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The personal power and courage to have the best life possible are all nicely wrapped up in our package called self. Knowing when to unwrap and use each tool is a constant source of growth. Our personal tool chests have lots of “gadgets” just perfect to help inspire us and capture our heart’s happiness.

We regularly use “gadgets” like love, acceptance, sharing, creativity, passion, humor, kindness, embracing change, and the ability to continue to learn as tools of choice for life’s jobs and journeys.

For many of us the most powerful key to our best life is simply to have an expectation of love and happiness. Think about it, you usually perform as you expect to perform. You usually gain or lose what you expect to gain or lose. It’s almost like you have a self-programmed expectation of achievement, and then, do your best to live up or live down to it.

Think back to your childhood. What were you programmed to believe about yourself? That you were handsome, pretty, smart, the best, a winner, someone who can do anything, troubled, a loser, never going to amount to anything, a poor student, an underachiever, an overachiever, a moron?

Many of us start our lives without a good self-image. We don’t believe in ourselves at an early age and buy into criticisms of toxic people around us. We are young and impressionable. We believe the adults around us to be our protectors and our experts on life. If they are negative, we become negative. If they suffer from low self-esteem, we suffer from lower self-esteem, and the cycle begins.

So much of our thinking is set at a young age and very few of us question what’s best for us personally as adults. It’s very hard to shake our initial brainwashing of youth. And when one questions, it is thought of as defiance against those who “love” you rather than a growing-up experience.

Learning who you are and what your expectations are for yourself are the ultimate growing-up task of adulthood. If something is not working, this is the chance to fix it and live out your wishes or expectations.

Action always starts with some sort of expectation. You have to be ready to receive or accept what is coming at you whether it is an opportunity, a learning experience, or just plain wonderful happiness. If you don’t expect it, chances are you won’t perceive or receive it. The best gift you can give yourself is a moment to rethink your patterns of behavior and personal expectations for your life.

Do it today and reap the rewards. Life is an adventure reaping joy, happiness, and your ultimate best. Open your chest of tools and get to work. Expect happiness and you will be happy.

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Susan Spira. Writer. Lover. Life-Enthusiast. Her readers call her a "breath of fresh air" with a zany, down-to-earth "tell it like it is" style and a passion for personal reflection, inspiration, and daily laughter. Susan is an everywoman who embraces her life, her joy, and her best. Over her thirty year career and many professional roles in health care, business, and education Susan has been dedicated to helping others better their lives. Susan sees all lives as a mystery of untapped potential just waiting for the right catalyst to break it loose. Susan's intentions are simple: to share down-to-earth, practical insights, and re-thinks with humor and "human-ness" with the hopes it will help others to unlock their potential and brighten their days.

Susan is the author of titles for both adults and children. The Happy Tips Book is a collection of 100 quick and easy self-edits for greater personal joy and fulfillment. One-Liners for Life: Simply Profound Messages is an awesome life in a nutshell of over 400 sound bites to swallow and spark inspiration for a well-lived life. The Tinky Adventure Series: Tinky’s Magic Cookies, Tinky and the Baby Butterflies, and Tinky and the Dragon are inspirational picture books for children, teaching messages of love and sharing.

Susan lives in Arizona and believes the best life is a shared life.

For more information, please visit susanspira.com

This Post Has 4 Comments

  1. […] So much of our thinking is set at a young age and very few of us question what’s best for us personally as adults. It’s very hard to shake our initial brainwashing of youth. And when one questions, it is thought of as defiance against those who “love” you rather than a growing-up experience….Continue reading on InspireMeToday.com. […]

  2. Susan, this may sound strange to you but I believe reading this article was a sign.

    I am getting ready to leave a social media network that has become very toxic and your words were just what I needed.

    I take them as a sign from God that this action I am about to take is part of His plan for me.

    May God continue to bless you and your family.

  3. Absolutely! i couldn’t agree more (Quote:, The best gift you can give yourself is a moment to rethink your patterns of behavior and personal expectations for your life.Unquote)
    Love:)

  4. Not all childhoods are one end or the other. Mine was neutral. I got some encouragement, I’m sure my folks loved me in their way, and I didn’t have teachers who went out of their way. But I got lucky at 17 to meet someone who introduced me to believing more in myself and in the personal growth field. I’m now 73 and still continue to look for information to expand my potential and to share with others. Thanks for this reminder that we have gifts and tools that make us special in our own way.

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