Part 1: Contentment Is Not A Feeling... 

We can all stand to use a little contentment in our lives.  However, most of us seem to get contentment confused with happiness. When we run after happiness we run after things that will make us intensely satisfied at the moment, like going on unnecessary shopping sprees just to sense the power of a credit card between our fingers, or surfing the web for bargains in the wee hours of the morning when we can't fall back to sleep. Or you may go out and purchase the new hybrid utility vehicle you were checking out at the auto dealership a few months ago after you have another rough day at the office. Or maybe as a single person, you are convinced you won't be happy until you find the one true love of your life.

Happiness is elusive in this world. The more we run after the things we believe will make us happy and secure, the more we sense the growing dissatisfaction within our heart. When we attain the things, which we expect will bring us self-fulfillment, we yearn for something more because the feeling passes soon after the achievement. We start to yearn for that additional something that can bring us more happiness, more pleasure, and ultimately even greater happiness.

When you find contentment, you will have found your freedom.

 Contentment is not a feeling. It is a way of life...a daily decision to live every moment with gratitude in our heart for everything we have been given. When we walk around with an attitude of gratitude no matter what is going on in our lives, we pronounce that we are enough in every situation. When you are whole you need not run after wrong desires to fill you up. Because nothing or no one on this earth can fill you up and make you complete. I'll say it again, 'nothing or no one on this earth can fill you up and make you complete,' it is up to you. With that being said, the vital ingredient to finding contentment in every moment is by seeking it from the place it originated.  It doesn't start with us, it starts with God - our creator. Who do you think formed you and knows your every want and need?  God has set a place for Himself in your heart that only He can fill.

You will always feel depleted if you keep looking outside of yourself for the answers. 

Never give your dignity away, even in your thinking...because YOU are ENOUGH in every moment.

SupportRewarding Yourself Goes A Long Way....

This past summer, I had set up a reward system for myself to create short term incentives to reach my long term goals. With delightful anticipation, I've accomplished the first part of my goal towards maintaining a fitness regimen and revving up my writing career. I wanted to lose 45 lbs. in four months, while maintaining a healthier lifestyle and publish one of my works. I was able to achieve both objectives simultaneously. What an awesome feeling of accomplishment!  Losing 45 lbs. in four months is no easy task. Especially when those extra calories you'd been holding on to were used mainly as a defense mechanism. I had to work through boat loads of pain and the scars of prior trauma for years to get to this wonderful place of surrender.

My reward was a plane trip to Marlborough, Massachusetts for the Fall New England Supermegafest Comic-Con. It was my first trek to a Comic-con as well as my first ever plane ride. I ran into some of the most interesting people this past weekend. The locals that I met up with were extremely welcoming and made me feel right at home.  I also had a ball meeting some of the celebrities who had made guest appearances like Richard Dean Anderson, Meatloaf, Holly Marie Combs and Brian Krause to name a few.  All in all it was an incredible experience. I have plenty of fond memories (digitally saved) to look back upon and will be looking forward to keeping in touch with a few new friends.

If you ask me if it was worth having to delve into the muck and mire of my past, I'd tell you 'yes' every time. When we haven't dealt with issues from our past...they never truly go away on their own. We can bury them inside and try to pretend that they are not there. But, if they are never dealt with in the light of truth, they will continually sabotage our emotional, mental, physical, and spiritual well-being. Thankfully, since I've changed my life around to reach my desired vision, I have a renewed mindset and a clearer perception of what I want to accomplish in this world. And I would be lying if I told you that I did this all on my own.  Without being rooted in the promises of God's inspired Word, I would have NEVER been able to deal with all the 'stuff' I had to overcome. I'm grateful that all of His promises are proven and true and that He is more than willing to carry our burdens when we have the faith to believe.

It takes patient endurance to achieve your goals...

But, it is far more important to enjoy your journey.

When Life Tries To Get In The Way...

Do you ever wish that you could just coast through this life without any distractions whatsoever?  To just be able to run toward your goals without ANYTHING standing in your way?  Personally, as a recovering idealist, I love the idea of being free from ALL distractions. Who wouldn't? Unfortunately, we all know that in this life, it would never be possible. The bill collector will always be knocking at our door at least once a month. When we do arrive at a place where we start to feel financially secure, the vehicle will suddenly break down or the refrigerator will go on the fritz. Or when we least expect it, our health may even start to fail. There are so many ways that life makes attempts to deter us from staying on the path to reaching our dreams. I for one can attest to this truth. 

These are the most important things that I've learned so far on my own journey towards reaching my goals:  

Having a Solid Belief System Keeps You Grounded. 

Without question, if I didn't have a personal relationship with my heavenly Father, I would not be able to achieve my goals.  As a woman of faith, I know for a fact that it would be impossible to be where I am today without the help and support of Almighty God.  He has saved me from numerous pitfalls and has provided me with his life giving word as a light to my path. When I meditate on his word consistently, follow his principles (direction), and keep in prayer, no matter what this world throws at me, I have the confidence that God will fix it. It's only when I find myself getting too busy to meditate on the scriptures and pray that I can start to lose that confidence and allow worry and doubt to creep into my thoughts. 

Are you grounded by your beliefs?

Life Will Test Your Dedication Again and Again.

When I started on my journey towards living a well-balanced lifestyle and focusing on my writing career, it was like a walk in the park. I was motivated, focused, and stuck to a daily routine with no problem. Then maybe a month or so into it, little distractions starting to creep into the picture. As I was preparing for my vacation in October, I needed to put money out to have my vehicle serviced. And as I began adding some more challenges to my workout routine, my knee and lower back started acting up on me again. From then on, every month or so, there were other things trying to pull my focus away from keeping my inner zen. In order to achieve our goals, we need to stay centered. 

I have been resolute not to let the pull of emotional negativity get in the way. It has been no easy task. Even now I'm dealing with sinusitis that has effected my inner ear. It has zapped my energy and left me feeling miserable. I allowed myself rest these past few days (no exercise), but today I need to get back on the horse. I'm starting back on my workouts, but only for 10 minutes at a time. Just until I start to feel better. 

Are you allowing distractions to get in the way of achieving your goals?  If so, what are you willing to do about it? 

Not Everyone Will Be In Your Rooting Section.

We've all encountered situations where you thought that those closest to you would be your loudest cheering section. Only to find that in reality they are no where to be found when you want them to share in your greatest triumphs and successes. Since I'm a person who enjoys lifting up others and encouraging them along the way, it is still hard to fathom that those who are suppose to care about you are too busy at times with there own lives to acknowledge your victories. But, the bible even says this will be the case. I don't let it bother me when I'm at my best, feeling strong, healthy, and confident. But, if I'm struggling with not feeling well or having an off day...I can let that get in my head and cause me to feel disappointed. It's at that point when I really need to realize that God is ALWAYS with me and know that HE is ALWAYS available to share in my triumphs (1 John 2:5, Isaiah 41:10, Joshua 1:9, Psalm 46:1, Jeremiah 29:11, Romans 8: 37-39, Psalm 91: 1-16). 

Who can you depend on to be in your corner 100% of the time?

'A Person will be satisfied with good by the fruit of his words and

the deeds of a person's hands will return to him.'

~Proverbs 12:14

Getting Through Seasons of Change

No one ever said that life would be easy. We all must enter into seasons of change whether they bring us bliss or trials and tribulation. Just like it says in the book of Ecclesiastes in the Old Testament, 'to everything there is a season...A time to plant and a time to sow; a time to tear down and a time to build up; a time to weep and a time to laugh; a time to mourn and a time to dance.'  Whether we like it or not, it is all part of the plan. You may be at a place in your life where you have found contentment and peace of mind as you continue to train yourself to live out a healthier well-balanced lifestyle. However, if you believe that you will be living in a continuum of happiness without any more problems, misfortunes, or disappointments, it's time for a reality check. 

You may work hard at conquering your insecurities, doubts, fears, and negative thinking. In fact, you may have even been doing a superb job of it for quite some time now and are feeling pretty good about yourself. But,  remember that you are a work in progress. This will not be an overnight transition. There's no tapping your heels three times and poof your a new person. This is a journey that ushers in strong currents that will try to knock you right off your feet. Don't be surprised if you see some of the old habits, attitudes, and thought patterns trying to creep back in especially when 'life' happens. Don't get discouraged or you could get caught up in the negativity and be tempted to give up on yourself. Remember that you and I will never reach our full potential in this lifetime. And that is okay. 

Here are some helpful things you can do to stay focused during the rough seasons:

Practice Trusting - Trust that things will eventually change, because NOTHING ever stays the same. 

Practice Patience - Be patient with yourself as you move through your journey. Give yourself grace because you will mess up from time to time. Also, have patience for others in your path. 

Practice Gratefulness- When tempted to be discouraged or fall back into your old patterns, thank God that you have this opportunity to grow and blossom no matter how challenging life may seem. 

Practice Forgiveness - Forgive yourself when you fall short. From time to time you will have to pick yourself up, dust yourself off, and keep moving forward towards your goals. 

Keep in mind that even the most well-balanced people experience sadness, disappointment, misfortune, and grief.  It's just a matter of how long they let themselves undergo these emotional struggles before they keep it moving forward. We all have a free will to choose how long we will let ourselves stay in those dark places. The choice is yours.