I have always known that my thoughts and words dictate how I live, but I seem to be becoming even more aware of it as I get older.
I am also more aware of the fact that sometimes I can saturate myself with so much information -contradictory information - on a subject (weight loss especially) that I get to the point I don't know what to do. Do I lower my carbs or my sugar or my fat or do I live on only vegetables? Common sense tells me that lowering my calories and increasing my activity level will result in weight loss. But my brain won't be quiet long enough for me to experience weight loss because it's thinking about the other article I read that said it's best to...
This does not only apply to weight loss. It applies to dating tips, relationship advice, money, and so on.
What's the solution? How do I quiet my brain? How do I change my life to accomplish all my goals?
It's time I did things differently than ever before - slowly.
#1 - When I start to talk or think negative thoughts I need to tell myself to "Stop" and then do something else to get my mind off the negative things I was thinking and/or speaking. What could I do? Exercise, crosswords, read, call a friend or family memeber, play a game, etc. Anything enjoyable to get myself out of that state of mind. I also find reading certain Bible verses help me - they remind me of the truth, not the lies I tell myself.
#2 - Change my schedule. What I mean is I need to change the order in which I do things. I love to go to bed late and get up late, but with my job that's not possible. After I read an article last night about a gentleman who gets up early in the morning and all he gets done and how good he feels, it actually made me want to do it too. So starting Monday morning I will change my schedule to getting up at 5am so I can read my Bible, clean up the house, exercise, and watch the sun rise. Then the evenings are free to play with the boys and write or do anything else I want. I imagine it's going to feel really good.
#3 - Exercise. I need to stop looking at it as exercise. I need to view the activities as fun and challenging and do things I enjoy - not what will give me the fastest results. I love to dance so I will incorporate more dancing into my life - starting tonight with my first Zumba class! I love sports. Maybe I can find someone to play tennis with and I've always wanted to be able to run a mile without stopping. I will work my way up to that and then go beyond a mile. I have to view exercise as something enjoyable, not dreadful.
#4 - Food. This will be the difficult one. Again, using common sense, eating fruits, vegetables and lean proteins in their proper portion size is a good bet. I also love sweets so I will have to substitute the real stuff for sugar-free. Keeping a food journal seems to be key. This is something that has never been contradicted in an article and I know from experience, it keeps me on track.
My hope is that making theses changes will give me results and I'll stop inflicting stress on myself (like I normally do) and move me forward to the life I'm desiring and deserve.
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
All God's Creatures
I was running errands today for work and in the middle of the parking lot a baby lizard was running around. It took me several minutes, but I was able to get him onto the grass, keeping him away from cars that could roll over him and people who didn't see him from stepping on him. The other day I found a roly-poly under my desk. He was taken out to the grass as well.
This is something I do naturally every time I see a little critter inside when he belongs outside - or I see where one could get hurt. Most people who don't know me roll their eyes, and that's ok, because I always get a wonderful feeling every time I help a critter. I know that, even if for a short time, I have given him a little longer to live.
God created these little guys and gals for a reason and they shouldn't be forgotten. In my quest to help people, I will not forget His animals, right down to the little critters of the world.
This is something I do naturally every time I see a little critter inside when he belongs outside - or I see where one could get hurt. Most people who don't know me roll their eyes, and that's ok, because I always get a wonderful feeling every time I help a critter. I know that, even if for a short time, I have given him a little longer to live.
God created these little guys and gals for a reason and they shouldn't be forgotten. In my quest to help people, I will not forget His animals, right down to the little critters of the world.
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
So-So So Far
Two days into my new way of living and I have already strayed off the path of losing 100 pounds. See, I'm a binge eater who struggles daily not to overeat. It is a miserable feeling and desire, but I know I will eventually break free from this stronghold. I did do yoga this morning, so it's not all bad.
As far as helping others, that's going pretty good. It's amazing what you'll find you can do for others when you look. I received an email from PAWS to write a story about my pets with a doodle drawing and I can enter it for a fee of $5 (proceeds go to help animals) - I love art and writing and my pets - Bingo! Then a friend of mine is making hats for her church who is donating items to Loaves and Fishes for the homeless - I volunteered to make a couple hats too. I will keep searching for ways to help others, I don't think it'll be hard to find.
I have made a set of rules for myself to follow in hopes that this gives me discipline and structure to achieve my goals. Fingers crossed and praying without ceasing.
As far as helping others, that's going pretty good. It's amazing what you'll find you can do for others when you look. I received an email from PAWS to write a story about my pets with a doodle drawing and I can enter it for a fee of $5 (proceeds go to help animals) - I love art and writing and my pets - Bingo! Then a friend of mine is making hats for her church who is donating items to Loaves and Fishes for the homeless - I volunteered to make a couple hats too. I will keep searching for ways to help others, I don't think it'll be hard to find.
I have made a set of rules for myself to follow in hopes that this gives me discipline and structure to achieve my goals. Fingers crossed and praying without ceasing.
Saturday, August 14, 2010
August 15, 2010 - Day 1
I have just finished reading "In a Heartbeat" by Sean and Leigh Anne Tuohy (they are wonderful role models- I wish I knew them personally, but I'll be happy with just reading the book) and I have just started to read "Eat Pray Love." This goes along with my long time quest to create the life I, and God, want me to have. I am not there yet.
I am sitting here a divorced, single, 37 year old, overweight, childless (except for my two precious cats, Bogie and Bryce) woman evaluating my life and I realize I am not where I want to be. I evaluate my life often, but it wasn't until my 37th birthday - 1 month and 4 days ago - that it really hit me hard. Don't get me wrong, I am very blessed with wonderful friends, a great job, my boys (cats) and hope of a great future (as long as I do my part) but I am not fulfilled - there are things missing.
I have not been doing my part for some time now. I have been circling the same mountain for years, i.e. doing the same thing expecting different results. I can no longer go on living like this. I have so many plans and hopes for the future and time is slipping through my fingers. It's amazing how fast the weeks go by the older you get.
I started to really pray about it about a week ago. Actually, I called my best friend and cried my eyes out and we prayed. I asked God to let me know in some way that things were going to get better and He would give me the desires of my heart; mostly a family.
My best friend, Debbie, said she could feel herself getting excited and that this sorrow on my heart was God's way of pushing me to get out of my comfort zone so he could give me my blessings. I hoped she was right, because my hope was fading.
I received signs immediately from God. Now I know some people would say that they were coincendence, but my faith tells me otherwise and I choose to believe God was talking to me through means I was receptive to. I opened my devotional and the title of the devotional was "Act Now" - the next morning I turned the radio on (K-Love) and the very first thing I heard was a voice singing, "this is the first day of the rest of your life" I watched a Joyce Meyer service that night where she spoke of watching what comes out of your mouth and the thoughts you have and if you really want to be happy help others. Stop focusing on yourself and look for ways to help those who are in need. Point taken. Now it's time to act.
I made a list of ways to help people. Then I reminded myself to keep a lookout. It doesn't have to be anything big. It could be a smile, holding the door open, letting the person behind me with a hand full of groceries go ahead of my full cart. One of the items on my list was to buy supplies for schools and donate them. I went to the store yesterday and on a table by the cashier counter were prepackaged school supplies you could buy and the store would donate them to kids who can't afford supplies. There is was right in front of me. I couldn't help but smile at how I asked and received so fast.
To have the life I want, I had to set a deadline - 1 year from today. If I don't I will become idle and go around the mountain -again. I am sharing my experiences with you to be accountable and in hopes that my journey will help others.
It will not be easy to accomplish all the things I hope to and I will HAVE TO have God's blessing on them all, but I believe if I put in the hard work it's going to take, God will bless me with the desires of my heart because with God all things are possible.
I know my list seems extreme, but they are things I have wanted my entire life and it's time to be bold in my actions and prayers. I also want to be a good role model for those in my life today and in the future and for my family to come. Here it goes.
1 Year Goals:
1. A closer relationship with the Lord - go to church more often
2. Be in the process of an agent looking for a publisher for my novel
3. Have lost 100 pounds
4. Eat healthy and exercise daily
5. Keep my appearance up - daily
6. An organized home
7. To be the kind of person that leads by example (I want to walk the walk, not talk the talk)
8. Stop complaining all the time - have an attitude of gratitude
9. Help others as often as possible
10. Do things outside of my comfort zone
11.Be engaged to get married
12. Move out of an apartment and into a house
I could think of a million more things I want to do, but this year those are the ones I will focus on. There is no particular order in my list, they are all equally important with the exception of #1 which is the most important of all.
I'm glad you're taking this journey with me.
I am sitting here a divorced, single, 37 year old, overweight, childless (except for my two precious cats, Bogie and Bryce) woman evaluating my life and I realize I am not where I want to be. I evaluate my life often, but it wasn't until my 37th birthday - 1 month and 4 days ago - that it really hit me hard. Don't get me wrong, I am very blessed with wonderful friends, a great job, my boys (cats) and hope of a great future (as long as I do my part) but I am not fulfilled - there are things missing.
I have not been doing my part for some time now. I have been circling the same mountain for years, i.e. doing the same thing expecting different results. I can no longer go on living like this. I have so many plans and hopes for the future and time is slipping through my fingers. It's amazing how fast the weeks go by the older you get.
I started to really pray about it about a week ago. Actually, I called my best friend and cried my eyes out and we prayed. I asked God to let me know in some way that things were going to get better and He would give me the desires of my heart; mostly a family.
My best friend, Debbie, said she could feel herself getting excited and that this sorrow on my heart was God's way of pushing me to get out of my comfort zone so he could give me my blessings. I hoped she was right, because my hope was fading.
I received signs immediately from God. Now I know some people would say that they were coincendence, but my faith tells me otherwise and I choose to believe God was talking to me through means I was receptive to. I opened my devotional and the title of the devotional was "Act Now" - the next morning I turned the radio on (K-Love) and the very first thing I heard was a voice singing, "this is the first day of the rest of your life" I watched a Joyce Meyer service that night where she spoke of watching what comes out of your mouth and the thoughts you have and if you really want to be happy help others. Stop focusing on yourself and look for ways to help those who are in need. Point taken. Now it's time to act.
I made a list of ways to help people. Then I reminded myself to keep a lookout. It doesn't have to be anything big. It could be a smile, holding the door open, letting the person behind me with a hand full of groceries go ahead of my full cart. One of the items on my list was to buy supplies for schools and donate them. I went to the store yesterday and on a table by the cashier counter were prepackaged school supplies you could buy and the store would donate them to kids who can't afford supplies. There is was right in front of me. I couldn't help but smile at how I asked and received so fast.
To have the life I want, I had to set a deadline - 1 year from today. If I don't I will become idle and go around the mountain -again. I am sharing my experiences with you to be accountable and in hopes that my journey will help others.
It will not be easy to accomplish all the things I hope to and I will HAVE TO have God's blessing on them all, but I believe if I put in the hard work it's going to take, God will bless me with the desires of my heart because with God all things are possible.
I know my list seems extreme, but they are things I have wanted my entire life and it's time to be bold in my actions and prayers. I also want to be a good role model for those in my life today and in the future and for my family to come. Here it goes.
1 Year Goals:
1. A closer relationship with the Lord - go to church more often
2. Be in the process of an agent looking for a publisher for my novel
3. Have lost 100 pounds
4. Eat healthy and exercise daily
5. Keep my appearance up - daily
6. An organized home
7. To be the kind of person that leads by example (I want to walk the walk, not talk the talk)
8. Stop complaining all the time - have an attitude of gratitude
9. Help others as often as possible
10. Do things outside of my comfort zone
11.Be engaged to get married
12. Move out of an apartment and into a house
I could think of a million more things I want to do, but this year those are the ones I will focus on. There is no particular order in my list, they are all equally important with the exception of #1 which is the most important of all.
I'm glad you're taking this journey with me.
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