Why am I telling you this? Because I took one of the biggest steps out of my comfort zone this past spring when I signed up to be part of an Overcomers project. Thirty-eight authors submitted a story about an event they overcame in their life. Overcomers Inc.-true stories of hope, courage and inspiration is the brain child of Lynne Klippel. She was looking for an uplifting book to help her brother during his ’down’ times while he was undergoing chemotherapy. She thought it would be wonderful to have a collection of stories from ordinary people who have faced challenging times in their life and have come through them with courage, strength and wisdom. Lynne wanted this book to help more people, than just her brother.

Writing a chapter for this book is one of the hardest things I have ever done. I had to put aside my ego and fears (ongoing process!) to publicly write and be willing to ‘let go’ of my insecurities. I have a story to tell about the lessons I am learning from living with my husband’s dementia; I desparately want to share them with others.

I am very proud to be a contributing author to this incredible book. At a time when we are bombarded with bad news–whether it is about the economy or the latest flu virus–this book is going to be the lifesaver for thousands of people. You will find 38 different stories–all of them uplifting, inspiring and giving you hope that you can overcome whatever challenge you are facing in your life.

To give you a sample of one of the stories, here is an excerpt from a very good friend of mine, Barbara McCollough:

When Grace Comes to Get You               
Barbara McCollough  

How can I explain this moment when inspiration broke through in the form of the poem and led me from paralysis into action?

I can’t. Or not in ways the linear mind can report. A teacher once told me that the path to a fulfilling life was like the flight of a two winged bird: one wing was self-effort and the other grace. Without both, a bird won’t fly and neither will our lives. Dogged adherence to effort can take you right into a place you don’t even want to go, yet simply waiting for inspiration without accompanying action leads to paralysis (insightful paralysis perhaps, but still paralysis). It is the true partnership of self-effort and grace—inspired action – that is the secret to success. 

If I were to frame my experience as overcoming an obstacle, perhaps what I overcame was a tendency to let my ego do the driving. I opened myself to that mysterious other force that we all know and describe in our own unique way, that we can never control, but we can always depend upon.

On your path to fulfillment, you don’t have to row upstream, and you don’t have to get in the boat alone

Later this month a geat new book  titled ‘Overcomers Inc.: True stories of hope, courage and inspiration’ is being released. Here is a summary of the book:

Overcomers, Inc: True stories of hope, courage, and inspiration will give readers the knowledge and emotional resilience to face the most difficult times of life by sharing inspiring stories of triumph.

You will find this a book of diversity. There are many authors, from many walks of life. However, they all share a common bond. They triumphed over tragedy and gleaned wisdom in this process. While this is not a religious book, there are stories full of faith, of many kinds and flavors. It is funny how in your darkest times, faith often becomes your brightest light.

All of the contributors to this book want to encourage you to hold tight to your belief that a better day will come. It is their sincere desire to pass along what they’ve learned through their own trials, to make your journey easier.

Here is a sample of one of the stories in the book:

 When Tough Times Hit, There Is Always HOPE!
Mary Hays-Bridges

I was facing something more difficult than trying to survive the devastation from a negligent act. I had truly lost my sense of identity, purpose, and life goals. I could survive being a helpless invalid, but to be hopeless would be downright tragic.

My job in life now is to help others set new dreams and learn about survival – through Him. May my story impress upon you that HOPE can bring you through life’s trials! Dreams DO come true! All things ARE possible! As a coach, “HOPE” now has added meaning for me – “Helping Others’ Possibilities Endure.”

1.  Before going to sleep, answer: “Today has been a good day because____________________________.” Focus on the people you love, the things that inspire you, the daily details that are within your power to change. Happiness is found in these small details of life.

2.  Keep a goals/gratitude journal. Today, what action step did you take towards your goal? Focusing on goals gives a renewed sense of purpose, adds confidence, cultivates self-esteem, and adds structure to life. Writing down your action steps and daily progress is a positive reinforcement. Counting your blessings adds a measure of humility, compassion and keeps optimism alive.

3.  Read and/or listen to motivational and inspirational books.

4.  Use pictures and sayings to make a focus board collage for each goal. Seeing these positive affirmations daily enhances your endurance and strength. Become your own cheerleader through positive self-talk. 

                                                                                                                                                      Happiness + Optimism + Perseverance + Endurance = HOPE

When tough times hit, never give up HOPE!