Self-Fulfilling Prophecies

One of meaningful connections

What do I need to be at my best? This is a question I have been exploring for over a decade.

The more I learned about myself, the better able I was to add to that list. Interestingly enough, I learned the most about myself and what I needed during challenging times – because I was not getting what I needed.

For example, learning that I was an introvert made me realize how much I need lots of quiet time for reflection and recovery, something lacking while I was working full-time at UBC. The pandemic made me realize how important meaningful social connections (outside of colleagues) are to my well-being when I was getting too much quiet time. I started reaching out to individuals in my community, asking if they wanted to go for a walk. Let’s just say my social connections became more meaningful.

As the list grew, the better able I was to make good choices for myself… as long as I remembered to look at my list.

During the summer of 2023, I found myself thrown into a lot of travel with intense and beautiful family and friends-like-family time (in 5 different locations), along with my dedication to my School of Rock rehearsals and performances (I was channeling Christine McVie), and my personal goal of rewriting my book manuscript (by June 30th… no, July 31st… maybe August 31st… not even close).

In hindsight, I was simply over-committed and not at my best. This led to a couple of bad choices which impacted my physical and mental health. I was exhausted and my body was pretty much buzzing all of the time. I was easily frustrated. My shoulders felt like a tonne of bricks.

I remember talking with a friend in the fall. I had forgotten all about what I needed to be at my best. I was going to start reviewing my list every week to provide greater foresight. She asked why not every day.

Every day?

Hmmm.

Every day, I began actively reviewing my list which was printed and pasted into my Passion Planner for easy access. It looks like this:

I later saw a quote in my planner:

“No one ever conquered their world without first conquering the first minute of their day.”

-TE V WRITES @tevswrites

Take 15-minutes to create a list of affirmations to read to yourself every morning of this week. At the end of the week, reflect on your experience.

I paused. What would my list of affirmations look like?

Then it hit me. I could take my list of what I needed to be at my best and turn it into my daily affirmations.

I did just that:

• I am inspired by activities and those around me

• I am a valued contributor in my community

• I am planning and design in the future

• I am physically and mentally healthy

• I am curious

• I am creative

• I am meaningfully connected

• I am flexible

• I am mindful

• I am spiritual

• I am compassionate and empathic

• I am loving

• I am enough

I have been absorbing my daily affirmations ever since. If I am alone, I will even read them out loud.

What have I noticed?

There has been a significant shift in how I look at my list of what I need now. I used to think I was asking the universe for these things – that the world would bring me what I needed.

The simple act of shifting to “I am” is empowering. I feel like I am taking more ownership of my destiny.

It is like I am using the power of suggestion on myself.

If I’m lucky, there will be some beautiful self-fulfilling prophecies.

Image: Tammy Brimner