It's A Choice

Each day we have choices to make about how we will handle the day and what  we do with our time.

What will you choose?

Worry

Worry robs our lives of joy, and causes health problems. 

Let. It. Go.

Overcome or Overwhelmed?

Which handle do you grab for each morning?  We all have a choice to either be overwhelmed or to overcome.  

Thought Checklist

Do your thoughts need to be trained? We can overcome thoughts that are harmful to us, but just like anything else worth accomplishing, we have to train ourselves to do it.

Uncertain Or Difficult Times

Dealing with difficult or uncertain times? 

"A surgery may fail, but God’s compassions will not. A treatment may fail, but God’s compassions will not. A relationship may fail, but God’s compassions will not. A dream may fail, but God’s compassions will not. My friend, no matter what you’re facing, God cares for you and will carry you. It may not be OK, but, because of the Lord’s great love, you will be OK..." - Jennifer Rothschild


Great blog to read:  

You Will Be Ok 

Walk Through It

Do you need this today?  I think most of us do at some level.  

Is Your Life Overwhelmed, Or Have You Overcome?

What worry is weighing you down?  Worry destroys our health, our quality of life, even relationships.  Worry comes and seeps in to every part of our being that we ALLOW it to invade and consume.  It can be stopped, however.  We can stop it from overpowering our life, but it has to be a choice.  Some days, it's a minute by minute choice when we face overwhelming circumstances, or circumstances that appear to be overwhelming.  

As someone who has struggled with this, I understand how it can destroy health-body, mind, and soul.  I understand how it seeps into every area when allowed to do so, and weighs life down.  I also have experienced how it affects relationships, both because I was worrying, and because another was overwhelmed with their own personal anxiety so much, that they quit living life.  Thankfully, I have learned how to identify worry, stop it before it invades, and let it go.  There is great freedom in letting go of anxiety and stress.  

In what ways have you learned to overcome worry?   If you are currently overwhelmed by worry, what one step can you take today to let it go?

What Do You Think?

What occupies your mind?  What has taken up residence in your thoughts?  Is it helpful or hurtful?  Worries, negative thoughts, regrets, and anxieties can infest our minds like a parasite, going through each part of our thoughts making us sick, depressed, and  only seeing the bad in life.  What goes on in our minds can be an invisible invasion to others, but eventually, those diseased and harmful thoughts do spill out of us, in our words, our actions, our lack of caring about life.  

Guarding and protecting our thoughts is very important.  Recognizing when our worries have  parasitically invaded our minds and exterminating those thoughts and worries from our lives is essential to good health, a good attitude, and true joy.  

Everyday take time to examine your thoughts, and gather up those that are wandering away in a harmful direction.  Instead of complaining about something, find something to be grateful for and focus on the positive, not the negative.  If the news is overwhelming your mind, which it can easily do, turn it off, don't read about it, take a media fast for as long as it takes to calm your anxious thoughts.  If you are judging someone, find something good about them and focus on the good, not the bad.  We all make mistakes, we are all human, we all struggle.  Live in the present, not the future or the past, and be present in the day you are given.  Worries about what could happen, or what has happened, easily infest our thoughts and steal the joy of living today.  Today is a gift, don't waste that gift on 'what if's' and 'I should have's.'  

Life happens.  It's our choice how we react.  When we refuse to let worries infest our brain and stop them before they start, we can enjoy life much more, see the beauty around us, be grateful for what we have, and be a blessing to those in our lives.  

Stressed Out Life

Stress affects many people, for many different reasons. 

Too much stress can make you sick.  Have you been there?  I have. We will all face stress, we have to learn how to deal with that stress to keep our bodies healthy, our emotions and choices healthy, our brains healthy, and our spiritual selves healthy.  This diagram is from Men's Health on a few affects of stress on our mind, body, emotions, and behaviors:

There are many ways to manage stress.  One, is separating true reality from fears we blow up in our minds.  Sometimes fears take over and make a false reality in our brains, making things seem much worse than they actually are.  It is essential to get a grasp on what is truth and what is exaggerated fears in our minds. 

One great place to start in managing stress is by eating well. Eat nutritious, balanced foods, and don't skip meals.  Veggies, low sugar to no sugar, and a lot of water helps our bodies to be nutritiously sound.  Regular exercise is also important to help get rid of the stress in life.  

Getting enough sleep is another key. The right amount varies with the individual, but most adults need eight hours for proper restoration of our body and mind.  

Something very important, that many forget about when stressed, is to take time for yourself.  Creative outlets are important, such as reading, drawing, photography, music, artwork or building something, whatever it is that gets your creative mind moving. God gave all of us creative gifts.  I know when I am out with my camera in nature, my stress levels immediately go down.   Also, take time to get a massage, soak in the tub, go for a walk, get away by yourself for a little bit and quiet your mind of your to do list during this time for yourself.

It's important to remember that it is ok to say NO, as you are only one person, who cannot, and should not try, to do everything. It is important to know your limits and stick to them.  

Daily prayer has been shown to reduce stress.  In the book The Faith Factor by Dale Matthews, he says that people who read the Bible and pray every day are 40% less likely to suffer from hypertension than others.  

Learn to laugh. Research shows laughter brings down, and helps controls stress hormones.  "Laughter is the best medicine" is very true when it comes to reducing stress.  

Enjoy your life and let the stress go.  Laugh a lot, love those around you, live every moment of life.  For every moment wasted on worry and stress, we lose that moments potential to have joy and love fill our lives.  It is truly a choice, I know as I have suffered with a lot of stress in the past.  I have learned to take steps to overcome it, and capture and enjoy life.  If you would like to learn how to take steps to a healthier, less stress-filled life, please contact me.  Life keeps going.  Are you truly living it, or is stress and worry robbing you of the gift of each day?  It's your choice, what choice are you making?