The Total Makeover

The Presence of a New Day

I am excited by the presence of a new day.

 

Each new day is a gift that I choose to cherish.

 

I begin my day by waking up in a warm, soft bed and stretching my body to prepare myself for the day ahead. I breathe in deeply, smell the fresh morning air, and enjoy the crisp breeze as I emerge from the covers. I immediately give God the praise and the glory for waking me up in my right mind. I begin to thank Him for giving me the activity of my limbs. I thank the Lord for letting me see a new day!

 

I am awakened with the joy for the day ahead of me.

 

This is the day that the Lord has made and I rejoice and am glad in it. This is a brand new day, a day that is untouched by yesterday and reaches toward tomorrow. This day is the blank canvas that will receive the masterpiece of my day.

 

I may be going off to work, spending my day working around the house, or even running errands; whatever my day entails I will enjoy it and I am blessed to have it.

 

Yesterday is gone forever and tomorrow may never come; therefore, this day is the most important day of my life. I cherish this day and enjoy each moment that passes.

 

Today is perfect and I will take the time to appreciate the air I breathe, the light that touches my face and the sounds of my unique environment that make up the music of my day. I will enjoy my day and be present in each moment.

 

Self-Reflection Questions:

 

1. What is your first experience of the day?
2. Have you remained present in each moment?
3. Have you embraced your day as the gift that it is?

 

Positive People, Just Like Me

I surround myself with positive people, just like me.

 

I surround myself with positive people because I believe that, next to my own determination to live fully, the company I choose to keep determines the quality of my life.

 

I aim for authenticity in my relationships and have no need or desire for people to pretend with me.

 

I let go of the idea that being positive requires a permanent grin on my face. However, I also free myself from the effects of those who would drag me down by their perpetual focus on all that is wrong or unfair in their lives.

 

I pick my closest friends among those who can acknowledge their challenges and all their feelings, including anger and resentment, but don't get bogged down in them. They analyze their problems in search of solutions, and they help me do the same.

 

Sometimes life is tough, and I want my friends to be able to admit their difficulties to me, just as I want to be able to be honest with them.

 

Together we will help each other find and draw out the beauty and opportunities that are just waiting to be discovered within each new challenge.

 

Self-Reflection Questions:

 

1. Do you confuse acting happy with being positive?
2. Are your closest friends picking you up or dragging you down?
3. Do you contribute to a positive attitude among family and friends?

 

Life Changes

Life changes line up with my goals, beliefs, and attitudes.

 

My life is natural, so it is always changing. Like a flower, my roots are always spreading and my limbs extend toward the sun.

 

Changes enter my life and I adjust. Because changes are a part of living, I am not surprised when something unexpected happened.

 

Being prepared to alter my plans or accommodate new circumstances shows that I understand the important nature of change. I am confident that no matter what may come my way, I can realign myself to incorporate the change.

 

I imagine a beautiful potted flower. As the flower has grown, it has lifted itself toward the sun. However, if the position of the pot were to change, the flower would continue to thrive and simply adjust, its petals again searching out the sun.

 

Sometimes I imagine my goals, beliefs, and attitudes as the bright sun and picture myself as the beautiful flower. I am reminded that, even if my direction is turned, I will continue to grow toward the sun.

 

Thinking of my life in these terms helps me see that I am drawn toward good things and positive experiences.

 

Changes in my life do not intimidate me. When my life changes, my goals, beliefs, and attitudes will adjust as well. This is a natural part of living and growing.

 

As I grow, I come closer to reaching my goals. Even if I must alter my path, I find that I am blessed because I can overcome change and emerge as a more balanced person because of the experience.

 

Self-Reflection Questions:

 

1. Do you anticipate changes in your life?
2. How can you prepare for the changes you may experience?
3. When you experience change, do your goals, beliefs, and attitudes realign?

 

"From A Man's Point of View"

In this month’s post of “From a Man’s Point of View” I want to talk to my unmarried sisters about loving themselves and seeing themselves through God’s eyes and not a man. You do not need a man to define who you are. God has already given definition to your life when He created you and no man can ever take the place of God. God said that you are fearfully and wonderfully made in His image, therefore, the true definition of who you are is defined in the image of God and not a man.

           

            I see too many of my sisters frustrated and hurt because they don’t have a man. They feel that having a man will make them feel fulfilled. They feel the pressure and hear the words of others that look at their singleness as a plague. I say celebrate your singleness, and start loving yourself. The only way a man can truly love you is if you first love you. Be happy with being in your own presence. When you can love yourself and enjoy your time alone and know you are not lonely, is the time when you can be made to be that good thing ready to be found.

           

             I have said all of that knowing this is the month for Valentine’s Day. You may desire to be with someone on that road to marriage, however, don’t let it be at the cost of a dead beat relationship with a dead beat guy. Hear and listen to God and not your emotions or those who would make you to feel less of a woman because you don’t have man. Lastly, as Valentine’s Day approaches, if you don’t have anyone that will present you with flowers, candy, etc. celebrate your singleness and love yourself and buy your own flowers, candy, and card, look in the mirror and tell yourself “I Love Being Me”. Be healed and made whole in Jesus Name.

By: Brian Johnson

Me Time

Each week I am adding myself to my planner so I can take time out for me. I do this because I value my health and well being. My body, mind and spirit benefit when I recharge my batteries.

I make dates with myself to spend time away from everyday tasks. I am important enough to be in my calendar. I formally designate a time for myself because if I didn't, I would invariably find something else to do.

"Me" time is for me to do whatever I please, free from guilt or pressure. Often, I simply relax on my porch drinking a cup of coffee. Other times, I take a warm bath and soak away my troubles. Exercising is another enjoyable way to burn my stresses. 

During my moments alone, I spend time developing myself as an individual. I devote time to fine tuning my talents. Sometimes I use the time to improve myself as a professional.

In order to free up my schedule to allow personal time, I delegate tasks to others or decline invitations that may conflict with my planned time alone.

The people around me support and respect me in my quest for personal time because they know they get a better me as a result.

I spend time alone to energize myself and live my life to its fullest potential.

Self-Reflection Questions:

1. What gets in the way of your alone time?
2. What types of activities do you enjoy doing by yourself?
3. How do you benefit from time alone?

 

Peace and Happiness

My life is full of peace and happiness because I am pursuing my purpose in life. I am confident that I am on the right path because I use and develop the interests and talents that my Creator has instilled in me.

I have let go of the notion that I should be something I was not created to be. When I focus on developing my own natural talents, I achieve peace and a sense of harmony.

I am productive because I am working within the perimeters of my own personality.

I admire others and learn from their experiences. I glean strategies for success and decide whether or not they would suit me. But I reject the idea that anyone else's path is more important than my own.

A healthy family, community, or society has a variety of different roles and functions, each one vital to the well-being of the whole. Some are more visible than others and some tend to garner more applause, but all are equally important.

I let go of the temptation to do things just to receive the applause of others. Instead, I focus on developing my true self, knowing that this is what makes me most productive and brings me peace and happiness.

Self-Reflection Questions:

1. Are you trying to adopt someone else's purpose in life?
2. Whose approval are you seeking by your actions?
3. What are you doing to fulfill your purpose in life?

 

 

Being Balanced and Fulfilled

I pursue everything in my life with passion; however, I keep myself from overdoing it. I know that too much focus in one area distracts me from other areas. I strive to maintain a balance so I can fulfill my desires in every aspect of my life.

I recognize that keeping everything in moderation brings good consequences. I can control my actions so I can enjoy these positive results every day.

Take eating, for example. I love food! I enjoy trying new foods and savoring the unique flavors. I also know that if I overeat, it interferes with my desires for a healthy, fit body. So I eat in moderation for fulfillment in both areas.

My passion for my work brings me many rewards. But I also recognize that leaving work behind at the end of each workday lets me pursue my passions in my personal life: hobbies, family, and leisure activities. So I work in moderation to allow time for all.

I thoroughly enjoy being with the love of my life! I also realize that saying 'see you soon' for part of the day builds anticipation when we meet again. Moderation keeps excitement in our relationship so our time together is even more fulfilling.

My time with my children is joyful. However, we give each other the freedom and support to pursue our own goals with focus and passion, knowing that fulfillment in every area makes our time together a whole lot more fun.

Today, my plan is to schedule time for work, family, and leisure activities, giving equal importance to each. This way I can thoroughly enjoy myself and end the day with a great feeling of accomplishment and fulfillment.

Self-Reflection Questions:

1. Do you leave work behind at the end of your workday?
2. Are you giving equal importance to your leisure time each day?
3. Which area of your life could use more focus so you can regain balance?

With Each Baby Step

When I allow myself to improve little by little, I am forming the more successful me that I desire.

Just as a baby learns to walk by first taking tiny steps, I can grow into the traits and develop the successful attitudes I desire by making small changes.

  Each change may seem like only a baby-step at the time, but every step builds on the one before it. Soon enough, baby-steps turn into confident strides!

 I let go of the thought that I can change overnight and choose, instead, to accept nature's pleasant way of bringing about change.

If I wish to become more joyful, I can start by feeling gratitude and giving thanks for the blessings in my life - even the small ones.

If I want to acquire the attitudes and successes of the wealthy, I can read stories of those I want to emulate to learn how they think.

If I desire a job that requires more education, I can enroll in some classes to get me started on the knowledge that can propel me into the career of my dreams.

I know that every small step brings about positive changes that can help get me to where I want to be. Trying to take steps that are too large for me leads to unnecessary stress and worry. Baby-steps, on the other hand, bring me success!

Today, I choose to take at least one small action toward my goals. I feel grateful knowing that it is a baby-step that brings me one step closer to the success I deserve.

Self-Reflection Questions:

1. What baby-steps are you taking to bring you closer to your goals?
2. Do you have the patience to let your skills develop fully into those you desire?
3. What is your vision of a more successful you?

I Embrace Change

I welcome change in my life with open arms. Change unlocks the door to new opportunities in my life so I can become a better person. When I accept change, I walk through the threshold of fresh self-renewal. Refusing to change is a recipe for becoming stale and irrelevant.

Change allows me to transform myself in order to improve my ability to reach my goals. I am free to enlarge my vision by breaking old behavior patterns and forming new habits. When I expand my view, the world feels like a bigger place where I can dream bigger dreams.

I actively seek new adventures each day by varying the activities I engage in. I jump at the opportunity to try new experiences in order to feel young and fresh.

Small changes are the first steps in living an exciting life. Taking new routes, meeting new people, and trying out new foods are some of the ways that I can introduce change into my life.

I embrace change because life is too short to be stale. How I spend my days is how I spend my life, therefore I choose to spend my days filled with joy and excitement! By constantly adapting, I keep myself active and free from boredom.

Today, I am trying something new, bearing in mind that I can learn new things and grow as an individual. I choose to loosen up and allow myself to indulge in a new form of self-expression.

 

Self-Reflection Questions:

1. How do you normally react to change?
2. How can you attract change?
3. What small changes can you begin to make in your life today?

Change is Necessary

As I reflect on my life, I realize that every growth period was accompanied, and sometimes caused, by important changes. I know now that I must be willing to change if I wish to grow and become the best I can be.

  I accept change as a normal part of daily life. I completely let go of the tendency to hold on to life as it is and welcome new changes as opportunities. I know not what is around the corner for me, so why resist change? It could be just what I need!

  In order to learn, I open up my mind to new possibilities. This allows me to accept new ideas and grow intellectually.

In order to develop new skills, I gladly change old habits and make new ones.

In order to create the life I desire, I take action to pursue my goals, changing my path from time to time to overcome challenges.

  In every case, I grow as a result of changes!

Just as I grew physically from a baby into adulthood, my mind and spirit grow also, becoming more knowledgeable and wise with each life experience. Every change can add to my inner strength if I let it; so I say, "Bring 'em on," and I get better and better!

Today, I welcome changes as opportunities to grow. Come what may, I know I have the strength to tackle them with optimism and the wisdom to seek their advantages.

Self-Reflection Questions:

1. Do you resist change?
2. What changes in your life have resulted in significant growth?
3. What area of your life would you like to improve upon today? What changes can you make to strengthen yourself in this area?