Put God First - Denzel Washington Motivational & Inspiring Commencement Speech

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Exercise To Reduce Belly Fat For A Female At Home: The Russian Twist

If the pooch in your belly is the pain in your mirror, then it's time to take action once and for all. Exercise to reduce belly fat for a female at home and a healthy diet is the key. However, knowledge about how your body works is also essential. For instance, realize that a primary cause of body fat is your genetic disposition. Therefore, if you have an excess amount of body fat, your heredity characteristics may be part of why. Furthermore, women tend to experience abdominal weight gain when they go through menopause. Normal shifts of cellular activity within your body can change the way it distributes fat. As a result, body fat redistributes from other parts to your belly region. These natural changes in your body become more noticeable as you age. Hence, compensate for these bodily factors and reduce fat with regular exercise. If you don't, your waistline will likely remain big or even increase in size.

The Danger Of Belly Fat

Let's examine the structure of our ab region in more depth in order to understand how it affects us. First of all, visceral fat is the deep abdominal fat we have which poses serious threats to our health. Women must fight this fat in order to avoid cardiovascular disease, diabetes and other cancers. In addition, eat a nutritious calorie-controlled diet to prevent excess body fat from accumulating. But keep in mind, consumption of more calories than you expend results in belly fat accumulation. Hence, exercise regularly and properly in order to burn the calories that cause fat gain. Rule of thumb: you must burn more calories than you consume to lose and maintain your weight.

How To Perform Russian Twists

Sit and twist your way to a flat tummy with this cool ab workout! This exercise consists of a seated pose and side-to-side rotation of your upper body. Feel free to hold a basketball while you twist, or just hold your hands together.

Sit on an exercise mat with your knees bent and upper body tilted backward at an obtuse 130 degree angle. Rest your heels on the floor and support your body with your rear end.

From this position, clasp your hands in front of you with arms extended toward your knees.If you chose to use a ball, hold it out straight in front of you instead of clasping your hands.

As you hold the position, twist only your upper body (waist and above) from side-to-side. During each twist, lead your body with your arms pointing down to the floor on each side. Allow your shoulders to point at a perpendicular angle to your lower body for optimal core rotating tension.

Repeat each twist for 10 repetitions.

Eat Healthy, Keep Exercising

Change your unhealthy eating habits and eat lots of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean protein and healthy fats. Also, don't skip any meals and drink lots of calorie-free liquid such as water. Finally, eat 6 small meals rather than the usual 3 large meals per day. Restriction of your portion sizes and daily calorie intake calculation will help you lose weight. Calorie-burning cardio activity is one of the best ways to target stubborn belly fat. Workouts that target your abs burn calories effectively and reduce your percentage of body fat. As you eliminate belly fat cells through activity, the chiseled waistline you desire will appear.

Controlling Belly Fat, Menopause & Cellulite

All the exercise in the world cannot reduce belly fat, you also need to eat right and manage stress. First of all, stress is a major contributor to excess stomach bulge on women. Stress causes an imbalance within the victim, increasing their stress hormones, insulin and cortisol. As a result, women gain more weight around their waistline. Another thing that can cause a hormonal imbalance is menopause. This hormonal state is the result of a poor diet, ingestion of airborne toxins and household products. In addition, inadequate daily hydration plus vitamin and mineral deficiencies cause health deterioration. To reduce cortisol and insulin stress hormones and rebalance your body, balance your progesterone and estrogen.

Fight Your Craving For Junk Food

Avoid processed foods, fast foods and junk foods at all costs. As you eat, your body will reject these artificial "foods" regardless of how good they may taste. Artificial preservatives and flavors are a disguise to hide the unhealthy state of junk foods. Simply put, just stay away from anything that's packaged and has listed ingredients that sound strange. Twinkies, Ho Hos and other bagged-up foods impose unnecessary stress to your body. Your body shouldn't have to suffer from the food you feed it. Instead, eat healthy and organic foods that contain zero additives, artificial flavors or preservatives. As a result, your body will be happy and function the way it's supposed to.

Conclusion

In conclusion, slow down, meditate, let your body rest and recharge to prepare for each new day. In between your physical activity and diet, focus on mental and emotional nourishment. For instance, turn off your electronic devices and quit social media occasionally. The more distractions you have, the harder it will be to maintain focus. In addition, avoid people who are negative. Emotionally, it will help your stress hormones remain balanced, and in turn reduce belly fat. In terms of exercise, don't over-exert yourself in pursuit to gain a smaller waist. Strenuous exercise isn't necessary to reduce belly fat and can be counterproductive to weight loss. Finally, mix up your workouts with cardio, yoga or Tai Chi exercises. These two low-intensity exercises are good for burning belly fat, and not as stressful on your body as other high-intensity workouts. With that said, you should be well on your way to condition your waistline as long as you take massive action.

https://ezinearticles.com/?Exercise-To-Reduce-Belly-Fat-For-A-Female-At-Home:-The-Russian-Twist&id=10280950

Immune Booster: 2 Minute Lemon Ginger Tea

Importance of Variety in Weight Loss

Who doesn't want to be in tip top shape? I bet you do. Unfortunately, it is not as easy as you are hoping it to be. The good news is, it's not as difficult either. All you need is some desire, a bit of commitment and faith in yourself. This article is for both who have been following a diet and exercise plan as well as those who are seeking one. If you are the former, you might notice that after following any meal and exercise plan, its effects starts to wear out from 5 to 6 months onwards. This is where most of the people start to lose their hopes as well and completely give up on their goal.

It should be noted that human body is extremely complex and intelligent, and it adapts to change quite quickly. However, if you are working towards your goal of weight loss, you want your body to keep changing (i.e. keep losing weight) until you reach your goal. This means that every X amount of time, you need to change your diet and exercise plan in order to trick your body to keep losing weight.

This article is not about a secret formula or one-size-fits-all scheme that promises you the weight loss you wish. This article is about giving you clarity on how weight loss works and how your body responds to it over a period of time. Whatever health plan you are following and provided that you are happy with it, all you need to do is slightly skew it with alternatives and substitutes. For examples, if you are to be taking a certain amount of proteins and fats, don't rely solely on meat. Spread your weak over meat, fish and seafood, eggs and plant-based proteins. Similarly, if you only cook in olive and coconut oil, try butter and avocado oil from time to time.

If you are used to of having scrambled eggs in your breakfast, try to combine it with diced tomatoes and diced yellow bell pepper. Some alternatives include whole-wheat bread with unsalted peanut butter, bran flakes with cranberries and apple-almond pancakes. All these are good breakfast substitutes if you are on a weight loss mission with a tight schedule.

What this will do is that it will provide variety to your body and digestive system hence keeping it away from adjusting and settling on one type of food all the time, hence allowing you to achieve your goal and do so quickly.

If you are serious about losing weight and have an hour to spare every day, you need lean muscle weight loss. With a bit of commitment and promise to yourself, you are not too far from your weight loss goals!

WATCH THIS EVERYDAY AND CHANGE YOUR LIFE - Denzel Washington Motivational Speech 2020

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Thank You COVID-19

Most people are afraid of and disgusted with the Corona virus. It has messed up our status quo. It has inspired anger, brought about alarm, despair and death, perpetuated anguish and caused loss. But - have you thought of the good it is bringing to our world?

Corona has caused self isolation (I-soul-action). Yay! People are actually being forced to let go of their rat races, traffic jams and going to work for eight hours or more. This leaves room for introspection - How do we truly want our lives to be? I think most of us would say, "Peacefully and abundantly." How does that feel corporate America?

Corona has caused education/schooling at home. In school bullying has ended - children are free to learn at their own pace and on their on schedule. Think there might be growing appreciation for teachers?

Corona has caused many businesses to close. That means there is less traffic on the roads and families have more time together. How is that working for you, parents?

Corona has caused people to stay at home because outside entertainment is not available. How is that helping to save money and create less spending?

Corona has been instrumental in having some people lose their jobs, become furloughed or temporarily laid off. How is that helping to change our current and reckless economic system?

Thank you Corona virus for having us stay home and isolate while relating to our families (and even friends through technology) - rest when we need to - create healthy recipes - allow time to relax, regenerate and simply just be. You have caused us Corona, to look at our world differently and band together in thought and desire to make this a more empowered world of freedom for the individual... our birthright! Reader, how does that make you feel? Won't it be interesting to see how the world has changed as a result of this virus?

What if we as a group gave a tremendous thank you to Corona? Deep gratitude to you, Corona, for upsetting the status quo and waking society up for change and fulfillment. When you are gone (joyfully soon), you will have sparked a more conscious and aware planet and hopefully, people will act accordingly to restore earth to its grandeur with peace, liberty and relaxation to her citizens... a recovery by design.

How does it get any better than this?

https://ezinearticles.com/?Thank-You-COVID-19&id=10276690

5 gentle ways to naturally detox every day

Things to Ponder

The pandemic can be difficult to navigate and if we aren't careful, we might find that we are developing an anxiety disorder. It is very important that you not only remain physically healthy but also enjoy good mental health so you might find the following to help you.

A little anxiety is a good thing because it can keep us sharp! It encourages us to prepare for a situation so that we won't make mistakes or look stupid and helps us to stay safe.

Anxiety can be experienced by children, adults, seniors and animals.

We learn from others and often we can link our fears with the fears of those who raised us, promoted or who have modelled fear.

Anxiety is usually about the future: When we find ourselves asking "What if... " we are focusing on things that have never and might never happen.

Sometimes anxiety is unrealistic or catastrophic. The media for example, is really good at publishing and broadcasting "the worst". News stories are often about situations in distant locations and/or a few unique situations that only affect us if we let them.

Anxiety can grow and become a major problem if we "feed it". Thinking about what you don't want and rehearsing it can increase the anxiety. There is a theory of "big dog/little dog". The dog you feed is the one that grows.

Anxiety can manifest in many different ways and degrees of severity.

Any anxiety disorder involves excessive fear or worry and unrealistic feelings that can lead to avoidance or compulsive rituals to lessen the anxiety. Relationships, school or work performance, social activities, recreation and general health can be negatively affected in a clinically significant manner.

We definitely cannot control everything or everyone in the world, but we can make good choices that will bring us good health.

In order to enjoy optimal health in this uncertain time consider the following:

1. Control - You cannot control other people or most events that occur in the world. Be clear about the things you can control and let go of the rest.

2. Perspective - You can improve your own life by using proven strategies. Remember, you are not a victim unless you choose this role.

3. Routine - We are like babies: If we don't eat or sleep - we cry! Choose activities that will enhance your health (regular nutritional meals, rest, projects and fun).

4. Focus - The things where you invest your time and energy will dominate your life. Make a written plan that lists the things you want to improve and what you will do to reach the goal.

5. Boundaries - Pleasers become tired and resentful over time. Protect yourself from trouble (turn off the TV, avoid toxic relationships, monitor how you are treating your body).

6. Communication - No one can read your mind! Assertiveness is knowing what you need and knowing how to ask for it in a healthy manner (finances, relationships, employment, parenting).

7. Balance - "All work and no play make Jack a dull boy" (old adage). Give your employer a day's work for a day's pay but also find things in your life that make your soul sing.

8. Resources -- "Asking for help isn't weak, it's a great example of how to take care of yourself" - Charlie Brown.

Be well and stay safe!

https://ezinearticles.com/?Things-to-Ponder&id=10288156

Tony Robbins Tips On Changing The Way You Feel

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10 Powerful Ways To Motivate Yourself To Workout

More than likely, because of this Coronavirus lockdown, your motivation to workout at home is less than your motivation to workout in the gym. At home you get distracted, others interrupt you, a program on TV takes away your attention. And there are many other commotions that get in the way.

So what do you do?

How do you avoid those disruptions? How can you motivate yourself to workout regularly and correctly?

The key question to ask yourself is, How badly do you want to achieve your health and fitness goal?

How to motivate yourself to workout is simple. Answer that question. Think about it with focused intensity. See the goal that you want to achieve in your mind, and reiterate your goal and, more importantly, reiterate the reason why you want to achieve that goal.

What's the WHY you want to be fit and healthy.

What do you want to be fit and healthy for?

The WHY possesses all the power to go after your goal until it is achieved - even if you are working out from home in this lockdown situation.

How much you want your goal determines the strength of your motivation.

It is that strength that will steadfastly motivate and drive you to fulfil your goal irrespective of any challenges, setbacks, oppositions, confrontations, distractions, interruptions, diversions, or anything else.

How to stay motivated will not be an issue anymore!

I recall a friend who set himself a goal that he felt extremely excited about. He talked for days on end about that goal; what it meant to him and how he really wanted to achieve it within six months at the most.

A couple of months later, my friend Bill, took me aside. I could see he was feeling miserable and despondent. He went on to tell me how disappointed he was that his goal had not materialised.

"Goal! What Goal?" was my honest answer. I had forgotten all about it. It was not what Bill wanted to hear.

"You know, my goal to get a toned, sculptured beach body," Bill reminded me, with a deep sense of defeat and frustration echoing from his voice.

"Oh that. I thought you were kidding. We all figured you changed your mind since we don't see you going to the gym anymore," I replied, perhaps a little sarcastically.

So, what happened here? What happened to Bill's drive? Where's his motivation?

In the beginning, Bill was excited about his new goal of getting a firm and toned beach body as he put it. He was full of motivation and determination to achieve that goal. "I will get it no matter what," where his last words to me. Hmmm.

He consistently went to the gym four to five days a week. He took his protein shakes, his supplements, and always asked personal trainers' questions about his training schedule and routine.

He was pleased with his progress.

By the third month, though, he started to go to the gym twice a week, and half-way through that third month it trickled to once a week.

His dilemma was he couldn't understand why his motivation to go to the gum and workout had dwindled to once a week half-way through the third month.

"At the beginning, I was so full of enthusiasm and motivation. I felt nothing could stop me," he explained, feeling ever so confused.

So what went wrong? Where did his incredible and unstoppable motivation go?

After careful examination, it came to light that Bill had lost his burst of motivation because he was not really passionate about being toned.

He really didn't care too much about having that beach body. In fact, he used to laugh at the beach-bodied people whenever he spotted one on holiday.

Interesting point, huh? See where this is going?

His goal was merely a passing 'wish'.

In other words, he did not want to be toned badly enough. If he did, if he felt passionate, he would have continued his workout routine no matter what challenges he faced.

Bill was torn between two thoughts.

The first said, "Yeah, I'd like to have a toned beach body." But his conflicting second thought argued, "Sure, but you could get along in life without it. You laugh at people who have a perfectly toned beach body, now you want one? Come on!"

And who won?

His conflicting thought had the upper hand.

You see, Bill would have 'liked' the toned body, but he did not turn that wish into a solid goal.

The toned body idea remained just that, an idea or a wish. As such, his once powerful motivation had weakened until it was there no more.

If he had turned it into a goal, a solid goal, he would have sought after it. He would have been motivated to pursue that goal irrespective of how tired or how busy he was.

After all, it was his goal. And goals are meant to be achieved.

Passion ignites the drive from deep within to maintain the motivation to reach all sorts of goals.

Passion provides the fuel to keep you in a highly motivated state of mind.

Once you find out what you are passionate about, once you find out the WHY you want to be healthy and fit for, how to motivate yourself to workout will become a simple matter of getting up and getting started no matter what.

Your motivation to remain persistent regardless of any setbacks and obstacles will be unstoppably strong.

Now, in this lockdown situation we are all facing, I have included below 10 powerful ways you can make use of to motivate yourself to workout - in time, your motivation will increase in momentum regardless of any distractions or interruptions.

Motivation fuels you to take consistent daily action to achieve and live your goal.

The 10 powerful ways on how to stay motivated are listed below. All you have to do is alter your strategy:

1. Plan your health and fitness goal once again

Now that you are in lockdown mode, simply having a goal will not mean you can achieve it. Your mind is too focused on this interruption of you going to the gym. By being frustrated and continually asking yourself, "How can I stay motivated with all these interruptions around me? How can I stay motivated without being surrounded by others who are also working out?" and an array of other similar questions, you will inevitably head towards the wrong direction.

As we saw with Bill, you need to have a clear and concise goal with no conflicts.

Simply wishing to have a certain kind of body won't help.

Simply wishing to lose weight won't help.

Simply wishing to jog the marathon won't help.

Working out has so much more to do with an emotion of achieving complete and all round fitness.

That's a great goal to strive for; at least for now while you're working out at home and not in the gym.

So what workout routine plan can you follow at home? Jumping Jacks, Planks, Tricep Dips using a stable chair? Think about it and come up with a plan. It need not be written in stone; adjust it as time goes by until you finally come up with a plan you'll be happy about.

You may face 'at-home-distractions'. Arrange with the people surrounding you a time of no interruptions while you workout. Ask them to respect your workout time.

2. Focus on the emotion of working out, and not on just working out

A powerful way to stay motivated to workout is by focusing on the emotion and happiness that working out will bring.

Endure the discomfort of working out at home by seeing the end result; by remembering the WHY you are working out for in the first place.

And an even more powerful emotion booster is to look into the mirror after the workout.

See and feel how great you look. This is a great motivation booster.

3. Reward yourself:

When you used to workout in the gym, did you reward yourself for having such a great workout? If not, you should've.

Now that you are working out from home, it is even more important to reward yourself after each and every workout.

Come up with a list of rewards.

Pamper yourself.

4. Stick to the plan that works for you

As we mentioned in step one, planning is important. Now, sticking to the final plan is crucial to your fitness success.

If your motivation to workout has dwindled, and it may at times, this is where discipline and your big WHY kick in.

Allow discipline to motivate yourself to workout.

Allow the big WHY to be your powerful 'chatter on your shoulder'; that urges you to stay motivated. This 'chatter on your shoulder' guides you on how to stay motivated throughout your workout.

And throughout the lockdown.

5. Quality over quantity

This is key. Just because you are at home and not in a gym doesn't mean that the quality of your workout should suffer.

Do not compromise and settle for less.

Do not jeopardise what you have already gained.

True you may need to adjust your home workout. True how to motivate yourself to workout may be an issue (at first). True the quality of your workout may take a slight knock.

If that is so, find a way around that to regain as much quality as you can from each workout session, and perform each session with total determination and dedication.

It's all about quality and not quantity.

6. Set yourself workout at home milestones

Chunk your final goal into small achievable milestones. You may do this every week, if you like. If, at the gym, your goal was to do 100 pushups and you find it hard to do that at home for whatever reason, chunk that down to achievable milestones by performing the amount you can do at home and scale up to 100.

Start off with baby steps to see what you can and cannot do and increase it incrementally.

This will certainly keep you motivated.

7. Get yourself a workout buddy

How to stay motivated consistently may still be a struggle every so often. If that happens to you consider finding a workout buddy; someone who will work out with you, and one who will help you maintain your motivation - and you can encourage and motivate him, too.

What a wonderful win-win exchange.

8. Music keeps you going

If finding a workout buddy is a challenge for you, or that person cannot be there for you as often as you like (even on Facetime), enlist your other workout buddy: Your music playlist.

For many, listening to music can powerfully motivate them to workout.

Are you one of them?

If not, consider that method.

You may be pleasantly surprised how listening to your favourite music can power you up; where you will be motivated and where you can stay motivated to workout.

And for some, they workout even longer and more intensely as they are powered by the loud beats of songs they love.

9. A fantastic distraction you will enjoy

As we wrap this up, here's a particular distraction I feel you will like. Perform all or part of your workout while watching your favourite TV program.

This will be a pleasant distraction that will take your mind off the unpleasantness of working out at home and not in the gym.

It could be a great distraction if your cardio routine is 'boring' at home. This distraction will override that boredom, don't you think?

10. Celebrate!

Make it a point to celebrate your success. You could celebrate every workout completion. You could celebrate reaching every milestone. You could celebrate every week of dedicated working out.

Celebrate that you are actually working out at home in the first place and didn't quit now that the gyms being closed.

Come up with a list of celebratory reasons, and enjoy every celebration.

There you have it. Those were 10 powerful ways to motivate yourself to workout and how to stay motivated during this lockdown.

Let me finish off with a quote from Zig Ziglar: People often say that motivation doesn't last. Well, neither does bathing - that's why we recommend it daily.

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World’s largest Fasting Study (2020) | Buchinger Wilhelmi

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Why Boundaries Are Still Important During Covid 19

I've been enjoying getting caught-up with old friends and family, and also staying in-touch with friends BUT I have realized it's still important to have healthy boundaries! We could literally be on a zoom call every day if we wanted to! Not to mention all of the amazing trainings happening too!

It helps to first get clear on what your values and priorities are. What is important to you? What do you value in your life and business? Some examples are; freedom, family, spirituality, etc.

We want to make sure our decisions around how we spend our time and what we allow into our lives is in alignment with what we value and enjoy, even if we have extra family responsibilities right now.

And we don't have to wait until someday when we receive / achieve _______.

Once you're clear on what is important tot you, look at what you can add (or take away) to your life now that will invoke those feelings. It's about living from those feelings we want more of now, so that we can attract more into our lives that continue to invoke those feelings!

It starts with us.

From there, we want to make sure our decisions and what we put in our calendars is in alignment with those values.

A great way to decide is to ask - is this in alignment with my values? If it's not an absolute yes, it's a no.

Another great way to check-in that's effective - is this in alignment with my bigger dream of ____?

Again, if it's not a heck yes, it's a no. This is an easy way to eliminate trainings we don't really need right now and also feeling okay about saying no to virtual happenings we don't really want to do.

It's okay to say no.

Even if people know you're at home!

You still get to decide how you want to spend your time and with whom.

I've found myself busier than ever with starting new projects and manifesting new opportunities. My heart is so content doing these things. That leaves time mostly for my family and some time for myself.

Of course, I still love connecting with extended family and friends, and I am also doing that in a way that feels doable and fun.

I heard someone's motto once: if it's not fun don't do it!

I love that. Well I guess you can tell fun is one of my core values;-)

Decide what they are for you and create an empowered covid schedule that works and feels good for you.

And dance workouts are 100% in my schedule!!


https://ezinearticles.com/?Why-Boundaries-Are-Still-Important-During-Covid-19&id=10288513

HEALTHY EATING HACKS » + printable guide

Impact Of Home Self-Quarantine On Mental Health

Self-quarantine at home plays a significant role in forestalling the spread of irresistible infections. However, this doesn't imply that adapting the disruption in your typical routine is simple. Taking care of your emotional and mental well-being is fundamental, regardless of whether your time in isolation is brief or not.

Since certain diseases can be infectious regardless of whether individuals don't yet have side effects, self-quarantine limits the spread of the illness during the asymptomatic period. Investing energy in isolation can take a genuine mental cost due to its effect on psychological well-being especially in terms of autonomy, competency, and connectedness.

Being bound to your home as a result of quarantine can be overwhelming. Time appears to crawl by more gradually after you've been at home for an extensive stretch of time. Regardless of whether you are home with other members of the family, the feeling of separation can be powerful. Feeling disconnected can prompt poor rest, poor cardiovascular well-being, lower invulnerability, burdensome side effects, and debilitated official capacity. At the point when mental capacity is weakened, you may think that its increasingly hard to concentrate, deal with your feelings, recollect data, and follow instructions.

Although self-quarantine might be just temporary, even short times of detachment and loneliness can have negative outcomes on both physical and mental well-being. You feel disconnected because of the absence of social and physical contact with others. Individuals felt cut off from the remainder of the world. Notwithstanding the sentiments of social disconnection during isolation, it has likewise a more drawn out enduring psychological distress.

While individual response vary from person to person, still, you might probably have sentiments of dejection, pity, dread, nervousness, and stress. Such emotions are normal given the conditions. In any case, there are steps you can take to secure your mental health and well-being. It is important to remember that everyone copes with stress differently. Some people may be better able to adjust a quarantine due to resilience and overall personality.

The duration of quarantine is a crucial factor in identifying how well people cope. Minimizing the length of isolation can help. The longer restrictions last, the more pronounced the effects are. Prolonged self- quarantine beyond the recommended time may cause greater detriments to mental well-being.

The disruption in your normal daily routines can be one of the most difficult aspects of quarantine. Indeed, even brief times of physical latency can adversely affect your mental and psychological well-being. Your quarantine may be brief, but staying active may help you feel better and maintain your fitness levels aside from boredom that can come from being stuck inside day after day.

Remaining in contact with others fights off fatigue, yet it is additionally basic for minimizing the feeling of confinement. Keep in contact with loved ones by telephone and text. Connect with others via web-based networking media. Conversing with other people who are experiencing something very similar can give a feeling of community and empowerment.

People tend to experience greater anxiety when they feel like they don't have access to the information. Rather than spending time watching cable news, focus on getting helpful information from reliable sources like the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), World Health Organization (WHO), state and local health departments, and your doctor can all be helpful.

Apart from that, kids are stressed out too. Concentrate on keeping up a feeling of structure at home and model sound, positive practices. Managing your own anxiety can help calm the fears of children in your home. Always remember the reasons why you need to be isolated from the outside world and let your kids that the home quarantine is good for their health and wellness.

At the point when you are feeling baffled or cooped up, it tends to be useful to consider the reasons why you are isolating yourself. You limit the opportunity that you may accidentally spread the sickness to others, regardless of whether you are currently asymptomatic.

By doing your part to forestall the spread of the ailment, you are ensuring others and ensuring that the individuals who are sick can have more noteworthy access to health care resources.
https://ezinearticles.com/?Impact-Of-Home-Self-Quarantine-On-Mental-Health&id=10273024

Tony Robbins on How to Break Your Negative Thinking

John C. Maxwell: It Only Takes 6 Steps to Change Your Life

Hope is the foundational principle for all change. People change because they have hope, and if people do not have hope, they will not change. You are responsible for the changes that you make in your life.

The good news? You can change your life if you really want to. You can improve it, make it better. And it all starts with changing the way you think. So are you ready? I am going to walk you through a six-step plan for achieving positive change.

Here’s how you give yourself a little hope:

Step 1: When you change your thinking, you change your beliefs.

Change begins with the mind. Beliefs are nothing more than a byproduct of what you have thought about long enough, something that you have bought into—always remember that. What you believe, what you think, is just a collection of continual thoughts that have formed themselves into a conviction. When you break down the process of thinking into a manageable number of steps, you reduce the perceived risk associated with change.

Step 2: When you change your beliefs, you change your expectations.

Belief is the knowledge that we can do something. It is the inner feeling that what we undertake, we can accomplish. For the most part, all of us have the ability to look at something and know whether we can do it. So in belief there is power… our eyes are opened, our opportunities become plain, our visions become realities. Our beliefs control everything we do. If we believe we can or we believe we cannot, we are correct.

Step 3: When you change your expectations, you change your attitude.

Your expectations are going to determine your attitude. Most people get used to average; they get used to second best. Nelson Boswell said, “The first and most important step toward success is the expectation that we can succeed.”

Step 4: When you change your attitude, you change your behavior.

When our attitude begins to change, when we become involved with something, our behavior begins to change. The reason that we have to make personal changes is that we cannot take our people on a trip that we have not made.

Step 5: When you change your behavior, you change your performance.

Most people would rather live with old problems than new solutions. We would rather be comfortable than correct; we would rather stay in a routine than make changes. Even when we know that the changes are going to be better for us, we often don’t make them because we feel uncomfortable or awkward about making that kind of a change. Until we get courage and get used to living with something that is not comfortable, we cannot get any better.

Step 6: When you change your performance, you change your life.

It is easier to turn failure into success than an excuse into a possibility. A person can fail, turn around and understand their failure to make it a success. But I want to tell you, a person who makes excuses for everything will never truly succeed. Don’t you know some people who just have an excuse for everything? Why they could not, should not, did not, would not, have not, will not. I promise you, when you excuse what you are doing and excuse where you are, and you allow the exceptions, you fail to reach your potential. It is impossible to turn excuses into possibilities.

https://www.success.com/john-c-maxwell-it-only-takes-6-steps-to-change-your-life/

10 Steps to a Healthier You

SUCCESS combed through studies and spoke to experts to identify the definitive 10 no-frills, real-deal tips you need to become your healthiest self yet. No matter what’s going on in your life, it’s really easy to put these steps into action every single day. No ifs, ands or buts.

1. Eat breakfast.
You already know it’s the most important meal of the day—it jump-starts your metabolism, delivers sustained energy and can help keep cravings in check. Sorry, doughnut lovers, but all breakfasts are not created equal. To put your best nutritional foot forward, the star players are protein and fiber.

In a University of Missouri study, women who ate a 300-calorie high-protein breakfast including eggs experienced less hunger throughout the morning and consumed fewer calories at lunch compared to those who ate a low-protein breakfast or none at all.

When you don’t have time to scramble eggs in the a.m., opt for oatmeal. After eating a bowl of oatmeal, participants felt fuller longer, as compared to when they downed the same number of calories from cold cereal and milk, according to a study in the Journal of the American College of Clinical Nutrition. Credit beta-glucan, a type of soluble fiber in oats that slows how quickly food moves through your digestive system and keeps you satisfied for hours.

2. Put whole foods front and center.
Eating plenty of fruits, vegetables, lean protein, whole grains and dairy is the surest way to consume a wide variety of important nutrients your body needs. “These are the foods that make up a balanced diet, prevent disease and give you the lasting energy you’re looking for,” says Bonnie Taub-Dix, director and owner of BTD Nutrition Consultants in New York  City.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s nutrition guide, MyPlate, is a very effective visual guide to every meal. Here’s how it works: Draw an imaginary line down the middle of your plate. Fill one half with fruits and vegetables. Divide the other side in half once more. Put protein such as fish, chicken or beans in one section and add a serving of whole grains, such as brown rice or whole-wheat pasta, in the other. Have a serving of dairy, such as a glass of milk, a cup of yogurt or some cheese with each meal to meet your calcium quota. “Dairy contains a beautiful combination of protein and carbohydrates along with blood-pressure-lowering potassium,” Taub-Dix says.

3. Make friends with healthy fats.
Unsaturated fats such as those found in olive oil, avocados, nuts and seeds can reduce your cholesterol levels and decrease your risk of heart disease and stroke. A recent study in the journal PLOS ONE found that people who eat tree nuts—almonds, Brazil nuts, walnuts and pistachios—are less likely to be obese than those who don’t. Because nuts can also be high in calories, just have about handful a day.

Healthy fats can also make foods more filling. Researchers found that adding half an avocado to lunch significantly decreased hunger over the next three hours, according to a Nutrition Journal study. Slice avocado into salads and soups, or spread it on a sandwich instead of mayo.

4. Pick the right packaged foods.
Eating a predominantly whole-foods diet doesn’t have to mean swearing off packaged foods entirely. “Processed isn’t always a negative word, and as long as you read nutrition labels you can identify processed foods that are actually really good for you,” says Taub-Dix, author of the book Read It Before You Eat It.

Scan nutrition labels to ensure that foods you choose contain some fiber and protein—to help keep you full—and very little sugar and sodium. Check the ingredients, and if the words partially hydrogenated oil appear, place it back on the shelf because it means the food contains artery-clogging transfats. If you’re searching for a snack, Taub-Dix suggests including a balance of protein, carbohydrates and fat for lasting energy. For example, have a few whole-grain crackers with slices of Mini Babybel cheese or baby carrots with hummus.

5. Keep your portions in check.
In a perfect world, you’d prepare all your meals at home so you could control exactly what goes into them. But you live in the real world, where business lunches and networking dinners are the norm. So you easily take in excess calories without even realizing it.

A recent study in JAMA Internal Medicine found that fast-food joints aren’t the only ones to blame. Researchers studied smaller Mexican, American, Italian, Chinese, Japanese and Thai restaurants and found the average restaurant meal contains 1,327 calories, or 66 percent of the average person’s allotment of 2,000 calories per day.

For portion control, start with a broth-based soup like minestrone, which helps fill you up on fewer calories before your entrée arrives. When eating at home, serve your meal on a salad plate instead of a larger dinner plate and leave the serving platters on the kitchen counter instead of on the dining table. Research shows you are less likely to go for an extra helping if it’s more than an arm’s length away.

6. Stay hydrated.
Feeling sluggish? Don’t head to the vending machine for a sugar buzz. Instead, try downing a glass or two of water. Even mild dehydration can affect your mood, energy and ability to think clearly, and may also contribute to anxiety and tension, according to University of Connecticut researchers. They found that people experienced the same effects of mild dehydration whether they were sitting or walking on a treadmill for 40 minutes. So even if you spend most of your day planted in front of a computer, it’s crucial to keep a water bottle nearby.

Aim for eight 8-ounce glasses of H2O per day. When possible, choose water over sugary drinks, which pile on calories, deliver zero nutrition and can set the stage for diabetes. Diet soda has its drawbacks, too. A recent Johns Hopkins study found that people who drink diet beverages consume more calories from food.

7. Do something you love.
It’s called working out for a reason. It’s work. That’s why Rachel Cosgrove, a certified strength and conditioning specialist who owns Results Fitness in Santa Clarita, Calif., suggests experimenting until you find exercise you actually like.

“When you find something you truly enjoy, you’ll be more likely to do it, stick with it and experience all of the benefits that come from a more active lifestyle,” she says. Among those benefits: improved focus and productivity. A Swedish study found that when people built exercise into their workday, they accomplished more at work, were able to take on more responsibilities, and were sick less often.

You may discover that running, cycling or swimming is your thing. Or perhaps you enjoy power yoga, or spin classes… playing basketball or racquetball. Discover what kinds of physical activity rev your engine; instead of avoiding exercise you’ll find yourself looking for opportunities to do it.

8. Maximize your workouts.
You don’t have to spend hours in the gym each day to build a leaner, healthier body. “The key is working at a higher intensity for a shorter period of time,” Cosgrove says. She recommends two to three 30-minute strength-training sessions that get your heart rate up per week (you can also separate your cardio and weight-training sessions).

The Busy Body Workout

Strength and conditioning specialist Rachel Cosgrove developed this exercise program specifically for SUCCESS readers who are short on time. It targets every major muscle group over two separate workouts. Keep your rest periods short—about 30 seconds between exercises, so your heart rate stays elevated the entire time. After completing all four exercises, rest for two minutes and do a second set.

          Day One

• Plank, 30 seconds

• Squats holding dumbbells, eight to
10 repetitions

• Bent-over dumbbell rows, eight to 10  reps

• Step-ups (place right foot flat on a step, step left foot up to meet it, lower left foot back down), eight to 10 reps
each side

          Day Two

• Side plank, 30 seconds each side

• Lateral lunge, eight to 10 reps each side

• Rotating T-Stabilization Push-up (after a push-up, turn your body to face the side so you’re balancing on one arm and reach the opposite arm toward the ceiling to form a “T”), four to five reps each side

• Romanian Deadlift (hold dumbbells in each hand, bend at the waist until torso is parallel with the floor and stand back up), eight to 10 reps

9. Get out of your chair.
You may want to read this standing up: Sitting for long periods of time increases your risk of diabetes, heart disease, cancer and death. A University of Leicester study found this sad reality holds true even if you exercise regularly. The harmful effects of desk jockeying are due to more than just the fact that sitting burns few calories (though that certainly plays a role).

Inactivity may reduce levels of an enzyme your muscles produce called lipoprotein lipase. Insufficient levels of this enzyme are associated with decreased HDL (good) cholesterol and heart disease. What’s more, when you don’t move around enough your muscles are less effective at gobbling up glucose, which can put you at risk for developing type 2 diabetes.

Seek out ways to incorporate more motion into your daily life. Set a cellphone reminder to stand and move around for a few minutes every hour. Take your phone calls on your feet. And you may also want to consider investing in a standing desk, or even a treadmill desk.

10. Sleep more soundly.
When your schedule gets full, sleep is often the first thing to go (giving up sleep is the only way to build more hours into your day), but the opposite should be true. ZZZ-time helps you feel rested so you can face the challenges of your day with a clearer, fresher mind. Plus inadequate rest can affect appetite-related hormones: Participants consumed 22 percent more calories when they snoozed for only four hours compared to those who clocked eight hours between the sheets, according to the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.

Keeping a consistent bedtime is also key—people who sleep and wake around the same time every day have less body fat than those whose sleep schedules vary more widely.

One of the best things you can do to improve your sleep quality: Power down. The more you use your smartphone after 9 p.m., the less you sleep, the worse your sleep quality, and the more mentally fatigued you feel the next day, according to Michigan State University researchers.

About an hour before bed, turn off all those glowing rectangles and unwind with a warm shower, calming music and a book (not an e-book). Two hours of exposure to light from a tablet reduces concentrations of melatonin, a hormone essential for sleep, by about 22 percent, according to a study in Applied Ergonomics.
https://www.success.com/10-steps-to-a-healthier-you/

Jim Rohn: Change Begins With Choice

Any day we wish, we can discipline ourselves to make important changes in our lives. Any day we wish, we can open the book that will open our mind to new knowledge. Any day we wish, we can start a new activity. Any day we wish, we can start the process of life change. We can do it immediately, or next week, or next month, or next year.

We can also do nothing. We can pretend rather than perform. And if the idea of having to change ourselves makes us uncomfortable, we can remain as we are. We can choose rest over labor, entertainment over education, delusion over truth and doubt over confidence. The choices are ours to make. But while we curse the effect, we continue to nourish the cause.

As Shakespeare uniquely observed, “The fault is not in the stars, but in ourselves.” We created our current circumstances by our past choices. We have both the ability and the responsibility to make better choices beginning today. Those who are in search of the good life do not need more answers or more time to think things over to reach better conclusions. They need the truth.

They need the whole truth. And they need nothing but the truth. We cannot allow our errors in judgment, repeated every day, to lead us down the wrong path. We must keep coming back to those basics that make the biggest difference in how our life works out. And then we must make the very choices that will bring life, happiness and joy into our daily lives.

And if I may be so bold to offer my last piece of advice for someone seeking and needing to make changes in their life: If you don’t like how things are, change it! You’re not a tree. You have the ability to totally transform every area in your life—and it all begins with your very own power of choice.

https://www.success.com/rohn-change-begins-with-choice/

4 Healthy Habits You Already Know but Aren’t Doing

Think you’re too busy for a healthy lifestyle? Think again.

No, it’s not easy to balance your work life and your home life, and you probably cut corners wherever you can, right? And most likely, your own personal well-being is the first casualty.

But did you know you can fit plenty of healthy habits into your busy schedule, with just a little planning and ingenuity? Try incorporating these simple tips and tricks into your weekly routine—to eat better, look better and feel better:

1. Healthy Eating
Preparing a healthy, well-balanced meal doesn’t have to be prohibitively time-consuming. Try prepping meals in advance to make cooking quick and easy. For example, chopping up a bunch of vegetables on Sunday night can give you an easy salad mix for Monday and Tuesday. Frozen, pre-made meals can be defrosted during the week. Soups, casseroles and pasta are good candidates for easily frozen and reheated meals.

But be careful to avoid unhealthy addictions that supply a quick fix. A short-term, pick-me-up coffee can turn into a full-blown caffeine addiction. There is no nourishment in pizza, coffee or energy drinks alone. That kind of diet is simply not the path of sustainability. Take time to eat well; it will save time and money in the long run.

2. Exercise
A lot of people seem to approach an exercise routine with an all-or-nothing attitude. If they can’t spend all night at the gym getting a full workout, why even bother going? That attitude leads to only one result: never working out at all.

Learn to fit in exercise when you can. Even just 20 minutes of activity is better than nothing.

A couple of convenient ideas:

Take long calls on a walk.
Get your exercise in while also getting your work done.

Playing with the kids is a great workout.
Hop on the trampoline, play tag or shoot some hoops. Not only are you spending quality time with your favorite people, but your whole family is getting active at the same time.
Ride your bike.
If you’re close to work and the roads and weather will permit it, try leaving the car in the garage and hopping on your bike for your daily commute. Grab some exercise and fresh air while experiencing your commute from an exciting and interesting new vantage point.

3. Relaxation
Don’t forget to give yourself a chance to relax. Well-being isn’t about going full-force at all times, so find a relaxing activity that works for you—whether that’s meditating, tending a garden, soaking in the bath, or just sitting on the couch to watch a funny movie once in a while.

Productivity soars when we focus on one task at a time, not letting ourselves get distracted. However, it can be harmful to focus on something so intently that you don’t stop until it’s done, especially when working on large, complex and stressful tasks. Hit the pause button on occasion. Seek counsel from others. It’s possible that advice or assistance, especially from those who care about you, can save a lot of extra effort.

4. Family
Leave work where it belongs—at work. Take weekends off and focus on quality time. Find an activity that brings the whole family together. Play a game, go camping, take a bike ride or just have a nice dinner together, no distractions. When you’re with your family, be with your family.

Without making a conscious effort to do otherwise, it’s easy to get in a rut where we are either working or focused on the kids; anything else is too entirely exhausting. Don’t forget that being a good parent is not the same as being a good spouse. Both of these roles are unique and require different elements. You cannot satisfy one and assume the other will manage itself.

Balance is about managing every dynamic in your life. Without good balance, it is only a matter of time before the other dynamics suffer.

Now that you know better, you can’t rely on that old, “I’m too busy” excuse. A healthier, more active life really isn’t that time-consuming—the time is already there, we just have to put it to better use.

Jim Rohn: If You Change Yourself, You Can Change Your Life

Life is about constant, predictable patterns of change, and the only constant factor will be our feelings and attitudes toward life. We as human beings have the power of attitude and that attitude determines choice, and choice determines results. All that we are and all that we can become has indeed been left to us to decide and interpret through our attitude and choices.

Life is like the changing seasons—you cannot change the seasons, but you can change yourself. So the first major lesson in life to learn is how to handle the winters. They come regularly, right after autumn. Some are long, some are short, some are difficult, some are easy, but they always come right after autumn. That is never going to change.

There are all kinds of winters: the “winter” when you can’t figure it out, the “winter” when everything seems to go awry. There are economic winters, social winters and personal winters.

Wintertime can bring disappointment, and disappointment is common to all of us. So you must learn how to handle the winters. You must learn how to handle difficulty; it always comes after opportunity. That is never going to change.

The big question is what to do about winters. You can’t get rid of January simply by tearing it off the calendar. But here is what you can do: You can get stronger; you can get wiser; you can get better. Remember that trio of words: stronger, wiser, better. The winters won’t change, but you can.

Before I understood this, I used to wish for summer when it was winter. When things were difficult, I wished they were easy. I didn’t know any better. Then my mentor Earl Shoaff gave me the answer from a part of his unique philosophy when he said, “Don’t wish it were easier, wish you were better. Don’t wish for fewer problems, wish for more skills. Don’t wish for less challenge, wish for more wisdom.”

https://www.success.com/rohn-if-you-change-yourself-you-can-change-your-life/

Food, Sleep, Exercise: Why You Seriously Need All 3 to Be Successful

Face it. We don’t always take care of ourselves as well as we should. It’s hard, because life gets in the way—doubly so if we have a busy and productive work life. And when faced with the choice between hard work and convenience, guess which one wins out most of the time?

But whether it’s convenient or not, maintaining our health should come first, before our daily to-do’s, before our work. Why? Because if we aren’t healthy, we can’t be successful, either—at home or at work.

Let’s cover the basics—food, sleep, exercise—and why you can’t ignore them:

Food
It’s lunch time. You’ve been working since six o’clock in the morning. When those hunger pangs strike, the most appealing option seems to be greasy, ultra-convenient fast food. The last thing you want is a paltry little meal like a salad. But what are those excessive calories found in burgers and fries actually doing to your post-lunch productivity?

What you eat affects your productivity in different ways, so eat smart.
Writing for the Harvard Business Review, Ron Friedman lays out the facts about how different foods affect work performance. He cites a study where participants reported “food consumption, mood and behaviors over a period of 13 days.” The participants who ate less high-fat meals and more fruits and vegetables were “happier, more engaged and more creative” than those who opted for high-fat, high-calorie lunches.

We tend to think simplistically about food. Those of us who face a daily barrage of emails, reports and mounds of work like to think of it as “fuel.” That analogy is a little misleading, however. As Friedman points out, you can expect a certain level of consistency with fuel. Food, on the other hand, is less predictable. What you eat affects your productivity in different ways, so eat smart.

Sleep
When your work life is demanding, you keep weird hours. You get to the office early, before the sun’s up, and you leave late, after dark. At home, you take out your laptop to “finish up a few things.” Three hours later, you crawl into bed. And then you wake up before the sun does to do it all again—constantly in a fog.

Maybe it just kind of comes with the job. Even if you play the role of night owl and early bird, there are still steps you can take to ensure you’re getting adequate rest. But first, why is it so important?

Sleep deprivation has been linked to higher levels of stress, higher blood pressure levels and lower brain function. It’s safe to say your performance will suffer if you aren’t catching enough ZZZs.

So, how does one combat chronic sleeplessness? Creating (and sticking to) a regular schedule certainly helps. If you work primarily from home, create definitive work hours, making sure you give yourself enough time to unwind after finishing work. If work is still on your mind when you hit the sack, you’ll probably find yourself lying awake for a while. And when your alarm clock goes off, get up no matter what. Resist the temptation to oversleep and screw up your sleep cycle.

Exercise
Stress can get the best of us at times, and what could be better for you than melting your problems (and fat) away with every rep, stride or lift at the gym? Not much. Working out is a great outlet for relieving stress, to distract you from daily pressures—and to get fit at the same time. Regular exercise wards off depression and a host of other mental blocks that make success hard to achieve.

As much as the idea of “falling on your sword” seems romantic, we can’t expect to kill ourselves with work and get very far.
Of course, we could talk about exercising more until we’re blue in the face. The important thing is that we actually get out and do it. Schedule 30 minutes to an hour of workout time into your day. Don’t promise yourself you’ll do it at lunch or when you get home. Nine times out of 10, the drain of the day prevents us from lifting a finger when we get back to the house. Instead, treat your workout as an essential aspect of your success. It’s not just something you should do; it’s something you must do.

As much as the idea of “falling on your sword” seems romantic, we can’t expect to kill ourselves with work and get very far. Self-maintenance is critical to your success because it allows you to go further, get more done and most importantly, be happy doing it.
https://www.success.com/food-sleep-exercise-why-you-seriously-need-all-3-to-be-successful/

5 EASY BREAKFAST RECIPES | healthy paleo + dairy-free breakfast ideas

5 Ways to Nurture Yourself and Cultivate Health

Most of us probably know by now how important it is to eat a clean diet of real, whole foods, avoid processed and refined foods, and keep our sugar intake to a minimum.

What we eat is our first defense against illness and the very first place we must start in order to improve our health. No matter what our current state of health is, so much can be healed (and prevented) through nourishing foods.

This is something that I, myself, have been adamantly focused on for the last few years, and especially the last two years, as I work towards healing my own body of the health issues I am facing.

Healing through food is nothing new.

Even Hippocrates, father of medicine knew this way back in 431 B.C., when he said “Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food.”

So, as long as we all eat lots of real food, avoid processed foods, GMOs, sugar, etc., then we should achieve perfect health, right?

Wrong.

There is so much more to achieving optimal health and one of the biggest areas that gets overlooked is our mental health and our mind’s attitude towards healing.

Many people find that they get the dietary aspects down pat, but they still don’t quite heal. This is often because our minds are not allowing us to heal, for whatever reason. I recently had this discussion I had with my chiropractor and he said that he found this very common in his practice.

This is an area that is rarely touched on by today’s medical practitioners, no matter if they are mainstream or alternative. Healing the mind and soul is just as critical as everything else, and I think as women, we often struggle with this more than men. Quite often, our needs as women are the last to be met or attended to because we are too busy taking care of everything (and everyone) else.

It’s time that we take control of our lives and start putting ourselves first. Our health depends on it, both physically and mentally. Here are 5 simple ways to get started.

5 Ways to Nurture Yourself and Heal Your Mind, Body, and Soul

Be Kind. This is a no-brainer, right? We all know we should be kind to others, but do we really take the time to be extra kind to ourselves?

As women in a chaotic world, there are a lot of expectations of us. From careers to kids to dinner to bills to housework to maintaining a strong marriage, the list can grow rather large when it comes to our responsibilities and what is expected of us.

When faced with all of this, how do we treat ourselves when things get stressful? How do we treat ourselves when we mess up or drop the ball on something?

I personally have a tendency to beat myself up over my failures. I have extremely high expectations of myself and failure often affects me more than the average person. I am slowly learning not to beat myself up and remind myself that I am strong, I am beautiful, I am loved, and I am capable, no matter what life throws at me.

Disconnect. Wowsers, this is a HARD one for me and from speaking to other women I know, it can often be a hard one for them as well.

I work two full-time jobs and both are Web-based. That means that I am typically online for a minimum of 12-14 hours per day, 6 days per week. I often feel that it is simply impossible for me to step away from technology and turn everything off. There is always work to do and the to-do list is never ending.

I do take one full day off (Saturday, the Sabbath) and completely disconnect. For me, this is critical to my mental health.

There are many times that I wish I had chosen a different profession, one that did not require me to be online all day, every day, however, I do love what I do, so I try to remember that when I start feeling down.

I think the key is recognize how much technology may be affecting your life and then find ways to adjust your schedules to allow for more time unplugged. This is still an area that I am working on, but it does get easier with time. That to-do list will still be there tomorrow!

Say No. As women, many of us are constantly taking on project after project. Whether it is for your career, your home, your children, your husband, or any other number of things, it’s very easy for us to overextend ourselves.

Overextending ourselves creates stress and stress creates dis-ease in the body. One of the hardest things for me to do is to say no. I am a notorious overachiever who is constantly busy with that next big project. Over the years, I have regularly taken on more than I can chew and my health has suffered for it.

The best advice that I have heard was from Marie Forelo and she said that when you are presented with an opportunity, be it big or small, always ask yourself, “Will this help me reach my end goal? Will this project be beneficial to my business (insert family, self, etc.) now and in the future? Is this something that I need to be spending my time on?”

If you can’t honestly answer a resounding YES to all of those questions, let the opportunity pass by. There is nothing wrong with that.

Forgive. Ahhh, a simple word with such complex meaning.

Sometimes it’s hard to forgive. It can be hard to forgive others and it can be equally as hard to forgive ourselves.

Everyone makes mistakes. Everyone does dumb things.

And everyone deserves forgiveness, including ourselves.

Over the last year, I have become acutely aware of how much baggage I was hanging on to from the past. There were transgressions, hurt feelings, unresolved issues, and more that were building up deep within my mind. It is often hard for me to let go of things, and I have a tendency to dwell on the past, rather than looking forward to the future.

As I have become more aware of this, I have realized just how much that has affected my health. Not only have I suffered physical and mental health consequences of not letting and forgiving, it has also prevented me from making as much progress toward regaining my health as I could.

The mind is many times our own worst enemy and if there are unresolved issues that must be sorted out, then it is critical that we take the time to do so, otherwise, we are literally harming our health.

Sleep. Last, but certainly not least, one of the top ways we can love ourselves and heal our bodies is to get enough quality sleep.

For years, I would stay up late, get up early, and go, go, go. This is just the way of the world nowadays, but in all actuality, it is highly detrimental to our overall health. Not only is sleep critical for our overall health, but lack of quality sleep can create a wide range of health problems, as well as prevent us from healing whatever issues we may currently be facing.

I personally have been dealing with the all-too-common autoimmune thyroid disease, Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis (read my healing journey here). That illness in turn creates a trifecta of issues involving adrenals, blood sugar, and thyroid. All of which require adequate sleep, strict nutrition, and lots of self-care to get things under control.

Our bodies run on a sensitive circadian rhythm and we should strive to honor that as much as possible. A minimum of 7 hours of sleep is critical to overall health, but if you’re suffering from health issues, you probably need more. It is recommended that we all strive to be in bed no later than 10:00pm. Some experts even recommend being in bed by 9:30pm, so that you are actually asleep by 10. The adrenal glands restore between the hours of 11pm and 1am, so making sure you’re asleep before that is important.

Also, it is recommended that technology be turned off several hours prior to bedtime, in order to help your body naturally trigger melatonin production.

Sleep has been one of the hardest things for me to focus on, because I am always busy and I always have things to do. I really have to work hard and focus to make it a priority, otherwise, before I know it, it’s 12am and I’m still on the computer working. I found this post from Divine Health to be very helpful for me when it comes to sleep.

What Would You Add?
This is far from being a complete list of all of the things we can do to love ourselves and help cultivate health, but they are a great place to start. We must start putting our health and our needs on the front burner. We deserve it.

What would you add to this list? How to you nurture your body and mind?
https://www.deliciousobsessions.com/2014/02/5-ways-nurture-cultivate-health/

EASY 10 Minute Dinner Recipes | Healthy Dinner Ideas

The Purpose of the Book The Purpose Driven Life: What on Earth Am I Here For? by Rick Warren

The Purpose of the Book The Purpose Driven Life: What on Earth Am I Here For? by Rick Warren

• “This is more than a book; it is a guide to a 40-day spiritual journey that will enable you to discover the answer to life’s most important question: What on earth am I here for? By the end of this journey you will know God’s purpose for your life and will understand the big picture — how all the pieces of your life fit together. Having this perspective will reduce your stress, simplify your decisions, increase your satisfaction, and, most important, prepare you for eternity.“

Life without a Purpose Driven Life

“The man without a purpose is like a ship without a rudder — a waif, a nothing, a no man.” — Thomas Carlyle 

“Nothing matters more than knowing God ‘s purposes for your life, and nothing can compensate for not knowing them — not success, wealth, fame, or pleasure. Without a purpose, life is motion without meaning, activity without direction, and events without reason. Without a purpose, life is trivial, petty, and pointless.”

• “The greatest tragedy is not death, but life without purpose.”
• “When Cain sinned, his guilt disconnected him from God’s presence, and God said, ‘You will be a restless wanderer on the earth.’ That describes most people today — wandering through life without a purpose.”
• “Without a clear purpose, you will keep changing directions, jobs, relationships, churches, or other externals — hoping each change will settle the confusion or fill the emptiness in your heart. You think, maybe this time it will be different, but it doesn’t solve your real problem — a lack of focus and purpose.”
• “Without a clear purpose you have no foundation on which you base decisions, allocate your time, and use your resources. You will tend to make choices based on circumstances, pressures, and your mood at that moment. People who don’t know their purpose try to do too much — and that causes stress, fatigue, and conflict.”
• “Knowing your purpose gives meaning to your life. We were made to have meaning. This is why people try dubious methods, like astrology or psychics, to discover it. When life has meaning, you can bear almost anything; without it, nothing is bearable.”
• “Without God, life has no purpose, and without purpose, life has no meaning. Without meaning, life has no significance or hope.”

Challenging Cultural Norms

“The search for the purpose of life has puzzled people for thousands of years. That’s because we typically begin at the wrong starting point — ourselves. We ask self-centered questions like: What do I want to be? What should I do with my life? What are my goals, my ambitions, my dreams for my future? But focusing on ourselves will never reveal our life’s purpose.”

• “For thousands of years, brilliant philosophers have discussed and speculated about the meaning of life. Philosophy is an important subject and has its uses, but when it comes to determining the purpose of life, even the wisest philosophers are just guessing.”
• “Contrary to what many popular books, movies, and seminars tell you, you won’t discover your life’s meaning by looking within yourself. You have probably tried that already. You didn’t create yourself, so there is no way you can tell yourself what you were created for!“
• “I have read many books that suggest ways to discover the purpose of my life. All of them could be classified as ‘self-help’ books because they approach the subject from a self-centered viewpoint. Self-help books, even Christian ones, usually offer the same predictable steps to finding your life’s purpose: Consider your dreams. Clarify your values. Set some goals. Figure out what you are good at. Aim high. Go for it! Be disciplined. Believe you can achieve your goals. Involve others. Never give up.”
• “You need more than self-help advice. The Bible says, ‘Self-help is no help at all. Self-sacrifice is the way, my way, to finding yourself, your true self.'”
• “This is not a self-help book. It is not about finding the right career, achieving your dreams, or planning your life. It is not about how to cram more activities into an overloaded schedule. Actually, it will teach you how to do less in life — by focusing on what matters most. It is about becoming what God created you to be.”
• “God is not just the starting point of your life; he is the source of it. To discover your purpose in life you must turn to God’s Word, not the world’s wisdom. You must build your life on eternal truths, not pop psychology, success-motivation, or inspirational stories.”
• “You must make a counter-culture decision to focus on becoming more like Jesus. Otherwise, other forces like peers, parents, coworkers, and culture will try to mold you into their image.”

 Busyness, Slowing Down, & Simple Living

“A life devoted to things is a dead life, a stump; a God-shaped life is a flourishing tree.” — Proverbs 11:28 (MSG)

“Busyness is a great enemy of relationships. We become preoccupied with making a living, doing our work, paying bills, and accomplishing goals as if these tasks are the point of life. They are not. The point of life is learning to love — God and people. Life minus love equals zero.“

• “God views our lives from and for eternity, so he is never in a hurry.”
• “Today we’re obsessed with speed, but God is more interested in strength and stability than swiftness. We want the quick fix, the shortcut, the on-the-spot solution. We want a sermon, a seminar, or an experience that will instantly resolve all problems, remove all temptation, and release us from all growing pains. But real maturity is never the result of a single experience, no matter how powerful or moving. Growth is gradual.“
• “Be patient with God and with yourself. One of life’s frustrations is that God’s timetable is rarely the same as ours. We are often in a hurry when God isn’t. You may feel frustrated with the seemingly slow progress you’re making in life. Remember that God is never in a hurry, but he is always on time. He will use your entire lifetime to prepare you for your role in eternity.”
• “Knowing your purpose simplifies your life. It defines what you do and what you don’t do. Your purpose becomes the standard you use to evaluate which activities are essential and which aren’t.”
• “Purpose-driven living leads to a simpler lifestyle and a saner schedule.”
• “Your value is not determined by your valuables, and God says the most valuable things in life are not things!”
• “Money has the greatest potential to replace God in your life. More people are sidetracked from serving by materialism than by anything else.”
• “The Bible is very clear: God uses money to test your faithfulness as a servant. That is why Jesus talked more about money than he did about either heaven or hell.”

 The Purpose of Suffering

“Pain is God’s megaphone.” — C. S. Lewis

“Your most profound and intimate experiences of worship will likely be in your darkest days — when your heart is broken, when you feel abandoned, when you’re out of options, when the pain is great — and you turn to God alone. It is during suffering that we learn to pray our most authentic, heartfelt, honest-to-God prayers. When we’re in pain, we don’t have the energy for superficial prayers.”

• “In order to keep us from becoming too attached to earth, God allows us to feel a significant amount of discontent and dissatisfaction in life — longings that will never be fulfilled on this side of eternity. We’re not completely happy here because we’re not supposed to be! Earth is not our final home; we were created for something much better.”
• “Pain is the fuel of passion — it energizes us with an intensity to change that we don’t normally possess.”
• “God has a purpose behind every problem. He uses circumstances to develop our character.”
• “You will never know that God is all you need until God is all you’ve got.”
• “The secret of endurance is to remember that your pain is temporary but your reward will be eternal.”
• “We’re only human! If it takes a crisis to get you to admit this, God won’t hesitate to allow it, because he loves you.”
• “God often attaches a major weakness to a major strength to keep our egos in check. A limitation can act as a governor to keep us from going too fast and running ahead of God.”
• “Your greatest life messages and your most effective ministry will come out of your deepest hurts.”

 The Thinking Mind

“We don’t see things as they are, we see them as we are.” — Anaïs Nin

“If I asked how you picture life, what image would come to your mind? That image is your life metaphor. It’s the view of life that you hold, consciously or unconsciously, in your mind. It’s your description of how life works and what you expect from it.”

• “The way you see your life shapes your life.”
• “How you define life determines your destiny. Your perspective will influence how you invest your time, spend your money, use your talents, and value your relationships.”
• “Change your autopilot — the way you think. The Bible says, ‘Let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think.’ Your first step in spiritual growth is to start changing the way you think. Change always starts first in your mind.“
• “So what does God use to transform our minds? The answer is truth! Cultural lies conform us, but eternal truths transform us.“
• “To change your life, you must change the way you think. Behind everything you do is a thought. Every behavior is motivated by a belief, and every action is prompted by an attitude.”
• “God is always more interested in why we do something than in what we do. Attitudes count more than achievements.”
• “It has never been easier in history to fulfill your commission to go to the whole world. The great barriers are no longer distance, cost, or transportation. The only barrier is the way we think. To be a world-class Christian you must make some mental shifts. Your perspective and attitudes must change.”
• “Shift from self-centered thinking to other-centered thinking.”
• “Shift from local thinking to global thinking.”
• “Shift from ‘here and now’ thinking to eternal thinking.”
• “The battle for sin is won or lost in your mind. Whatever gets your attention will get you.”
• “Spiritually, your mind is your most vulnerable organ.”
• “If you’re serious about defeating temptation you must manage your mind and monitor your media intake.”

 Character Development

“God’s ultimate goal for your life on earth is not comfort, but character development. He wants you to grow up spiritually and become like Christ. Becoming like Christ does not mean losing your personality or becoming a mindless clone. God created your uniqueness, so he certainly doesn’t want to destroy it. Christlikeness is all about transforming your character, not your personality.“

• “God is far more interested in what you are than in what you do. We are human beings, not human doings. God is much more concerned about your character than your career, because you will take your character into eternity, but not your career.”
• “Never forget that life is not about you! You exist for God’s purposes, not vice versa. Why would God provide heaven on earth when he’s planned the real thing for you in eternity? God gives us our time on earth to build and strengthen our character for heaven.“
• “We must ‘put on’ the character of Christ by developing new, godly habits. Your character is essentially the sum of your habits; it is how you habitually act.“
• “Nothing shapes your life more than the commitments you choose to make. Your commitments can develop you or they can destroy you, but either way, they will define you. Tell me what you are committed to, and I’ll tell you what you will be in twenty years. We become whatever we are committed to.“
• “Every problem is a character-building opportunity, and the more difficult it is, the greater the potential for building spiritual muscle and moral fiber.”
• “What happens outwardly in your life is not as important as what happens inside you. Your circumstances are temporary, but your character will last forever.”
• “This next sentence is one of the most important spiritual truths you will ever learn: God develops the fruit of the Spirit in your life by allowing you to experience circumstances in which you’re tempted to express the exact opposite quality! Character development always involves a choice, and temptation provides that opportunity.“

 Spiritual Growth

“The Bible compares spiritual growth to a seed, a building, and a child growing up. Each metaphor requires active participation: Seeds must be planted and cultivated, buildings must be built — they don’t just appear — and children must eat and exercise to grow.”

• “We must change the way we think. ‘Let the Spirit change your way of thinking.’ The Bible says we are ‘transformed’ by the renewing of our minds. The Greek word for transformed, metamorphosis (used in Romans 12:2 and 2 Corinthians 3:18), is used today to describe the amazing change a caterpillar goes through in becoming a butterfly. It is a beautiful picture of what happens to us spiritually when we allow God to direct our thoughts: We are changed from the inside out, we become more beautiful, and we are set free to soar to new heights.“
• “Becoming like Christ is a long, slow process of growth. Spiritual maturity is neither instant nor automatic; it is a gradual, progressive development that will take the rest of your life.”
• “You are a work in progress. Your spiritual transformation in developing the character of Jesus will take the rest of your life, and even then it won’t be completed here on earth. It will only be finished when you get to heaven or when Jesus returns.“
• “Your heavenly Father’s goal is for you to mature and develop the characteristics of Jesus Christ. Sadly, millions of Christians grow older but never grow up. They are stuck in perpetual spiritual infancy, remaining in diapers and booties. The reason is that they never intended to grow.”
• “Spiritual growth is not automatic. It takes an intentional commitment. You must want to grow, decide to grow, make an effort to grow, and persist in growing. Discipleship — the process of becoming like Christ — always begins with a decision.”
• “Thinking of others is the heart of Christlikeness and the best evidence of spiritual growth. This kind of thinking is unnatural, counter-cultural, rare, and difficult.”
• “Living the rest of your life for the glory of God will require a change in your priorities, your schedule, your relationships, and everything else. It will sometimes mean choosing a difficult path instead of an easy one. Even Jesus struggled with this.”
• “Living on purpose is the only way to really live. Everything else is just existing.”

It all Starts with God (it’s not about you)

“Unless you assume a God, the question of life’s purpose is meaningless.” — Bertrand Russell

“The purpose of your life is far greater than your own personal fulfillment, your peace of mind, or even your happiness. It’s far greater than your family, your career, or even your wildest dreams and ambitions. If you want to know why you were placed on this planet, you must begin with God. You were born by his purpose and for his purpose.”

• “You were made by God and for God — and until you understand that, life will never make sense. It is only in God that we discover our origin, our identity, our meaning, our purpose, our significance, and our destiny. Every other path leads to a dead end.“
• “Fortunately, there is an alternative to speculation about the meaning and purpose of life. It’s revelation. We can turn to what God has revealed about life in his Word. The easiest way to discover the purpose of an invention is to ask the creator of it. The same is true for discovering your life’s purpose: Ask God.“
• “God wants to use you to make a difference in his world. He wants to work through you. What matters is not the duration of your life, but the donation of it. Not how long you lived, but how you lived.”

 The Master Plan

“There’s a Grand Designer behind everything. Your life is not a result of random chance, fate, or luck. There is a master plan.”

• “Because every day of your life was written on God’s calendar before you were born, everything that happens to you has spiritual significance. Everything!”
• “Nothing in your life is arbitrary. It’s all for a purpose.”
• “Before God created you, he decided what role he wanted you to play on earth. He planned exactly how he wanted you to serve him, and then he shaped you for those tasks.”
• “God formed every creature on this planet with a special area of expertise.”
• “You are not an assembly-line product, mass produced without thought. You are a custom-designed, one-of-a-kind, original masterpiece.“

 Eternity

“Knowing your purpose prepares you for eternity. Many people spend their lives trying to create a lasting legacy on earth. They want to be remembered when they’re gone. Yet, what ultimately matters most will not be what others say about your life but what God says.“

• “Living to create an earthly legacy is a shortsighted goal. A wiser use of time is to build an eternal legacy. You weren’t put on earth to be remembered. You were put here to prepare for eternity.“
• “Life on earth is just the dress rehearsal before the real production. You will spend far more time on the other side of death — in eternity — than you will here.“
• “At most, you will live a hundred years on earth, but you will spend forever in eternity.”
• “When you fully comprehend that there is more to life than just here and now, and you realize that life is just preparation for eternity, you will begin to live differently. You will start living in light of eternity, and that will color how you handle every relationship, task, and circumstance. Suddenly many activities, goals, and even problems that seemed so important will appear trivial, petty, and unworthy of your attention. The closer you live to God, the smaller everything else appears.“
• “Every act of our lives strikes some chord that will vibrate in eternity.”
• “The most damaging aspect of contemporary living is short-term thinking. To make the most of your life, you must keep the vision of eternity continually in your mind and the value of it in your heart. There’s far more to life than just here and now!”
• “You may feel it’s morbid to think about death, but actually it’s unhealthy to live in denial of death and not consider what is inevitable. Only a fool would go through life unprepared for what we all know will eventually happen. You need to think more about eternity, not less.“
• “Retirement is a short-sighted goal. You should be living in light of eternity.”
• “Every choice has eternal consequences, so you had better choose wisely.”

 Life is a Test, Trust, & Temporary Assignment

“The Bible offers three metaphors that teach us God’s view of life: Life is a test, life is a trust, and life is a temporary assignment. These ideas are the foundation of purpose-driven living.”

Life is a Test:

• “Character is both developed and revealed by tests, and all of life is a test. You are always being tested.”
• “When you understand that life is a test, you realize that nothing is insignificant in your life. Even the smallest incident has significance for your character development. Every day is an important day, and every second is a growth opportunity to deepen your character, to demonstrate love, or to depend on God.”

Life is a Trust:

• “Our time on earth and our energy, intelligence, opportunities, relationships, and resources are all gifts from God that he has entrusted to our care and management. We are stewards of whatever God gives us. This concept of stewardship begins with the recognition that God is the owner of everything and everyone on earth.”
• “We never really own anything during our brief stay on earth. God just loans the earth to us while we’re here. It was God’s property before you arrived, and God will loan it to someone else after you die. You just get to enjoy it for a while.”

Life is a Temporary Assignment:

• “To make the best use of your life, you must never forget two truths: First, compared with eternity, life is extremely brief. Second, earth is only a temporary residence. You won’t be here long, so don’t get too attached.”
• “In God’s eyes, the greatest heroes of faith are not those who achieve prosperity, success, and power in this life, but those who treat this life as a temporary assignment and serve faithfully, expecting their promised reward in eternity.”
• “So much of what we waste our energy on will not matter even a year from now, much less for eternity. Don’t trade your life for temporary things.“

3 Insights & 3 Basic Issues

Three insights into your purpose:

1. You discover your identity and purpose through a relationship with Jesus Christ.
2. God was thinking of you long before you ever thought about him. His purpose for your life predates your conception. He planned it before you existed, without your input! You may choose your career, your spouse, your hobbies, and many other parts of your life, but you don’t get to choose your purpose.
3. The purpose of your life fits into a much larger, cosmic purpose that God has designed for eternity.

Most people struggle with three basic issues in life:

1. The first is identity: “Who am I?”
2. The second is importance: “Do I matter?”
3. The third is impact: “What is my place in life?”

The answers to all three questions are found in God’s five purposes for you.

 God’s 5 Purposes for Your Life

The book is primarily structured around the following five purposes. The theme of “five” comes up multiple times to reiterate the point, including:

• “God designed his church specifically to help you fulfill the five purposes he has for your life. He created the church to meet your five deepest needs: a purpose to live for, people to live with, principles to live by, a profession to live out, and power to live on.”
• “God wants to redeem human beings from Satan and reconcile them to himself so we can fulfill the five purposes he created us for: to love him, to be a part of his family, to become like him, to serve him, and to tell others about him.”
• “In this book you have learned God’s five purposes for your life on earth: He made you to be a member of his family, a model of his character, a magnifier of his glory, a minister of his grace, and a messenger of his Good News to others. Of these five purposes, the fifth can only be done on earth. The other four you will keep doing in eternity in some way. That’s why spreading the Good News is so important; you only have a short time to share your life message and fulfill your mission.”
• “While God created each of us for the same five eternal purposes, the way you fulfill those purposes — the time, place, plan, and style — is absolutely unique.”

PURPOSE #1: YOU WERE PLANNED FOR GOD’S PLEASURE

• “‘Love God with all your heart’: You were planned for God’s pleasure, so your purpose is to love God through worship.”
• “Bringing enjoyment to God, living for his pleasure, is the first purpose of your life.”
• “The Bible says, ‘Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men.'”
• “Since pleasing God is the first purpose of your life, your most important task is to discover how to do that.”
• “God says, ‘You have no right to argue with your Creator. You are merely a clay pot shaped by a potter. The clay doesn’t ask, ‘Why did you make me this way?‘”

PURPOSE #2: YOU WERE FORMED FOR GOD’S FAMILY

• “‘baptize them into…’: You were formed for God’s family, so your purpose is to identify with his church through fellowship.”
• “After learning to love God (worship), learning to love others is the second purpose of your life.”
• “Because God is love, the most important lesson he wants you to learn on earth is how to love.”
• “Love should be your top priority, primary objective, and greatest ambition. Love is not a good part of your life; it’s the most important part. The Bible says, ‘Let love be your greatest aim.'”

PURPOSE #3: YOU WERE CREATED ТО ВЕСОМЕ LIKE CHRIST

• “‘teach them to do all things…’: You were created to become like Christ, so your purpose is to grow to maturity through discipleship.”
• “From the very beginning, God’s plan has been to make you like his Son, Jesus. This is your destiny and the third purpose of your life.”
• “In all of creation, only human beings are made ‘in God’s image.’ This is a great privilege and gives us dignity. We don’t know all this phrase covers, but we do know some of the aspects it includes: Like God, we are spiritual beings—our spirits are immortal and will outlast our earthly bodies; we are intellectual—we can think, reason, and solve problems; like God, we are relational—we can give and receive real love; and we have a moral consciousness—we can discern right from wrong, which makes us accountable to God.”

PURPOSE #4: YOU WERE SHAPED FOR SERVING GOD

• “‘Love your neighbor as yourself”: You were shaped for serving, so your purpose is to show love for others through ministry.”
• “You weren’t created just to consume resources — to eat, breathe, and take up space. God designed you to make a difference with your life. While many best-selling books offer advice on how to ‘get’ the most out of life, that’s not the reason God made you. You were created to add to life on earth, not just take from it. God wants you to give something back.”
• “A saved heart is one that wants to serve.”
• “Regardless of your job or career, you are called to full-time Christian service.”

PURPOSE #5: YOU WERE MADE FOR A MISSION

• “‘Go and make disciples’: You were made for a mission, so your purpose is to share God’s message through evangelism.”
• “God is at work in the world, and he wants you to join him. This assignment is called your mission.”
• “Your life mission is both shared and specific. One part of it is a responsibility you share with every other Christian, and the other part is an assignment that is unique to you.”
• “The mission Jesus had while on earth is now our mission because we are the Body of Christ. What he did in his physical body we are to continue as his spiritual body, the church. What is that mission? Introducing people to God!“
• “If you are a part of God’s family, your mission is mandatory. To ignore it would be disobedience.”
• “You may have been unaware that God holds you responsible for the unbelievers who live around you.”
• “Jesus has secured our salvation, put us in his family, given us his Spirit, and then made us his agents in the world. What a privilege!”
• “We have the greatest news in the world, and sharing it is the greatest kindness you can show to anyone.”
• “Your mission has eternal significance. It will impact the eternal destiny of other people, so it’s more important than any job, achievement, or goal you will reach during your life on earth. The consequences of your mission will last forever; the consequences of your job will not. Nothing else you do will ever matter as much as helping people establish an eternal relationship with God.”
• “Your mission gives your life meaning. William James said, “The best use of life is to spend it for something that outlasts it.” The truth is, only the kingdom of God is going to last. Everything else will eventually vanish. That is why we must live purpose-driven lives — lives committed to worship, fellowship, spiritual growth, ministry, and fulfilling our mission on earth. The results of these activities will last — forever!”

 SHAPE: Spiritual Gifts, Heart, Abilities, Personality, Experience

“What you are is God’s gift to you; what you do with yourself is your gift to God.” — Danish Proverb

• “Whenever God gives us an assignment, he always equips us with what we need to accomplish it. This custom combination of capabilities is called your SHAPE.”
• “Using your shape is the secret of both fruitfulness and fulfillment in ministry. You will be most effective when you use your spiritual gifts and abilities in the area of your heart’s desire, and in a way that best expresses your personality and experiences. The better the fit, the more successful you will be.”
• “Your primary ministry should be in the area of your shape, but your secondary service is wherever you’re needed at the moment.”
• “The best use of your life is to serve God out of your shape. To do this you must discover your shape, learn to accept and enjoy it, and then develop it to its fullest potential.”
• “John Wesley was an incredible servant of God. His motto was ‘Do all the good you can, by all the means you can, in all the ways you can, in all the places you can, at all the times you can, to all the people you can, as long as you ever can.’ That is greatness.”

SHAPE: Unwrapping Your Spiritual Gifts

• “God gives every believer spiritual gifts to be used in ministry. These are special God-empowered abilities for serving him that are given only to believers.”
• “You can’t earn your spiritual gifts or deserve them — that’s why they are called gifts! They are an expression of God’s grace to you. ‘Christ has generously divided out his gifts to us.’ Neither do you get to choose which gifts you’d like to have; God determines that.”

SHAPE: Listening to Your Heart

• “The Bible uses the term heart to describe the bundle of desires, hopes, interests, ambitions, dreams, and affections you have. Your heart represents the source of all your motivations — what you love to do and what you care about most.”
• “Another word for heart is passion.”
• “How do you know when you are serving God from your heart? The first telltale sign is enthusiasm. When you are doing what you love to do, no one has to motivate you or challenge you or check up on you. You do it for the sheer enjoyment.”
• “The second characteristic of serving God from your heart is effectiveness. Whenever you do what God wired you to love to do, you get good at it.”
• “We have all heard people say, ‘I took a job I hate in order to make a lot of money, so someday I can quit and do what I love to do.’ That’s a big mistake. Don’t waste your life in a job that doesn’t express your heart. Remember, the greatest things in life are not things. Meaning is far more important than money.“
• “Don’t settle for just achieving ‘the good life,’ because the good life is not good enough. Ultimately it doesn’t satisfy. You can have a lot to live on and still have nothing to live for. Aim instead for ‘the better life’ — serving God in a way that expresses your heart. Figure out what you love to do — what God gave you a heart to do — and then do it for his glory.”

SHAPE: Applying Your Abilities

• “Your abilities are the natural talents you were born with.”
• “Since your natural abilities are from God, they are just as important and as ‘spiritual’ as your spiritual gifts. The only difference is that you were given them at birth.”
• “To discover God’s will for your life, you should seriously examine what you are good at doing and what you’re not good at.”
• “God doesn’t waste abilities; he matches our calling and our capabilities.”
• “If you don’t exercise your muscles, they weaken and atrophy. In the same way, if you don’t utilize the abilities and skills God has given you, you will lose them.”

SHAPE: Using Your Personality

• “Your personality will affect how and where you use your spiritual gifts and abilities.”

SHAPE: Employing Your Experiences

• “You can learn from the examples of others, but you must filter what you learn through your own shape.”
• “You have been shaped by your experiences in life, most of which were beyond your control. God allowed them for his purpose of molding you. In determining your shape for serving God, you should examine at least six kinds of experiences from your past:”
  • “Family experiences: What did you learn growing up in your family?”
  • “Educational experiences: What were your favorite subjects in school?”
  • “Vocational experiences: What jobs have you been most effective in and enjoyed most?”
  • “Spiritual experiences: What have been your most meaningful times with God?”
  • “Ministry experiences: How have you served God in the past?”
  • “Painful experiences: What problems, hurts, thorns, and trials have you learned from?”

 Serving

“The glory of God is a human being fully alive!” — St. Irenaeus

“Servants focus on others, not themselves. This is true humility: not thinking less of ourselves but thinking of ourselves less. They are self-forgetful. Paul said, ‘Forget yourselves long enough to lend a helping hand.’ This is what it means to ‘lose your life’ — forgetting yourself in service to others.”

• “We are only fully alive when we’re helping others.”
• “Most of the time we’re more interested in ‘serve us’ than service.”
• “In heaven God is going to openly reward some of his most obscure and unknown servants — people we have never heard of on earth, who taught emotionally disturbed children, cleaned up after incontinent elderly, nursed AIDS patients, and served in thousands of other unnoticed ways.”
• “The quality of self-forgetfulness, like faithfulness, is extremely rare.”
• “Thinking like a servant is difficult because it challenges the basic problem of my life: I am, by nature, selfish. I think most about me. That’s why humility is a daily struggle, a lesson I must relearn over and over. The opportunity to be a servant confronts me dozens of times a day, in which I’m given the choice to decide between meeting my needs or the needs of others. Self-denial is the core of servanthood.”
• “Servants base their identity in Christ.”
• “Your identity is in eternity, and your homeland is heaven. When you grasp this truth, you will stop worrying about ‘having it all’ on earth.”

 Relationships

“In our final moments we all realize that relationships are what life is all about. Wisdom is learning that truth sooner rather than later. Don’t wait until you’re on your deathbed to figure out that nothing matters more.”

• “There is nothing — absolutely nothing — more important than developing a friendship with God.”
• “The key to friendship with God, he said, is not changing what you do, but changing your attitude toward what you do.”
• “Life is meant to be shared. God intends for us to experience life together.”
• “Four of the Ten Commandments deal with our relationship to God while the other six deal with our relationships with people. But all ten are about relationships!“
• “Community is built not on convenience (‘we’ll get together when I feel like it’) but on the conviction that I need it for spiritual health. If you want to cultivate real fellowship, it will mean meeting together even when you don’t feel like it, because you believe it is important.”
• “Because life is all about learning how to love, God wants us to value relationships and make the effort to maintain them.”

 Time

“The importance of things can be measured by how much time we are willing to invest in them. The more time you give to something, the more you reveal its importance and value to you. If you want to know a person’s priorities, just look at how they use their time.“

• “Relationships take time and effort, and the best way to spell love is ‘T-I-M-E.'”
• “You have to spend time with people — a lot of time — to build deep relationships.”
• “Your time is your life. That is why the greatest gift you can give someone is your time.”
• “The best use of life is love. The best expression of love is time. The best time to love is now.”

Your Life Message

“God has given you a life message to share.”

• “Your Life Message has four parts to it:”
  • “Your testimony: the story of how you began a relationship with Jesus”
  • “Your life lessons: the most important lessons God has taught you”
  • “Your godly passions: the issues God shaped you to care about most”
  • “The Good News: the message of salvation”
• “God gives some people a godly passion to champion a cause. It’s often a problem they personally experienced such as abuse, addiction, infertility, depression, a disease, or some other difficulty. Sometimes God gives people a passion to speak up for a group of others who can’t speak for themselves: the unborn, the persecuted, the poor, the imprisoned, the mistreated, the disadvantaged, and those who are denied justice. The Bible is filled with commands to defend the defenseless.”

 Start Taking Action

“It is not enough to keep learning more and more. We must act on what we know and practice what we claim to believe. Impression without expression causes depression. Study without service leads to spiritual stagnation.”

• “Today the average life span is 25,550 days. That’s how long you will live if you are typical. Don’t you think it would be a wise use of time to set aside 40 of those days to figure out what God wants you to do with the rest of them?”
• “Begin by assessing your gifts and abilities. Take a long, honest look at what you are good at and what you’re not good at. Paul advised, ‘Try to have a sane estimate of your capabilities.’ Make a list. Ask other people for their candid opinion. Tell them you’re searching for the truth, not fishing for a compliment. Spiritual gifts and natural abilities are always confirmed by others.”
• “The best way to discover your gifts and abilities is to experiment with different areas of service.”
• “Just start serving, experimenting with different ministries, and then you’ll discover your gifts. Until you’re actually involved in serving, you’re not going to know what you’re good at.”
• “Practicing the presence of God is a skill, a habit you can develop. Just as musicians practice scales every day in order to play beautiful music with ease, you must force yourself to think about God at different times in your day. You must train your mind to remember God.“
• “The more time you spend reviewing what God has said, the more you will understand the ‘secrets’ of this life that most people miss.”
• “Write down the insights and life lessons God teaches you about him, about yourself, about life, relationships, and everything else. Record these so you can review and remember them and pass them on to the next generation.”
• “Forgotten experiences are worthless; that’s a good reason to keep a spiritual journal.”
• “Your life is a journey, and a journey deserves a journal.”
• “Extracting the lessons from your experiences takes time. I recommend that you take an entire weekend for a life review retreat, where you pause to see how God has worked in the various defining moments of your life and consider how he wants to use those lessons to help others.”

 Create Your Purpose Statement

“Now that you know God’s purposes for your life, you will be blessed if you do them! This probably means you will have to stop doing some other things. There are many ‘good’ things you can do with your life, but God’s purposes are the five essentials you must do. Unfortunately, it’s easy to get distracted and forget what is most important. It’s easy to drift away from what matters most and slowly get off course. To prevent this, you should develop a purpose statement for your life and then review it regularly.”

• “It may take you weeks or months to craft your life purpose statement just the way you want it. Pray, think about it, talk with close friends, and reflect on Scripture. You may go through several rewrites before you get to your final form. Even then, you will probably make minor changes as time goes by and God gives you more insight into your own shape.”
• “In addition to writing a detailed life purpose statement, it is also helpful to have a shorter statement or slogan that summarizes the five purposes for your life in a way that’s memorable and inspires you. Then you can remind yourself daily.”
• “I once heard the suggestion that you develop your life purpose statement based on what you would like other people to say about you at your funeral. Imagine your perfect eulogy, then build your statement on that. Frankly, that’s a bad plan. At the end of your life it isn’t going to matter at all what other people say about you. The only thing that will matter is what God says about you. The Bible says, ‘Our purpose is to please God, not people.'”

What Is a Life Purpose Statement?

• “It’s a statement that summarizes God’s purposes for your life. In your own words you affirm your commitment to God’s five purposes for your life. A purpose statement is not a list of goals. Goals are temporary; purposes are eternal.”
• “It’s a statement that points the direction of your life. Writing down your purposes on paper will force you to think specifically about the path of your life. The Bible says, ‘Know where you are headed, and you will stay on solid ground.’ A life purpose statement not only spells out what you intend to do with your time, life, and money, but also implies what you aren’t going to do.”
• “It’s a statement that defines ‘success’ for you. It states what you believe is important, not what the world says is important. It clarifies your values.”
• “It’s a statement that clarifies your roles. You will have different roles at different stages in life, but your purposes will never change. They are greater than any role you will have.”
• “It’s a statement that expresses your shape. It reflects the unique ways God made you to serve him.”

Take your time writing out your life purpose statement:

• “Don’t try to complete it in a single sitting, and don’t aim for perfection in your first draft; just write down your thoughts as fast as they come to you. It is always easier to edit than to create. Here are five questions you should consider as you prepare your statement:”
  • “What will be the center of my life? This is the question of worship. Who are you going to live for? …Whatever is at the center of your life is your god.”
  • “What will be the character of my life? This is the question of discipleship. What kind of person will you be? God is far more interested in what you are than what you do. Remember, you will take your character into eternity, but not your career.”
  • “What will be the contribution of my life? This is the question of service.”
  • “What will be the communication of my life? This is the question of your mission to unbelievers.”
  • “What will be the community of my life? This is the question of fellowship.”

 Your Responsibility Now

“Now that you understand the purpose of life, it is your responsibility to carry the message to others. God is calling you to be his messenger.”

• “Jesus did not die on the cross just so we could live comfortable, well-adjusted lives. His purpose is far deeper: He wants to make us like himself before he takes us to heaven. This is our greatest privilege, our immediate responsibility, and our ultimate destiny.“
• “The more you know, the more God expects you to use that knowledge to help others. James said, ‘Anyone who knows the right thing to do, but does not do it, is sinning.’ Knowledge increases responsibility. But passing along the purpose of life is more than an obligation; it’s one of life’s greatest privileges. Imagine how different the world would be if everyone knew their purpose.“

https://www.sloww.co/purpose-driven-life-book/