So you want to know: How can I do something, say I'm going to do it, and then see it through? How can I practice true commitment & accountability? You commit. And then you are accountable.

Here's the thing: don't dull your flame. I would love to tell you that if you just "be yourself," others will come around. I would love to tell you that the choices will always be easy. They're not, and that's okay. Easy is often less interesting.

"Don't take it personally." "It's none of my business what anyone else thinks of me." "Don't give your power away to what other people think." I'd hear these things, and I'd think: Yeah. But HOW? I kept trying this whole " not taking it personally " thing. No one was doing anything intentional. It wasn't personal. It was just people doing what they do.

Balanced is breathing. When you slow down and breathe internally, life gets just a smidge easier, externally.