goals – Faith + Motivation

Promises for Life…

July 21, 2019June 9, 2019
by admin

Training for my first half marathon, I took everything quite seriously. I ate everything I should. I drank more than enough water and cut out the diet coke. I woke up early to train according to the plan I set before me. I even worked on speed training (which I was still slow as a turtle ha!). Taking this time to prepare my body, I was able to prepare my mind. See, most that train begin 12 weeks out from the race. Not me! I began in March for a December run… crazy, huh?!?

During this time of training, I thought, during all that time of running quietly, about beginning to read more of my Bible and learn more about what all actually happened within the Bible. Shamefully, I carved more time out of my schedule for running, than I did for my devotions. Training properly is a must to be able to finish a goal that you set before yourself. Training for my half marathon, I was able to crush the average pace I set before myself. I was SUPER PROUD! However, that didn’t all the way fulfill me. “For the training of the body has limited benefit, but Godliness is beneficial in every way. Since it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come.” – 1 Timothy 4:8

I realized that running makes me happy and allows for me to decrease my stress and breathe. However, after I was intentional about reading my devotions, spending time in His Word, and remaining quiet to talk with God daily, I became happier, stress was manageable, and I could breathe more deeply. I realized that yes training was quite beneficial, but nothing like preparing my heart for the promises God provides not only here on earth… for eternity.

Inspiration and Self Help

What direction are you going?

July 7, 2019July 7, 2019
by admin

I have never been good at directions, well geography… Good thing I married a guy who likes to travel and knows where we are going and how to get there! Keeping straight time zones and stuff like that, I just ask my husband and he will laugh giving me the answer. Ha! He will travel for hours across any time zone to enjoy a few days away. I don’t really care for taking hours to get where I am going, especially riding in a car. Guess that’s another way we are different.

Even though I haven’t been a great traveler, I have been a long distance runner. Yep, I can run for two hours, but riding in a car that long is soooo boring. Ha! Nevertheless, staying on course and attaining endurance is quite important to sustain for that amount of time I’m running. Endurance has always been something I have had. I’m not sure where it came from, but my sister and brother seem to have that drive and endurance, too. I have always been driven to stay in one direction that would lead to success and happiness.

My grandmother followed God’s direction through working her farm. She had great drive and endurance to run her farm like she did. Her eyes didn’t waiver from her vision on her farm and neither did her heart as she sat in her pew every Sunday. She knew that God calls us to look heavenward during any situation for His guidance and endurance. 2 Thessalonians 3:5 says, “May the LORD direct your hearts to God’s love and Christ’s endurance.” Where is your direction leading you? Where is your happiness and success? Where does your endurance come from?

Inspiration and Self Help

Progress or Perfection???

April 28, 2019April 13, 2019
by admin

Growing up I was obsessed that the only way I could fit in or be worth anything was to be perfect. Many, many years late it sunk in that nobody is perfect, no matter how everything looked on the outside. I guess it was because I felt like such a mess on the inside; I had to be as perfect as I could on the outside.

During on of my Ph.D Residencies, my professors made us repeat “We are striving for excellence not perfection!” We tend to put so much pressure on ourselves to be perfect, that we don’t allow ourselves to grow. To me that leads to such an upsetting world of disappointment if one thing goes wrong and failure seems so much more daunting than it would if we prepared ourselves for set backs. Now, I am not meaning to dwell on the negative, but to give yourself a little grace in case a set back occurs. Being excellent doesn’t mean being perfect!

When staying healthy, I strive for positive progress, not perfection. Eating healthy, but not beating myself up if I drink a diet coke or eat french fries. Making sure that the run I take isn’t to punish myself since swimsuit season is coming up quickly, so I slow my pace and turn the music up! How do you change your thinking towards progress not perfection???

“Strive for progress not perfection.” -Anonymous

Inspiration and Self Help

Discipline… Now or Later?

April 14, 2019April 13, 2019
by admin

Discipline has always driven the goals I have set out for myself…. whether short-term or long-term goals. Which my discipline could be mistaken for stubbornness or pure desire to prove others wrong. Ha! Years ago, it was shared with me during leadership and motivational meetings/conferences to make a vision board. On this vision board I was put pictures, words, phrases or anything that caught my attention and motivated to me to move forward and keep going. I could also put my affirmations on my mirror, so I could read my vision everyday.

I don’t have a vision board made anymore, but I utilize my phone home and lock screens to target the motivation I need during that particular time. Keeping my vision to be better each day is in front of my every time I look at my phone or even my watch. Also, having these on my devices allow me to remind myself of what I want most. “Discipline is choosing between what you want now and what you want most.” -Abraham Lincoln

You know, choosing a goal is easy, but following through is the hard part. What I have experienced is that I would compare myself to others… compare my progress to their progress. That’s just not healthy. I’ll never be as amazing as this person or that person, but I am as amazing as God chose for me to be. Reason being, is that I am just me… crazy, outside the box thinking, stubborn, tunnel vision, goal-oriented, discipline-minded ME! What makes you motivated, friends???

“For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.” -2 Timothy 1:7

Inspiration and Self Help

Progress… What’s Progress??

March 24, 2019March 17, 2019
by admin

Who determines what is progress and what isn’t? Society…. I guess?!! Not so sure I buy into that…. I used to let others tell me how I should workout, what program I should use, how often my schedule should make time to make progress. I soon realized that my body can’t take what others can. I also realized that my body type needs certain training for me to have the results I want for myself.

After becoming a runner, I learned that others planned their running regimen to keep up with others or be like others. I, then, learned that I can’t plan my running around others goals. I had to set goals for just me. I chose baby steps from running 2 miles to becoming a 1/2 marathon runner. It took me an entire year to train for my first 1/2 marathon. Others could have this training done in 13 weeks, but not me! I just couldn’t do that. My body would of shut down and I would of NEVER gotten to run my first 1/2 marathon.

You know… somebody once said “small progress is still progress”…. and that is me! I have to remind myself that even though I can’t quite keep up with others, I am making the small progress I need to staying fit and healthy….. especially at 40! Ha! Keep up your motivation to making a healthy you!! I believe in you, friend!!

Inspiration and Self Help

Reflection…

March 16, 2019March 13, 2019
by admin

When you reflect on your day, month, or even years…. have your choices come from your hopes or fears? As I reflect on my younger years, I definitely made choices from fear. Fear of not succeeding. Fear of not being loved completely. Fear of not being good enough. Fear of never becoming what my parents intended. Fear of failure. Fear of not having friends. Fear of being too different. Fear of being too much of me! Can you relate?

I’d say about 5 or 6 years ago, I began to consistently dive deep into God’s word. Embarrassing to say, but it had been years since I had consistently made time for God. I had thought I was giving him time, but as I look back I wasn’t. Through this time of consistently having some solo time with God, He kept pushing me to reflect on my choices. I began to reflect over the years and forgive myself for giving into all the fears above, then I began to reflect day to day. I could see how my choices changed from choosing my fears to choosing where I had my hope. I pray today, friends, that your choices reflect your hopes and not fears…. chose to be where God intends for you to be not matter what your fears might say.

“May your choices reflect your hopes, not fears.” -Nelson Mandela

Inspiration and Self Help

At your limit?

February 10, 2019February 10, 2019
by admin

As I run in the afternoons, I love running to the lake to see if the geese are swimming. I love the idea of how they stick together to fly south. I especially love when the baby geese are waddling and enter the lake to swim. It’s so incredibly sweet!

I understand that the geese fly south for the winter for warmer weather, but some of my runs have been especially cold lately! Yes, I know that is weird for Mississippi, but cold days do happen just not often. Ha! Running in cold weather is miserable to me. I’d rather 80 degree weather than 40 degree weather to run in any day. Yes, running with another running partner or a running group makes running so much easier, but running solo….UGH!

I tend to struggle getting laced up and out the door. Do you?? That’s most of my battle, because when I begin running by myself I get in the zone quick! Especially singing a little 80’s and 90’s rock! You know it’s my mindset that keeps me from a lot. Not sure who said “You’re only limit is your mind”. Create a positive mindset and gooooo! Happy Running (or whatever is your peace), Friends!

Inspiration and Self Help

Goals = Success

February 10, 2019February 10, 2019
by admin

Have you ever heard the saying “look where you’re going, not where you’ve been”? Because I had a horrible few years, I heard that quite often. I also heard “don’t dwell on the past, move forward”. I do have to say that my goals now stem from what has happened to me in the past. I also have to say that my successes now stem from those same past experiences. Any of these sound familiar?

Do I believe that the past is in the past and most of that should stay there? ABSOLUTELY! But I also believe that I am the person I am today because of my past. Was it awful living through a period of domestic violence? YES! What is torturing watching my first born go through tests because we didn’t know what was wrong with him? YES! Was it even more gut wrenching watching them take him to surgery not once, but twice? OMG, YES!!! Was it devastating watching my parents lose there parents to illness throughout the years and praying I wouldn’t lose mine at their age? YES!

You know, because of these few examples of trials in my life, I am now strong, courageous, faithful, determined, and a resilient person. I make goals and I crush them! I might not crush them to others standards, but I crush them to reach my success. I continue to make goals after goals, so I know where I am headed and problem solve to get there. What are you goals? How are you getting there? What has pushed you make your goals and crush them? Where are you headed?

“People with goals succeed because they know where they’re going.” – Earl Nightingale

Inspiration and Self Help

I am enough.

February 2, 2019February 2, 2019
by admin

Have you ever heard the expression “keeping up with the Jones'”? I grew up hearing that expression. Did you ever just want more? Of course, I’m sure we all have one time or another. Have you ever had the feeling of not being quite satisfied? Me, I sure have had this feeling more than I really want to admit.

I think most of mine has come from these questions: Am I smart enough? Am I a good enough athlete? Can I run as good at somebody else? Will I be able to be one of the better yoga participants in class? Am I worthy enough? Do I have what it takes to be successful financially for my family? Can I do more? If I do more will I be more?

You know, everyday I wake up and I go to the educational mission I direct. I have a school full of students that ask questions like this everyday. We, as teachers and educators, tell our students everyday that they are enough for this world. They don’t always feel it, but they are seeing how they are enough. Someone once said “It’s not about being more. It’s about knowing I am already enough and being who HE has called me to be.” WOW…. how does that make you feel?

The amount of learning you have done is enough. The parent you have become is enough. The educator you are is enough. The entrepreneur you have become is enough. The dreamer you are is enough. The runner you are is enough. The fitness guru you are is enough. The amount of degrees you have earned shows you are enough. Our paths aren’t the same, but God does let us know that we are enough. We are His and that’s what makes us ENOUGH!

“If you continuously compete with others, you become bitter, but if you continuously compete with yourself, you become better.” -Anonymous So make your “Goal to not be better than anyone else, but to be better than you used to be.” -Anonymous

Inspiration and Self Help

Are your feet dusty?

January 26, 2019January 26, 2019
by admin

Do you let others opinions of you direct your steps? Do you let others’ comments about you stop you from moving forward in your job, exercise, family decisions, success? Well, I can answer YES to ALL of that as I roll my eyes at myself! I can’t believe that I have allowed half my life others to impact my choices about who I should be, what I should do, who I should become, what I can accomplish. Why is it that the few comments of negativity seem to speak louder than all of the positive comments others give?

A few months ago, I was feeling the world crashing down, personally and professionally, because of others comments about all the ways I was trying to move forward in the ways I felt God was calling me. First, being a half marathon runner, people look at me like I am crazy…. which I probably am, but only 1/2 crazy! Ha! Second, writing my dissertation proposal and not quite hitting the mark when I submitted, so now I am editing…. again. Third, problem solving (which one of my friends said she calls it worry while I call it problem solving) at work. Last, choosing to add another job adventure to my plate, which thankfully my husband fully supports every adventure I crazily throw out there.

I guess since I have tried to be a “people pleaser” for most of my life, I have had a hard time understanding that I can’t make everybody happy. However, I have begun talking to God more about it. “Don’t let other people’s opinions determine your destiny. You don’t need anyone’s permission to be the person God has created you to be.” -Dave Willis So, here I am pushing hard to reach the goals He has set before while focusing on those positive comments from those who are dear to me…

“Shake off the dust from your feet.” -Matthew 10:14

Tag: goals