How Far Ahead Can you See?

Day 21 of 100 Days of Encouragement

 Hello everyone. I’m sure that you have noticed that I have been away for a while. I realize that I made a commitment to post daily, but I took a little holiday away from everything. Well, I am having to work at keeping the original weight loss from coming back on and started taking the right steps. I think I hit a burn out from all that I have been doing, but I have to say that I am happy to be back. I said that I will not give up. Maybe take a break or fall back a little, but NEVER GIVE UP. I know that there isn’t anything that I won’t be able to overcome as long as I keep believing that and working at it. The day will come.

 What pushes us to unconscious eating and/or overeating?  Stress!!  We are all waiting for a time when there isn’t any stress. Well, guess what? That only happens when you are dead, so start practicing conscious eating. That’s what I’ve been working at for some years, and I have at least gotten to this point where I am starting to chip away at the weight.  Fear ignites worry and stress, and much of the time it is because we can’t see far enough into the future to feel safe.

 It is like the analogy of travelling at night from one location to another. You start out knowing that it may be a 3 hour drive and you get into your vehicle and drive from point A until you arrive at Point B. If it is night time and we can only see 160 – 300 feet, depending whether they are on high or low beam. What is really important to note is that when you travel the 300 feet that you can see with your headlights, another 300 hundred feet of light becomes available again and again until you get to your destination.

 What we know is that whatever we need for the moment we have or can access. When we are ready and need something more, that next step will be there for us. It’s about when you are ready. I know that I need to keep going forward with life and I will get there. It doesn’t mean that there won’t be obstacles and challenges. It just means that when you believe and keep going forward in faith, it will be there.

 So… let’s keep on keeping on and we will get there.

The Power of Dreams and Believing

Day of the 8^th segment of 10 days. Day 81 of 100 Days of Encouragement.

I can hardly believe that 80 days have come and gone so fast. These last 10 days have gone by like a blur, and  it was a pretty tough 10 days. Part way through the 10 days I told you that I had gained a few pounds from all of the stress and fatigue, but I have since lost that weight gain. So that is the good news. The frustrating news for me is that I am at the same weight as I was at the last 10 day segment.

 BUT, I know that I am such a determined person that I will not give up until I get to the goal. It is quite the journey, loaded with challenges, yet, those challenges are actually opportunities to overcome obstacles and make amazing memories.

 I know about the power of dreams and believing, as I have many, many experiences with perseverance and dreams come true. In fact, I will have to write a book about them, as there are so many. It is from all of the collective experiences that I know that I will get to this goal and many others.

 I have to share some current experiences, because months ago, when I finally made the commitment to change my lifestyle and life habits, I could never have guessed that my life would change so much, so fast, in 80 days. This includes the joy of dropping 11 pounds, (and working on another 30 to 35 lbs), meeting new people, issues being dealt with, and ….

 Here is the big one; a change in career. For many, many years I have dreamed of starting my own business, and it seems that all of the stars have aligned and things are coming together. A number of years ago I created and copyrighted some very special dolls with incredible concepts built in. I held onto the dream and believed that one day this would happen. In April I met some people at a business mixer and was blessed with a complimentary pass to the Alberta Women Entreprenuers (AWE) convention, which is worth $600. The convention was amazing, as well as the business contacts that I made, knowledge and information that I gathered, and inspiration that moved me up to the next level. Everything that I needed so far has come together, and…  by the grace and mercy of God… I feel like I am “Living The Dream”.

 I am still putting some of the pieces of the new and exciting business together, and will fill you in on the details as they happen. As is the case with many things, there are risks involved, but my faith tells me that each day will bring exactly what I need to keep going forward. One day at a time I will meet my challenges and do my best. Without a doubt, I know that we will all “Live The Dream” of overcoming the obstacles that challenge us to build the character strength we need to live the most fulfilled lives we could ever dream of and hope for.

 So keep on keeping on, because we are going to celebrate victory. We will never surrender. We know that we can and will experience the exhilaration of “Triumph of the Human Spirit”.

Rise Above

Day 4 of the 6^th segment of 10 days. Day 54 of 100 Days Of Encouragement

When any type of stressor comes along it starts to shake up your inner experience. In a quest to feel calm and stable, people reach for substances or vices that will counter the inner experience and soften the external experience if it is not a favourable one. Is food a substance of nourishment or is it a combination of nourishment and comfort? Or, do you for-go nutrition and ingest large amounts of unhealthy foods and / or use substances.

 We all have strengths and weaknesses. That makes us human. What we really strive to achieve in this life and in this world is to “Rise Above” and strengthen our spirit to experience the inner peace that some may call heaven on earth. We all seek to live in the positive realm within and outside of ourselves, but that experience has to come from the inside first. It is a life long journey that begins with the first step.

 A number of years ago someone said to me, “what is calling for your attention in this moment? Be in the present and stay grounded. Stay with that and go forward. If people allow distractions to capture their thoughts and heart, they will be pulled away from doing what needs to be done.” Let us strive together for triumph of the human spirit.

 Although it has been a bit of a struggle this week, I have stayed on track and have lost a little more weight. I will keep on keeping on, because I know that we can all achieve victory in this journey.

 This 100 day journey begins any day that you choose to build the strength to overcome the obstacles in your life. Even though today is day 54 of the 100 Days of Encouragement, you will benefit greatly by joining in the journey. We welcome you and will collectively continue with this until we live the dream. Let us win this battle together, whether it takes 200 days, 300 days, or even 400 days, we will triumph.

Renewed Inspiration

Day 3 or the 6^th segment of 100 days. Day 53 of 100 Days of Encouragement

Getting a new burst of inspiration is what everyone needs. If you just cannot find it within yourself (even though it is there), then look for positive sources of inspiration to re-energize your spirit.

 What most people don’t realize is that we all have the spirit of inspiration, encouragement, and forward moving energy within us. It seems for many of us, (that includes me) we struggle to believe that we have it there within us, so we look to others for extra strength.  Of course this is also important, as we connect with others and share the strength and energy to make the world go around. Sharing and helping each other creates the environment we need to overcome obstacles within us.

 Triumph of the human spirit is developing the spiritual muscle to overcome adversity and build the confidence in truly believing that we are stable and secure in each moment. With a renewed spirit of believing, we can and will overcome the obstacles that are within us first, and then the obstacles in our external world will also turn into positives.

 The more I allow myself to dig deep down and follow that leading from within, the stronger I feel and the more I can accomplish in a day. I have learned to ask myself why I want to jump up and eat something when I am not physically hungry. If I monitor my thoughts and feelings, I typically will see that I believe that someone else has power over my ability to feel happy and free. Forgiveness or letting go of the struggle will free us and help us to be energized to go forward.

 These are the real obstacles that get in the way of feeling completely in control of our own world. I have also learned that I need to focus on what I can do each day and set aside the worries of tomorrow that I cannot change today; however, the choices I make today can set the wheels in motion of renewed life for tomorrow, next week and even into the years to come.

 What is on our hearts today? What can we do today to take care of what is in front of us? Sometimes we have to stop thinking, rethinking, and rethinking, and just do it, as long as it is something that will better our own souls and those around us.  I know that we are all moving forward together and will win the battle. Keep your chin up and smile, because God is smiling with you today. Now, what needs to be done today? Go do it!