | | | | If you live the V.I.P. life, you will leave |
| means "wholeness", therefore, you live a more | | | | no space to be S.A.D. So...Are you living a |
| whole, or complete life when you stay in your | | | | V.I.P. or a S.A.D. life? |
| integrity. This path will leave feeling good | | | | |
| about yourself as you will not disrespect | | | | My vote and encouragement is to put all your |
| your own values as long as you stay on the | | | | energy into being the V.I.P. that you were |
| path. | | | | truly meant to be. After all, you are a Very |
| | | | Important Person...WOW!! |
| Homework: Write two lists of behavioral | | | | |