winning

via

this morning i'm trying to rev myself up.  my energy has been really low for the last few weeks and it's really bothering me.  the less action i take in a day, the worse i feel over-all, which leads to -guess what?- less action.

a vicious cycle.

i know how important rest is.  i know how valuable it is to have limits.  but what i'm also learning about myself is that when i spend too much time "resting" (i put it in quotes because really (for me) i should be saying "lazing"), i have too much time to think.  my mind begins to unnecessarily replay conversations and situations that make me feel badly about myself.  when i tell myself "i need my limits" and use that as an excuse to get nothing done, i feel discouraged and hopeless.

seems a little like a no-brainer when i put it like that!

today i'm overwhelmed with the feeling of needing a win.  sometimes i just need to do something well, just need a small success to help push me past the feelings of "i can't."

so - i'm going to prioritize my bible study homework today.... i'm going to exercise... i'm going to make a full-on supper (do you know what i mean by that?)..... i'm going to go for a walk in the sunshine... i'm going to do some laundry.

today the win will be the exercise.  i don't enjoy the thought of it, and even though i usually enjoy it at some point during, i have a very hard time motivating myself to get to it!  if i can make myself exercise, i know i can feel better about myself and my day.  not because i'll be more fit (yes, i realize it takes more than occasional effort to achieve fitness), but because with God's help, i overcame the things that held me back.

winning for me is walking in the Spirit, living in obedience, listening to the Lord's call.  winning for me is taking little steps (laundry, supper, exercise) to being the wife and mother, friend and worker, child of God i'm called to be.

with His help, I can.

Now what I am commanding you today 

is not too difficult for you or beyond your reach. 

It is not up in heaven, so that you have to ask, 

“Who will ascend into heaven to get it 

and proclaim it to us so we may obey it?” 

Nor is it beyond the sea, so that you have to ask, 

“Who will cross the sea to get it 

and proclaim it to us so we may obey it?” 

No, the word is very near you; 

it is in your mouth and in your heart 

so you may obey it.

deut 30:11-14

What can you do today to experience a "Win?" 

carrot/stick

how 'bout carrot ON a stick?

what motivates you?


the carrot?

or the stick?

the reward?

or the punishment?

I can honestly say, in most of areas of my life, I am motivated by the carrot.  I'm one of those people who enjoys the feeling of a job "well-done" (even better if someone says it to me!) and will work for that positive result.

When it comes to my home, the peaceful atmosphere of a clean and tidy home motivates me to scurry about, dusting and washing, sweeping and mopping.

In my relationships (including my walk with the Lord), I like to keep short accounts, if possible.  Touching base with someone regularly is much more pleasant than feeling like you have to make up for lost time, and makes me feel more ready to be authentic - less surface-y, you know?

However.

There is one area of my life in which positive results have never really motivated me.  My health.  Shameful, I know.  Maybe it's because I choose not to can't deny myself the foods I love; maybe it's because I don't like to sweat, or get red in the face, or sweat, or wear excercise clothes, or sweat.... Maybe it's because I've never really "struggled" to maintain a relatively healthy weight - thank you very much, genetics.  Even though I've had some periods of obsession with my body image and weight, anything I did wasn't motivated by being healthy and treating my body well, just by outward appearance....which was never enough to keep me going for the long run....(oh, that's funny - I've never done a long run!)

That is, until The Stick recently came into the picture.

I tried overlooking the racing and palpitating heart, but she would not be ignored.  I've adjusted my diet (somewhat) to include less beige (it's ok, cock an eyebrow if you must) because my research has shown the most colourful foods are the best for reducing stress (which possibly could be an issue for me) and great for the heart.  Think spinach, blueberries, red peppers....  It seemed to help for a bit, but now with the tightening in my chest increasing to the point where I notice it more when it stops, the stick is beating me again.  So I phoned my doctor (who I've been avoiding for a variety of reasons) and will see him this week.  I'm not sure if I hope he tells me it's all in my head or not....

Until then, here's what I've learned - for there really is more of a point to this post than to complain about my sad little problem:  Carrots are yummy and sticks are a nuisance; intentional living includes every area; the Lord gave me this body to care for and treat well as a sacrifice of praise to Him.    I may be drawn more to food that is processed to feed my need for immediate gratification and I may not like to sweat, but as the Lord calls me to His service I don't want this body to be unable to perform because of how I've treated it.  Plain and simple.

Now, I generally assume that most people take better care of themselves than I do, and maybe healthy living isn't something you spend too much time thinking about, but I hope you'll be encouraged today to give every area of your life to Him.  

I don't know about you, 

but I'm running hard for the finish line.

I'm giving it everything I've got. No sloppy living for me! 

I'm staying alert and in top condition. 

I'm not going to get caught napping, telling everyone else all about it and then missing out myself. 

1 Corinthians 9:26-27 (Msg)

and feel free to offer any tips that work for you! :)

a day changes everything

So I recently decided to try exercising a little.  (and by recently, I mean Monday.)  I don't mind exercise, and I usually enjoy the feeling I get from having done something, but I have a very hard time motivating myself.

But on Monday I got to wondering what my life would be like if I tried a little harder with my body - how I fill it, how I use it.  I felt like I got the 'go-ahead' from the Lord and so....I went ahead!

Today is Thursday and I'm already struggling.  I have done workout dvds, gone for walks in our city's beautiful park, and used the quality equipment at the Y (where we've had a membership since SEPTEMBER and I only JUST stepped on that side of the building TUESDAY!).

My problem is not my body, the stiff muscles actually feel kind of good.

My problem is my heart.

Yesterday morning a phonecall came to the house to let me know that my Grandmother is in the hospital.  But I didn't get that phonecall because I was at the Y on the eliptical machine.  There was no message - I found out today through my sister-in-law.

I know most people would say "you have to take time for yourself" and "exercise is important."  But today I wonder.  I have a preschooler who's at home 3 1/2 days of the school week, and while she enjoys exercising with me, it's really hard in a small space and I usually try to do it while she watches tv or is at school.  I also have a part time job with very flexible hours, which is great but also requires discpline to spend my time working.  I also have a home to take care of and a family to feed....

....oh yeah, and pay attention to.

I've recently been wondering if people see me as selfish, or like the world revolves around me.  (Not in a pity-party kind of way, because of some remarks I've heard.)

My body is not in bad shape.  Sure, I'd like to lose a couple of pounds but I know I don't NEED to.  I really just wanted to see if anything would happen to my thighs if I tried exercising.

Now I don't think it's worth it.

My house is a mess because for 3 DAYS I prioritized exercise.  I feel frustrated trying to find the right time do it (being neither an early morning OR late night kind of girl).  My Grandma is in the hospital and I wasn't home to get the call because I was "taking care of myself."

for what?

This is one of those days I wish the Lord were right beside me so I could talk to Him and hear Him talk right back to me.  So He could help me work it out.  (haha, play on words.)

I know Paul says: "physical training has some value, but godliness has value for all things holding promise for both the present life and the life to come." (1 Tim 4:8)

Does that mean exercise is ok if it doesn't take away from other things?  Should it be on the priority list at all for me?   Perhaps this is the Lord's way of pointing out my vanity.

But I really was enjoying it.