You Better Believe It

 

What do you believe about yourself?

Show me your thoughts and I will pinpoint  the reasons why things are going in the wrong direction or why are you doing so fabulously well.

The thought of the day is this: Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. (Phillipians 4:8)

These types of thoughts are life-giving and life-altering. These type of thoughts will help you wake up in the morning with pep in your step.

So here’s a trick. Catch each unflattering thought and turn it right side up.

You aren’t clever enough becomes: I am super clever and I can figure this out easily.
You aren’t pretty enough becomes: I am super pretty and I will enjoy myself today and give other people loads of compliments.
You aren’t fun enough: I attract the right people who appreciate me for who I am and I will go out and have a super fun day.

I love the word super. It simply puts the icing on the cake.
I tell myself I am a super woman and I can do it all through Christ who strengthens me. Nothing is impossible.

Many times the closest ones to you, for whom you are so desperate to believe, simply refuse to support you or laugh at your “illusions of grandeur”.
I realized that this void or desire is natural but it will not deter me from my destiny. Some people will never give me what I need and I refuse to stop and wait for their acknowledgement that will never come.

You need to believe in yourself because your Heavenly Father does.

He believed so much in you that He sent His only Son as a sacrifice for you. He thought you were worth it.
Oh, yeah. You better believe it.

I don’t ever want to tell my child, “Hey, pick something practical, shrivel up and die inside, but make sure you do something that makes sense to us, mom and dad”. I want her to dream BIG.
So BIG that perhaps it makes even me uncomfortable. Reach all you can or want.

How many of you were told that you are too sensitive, too stupid, unimaginative, or lack something else and you took that cloak on and actually believed it?

I’ve seen failures in high school that, once they’ve left that arena, they are phenomenally successful in college because they left those fake titles behind. They proved to themselves that this was a lie.

What is your belief system?

Parents are scared to tell their kids that they are talented, super clever and strong and brave. Maybe your parents weren’t like mine, terrified of spoiling the child. But that’s a different generation.
I’d rather overdo it and annoy my kid than under do it and leave her wanting. I want my child to know that I think she is the best in my eyes. No one can compare to her. She’s got what it takes to make me proud.

What will you carry forth? The only way to make a change in the world and in your family (perhaps it’s even harder in the family!) is to start from within yourself.

Say nice and kind things to yourself. Love yourself a little. Hey, have a laugh in the mirror at how silly you are. I’ve done it. Great way to turn your mood around.

Let your children hear you. Let them model you.

Every surly teenager wants to hear that their mom and dad are proud and know that they’ve got what it takes to be successful in your eyes.

Trust me. Thoughts turn into words and actions and become the reality around you.

You better believe it… and then you will see it.

I believe I can fly

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Gonna Love Myself Through It

I’ve never failed at criticizing myself, comparing myself to where I should be now and how my life should be going, so it came as a surprise to myself, and became a source of great pride and sign of maturity when, upon standing on the scales and realizing that after my trip to Europe I’ve gained 10 pounds, my first thought was “I’m going to love myself through it”.

(I want you to pause and reflect on that complex sentence. Perhaps Paul got nothing on me or perhaps he has some solid competition in the ‘complex sentence structure’. Someday in heaven, I will hear his thoughts!:))

I swear, everyone, that was my first thought. I didn’t think, “Gosh, how did I let this happen? How could I do this to myself?”. I didn’t deride myself or put extra pressure. I just instinctively decided to love myself because this is when I needed my own love the most. Mind you, this would not have been the case a few years ago. I was surprised and very happy to discover that I was no longer in that place of bringing myself down, but lifting myself up and that it was now second nature to me.

The inner being, the core of myself within me… spoke out.

Where am I going with this?

Bear with me, put on your cloak of patience and stay the course.

If we cannot love ourselves truly, and please don’t confuse this with doctrines of self love=selfishness, we cannot love others.
When we are able to love ourselves, be kind and compassionate and uplifting to our own very self, only then we can make the sort of impact on ourselves and others that will withstand the test of time.

How often are we kind to someone but to ourselves we don’t show that compassion? I am sick of hearing people say how stupid they are, that they never get it or will never be fit or cannot do it because they were never able to do it before.
Try again, I say. Forgive yourself and at least start with examining your thoughts. We are to hold captive the thoughts that do not serve us.
If you start sliding down the ” you are unworthy and etc.” channel, grab those thoughts quickly and replace them with good thoughts, sweet thoughts, noble thoughts. Double down on the holy thoughts.

So when I responded with my thought “I’m going to love myself through it,” I knew I arrived at a new place for me.
I could love others better. I  could be more compassionate because I was no longer broken in that particular painful sector of my life. I was healed.

We all need so much healing. Be gentle to yourself.

Hey, these are tough times for many. The election has brought many to their knees.
We are broken. Our nation needs healing. We’ve seen many symptoms of discord and disease within the last few months and more…
Healing starts from within each one of us. Get over the disappointment. Stop dwelling on the negative. Stop avoiding looking in the mirror (as I’ve done on many occasions!). This is the time of truth and reevaluation.
Disease and discord will not be eliminated with more of the same.

Christians, God is still on the throne. What are you being depressed about? Rejoice, because you have someone to rely on, Who is always good no matter the circumstance.

People, you are beautiful. You are wonderfully made. You are the masterpieces of the Creator.
Treat yourselves as such. Honor who you truly are. In doing so, you will automatically treat others better. Love others more strongly and inspire everyone to follow suit.

We need love.

I love repetition, although sometimes redundant, it can hammer down the simplest of truths.

Be gracious to yourself and extend it to your family. Families, extend grace and kindness and respect to other families in your communities. Communities, set an example of unity and honor to the rest of the city. Cities, rise up and be the beacons of light this country needs so much.

I love this country. I love this land and I thank God for bringing me here.

I am not placed here randomly, like a Lego piece that flies out of the bucket. I am deliberately and strategically placed where I can make the most impact.

You as well.

This is the time when we all must learn
                             …to love ourselves through it.

Our country needs us. We need our country.

My beautiful baby in Paris