Aspire Magazine: Inspiration for a Woman's Soul.(TM) Aug/Sept 2019 Aspire Mag FINAL | Page 71

4. Be Happy With You. One of the greatest gift you can give your stepfamily and your partner is to take care of yourself. Love starts from within and then flows out, not the other way around. When you take care of yourself, you’re healthier both mentally and physically. You are more resistant to stress and deal with change with a more positive outlook. Think of the oxygen mask instructions when you take the airplane. “You must first put the mask on you, THEN help younger ones.” If you’re depleted, how do you expect to be of use to anyone else? 5. Be a Positive Role Model. One of the most rewarding roles a stepmom can have is to be a positive role model for her stepkids. Being a positive role model motivates us to strive to be our best, knowing that our actions speak louder than words. It also instills a sense of confidence in our skills as a leader and our abilities to overcome adversity. We constantly look for people to emulate. Don’t you think your stepkids deserve to have someone to look up to? Wouldn’t it be great if that person is you? Children will imitate those with whom they feel a close tie. Make it you. Happiness requires that you put into practice the skills that nourishes you and fills you up. Practicing these five steps means that you make them a priority in your life and for your relationships. To get even more out of these skills, print them out and place it where you’ll see them on a daily basis. For extra benefits, write down a few things you can do for each of these steps and commit to them daily. Journal your progress and notice the changes in yourself and in your family. You’ll be on your way to having a more satisfying and fulfilled life and stepmom relationships. One Happiness requires that you put into practice the skills that nourishes you and fills you up. Claudette Chenevert - Claudette, aka The Stepmom Coach, works with women as they struggle to create a cohesive family life. As a speaker, author and stepfamily professional, Claudette mentors and guides stepmoms through the process of establishing a harmonious and thriving home life for their families. Her book, “The Stepmom’s Book of Boundaries,” is available on Amazon. Learn about her coaching practice and self-study program for stepmoms at www.StepmomCoach.com. 71 vision, how do you know where you’re going? How do you measure you’re progress? How do you determine you’re on the right path? With no plan, it’s like driving a car with a blindfold on while your kids are in the back seat. Would you dare do that with your children? A plan gives you direction and incentives. A plan helps you to anticipate problems and cope with changes. Have a plan.