Affirmations – Page 3 – Renew Inspiration Mind Body Spirit

Practice Self-Care During Your Grief Experience

LatishaApril 30, 2022Leave a Reply

Self-care is giving the world the best of you, instead of what’s left of you. – Katie Reed

Affiliate Disclaimer: This site contains affiliate links, which means I may receive a commission if you purchase through any of the links (at no additional cost to you).

Welcome back to Renew Inspiration! Let’s discuss how important it is for you to practice self-care during your grief experience. Although everyone grieves in their own unique way, the emotional turmoil you feel during your grief experience can be complicated and have you feeling depleted. Whether you want to admit it or not, grief also leaves you feeling as though you have no voice when other people are not willing to listen to how you feel.

WHY SELF-CARE IS IMPORTANT

Give yourself the same care and attention that you give to others and watch yourself bloom. – Unknown Author

So, what is self-care? According to The Self-Care Solution written by Suzy Reading, self-care can be defined as any life-giving activity that restores, sustains or improves your health. Self-care is nourishment for your mind, body and spirit. Self-care can also help people become the best version of themselves when they learn effective ways to navigate through life.

Suzy Reading provides three reasons why self-care is important:

Stress is not going to go away. Stress is a normal part of life. In fact, life would be boring without some stress to keep us on our toes, right?
Stress has a cumulative effect. Stress can add up very quickly so make sure to plan for regular pressure releases throughout your day. For example, go for a walk, do a stretch routine or meditate.
Too much stress is dangerous. It’s a fact that too much stress makes us ill and greatly diminishes our ability to enjoy life.

In other words, self-care is necessary and can lead to:

A relaxed mood and improved state of mind
Improved thinking, organization, and personal relationships
Clearer understanding of where we are mentally and physically, and the ability to address our personal needs before we tend to others

SELF-CARE TIPS FOR GRIEF

Self-care is how you take your power back. – Lalah Della

Let’s be honest. It’s hard to think about yourself when you’re experiencing grief. Grief is hard and painful. There’s so many thoughts, feelings and emotions swirling around in your head all at once. Unfortunately, grief takes over your reality and your own needs tend to fall by the wayside. Make the time to implement some of these tips into your daily life routine. The tips are in no specific order, so scan through and pick those you relate to. As you can see, self-care is not selfish, but it is necessary to help keep you calm during your grief experience.

Take a moment and use these self-care tips for grief that can help you keep a calm mind, body and spirit:

#1 – Breathe Mindfully – Take time to breathe slowly and focus on your natural breath. This process will put your mind in the present moment.
#2 – Be Kind to Yourself – Being kind to yourself has tremendous healing power. Treat yourself as you would treat a beloved friend. Give yourself space to feel the pain of grief and allow your heart to break. Self-compassion
#3 – Let Yourself Cry – If you feel the need to cry, then let your tears flow. Crying is a gate way to your total healing experience.
#4 – Pray and Meditate Regularly– Despite how bad you’re feeling inside, it’s important to spend time in prayer and meditation. This process will help clear your mind and keep you in the present. Consistency is key so start with 10 to 20 minutes per day.
#5 – Connect with Others – No matter how difficult it may be, it’s important for you to have interaction with people you trust. However, if you feel like your support system has fallen apart, then find a compassionate grief counselor or therapist to speak with.
#6 – Move Your Body – Push yourself to move your body. Take a walk outside, practice doing yoga or try a new exercise class. Exercise does the whole body good. Exercise will help you sleep better and offer you a healthier option to release stress during this difficult time.
#7 – Express Yourself Through Creativity – Allowing yourself to spend time writing in your journal, drawing, coloring or knitting can help you focus on activating your creative side of your brain.

As you can see, grief can manifest itself physically, mentally, and emotionally. If you are not careful, grief can throw off your whole life balance and really have an effect on your future health.

HOW TO CREATE A SELF-CARE PLAN

Self-care is not self-indulgence, it is self-preservation. – Audre Lorde

The best way to practice self-care during your grief experience is to create yourself a self-care plan. A self-care plan will allow you to be proactive and to take action when you need it most.

Here’s the five components necessary to create a self-care plan:

#1 – Identify personal needs and values – Keep in mind that your personal needs and values change when you experience life events, such as grief. Question – How do you feel?
#2 – Boundaries in regard to relationships and time – Set healthy boundaries with people and stick to them. Question – Does people energize you or deplete you?
#3 – Support system and circle of trust – Put a dependable support system in place that you trust. Question – Who is it that you lean on and trust?
#4 – Community resources and creative outlets – Research valuable community resources that will assist you throughout this journey. Question – What resources do you have available to you?
#5 – Personal and professional goals – Set personal and professional goals to improve your life. Question – Where do you want to see yourself I the future?

When done correctly, you will have time to reflect on the past, consider the future, and make most of the present.

JOURNAL TO OVERCOME GRIEF

No matter how bad your heart is broken, the world doesn’t stop for your grief. – Faraaz Kazi

Journal To Overcome Grief: A Personal Journey to Healing can be purchased via Amazon.com. This beautiful grief journal includes thought provoking journal prompts and quotes that will help you navigate life after loss.

There will be times when you’ll want to cry and other times when you’ll smile as you explore your personal reflections. This is a unique way to honor your loved one and connect with their spirit through writing while creating your own personal keepsake for years to come.

SELF-CARE AFFIRMATIONS

Be enough for yourself first, the rest of the world can wait. – Unknown Author

Self-care affirmations will help you to focus on improving yourself. You can spend 5 – 10 minutes in meditation, journaling, or yoga with mantras. Self-love, positivity, open-mindedness, help set you in the right direction. Designate a time in the morning and at night when you can recite affirmations aloud. By saying them aloud, you hear the powerful words, and it can help you internalize them as true. The key to seeing a positive change in life is to say the affirmations with conviction and make it personal.

Here’s a few of my favorite self-care affirmations to help you get started:

I love and respect myself.
I know my value and self-worth.
I care about myself and listen to all of my needs.
I am strong, resilient, and smart.
I treat myself with love, kindness, and acceptance.
I am powerful, healthy, and capable.
I am free of self-doubt and insecurities because I am confident.
I am centered, at peace, and in love with myself.
I affirm empowering and kind messages to myself.
I set healthy boundaries and stick to them.
I always focus on the positive side of life.
I embrace my past and learn from it every day.
I am not my mistakes or my past.
I release myself of any misery and suffering.

Remember, there’s no time limit on the grief process. Instead of avoiding grief, take time to address the pain and heartache you feel while you practice self-care. Then, go through the grieving process at your own pace and release the negative feelings by:

Crying or laughing about a past memory
Talking about your loss and sharing the memories with others
Writing about it or writing a letter to them, or even keeping a journal

TIME FOR REFLECTION – JOURNAL PROMPTS

Breathe. Let go. And remind yourself that this very moment is the only one you know you have for sure. – Oprah Winfrey

Journaling is a powerful way to process events in your life, build self-awareness, get more clarity, and keep yourself on track. Journaling also allows for past reflection, future insight, and present surrender. Keep in mind that this is a journey, and everyone takes their own path. Ready, set, write!

What was the last self-care thing you did?
What is one thing you need to let go?
What is one way you like to recharge your energy levels?
What is holding you back from improving your lifestyle?
How can I honor my body on today?
How important is self-care to you while you grieve?
What would you like to include in your daily self-care routine?

Believe in yourself today, tomorrow, and forever!

Affiliate Disclaimer: This site contains affiliate links, which means I may receive a commission if you purchase through any of the links (at no additional cost to you).

How To Survive Life Changing Hardships

LatishaApril 1, 2022Leave a Reply

Hardships often prepare ordinary people for an extraordinary destiny. – C.S. Lewis

Affiliate Disclaimer: This site contains affiliate links, which means I may receive a commission if you purchase through any of the links (at no additional cost to you).

Special Thought – Life is hard. But not impossible.

Welcome back to Renew Inspiration! Let’s WELCOME APRIL in by learning how to awaken our whole being – mind, body and spirit through journal writing. Knowledge is power and I want to share some with you today. Well, I hope you have your journal and something to write with. I love to write in my journal because it is a safe place for me to put my feelings and emotions into words, then put my words into action.

Mind – Your mind will always believe everything you tell it. Feed it faith. Feed it truth. Feed it with love.
Body – Your body is healthy and beautiful.
Spirit – Everything you need is within you.

Journal writing is a form of personal expression. Journal writing can be whatever you want it to be. Now, take a moment and write down the questions below in your journal. Then, spend some time answering each question.

What are your strengths and weaknesses?
What is your proudest accomplishment?
What is your biggest failure?
What is overwhelming in your life right now?
How can you reduce this overwhelming feeling?

This journal writing exercise will help you navigate life and the various hardships you may experience along your journey.

WHAT IS A HARDSHIP?

If we believe that tomorrow will be better, we can bear a hardship today. – Thich Nhat Hanh

There are so many people still hurting right now and struggling to find a way to put their lives back together after being isolated for so long during the pandemic. Have you ever wondered how some people survived life changing hardships during this time?

Hardship (noun) can be defined as a severe suffering or privation; adversity or something difficult or unpleasant that you must endure or overcome.

The most common examples of hardship include:

Illness or injury
Change of employment status
Loss of income
Natural disasters
Divorce
Death
Military deployment

Believe it or not, hardships are a constant reminder that we are human. Whether big or small, we all go through hardships in one form or another in life.

HOW TO SURVIVE LIFE CHANGING HARDSHIPS

Everyone has hardship in their life. Everyone has pain. – Gayle Forman

Let’s face it, life is full of ups and downs. Even though each person must experience their own set of hardships in life, it’s important to know how to navigate through the process so you will survive life changing hardships.

Make A Plan – While you don’t have a crystal ball that’s going to tell you when hardships may occur in your life, you can look at patterns in your life to see what challenges you may be experiencing at the time. Then, make a plan for you to follow if a hardship may occur in the future.
Know You’re Not Alone – Believe it or not, there’s someone in this world who has gone through the same thing you’re experiencing right now. You’re not alone. Don’t be afraid to share your burdens with family or friends who are willing to assist you during your darkest hour.
Ask For Help – There’s no need to feel ashamed or to go through hardships alone, ask for help. Whether you ask a family member, friend or stranger, there should be people in your life that want to see you overcome this hardship and succeed.
Express Your Feelings – Don’t trap your feelings inside, but instead express your feelings either verbally or in writing. Talk to a friend, therapist or write in your journal.
Endure Your Hardships – Unfortunately, there is no escaping hardships in life. However, it’s important to know that you must endure your hardships rather than looking for an easy way out.
Be A Risk Taker – Don’t be afraid of failure. In order to accomplish great things in life, you must be willing to take risks.
Positive Mindset – What you think becomes your reality. Train your mind to think positive and uplifting thoughts. For example, recite positive affirmations, read an inspirational book or listen to inspirational podcasts.
Look For Learning and Growth Opportunities – When you’re stuck in the trenches of life, it’s hard to find a positive outlook. However, push yourself to find learning and growth opportunities as you endure the painful hardships.
Don’t Give Up – Whatever you do in life, don’t give up. Make goals for yourself and make a plan to reach those goals. When hardships occur in life, be ready, take time to analyze the situation, put your pride aside and ask for help if you need it.

Learning how to deal with hardships takes time, persistence, a positive attitude, and a willingness to change.

LIFE CHANGING AFFIRMATIONS

At the end of hardship comes happiness. – Charlie Gilkey

Affirmations are a great way to kick-start your day or to end your day in reflection. The purpose of positive affirmations is to affirm to ourselves that things are good even if we don’t necessarily feel that way at the time. Life changing affirmations can be used as a guide to help you receive healing and immediate change in life. Remember, consistency is key. Also, it’s important to find affirmations that resonate with you and align with your beliefs. Take a moment each day and recite the following life changing affirmations:

Today is filled with possibility.
I am limitless, my soul is eternal, and my potential is infinite.
I have the power to create the life I desire.
I am worthy of love, happiness, and fulfillment.
I create happiness by appreciating the little things in life.
I am strong enough to overcome life challenges.
My life is filled with purpose.
I can become anything I put my mind to.
I am confident about my future.
I see failure as an opportunity to learn.
I am fearless and my doubts are replaced by faith.
I don’t live for things. I live for a spiritual purpose.
I am superior to negativity and I rise above my struggles.
I have a healthy body, tranquil mind, and a vibrant soul.

Designate a time in the morning and at night when you can recite affirmations aloud. By saying them aloud, you hear the powerful words, and it can help you internalize them as true. The key to seeing a positive change in life is to say the affirmations with conviction and make it personal.

WAYS TO RESTORE YOURSELF

When something is renewed, restored, or resurrected, it’s never the same as it was before. God has something better! – Jana Carlson

After you have embraced the concept of how to survive life changing hardships, it’s important to realize that you have the power to cultivate positive energy within your own body as well. Yes, even when you are exhausted, burned out, and feel like you’ve got nothing left to give, your body can guide you to a more peaceful place of greater vitality, inner strength, and well-being.

Here’s some helpful ways to restore yourself at any given time in life:

Rest when your body says rest. When you listen to your body and give yourself the rest you need, you’ll rebuild your energy over the long-term.
Practice self-awareness and cultivate stillness within you. Allow yourself to feel the stillness around you, letting it soak into your body.
Practice whole-body breathing. Feel your breath inside your body and notice how far it reaches within you.
Nourish your body wholeheartedly. Be conscious and heartfelt in how you nourish your body by choosing healthy foods that feel inherently good for you.
Develop a self-care routine that may include practicing restorative movement, light walking, stretching, and yoga. This will help regain energy in your body.
Have compassion for yourself and treat yourself kindly. Be kind in your thoughts and feelings towards yourself. Do this in Christ’s strength, not your own.
Nurture what inspires you, the simple pleasures of life through your thoughts, energy and actions.
Don’t neglect your own needs. Learn to guard your time like the precious gift that it is.

Remember, to be totally restored takes time as well as our precious minds focused on God and His greatness. We can survive life changing hardships if we keep our faith in God. Then, and only then will God renew us with hope and joy leaving us with much needed anticipation for eternity.

TIME FOR REFLECTION – JOURNAL PROMPTS

Journaling is a powerful way to process events in your life, build self-awareness, get more clarity, and keep yourself on track. Journaling also allows for past reflection, future insight, and present surrender. Keep in mind that this is a journey, and everyone takes their own path. Ready, set, write!

What motivates you the most?
What have you purposefully skipped out on, even if you wanted it?
What’s the first thing you turn to when you feel overwhelmed?
What changes do you want to see in your life in five years?
What do you wish to gain or experience coming out of a current change you’re going through?
What are three goals (big or small) you want to accomplish from this change?
What flaws and mistakes can you forgive yourself for?
How can you make sure to fill your cup before giving yourself to others?
What’s a limiting perspective or mindset that you’ve lived with your entire life? How do you plan to work through it?
What gets you out of bed in the morning? Are you pursuing that daily?
What things are you willing to let go of so you can live your best life?

Believe in yourself today, tomorrow and forever!

Affiliate Disclaimer: This site contains affiliate links, which means I may receive a commission if you purchase through any of the links (at no additional cost to you).

7 Simple Ways to Improve Your Personal Worship Experience

LatishaMarch 21, 2022Leave a Reply

To worship God is to humble everything about ourselves and exalt everything about him. – Bob Kauflin

Affiliate Disclaimer: This site contains affiliate links, which means I may receive a commission if you purchase through any of the links (at no additional cost to you).

Special Thought – Worry traps our hearts. Worship sets them free.

Welcome back to Renew Inspiration! Let’s welcome in the Spring season with a discussion centered around an inspiring and spiritual word called WORSHIP. Despite everything that life throws at you, it’s important to spend time developing your personal worship experience.

Worship can be defined differently for each person, but I believe worship is when you show reverence and adoration for a higher power, such as God.

As you grow spiritually, you will begin to experience God on a personal level when you:

Read and study God’s Word faithfully
Spend time in prayer and meditation consistently
Speak to God during your quiet time
Listen to and sing spiritual songs that feed your spirit
Praise God for all He has done in your life

Remember, this is your personal time with God where you pour out your heart, clear your mind, and strengthen your soul.

CORPORATE WORSHIP

Corporate worship is designed to stimulate worship by reminding you of who you are and what you need and who God is and what He’s given. – Paul Tripp

To take it a step further, do you realize how important corporate worship is as it relates to your spiritual growth? Corporate worship can be defined as time designated to assemble with fellow worshippers to praise God, encounter Jesus, fulfill God’s purposes in us as His Church and participate in eternal spiritual experiences using your gifts to help glorify God.

Here’s some examples of corporate worship:

Praise Team & Choir
Praise Dancers
Praise & Worship Music
Reading God’s Word
Corporate Prayer
Tithes & Offering

Think of it this way. Corporate worship allows God to give His graces and blessings to church congregations across the world. Believe it or not, there are benefits associated for worshipping together with other believers, such as:

Awakening – A fire is kindled in our hearts which helps us through our difficult times.
Assurance – A sense of community which helps our desires for belonging to a group.
Advance – Spiritual growth within is being conformed to the image of Jesus Christ.
Accepting Another’s Leading – Embrace being led by someone else during worship.
Accentuated Joy – Our own adoration and joy increased during worship services.

As you can see, corporate worship plays a huge role in rekindling our spiritual fire and keeping it burning within. In addition, corporate worship brings together God’s Word, prayer and fellowship among fellow worshippers. Corporate worship, in most cases, will strengthen your own pure worship experiences as well as you become one with God.

7 SIMPLE WAYS TO IMPROVE YOUR PERSONAL WORSHIP EXPERIENCE

Worship is an act of war against the enemy of our hearts. – Holley Gerth

However, it’s important to note that worship doesn’t have to be limited to meeting with other believers in church. Strive to improve your personal worship experience so that you can have a fulfilled and prosperous life. Here’s seven simple ways to improve your personal worship experience:

Worship God Through Studying the Word of God

Oh, how I love your law! I meditate on it all day long. Psalm 119:97 NIV

Believers should read and study the Word of God. Be sure to live by it and love every promise that God makes to his children. Also, you should keep the Word of God hidden in your heart.

Worship God Through Listening and Singing Music

Sing to the Lord a new song, sing to the Lord, all the earth. Sing to the Lord, praise his name; proclaim his salvation day after day. Psalm 96:1–2 NIV

Music sets the tone, your mood, and your worship experience. Also, music is an avenue of worship that can direct your heart and comfort your spirit.

Worship God Through Prayer and Meditation

May my prayer be set before you like incense, may the lifting up of my hands be like the evening sacrifice. Psalm 141:2 NIV

You can pray anytime and anywhere. God will always hear your prayers, but he will only answer them when he knows you’re ready. You must increase your faith and patience.

Worship God Through Praise and Thanksgiving

Enter His gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name. Psalm 100:4 NIV

Praise and thanksgiving show that you have an attitude of gratitude. Your heart is pure and you accept God’s love, forgiveness, patience, creation, and his gifts that are bestowed upon you.

Worship God Through the Confession of Sin

Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions. Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin. Psalm 51:1–2 NIV

Did you know that sin breaks the heart of God? Admit your sins to God and ask for cleansing. Then, ask the Holy Spirit to help you stay clear from sin as much as you can. Remember, we’re not perfect, but we have to commit to doing our best.

Worship God Through the Act of Giving

Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. Luke 6:38 NIV

God wants your heart and for you to share the gospel with others. Giving is a privilege and an act that comes from love.

Worship God Through Silence

He says, “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth. Psalm 46:10 NIV

God speaks to his children through His Word and in silence. I challenge you on today to just spend about 10 minutes per day sitting quietly so you can hear God’s instructions. This will take effort on your part and true intention. Remember, God knows your heart.

When it’s all said and done, it’s important to realize that worship isn’t about the people. Worship isn’t even about the music. Worship is about giving God the honor and glory He deserves.

SPIRITUAL AFFIRMATIONS

Only in the act of praise and worship can a person learn to believe in the goodness and greatness of God. – C.S. Lewis

Reciting spiritual affirmations can help you receive healing and spiritual awakening. Also, you can rediscover your inner spirit and bring yourself to a healthier work-life balance. Spiritual affirmations will give you a sense of peace and purpose that you will not be able to explain. Take a moment each day and recite the following spiritual affirmations:

I am made of the light of the Universe.
I am holy, sacred, and divine.
I emanate peace and love.
I am a channel for inspiration.
I am purpose-driven to fulfill my destiny.
I breathe in the light of God.
I am in tune with my inner guide.
I am protected by the mercy of the Holy Spirit.
My spirit is enlightened.
I am blessed because all things work out together for my good.
I am highly favored because the Lord is with me.
My true power lies in the present moment.
I am grateful for my life and live in victory.
I am overflowing with love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, and faithfulness.
I release the past and let go of the future.
I am open to be healed by the Universe.
I am only content with excellence.
I believe obstacles are opportunities to get closer to God.
Positive energy flows to me, through me, and from me.

Spiritual affirmations will help to align you with the Universe, to feel the love around you, and to put you in the mental and emotional space to choose peace.

TIME FOR REFLECTION – JOURNAL PROMPTS

Worship is simply giving God his breath back. – Lou Giglio

Journaling is a powerful way to process events in your life, build self-awareness, get more clarity, and keep yourself on track. Journaling also allows for past reflection, future insight, and present surrender. Keep in mind that this is a journey and everyone takes their own path. Ready, set, write!

Define your own personal worship experience(s).
How often do you experience pure worship and/or corporate worship?
How important is worshipping God in your life?
Where can you improve with your personal worship experience(s)?
What is your favorite way to worship God?
Do you believe God hears and receives your worship? Why or why not?
How do you plan to improve your personal worship experience?

Believe in yourself today, tomorrow and forever!

Affiliate Disclaimer: This site contains affiliate links, which means I may receive a commission if you purchase through any of the links (at no additional cost to you).

Learn How To Improve Your Life Through Forgiveness

LatishaMarch 8, 2022Leave a Reply

Forgiveness is the greatest gift you can give yourself. – Maya Angelou

Affiliate Disclaimer: This site contains affiliate links, which means I may receive a commission if you purchase through any of the links (at no additional cost to you).

Welcome back to Renew Inspiration! So, how’s 2022 treating you so far? There’s a lot going on in my life right now, some good things mixed with some bad. Despite all of this, I am still committed to writing inspirational blog posts that will help you work through some of your challenging life problems. One topic that keeps stirring in my spirit is the act of forgiveness.

Let’s begin our discussion by defining forgiveness. Forgiveness means that you accept the behavior, you accept what has happened, and you are willing to move past it, and move on with your life without worrying about past events that cannot be changed. Often times this process is easier said than done.

REASONS WHY PEOPLE STRUGGLE WITH FORGIVENESS

Forgive people in your life, even those who are not sorry for their actions. Holding on to anger only hurts you, not them. – Unknown Author

When you’re dealing with forgiveness, it’s important for you to:

Recognize how you truly feel in the inside concerning the person involved or the situation.
Learn to accept your feelings and where you are right now in this very moment.
Make a plan to take action so you can move on from this hurtful place.

Forgiveness is an extremely hard process to work through. Most of the time people struggle with identifying the various emotions that their feeling, such as anger, guilt, shame, etc.

Here’s some other reasons why people struggle with the act of forgiveness. People are:

Scared that forgiveness may justify the pain and hurt that was caused.
Not ready to grieve the experience so they can accept and let go.
Worried that by forgiving the person involved we make ourselves more vulnerable to being hurt again.
Scared to face and process their emotions in regard to what happened.
Refusing to forgive so they can maintain a false sense of control over the experience or person.

The struggles people may experience related to forgiveness are real. Remember, you don’t have to go through this process alone. Contact your doctor, join a local support group or find a licensed therapist in your area.

IMPROVE YOUR LIFE THROUGH FORGIVENESS

True forgiveness is when you can say ‘Thank you for that experience’. – Oprah Winfrey

Although forgiveness seems to be difficult for most people to do, when it’s done consistently it can improve your life. However, before you attempt the act of forgiveness, take a moment to reflect over the situation and consider what it is you’re trying to get out of this process. The concept of forgiveness doesn’t mean that you condone what happened or that the person involved is blameless. It’s making the conscious choice to release yourself from the burden, pain, and stress of holding on to resentment.

Grab your journal. Write down the following questions and your answers.

What do you want to receive from the forgiveness experience?
Why do you feel the need to forgive the person or situation?
Who are you really doing this for?
Will you be able to handle the result even if it’s not in your favor?

Now, let’s look at some ways to improve your life through forgiveness.

Be prepared to take back your power over the situation. Don’t allow anyone or anything to control your happiness. You have the power to overcome and reach your destiny.
Be honest with yourself and feel your pain. Give yourself permission to acknowledge and honor the pain that’s real in your life. Then, make a plan to release it.
Name the feelings and emotions you’re feeling. Whether you hurt yourself or have been hurt by someone else, allow yourself to name the feelings and emotions. Some examples may include guilt, grief, shame, regret, sadness, anxiety, panic, fear, confusion, numbness, etc.
Have patience because forgiveness is a practice. Show yourself patience and grace as you navigate through this experience. Nothing changes overnight. It takes time and a commitment to practice forgiveness.
Set healthy boundaries. It’s important to nurture yourself throughout this process. Set healthy boundaries and only allow people to be a part of your life or space that respect you on every level. This is not a compromise.

Always remember, taking action can help you to facilitate healing and make you feel more empowered over the situation.

FORGIVENESS AFFIRMATIONS

Forgive yourself, you are not perfect. Show yourself grace, you are still learning. Show yourself patience, you are on a journey. – Shannon Yvette Tanner

Forgiveness is a process. If you’re feeling resentment. Let it go. If you’re feeling anger. Let it go. Just like you would show someone else patience, compassion, and grace, make sure to do the same thing for yourself.

Now, repeat after me:

I will take small steps towards making peace with my past. Every day is an opportunity to do it better, an opportunity to become a better version of myself.

Forgiveness is a gift I give myself.
I am worthy of forgiveness.
I accept that I am human, and I make mistakes.
I forgive myself for the hurt I’ve caused.
I accept my shortcomings and forgive myself.
I forgive myself for not knowing what I know now.
I have the power to forgive everyone who cause me pain and heartache.
I let go of unforgiveness, grudges, and malice.
I am proud of who I am – strong, powerful, limitless, and courageous.
I am ready to get out of my comfort zone and explore the opportunity of forgiveness.

As you practice working with the pain that’s there, you grow key strengths of self-compassion, courage, and empathy that inevitably make you stronger in every way. Now, breathe in and say I acknowledge the pain, hurt, and heartache. Breathe out and say I am forgiving and releasing this burden from mind, heart, and soul. Forgiveness allows me to be happy today, tomorrow, and every day of my life.

TIME FOR REFLECTION – JOURNAL PROMPTS

Remember when you forgive, you heal. And when you let go, you grow. – Unknown Author

How does forgiveness improve your life?
Why is it so hard to ask for forgiveness?
Who do you need to forgive?
Why is it important for you to forgive others?
What do you need to be forgiven for?
How does withholding forgiveness serve you?
How would your life change if you practiced forgiveness on a regular basis?

SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS

Sharing is caring. I would love to hear from you. Please answer these questions in the comment section. You never know, your comment may help someone else along their journey. What will happen once you forgive another person? What is the best part of forgiving? What is the hardest part of forgiving? What resonates with you after reading this blog post?

Believe in yourself today, tomorrow and forever!

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11 Ways To Practice Self-Love

LatishaFebruary 6, 2022Leave a Reply

It’s not selfish to love yourself, take care of yourself, and to make your happiness a priority. It’s necessary. – Mandy Hale

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Welcome back to Renew Inspiration! Let’s welcome February in with a discussion centered around self-love. When I think of February, I immediately think about Valentine’s Day and the concept of buying gifts for the people we love. But a thought came across my mind this week. What about spending some quality time this month focusing on self-love?

Self-love is taught to us as children and as we grow, we begin to nurture everything within us, both good and bad. Self-love requires you to be honest about your current choices and thought patterns. Remember, self-love is not a selfish act, but instead it forces you to undertake new practices and ways of thinking that reflects your self-worth.

WHAT IS SELF-LOVE

Self-love is the source of all other loves. – Pierre Corneille

According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, self-love can be defined as an appreciation of one’s own worth or virtue. In other words, self-love is a state of appreciation for oneself that grows from actions that support our physical, psychological, and spiritual growth.

Self-love can also mean:

Having a high regard for your own well-being and happiness.
Not settling for less than you deserve.
A transparent way that cultivates a mindset of gratitude.
The way we see ourselves and how we treat ourselves.
Having a safe place for you to share self-reflection moments.
Taking care of your own needs and not sacrificing your well-being to please others.

AMAZON RESOURCE # 1 – SELF-LOVE WORKBOOK FRO WOMEN

SELF-LOVE EXAMPLES

To love yourself is to understand you don’t need to be perfect to be good. – Unknown Author

Now, here’s something else to think about. Self-love, self-respect, self-worth, self-care…What does all these words have in common? There is a reason why they all start with “self” because you can’t find them in anyone else. You cannot truly love another person until you know how to love yourself. I challenge you today to appreciate yourself just the way you are and then strive to become better each day. When you learn to love you, then others will love you the way you deserve to be loved in return.

Here’s some self-love examples to help you get started on this journey:

Prioritize yourself and designate time to do things that make you happy.
Spend quality time with people who make you smile and laugh.
Give yourself a break from self-judgement.
Speak to yourself in a positive and loving manner.
Trust yourself enough to make the right choices and decisions.
Always be true to yourself and respect your values.
Set healthy boundaries in all of your relationships.
Show yourself some grace and forgive yourself often.
Read an inspirational book or listen to an uplifting podcast.
Give yourself a positive pep talk each day by reciting affirmations.
Spend time reflecting on your life while writing in your journal.

Never lose sight of the main goal here. Loving yourself enough to pause and reset from time to time is necessary for you to continue your personal growth journey. Why you ask? Because you deserve a happy and fulfilled life.

WAYS TO PRACTICE SELF-LOVE

You alone are enough. You have nothing to prove to anyone. – Maya Angelou

Moreover, self-love is important to living a well-balanced life. Would you agree? After all, everyone needs to practice self-love at some time or another, right? When we act in ways that expand self-love in us, we begin to accept ourselves more in the moment, have less need to explain away our shortcomings, are more centered in our life purpose and values, and expect living fulfillment through our own efforts.

Here’s some ways to practice self-love:

Become mindful. People who practice self-love often tend to know what they think, feel, and want. They are mindful of who they are and act on this knowledge, rather than on what others want for them.
Create a self-care routine that you practice regularly. Nourish yourself daily through healthy activities, like nutrition, exercise, proper sleep, intimacy, and healthy social interactions.
Calm your mind. Spend time in prayer, meditation, reading, or writing. You can try writing in your journal, walking outside, practicing breathing exercises or yoga.
Set healthy boundaries. You’ll love yourself more when you set limits or say no to work, love, or activities that deplete you physically, emotionally, and spiritually.
Step outside your comfort zone. Never be afraid to step out and try new things.
Protect yourself at all times. Protect yourself by allowing the right people into your life.
Forgive yourself. Practice being less hard on yourself when you make a mistake. Remember, there are no failures. There are only lessons learned.
Celebrate wins, both big and small. Always cherish and celebrate everything good that happens in your life.
Accept compliments. Don’t be shy. If someone gives you a compliment, accept it and know that you are worthy to be admired.
Cultivate a positive and safe place. Take time to clean and declutter your area. Then, add finishing touches to your space, such as new lighting, scented candles, plants, etc.
Live intentionally. Live with purpose and design. Make plans and accomplish what you set out to do. You need to establish your living intentions, to do this.

I have found that when I make time to practice self-love on a regular basis, I am a better wife, mom, friend, and co-worker. I am more disciplined throughout my day, feel rested, and ready to conquer the world.

AMAZON RESOURCE #2 – SELF-LOVE POETRY

SELF-LOVE AFFIRMATIONS

Talk to yourself like you would to someone you love. – Brene Brown

Like I’ve stated before, self-love is not selfish. You cannot love another person until you know how to love yourself. Work on being in love with the person in the mirror who has been through so much in life but is still standing.

Look in a mirror today and say these words out loud – I love myself today because I am beautiful, I am strong, I am powerful, I am fabulous, I am unique, I am blessed, I am smart. Repeat this exercise at least 3 times per day.

Here’s some additional self-love affirmations that you can practice reciting each day:

I value myself and I am proud of who I am.
I am beautiful, kind, and smart.
I am an unstoppable force.
I accept myself completely here and now.
I am healing more and more every day.
I am surrounded by love and prosperity.
I am worthy of all the blessings coming my way.
I release all doubts and insecurities about myself.
I am resilient and can get through anything.
I nourish my body with healthy food and exercise.
I deserve to love myself and to be loved by others.
I have the ability to overcome any challenge in my life.
I have the power to change my own story one page at a time.
I spread love to those around me and it returns in abundance.

Now, be creative and create your own self-love affirmations to describe yourself. Allow this to be your daily pep talk in the morning and repeat them throughout the day. Remember, when we love ourselves, it helps us feel our best in the inside, and when we feel our best, we can give more to those around us. I truly hope that I’ve given you some inspiration to become a better person within your own skin.

AMAZON RESOURCE #3 – A SELF-LOVE JOURNAL

TIME FOR REFLECTION – JOURNAL PROMPTS

Don’t forget to fall in love with yourself first. – Carrie Bradshaw

How do you define self-love?
What do you love most about your life?
How can you improve your attitude and appreciate yourself more?
How much do you truly love yourself?
What do your loved ones admire about you?
Write yourself a love letter. Make sure to talk yourself through a struggle.
What is your self-care routine?
How can you create space for self-love in your life right now and in the future?

SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS/COMMENTS

Sharing is caring. I would love to hear from you. Please answer these questions in the comment section. You never know, your comment may help someone else along their journey. How do you plan to practice self-love? What are some of your favorite self-love affirmations? After reading this blog post, what resonates with you?

Believe in yourself today, tomorrow and forever!

Affiliate Disclaimer: This site contains affiliate links, which means I may receive a commission if you purchase through any of the links (at no additional cost to you).

Improve Personal Growth Through Self-Reflection

LatishaJanuary 12, 2022Leave a Reply

Self-reflection is a humbling process. It’s essential to find out why you think, say, and do certain things…then, better yourself. – Unknown Author

Affiliate Disclaimer: This site contains affiliate links, which means I may receive a commission if you purchase through any of the links (at no additional cost to you).

Welcome back to Renew Inspiration! Happy New Year! It has been a few weeks since I’ve written or posted an inspirational blog post for you. Unfortunately, I’ve had some family issues arise that needed my full attention and for that I truly apologize. Before I dive into my topic today, I want to express appreciation for ALL OF YOU who have taken the time to read, subscribe, and follow my Renew Inspiration blog. It really means a lot to me. My prayer each and every day is to find the right words to say to help you along this journey called life. I look forward to reading your personal thoughts and experiences in the blog comment section for each post. It’s not only refreshing to hear your point of view, but it is also healthy to have on-going dialogue with one another.

Lately, I’ve been thinking a lot about how I can improve personal growth through self-reflection. Am I happy or sad? Am I willing to make the necessary changes that are needed to excel in all aspects of my life? Am I content right now or willing to step out of my comfort zone to explore new endeavors? These are just a few questions that I have found myself thinking about over the last couple of months.

Have you ever just sat down in a quiet place and allowed yourself to think without interruption? This process is called self-reflection. It’s really important to spend quality time in self-reflection mode so you can:

- Increase self-awareness
- Gain clarity inside and out
- Make positive changes in your life
- Develop genuine self-confidence
- Present new perspectives and insight
- Offer up a glimpse into your soul in its purest form
- Provide a safe outlet for your personal thoughts and feelings
- Give a creative space of self-expression without criticism

AMAZON RESOURCE #1 – A Year of Self-Reflection Journal

DEFINE SELF-REFLECTION

Time spent in self-reflection is never wasted. It is an intimate date with yourself. – Paul TP Wong

Before moving forward, I think it is important to understand what self-reflection is before you can commit to practicing it on a regular basis.

Self-reflection (noun):

Meditation or serious thought about one’s character, actions, and motives.

To take it a step further, you must be willing to learn more about your fundamental nature, purpose, and essence of life. Take a moment and look in a mirror. What do you see? You see a reflection of who you are on the outside. For example, you notice your physical facial features, the color of your skin, your hair color and style, etc. However, self-reflection is not only your outward appearance, but it is a way of assessing yourself deep within – mind, body, and spirit. In addition, re-evaluate your goals, attitude, and mindset often. Then, don’t be afraid to make appropriate and necessary changes that will help to improve your personal growth.

HEALTHY WAYS TO PRACTICE SELF-REFLECTION

Life is only a reflection of what we allow ourselves to see. – Paul TP Wong

As you begin to improve personal growth through self-reflection, you will notice a shift in your mindset, an increase of positivity in your life, and discover a deeper connection within. Here’s some healthy ways to practice self-reflection throughout your journey:

Prayer and meditation – Take a moment to quiet your mind, read a scripture, pray, and meditate. Allow your mind, body, and spirit to only connect with God so you can hear His voice.
Yoga and exercise – Every day is important to do some form of yoga and exercise. Movement gives you more energy and helps keep you healthy.
Reading inspirational books – Reading keeps your brain healthy, but reading inspirational books also keeps you in a positive mood.
Reciting positive affirmations – Reciting positive affirmations will give you hope and encourage you to focus on your goals/dreams.
Listening to music – Music can be soothing and a great way to calm your spirit.
Writing or journaling – Writing is a form of self-expression. Capture every moment of your life in a journal so you can pause to reflect on the good times and make changes to avoid bad situations.
Listening to an inspirational podcast – Strive to be inspired by listening to your favorite and uplifting podcast. Listen to what your mind, body, and spirit needs, but also listen to your heart.
Drawing and painting – Showing your creative side will help to open your mind to different aspects of life. You become calm and relaxed as if you have no care in the world.
Vision board – Create a vision board so you can have a road map to success. Be creative and use pictures from magazines or from online, quotes, goals, etc.

FIND YOUR ZONE FOR SELF-REFLECTION

Honest self-reflection opens your mind to reprogramming, change, success, and freedom. – Vikas Runwal

As we stated before, self-reflection is a personal way for you to learn more about yourself. It’s important to find your zone and comfort level so you can reap the positive benefits of self-reflection. Here’s some helpful tips:

- Tip 1 – Be honest with yourself and with the process. Honesty is key to success. It’s important to remind yourself how things are going and how you are behaving throughout the process.
- Tip 2 – Notice behavior patterns. Be aware of your behavior patterns so you can strengthen the positive/healthy ones and remove the negative/unhealthy ones from your life.
- Tip 3 – Be able to articulate your core values. Take time to identify what’s most important to you so you can evaluate if you’re living those values throughout life. Your lifestyle has to shift at some point, and you should notice the change from the inside out.
- Tip 4 – Be forgiving. Be gentle with yourself when you don’t seem to get it right along the journey. Offer yourself patience, forgiveness, and grace. Remember, we’re all human and we all make mistakes.
- Tip 5 – Keep track of your self-reflection. Start a journal where you record your observations and monitor your personal growth throughout this process.

AMAZON RESOURCE #2 – 52 Weeks of Self-Reflection

TIME FOR REFLECTION – JOURNAL PROMPTS

My body is healthy, my mind is focused, my soul is calm. – Unknown Author

MIND

What are you thinking right now in this very moment?
What thought patterns do you have and how do they impact your life?
How does meditation guide you through your day?
Has your mind spent more time today focused on the past, present or future?
How do you deal with difficult thoughts or failures?

BODY

How do you feel right now in this very moment?
What is one old habit you want to eliminate in your life?
What do you consider to be your most challenging flaw?
How often do you exercise during the week?
How do you relax your body?

SPIRIT

Are you spiritually grounded right now in this very moment?
What is something you need to be free from and surrender to God today?
What is your favorite Bible verse and why?
Are there areas of your life where you need to learn to trust in God?
How has journaling helped you get closer to being spiritually grounded?

Instead of doubt, sadness, anxiety, and depression, choose to improve personal growth through self-reflection to help you cope with life challenges. You will think differently, feel better, and strengthen your spiritual being. Your whole being will thank you and those people surrounding you each day will thank you as well. Peace, love and blessings!

SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS AND COMMENTS

As I stated before, I look forward to hearing from you. Please take a moment to reflect on these questions and share them in the comment section. You’ll be surprised how much we learn from one another. What are your thoughts related to self-reflection? How often do you practice self-reflection? How has self-reflection changed your life?

Believe in yourself today, tomorrow and forever!

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The Power of Grief Affirmations

LatishaSeptember 6, 20212 Replies

Grief Affirmations, Renew Inspiration — Renew Inspiration

Every one of us is losing something precious to us. Lost opportunities, lost possibilities, feelings we can never get back again. That’s part of what it means to be alive. – Haruki Murakami

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Welcome back to Renew Inspiration! I don’t know about you, but holidays are difficult to navigate through no matter how long your loved one has been gone. For example, my mom has been gone since December 2015, but I still feel sad and depressed on or around holidays. Instead of crying most of the day away, I choose to focus on the power of grief affirmations.

Believe it or not, the power of grief affirmations can help improve your life over time. The word affirmation comes from the Latin affirmare, which means “to strengthen and make steady.” Affirmations are meant to help change your thoughts and move your attention to more empowering ideas that will ultimately create an improved result.

WHAT ARE GRIEF AFFIRMATIONS?

Grief is so human, and it hits everyone at one point or another, at least, in their lives. If you love, you will grieve, and that’s just given. – Kay Redfield Jamison

It’s important to note that everyone experiences grief when we lose something or someone precious to us. After losing our loved one, it can be hard to cope with the shock and sadness. One healthy way for you to cope with grief, is reciting grief affirmations every day.

Grief affirmations are positive statements designed to comfort a grieving person and can be another form of self-care that you can use to better cope with your grief when other people are not around.

Although grief affirmations cannot make the pain of your loss go away, they can:

Promote a sense of calm and clarity over your life.
Help cultivate an optimistic outlook and boost morale.
Increase your self-confidence and uplift your spirit.
Help you to process your thoughts, feelings, and emotions better.
Address unhealthy beliefs that may be disrupting the grieving process.

Simply put, when used consistently, grief affirmations have the power to transform your life despite how hurt and depressed you may feel after the loss of a loved one.

GRIEF AFFIRMATIONS

Grief can be the garden of compassion. If you keep your heart open through everything, your pain can become your greatest ally in your life’s search for love and wisdom. – Rumi

In order for you to experience the power of grief affirmations, it is important for you to feed your spirit with love and include grief affirmations in your daily routine. For example, I choose to feel good about myself and life’s journey each day. Even when I am feeling sad or depressed, deep inside I aspire to be a giver. A giver of life, a giver of hope, and a giver of strength. This kind of thinking will help you overcome life’s challenges, such as grief, and improve your overall well-being.

Here’s a few grief affirmations to help you get started on your journey to healing:

I treat myself with kindness, respect and compassion.
I am grateful for all the good times we had together.
I will remain grateful to you every day.
I take comfort in the memories we shared together.
I am thankful and feel fortunate to have known you.
I give myself time and space to grieve and process my feelings.
I appreciate all the love, guidance, and support you gave me.
I appreciate how much love and positivity my loved one brought to this world.
I trust in the healing process and remain confident.
I will give myself time to heal and remain optimistic about the future.
I embrace my experiences and know acceptance is the first step to finding peace within.

Repeat the grief affirmations 1 to 2 times per day so it will be a constant reminder of what you are aiming for. Shift your focus and attention towards thoughts and feelings that are both positive and constructive. Start using these affirmations along with journal prompts today, and watch the quality of your life improve throughout your journey. Focus on positive changes and you will get positive results.

JOURNAL PROMPTS

One small positive thought in the morning can change your day. – Unknown Author

MIND

What is happening in your mind right now in this very moment?
What thought patterns do you have and how do they impact your life?
What is your life’s vision for the next 3 years?

BODY

How can you love yourself today?
What is one of life’s little pleasures that you appreciate?
How do you plan to take extra care of your health and well-being?

SPIRIT

What do you need more of in your spiritual life?
What are the best choices you have made in life so far?
How do you keep your thoughts in check throughout the day?

SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS & COMMENTS

How do you plan to use grief affirmations to improve your life? How often do you recite grief affirmations? If you haven’t done so already, do you plan to add affirmations and writing in your journal to your daily routine? Please share your thoughts in the comment section.

Believe in yourself today, tomorrow and forever!

Affiliate Disclaimer: This site contains affiliate links, which means I may receive a commission if you purchase through any of the links (at no additional cost to you).

9 Healthy Ways to Cope with Grief

LatishaAugust 9, 20211 Reply

Renew Inspiration, Grief, Grieving, Cope with Grief, Grief Affirmations, Journal Prompts — Renew Inspiration

Grief can be the garden of compassion. If you keep your heart open through everything, your pain can become your greatest ally in your life’s search for love and wisdom. – Rumi

Affiliate Disclaimer: This site contains affiliate links, which means I may receive a commission if you purchase through any of the links (at no additional cost to you).

Welcome back to Renew Inspiration! Today, I want to begin the sensitive discussion about grief. One thing that I’ve learned since losing my mother in 2015, there is no right or wrong way to deal with grief. Grieving is a personal process unique to the individual experiencing it. For example, some may cry, some may feel empty inside, and others may experience anger.

Coping with the loss of someone or something you love is one of life’s biggest challenges. Even though you may associate grieving with the death of a loved one, there are many other losses that may occur in one’s life that may cause grief, pain, and heartache, such as:

Divorce or relationship breakup
Loss of health
Losing a job
Loss of financial stability
A miscarriage
Retirement
Death of a pet
Loss of a cherished dream
A loved one’s serious illness
Loss of a friendship
Loss of safety after a trauma

THE FIVE STAGES OF GRIEF

No matter how bad your heart is broken, the world doesn’t stop for your grief. – Faraaz Kazi

A psychiatrist by the name of Elisabeth Kubler-Ross introduced the “five stages of grief.” These stages of grief were based on her studies of the feelings of patients facing terminal illness, but many people have generalized them to other types of negative life changes and losses, such as the death of a loved one or relationship breakup.

Here’s the five stages of grief:

#1 – Denial – “This can’t be happening to me.”

#2 – Anger – “Why is this happening? Who is to blame?”

#3 – Bargaining – “Make this not happen, and in return I will _______.”

#4 – Depression – “I’m too sad to do anything.”

#5 – Acceptance – “I’m at peace with what happened.”

Although experiencing grief is natural, it’s important to find healthy ways to cope with grief.

9 HEALTHY WAYS TO COPE WITH GRIEF

When the heart grieves, the soul makes a promise. Love will never leave you. – Angie Weiland-Crosby

Despite all of the mixed emotions you feel while grieving, there are healthy ways to cope with the pain, come to terms with your grief, and eventually, find a way to pick up the pieces and move on with your life. Let’s discuss a few of them now.

#1 – Express your grief – Don’t be afraid to acknowledge your pain whether verbal or in written form, but keep in mind that grief can trigger many unexpected emotions at any given time.

#2 – Be gentle with yourself – Understand that your grieving process will be unique to you and help you move forward in life.

#3 – Exercise daily – It’s important to exercise each day even if this means setting small goals for yourself. Exercise helps boost your mood naturally.

#4 – Set a regular sleep schedule – Be sure to create a nighttime routine to help prepare for a full night’s sleep to keep your mind and body healthy.

#5 – Pace yourself – Don’t overbook your schedule or make too many commitments. Allow yourself extra time to rest and process all that is happening in your life.

#6 – Surround yourself with supportive people – Seek out family and friends who accept your grief and care about you.

#7 – Keep a journal – Keeping a journal of personal experiences is one of the most important things you can do to assist in moving through your grief.

#8 – Make a list of goals or activities each day – Create a daily list of goals or activities that need to be done to help you stay on track.

#9 – Seek professional help from your doctor or grief counselor – It may help to speak to your doctor or a grief counselor so you will not fall into depression.

GRIEF AFFIRMATIONS

There is no pushing through. But rather, there is absorption. Adjustment. Acceptance. And grief is not something you complete, but rather, you endure. Grief is not a task to finish and move on, but an element of yourself – an alteration of your being. A new way of seeing. A new definition of self. – Gwen Flowers

Grief affirmations may offer you hope when you feel there is none left. Grief affirmations can help shift your mindset in a positive direction. Take a moment each day to recite the following grief affirmations with confidence. Then, you’ll watch your life change right before your eyes.

No matter what you say, I know my grief matters.
I am strong because of what I have been through.
I heal with curiosity, presence, and hope.
Grief gives me wings with which I spread love.
I am always healing, and never alone.
My life is a celebration of their life.
Grief is a call for me to wake up and live, and love, even more.

GRIEF RESOURCES

The irony of grief is that the person that you need to talk to about how you feel is the person who is no longer here. – Unknown Author

Journey from Grief to Healing Facebook Group I’ve created a safe place for us to express grief so we can encourage and support one another.

BOOKS

On Life after Death, revised – Elizabeth Kubler-Ross MD

Afterlife Encounters: Ordinary People, Extraordinary Experiences – Dianne Arcangel

Testimony of Light: An Extraordinary Message of Light After Death – Helen Greaves

Messages and Miracles: Extraordinary Experiences of the Bereaved – Louis LaGrand PhD

Where Two Worlds Meet – Janet Nohavec

ONLINE GRIEF SUPPORT GROUPS

Grieving.com

Grief in Common

Hope Again

Grief Anonymous

Better Help

GriefNet

JOURNAL PROMPTS

How do you define grief?
Who or what does your support system include?
What do you wish your family and friends would say to you?
When is the hardest time of day for you?
Which season holds the most memories?
What triggers your grief when you’re alone?
What is your fondest memory of your loved one?
How do you describe the pain you feel when you’re grieving?
Do you struggle with grief around the holidays, birthdays, anniversaries, etc.? If so, how do you cope with it?

SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS & COMMENTS

Coping with grief can be hard to deal with. How do you cope with grief? Which affirmations do you need the most today? Do you write in a journal to cope with grief? Please share your thoughts in the comments section. I look forward to reading your feedback!

Believe in yourself today, tomorrow and forever!

Affiliate Disclaimer: This site contains affiliate links, which means I may receive a commission if you purchase through any of the links (at no additional cost to you).

How to Embrace the Renewal Process Within

LatishaJune 9, 20215 Replies

Renew Inspiration, Renewal Process, Journal Prompts, Positive Affirmations, Mind, Body, Spirit — Renew Inspiration

Renewal and restoration are not luxuries, they are essentials. – Chuck Swindoll

Affiliate Disclaimer: This site contains affiliate links, which means I may receive a commission if you purchase through any of the links (at no additional cost to you).

Welcome back to Renew Inspiration! I pray that your week has been filled with love, peace, joy, and happiness. Today, I want to focus on an important topic – How to Embrace the Renewal Process Within. I encourage you to have your journal or a notebook and something to write with.

Now, tell me what is your breaking point? When do you just STOP and take a rest? When do you say “No” to others because you already have too much on your agenda? Believe it or not, most people do not acknowledge when they are overwhelmed and tired. Most of us just keep going and going until we are exhausted and burned out. This is not a healthy choice at all.

Let’s begin to embrace the renewal process by answering a few questions:

What do I want or need in my life right now in this very moment?
Are my actions guided by love or fear? faith or worry? courage or doubt?
Will this action bring peace or inner turmoil in my life?

When you take time to answer questions related to your life honestly, you will find out what’s important enough for you to pursue and what to ignore.

POSITIVE AFFIRMATIONS

Renewal is what happens when you realize that some of this stuff you’ve been carrying around doesn’t matter. – Rob Bell

Next, I want you to begin using positive affirmations every day to help renew your mind, body, and spirit. Positive affirmations will help you to attract more positivity in your life and transform your thoughts. It’s important to repeat the following positive affirmations daily until they are hidden in your heart.

Here’s a few positive affirmations to help you get started:

I am beautifully made.
I am filled with gratitude.
I am worthy of great things.
I am confident and empowered.
I am surrounded by love.
I am learning and growing.
I am in charge of my own self-worth.

ADVANTAGES IN LIFE

Everything in the universe has a rhythm, everything dances. – Maya Angelou

As we go through life, it is important to realize when it is time for our renewal process to occur. Allowing time for renewal offers one so many advantages in life. For example, a person who chooses to embrace the renewal process may experience:

Personal growth and expansion from the inside out.
A fresh start to something that will be much better, and in most cases, greater than what they were already experiencing.
The ability to make necessary plans and allows their mind to think of resolutions that need to take place.
Time to rest from the day-to-day hustle and bustle of life, which can interpret to self-reflection.
An opportunity to transform one’s mind and body to a more refreshed state.

CLICK HERE to get your FREE Journal Prompts download that will help you embrace the renewal process within!

In addition, I’ve provided some ways for you to spend quality time during the renewal process.

You can refresh your mind daily if you choose to:

Meditate
Read a motivational book/quotes
Learn a new skill
Take a mindful walk
Listen to a positive podcast
Stay off social media
Create a vision board

You can revive your energy if you:

Exercise
Practice yoga
Get plenty of sleep
Try a new healthy recipe
Take a dance class
Get some sun
Rest

You can rekindle your soul if you:

Read God’s Word
Pray and meditate
Spend a day in nature
Listen to spiritual music
Start a gratitude journal
Count your blessings
Read a spiritual/inspirational book

Finally, I encourage you today to really think about your personal journey and how important it is to make time to embrace the renewal process within. Keep honoring God with your life, stay in peace, trust his timing, and God will open doors that no man can shut.

JOURNAL PROMPTS

Renewal requires opening yourself up to new ways of thinking and feeling. – Deborah Day

How do you define renewal?
How often do you spend time in the renewal process?
Do you think the renewal process is necessary for your mind, body, and spirit?
How are you feeling right now in this very moment?
What do you need more of in your life?
What do you need less of?
What drains your energy?

SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS & COMMENTS

Our words can lead us down a path of renewal and increased personal fulfillment. – Sandra Marinella

If we just be still and listen, we will hear the sigh of relief inside our hollow bodies. We will hear the quiet and slow beats of our hearts and the pleasant thoughts surrounding our busy minds! Now, let’s be honest. When was the last time you took time to write in your journal? Do you often take time to renew your mind, body, and spirit? If yes, how often? If no, why not? Please share your thoughts in the comments section. I look forward to reading your feedback!

Believe in yourself today, tomorrow and forever!

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9 Ways Affirmations Can Improve Your Life

LatishaMay 28, 20217 Replies

One small positive thought in the morning can change your day. – Unknown Author

Affiliate Disclaimer: This site contains affiliate links, which means I may receive a commission if you purchase through any of the links (at no additional cost to you).

Welcome back to Renew Inspiration! Today, let’s talk about how affirmations can improve your life. To begin with, the word affirmation comes from the Latin affirmare, which means “to strengthen and make steady.” Affirmations are meant to help change your thoughts and move your attention to more empowering ideas that will ultimately create an improved result. Affirmations can be another form of positive self-talk that can:

• Help set the tone for your day.
• Be used to target and improve any area of your life.
• Help you overcome any negative thinking patterns.
• Provide a reflection of the kind of life you want to live.
• Offer ways to improve your mood and emotions.
• Increase your self-confidence and uplift your spirit.
• Help you set realistic goals and create a plan to reach them.

Simply put, when used consistently, affirmations have the power to transform lives despite what you’re going through.

9 WAYS AFFIRMATIONS CAN IMPROVE YOUR LIFE

Talk to yourself like someone you love. – Brene Brown

In order to receive the most benefits of reciting affirmations, it’s important for you to read and recite them aloud. Then, state them in the present tense as if they have already been accomplished. This process will make your mind believe that it’s already happening. Repetition is key. The more you say it, the more you may believe it. Affirmations can improve your life by:

1. Increasing self-awareness so you can acknowledge your daily thoughts and feelings.
2. Allowing you to become more grateful in any situation you are faced with.
3. Keeping you encouraged and more motivated to accomplish personal goals.
4. Helping you be in the present moment not worrying about the past or the future.
5. Teaching you how to be more open to new possibilities; not afraid to take risks.
6. Helping you to manage your feelings and emotions under stressful situations.
7. Reminding you to pay attention to your thought patterns.
8. Keeping you calm and at peace.
9. Helping you become more aware of what you want and your mind helps you get it.

During this process, focus on finding solutions and learning how to make positive changes in all areas of your life. After all, taking the time to recite affirmations daily can be the start of transforming your life.

If you want to want to get started with using affirmations, CLICK HERE to get my FREE Positive Affirmations Guide.

POSITIVE AFFIRMATIONS

Positive thinking must be followed by positive doing. – John C. Maxwell

Next, in order for you to embrace this new way of thinking and living, it is important for you to feed your spirit with positive vibes on a daily basis. For example, I choose to feel good about myself and life’s journey each day. Even when I am feeling sad or depressed, deep inside I aspire to be a giver. A giver of life, a giver of good vibes, and a giver of strength. This kind of thinking will help you overcome life’s challenges and improve life’s journey.

Here’s a few positive affirmations to help you get started:

• I am blessed and in charge of my life.
• I am beautiful, brave, and ready to learn.
• I am fearless and capable of so much more.
• I am bold, strong, and free to make my own choices.
• I am enough and perfect just the way I am.

Repeat your daily affirmations 1 to 2 times per day so it will be a constant reminder of what you are aiming for. Shift your focus and attention towards thoughts and feelings that are both positive and constructive. Start using daily affirmations along with journal prompts today, and watch the quality of your life improve throughout your journey. Focus on positive changes and you will get positive results.

JOURNAL PROMPTS

It is not joy that makes us grateful; it is gratitude that makes us joyful. – Unknown Author

MIND

• What thought patterns do you have and how do they impact your life?
• What did you do today that brought you closer to your dream?
• What is your life’s vision for the next 3 years?
• What is happening in your mind right now in this very moment?

BODY

• How can you love yourself today?
• What is one of life’s little pleasures that you appreciate?
• Who/What brings the most joy to your life?
• What are you inviting into your life with your actions?

SPIRIT

• What do you need more of in your life?
• What is something you would love to learn in your lifetime?
• What are the best choices you have made in life so far?
• How do you keep your thoughts in check throughout the day?

SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS & COMMENTS

How do you plan to use affirmations to improve your life? How often to you recite affirmations? Do you plan to add affirmations and writing in your journal to your daily routine? Please share your thoughts in the comment section.

Believe in yourself today, tomorrow and forever!

Affiliate Disclaimer: This site contains affiliate links, which means I may receive a commission if you purchase through any of the links (at no additional cost to you).