Make a Splash! It's Time to Take Action on Your Life
by
Regina Carey, M.Ed.
Copyright 2016 Regina Carey,
All rights reserved.
Published in eBook format by eBookIt.com
ISBN-13: 978-1-4566-2793-5
Cover photo credit: Grace Eggleston
No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means including information storage and retrieval systems, without permission in writing from the author. The only exception is by a reviewer, who may quote short excerpts in a review.
Review of Make a Splash! from Sari Solden, MS
Regina Carey’s new book, Make a Splash!, does just that! This book is encouraging and energetic just like Regina herself. The author’s knowledge and wealth of experience with real life clients is abundantly clear.
Make a Splash! will be tremendously helpful for anyone who may have some fear about taking steps forward or even knowing which steps to take, but especially so for those with ADHD, learning differences, or anxiety. The book is graphically pleasing and engaging, very well organized, structured, and practical while at the same time inspiring!
I especially love the author’s concept in each chapter of steps that are called “pebbles, stones, or boulders”. Readers are able to choose what steps they feel ready to take on rather than just being told what to do in a way that might otherwise overwhelm them. Instead, Make a Splash!, gives the reader a sense that they can choose the right action to reflect where they are in their own journey.
With Regina Carey’s positive warm voice coming through on each page, reading her book is like having a great coach to guide you right at your fingertips!.
About the Author
Regina Carey, the founder of Carey On, practices as an Empowerment Consultant, Strength-Based Life Coach, and Passion Instigator.
Regina has coached individuals with invisible disabilities both nationally and internationally. Her work has included attention deficits, learning disabilities, behavioral disorders, cognitive impairments, and more severe mental handicaps. As a consultant, speaker, and coach, she empowers individuals to recognize their vision for a more authentic life.
The goal of her work is to educate and empower those who are stuck, struggling, and ready for positive change. Regina customizes her approach to meet the needs of each unique situation. Her methods focus on MOVING FORWARD, using positive feedback, and embracing all that comes with that journey.
Since 2015, Regina has facilitated De-“Fine” Yourself® Women’s Groups. These groups are designed to empower women’s language, posture, self-esteem, and presence in the world. The outcomes are inspiring and powerful, and graduates leave with strategies to keep their dreams and intentions alive.
A note from the author:
I wrote this book because I want to help others find their voices. Each of us deserves to be heard, to share our ideas, to influence the world, to make a difference. There are so many ways to MAKE A SPLASH! Let’s be bold and make it a big one!
Prologue
The one time I distinctly remember my Dad taking and holding my hand was when he walked me into my new school. I was ten-years-old and terrified to start school in a new town. This is a vivid memory of feeling safe and protected.
We had just moved from a beautiful, sprawling farm to a quiet suburban street with sidewalks and neighbors. I would miss the smell of fresh sheets off the clothesline, playing outside from sun up to sundown, but mostly, I would miss the peace. On the farm, there was no one but family around us. And family loved no matter what.
“Pork chops and applesauce.”
That’s what they used to whisper in my ear during middle school. I was overweight. I had been overweight since I was in first grade. Spending most of my younger years wanting to die was a horrible way to live, but I had no idea how to cope.
I cried all the time. No one could protect me or make the pain go away. Nor could have anyone convinced me that one day I’d be working as an Empowerment Coach. I wouldn’t believe them that I would one day teach others how to stand up for themselves and make a splash in the world.
The ability to overcome what holds us back comes as a result of finding our voice and deciding to take action. My coaching practice and passion instigation has developed over a long journey lasting more than 30 years. It’s time for me to speak up. Now is the time for me to help people access what they already know and need to hear again. Let’s get started!
How to Use This Book
The best way to use this book is to start with what you need. Each chapter addresses a common barrier preventing us from using our voices and living our most amazing lives. After the short, inspirational readings in each chapter, there are options for taking action. You can choose specific, weighted actions (pebbles, stones, or boulders) to make a small ripple, a bigger splash, or a giant kerplunk, depending on where you are on your journey.
Have fun with it. Give the strategies a go. Reread sections for clarity and motivation. Most importantly, share your learning with others. Sharing and inspiring others is a powerful way to make these lessons a part of your wonderful life! This book is to be treated as a living, breathing resource that you can use over and over again!
Words to Live By
When we make changes in our lives, it often means becoming a part of some new community – work, faith, family, or interest group, and that requires learning the language. There are many words I use in this book, and they may mean something different depending on who is reading it. Here are a few brief descriptions of my use of the vocabulary throughout the book:
Gratitude – to be thankful. You may be asked to practice this. It means I am encouraging you to think it, speak it, and live it. It is about choosing gratitude over your frustrations and fears when you least want to. Eventually, you will begin to hear gratitude from others.
Believe – to know (with or without evidence). I encourage you to believe in yourself, your talents, your skills, your knowledge, and your worthiness. You must believe you are capable and change is possible in order to move forward. There is definitely a factor of trust wrapped up into this word.
Presence – to be in the moment. This requires you to wiggle your toes and be HERE. NOW. There is no thinking about what has already happened. There is no thinking about what might happen. No. We don’t look over our shoulders or imagine the outcome. Stay here. Be present.
Intention – to plan. This is what you plan to do. With intention, we drive the process of change. Intention keeps us anchored to our goal. Intending is a positive practice meant to fuel our growth.
Dissonance – to clash. This creates unrest. And that is good. It seems bad, but we need this to make change. What we think we know and what we are working toward may sometimes disagree. Addressing and dealing with this unrest helps pave the way to harmony.
Strength – to surge. This can be a body, mind or spirit kind of strength. I often encourage you to make it a strong day – whatever that means for YOU. It may mean you faced the depression, got out of bed, and made it to work. It may mean you completed a long list of tasks. Or that you ate well and drank lots of water. Or it may mean that you made it through a difficult meeting. Strength may mean that you were compassionate with yourself