Smile

Day 18

Smiling in spite of

Good morning!! I hope that you have been remembering your random and intentional acts of kindness. Spread the positivity even if you are struggling yourself, it will make you feel better. One way we can spread positivity is to smile. Though it may seem small we do not know how it may impact someone's day or even encourage them to smile. Even when you are not having the best of days there is so much power in your ability to smile. It is the “in spite of” choice. In spite of my day I will choose to smile, I will choose to be positive. In spite of my circumstance I will choose to be intentional about how I treat others. 

Smile

There is an anonymous quote that says "your smile is a gift to the world". You may not be able to gift the world with materialistic things but you have the impact and ability to smile as a gift. Some people accept the fact that they "look mean" to others even if they are nice and just expect people to go out their way and approach them (which may happen sometimes) but it's not okay. 

Start being intentional about smiling just because with people you know and people you encounter, as well as saying good morning, etc. Don't get comfortable in not radiating your positivity to others. Fun research fact they've found smiling helps with certain health benefits including lowering blood pressure, improves mood, relieves stress, strengthens your immune system, lessens pain and simply smiling is contagious. 

I encourage you today to begin practicing improving the frequency of your smile! Have a fantastic day smile filled day!!! - Monica

Choose Joy

Day 11

Good morning!! Sometimes being positive is that more difficult because you are in a storm and you are just striving to be happy. Happiness, just as the storm, is temporary. If we are seeking to be happy for these 21 days, then on day 23 we may just fall right back off the positivity wagon. 

Happiness is an emotional state that so much focus is put on but can easily be taken away once a trial occurs or your day is set off. 

Joy is being able to rejoice in knowing that there is not a storm that the Lord cannot calm or remove. I know even in this time some of you are going through some things that make it feel so impossible to be positive. However CHOOSE JOY! Don’t fake it but Faith it. Have faith that you will be able to do all things through Christ who strengthens you (Phil 4:13) and remember there is not a battle that has defeated you because you are still alive to push for another day. I challenge you to start choosing joy daily even in the midst of what you are going through instead of defeat, complaining, or temporary emotions. 

“Always be joyful. Never stop praying. Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.” (1 Thess 5:16-18). 

Have a blessed positive day!! - Monica

Sensing your senses

Day 9

Good morning!! As important as it is to watch what you say it is also good that you are aware of how you are using your other senses. Two of them in particular we want to focus on today are your eyes and your ears. 

What you see and hear can easily become something that either causes you to sin, create a negative mindset or simply becoming numb to it where you have no emotion. An example might be that you watch so many fighting videos that as you are watching someone get beat up you have no emotion to stop it. And with that same scenario another outcome could be that you yourself begin to feel that the answer is fighting, and that there is nothing wrong with fighting.

If you hear someone say something enough times there is a high chance that you will replay it in your mind and that could cause you to believe the negative things they say or to become negative yourself. Matt 5:28 says “anyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery” which is an example of how powerful your eyes can connect to your thoughts and actions.  

 Sense Your Senses

What are you watching or listening to that causes you to slip back negatively? Maybe it's the people you’re around, things you watch, music you listen to, whatever it may be that prompts negativity. Spend today reflecting on these things and become more intentional about what you take in. Remember it's your gift. Praying for you all! Have a blessed, positive day!! -Monica

Keep Going!

Hey Girl! Yeah you! Heeeey!!! (Waving hello)

I just want to encourage you to never give up! No matter what's going on in life, keep going. Trust me I know, life gets hard! Things come up that have the force to knock you off your feet, and into the dirt. If you ever find yourself in the dirt, pick yourself up and keep going forward; slow progress is better than no progress!

During my morning devotional (Trusting God Day by Day) time today I read something by Joyce Meyer that really encouraged me. She wrote "It's normally during the time that you are pressed to give up that you are closet to your break through and or blessing [not verbatim].

Check out this picture:

Enough seen! Keep going. Be Encouraged! XO

Can you say epic?!

What an exciting day today is! Our 44th President of the United States is publicly being sworn in and it's the federal holiday honoring Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.!!!

I am grateful for this day! It is momentous, a day that I will indeed relish in and share with my children and grandchildren!

Because of his audacious tenacity we are here overcoming. Aspire to continue his legacy.

 Thank you Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. 

#Unity #Gratefulness #Hope #Peace #Love #TrustGod #America #Determination #GodsGrace

 

(Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. National Memorial In Washington, D.C.)

Sound Mind - Full week 1/7/2013

Hello Journey Mates!

This is the first full week of January 2013! No interruptions, holiday, half days or anything of the sort! Take this time to finish strong with what you've started thus far. Continue to work on your goals, visions and plans.

Today I want to share something that I read during my personal devotional time. It really blessed my heart and soul and I pray that it blesses you too!

"God has given us a sound mind, which means we can think about things properly without being controlled by emotion."

 Today take the opportunity that you've been given to not be emotionally led and live today on purpose. 

Praying for your continued success in life! Besos!! XO

Precision.

Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee

Believe you can and do it!

(Picture available at Mateo & Tobias $15.00)

A "go getHER" is a woman that is focused on achieving success (as SHE defines it) spiritually, physically, emotionally AND financially with a commitment to grow, learn and DO what it takes to go get it!

The above term "go getHER" is coined by a dear internet sister-friend of mine, Montina, founder of Organic Life Products Inc. Organic Life Products provide natural, affordable organic products and services that enhance beauty. Check them out! Organic Life Products Inc.

Today I want to introduce you to a "go getHER", her name is Ryan and her story is below. I pray that you are encouraged and strengthened to never give up, to reach for your dreams and to believe in yourself.

During a routine visit to the doctor in 2009, my doctor asked “Ryan, what was your pre- pregnancy weight?” Sadly, I couldn’t remember, and with my eldest child being 10 at the time I hadn’t really thought about it. Most of my life I was considered big or plus size, and for some odd reason after my doctor asked that question, considering my age, and the current weight I was (299lbs) I realized that the road I was heading down was deadly, and I was heading there FAST per my doctor!

After much thought, I realized that have I never taken time to take care of me… Being a busy working mom of two, there has ALWAYS been something that came before me! Then it hit me, at that very moment I KNEW things had to change!

So I decided to do a rundown of my eating habits for a day, and when I looked at the results I was FLOORED!!! My calorie intake for just one day was close to 3200 calories! No wonder I was a pound away from 300lbs at the age of 31! For years I had fooled myself into thinking that my height would kind of "take away" or "balance out" my weight... After coming up with EVERY excuse that I could think of as to why at the tender age of 31 I was 300lbs, and hadn’t done anything about yet, not one was valid! I realized for every one of my excuses God hit me with a “Why not?” or a “What's stopping you?”...

That was it; I couldn’t deny myself anymore from FINALLY taking care of ME! After a COMPLETE redo of my daily calorie intake by my doctor and the addition of some form of exercise, which I had never done in my LIFE (LOL) my journey began, physically and mentally!

I started off walking, which as I think back, was so difficult for me; it was hard for me to complete a lap around the track! (LOL) To know now that I am able to run a few miles is mind blowing… Wow talk about coming along way!

All in all the thoughts that stuck with me and still remain with me until this day are “you have to start somewhere” and “ABSOLUTELY NO EXCUSES!” Proper thinking along with much support from family and friends have helped me through this journey. For those days when I didn't want to work out or I wanted to give up I would look at old pictures of myself, I didn’t want to be “her” any longer. I couldn't even remember that person I used to be, it was like I didn't even know that person anymore! My commitment to lose weight and live a healthier life was not easy, but I stuck with it! I began posting things like “time to work out”, “cardio" and calorie count facts stats daily on Facebook ( I wanted accountability), and the amount of encouragement and support from my Facebook family and friends was OVERWHELMING, especially on the days I didn't quite feel like working out. They all motivated me, and little do they know that they play in big role in pushing me to keep going!

The results of my weight loss are great (not to mention the new wardrobe!); my Facebook post were motivating others to start working out and eating right, and the way I felt INSIDE was priceless, and today I wouldn't dare trade that feeling for the world!