Hands down we are all so busy today with work, family, as well as other responsibilities. Here are some tips that I read from an article of the American Heart Association that will hopefully help to reduce stress in your life.

1. Slow down – Plan ahead and allow enough time to get the most important things done without having to rush.
2. Snooze more -Try to get six to eight hours of sleep each night. To fight insomnia, add mindfulness and activity.
3. Let worry go -The world won’t end if a few things fall off of your plate.  Give yourself a break and just breathe.
4. Laugh it up – Laughter makes us feel good.  Don’t be afraid to laugh out loud, even when you’re alone.
5. Get connected-A daily dose of friendship in great medicine.  Make time to call friends and family so you can catch up.
6. Get organized– Use “to do” lists to help you focus on your most important tasks, and take big projects one step at a time.
7. Practice giving back-Volunteer your time or spend time helping out a friend.  Helping others helps you.
8. Be active every day-Exercise can relieve mental and physical tension.  Find something you think is fun and stick with it.
9. Give up bad habits-Too much alcohol, tobacco, or caffeine can increase blood pressure.  Cut back or quit to decrease anxiety.
10. Lean into things you can change-Make time to learn a new skill, work towards a goal, or to love and help others.

My goal is to focus on tips 8 and 9, I am committed to being more active daily and to reduce my sugar intake aka candy and sweets.  What tips can you commit to–to be well?

Remember to take care of you! Mind, Body and Spirit.

The primary thief of joy and peace is regret. Whether it is something that you did today or yesterday, or many years ago, there is nothing that you can do about what has already been done– except repent, receive forgiveness, forget the past (at least don’t be control by it) and move on.  Now by all means, if it is something that you can do about it, then do it!  But the bottom line is to let go of the past and focus on the present.  Make a decision today to no longer live a life of regret (Philippians 3:13).

The bible tells us to forgive one another. One of the reasons why we are told to forgive is because it benefits you! You see forgiveness not only release the bitterness that we have against someone who has hurt us, but it frees us from the hurt at the very same time!  You may say that you don’t feel like it or that the person doesn’t deserve it. But don’t rely on your feelings to make the decision to forgive–forgive because you have been forgiven.

When a man’s ways please the Lord, he makes even his enemies to be at peace with him. (Proverbs 16:17).

We must be determined to love others and we must be intentional when it comes to getting along with others .  It doesn’t matter how different our personalities or situations may be.  Here is the reason why–when we love the difficult people around us–we are receptive to be in tuned with how God may be using the person or situation to teach us and to help us grow in grace.

Choose to walk in the love and let God shape you through people that He brings into your life.

Gratitude is the feeling of being thankful; it is having the readiness to show appreciation. If we live with an attitude of gratitude, we will come from a place of abundance, and you will come to realize that we have so much to be thankful for.

Today, I heard in our worship service that if you want to know how many times God blessed you today, then count the number of times that your eyes have blinked. In other words blessed beyond measure.

So, I ask you what are you grateful for today?

“Happiness cannot be traveled to, owned, earned, worn or consumed.  Happiness is the spiritual experience of living every minute with love, grace, and gratitude”. – Dennis Waitley

Recently, I had come to the realization that I had been in a rut.  I hadn’t been in a mood to blog these last few months, and basically l had been living life on autopilot, with the exception of my live event that I hosted last month, which was amazing by the way! But, I have a question for you,  have you ever been in a rut before or are you currently in a rut?

What I have noticed is that I have gotten in a rut from time to time in my life and often wondered why? Well, I have finally discovered the answer!  At least for me. You see when I get into an rut it has been usually because I had lost sight of my goals or my purpose.  I had disconnected from the power of clarity and being in that space required me to reflect on my decision making to be sure that they are in alignment with my core values, goals and dreams. Then I click the reset button and begin again.

So, if you are in a rut, here are some suggestions for you. First, take time to be still and write, what it is that you really want. You can begin by writing, “I really want ……. and fill in the blank. Then write , “I really, really, really want…. and fill in the blank.”  Whatever you write is between you and God.  Next, ask yourself what is the next best step that you can take to move you in direction of your goals and your dreams. and do it!  The action may be big or small.  I will use myself as an example.  You see, one of my goals is to own a new home and my next best step is to de-clutter my current home, which I am in the process of doing.  It is just that simple.

When you journal it allows you to transfer thoughts in your head, to your heart, through your fingers unto paper.  This process allows you to visualize your heart’s desire.  Oh, one more thing, make it a non-judgement zone and remember to dream big!

Cheers to the best version of you!

Dreams, most of us have them. What are yours? When was the last time that you did any work towards your dream? I remember as a child how I would dream, dream, dream.  I remember being around other children my age and we will get together and get excited about our dreams.  We would talk about them out loud, for example the conversation would go something like this: when I grow up I am going to be a teacher.  Then someone else would say I am going to be a doctor or lawyer and the dream list would go on and on.

It’s interesting as adults we don’t dream as much, or at least we don’t share them. What I come to realize is that my dream, or what I often refer to as my purpose is still alive within me. I believe that God has a plan for my life and for your life.  Our job is to follow as He leads and to trust, as well as obey.

I challenge you to believe in your dreams, because they do not have an expiration date.

Think of a time when you made or purchased a gift for someone.  You present the gift and as you wait in anticipation for the person to open the gift, you are filled to the top with excitement that is just waiting to bust wide open!   Sometimes it seems like it takes  f-o-r-e-v-e-r for the gift to be opened!  At least in my case, and as I look back on times where I have given gifts , and I reflect on the expression on the person’s face when the present is unveiled,  I am reminded of the joy that it brought to my soul.  This is because it is more blessed to give than to receive. (Acts 20:35).

You can be blessed everyday by giving away a smile, a hug, an encouraging word or maybe time for a friend or a loved  one.  It’s free and remember you will be a blessing and blessed because of it.

Valentine’s day is this Thursday, February 14 and it is a day of anticipation for people who exchange cards and gifts with their significant other and loved ones.  But for some people who are not in a relationship, or have loss a loved one, or maybe their spouse or mate doesn’t celebrate, this could actually be a day that bring on discouragement, depression or loneliness.  But it doesn’t need to be! I challenge you to celebrate yourself on this day of love.  I challenge you to love on yourself! Buy your own flowers or candy.  Take yourself out to dinner, or to the movies, or maybe have a candlelight bubble bath with a good book! The important thing to know is that you are enough! You don’t have to wait until you are in a relationship to feel loved.  You were wonderfully and fearfully made and God loves you.

There is nothing selfish about self-love and guess what? You don’t even have to wait for Valentine’s day or any other holiday to show yourself some love in balanced way.  You can do it today.

Take care and be blessed.

What do you do concerning the matters of your heart? How do you handle them? Do you internalize them? Do you talk about them with your mentor, friend, or spiritual adviser? Or do you pray about what’s going on in your heart? Or maybe you are the type of person that does all of the above.  Actually there is no right or wrong answer to this question.  In fact, I have done them all.  But, I must confess that my best option has been to pray about the matters of my heart.  I believe that when I cast my cares upon the Lord, it opens the door for God to work in my life and in the lives of the people I love and it releases the pressure and stress of what concerns me.

I encourage you to make a decision today to cast all your cares on the Lord and begin to trust Him to take care of you as well as the matters of your heart.  And you know what, I am confident that your heart will thank you!