Anita Agers-Brooks

International Speaker, Award-Winning Author, Business/Life Coach

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10 Reasons Blue Monday is Real

Written by Anita Agers-Brooks Leave a Comment

I woke up this morning feeling down–but for good reason. It is the fourth anniversary since losing a dear friend to the beast of cancer. Her daughter and only child is like a younger sister to me, so the heaviness in my heart is two-fold. And yet, I hold onto a small comfort in knowing I am not alone in my feelings of depression.

Many people do not realize that today is considered Blue Monday, the most depressing day of the year. Why?

From research and interviews I conducted when I wrote Getting Through What You Can’t Get Over, I believe there’s a myriad of reasons. 

  • For some, it’s winter, where short days and gray skies cause a depletion of the feel-good hormones the brain needs to help us combat depression and anxiety. Plus, cabin fever sets in when it’s cold outside and there are fewer activities to help us fight boredom.
  • Most people tend to be less physically active between November and February. Without exercise keeping our blood pumping, our brains and bodies get sluggish and sad. 
  • People are more prone to watch live feeds and breaking news on their TVs and devices when they are less active. And we are definitely living in a bad news time period, so just listening to the doom and gloom is enough to throw anyone into a spiral. 
  • Between unusually high food and gift costs spent during the holidays, plus year-end tax bills and incoming credit card statements, many people struggle to make ends meet in January.
  • Resolutions may already be wavering for some, or they feel a sense of failure after finding they’ve already returned to unhealthy habits.
  • For some, a sense of deep loneliness returns, as family and friends go back to their daily routines, forgetting that not everyone has things on their calendar every day. If a person does not belong to groups such as churches, civic organizations, or volunteer agencies, they can feel all alone with no sense of purpose. 
  • Because the holidays magnify grief, those in mourning feel an even deeper sense of loss that lingers long past the holiday season. If they lost their loved one near or during this season, the pain feels even greater. 
  • The holidays slow down and even stop some business productivity. Striving to regain momentum is difficult and stressful for many employees and their leaders. By mid-January, frustrations and discouragement can run high due to a lack of synergy steam amongst the team. 
  • In January, some people review their lives and focus on mistakes instead of successes. They lose sight of all the victories they’ve won and goals they’ve met, forgetting to take time to celebrate the good or even great.
  • Many of us set a subconscious expectation that “this will be the year,” but if old problems do not quickly go away, we can lose our sense of hope and feel like giving up. What’s-the-point-itis can steal our joy AND potential, if we aren’t careful.

So what can we do to comabt the Monday blue? Take a 180 degree approach in any areas from this list.

  • Affirm yourself with truth. The affirmation I share below reminds me of who my Maker says I am, versus believing the lies my emotions might whisper to my mind.
  • If you are inactive, do what I do. Throughout your day, air-box, walk around the room, dance, skip, or run in place, for one minute intervals. You’d be surprised at how much your mood lifts from just a little periodic movement–it works great during bathroom breaks.
  • Turn off the bad news and write down at least three things you are grateful for today. This daily practice often turns my frowns upside down.
  • Set a goal to reduce spending and to start knocking down at least one debt. Taking control of your finances, even if you have to do it in tiny baby steps, will help you feel better. If anxiety about your bills or anything else is eating you up inside, I highly recommend my friend, Caris Snider’s book, Anxiety Elephants: A 31 Day Devotional to Help Stomp Out Your Anxiety.
  • I no longer make New Year’s resolutions. Instead, I focus on a single word as a lens that I look at my life through (I don’t choose my word, I actually let God choose it for me.) I’ve been doing this for years now, and it’s life-changing. Past words have included: joy, detox, rise, shine, peace, relationship, discipline, play, and others. Last year, my word was value. This year, my word is freedom, and so far, I’m not only feeling refreshed, but I’m learning a lot about myself.
  • Getting involved with others who gather is a great way to combat loneliness, especially if it’s a mission-minded group. My church family provides amazing support and purpose that makes me feel loved and mindful all year long. I wrote, Exceedingly: Spiritual Strategies for Living on Purpose, with Purpose, and for an Abundant Purpose, because I meet so many every day people who need reminders that they can and should make the difference they were made for, exactly where they are.
  • If you are mourning, let yourself feel the pain. Don’t try to hide from it or bury it–face your grief. By dealing with it now, you will prevent even greater pain later.
  • Be patient with yourself and others. Remember, good things take time and great things take even longer. Continuously ask yourself and others what next best step makes the most sense, then focus on that. Do not let overwhelm or discouragement cause you to halt forward progress.
  • Set goals, but don’t rush past your accomplishments. Celebration is a necessary part of any achievement.
  • Invest yourself in others–do not get stuck in self-focus. If someone crosses your mind, send them an encouraging note. Write a text, email, or old-fashioned but very powerful snail-mail. It’s not the delivery system that matters as much as your willingness to do something small that could change a life in amazing ways. Encouragement is a great depression-buster.
I Am Affirmation-Anita Brooks Author

As you can see, there are many reasons Blue Monday is real, but it doesn’t mean we have to let it steal our joy. With a little intentionality, we can turn blue into something much brighter. The difference starts with you!

Joyfully,

Anita

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An Easier Way to Do What’s Good for You

Written by Anita Agers-Brooks Leave a Comment

I was facilitating the bi-weekly mastermind I host last night when a common subject came up.

“Why do I undermine myself when I know it’s good for me?” one of the mastermind members asked, referring to her avoidance of drinking adequate water throughout the day.

Quickly, an echo of other voices chimed in. “Me, too,” one said. “I always feel better when I exercise, but for some reason, it’s so hard for me to start, or to keep my momentum when I do.”

“I know, right?” someone else added.

The truth is, most of us struggle in at least one area when it comes to acting on good habits that make us healthier, happier, more energetic, and successful. It’s a common human condition. But one of the ways I’ve found to protect myself from giving up and giving in, when I get tired of doing what’s good for me, is easier than you might think.

I call it the 90/90 rule for tending your dreams. If you click the link, it will take you to a recent 25 minute podcast I recorded on the subject, with details on how to enact this easy-to-follow plan. You can listen to it while you’re driving, exercising, working on projects, or simply resting. Or, if you prefer, you can find it on YouTube here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H0VCBLGQqxQ&t=42s

But when it comes to finding an easier way to do what’s good for you, I want to leave you with this thought. If you give in to those mental thoughts trying to undermine you when you want to get healthier, finish that project that’s been weighing on you, do something positive for your most important personal relationships, or to tend any dream that really matters to you, you undermine yourself. Days turn into months, months into years, years into decades, until before you know it, you can run out of tomorrows.

So, if you “know you need to do something,” then do it! Don’t give yourself one more opt-out, justification, or excuse. We were made to live an exceedingly, abundant life by our Maker, but it’s up to us to unwrap the gift.

Filed Under: Uncategorized

The Overlooked Secret to Real and Lasting Success at Home and Work

Written by Anita Agers-Brooks Leave a Comment

In the last couple of weeks, I’ve been doing some business coaching and leadership training with an international client. In such a short time, we have already seen amazing progress and success. The formula?

Doing something I learned to do for myself years ago. Hitting the balance between heart, mind, body, and soul through encouragement, practical tools, and intensive exercises. If one leg is broken in this equation, our quality of life comes tumbling down–professionally and personally. And there’s one leg that breaks more often than most. From my experience, it’s the overlooked secret to real and lasting success.

The soul or spiritual leg is something a lot of leaders, and even their followers, disregard. It’s not as obvious as say, measuring numbers on the financials, improving your processes, or engaging your people. (Don’t assume this just applies to work. Think about it, the success in our home lives is often evaluated in similar ways.) But make no mistake, if you miss the value of plugging into a spiritual power source, over time, any other efforts will feel as if they fall flat.

Human beings are wired to fulfill their intrinsic (soul-deep) needs. We’ve got to have a reason to get out of bed in the morning and are driven to know we are living out a purpose. I have yet to meet someone this wasn’t true of, even if they didn’t understand this about themselves at first.

Spiritual fulfillment gives our lives meaning and helps us know we’ve made a difference when it comes to situations bigger than ourselves.

Personally, I’m a woman of great faith in God. I do not try to shove my beliefs down anyone else’s throat, but neither do I hide this important aspect of who I am. It’s simply an integral element of my success, and why would I withhold any secret that may help my fellow woman or man?

There’s an inexplicable sense of power that comes from accepting the possibility of a Master Creator. I fought it for years, but frankly, when I look closely at this universe we live in, He’s the only thing that makes sense.

Regardless if you agree or disagree with my belief system, here’s the real point to this post. Dare to explore your spiritual side. Give yourself permission to consider the less obvious. Look into your own soul and ask yourself what’s missing. Seek your purpose. Pursue your dreams. Consider the possiblity that there’s a design and plan for your life. And practice daily spiritual disciplines.

Take it from someone who’s seen many a quality of life fall apart, as well as someone who’s seen many repaired and reinforced–if you want real and lasting success, you have to strengthen your spiritual leg. Otherwise, what are we striving for and when will we fall down? Balance is a beautiful and steadying thing.

How do you strengthen your spiritual side?

My BIO:I am compelled to educate, inspire, and encourage today’s influencers. Blending mind, heart, body, and spirit, as a Business/Life Coach, International Speaker, Certified Personality Trainer, Certified Communications Specialist, and Common Trauma Expert, I am honored to motivate people to dynamic break-throughs. 

I challenge people to remember, “We all influence someone, the question is, are we influencing well?”

I am also blessed to be an award-winning author. My titles include: 

Anita Agers Brooks Books

Exceedingly: Spiritual Strategies for Living On Purpose, With Purpose, and for an Abundant Purpose, Kregel Publications and Getting Through What You Can’t Get Over, Barbour Publishing, among others.

To hear more inspiring and practical messages, you can tune in to my weekly podcast, Tending Your Dreams.

From the page and the stage, I remind women and men, “In business, as in life and love, it’s never too late for a fresh start with fresh faith.” 

My favorite pastime is watching sunsets with my husband, while we laugh and dip our toes in the water. My kids and grandkids are pretty great, too!

You can connect with me on Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, Pinterest, LinkedIn, and Twitter. Keep up with my latest happenings at anitabrooks.com or tendyourdreams.com. Email assistant@anitabrooks.com to request information on having me motivate, educate, encourage and inspire the people attending your next event.

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What Is My Purpose?

Written by Anita Agers-Brooks Leave a Comment

At least a couple of times a month, someone asks me this question. “How do I find out what my purpose is?”

I get it. I once was there. I went through that. But now I’m clear!

And yet, I’m one of those people that it’s not enough for me to figure something out or to learn a life-changing secret. I am compelled to share with others. That’s where you come in. If you’ve ever wondered, “What is my purpose?” I’ve got something that I think will help.

I worked hard to create the: Discover Your Abundant Purpose Exercise. It’s meant to provide a simple, yet effective way to guide individuals (and businesses) toward unearthing their reason for existing. You see, I believe each of us are created on purpose, with purpose, and for an abundant purpose. It’s just that many people spend a lifetime without discovering what it is.

In April, my latest book, Exceedingly: Spiritual Strategies for Living on Purpose, with Purpose, and for an Abundant Purpose will release. It’s full of stories, examples, statistics, group study questions, and inspiration, because I’m driven to do my part to see that every person possible, finds out what they were born to do.

Exceedingly: Spiritual Strategies for Living on Purpose, with Purpose, and for an Abundant Purpose

If you want to know what your purpose is, I’m providing this exercise for free. After all, I want to give all I can.

Have you figured out what your purpose is? If so, do you mind sharing in the comments? If not, will you let us know when you discover it?

My BIO:I am compelled to educate, inspire, and encourage today’s influencers. Blending mind, heart, and spirit, as an Inspirational Business/Life Coach, International Speaker, Certified Personality Trainer, Certified Communications Specialist, and Common Trauma Expert, I am honored to motivate people to dynamic break-throughs. 

I challenge people to remember, “We all influence someone, the question is, are we influencing well?”

I am also blessed to be an award-winning author. My titles include: 

Exceedingly: Spiritual Strategies for Living On Purpose, With Purpose, and for an Abundant Purpose, Kregel Publications and Getting Through What You Can’t Get Over,Barbour Publishing, among others.

From the page and the stage, I remind women and men that, “In business, as in life and love, it’s never too late for a fresh start with fresh faith.” 

My favorite pastime is watching sunsets with my husband, while we laugh and dip our toes in the water. My kids and grandkids are pretty great, too!

You can connect with me on Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, Pinterest, LinkedIn, and Twitter. Keep up with my latest happenings at anitabrooks.com or tendyourdreams.com, and tune in to my weekly podcast, Tending Your Dreams. Email anita@anitabrooks.com to request information on having me motivate, educate, encourage and inspire the people attending your next event.

Filed Under: Uncategorized

5 Ways to Keep Your Head Above Water When You’re Dog-Paddling Through Life

Written by Anita Agers-Brooks Leave a Comment

I understand hectic schedules, looming deadlines, and stressed-to-the-brink emotions. As a busy speaker, coach, and author who has the privilege of influencing people in leadership positions as well as those on the front-lines, I too often work very long days. I recently put a strategy together for re-establishing the balance I used to be more intentional about.

Stressed Woman
Photo Credit: Daily Mail

In the meantime, until I can get some very important project-based loose ends tied up (I have two book releases coming at the end of April and first of May respectively, plus I’m finishing the proposal for my seventh book), I can only do my best. But, I’m better than I used to be. You learn some pretty slick lessons when you’ve lived as much life as I have.

No matter how tired, stressed, or overwhelmed I might feel, there are five ways I’ve learned to keep my head above water when I’m dog-paddling through life. These intentional practices will help you get through anything. So stop for just a minute and truly evaluate your situation by considering these five crucial questions.

5. What are you saying yes to that you should delay or drop entirely? I believe every day we should choose to say “yes” to at least one healthy thing (today, I took a morning breather with someone I love so we could both get a much needed mental and emotional break). But equally, we should be willing to tell someone “no” when a request would actually detract from rather than enhance a good greater than ourselves.

4. Who is eating up your time with drama, frivolous requests, or unhealthy neediness? If someone is keeping you from concentrating/working on something that you need to finish, or you find yourself sacrificing much-needed time with loved ones because of another person’s constant emotional blackmail, you need to step up and protect yourself. Remember, as long as you allow it to happen, it will continue.

3. How are you valuing yourself? Are you giving away time and energy to do for others when they should be doing more for themselves? When you are a helper/giver/fixer by nature, it’s easy to fall into the trap of offering assists, while your own commitments and relationships lack attention. Don’t get me wrong, we should support each other, but in a balanced way.

2. When are you taking care of the basics? The temptation to stay up too late, grab junk food on the run, guzzle energy drinks or coffee instead of water, work for hours without a mental break, and ignore friends and loved ones runs high when we feel frazzled. But if you want to keep your head above water, this is exactly when you should take care of your body and mind’s fundamental needs.

1. Where are you giving back? It costs little in time or money to give someone a smile, a kind word, or an expression of appreciation. We get what we give, so when we acknowledge another human being in a positive way, we often receive a boost of our own. There’s nothing more energizing than a moment of shared encouragement.

Not one of us was promised a life of ease, but when we feel like we’re being pulled under, a closer look at our daily habits can provide the kick that propels us above the waves. There’s nothing wrong with dog-paddling for a little while, as long as you move in the right direction.

Paddling with You, Anita

How do you keep your head above water when you’re stressed?

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About Anita

Anita Agers Brooks

Hi, I’m Anita Brooks, and I’m passionate about educating, inspiring, and encouraging today’s influencers. (This means you.) I help individuals and organizations tend their biggest dreams!

I’ve spent over two decades studying human personality, and how it affects everything we do. I’ve been accused of mind-reading, although I’m not truly clairvoyant. 

Professionally and personally, I solve people problems. Through motivating messages, training, and coaching, I’ll show you how to improve communication, develop stronger relationships, improve finances, and find deeper fulfillment.

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Exceedingly: Spiritual Strategies for Living on Purpose, with Purpose, and for an Abundant Purpose

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Books

Couples Personality Assessment
$150.00

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Individual Personality Assessment (with certified feedback)
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Individual Personality Assessment (without certified feedback)
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C.O.D.E.
$15.00

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60 Seconds to a Happier Marriage
$7.94

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Getting Through What You Can't Get Over Stories Tips
Autographed Getting Through What You Can’t Get Over
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First Hired, Last Fired by Anita Agers Brooks
Autographed First Hired, Last Fired: How to Become Irreplaceable in Any Job Market
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Living Life Defined
Autographed Death Defied, Life Defined: A Miracle Man’s Memoir
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4×4 Habit Hangup Overhaul
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One Minute Intervals Foodier Healthier
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Testimonials

  • "What an inspiring speaker!!! My hope is renewed and my faith restored."
    Sandy, Illinois Women’s Conference
  • "Anita hit me right in the soul and touched beautiful places in my heart. I'm so glad I came!"
    Bridgett, Iowa Women’s Connection
  • “Dynamic. Inspiring. Expert information, researched well and presented in an engaging way.”
    Darren Dake, Founder of Death Investigation Training Academy
  • “Anita brought tears to my eyes. What an amazing opening speaker.”
    Kelly, Missouri Association of Medical Staff Services
  • “Amazing information and great approach.”
    Dana, NMSSMA State Conference
  • “I would recommend Anita to any group who works with people.”
    Joy, Roosevelt Hospital Administrator’s Conference
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    Dee Dee, High School Teacher
  • “After speaking to a crowded arena with over 5,000 present in the morning, Anita Brooks drew over 600 students into a packed auditorium at ACU that night. I was blown away by the reaction of students and administrators.”
    Ryan, Abilene Christian University
  • “After hearing Anita speak, something woke up in me today. I feel alive again.”
    Chantal, Oklahoma Leadership Conference
  • “Anita is the most inspiring speaker I’ve ever heard. I feel energized, motivated, and confident that I can make a fresh start. Love the simple, yet practical ideas I came away with. I laughed. I cried. I felt understood.”
    Sherry, Arkansas Women’s Conference
  • “Inspiring message. I was captivated from Anita’s first sentence.”
    Melody, Missouri Women’s Retreat
  • “I laughed, I cried, I learned, and I took lessons home with me.”
    Betty, Leadership Conference
  • “Our ladies are still talking about Anita’s inspiring message, two weeks later.”
    Kathy, Kansas Women’s Retreat
  • “To date, Anita has been the only speaker asked to return as our conference keynote, year after year. There is no doubt that Anita Brooks is one of our absolute favorite speakers.”
    Michelle Lambeth, Executive Director, Missouri Canoe & Floaters Association
  • “Anita Brooks is hands-down one of the best relational business coaches and speakers on the market now. She has a candid ability to address difficult topics and draw out the most important lessons in such a way that inspires greatness from her audience. Her extensive knowledge into the human personality is electrifying. Her material provides you with that “light bulb” moment you wish you would have had long ago.”
    Scott Perkins, President & CEO, First Community National Bank
  • “Anita Brooks helped shape the future of my business. Her insights into the workings of the human mind are a prime tool in our management techniques. Due largely to Anita’s coaching and training with our top managers, we are a leading model for outdoor recreation companies.”
    Jack Sanborn, CEO, Adventures Unlimited, Inc. Florida

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