Thursday, January 17, 2019
Young Once
https://www.youngonce.ca/
Just watched this show called "Young Once." It's all on youtube. and season 2 is about to get released. It's cool cuz its not only filmed in CA but at Biola University! I went to their graduate school, Talbot. But yeah its cool to see the campus. It brings back memories. It has a Laguna Beach / Hills feel to it. The producers do set things up but you can tell that a lot of it is authentic conversations and reactions. It's about Christian dating / courtship and how Christian faith and values are part of those relationships and friendships. One of the main characters, Cassie, is also on the current bachelor season. I wouldn't be surprised if she gets picked for the next bachelorette. They have a comic relief named Tony, and they just film his random adventures and conversations with friends. Anyways, it's worth a watch. Makes me wish I went to Biola for my undergrad. It's pretty awesome to be in that Christian utopia.
I watched the netflix movie called "Black Mirror Bandersnatch." That was cool cuz u actually make choices which determine the future timeline of events. Black Mirror in general is lit.
Lastly, I'm tryin to binge through 73 episodes of an anime called "World Trigger." It has a really good plot. It's not up to par with My Hero Academia, but it's still p good.
I also caught up to "Fear the Walking Dead." Latest seasons are super good.
Over the past several months I binged like entire seasons of "The Office." Didn't realize I actually didn't see a lot of episodes before. Such a classic.
uhm oh there's a animated DC movie called, "The Reign of Superman." ima watch tmrw. There's also finally season 3 of "Young Justice"! but idk so far i like previous seasons better.
Also saw "Jurassic World." It was aight.
It's so nice to just watch a show and escape reality sometimes.
For the longest time i've been confused about if periods, commas and question marks go inside or outside of quotation marks.
The most common question people ask about quotation marks is whether periods and commas go inside or outside, and the answer depends on where your audience lives because in American English we always put periods and commas inside quotation marks, but in British English periods and commas can go inside or outside.semicolons, colons, and dashes always go outside quotation marks.If the question mark or exclamation point is part of your quotation, it stays inside; but if the question mark or exclamation point are not part of the quotation, they go outside the closing quotation mark.
Ok thanks google
Wednesday, December 26, 2018
Peace
This year my main 2019 new year's resolution and goal sort of just came to me this week. It can be summed up in one word. Peace. In previous years, I had words like Confidence, Discipline, Community, Flourishing, Self-Love, and the phrase "Being with God." These are all still important self-improvement goals that I need to continue to work on. But this year, for some reason I was less concerned with trying to be the best version of myself all the time. I'm usually very critical on myself and try all sorts of things to better myself. But instead of focusing too much on trying to grow in my holistic health, I thought I could really just use a sense of peace.
Peace isn't the absence of problems, but the addition of power to overcome them. Even if life can feel like a thunderstorm, we can find peace knowing that God is with us, that he is sovereign and in control.
My mind wanders and ponders way too much. I think about the past and the future too much. It causes me to worry or spiral into negative thinking. I realize that these thoughts aren't helpful. Sometimes I find it better to just go exercise, play games or watch a movie so that I become numb. So I'm not exactly where I thought I'd be by now. I have too much debt, I stress out about money, I struggle with loneliness and singleness, and have issues of depression. I think we all search for a sense of belonging, and a sense of fulfillment. If we are living without purpose and not utilizing our potential, I think its common to feel unsatisfied with ourselves. Even if life isn't the way you dreamed it would be and you're not exactly how you'd like to be or where you'd like to be, you can still find peace.
I have had to deal with a conflict recently, and it's caused me unnecessary stress. Some people are just oblivious to how obnoxious, insensitive and rude they are. It can be super annoying. But instead of fighting back, i'm trying to just forgive and let go.
I think the most important thing for me right now is finding a deeper sense of peace. How? I think it goes back to "Being with God" and receiving rest and peace in the love of God. Also, it helps to just notice when i'm having negative thoughts, and then trying to switch that off and just live in the present. Every moment is a chance we can abide in God. Sometimes just 30 seconds of connecting with God can really change everything. God is always with us and sometimes I forget that. God help me to be at peace. Help me to share that peace with others. Hope everyone has a peaceful new year!
Peace isn't the absence of problems, but the addition of power to overcome them. Even if life can feel like a thunderstorm, we can find peace knowing that God is with us, that he is sovereign and in control.
My mind wanders and ponders way too much. I think about the past and the future too much. It causes me to worry or spiral into negative thinking. I realize that these thoughts aren't helpful. Sometimes I find it better to just go exercise, play games or watch a movie so that I become numb. So I'm not exactly where I thought I'd be by now. I have too much debt, I stress out about money, I struggle with loneliness and singleness, and have issues of depression. I think we all search for a sense of belonging, and a sense of fulfillment. If we are living without purpose and not utilizing our potential, I think its common to feel unsatisfied with ourselves. Even if life isn't the way you dreamed it would be and you're not exactly how you'd like to be or where you'd like to be, you can still find peace.
I have had to deal with a conflict recently, and it's caused me unnecessary stress. Some people are just oblivious to how obnoxious, insensitive and rude they are. It can be super annoying. But instead of fighting back, i'm trying to just forgive and let go.
I think the most important thing for me right now is finding a deeper sense of peace. How? I think it goes back to "Being with God" and receiving rest and peace in the love of God. Also, it helps to just notice when i'm having negative thoughts, and then trying to switch that off and just live in the present. Every moment is a chance we can abide in God. Sometimes just 30 seconds of connecting with God can really change everything. God is always with us and sometimes I forget that. God help me to be at peace. Help me to share that peace with others. Hope everyone has a peaceful new year!
Tuesday, November 27, 2018
Renovation of the Heart
Feels like I haven't blogged in a while. Just haven't taken the time. Here's what's new.
My mom decided to renovate the house. So we got some dudes who apparently aren't licensed contractors.. but they did a decent job. Renovations never go according to plan. Houses require a little too much attention if you ask me. Anyways, we redid my entire bathroom. Like the flooring and everything. We also redid my bedroom so now I have more space and closet space. I didn't realize how much clothes I have. Oh yeah, the big thing is we put in some air conditioners finally! So that's really nice. Oh and we had wood rot so that was a lot of repairs as well.
While doing my bathroom we realized we needed to call a plumber. He then said we have to change out a lot of our water system piping to prevent future water problems. And that was super expensive. Everything is expensive. Anyways, we're close to being finish. We're just gonna get our carpet clean. I like carpet. Like legit awesome carpet. I don't get how ppl live with hard floors.
Renovations are like getting a hair cut. It's something new and fresh. It also reminds me of how God renovates our heart. Everyday is a brand new start. We have all these thoughts, dreams and ideas. But then from there, it's a matter of taking intentional action to achieve our goals. A lot of times I have something I want to do or pursue and then something else comes up and we realized we're distracted from pursuing what's important to us. (like trying to go to the gym but instead taking a nap). Change, transformation, growth and becoming a better version of yourself is basically internal renovation. It's cleaning up all the junk and replacing it with the right perspective.
My mom decided to renovate the house. So we got some dudes who apparently aren't licensed contractors.. but they did a decent job. Renovations never go according to plan. Houses require a little too much attention if you ask me. Anyways, we redid my entire bathroom. Like the flooring and everything. We also redid my bedroom so now I have more space and closet space. I didn't realize how much clothes I have. Oh yeah, the big thing is we put in some air conditioners finally! So that's really nice. Oh and we had wood rot so that was a lot of repairs as well.
While doing my bathroom we realized we needed to call a plumber. He then said we have to change out a lot of our water system piping to prevent future water problems. And that was super expensive. Everything is expensive. Anyways, we're close to being finish. We're just gonna get our carpet clean. I like carpet. Like legit awesome carpet. I don't get how ppl live with hard floors.
Renovations are like getting a hair cut. It's something new and fresh. It also reminds me of how God renovates our heart. Everyday is a brand new start. We have all these thoughts, dreams and ideas. But then from there, it's a matter of taking intentional action to achieve our goals. A lot of times I have something I want to do or pursue and then something else comes up and we realized we're distracted from pursuing what's important to us. (like trying to go to the gym but instead taking a nap). Change, transformation, growth and becoming a better version of yourself is basically internal renovation. It's cleaning up all the junk and replacing it with the right perspective.
Saturday, September 1, 2018
help
God,
Sometimes it feels so easy to get distracted. to fall away from your word, will and way. I feel frustrated right now. i go through so many negative emotions i'm not quite sure what to do. i continue to sin and lust and live for myself rather than for your glory. sometimes it's very hard for me to come to you when I know how much i sin. I understand your grace but sometimes i have a really hard time trusting and receiving it. I guess, sometimes i have these expectations and plans for myself and they never seem to go right. help me to pursue holiness and to grow in repentance. I feel like i'm often struggling, and no matter how hard I try things just don't go the way I hoped. Help me to trust you more and to not lean on my own strength. Forgive me for all my sins of commission and sins of omission. Help me to put you first. Help me to grow in confidence, self-discipline and self-love. Help me to abide in you even when it seems hard or when I don't quite feel like it. Heal the brokenness inside me, renew and restore me.
Sometimes it feels so easy to get distracted. to fall away from your word, will and way. I feel frustrated right now. i go through so many negative emotions i'm not quite sure what to do. i continue to sin and lust and live for myself rather than for your glory. sometimes it's very hard for me to come to you when I know how much i sin. I understand your grace but sometimes i have a really hard time trusting and receiving it. I guess, sometimes i have these expectations and plans for myself and they never seem to go right. help me to pursue holiness and to grow in repentance. I feel like i'm often struggling, and no matter how hard I try things just don't go the way I hoped. Help me to trust you more and to not lean on my own strength. Forgive me for all my sins of commission and sins of omission. Help me to put you first. Help me to grow in confidence, self-discipline and self-love. Help me to abide in you even when it seems hard or when I don't quite feel like it. Heal the brokenness inside me, renew and restore me.
Monday, August 20, 2018
Trust
God help me to trust you even when I have no idea what to do. Help me to stay in the present and not try to overthink everything. Help me to slow down and to not try and do everything on my own. Help me to not worry so much. Help me to grow in self-confidence. Speak to me and help me to be obedient to your will. I pray that you'd give me guidance and peace. Help me to find rest in you and to seek you first.
Thursday, June 28, 2018
My Hero Academia
I officially consider Boku No Hero Academia, aka "My Hero Academia" my new favorite anime. It just does everything right. I love the characters, superpowers, animation, the comedy, the plot, the action, music and just everything about it.. I would say My Hero Academia is even better than Naruto, Full Metal Alchemist Brotherhood, One Punch Man, Dragon Ball Z, Attack on Titan, Sword Art Online, Death Note, Legend of Korra, Justice League, Young Justice, Teen Titans, Clone Wars, Seven Deadly Sins, Voltron, Bleach, Gurren Lagann, Hunter X Hunter, etc. etc. This anime just beats them all.
Without spoiling it, it's about a boy named Izuku Midoriya, who wants to become a hero, but doesn't really have any powers of his own. 80% of the population are born with innate "quirks" or abilities. And for whatever reason he just didn't get one. There's also adult professional heroes that fight off villains and protect the city. Even though Izuku wasn't born with any special powers, he's a great strategist and has a strong teacher to help him along the way. He then enters into a prestige high school where he's able to train with his classmates. For most of the anime he's trying to build his self-confidence to pursue becoming the world's greatest hero.
Every episode is great. It doesn't really have filler episodes too! My Hero Academia just has the right formula. The crazy thing is that I haven't even finished it yet. I've been binge watching it on Hulu this entire week. I'm about to start season 3 soon and I just can't get enough of it. Anyways, hope anyone out there reading this watches it and gives it a fair shot. Tell your friends! You guys hafta check it out. it's soooo gooood!! ahh!
https://kissanime.ac/Anime/Boku-no-Hero-Academia-Dub.93523/
Monday, June 25, 2018
Mindset and Goals
"Don't quit. Suffer now and live the rest of your life as a champion." -Muhammad Ali
"People always asked me why I was smiling. Other guys had a sour face or they were pissed off that they had to do another rep or another set. But I looked forward to the work. Why? Because I knew that with every rep that I did, every set that I did, with every weight that I lifted, I got one step closer to turning my vision into reality." -Arnold Schwarzenegger
Now that I've finished graduate school and my practicum, I have a little more time to focus on my goals. Sure I still have career goals to move towards, but while I was in school I sort of put nutrition and training on the back burner. I ate whatever I wanted and told myself I didn't have the energy to exercise. Well now that I have the time I want to take my goals more seriously.
There's an app called MyFitnessPal. It's pretty useful for counting calories, carbs, fats, protein, sugar etc. I really need to cut down on sugar. My nutrition goals started with having a caloric deficit to lose 10 pounds. I think that's already changed. I think I just want to eat healthier and stop eating fast food garbage. I would like to eat chicken/ steak, rice, an egg and veggies for the majority of my meals. I don't really get tired of it. High protein diets are good for gaining lean muscle and weight management. Apparently yogurt is also good, but the healthy yogurts are so tarty. My mom and I have been using a blender so I also take visalus every day or so. I also like Jym products for protein, multivitamins, etc.
So sticking to this nutrition plan is probably 80% of the battle. Nutrition and exercise goals are all about mindset. it's changing your lifestyle and habits, and making better daily choices. In fact, eventually you begin to crave only healthy foods. No one got anywhere by being lazy. Change and transformation takes visualizing who you want to be. It's easy to lose motivation after a week or so. But the key is consistency. Self-love, really is self-discipline. If you want to treat yourself with love, you'll have to take care of yourself holistically. I always say this in my blogs, but health is very holistic. Cognitive, emotional, behavioral, physical, relational, spiritual health are all related and interconnected. In order to improve ourselves holistically we have to make healthy choices in all areas of our life. I would also throw in financial health, because i really need to save money. Make smart investments, invest in yourself, invest in your future by being your best today.
Health and wellness really boils down to self-discipline. Change doesn't happen over night. You have to trust and believe in yourself. it takes self-confidence. Internal locus of control. It's about believing you can achieve your goals by putting in the hard work and dedication. It's a intentional consistency to be relentless to your priorities and healthy habits. And over a period of time, you'll grow closer to the person you want to be.
Compromise, excuses, negative self-talk, complaining, being lazy and instant gratification is easy. Anyone can do it. But look at great athletes, and musicians. What makes them great is that they're willing to put in the time and effort.Nothing stops them or can get in their way. Fill your life with accountability, people who will encourage you, and things that will remind you of your goals. Reward yourself and celebrate your accomplishments. It's all about taking positive steps in the right direction. What are your priorities? What are your goals for today? Who do you want to be?
"People always asked me why I was smiling. Other guys had a sour face or they were pissed off that they had to do another rep or another set. But I looked forward to the work. Why? Because I knew that with every rep that I did, every set that I did, with every weight that I lifted, I got one step closer to turning my vision into reality." -Arnold Schwarzenegger
Now that I've finished graduate school and my practicum, I have a little more time to focus on my goals. Sure I still have career goals to move towards, but while I was in school I sort of put nutrition and training on the back burner. I ate whatever I wanted and told myself I didn't have the energy to exercise. Well now that I have the time I want to take my goals more seriously.
There's an app called MyFitnessPal. It's pretty useful for counting calories, carbs, fats, protein, sugar etc. I really need to cut down on sugar. My nutrition goals started with having a caloric deficit to lose 10 pounds. I think that's already changed. I think I just want to eat healthier and stop eating fast food garbage. I would like to eat chicken/ steak, rice, an egg and veggies for the majority of my meals. I don't really get tired of it. High protein diets are good for gaining lean muscle and weight management. Apparently yogurt is also good, but the healthy yogurts are so tarty. My mom and I have been using a blender so I also take visalus every day or so. I also like Jym products for protein, multivitamins, etc.
So sticking to this nutrition plan is probably 80% of the battle. Nutrition and exercise goals are all about mindset. it's changing your lifestyle and habits, and making better daily choices. In fact, eventually you begin to crave only healthy foods. No one got anywhere by being lazy. Change and transformation takes visualizing who you want to be. It's easy to lose motivation after a week or so. But the key is consistency. Self-love, really is self-discipline. If you want to treat yourself with love, you'll have to take care of yourself holistically. I always say this in my blogs, but health is very holistic. Cognitive, emotional, behavioral, physical, relational, spiritual health are all related and interconnected. In order to improve ourselves holistically we have to make healthy choices in all areas of our life. I would also throw in financial health, because i really need to save money. Make smart investments, invest in yourself, invest in your future by being your best today.
Health and wellness really boils down to self-discipline. Change doesn't happen over night. You have to trust and believe in yourself. it takes self-confidence. Internal locus of control. It's about believing you can achieve your goals by putting in the hard work and dedication. It's a intentional consistency to be relentless to your priorities and healthy habits. And over a period of time, you'll grow closer to the person you want to be.
Compromise, excuses, negative self-talk, complaining, being lazy and instant gratification is easy. Anyone can do it. But look at great athletes, and musicians. What makes them great is that they're willing to put in the time and effort.Nothing stops them or can get in their way. Fill your life with accountability, people who will encourage you, and things that will remind you of your goals. Reward yourself and celebrate your accomplishments. It's all about taking positive steps in the right direction. What are your priorities? What are your goals for today? Who do you want to be?
'Don't quit. Suffer now and live the rest of your life as a champion.'
Read more at: https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/muhammad_ali_148629
Read more at: https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/muhammad_ali_148629
Tuesday, March 27, 2018
thoughts on procrastination
So I have two really big test coming up. One is a comprehensive exam of all the classes I've taken at Chaminade. They take 10 multiple choice questions from each class. Then there's other material to remember in regards to mental health. And i got my hands on tons of study material and printed it out. I literally have hundreds of condensed notes, terms, concepts and things to remember. It's pretty intimidating when I think about it. There's so much.. The second exam is for counseling licensure.
I don't think i've been this stressed out in a long time. I can pump out research papers, I can deliver presentations, but test have always been my weakness. It does give me anxiety. The root of that anxiety is fear of failure. So today I tried to study, and i didn't get anything done. .I just distracted myself and avoided studying. This blog is really just a prep talk for myself, and to write everything down in my head.
I don't think i've been this stressed out in a long time. I can pump out research papers, I can deliver presentations, but test have always been my weakness. It does give me anxiety. The root of that anxiety is fear of failure. So today I tried to study, and i didn't get anything done. .I just distracted myself and avoided studying. This blog is really just a prep talk for myself, and to write everything down in my head.
Monday, February 5, 2018
Being with God
Wow. I can't believe I went this long without blogging. it's been about 4 months.
I forgot to do a new years resolution blog, which i always seem to do at the beginning of every year. I think the reason I haven't blogged as much is because 1) i've been super busy. 2) I didn't really come up with a new years resolution, till now.
Trying to meet all the responsibilities is quite exhausting. i've felt the burnout. I even got sick more than once, and had the flu back in november. I literally felt like dying, it was so bad. so i'm still doing church ministry work, an internship at a retirement home, and then graduate night class. Oh and an online class. All of this is more than enough to keep me busy. Everything is going well, but I can't wait till i'm done with school. it's jus way too many requirements. After I graduate I'll need 3000 more hours. crazy right? oh not to mention having to take comprehensive exams and a national mental health counselor licensing exam. The study guides are as big as an encyclopedia.
It's good to stay busy, but man I'm so happy when i get to take a day off or can sleep in. there's a lot of good netflix shows i've watched lol. Stranger Things, Atypical, Black Mirror, and i just finished La Casa De Papel. Netflix is killin it! so good. It's so nice to just escape into a show sometimes. then u realize, dang its 3am lol. I'm also watching Full Metal Alchemist, Dragon Ball Super and Boruto.
i'm taking this class on cognitive behavioral therapy. It's great so far. It's all about restructuring our thought process. We have so many automatic negative thoughts, and that affects our behavior and mood. We may likely have thinking errors. These distortions or unhelpful beliefs and false ideologies can lead to mood disorders like depression and anxiety. So in short, therapist are to help clients identify what negative thoughts are accurate or inaccurate. If they're accurate then the question is posed, "Are they helpful in anyway?" Because we have so many negative thoughts that really do us no good. Then on the flip side, how do we cultivate more positive thinking, and how does that affect our mood. When we really pay attention to our environment, our daily habits, health choices, social, spiritual life, we can see how they affect our internal thought life. i think i like to think about what i'm thinking.. we have so many thoughts everyday, sometimes it's best to turn em off. Sometimes it's best to analyze them. Sometimes it's best to question and try to change them.
...
I forgot to do a new years resolution blog, which i always seem to do at the beginning of every year. I think the reason I haven't blogged as much is because 1) i've been super busy. 2) I didn't really come up with a new years resolution, till now.
Trying to meet all the responsibilities is quite exhausting. i've felt the burnout. I even got sick more than once, and had the flu back in november. I literally felt like dying, it was so bad. so i'm still doing church ministry work, an internship at a retirement home, and then graduate night class. Oh and an online class. All of this is more than enough to keep me busy. Everything is going well, but I can't wait till i'm done with school. it's jus way too many requirements. After I graduate I'll need 3000 more hours. crazy right? oh not to mention having to take comprehensive exams and a national mental health counselor licensing exam. The study guides are as big as an encyclopedia.
It's good to stay busy, but man I'm so happy when i get to take a day off or can sleep in. there's a lot of good netflix shows i've watched lol. Stranger Things, Atypical, Black Mirror, and i just finished La Casa De Papel. Netflix is killin it! so good. It's so nice to just escape into a show sometimes. then u realize, dang its 3am lol. I'm also watching Full Metal Alchemist, Dragon Ball Super and Boruto.
i'm taking this class on cognitive behavioral therapy. It's great so far. It's all about restructuring our thought process. We have so many automatic negative thoughts, and that affects our behavior and mood. We may likely have thinking errors. These distortions or unhelpful beliefs and false ideologies can lead to mood disorders like depression and anxiety. So in short, therapist are to help clients identify what negative thoughts are accurate or inaccurate. If they're accurate then the question is posed, "Are they helpful in anyway?" Because we have so many negative thoughts that really do us no good. Then on the flip side, how do we cultivate more positive thinking, and how does that affect our mood. When we really pay attention to our environment, our daily habits, health choices, social, spiritual life, we can see how they affect our internal thought life. i think i like to think about what i'm thinking.. we have so many thoughts everyday, sometimes it's best to turn em off. Sometimes it's best to analyze them. Sometimes it's best to question and try to change them.
...
Monday, October 2, 2017
Saturday, September 30, 2017
Pursuing Your Dreams
I've been thinking about the topic of following our dreams and passions. (probably because I just watched La La Land, i didn't think i'd be into a broadway musical type of movie, but the production was really superb). A girl wants to be an actress and a guy wants to be a jazz musician. There's a point where they're faced with compromise, failures, set backs, opposition, criticism, disappointments and other tempting opportunities that might pull them away from achieving their dreams.
One thing I took away from it was that, following our dreams will require sacrifice. When we're committed to our goals, dreams and passions, we can't allow ourselves to get distracted, or to lose sight of our goals. Some of us may still be trying to find what we want to do in life. Beyond our dreams, desires, passions and goals, is something bigger. Our purpose. What were we created and called to do? Who are we called to be? How can I best glorify God and help others? Deep questions. But when we find our meaning and purpose, and God's plans for us, we unravel a deeper sense of our identity. We are all capable of loving and caring for others, and i think that's part of the formula.
Our general call and purpose is to know God's saving grace and to be part of God's kingdom and to know God and to be satisfied in Him. On top of that general call, we have a call to obedience to God's word, will and way. Then on top of that we have our individual specific callings and purposes, basically God's will for me today and for my life.
When we want to pursue our aspirations and goals, we need to have laser point focus. There will be sacrifices and distractions need to be cut away. What's truly important to you? What do you have to give up? What do you want in life? What does God want for our life? And is it worth the sacrifice? Sometimes I think of all the school and finances, and sometimes I do doubt myself. But then I come back to, I really would regret if I didn't pursue trying to become a counselor of some sort. Perhaps a pastoral counselor.
I still have another year of internship for mental health counseling. I have to rack up 700 hours, and then after I graduate, i believe it's another 1200 hours. That's a whole lot.. But in the end, I believe I'll be able to better help and counsel people. I think we all hurt, we all have pain, and in a sense we all need a sense of healing, care and support.
I had someone ask me before, .. "If money wasn't an issue, and you could be anything you wanted to, what would you want to be?" I do enjoy working with kids, and I also like sports and fitness. But I think it'd have to be something to do with church ministry or counseling, or both.
Back in the day, you couldn't choose what you wanted to be. If you grew up in a small town on a farm, you likely had to become a farmer, with not many options. I'm glad that we have the luxury to actually choose what field we'd like to pursue. Many people don't have the means to finance it. Instead of pursuing one's dreams, I can see why it might be more logically to just pick a career that pays really well. Money does solve a lot of problems, and can give you more options. If you're finically stable then you can still pursue your dreams even if it isn't your job. I think we all have multiple interest and passions. In many cases we need to work so that we can enjoy other hobbies.
I do respect and admire those who can give up so much to pursue their passions. They don't let opposition or obstacles stand in their way. They do whatever it takes. Consistency towards our goals is difficult because we aren't always motivated or inspired. We may not see how our day to day choices affect our long term goals. Eating right and exercising would definitely fall in that category. Another important piece is surrounding ourselves with positive relationships to support us.
One thing I took away from it was that, following our dreams will require sacrifice. When we're committed to our goals, dreams and passions, we can't allow ourselves to get distracted, or to lose sight of our goals. Some of us may still be trying to find what we want to do in life. Beyond our dreams, desires, passions and goals, is something bigger. Our purpose. What were we created and called to do? Who are we called to be? How can I best glorify God and help others? Deep questions. But when we find our meaning and purpose, and God's plans for us, we unravel a deeper sense of our identity. We are all capable of loving and caring for others, and i think that's part of the formula.
Our general call and purpose is to know God's saving grace and to be part of God's kingdom and to know God and to be satisfied in Him. On top of that general call, we have a call to obedience to God's word, will and way. Then on top of that we have our individual specific callings and purposes, basically God's will for me today and for my life.
When we want to pursue our aspirations and goals, we need to have laser point focus. There will be sacrifices and distractions need to be cut away. What's truly important to you? What do you have to give up? What do you want in life? What does God want for our life? And is it worth the sacrifice? Sometimes I think of all the school and finances, and sometimes I do doubt myself. But then I come back to, I really would regret if I didn't pursue trying to become a counselor of some sort. Perhaps a pastoral counselor.
I still have another year of internship for mental health counseling. I have to rack up 700 hours, and then after I graduate, i believe it's another 1200 hours. That's a whole lot.. But in the end, I believe I'll be able to better help and counsel people. I think we all hurt, we all have pain, and in a sense we all need a sense of healing, care and support.
I had someone ask me before, .. "If money wasn't an issue, and you could be anything you wanted to, what would you want to be?" I do enjoy working with kids, and I also like sports and fitness. But I think it'd have to be something to do with church ministry or counseling, or both.
Back in the day, you couldn't choose what you wanted to be. If you grew up in a small town on a farm, you likely had to become a farmer, with not many options. I'm glad that we have the luxury to actually choose what field we'd like to pursue. Many people don't have the means to finance it. Instead of pursuing one's dreams, I can see why it might be more logically to just pick a career that pays really well. Money does solve a lot of problems, and can give you more options. If you're finically stable then you can still pursue your dreams even if it isn't your job. I think we all have multiple interest and passions. In many cases we need to work so that we can enjoy other hobbies.
I do respect and admire those who can give up so much to pursue their passions. They don't let opposition or obstacles stand in their way. They do whatever it takes. Consistency towards our goals is difficult because we aren't always motivated or inspired. We may not see how our day to day choices affect our long term goals. Eating right and exercising would definitely fall in that category. Another important piece is surrounding ourselves with positive relationships to support us.
Saturday, August 26, 2017
Transformation
I've been pondering a few things lately. Each week i seem to go through many highs and many lows, and also just float somewhere in the middle. I'm learning how to change my perspective regardless of circumstances. How can we get a better grasp on how we feel and think? How can we respond more positively than allowing negative emotions to get the best of us? I ask myself, "Who do i want to be?" "What does my best self look like?" "How can I move closer to being better?" "How can I glorify God and live for his desires?" "What changes in my life do I need to make?"
It's easy to spiral down in a negative slump. Naturally I tend to be pretty pessimistic, and often focus too much on my flaws. I'm critical on my interactions, mistakes and failures. Perfectionist are always trying to do things right and condemn themselves when they don't meet their expectations or perform the way they planned. Anyone can make goals, but how do we press forward to achieve them consistently and daily?
Some days I feel very empty, lonely, confused, angry, distracted, depressed, weak, broken, unorganized, lazy, slothful, tired, numb, apathetic, worthless, insignificant, unstable, restless, overwhelmed, stressed, dark, hopeless, stuck. Maybe some of you can relate.
I live so much in my head I overthink and over analyze. Over introspection can lead to morbidity, gloom and despair. If we think about the past we can feel regret, guilt, shame, and depressed at what went wrong. If we ponder the unknown future, it can lead to fear, anxiety, worry, doubt, and uncertainty. We need to remember to live in the present and trust God with our past, present and future.
When I am full of energy and at my best self, I feel healthy, confident, excited, hopeful, creative, grateful, outgoing, whole, content, strong, and close to God. We're meant to approach life with peaceful meaningful relationships. We can choose to be positive. Find hobbies you enjoy. Laugh, smile, play, create, build, draw, sing, dance, write, dream, and do the things you love.
Stress is a perceived lack of control. There are two main types of stress. External and Internal. External applies to things outside of our control. This could be things like natural disasters or something like traffic. These things are outside of our control and things that we can't change. Internal stressors are things we do have control of. This could be feeling unprepared for a test. We can control how to approach stressful situations. We can reduce stress by studying, by controlling our environment and energy level. Some stress is actually good because it moves us to respond. We respond to stress with fight, flight or freeze. Stress can also affect our health, our habits, and the chemicals in our brain.
There a few things we can do to counter stress, anxiety and feelings of depression. Beside pharmaceutical drugs, we can increase our exercise. Exercise is one of the greatest ways to counter these negative feelings because exercise refreshes and helps balance the neurotransmitters and helps us to control stress. Our bodies need to get in anaerobic and aerobic exercise. Similarly, breathing techniques help us balance our oxygen and carbon dioxide levels. That's why ppl breathe in a paper bag when they have a panic attack. It traps the carbon dioxide when our brain thinks we're lacking oxygen. Then there's meditation which can come in many different forms. Prayer, worship music and spending time with God can definitely affect how we deal with stress, anxiety and depression. Proper eating and sleeping habits can also affect our mood. And lastly, healthy relationships helps build positive affirmation and self-esteem.
I think it's probably be beneficial for us millennials to disconnect from technology. It's easy to indulge and waste time on the couch watching tv, or spending too much time on our phones. We often completely miss connecting with others and enjoying God's creation.
I'm learning to try new things and to challenge myself. We can live in doubt, fear and live a safe comfortable life, or we can take risk to grow in the pursuit of our goals. I need to grow in more confidence, courage, and discipline. I need to take more initiative to stay focused on my goals. And as we pursue change, it will most likely require sacrifice and stepping outside of our comfort zone. Houses aren't built over night. We need to take small steps in the right direction, change our perspectives, and create better healthy habits.
What are we putting our time and money into? What are we investing into? what are our values? What do we yearn and long for? What do we think about most? For where our treasure is, there our heart will be also. Personally, we can do all these naturalistic self-help ways of growing and becoming our better selves. But at the core of deep change and spiritual formation is drawing closer to God. mkay bye
It's easy to spiral down in a negative slump. Naturally I tend to be pretty pessimistic, and often focus too much on my flaws. I'm critical on my interactions, mistakes and failures. Perfectionist are always trying to do things right and condemn themselves when they don't meet their expectations or perform the way they planned. Anyone can make goals, but how do we press forward to achieve them consistently and daily?
Some days I feel very empty, lonely, confused, angry, distracted, depressed, weak, broken, unorganized, lazy, slothful, tired, numb, apathetic, worthless, insignificant, unstable, restless, overwhelmed, stressed, dark, hopeless, stuck. Maybe some of you can relate.
I live so much in my head I overthink and over analyze. Over introspection can lead to morbidity, gloom and despair. If we think about the past we can feel regret, guilt, shame, and depressed at what went wrong. If we ponder the unknown future, it can lead to fear, anxiety, worry, doubt, and uncertainty. We need to remember to live in the present and trust God with our past, present and future.
When I am full of energy and at my best self, I feel healthy, confident, excited, hopeful, creative, grateful, outgoing, whole, content, strong, and close to God. We're meant to approach life with peaceful meaningful relationships. We can choose to be positive. Find hobbies you enjoy. Laugh, smile, play, create, build, draw, sing, dance, write, dream, and do the things you love.
Stress is a perceived lack of control. There are two main types of stress. External and Internal. External applies to things outside of our control. This could be things like natural disasters or something like traffic. These things are outside of our control and things that we can't change. Internal stressors are things we do have control of. This could be feeling unprepared for a test. We can control how to approach stressful situations. We can reduce stress by studying, by controlling our environment and energy level. Some stress is actually good because it moves us to respond. We respond to stress with fight, flight or freeze. Stress can also affect our health, our habits, and the chemicals in our brain.
There a few things we can do to counter stress, anxiety and feelings of depression. Beside pharmaceutical drugs, we can increase our exercise. Exercise is one of the greatest ways to counter these negative feelings because exercise refreshes and helps balance the neurotransmitters and helps us to control stress. Our bodies need to get in anaerobic and aerobic exercise. Similarly, breathing techniques help us balance our oxygen and carbon dioxide levels. That's why ppl breathe in a paper bag when they have a panic attack. It traps the carbon dioxide when our brain thinks we're lacking oxygen. Then there's meditation which can come in many different forms. Prayer, worship music and spending time with God can definitely affect how we deal with stress, anxiety and depression. Proper eating and sleeping habits can also affect our mood. And lastly, healthy relationships helps build positive affirmation and self-esteem.
I think it's probably be beneficial for us millennials to disconnect from technology. It's easy to indulge and waste time on the couch watching tv, or spending too much time on our phones. We often completely miss connecting with others and enjoying God's creation.
I'm learning to try new things and to challenge myself. We can live in doubt, fear and live a safe comfortable life, or we can take risk to grow in the pursuit of our goals. I need to grow in more confidence, courage, and discipline. I need to take more initiative to stay focused on my goals. And as we pursue change, it will most likely require sacrifice and stepping outside of our comfort zone. Houses aren't built over night. We need to take small steps in the right direction, change our perspectives, and create better healthy habits.
What are we putting our time and money into? What are we investing into? what are our values? What do we yearn and long for? What do we think about most? For where our treasure is, there our heart will be also. Personally, we can do all these naturalistic self-help ways of growing and becoming our better selves. But at the core of deep change and spiritual formation is drawing closer to God. mkay bye
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