There is Power in Positive Thinking

We've all heard that there is great power in positive thinking. I believe it really works! I also know that embracing positive thoughts about one's self, sharing positive feedback with others, looking to God for help through prayer, and surrounding yourself with positive people is sometimes much easier said than practiced. Here are a few simple ways to help focus on the positive when the going gets tough:

1. Pray or meditate
Invite God into your life. It's really not dumb! Yes, God is always present and doesn't NEED an invitation. I find it helps me REMEMBER that God is present when I invite God to help me get my workouts in, eat healthy, and take time to get adequate rest. This time to center and focus the heart and mind is calming and relieves stress which makes it more likely that you will be able to maintain a positive attitude.

2. Boost Your Ego
When you get up in the morning, look yourself in the mirror and say, "I am awesome and I am beautiful!" Sometime during the day, perhaps when you are in a rut or lull, write down three things you have done well. It's the culmination of little things like drinking 8-10 glasses of water, going for a walk, or achieving a goal that make a big difference. Reminding yourself that you are awesome builds your self-confidence and all of that positive energy is sure to rub off on others.

3. Share the Love
What goes around comes around. Do at least three things daily to support others. It can be anything from saying hello to a stranger, sharing a high five with your workout buddy to volunteering at a soup kitchen. You may never know, but your kind words and deeds might just be the pick-me-up someone needed for the day.

Motivation

At Desert Cross Lutheran Church, where I am serving my internship, we just began a twelve week circuit training program. Each Saturday, we gather for prayer, inspiration, exercise, and fellowship. One of the participants asked, Do you have any tips for staying motivated?

It is January and 'tis the season for New Year's resolutions! Everyone wants to know what is the one thing that will help them reach their goals and push through when most people seem to fall off the bandwagon by March. I think there are three keys to staying motivated:

1. Set Realistic Goals

There is not one single more sure way to fail than to set yourself up for failure so set a goal that is achievable, yet challenging. My suggestion is to have a dream or a big goal and then break it down into smaller ones. If you're looking to lose weight, focus on no more than 10 pounds at a time. Before you know it, each of those ten pounds goals really adds up!

2. Recruit Your Cheer Leaders

Making lifestyle changes isn't easy. Whether you are looking to add walking 30 minutes a day three days a week to your routine or hoping to lose 100 pounds, you are more likely to be successful if you surround yourself with people that will cheer you on and help you stay on track when you have a bad day or feel like giving up. Especially if you live with others, be it family, friends, or roommates, tell them what you are doing and why you are doing it. Invite them to join you or at least ask them to be supportive. It's hard to eat healthy if everyone else is eating unhealthy. When I lived in the dorm at school last year with 16 other people, I made sure everyone knew what I was doing. Instead of insisting that there never be treats in the kitchen, I asked that they be covered with foil and kept in one place so that if I was having a particularly challenging day, I could just avoid that area and not have to see the tempting brownies, cookies, etc. Also, ask for help! Personal trainers and nutritionists are wonderful resources!

3. Reward Yourself

Once you have set your goals and established mini ones, choose dates when you want to achieve them by. Again, make sure you are being realistic. Losing 5 pounds in one week is not reasonable; I don't care what you may have seen on the Biggest Loser! Strive for things like: "I will walk an extra mile this week or I will lose 10 pounds in eight weeks." Then pretend it's Christmas and make a wish list. Choose things that correspond to your goals and also that are realistic gifts you can buy yourself. Maybe it's 5 new songs for your iPod for a mini goal and a massage for a milestone.

Good luck!