Carey Jones - Thriving: Follow Your Dreams One Step at a Time

Illustrations copyright 2021 by Bodil Jane.
Text copyright 2021 by Chronicle Books LLC.
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form without written permission from the publisher.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data available.

ISBN 978-1-7972-0585-4 (epub, mobi)
ISBN 978-1-7972-0397-3 (hardcover)

Design by Kristen Hewitt.

Chronicle books and gifts are available at special quantity discounts to corporations, professional associations, literacy programs, and other organizations. For details and discount information, please contact our premiums department at or at 1-800-759-0190.

Chronicle Books LLC
680 Second Street
San Francisco, California 94107
www.chroniclebooks.com

Everyone always says, Go for it!but how? Whats the secret to getting your big ideas off the ground?

The secret is that theres no magic bullet, but there are a lot of little pieces of good advice that can help you grow and improve. This book will show you how to make things happen, from getting started, to setting goals, to pushing through the hard times.

And in addition to finding the inspiration and motivation to achieve your dreams, youll also discover some of the other intangibles that go into a life you can be proud of. Youll learn how to take good care of yourself, be open to unexpected detours, and move yourselfand the worldin a positive direction. Youll start to be brave, stand up for yourself, and seek out new experiences so you can see things from a fresh perspective. Theres greatness lurking inside youall you need to do is figure out how to let it out. Heres your road map. Lets get started.

What lights you up? Do that thing. And dont let anyone tell you that you cant.

A lot of life is about the impression you make. When youre striving for something, lead with your strengths. (And if you arent sure what your strengths are, well... fake it til you make it!) If its a job interview, put on an outfit that says youre taking this seriously, and present yourself with optimism and cheerfulness. If youre taking on a big project, put forth your very best effort, and dont quit when things get hard. Its OK to have moments where youre scared or uncertain, but keep moving forward. Gather up your pluck and go forth exuding confidence. People will recognize how amazing you truly are.

Before you get down to business, organize your materials. Make yourself a little checklist, with the larger project broken down into manageable steps. Then get going. Every time you check off one of the steps, itll feel like a reassuring pat on the back.

Lets be real: A large part of getting things done means just getting your butt in the chair and getting started. Once youve exhausted all your procrastination techniques and are finally ready to begin, creating your personal optimal conditions can help you get your best work done. And youll be more likely to get into that oh-so-excellent flow state, where youre completely absorbed and your creativity pours out of you almost like magic. Figure out the time of day you work bestare you a night owl or an early bird? Make sure youre well fed and hydrated (and fully caffeinated if thats your thing). Put on some music without lyricsit can help you focus and shut down your wandering mind. Turn off your Wi-Fi or social media to avoid distraction. And then put paint or pencil to paper, or words to laptop, or brain to problem, and see what wonders unfold.

Doing the same thing over and over might sound like a slog, but sometimes you have to put on your grown-up pants and get down to it. Work hard now so you can knock em dead when it counts.

If you need a break, a change of scenery, or a kick in the pants to get going, get yourself outside! Its amazing what a bit of sunshine can do for both your mood and your inspiration (not to mention your vitamin D levels). Keep your ears open for birdsong and the wind in the trees. Depending on the season, notice new life growing, or leaves falling in preparation for winter, or the world lying hushed and dormant under a blanket of snow. Feel a connection to other living things on this great planet we call home.

But at the end of the day, be accountable to only yourself.

You might be in your larval state now, but even if your life looks and feels gray, dull, and uninteresting, accept yourself for who you are at this very moment. You will evolve. And if you let them, your life experiences will allow you to emerge into the gorgeous butterfly you were born to be.

Taking a stand is a great way to find out just what youre made of. And youre just one personbut you really can make a difference. Write letters to your state or federal representatives. Join a protest. Work for a cause that you believe in. Fight for social justice. Dont back down from a confrontation if you believe something is right. As the saying goes, If you see something, say something.

And if youre not quite ready for big activism, you can still make a difference in a small way. Think closer to home: Help a neighbor shovel snow. Tip your barista a little extra. Pick up trash you see on the sidewalk. Organize a potluck dinner in your apartment building or neighborhood. There are all kinds of little ways to make a positive impact in the world. Were all in this together!