Through her own big life challenges along the way, Carol Grace Anderson knows first-hand how to get fired up.
Who/what contributed to your inner strength?
My parents always instilled a “can-do” attitude in me. They had great faith that I could do whatever I set my sights on. That helped me believe in myself...although that belief has been tested many times! Ultimately, we need to nurture our own inner strength and keep focused on our goals every single day.
When in your life was your inner strength particularly tested and how did you deal with the incident?
My goal was to become a teacher or psychologist; however, I was told by my high school guidance counselor that I wasn’t college material at all. Unfortunately, I thought he must be right since he was an (alleged) expert. After proceeding to flunk out of three colleges, I decided that it would take some work and perseverance. I was willing to do something different to get a different result...then I went on to earn both a bachelor’s and master’s degree.
Years later, my inner strength was thoroughly tested when I lost my younger sister to breast cancer. I wondered how I could keep going. It was my belief in God and the big picture that gave me inner strength to strive to live fully each day. I began to realize that a worse tragedy than death is to not be fully alive while we’re here! My sister was a great role model for me.
What suggestions do you have to help people realize their capabilities?
Ask yourself what you love to do and have a natural ability in? When you are passionate about something, it gives you the stamina to persist when the going gets tough –- and it will. No great success came without hard work. The secret is to never, ever give up on what you believe.
Why is it important to focus on inner strength?
There are so many pitfalls and disappointments along the way. We have to be committed to staying strong and not letting anything or anyone detour our dreams. Inner strength helps to keep our goal tank full of fuel.
What are your next goals and what positive thoughts or activities keep you striving toward your goals?
I’ve written five books and I’m working on more. Writing, for me, is a helpful tool to crystallize my own thoughts and research new information. Professional speaking is my passion and my main livelihood. It’s a great gift to share the solutions I’ve learned with audiences from coast to coast. For more information visit my Web site: www.GetFiredUp.com
