Motivation

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Plan of Action

So I wrote my plan of action on March 5 for lent. It has been a struggle to make sure I am doing exactly what I said I was going to do. I have decided to share this plan with all of my readers.

All morning I have been reading on a better understanding of Lent. I learned this is a time when many people prepare for Easter through spiritual discipline, fasting, repentance and moderation. The purpose is to set aside time for reflection on Jesus Christ.

I came across a very interesting article by Rev. Daniel Benedict while gaining a better understanding of Lent. The article really touched base with me on some personal and inner things I must overcome.

I have learned not only can I give up on a few things but I can also take on other things as well. 

During this time I am aiming with strength to prepare my heart for a clean place. I want to connect my worship and daily growth in spiritual, relational, emotional, and bodily fitness.

Inward and Personal Disciplines

___ Spend time in solitude each day.

___ Read a book for inner growth.

___ Read twice through the Gospel of the lectionary cycle you are in. (Matthew in 2002, 2005, 2008; Mark in 2003, 2006, 2009; Luke in 2004, 2007, 2010)

___ Begin to keep a journal of prayer concerns, questions, reading.

___ Focus on thanksgiving, rather than on asking, in prayer.

___ Give myself a gift of three hours to do something I always say I don't have time to do.

___ Find a way to go to bed earlier or sleep in so I get enough rest.

___ Make a list of people with whom I need to be reconciled. Pray for them and let Jesus guide me in my thinking and feeling toward them.

___ Take control of my life by taking action to get to where I want to be

___ Take one hour to inventory my priorities and plan how I will reorder them.

___ Give up a grudge or a rehearsal of a past event.

___ Forgive someone who has hurt me.

___ Dance my prayers to a favorite tape or CD.

___ Other promptings:

Outward and Social Disciplines

___ Take on some loving task:

___ Plan to visit a "shut-in" neighbor or church member weekly.

___ Write a letter of affirmation once a week to a person who has touched my life.

___ Listen and respond to Christ's call to a ministry of service:

___ Go to coffee or dinner with someone I want to know better.

___ Say "NO" to something that is a waste of money and time.

___ Rebuke the spirit of criticism and my own tongue out of control.

Other outward and social promptings:

As a way of being accountable, I will 

___ Share my plan with at least one other person and share with that person my experience of Lent during Holy Week.

(signed) Qualashan Hemingway

(date) _____3-5-2014________

Keep this for reference during the coming weeks.

At the Starting Line: Tips to Start a Healthy Lifestyle Journey

At the Starting Line: Tips to Start a Healthy Lifestyle Journey

If you desire to change your life for the better and you are ready  to give maximum amount of effort to living a healthy lifestyle,  you have come to the right place. I am equipping you with 5 simple steps to get you started and well on your way on healthy journey.  

Step 1: Make time. We all live busy lives, there are many responsibilities, obligations, and commitments we choose to balance. In order to live healthy you should be intentional about making time to prepare. Being prepared, and showing up is half the work. Suggestions: Prepare healthy lunches, snacks and dinners ahead of time. 

--Make an appointment with the gym. Choose whether working out early in the morning or in the evening will be best for you. Make a clear schedule of days, times and duration of your workouts. Place it on a calendar, in your phone or tablet. There are several apps that are useful to remind you. 

--Start small at first. If 10 or 20 minutes is all you can spare its better than nothing. Once you have mastered that commitment increase your time. 30 minutes of consistent exercise at least 3 times a week is a good starting goal. 

--Replace a bad habit with a more healthy option. Some of us, often have habits like, going out to eat with co-workers, or watching our favorite tv series, but try to replace it at least once a week with a workout session. Your bound to see progress if you try.

Step 2: Find an activity that you Enjoy. There are endless options on ways to get moving. That's the whole point, to change from being a couch potato, to a becoming healthy active individual. Suggestions: Running. This is my personal favorite right now, its a mental and physical challenge but the benefits are amazing. 

--Walking, if your a beginner, can be a good starting point. Walking is therapeutic, and its good for your heart, its low intensity, unless your speed walking of coarse, it can be done anywhere. Walk the entirety of a mall can give a similar effect, as walking around a track or in a neighborhood.

--Going to a fitness center of gym. Yoga, biking, hiking, swimming, kickboxing, indoor rock climbing, playing basketball, football, soccer or even dancing (Zumba) and aerobics. The list goes on. 
--Google a few options and try a few new things. Find at least one activity you enjoy to start with. 

Step 3:  Stay accountable and reasonable with your goals.
--Share with a supportive friend or family member your goal to start living a healthy lifestyle. Be up front, ask them to help you stay on task. If they are willing to join you on your journey even better. Studies show that people who have accountability partners are more likely to loose weight and keep the weight off. 

--Make sure you have a purpose for why you are choosing a healthy lifestyle, and you are choosing it for the right reason. FOR YOU ONLY! If you are doing it to please friends, family, or a partner, its not likely to last, because your efforts aren't genuine. 
-Set short term and long term goals. Make your short term goals reasonable.  If you start too hard, too fast, too soon, you will experience burn out, and feel less accomplished. You want to set yourself up for success in the beginning. 

--Write down your goals so that you can see them everyday. As you make progress or have set backs, journal or jot about your experiences. Take photos of your self every couple of weeks or months. Over time you will visually see your progress and can  feel more confident about your accomplishments. 

Step 4: Learn, explore and implement. Their are countless information outlets such as social media, youtube, thousands of blogs, websites, both medical and independent, right at your finger tips. However, be careful what you see and read, don't believe everything online. Information over load is real. The key to avoid it is, do what works best for you. Many of the sources online are people sharing their experiences, and what they did to achieve a goal and it's not a guarantee it will work for you. So, feel free to try their suggestions, within reason, I'm not talking about the latest fade diet either. Just don't beat yourself up if you're not seeing similar results. Don't compare yourself to others. Your results will come with the process and the hard work you put in. There is no such thing as "lose weight fast". If you need extra motivation try hiring a personal trainer, if your budget will allow. Some, personal fitness centers have trainers on staff for a discount. 

--Go the library, or go buy a few books, or magazines to read about health topics you find relevant, and interesting. Learn how to eat right, and properly exercise. Throw a little inspiration on it too.

--Explore new recipes, drink more water, decrease your sugar and salt intake. Learn all you can about nutrition.  Most important implement the information you are learning. Just take your time and make changes slowly over time.

Step 5: Stay Motivated. After the honeymoon stage is over and your routine seems a bit stale, don't quit. Spice it up a bit. Invite a new friend to try a new activity with you. Buy yourself some new workout gear. Get a inspirational quote, mantra, or song that will keep you exerting  your maximum amount of effort. There is no finish line towards a healthy lifestyle. Its not a sprint, its a marathon and only the strong will survive. Believe in yourself always, about all things. 

"When you feel like quitting remember why you started. " - Unknown

Source: http://www.wikihow.com/Start-Your-Own-Exercise-Regimen-and-Stick-to-It

Photo: webbernaturals.com

Daily Quote: Love, Live, Life

Daily Quote:You Only Live Once

You only live once so you must step out of your comfort zone in order to see a clear path of success.