1. Spend more time on the who than the what. What you do will always be less important than who you become. Knowledge is great but it will never take you as far as your courage, your integrity, and your reputation for someone who keeps his or her word, or your commitment to be of service to others in some important way.
   
   As you go through life, you will face challenges and obstacles (IF you haven't, please tell ME your secret and I'll pass it along.... When you do face trials of many kinds, get in the habit of asking yourself the following questions:
   
   
   • How can I grow from this experience? (NOTE: It's a choice...we can either grow through tough times or we can slip further away from our desired path. It's ALL up to you!)
   • What qualities of character am I being called to develop?
   • How can I use this event to make me a better human being?
2. Follow your heart. Pay far more attention to what you think than what everyone else thinks. The most important relationship you'll ever have is with God and yourself. When I think about all of the regrets I've heard from adults over the years, the biggest one always has to do with listening to everyone else but themselves. Start now. Make your own rules and follow them. At the end of your life, the most important person you'll have to please is God and you. Make yourself proud EVERY SINGLE DAY!
3. Develop a strong "maverick muscle." Be flexible and willing to bend the rules when necessary, learn how to disappoint others gracefully, get comfortable with people not liking you, and always strive to be an original thinker. I have a little sign in my office that says: "No Guts, No Glory" and I use it to remind me to go against the grain as much as possible. Allow yourself to be the unique spirit that you were meant to be. Trust me. Your willingness to rock the boat will set you apart from 95% of the people you meet throughout your life. The crowd is all doing the same thing. That's NOT noble and it most certainly is NOT memorable! Act as your biggest fan!
4. Build your courage muscles. Starting today, practice doing one small thing a day that frightens you. Please fully embrace that there really are only two REAL fears in life: the fear of falling and the fear of loud noises. ALL OTHER FEARS ARE LEARNED and can therefore be UNLEARNED! Small acts of courage strengthen your ability to take even bigger leaps later on like deciding to write your own book or run for political office.
5. Don't go to the hardware store for milk. When you're excited about doing something or trying to make an important decision, make sure you turn to those people who will encourage you to take a chance - the ones who believe in you rather than those who will tell you why something won't work. Surround yourself with positive people - the kind of people who challenge you to reach beyond your fear rather than play it safe.
   
   There will always be people telling you why an idea is risky, or why you can't do something. That advice is usually based on the mistakes they've made or the chances they didn't take because they were afraid. Always remember this: someone else's past does not equal your future (and YOUR past does not direct YOUR future either...Be your biggest fan!). When faced with a naysayer, smile, say thank you, and turn around. Stick with positive people who believe in you. Remember, if you needed milk, you wouldn't go to the hardware store.
   
   By the way, you're mom was right. You do become who you hang around with. Choose wisely.
6. Live by this mantra: where there's a will, there's a way. Don't give up when things get hard and don't ever let anyone or anything put limits on you. Honestly, the fact is that your own personal wellness coach is often the difference between giving up "3 feet from gold" and discovering riches beyond your wildest imagination!!! Don't believe me? Study just a few very successful entrepreneurs, athletes, top business personalities, and entertainers. Those at the top...yep, they have AT LEAST one coach! Who's yours?
7. Stay connected. Making a commitment to yourself and making daily deposits into your personal health and wellness account through consistent NSA/SRI care will double your wellness over any risk avoidance strategy.

Finally, at the time you were born you were given an amazing gift - a gift that most of us forget about, as we grow older. It's the power and freedom to design your own unique life. You are an artist. The canvas is your life. From this moment on, take ownership of this gift and use it wisely. If you do, your life will become an extraordinary work of art.

Thank you for the pleasure of being in your life! I am honored.

Kindly share this email with just one friend who would really benefit from YOUR love and kindness. They'll appreciate your thinking of them...and so will I!

Dr. Deborah Musso

Director, Sea Change New York
THE Success Coach for Health & Well-being