Learning to Thrive

My name is Alyssa Phillips. That in itself for the longest time was insignificant. I was just surviving, just barely getting by, and each day it seemed to be harder and harder to just get by. I had big thoughts but I could never really get to them because of the task of living day to day. I joined the National Society for Leadership and Success because I had big thoughts and I figured why not. It was just another thing that filled my day. The speakers had good messages but not a single one spoke to me until Arianna Huffington started to speak about "Thrive."

I couldn't remember the last time my internal gas tank was full, empty was the normal. I was burnt out. The funny thing was, I didn't know it. I didn't know I was just surviving, I thought I was living. I am young, only twenty years old, and I had resigned myself to just scraping by. I was inspired by the idea of Thrive. I had spent the better part of the past ten years, half of my short life out of control. I struggled with my personality disorder, depression, anxiety, self-harm, and in the darkest of my days, I fought to keep living. I struggled with keeping it a secret because I was ashamed because of the stigma surrounding mental health.

I have big dreams, I want to help children with the same things I struggled with and more. I want to help others to learn to do more then just survive, but to live fulfilling lives. I used to have a roaring fire pushing me towards all my dreams, but my life was just there, nothing significant about it. I was so caught up on work and school and life that it consumed every moment of each day. I was unhappy. I was so burnt out that my relationships suffered. I would barely even speak to my fiancé, I was just on autopilot on a plane that was headed towards the ground.

The twelve simple steps of Thrive were so life changing for me. It started out simply by getting a few extra minutes of sleep, choosing to walk up the stairs instead of the elevator, or thanking my fiancé for loving me regardless of where I was in my life. From there I was able to start making lists of whats good in my life, who can I help today, what can I do to start making connections to those around me. I found my footing and I was able to start doing the hardest thing, forgiving myself for everything I had held onto, and working harder each day to not only survive but Thrive.

Thank you.

"My mission in life is not merely to survive, but to thrive; and to do so with some passion, some compassion, some humor, and some style." -- Maya Angelou