Asking for God's Will

I just had a good counseling session with my therapist. I've been seeing a therapist for years, but recently see her twice a month which has been very useful. 

Acceptance

If we only have this one life, shouldn't we do whatever it takes to become the very best versions of ourselves? If we only have this one life, shouldn't we want to spend as much time as we can with the people that matter most to us and treat them with the utmost love, care & kindness?

If this is our only life (and it is), we must make sure we don't waste it. Focus your time, work, and energy on what's most important + meaningful to you. Tomorrow is never promised. Don't take people for granted. Always give them your very best.

Keep Going, You Got This!

I will become stronger
I will become healthier
I will become a better listener
I will train hard 
I will work hard 
I will stay disciplined
I will not take shortcuts 
I will be consistent

I will use my time wisely
I will be accountable to myself 
I will do what it takes to become successful
I will grow in ethics, integrity, honesty, and holiness
I will make better choices 
I will make healthy habits
I will choose to be happy whether it rains or shines

I will accomplish challenging tasks even if I don't feel like doing them

I am becoming more loving. More patient. More forgiving. and More understanding. I choose to be more. 

I am committed to my goals and creating healthy systems
I am focused on making progress and taking action
I am resolved to become the best version of myself

There's a reoccurring theme that I keep thinking about lately. I'm not even sure how to put it into words. It has to do with the will to fight. It's about having this inner flame within you. To become more than you are. To never give up. To better yourself. to pursue your goals and passions with hard work, drive, discipline, consistency, and dedication. I want to be the very best version of myself. 

Love All

Here's what I've been thinkin about lately. It mostly applies to working with children, but it applies to all. Some people are easy to love and care about. Some people are easy to spend time with. Some are easy to get along with and fun to talk to. We tend to gravitate to these people. 

But what if you intentionally went to those who weren't so easy. What if you purposely tended to those who were more challenging and a bit difficult to deal with. Some kids hit, some bite, throw tantrums, don't listen, and have all sorts of behavioral challenges. Not everyone is pleasant and easygoing. Naturally, we tend to stay closer to those we feel more comfortable with. 

But look at who Jesus spent his ministry time with. He went straight to those in need. The sick, the hurt, the poor, the hungry, the lonely, the unpopular, the hurt, and those who are often neglected. He understood unconditional positive regard. That's a fancy way of saying love. He treated everyone with pure generosity, kindness, gentleness, patience, compassion, and grace. 

Small Moments

I'm grateful I get to spend time with little ones.

Getting paid to love kids and play with them is seriously the best. 

This little girl melted my heart today. She gives me so many free complements!

She lights up with a big smile whenever she sees me and gives me the sweetest little hugs.

She was crying because she accidentally hurt someone on the playground. I could tell she felt really bad about it. I told her that we all make mistakes and that it's all ok. After talking to me for a little she told me she felt better.

"Okay, are you ready to go back and join the rest of the class?"

"No, I want to stay and hang out with you a little longer. You're really kind. You want to go play?"

"I like playing with you? Can I sit next to you? I like to sit next to you. You have nice hair."

I love how present kids are. They really do bring me joy. 

Self-Efficacy

 I learned the term self-efficacy in school while reading a psychology book. 

"Self-efficacy is the belief in your own ability to succeed in achieving a goal, having the confidence to know you can do whatever you set your mind to by managing how you think, feel, and behave."

"Self-efficacy refers to an individual's belief in his or her capacity to execute behaviors necessary to produce specific performance attainments. Self-efficacy reflects confidence in the ability to exert control over one's own motivation, behavior and social environment."

People with high self-efficacy have better health, wealth, relationships, eating habits, and are better at achieving their goals. They also have less negative behaviors and addictions because they also understand internal locus of control. 

You are in control of you. You can regulate your emotions and thoughts. You can become who you want to be. You can achieve what you want to accomplish. You can define what success is to you and be as successful as you want to be. 

The Chosen

There's a powerful show I started watching. It's called, "The Chosen." It's about the ministry and life of Jesus. I believe this show enhances our walk with God and increases our faith. Jesus not only reveals himself but displays his love for people.

"God demonstrates his own love for us in this, while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." - Romans 5:8

You can watch it on the app, if you download "The Chosen" in the app store. 

Or check their website >  The Chosen

Behind the scenes on youtube is also quite interesting as well. It feels like they worked hard to display the gospel and stay true to the historic narrative.

It's clear that this show isn't meant to replace or add onto God's Word, but rather support the inerrancy of scripture in this visual format.

There doesn't need to be modern adaptations and high production films to bring the Bible to life, but I'm glad that there's a show that aims to glorify Jesus Christ in this form of art. I definitely recommend it. 

A Sad Day

 

Meow

 

Do Better. Be Better.

In pursuing your best-self, the goal should be to be better than you were yesterday. Sometimes it's being better than who you were 10 minutes ago. Life is about growing, learning and self-development. It's becoming better in every aspect. There are many times I am not at my best-self. There's times I know I could've done better. Mistakes, failures and disappointments are inevitable.. but this is how you learn to step up your game, to keep your chin up and look towards building a brighter tomorrow.

Be More

Be Better
Be Stronger

In All Your Ways, Acknowledge Him

God thank you for today. Sometimes I wake up and forget to acknowledge you in my life. I wake up only thinking about myself and get distracted. I realize how often I put other things before you. I repent for my sins and for not turning to you. Help me to abide in you. To desire you first and foremost above everything else.

i wonder what my life would look like if I consistently walked closely with you in intimacy. Sometimes I just wander off on my own. I don't even realize sometimes how far I drift away. Draw me back to you. Father God remind me of who you are. Reveal your truths to me and put your desires in my heart. Remove anything that hinders me from growing closer to you. Help me get rid of any idols in my life. Help me get rid of things that are not from you.

Father God, sometimes I don't understand why things happen the way that they do, but in any matter help me to trust you. I pray that you'd give me more clarity and guidance. To help me go in your direction. 

The Morning Miracle

I finished reading a book called, "The Morning Miracle," by Hal Elrod. You could read it too, or maybe just watch this video where he talks about the 6 habits that helped him transform his life. 

He talks about how we're capable of creating health, wealth in finances, growth through spirituality, happiness, love in relationships and success in our life. He talks about not settling for mediocracy and maximizing our full potential.

"Every single one of us already has everything we need to be the happiest we could ever be; it's simply up to us to remember that in every moment."

"Never forget that who you are becoming is the single most important determining factor in your quality of life, now and for your future."

"Your level of success will rarely exceed your level of personal development because success is something you attract by the person you become."

The author talks about how he overcame a deadly car crash, depression and financial debt. Not just with positive thinking, but with a focused mindset towards achieving his goals. Not just changing his life circumstances, but who he is as a person. And this book covers 6 disciplines that he practiced every morning to help his self-development.  

So the 6 activities he does every morning is Meditation, Affirmations, Journaling, Visualization, Reading and Exercise. 

An easier acronym to remember he uses is SAVERS

S ilence 
A ffirmations 
V isualization 
E xercise 
R eading 
S cribing 

I suggest everyone try incorporating these proven disciplines into their morning to start their day off right. It really can do wonders! Once you get the skeleton template down, you can personalize it however you want!