Author: Al Baker

Know You Are Special

Posted on by Al Baker

Know You Are Special

By Collin McCarty

Never Forget
Your presence, is a present to the world.
You’re unique and one of a kind.
Your life can be, what you want it to be.
Take the days, just one at a time.
Count your blessings, not your troubles.
You’ll make it through, whatever comes along.
Within you, are so many answers.
Understand, have courage, be strong.
Don’t put limits on yourself.
So many dreams, are waiting to be realized.
Decisions are too important, to leave to chance.
Reach for your peak, your goal and your prize.
Nothing wastes more energy, than worrying.
The longer one carries a problem, the heavier it gets.
Don’t take things too seriously.
Live a life of serenity, not a life of regrets.
Remember, that a little love goes a long way.
Remember, that a lot . . . goes forever.
Remember, that friendship is a wise investment.
Life’s treasures, are people . . . together.
Realize, that it’s never too late.
Do ordinary things, in an extraordinary way.
Have health, hope and happiness.
Take the time, to wish upon a star.
And don’t ever forget . . .
For even a day . . .
How very special you are.

I’m Not Perfect

Posted on by Al Baker

I’m Not Perfect

the song was written – and the video was produced by songwriter/actress, Lori Martini.

Lori chose Hey U.G.L.Y. as the charity
for this song and is recommending viewers donate to help us empower youth to put an end to bullying and feeling good enough.

At the end of the video you’ll see a cool message about Hey U.G.L.Y. from our national
spokesperson, singer/songwriter
Devyn Rush from American Idol.

Please pass this on to all of your friends –
let’s take this viral!!
FYI – This song has been featured on the
Reality TV Show, Dance Moms Miami.

How Are You Feeling?

Posted on by Al Baker

How Are You Feeling?

Ever have someone tell you to get in touch with your feelings? Well sometimes it can be hard to identify what’s going on inside of you. So, we found this cool list of feelings to help us all get to the bottom of what’s going inside of us.
Once a day print out the list of feelings and hi-lite all the feelings you felt that day. Do this each day for one week. Make sure you go to our Self-Esteem Tips pages too. They will help you get in touch with your inner voice. Some of the tips deal with how to believe in yourself. Other tips explore things like: why anger is necessary; how to avoid complainers; and, how to stop all the competition.

After one week if you see your feelings getting happier stay on that path. If you notice that your feelings are staying stuck or are sad and depressed, tell a friend, a parent, a counselor … someone you can trust. Most of our friends and the trusted adults we know have been through times of sadness or despair. Hearing their advice on how they overcame what we’re going through can help a lot. If you are like a lot of us, you may even feel like you are totally alone in your pain and confusion. But, in fact, millions of people go through tough times. Getting through tough times really do make us stronger. Getting through the tough times also enable us to be able to help others who are going through it. We can actually help our friends because we know what it feels like to be in the sh*! and how great it feels to have made it through.

It helps so much to reach out.

ADVICE: Don’t let other people control how you feel. You have the power within you to find joy and happiness. It helps if you hang with friends who are happy. Stay away from those that thrive on drama, anger and acting out.

ASK YOURSELF THIS QUESTION: Do you want to be happy or is there something inside of you that likes being sad?

IF YOU WANT TO BE HAPPY DO THINGS THAT BRING YOU JOY. What brings you joy? Email your advice for finding joy to: PreventBullyingNow@heyugly.org. We’ll share your wisdom on with youth all over the world.

Abandoned
Accomplished
Adequate
Adamant
Affectionate
Afraid
Alone
Ambivalent
Angry
Annoyed
Anxious
Apathetic
Astounded
Attractive
Awed
Bad
Betrayed
Bitter
Blissful
Bold
Bored
Brave
Burdened

Calm
Capable
Captivated
Challenged
Charmed
Cheated
Cheerful
Childish
Clever
Combative
Competitive
Condemned
Confident
Confused
Conniving
Conspicuous
Contented
Contrite
Controlled
Cruel
Crushed

Deceitful
Defeated
Defiant
Delighted
Demeaned
Deserving

How Are You Feeling?

Ever have someone tell you to get in touch with your feelings? Well sometimes it can be hard to identify what’s going on inside of you. So, we found this cool list of feelings to help us all get to the bottom of what’s going inside of us.
Once a day print out the list of feelings and hi-lite all the feelings you felt that day. Do this each day for one week. Make sure you go to our Self-Esteem Tips pages too. They will help you get in touch with your inner voice. Some of the tips deal with how to believe in yourself. Other tips explore things like: why anger is necessary; how to avoid complainers; and, how to stop all the competition.

After one week if you see your feelings getting happier stay on that path. If you notice that your feelings are staying stuck or are sad and depressed, tell a friend, a parent, a counselor … someone you can trust. Most of our friends and the trusted adults we know have been through times of sadness or despair. Hearing their advice on how they overcame what we’re going through can help a lot. If you are like a lot of us, you may even feel like you are totally alone in your pain and confusion. But, in fact, millions of people go through tough times. Getting through tough times really do make us stronger. Getting through the tough times also enable us to be able to help others who are going through it. We can actually help our friends because we know what it feels like to be in the sh*! and how great it feels to have made it through.

It helps so much to reach out.

ADVICE: Don’t let other people control how you feel. You have the power within you to find joy and happiness. It helps if you hang with friends who are happy. Stay away from those that thrive on drama, anger and acting out.

ASK YOURSELF THIS QUESTION: Do you want to be happy or is there something inside of you that likes being sad?

IF YOU WANT TO BE HAPPY DO THINGS THAT BRING YOU JOY. What brings you joy? Email your advice for finding joy to: PreventBullyingNow@heyugly.org. We’ll share your wisdom on with youth all over the world.

How Are You Feeling?

Ever have someone tell you to get in touch with your feelings? Well sometimes it can be hard to identify what’s going on inside of you. So, we found this cool list of feelings to help us all get to the bottom of what’s going inside of us.
Once a day print out the list of feelings and hi-lite all the feelings you felt that day. Do this each day for one week. Make sure you go to our Self-Esteem Tips pages too. They will help you get in touch with your inner voice. Some of the tips deal with how to believe in yourself. Other tips explore things like: why anger is necessary; how to avoid complainers; and, how to stop all the competition.

After one week if you see your feelings getting happier stay on that path. If you notice that your feelings are staying stuck or are sad and depressed, tell a friend, a parent, a counselor … someone you can trust. Most of our friends and the trusted adults we know have been through times of sadness or despair. Hearing their advice on how they overcame what we’re going through can help a lot. If you are like a lot of us, you may even feel like you are totally alone in your pain and confusion. But, in fact, millions of people go through tough times. Getting through tough times really do make us stronger. Getting through the tough times also enable us to be able to help others who are going through it. We can actually help our friends because we know what it feels like to be in the sh*! and how great it feels to have made it through.

It helps so much to reach out.

ADVICE: Don’t let other people control how you feel. You have the power within you to find joy and happiness. It helps if you hang with friends who are happy. Stay away from those that thrive on drama, anger and acting out.

ASK YOURSELF THIS QUESTION: Do you want to be happy or is there something inside of you that likes being sad?

IF YOU WANT TO BE HAPPY DO THINGS THAT BRING YOU JOY. What brings you joy? Email your advice for finding joy to: PreventBullyingNow@heyugly.org. We’ll share your wisdom on with youth all over the world.

How Are You Feeling?

Ever have someone tell you to get in touch with your feelings? Well sometimes it can be hard to identify what’s going on inside of you. So, we found this cool list of feelings to help us all get to the bottom of what’s going inside of us.
Once a day print out the list of feelings and hi-lite all the feelings you felt that day. Do this each day for one week. Make sure you go to our Self-Esteem Tips pages too. They will help you get in touch with your inner voice. Some of the tips deal with how to believe in yourself. Other tips explore things like: why anger is necessary; how to avoid complainers; and, how to stop all the competition.

After one week if you see your feelings getting happier stay on that path. If you notice that your feelings are staying stuck or are sad and depressed, tell a friend, a parent, a counselor … someone you can trust. Most of our friends and the trusted adults we know have been through times of sadness or despair. Hearing their advice on how they overcame what we’re going through can help a lot. If you are like a lot of us, you may even feel like you are totally alone in your pain and confusion. But, in fact, millions of people go through tough times. Getting through tough times really do make us stronger. Getting through the tough times also enable us to be able to help others who are going through it. We can actually help our friends because we know what it feels like to be in the sh*! and how great it feels to have made it through.

It helps so much to reach out.

ADVICE: Don’t let other people control how you feel. You have the power within you to find joy and happiness. It helps if you hang with friends who are happy. Stay away from those that thrive on drama, anger and acting out.

ASK YOURSELF THIS QUESTION: Do you want to be happy or is there something inside of you that likes being sad?

IF YOU WANT TO BE HAPPY DO THINGS THAT BRING YOU JOY. What brings you joy? Email your advice for finding joy to: PreventBullyingNow@heyugly.org. We’ll share your wisdom on with youth all over the world.

How Are You Feeling?

Ever have someone tell you to get in touch with your feelings? Well sometimes it can be hard to identify what’s going on inside of you. So, we found this cool list of feelings to help us all get to the bottom of what’s going inside of us.
Once a day print out the list of feelings and hi-lite all the feelings you felt that day. Do this each day for one week. Make sure you go to our Self-Esteem Tips pages too. They will help you get in touch with your inner voice. Some of the tips deal with how to believe in yourself. Other tips explore things like: why anger is necessary; how to avoid complainers; and, how to stop all the competition.

After one week if you see your feelings getting happier stay on that path. If you notice that your feelings are staying stuck or are sad and depressed, tell a friend, a parent, a counselor … someone you can trust. Most of our friends and the trusted adults we know have been through times of sadness or despair. Hearing their advice on how they overcame what we’re going through can help a lot. If you are like a lot of us, you may even feel like you are totally alone in your pain and confusion. But, in fact, millions of people go through tough times. Getting through tough times really do make us stronger. Getting through the tough times also enable us to be able to help others who are going through it. We can actually help our friends because we know what it feels like to be in the sh*! and how great it feels to have made it through.

It helps so much to reach out.

ADVICE: Don’t let other people control how you feel. You have the power within you to find joy and happiness. It helps if you hang with friends who are happy. Stay away from those that thrive on drama, anger and acting out.

ASK YOURSELF THIS QUESTION: Do you want to be happy or is there something inside of you that likes being sad?

IF YOU WANT TO BE HAPPY DO THINGS THAT BRING YOU JOY. What brings you joy? Email your advice for finding joy to: PreventBullyingNow@heyugly.org. We’ll share your wisdom on with youth all over the world.

Change For The Better

Posted on by Al Baker

Change For The Better

By Ralph Martson

Even when it is not possible to change anything else for the better, you can always change yourself for the better. Even in the most desperate situations, when no other option is available, you always can decide upon your own attitude. Just as it is entirely possible to be miserable in even the most pleasant surroundings, so too is it possible to be positive and effective in the most difficult circumstances. Always bear in mind that your attitude is whatever you decide it is going to be.

So why would you ever want to go through so much as a single moment with a negative, defeated attitude? There is simply nothing of value that it can accomplish. On the other hand, when you choose a positive focus, even the setbacks and disappointments can end up working in your favor. For you will be open to the positive possibilities that do surely exist in those seemingly hopeless situations.

The hope is there, the way forward is there, when you make up your mind to see it and live it. When life is stubbornly negative, keep your attitude positive. When nothing else will change for the better, change your own thoughts for the better. And you’ll soon see everything else following positively along.

Believe In Yourself

Posted on by Al Baker

Believe In Yourself

By A.J. Mahari

Doubt is the result of fear. Second guessing ourselves often could be an indication that we need to learn to trust ourselves more than we currently do.

How many things or decisions do you approach in your life more from fear than confidence? The less we believe in ourselves the more we will struggle with choices, decisions, and every day situations that challenges us in a myriad of ways to cope to the best of our abilities.

What many people may not realize or consciously be aware of in the living of life is that taking it one moment at a time is truly a gift that you can give yourself. If you try to think too far ahead, or if you focus on the past you increase many fold the stress that you will feel.

This stress can impede your believing in yourself. When you believe in yourself you can and will cope. Sometimes we don’t know how we are going to cope with certain stresses and challenges in our lives. Believing that we can cope, however, is the key to actually coping effectively.

Believing in yourself requires loving kindness. You deserve and need your own love and trust. If you think negatively or live out of a fear-based place you rob yourself of each and every unfolding moment that comes to give you a newer and richer sense of all that can be positive in the moment.

Live moment to moment with the belief that you can cope and you do know what you need and you can learn to meet your needs if you aren’t already meeting them. Be mindful of your boundaries also.

Believing in yourself is a positive life-giving gift that you can give yourself in this moment and each unfolding moment to come. Treasure that. Know that you deserve that.

Ask not what can go wrong. Do not give your energy to the negative. Focus on the positive. Be excited about your life. Believe in yourself and the way the you view the world will be much more positive. The way that you relate to others will also be much more positive.

Believing in yourself means getting honest with yourself about who you are, your strengths and weaknesses and then accepting yourself, strengths and weaknesses and all, unconditionally.

Be Aware Of Your Thoughts

Posted on by Al Baker

Be Aware Of Your Thoughts

By A.J. Mahari (aka Soul)

Few people enjoy the company of individuals whose attitudes are persistently negative. Yet many of us tolerate the critical chatter that can originate within our own minds. Since we are so used to the stream of self-limiting, critical consciousness that winds its way through our thoughts, we are often unaware of the impact these musings have on our lives. It is only when we become aware of the power of such thoughts that we can divest ourselves of them and fill the emptiness they leave with loving, peaceful affirmations. Many people, upon paying careful attention to their thinking patterns, are surprised at the negativity they find there. But when we take notice of involuntary thoughts in a nonjudgmental way, we initiate a healing process that will eventually allow us to replace intimidating and upsetting self-talk with positive, empowering thoughts.

While the occasional downbeat or judgmental thought may have little impact on your contentment, the ongoing negativity that passes unnoticed can have a dampening effect on your mood and your outlook. When you are aware of the tone of your thoughts, however, you can challenge them. Try to be conscious of your feelings, opinions, and judgments for a single day. From sunup to sundown, scrutinize the messages you are feeding into your subconscious mind. Consider your thoughts from the perspective of a detached observer and try not to judge yourself based on the notions that come unbidden into your mind. Simply watch the flow of your consciousness and make a note of the number of times you find yourself focusing on gloomy notions or indulging in self-directed criticism.

As you become increasingly aware of your patterns of thought, whether positive and negative, you will gradually learn to control the character of your stream of consciousness. Endeavor always to remember that the images and ideas that pass through your mind are transient and not a true representation of who you are. In training yourself to be cognizant of your thoughts, you gain the ability to actively modulate your mood. The awareness you cultivate within yourself will eventually enable you to create a foundation of positivity from which you can build a more authentic existence.

Next>

Avoid the Company Of Chronic Criticizers

Posted on by Al Baker

Avoid the Company Of Chronic Criticizers

By Terry Cole-Whittaker, in “Life Your Bliss”

Avoid the company of chronic criticizers, naysayers, prophets of doom, materialists, fearmongers, gossipers, and the fearful, envious, and angry. If you must be around these lower-frequency energies, consider it a test of your ability to hold your own and keep your mind, emotions, and words in the spiritual zone. When you can do this, you become victorious, not a victim. We must control our thoughts and words, or we are nothing more than stimulus-response machines reacting from habit and fear- and lack-based programming. Seek the highest truth and act on it, regardless of your old habits and programming. Remember that you are making new habits and these are what will now start manifesting.

Attitude Is Everything

Posted on by Al Baker

Attitude Is Everything

By A.J. Mahari

We can be grumpy or we can accept where we are today and celebrate that by going with the flow. Again, central to finding peace within a more positive attitude is letting go of the things that we can’t control outside of ourselves.

It is also pointless and a source of pain to try to control ourselves too much too.

Be who you are. Help those you care about when you can. Don’t guilt yourself for not doing more. You cannot be perfect.

Acceptance will enable you to find a peaceful and adequately humble attitude that will serve you and those around you well. Never be afraid to be real. Never be afraid to show your emotions. Emotions are not a display of weakness. They are a display of courage and strength.

Attitude is everything. You can choose your attitude. Free yourself from the “shoulds” and know that what you are doing is enough. Steady as you go and a step at a time — that’s what sees the accomplishment of goals in the long run.

Choose to be giving. Choose to think the best of others while taking care of yourself. The lighter your attitude, the lighter your load.

Anger Is Necessary

Posted on by Al Baker

Anger Is Necessary

By A.J. Mahari (aka Soul)

Anger, in our society today, is a much maligned emotion. Anger is, at the very least, too often thought of as or defined as not okay and/or destructive among a host of other negative descriptors. Anger is seen as a negative unwanted emotion.

It is viewed as a destroyer of love and/or as the antithesis of love. This results in anger being the most repressed emotion.

It is not being angry or feeling angry or having anger that is unhealthy. It is choosing to repress or inappropriately express or display your anger that is at the root of our culture’s issues with anger.

Anger is a healthy human emotion to feel. It is what we do with it once we feel it that matters most.

Anger is necessary if we are feeling beings. If we are able to feel anything, from time to time, anger will invariably be a part of what we feel. Anger has tremendous value. It alerts us to potential danger. It moves us into action to take care of ourselves and/or protect ourselves.

It is necessary to feel anger in order to be healthy and well-balanced.

It is not feeling angry that is negative it is the repression of anger until it implodes or explodes without rational guidance that can be destructive. It is denying the appropriate and healthy expression of our anger that can also be destructive.

When you are angry you are likely in touch with what you need in any given situation. When you are angry you likely know that something isn’t okay.

Embrace how angry you may feel at any given time.

Anger indicates that we care enough to feel and to give voice to our feelings, especially feelings of displeasure. It also clears the air so that free exchange can take place. Anger is necessary.

The right to feel and to express our anger in healthy ways is necessary if we are going to be able to feel and express compassion for ourselves and each other.

Feeling your anger and learning to appropriately express it without guilt or shame is of paramount importance to being able to be true to yourself and true with others.