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| Every day is a beautiful day for inspiration and faith from Daily Bible Quotes! | |
| It's 4/4 and here is today's scripture: | |
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Friday, April 4, 2014
Daily Bible Quote
Words Of Wisdom
Hold your peace and let the Lord God fight your battles! Yield God the right of way! #GodsGrace #TrustGodsProcess
This
year, God has set before you many good days. Declare the good you want
to see and expect to experience greater glory in every area (see Mk
11:23, 1Pe 3:10)!
When one door shuts believe God for a better one to open.. Trust that everything has a purpose in your life! #UNLEASHED2014
There
is nothing in this life that can destroy you but yourself. Bad things
happen to everyone, but when they do, you can't just fall apart and die.
You have to fight back. If you don't, you're the one who loses in the
end. But if you do keep going and fight back, you win.
-Alexandra Monir
-Alexandra Monir
God
didn’t empower you with the Holy Spirit to empower yourself. He
empowered you with the Holy Spirit to serve Him!– Pastor Jackie
McCullough #AnInspiredGeneration
We
are God's representatives, ambassadors for Christ, and Heaven is the
country we represent. All of our provisions come through the Kingdom and
are appropriated and manifested by faith.
4 Steps to Blast Through the Funky Funks
Stephenie Zamora | April 3, 2014 | Living
I
know you know what I mean when I say funky funks… those days when you
can’t seem to do anything, feel fussy, think life is “meh” and just want
to crawl back into bed or spend hours in front of the TV. These days
aren’t filled with relaxing and rejuvenation, they’re filled with funky
moods and bleh feelings.
Maybe for you it’s every evening that you come home from work, exhausted and frustrated. Traffic was a pain, your boss was being a jerk, and you lost a couple hours worth of work when you’re computer decided to reboot at a random time. Maybe it’s the weekends, after a busy week where all you did was run around, answer calls, take orders, push, move, do and think, think, think. Either way, you’re exhausted and feeling bleh.
I’ve been there and I know exactly what it feels like. So today I’m helping you out with…
Not every friend you enjoy spending time with is someone you’d want to see while in a funk… pick the top people that make you laugh, listen to you vent or just make you feel at ease. Additionally, highlight the activities, hobbies and things that really make you feel great. Sure, watching TV can be relaxing, but it’s probably not something that makes you feel refreshed and energized. Be really honest as you work back through your list and only highlight the top people, items and activities.
Same for the weekend… can you schedule a massage then plan to hit the beach or pool for the day with your favorite book? Maybe it’s a matter of picking a new knitting project to start while listening to a book on tape in your jammy pants with some delicious take out. Whatever it is, make a plan.
If you don’t like rigid plans for your free time, make a few loose plans. Think of a few different scenarios that would be awesome, then go with what feels right when it rolls around.
When you feel like saying, “meh, I’ll do it tomorrow,” gently push yourself through it. This is not about being cruel or forceful with yourself, it’s about taking a deep breath, shaking it off and going through the motions anyways. I promise that soon you’ll feel amazing and be glad you did. Plus, the more often you push through, the sooner you’ll make positive action a habit and experience less and less funky funks!
Maybe for you it’s every evening that you come home from work, exhausted and frustrated. Traffic was a pain, your boss was being a jerk, and you lost a couple hours worth of work when you’re computer decided to reboot at a random time. Maybe it’s the weekends, after a busy week where all you did was run around, answer calls, take orders, push, move, do and think, think, think. Either way, you’re exhausted and feeling bleh.
The problem with getting stuck in the funky funks is that you lose precious time doing nothing and feeling like crap! @StephenieZ (Click to Tweet!)
And it’s not just any time you lose, it’s your time. The time when you don’t have to work, answer to others, or rush around like a maniac… you lose your free time. Then when the next day or week rolls around, you feel even worse because you didn’t take advantage of your time to enjoy hobbies or follow your dreams, and you probably didn’t even relax.I’ve been there and I know exactly what it feels like. So today I’m helping you out with…
Four Steps to Blast Through the Funky Funks
1) Make Note of Your Common Funky Funk Times.
Whether it’s after work, the weekends or a more cyclical monthly funky funk, it’s important to make note of when it happens. Becoming aware of your patterns will help you create a plan of attack, or just allow you to avoid falling into the viscous cycle of wasting time and then feeling even worse after. Keep a little pocket calendar on hand and start making note of when you really feel the funk!2) Make a Funk-Blaster List.
Make a list of all the things you love to do, things that relax you, people you enjoy spending time with and favorite hobbies. These should be things that make you feel excited, happy, energized and relaxed. Once you’ve made a list of everything, really go back through and highlight the ones that make you feel the best.Not every friend you enjoy spending time with is someone you’d want to see while in a funk… pick the top people that make you laugh, listen to you vent or just make you feel at ease. Additionally, highlight the activities, hobbies and things that really make you feel great. Sure, watching TV can be relaxing, but it’s probably not something that makes you feel refreshed and energized. Be really honest as you work back through your list and only highlight the top people, items and activities.
3) Craft a Plan.
Now that you know when you’ll likely be in a funky funk AND what people and activities make you feel awesome, craft a plan! What can you do after work today that will make you feel amazing? Is it trying a new recipe, pouring a glass of wine and listening to some music while you dine by candlelight? Is it meeting up with your best friend and taking a walk around the local park while gabbing?Same for the weekend… can you schedule a massage then plan to hit the beach or pool for the day with your favorite book? Maybe it’s a matter of picking a new knitting project to start while listening to a book on tape in your jammy pants with some delicious take out. Whatever it is, make a plan.
If you don’t like rigid plans for your free time, make a few loose plans. Think of a few different scenarios that would be awesome, then go with what feels right when it rolls around.
4) Gently “Push Through” the Funk.
Not creating a plan or following through on a loose one is not an option. Believe me, I know it can be really hard to stick to it when you’re feeling the funky funks, but I also know that when you do, they dissipate faster than you thought possible! Before you know it you’re feeling great, getting things done and your energy level heightens!When you feel like saying, “meh, I’ll do it tomorrow,” gently push yourself through it. This is not about being cruel or forceful with yourself, it’s about taking a deep breath, shaking it off and going through the motions anyways. I promise that soon you’ll feel amazing and be glad you did. Plus, the more often you push through, the sooner you’ll make positive action a habit and experience less and less funky funks!
Take Action Now
Make your list! Get out some paper and a pen or pencil and get to work writing out everything that you love doing. Include the people you love doing them with! Then be sure to go back through and highlight the items that really make you feel great. Lastly, pick a day, this weekend or an upcoming evening, to do a trial run of your own plan.Greater Happiness in 5 Minutes a Day
Christine Carter | April 3, 2014 | Living, Loving
Might
be that sitting with your legs crossed repeating stuff like “May all
beings be free from suffering,” is a little too far-out for you. I’m a scientist for
crying out loud, so you can imagine how I might feel meditating while
surrounded by prominent neuroscientists, which I once did on a seven day
silent meditation retreat. Except that I actually didn’t feel silly.
Why?
Because research demonstrates the incredible power of loving-kindness meditation. No need to be self-conscious when this stuff might be more effective than Prozac. Also called metta, loving-kindness meditation is the simple practice of directing well-wishes towards other people.
May I be healthy and strong. May I be happy. May I be filled with ease. Loving-kindness meditation is a simple repetition of these phrases, but directing them at different people. I do this with my kids before bed. We visualize together who we are directing the metta towards, and at first I say something (May you be happy) and the kids repeat it after me. After a few repetitions, we start saying them in unison. The phrases we use are “May you be healthy and strong. May you be happy. May you be peaceful.”
1. Start with directing the phrases at yourself: May I be happy.
2. Next, direct the metta towards someone you feel thankful for or someone who has helped you.
3. Now visualize someone you feel neutral about—people you neither like nor dislike. This one can be harder than you’d think. Makes me realize how quick we can be to judge people as either positive or negative in our lives.
4. Ironically, the next one can be easier – visualizing the people you don’t like or who you are having a hard time with. Kids who are being teased or bullied at school often feel quite empowered when they send love to the people making them miserable.
5. Finally, direct the metta towards everyone universally: “May all beings everywhere be happy.”
In this 3-minute video, Sylvia Boorstein, author of Happiness is an Inside Job, teaches how to do this. Another good resource is Sharon Salzberg—she wrote Loving-Kindness: The Revolutionary Art of Happiness. Doing this with kids of all ages doesn’t need to be complicated; most are good at using their imaginations to send love and well-wishes. You don’t really need to read books about this: loving-kindness meditation is as simple it seems. People write books about it because it is so powerful.
Loving-kindness meditation does far more than produce momentary good feelings.
Over a nine week period, research showed that this type of meditation increased people’s experiences of positive emotions.
(If you are working on improving your ratio of positive to negative
emotions, start with metta!) The research shows compellingly that it
actually puts people on “trajectories of growth,” leaving them better
able to ward off depression and “become ever more satisfied with life.”
This is probably because it increases a wide range of those resources
that make for a meaningful and successful life, like having an increased
sense of purpose, stronger social support, and less illness. Research
even shows that loving-kindness meditation “changes the way people
approach life” for the better.
I’ve blogged before about social connections and how important they are for health and happiness. Doing a simple loving-kindness meditation can make us feel less isolated and more connected to those around us: one study showed that a SINGLE SEVEN MINUTE loving-kindness meditation made people feel more connected to and positive about both loved ones and total strangers, and more accepting of themselves. Imagine what a regular practice could do!
Why?
Because research demonstrates the incredible power of loving-kindness meditation. No need to be self-conscious when this stuff might be more effective than Prozac. Also called metta, loving-kindness meditation is the simple practice of directing well-wishes towards other people.
Here’s How to Do It
The general idea is to sit comfortably with your eyes closed, and imagine what you wish for your life. Formulate your desires into three or four phrases. Traditionally they would be something like this:May I be healthy and strong. May I be happy. May I be filled with ease. Loving-kindness meditation is a simple repetition of these phrases, but directing them at different people. I do this with my kids before bed. We visualize together who we are directing the metta towards, and at first I say something (May you be happy) and the kids repeat it after me. After a few repetitions, we start saying them in unison. The phrases we use are “May you be healthy and strong. May you be happy. May you be peaceful.”
1. Start with directing the phrases at yourself: May I be happy.
2. Next, direct the metta towards someone you feel thankful for or someone who has helped you.
3. Now visualize someone you feel neutral about—people you neither like nor dislike. This one can be harder than you’d think. Makes me realize how quick we can be to judge people as either positive or negative in our lives.
4. Ironically, the next one can be easier – visualizing the people you don’t like or who you are having a hard time with. Kids who are being teased or bullied at school often feel quite empowered when they send love to the people making them miserable.
5. Finally, direct the metta towards everyone universally: “May all beings everywhere be happy.”
In this 3-minute video, Sylvia Boorstein, author of Happiness is an Inside Job, teaches how to do this. Another good resource is Sharon Salzberg—she wrote Loving-Kindness: The Revolutionary Art of Happiness. Doing this with kids of all ages doesn’t need to be complicated; most are good at using their imaginations to send love and well-wishes. You don’t really need to read books about this: loving-kindness meditation is as simple it seems. People write books about it because it is so powerful.
Here’s What You Get When You Send Love
Loving-kindness meditation does far more than produce momentary good feelings.
@RaisingHappines (Click to Tweet!)
Over a nine week period, research showed that this type of meditation increased people’s experiences of positive emotions.
(If you are working on improving your ratio of positive to negative
emotions, start with metta!) The research shows compellingly that it
actually puts people on “trajectories of growth,” leaving them better
able to ward off depression and “become ever more satisfied with life.”
This is probably because it increases a wide range of those resources
that make for a meaningful and successful life, like having an increased
sense of purpose, stronger social support, and less illness. Research
even shows that loving-kindness meditation “changes the way people
approach life” for the better.I’ve blogged before about social connections and how important they are for health and happiness. Doing a simple loving-kindness meditation can make us feel less isolated and more connected to those around us: one study showed that a SINGLE SEVEN MINUTE loving-kindness meditation made people feel more connected to and positive about both loved ones and total strangers, and more accepting of themselves. Imagine what a regular practice could do!
To Be in Therapy, or Not to Be? That is the Question
To Be in Therapy, or Not to Be? That is the Question
Angella Nazarian | April 4, 2014 | Living
For
seven years, seventeen women claimed space in my family room to spend
three hours in discussion. No, this was not a book group, nor a social
group. These women came to have frank discussions about themselves,
their relationships and their inevitable life transitions. This was a
completely different mode of learning for the women and for me.
Having been a professor of psychology for eleven years, I left my job feeling jaded. I felt that I was repeating the same theories and materials to new faces, not knowing if I had really made an impact.
So, I went about forming a group and a curriculum that focused on the messy life matters that we all deal with: how and where do I spend the majority of my life energy; which relationships matter to me; and how do I keep redefining myself as my needs change? I created a group and a workshop that I wanted and needed in my own life.
The group offered a safe environment in which we were able ask these difficult life questions. We challenged and supported one another and served as sounding boards for one another. Certainly, these sessions were therapeutic, but not therapy.
At the end of seven years, I had managed to write the book I always wanted to write, another friend started a non-profit and many others took steps towards realizing their dreams — whether it was taking up an art class, going back to school or deciding to cut down on work.
It has been reported that while Gertrude Stein was on her deathbed, she asked, “What is the answer?”
Then, she was silent for a while and rose from her pillow and said, “What is the question?”
But having come full circle, I can tell you that I know of too many people who have spent decades (and a good deal of money) on the therapist couch without changing their core behavioral patterns. They have mastered self-awareness, which is a big step in change.
But the more difficult job of change is about discipline and taking action. @antravelista
I love what Woody Allen, who spent many years in therapy, had to say in response: “an over-examined life is not worth living.” Both statements have their points.
This is precisely why the personal coaching industry is booming today. What many people are looking for now is something different than traditional therapy. Therapy certainly has its place and rewards; it cultivates awareness and a deep sense of connection to yourself.
I found our group to be so successful based on the simple fact that we tuned in to our individual needs, made ourselves available to listen and be heard and most importantly, we started asking each other the right questions!
Why must you ask yourself the right questions? As James Hollis has often said, “you might be living somebody else’s life if you don’t.”
Having been a professor of psychology for eleven years, I left my job feeling jaded. I felt that I was repeating the same theories and materials to new faces, not knowing if I had really made an impact.
So, I went about forming a group and a curriculum that focused on the messy life matters that we all deal with: how and where do I spend the majority of my life energy; which relationships matter to me; and how do I keep redefining myself as my needs change? I created a group and a workshop that I wanted and needed in my own life.
The group offered a safe environment in which we were able ask these difficult life questions. We challenged and supported one another and served as sounding boards for one another. Certainly, these sessions were therapeutic, but not therapy.
At the end of seven years, I had managed to write the book I always wanted to write, another friend started a non-profit and many others took steps towards realizing their dreams — whether it was taking up an art class, going back to school or deciding to cut down on work.
It has been reported that while Gertrude Stein was on her deathbed, she asked, “What is the answer?”
Then, she was silent for a while and rose from her pillow and said, “What is the question?”
This is precisely the conundrum that we face everyday. We are all overwhelmed by all the busy-ness in our lives, yet we don’t ever stop to ask, Why we do the things we do? Will it make us feel happier or more fulfilled? Or is it just a way of distracting us from our true purpose?
For all the Freudians out there, you may know that Freud often referred to Socrates, saying, “the unexamined life is not worth living.”But having come full circle, I can tell you that I know of too many people who have spent decades (and a good deal of money) on the therapist couch without changing their core behavioral patterns. They have mastered self-awareness, which is a big step in change.
But the more difficult job of change is about discipline and taking action. @antravelista
(Click to Tweet!)
I love what Woody Allen, who spent many years in therapy, had to say in response: “an over-examined life is not worth living.” Both statements have their points.This is precisely why the personal coaching industry is booming today. What many people are looking for now is something different than traditional therapy. Therapy certainly has its place and rewards; it cultivates awareness and a deep sense of connection to yourself.
Coaching, on the other hand, helps us grow into who we want to become by encouraging habitual changes in our daily lives — strategizing, changing lifestyle patterns, committing to action as well as providing needed accountability and a proactive mindset in the present moment.
We all have our own journey to make with our own set of challenges. But one thing is for sure: personal transformation takes time, accountability and encouragement. It can happen organically through personal relationships or through enlisting an outside coach or joining a group.I found our group to be so successful based on the simple fact that we tuned in to our individual needs, made ourselves available to listen and be heard and most importantly, we started asking each other the right questions!
Why must you ask yourself the right questions? As James Hollis has often said, “you might be living somebody else’s life if you don’t.”
The Steps to Surrender
Terri Cole | April 4, 2014 | Living
We are all guilty of future and past tripping, going over our To Do list while pretending to be in a conversation and generally being someplace else. The problem with not being present in the moment is, we lose it. Once it’s gone, it’s gone.
How sad is that? I think about all of the moments I missed in my own precious life when I was a workaholic talent agent and feel that sadness. Sometimes you are too busy mulling over something someone said an hour ago, a week ago, or even a year ago, to pay attention to the NOW. Regardless of where your mind goes, past or future, if you are not in the present, you are missing out.
Past and future tripping usually does not tap into joy. I bet you don’t spend hours or days reliving your best vacation or your deepest accomplishment, right? Right. Regrets about the past and anxiety about the future are usually what people are ruminating about when they are not Here Now.
Surrendering to What Is, Will liberate you from, What Could Have Been #BeHereNow
The best gift you can give to anyone is your presence.
If you can manage to keep your head where your feet are, your joy quotient will rise exponentially.We are all guilty of future and past tripping, going over our To Do list while pretending to be in a conversation and generally being someplace else. The problem with not being present in the moment is, we lose it. Once it’s gone, it’s gone.
How sad is that? I think about all of the moments I missed in my own precious life when I was a workaholic talent agent and feel that sadness. Sometimes you are too busy mulling over something someone said an hour ago, a week ago, or even a year ago, to pay attention to the NOW. Regardless of where your mind goes, past or future, if you are not in the present, you are missing out.
Past and future tripping usually does not tap into joy. I bet you don’t spend hours or days reliving your best vacation or your deepest accomplishment, right? Right. Regrets about the past and anxiety about the future are usually what people are ruminating about when they are not Here Now.
Surrendering to What Is, is essential for building the life you desire.
When you surrender, you release your wish that things had been different, as well as your fear that life won’t work out the way you’d hoped. When you stop resisting what actually happened, you open the door to the infinite possibilities of this present moment. It is only in the present moment that you can make conscious choices that are aligned with your best life.
Surrendering to What Is, Will liberate you from, What Could Have Been #BeHereNow
@Terri_Cole (Click to Tweet!)
One
of the best ways I know to actually practice the art of surrender
(think of it as a skill to master) is to acknowledge when you are not
present, as soon as you notice it. This creates the path back to the
here and now. When you have a moment in your ‘tripping’ where you ‘come
to,’ take a breath and repeat to yourself “I am here.” You can even
stomp your feet on the floor to physically reground yourself in your
body.
Breath. Repeat. Stomp. Breath. Repeat. Stomp.
A similar technique that I love is from Josh Pais, a busy working actor and the creator of Committed Impulse.
Josh has constructed a fun and ingenious four step training program for
strengthening your Be Here Now muscles. The moment you notice you are
past or future tripping:
1. Breathe
2. See what is in front of you.
3. Feel the sensations in your body.
4. Say, ‘I’m back!”
I
got to experience Josh and his magic at my pal (and his fiance), Marie
Forleo’s Rich Happy & Hot Live event last year. Saying, “I’m back!”
every time I realized my mind had left the room really made me conscious
of how often I was elsewhere. It is effective and easy to do.
Try
either or both of these exercises throughout this week. Bring yourself
back to the moment, back to the space where you can access joy and
surrender to what is true. I would love to hear from you. Do you past or future trip often? Will you try the exercises? I hope so.
Sending lots of love from my heart to yours. Have a beautiful week, not missing a moment, and as always take care of you.
Love Love Love
TerriTODAY’S WORD from Joel and Victoria
TODAY’S WORD from Joel and Victoria
A friend of mine has a son who got his driver’s license a while back and really wanted a car. His father said to him, “Let’s believe that God will give you a car.” The son said, “Dad, God is not going to give me a car. You can buy me a car.” He said, “No, let’s pray.”
They asked God to somehow make a way for the son to have a car. The young man had one in mind, but he would have been happy with anything. A couple of months later, this man’s employer called him in and said, “For the last two years, we’ve made a mistake on your paycheck. We’ve been underpaying you.” When they handed him the check for the back pay, it was $500 more than the car they had been hoping to buy.
A friend of mine has a son who got his driver’s license a while back and really wanted a car. His father said to him, “Let’s believe that God will give you a car.” The son said, “Dad, God is not going to give me a car. You can buy me a car.” He said, “No, let’s pray.”
They asked God to somehow make a way for the son to have a car. The young man had one in mind, but he would have been happy with anything. A couple of months later, this man’s employer called him in and said, “For the last two years, we’ve made a mistake on your paycheck. We’ve been underpaying you.” When they handed him the check for the back pay, it was $500 more than the car they had been hoping to buy.
The
Scripture says, “Is there anything too hard for the Lord?” There is no
telling what God will do if you’ll dare to believe Him. Why don’t you
stretch your faith today? Give God something to work with. Declare His
Word, meditate on His promises, and put Him first because nothing is too
hard for Him!
A PRAYER FOR TODAY
Father, I know that, with You, all things are possible! Nothing is too hard for You. I choose to stand in faith, I choose to trust, and I choose to walk in every blessing You have in store for me in Jesus’ name. Amen.
— Joel & Victoria Osteen
A PRAYER FOR TODAY
Father, I know that, with You, all things are possible! Nothing is too hard for You. I choose to stand in faith, I choose to trust, and I choose to walk in every blessing You have in store for me in Jesus’ name. Amen.
— Joel & Victoria Osteen
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