Maksymizing Life

By Valerie Maksym

At the age of 44, I found myself facing the challenges of divorce for the second time and, for the first time in my life, I would be living on my own. This newfound solitude became an opportunity for transformation as I embarked on a journey of self-discovery. Over the course of seven years, I undertook the process of healing and understanding the person I had become. As a mother of four and a gigi to two granddaughters, I strived to overcome the emotional turmoil and emerge as a stronger individual, with a newfound sense of self-confidence. This determination led me to discover my passion for fitness, and I am now a nationally qualified NPC figure bodybuilder competitor. Alongside my physical achievements, I channeled my experiences into becoming a high-performance life coach and authoring a book entitled "Maksymizing Life." Today, at the age of 51, I am proud to say that I am in the best shape of my life, and I am a firm believer that age is just a number. By breaking free from limiting beliefs and embracing our inner superhero, we all have the potential to create the life we were meant to live.

Empowering individuals to break free from their current circumstances and embrace their true potential has become an innate ability of mine - a gift that I cherish and utilize to its maximum to enhance the lives of those around me. Through leveraging my diverse life experiences and transforming the valuable lessons I have learned into relatable, practical guidance, I have discovered an unparalleled joy in not only my own journey, but also in witnessing the incredible growth and happiness of others. As a beacon of encouragement and a catalyst for change, my mission is to inspire individuals to escape the confines of their limitations and fearlessly soar into the life they have always dreamt of living. This beautiful synergy between personal growth and helping others manifest their dreams truly creates a powerful and purposeful existence for all involved.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Valerie Maksym
• Release date: Apr 20, 2023
• ISBN: 9798215948965

Book preview

CHAPTER ONE

Throw Out the Baggage

One morning I was driving in my car, and I heard a message from within, so I began to speak it out loud. This simple message has forever changed the course of my life, and it went something like this, Valerie, your airplane, which is a symbol of your life, has been sitting on the runway for many years, unable to lift off the ground, simply because it’s overweight with all the baggage from your past. You have always been the one in charge of your happiness and success. However, you allowed excuses, poor decisions, and past failures to hold you back. Your plane was weighed down for years, unable to take off because you chose to hold on to the weighted baggage of your past. You got stuck rehearsing devastating, painful situations in your head daily, hoping to find closure. Instead of facing the facts of the problems presented to you, you chose to see what could have been, not what actually was. You have felt abandoned by people you deeply cared for and loved. Their betrayal left you feeling unworthy, rejected, and heartbroken. The pain you experienced from your broken heart left you with feelings of being defeated. You felt as though you never quite measured up to the expectations of others. Feeling like you were not enough caused you to shut down and isolate yourself from the world. You hit rock bottom and gave up because you thought you had no say in the outcome of your future. When I spoke these following words out loud, my voice changed and became a voice of authority as I spoke. I said, Valerie, you have not been abandoned nor rejected; everything you have been through in your life to date has shaped you into the strong, loving, positive, kind, caring, and giving person you are today. You have taken the time to work through and heal from the disappointments of your past. You are ready and open to experience all the unique opportunities life has in store for you because you have let go and made peace with your past. By letting go of all that no longer serves you, you now have room to receive and take in all the good that desires to come into your life. You are entering a new season, a season where you call the shots and create your dream life. You will fly to new heights and to new destinations that are far greater than anything you can imagine today. Buckle up and get ready; you are about to experience life in a way that exceeds your expectations.

This message I just shared with you forever changed my perspective on life. I now view my losses and disappointments as a part of my journey. I see them as learning moments that shaped me into the person I am today. You can allow the past to weigh you down and hold you back like I did, or you can choose to forgive yourself and others and leave behind all the things you have no control over and cannot change. When I decided to let go of all I no longer had control over, a sense of freedom and self-empowerment came with the decision. Once I let go of all the negativity weighing me down, I noticed I began to smile and caught myself laughing more. I also remember feeling lighter when I walked because I no longer carried the heaviness in my chest and heart that I once carried. Letting go of all that held me back was not easy; however, the benefits I have experienced far outweigh holding onto and reliving the past in my head daily. It is impossible to change the past, so coming to a place of acceptance has helped me get unstuck and has allowed me to move forward with my life goals.

Do you find yourself holding onto things from your past that you cannot find closure over? If so, I encourage you to set aside what no longer serves you and put your time and energy into creating and building a new life, the life you dream of living. So much is possible when you have a positive mindset, the right tools, and a written-out action plan to guide you and set you up for success. I believe the life you dream of living first begins with the relationship you have with yourself. You must believe in yourself and have a mindset and thought process that aligns with your goals and dreams in order to achieve the success and happiness you desire to have. Strive daily to be authentic to who you are and what you want from life. There will only ever be one of you on this earth, so work daily on becoming the best version of yourself possible. We live in a world full of followers, copycats, and counterfeits. Don’t be afraid to be different. Allow the true you and your creative side to shine bright and cause you to stand out. I admire people who are unafraid to stand out and live an authentic lifestyle congruent to their identity. I’m attracted to the energy of an authentic person. Take the time to get to know yourself. Choose to love and accept yourself and know you are enough in this very moment.

What are your gifts and talents? What are your hobbies and interests? What makes you thrive in life, and what holds you back? What brings you joy and happiness? What makes you sad? What is your passion, and what brings you purpose? What recharges you during times of stress? Ask yourself as many questions as possible because this will help you to know yourself in a more intimate way. When you are happy, others get the best version of you! Make it a goal to know yourself better than anyone else and to love yourself first. We all have a war going on inside, a battle of good versus evil.

The one we focus on, and feed will be the one that wins. You have the free will to live the way you feel is best for you. If someone chooses to leave you, that does not mean you were rejected. When I was left, I took it as rejection for a long time until I realized it wasn’t really rejection. Every person has the right to make choices that are best for them, which is what happened. He chose who he felt was the right choice for him. I know it hurts when someone walks out on you, and you must take the time to heal from your pain and loss; however, life is not over. People come into our lives for different reasons and play different roles. Some will test you; some will use you; some will love you, and some will teach you. Some come into our life for a reason, a season, and a few will stay a lifetime.

How have I remained positive when I have been through so much disappointment in life? I believe it is because I found self-love. Self-love is the foundation of everything else in your life. How you handle situations in life is an extension of the love you have for yourself. I have learned many life principles throughout my self-love journey, and I will