Happy New Year!

2018 has arrived as promised and as we prepare for an outstanding year, below are four recommendations that I believe will help each of us in our pursuit of being a better human being. Because guess what, 2018 will not be better if you are not better. Remember, change starts on the inside and then manifests on the outside.

RECOMMENDATION NO. 1: BE MORE COURAGEOUS

In 2017, I launched The Courageous Life blog. I did so primarily because I needed a reset and wanted to invite you to take the ride with me. During the last few years I experienced some painful personal and professional challenges that I allowed to cause me to shrink. Shrinking did not feel good...at all. Why, because playing small is not what I do. Going hard and dreaming big had been my life's practice. And so starting with my 50th Birthday airplane jump, I recommitted myself to raising the stakes and taking my courage to another level. Although this "courage talk" is intimidating for most, it is a prerequisite if we intend to know the fullness of our greatness. So I encourage you to get an accountability partner, set at least one attainable goal that scares you to pieces, and take it on one small piece at a time--as my mentor, Cheryl Grace, says.

RECOMMENDATION NO. 2: BE MORE PRESENT

Busy is overrated. Busy is exhausting. Busy can be addictive. Busy contributes to stress and anxiety, cancer and insomnia. The worst part is busy is causing so many people to forget what's important and who is important. Stop. Be still. Get some order in your life. Get your priorities straight. If you claim to have spiritual practices that you do not practice daily or weekly, you are out of order. If you are putting your work before your family, you are out of order. If you have people in your life you call "friend" yet you have not connected with them in three or four months, you are out of order. If you've been meaning to respond to a call, text or email for the last two months but have been "too busy" to do so, you are out of order. Interestingly enough, some "busy people" are under the illusion that being busy makes them look important. The truth is it makes you look crazy, disorganized, lost, and even dysfunction. Being present on the other hand brings peace to our soul. Being present brings clarity to our mind. Being present allows us to see where we are out of alignment. And being present allows us to hear who needs us.

RECOMMENDATION NO. 3: BE MORE KIND

It's unkind to be mean. Its unkind to be disregarding. Its unkind to be racist. Its unkind to not value the trust someone puts in us. If we've learned nothing else from 2017, given the extent to which one man has been allowed to exacerbate the vibration of chaos and division and hatred in our country, we have learned that kindness feels much better than its opposite. To this end, I am determined to be an even larger presence of kindness. I am determined to love better. To smile more. To listen longer. And I hope you will join me.

RECOMMENDATION NO 4: BE MORE HONEST

If you're sad, say you're sad. If you're hurting, say you're hurting. If you're scared, say you're scared. If you need a hug, ask for a hug. (More about this in next week's blog.) If you're really, really happy about an accomplishment but have been playing it down because you think people will be jealous or will not be as happy as you are, go find someone to celebrate with you. If the decision before you is too big to face alone, enlist the support of someone you trust to talk through it with you. Inasmuch as our intention may be good for keeping things in, I am learning that I owe it to myself and to those I trust to be more honest. The honesty of it all helps me to love myself better and it helps those that love me to love me better as well.

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I am Mischa. I am an inspirer. I am a mother. I am a grandmother. I am also a human capital investor who takes great delight in helping individuals actualize their dreams. My return on investment is more life changing than you could ever imagine. Let me know how I might help you actualize your dream.