Someone once said “You can have anything you want, if you are willing to give up the belief that you can’t have it.” I couldn’t agree more.  I’m a huge believer that you can do anything you want as long as you simply put your mind to it.

 I haven’t always been this way. In fact, I was probably the opposite. I was the ultimate “negative nelly.” Sometimes, in life, change is what you need to catapult yourself into the right direction and change your perspective on everything. About a year ago I had a huge change in my life. I was in a relationship for a really long time and we broke up. I thought that I was unhappy with that person, however, in reality, I was utterly unhappy with myself.  

I was determined to change this. As day by day passed by, I started to believe in myself again. I got rid of that negative and sorry attitude and changed it to an “I CAN do this attitude”.  

One of my biggest goals for the past 6 or so years has been to lose weight. I gained not only the “freshmen 15” but then the sophomore, junior and senior 15 as well.  My attitude was always , “ahh I have so much to lose, I can’t do this.”  I would automatically be defeated before I even started TRYING to lose those extra pounds.  Well in 2010, I told myself that I am determined to lose this weight and become happy with myself, Lauren Elizabeth.  I would write in my journal:

“Lauren, you CAN lose this weight”

“You ARE beautiful”

“You CAN accomplish your dreams”

“You ARE successful”

“Lauren, you CAN do whatever you put your mind to “

Slowly but surely, I started to actually believe what I was writing.  In my mind, the first step in accomplishing a goal is believing in yourself. If you believe that you can’t accomplish something, then you never will.  So look on the bright side of life, know that you can accomplish your dreams and don’t settle for less.