Journaling – Page 8 – Renew Inspiration Mind Body Spirit

My Inner Voice

LatishaMay 19, 201917 Replies

Don’t shush your inner voice, it’s who you really are. – Unknown

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! Have you ever been sitting still and thoughts begin to run through your mind? Whether positive or negative, you begin to listen to your thoughts and maybe even recognize how you’re feeling in this moment. I call this process listening to my inner voice. I define inner voice as the wisdom of your entire being – mind, body and spirit. Your inner voice may come in the form of random thoughts, feelings within your body, or guidance coming to you from a higher power.

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Believe it or not, your inner voice can be destructive thoughts sent to cause you harm or often times your inner voice may discourage you from making bad decisions in life. Take a moment and think about this. All your life there has been an inner voice offering a sense of direction, gently and sometimes urgently. Sometimes you listened and other times you ignored it.

WAYS TO FIND YOUR INNER VOICE

Be still. The quieter you become, the more you can hear. – Ram Dass

Finding your inner voice is a way to connect with your intuition so you can live your purpose. At times we may hear something in our thoughts or just simply feel a certain kind of way. Nevertheless, it is important to allow yourself to capture these thoughts and/or feelings. Here’s some effective ways to find your inner voice:

• Take time to quiet the mind through meditation.
• Listen to your emotions and feelings.
• Be more confident and stop asking others for their opinions.
• Make it personal and pay attention to your hopes and dreams.
• Follow what your intuition is telling you.

ADVANTAGES OF LISTENING TO YOUR INNER VOICE

Your thoughts and feelings are a mirror of your soul. – Sydney Banks

You must be still to hear your inner voice so it is important to allow yourself quiet time on a regular basis. Once quiet with no distractions, look for some of these advantages of listening to your inner voice:

• Start a habit of looking inward every day. Empty your mind of all thoughts and let your heart be at peace.
• Let go of your ego and give your inner voice a chance to be heard.
• Trust your gut feeling, slow down, and allow your inner voice to direct your attention to what’s more important in your life.
• You will greatly reduce your stress levels and improve your health.
• Your trust levels will increase, which leads to improved relationships with yourself and others.

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.

Morning Journaling Prompts

• What’s on your daily To-Do List?
• What am I grateful for this morning?
• What do I give permission for myself to do today?
• What do I want to get out of today?
• How will I practice self-kindness today?

My Inner Voice Journaling Prompts

• What can I hear right now in this very moment?
• What feelings did I experience today?
• What kinds of thoughts or feelings drains my energy?
• What kinds of thoughts or feelings leaves me feeling fulfilled?
• What am I feeling today and what thoughts are creating that feeling?
• What thought patterns do I have and how do they impact my life?
• What makes your inner voice unique?

Evening Journaling Prompts

• What went well today?
• What am I proud of today?
• What strengths have I used today?
• What was challenging today?
• How can I better face these challenges next time?

Journaling Challenge
Journaling holds all of your emotions, thoughts, and feelings in one sacred place. Journaling has a way to uncover parts of yourself you never thought existed. Journaling can be fun, but also can be a serious process to help you cope with many life’s challenges, such as depression, grief, or loneliness. The most important fact about journaling is you have total control throughout the experience. You can keep it secret or share it with others.

Now, this Journaling Challenge is simple. Be open, honest, and willing to write in your journal.

• How does journaling help you?
• Where do you feel out of alignment with the things that bring you peace and joy?
• Write your own list of journaling prompts to explore and share a few of them in the comment section.

Always remember, your inner voice will bring about self-confidence. Speak life into your situation and spread positive vibes to those around you. You have total control of your inner voice, whether they are thoughts or feelings. Change how you receive, interpret, and react. Then, your outcome will be different and more effective. After all, your inner voice will help increase self-confidence, help you become more efficient, and you will notice much needed improvement within your life.

Believe in yourself today, tomorrow and forever!

Renew Inspiration is a participant in the Amazon, Target, Blue Host and WordPress Affiliate Programs which are advertising programs designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com, Target.com, Bluehost.com and WordPress.com

Blog Support 101

LatishaMay 8, 20199 Replies

Laptop, Computer, Blogging, Coffee Cup, Flowers — pexels

When you try something, you risk failure. But when you don’t, you ensure it.

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 am proud of where I am today, but I realize there is always something new to learn about the blogging industry. There is so much information swirling around on the web that it becomes overwhelming to the average person thinking about jumping into the blogging game. Blogging can be rewarding on so many levels. However, launching a new blog can be a scary experience so to succeed it’s important for new bloggers to keep learning, be flexible, ask for help, and be willing to adjust with the blogging industry.

REASONS WHY PEOPLE BLOG

Once you become fearless, life becomes limitless.

Let’s look at some reasons why people blog. Some people use blogging to:

• Inspire, encourage and motivate

• Teach and establish expertise

• Share ideas and their passion for writing

• Cope with life and its many challenges

• Expand networking opportunities

• Express yourself and share creative writing

• Maintain online journal

• Provide book reviews or product reviews

• Capture travel experiences and photos

• Make money by selling product or using affiliate programs

AFFILIATE PROGRAMS

As you can see, there are many reasons why people blog, but I want to discuss affiliate programs in more detail. Various affiliate programs are available online which means you have to take some time to research them to find the programs that are good for you and your blogging project. The idea behind affiliate programs is simple. After signing up to become an affiliate, you promote other people’s products through blog posts, Pinterest, and/or social media. When someone uses your link (given to you by the affiliate company of your choice) you make a commission. Commissions can range anywhere from a few cents to a few hundred dollars depending on the company. Please support my blogging efforts by clicking on any of the affiliate links above to make a purchase or sign up. Thanks in advance.

Well, here’s the affiliate programs that I am currently enrolled in:

Amazon Associates – Amazon.com is the world’s largest online retailer (Shopping) – Unfortunately, in order to stay in this affiliate program, you must receive at least 3 purchases within 180 days. Please consider clicking the links below and making a purchase:

Blue Host – Bluehost is one of the largest website hosting providers (Website Host) – If you are thinking about moving your blog website to a host provider, look no more. Click the link below to obtain special pricing:

WordPress – WordPress.com is the most popular website management system and is associated with blogging (Website Management System) – If you are looking to change to a better website management system, then click the links below for special pricing:

Target Corporation – Target Corporation is an upscale discount retailer that provides high-quality on trend merchandise (Shopping) – Get your Mother’s Day shopping done by clicking on the links below:

TIPS FOR NEW BLOGGERS

Great things never came from comfort zones.

Here’s some tips for new bloggers to think about before launching their new blog:

• Tip 1: Determine your niche – What is your passion? What do you want to share with the world? What is your specialty or your expertise?

• Tip 2: Identify your target audience – Who is your ideal reader? Write directly to them. Keep your readers wanting more from you with a strong headline and intro.

• Tip 3: Create clear and precise goals for your blog – Why are you blogging? For fun, a hobby, a business, to sell product or to monetize using affiliates? Write down your goals and make sure to reflect on them when preparing blog posts.

• Tip 4: Come up with a catchy blog title and tag line to get your readers attention. Then, create the perfect logo for your blog.

• Tip 5: Determine if you want to launch your blog using a free website or if you want to invest money in a company like WordPress, then a hosting company like Blue Host.

• Tip 6: Establish one or two social media platforms to focus on when you first launch your new blog. Remember, to share your new blog posts on all your social media platforms. Once you are comfortable, add more as you have the time.

• Tip 7: Have 2 or 3 really in-depth blog posts complete before you decide to launch your new blog. In addition, have more blog posts in various stages, such as drafts to be edited, outlines and topic ideas ready to write.

Once you have launched your blog, it is important for you to stay engaged with your readers. I am going to be honest, engaged will mean different things for different people. For example, if you are selling product or a service, you need to respond to your customers on a regularly basis. However, some people are blogging just as a hobby, so your engagement may be less involved and limited to writing blog comments or subscribing to other people’s blogs.

TIPS TO HELP LAUNCH YOUR BLOG

Organize your life around your dreams and watch them come true.

Here’s some tips to keep in mind once you have launched your blog:

• Tip 1: Post consistently – Plan to post 2 to 3 times per week to stay engaged with your readers.

• Tip 2: Use quality photos – Whether you take your own photos or pull photos from a free site, such as Pixabay or Pexels, make sure to use quality photos that are relevant to your blog post.

• Tip 3: Discover your writing style – Start with a catchy lead, have a conversational tone throughout your blog and ask questions at the end to get your readers engaged.

• Tip 4: Write down your thoughts – When inspiration swirls in your head, write it down so you can reflect on it later. It is important to keep all your thoughts and ideas in one place for easy access during the writing process.

• Tip 5: Social Media connections – Give your readers three or more ways to follow you. For example, Facebook, Twitter, Facebook or Instagram.

• Tip 6: Comment on other blogs – Don’t be shy and be sure to write encouraging comments on other blogs. In most cases, the other bloggers will show your blog some love too.

• Tip 7: Facebook Groups – Join some Facebook Groups to network, share your blog content, learn from other bloggers and to offer support to others who may just be starting out.

BLOG POST IDEAS

Writing a blog post may not come easy to you at first. For most bloggers, you have to get into a writing and blogging routine.

Here’s some blog post ideas to help you better connect with your followers:

• Tutorial or how-to blog post to help others learn something new

• Favorite quotes or poems

• Self-care tips

• Book or product review

• Favorite season or holiday

• Dream vacation destination

• Blogging or weight loss goals

• Heartfelt letter to your future self or a loved one

• Bucket list ideas and timeline

• Biggest challenges as a blogger and what you’re doing to overcome them

TIME FOR REFLECTION – JOURNAL PROMPTS

Life is joyfully simple. Let’s keep it that way. – Paul Jun

Journaling is a powerful way to process events in your life, build self-awareness, get more clarity, and keep yourself on track.

• What are your short-term and long-term blogging goals?

• How have you been getting in the way of achieving of your blogging goals?

• How you stay organized as a blogger?

• What are some of your blogging lessons and what you learned from them?

• What inspires you to write, blog, and be creative?

Ready, set, blog! It’s your time to shine with written word. Inspire others, be creative and always look for new ways to connect to your readers, but at the same time take it slow. Remember, you do not need to understand everything about the blogging process before you launch. I hope these suggestions and tips give you something to think about from one new blogger to another. Good luck and happy blogging!

Believe in yourself today, tomorrow and forever!

Keep Life Simple

LatishaMay 5, 20195 Replies

flowers, beats, music, laptop, simple — pixabay

The simpler my life, the happier I become.

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).

Thought for the week – A simple life is a beautiful life.

Welcome back to Renew Inspiration! Have you ever heard of the phrase, “Keep Life Simple”? Well, I strive to keep life simple every day. Remember, to keep a simple life may not be easy. Some of the simplest things to do are often the most difficult. Sometimes we need to just STOP everything and take a break. Let loose, slow down, and unwind. Turn inward and rethink about your life. Ask yourself hard questions and connect to your inner voice. In order to live better, simple lives, we need to create a safe space to breathe, and to think.

WAYS TO KEEP LIFE SIMPLE

Be kind, be happy, be peaceful, live well.

• Be Present – Live in the moment. Be aware of everything that you’re doing, feeling, and telling yourself. Learn to fight through it. Learn to stop making excuses every time your body feels discomfort. Learn to do this with everything that you do.

• Don’t Expect Too Much – There may be times where something may not go your way. It seems like there’s something missing. Take time to expect the worst, the best, and at the same time, nothing at all.

• Be Kind – It takes less energy to be kind to those people who are around you.

• Redefine Everything In Your Life – It’s important to define what matters most in your life. What makes you happy? What does success really mean to you? The American Dream philosophy may not work for you (college, good paying job, nice car, 6-pack abs, etc.), but it may work for someone else.

• Do You – Stop focusing and worrying about how other people live their life. Life will become a whole lot better when you learn to shut out the outside noise, and focus on the most important noise inside your own mind.

• Cultivate Morning Rituals – Practicing a morning ritual can help you create a positive mood and increase energy for the day. It’s a great opportunity to take care of your body and mind, and start the day with a healthy breakfast, some stretching or light exercise, a warm bubble bath, prayer and meditation, or planning your day by writing down the three most important things you need to do today.

HEALTHY HABITS TO INCREASE HAPPINESS

Life isn’t about finding yourself. Life is about creating yourself. – George Bernard Shaw

• Meditate – Practicing daily meditation will help to increase focus, better memory, and emotional resilience. Also, meditation has a positive effect in treating anxiety, depression, obsessive thinking, and hostility.

• Exercise Regularly – Exercise helps is essential for a happy and productive life. Our bodies were made to move throughout the day. Get up and go for a walk. Stretch while at your desk.

• Eat Better and Healthier – The foods/drinks that you put into your body not only affects your health, but also your attitude and mood. Drink more water, increase whole grains, increase vegetables, decrease sugar and junk food.

• Sleep More – Sleep is needed for restoring energy and emotional well-being. Sleep is essential for learning and memory, metabolism and weight, and to improve your mood.

• Keep a Journal – Some people like using paper journals and others like using apps. How much and how often to write is up to you. Write about random creative ideas that come to you, things you are grateful for, your goals and aspirations, internal stuff that you need to process better, foods you eat, and other habits you are building or breaking.

• Practice Smiling – Smiling is healthy and also improves your well-being. Believe it or not, smiling makes you live longer, look more attractive, and be more productive at work.

• Write Down Goals – Take a moment and write down your three most important long-term goals in life. Are they translated into short-term goals and present actions for you? This process will highly increase the likelihood of you creating the simple life you want.

• Nurturing Close Relationships – Nurturing meaningful and close relationships will bring you much more happiness and satisfaction in life.

• Spend Time in Nature – Spending time in nature, even a 20-minute walk in the park, can improve your happiness and overall well-being. It also helps to increase your exercise and concentration.

Believe it or not, you can improve your productivity while keeping life simple.

TIPS TO IMPROVE PRODUCTIVITY

Inhale the future, exhale the past.

Tip 1 – Don’t watch a lot of TV in your spare time.

Tip 2 – Identify all the distractions in your life and eliminate them.

Tip 3 – Schedule time to spend on your social media accounts and stick to it.

Tip 4 – If you attend or schedule meetings, keep it short and simple.

Tip 5 – Exercise your craft daily, whatever it may be.

TIME FOR REFLECTION – JOURNAL PROMPTS

Life is joyfully simple. Let’s keep it that way. – Paul Jun

Journaling is a powerful way to process events in your life, build self-awareness, get more clarity, and keep yourself on track.

• How can I simplify my life in little ways?

• What are my priorities in life?

• What is on my mind right now, in this very moment?

• What do I need to let go of to make my life better?

• What is a short-term goal I’m confident I can achieve?

• Replace entertainment for prayer time for one day and write about it.

• Write about an experience where you heard God’s voice.

• Describe what God’s presence feels like.

• What is my favorite part of my daily routine?

• What am I most looking forward to this week?

• I am incredibly grateful for ____________________.

• When I am alone I love to ____________________.

My prayer for you today is that you will make your life a priority and choose to keep life simple. Focus on the things and people that help you grow as a person. Be productive throughout your day. Include time to learn, read, write, gain experience from others, share your thoughts and feelings with others, etc. Remember, your success is found in your daily routine so make a plan and stick to your plan. If it doesn’t seem to be working for you, re-evaluate your plan and make the necessary changes.

Believe in yourself today, tomorrow and forever!

Calmness Within

LatishaApril 21, 20193 Replies

Every breath we take, every step we make, can be filled with peace, joy and serenity. – Thich Nhat Hanh

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).

Thought for the week – Sometimes, its really ok if the only thing you did today was breathe.

Welcome back to Renew Inspiration! Happy Easter to you and your family! Well, I really feel the need to discuss an issue that I struggle with often – finding the calmness within. I honestly feel that you will find the calmness within when you love yourself and truly believe in yourself. Would you agree? Finding the calmness within means that you’re at peace with yourself and you’re at peace with those around you.

FINDING WAYS TO CALM YOUR SPIRIT

Today I choose: calm over chaos, serenity over stress, peace over perfection, grace over grit, faith over fear. – Mary Davis

In order to find ways to calm your spirit, it’s important to make your life a priority. Make time now to care for yourself. Remember, stress and anxiety can form major health concerns, such as depression, high blood pressure, heart disease and all the other stress related illnesses that can form in your body. Don’t hesitate to calm your spirit and find peace within yourself.

There are many ways to calm your spirit, such as:

• Meditation

• Reading the Bible

• Practicing Yoga or Exercise

• Journaling

• Reading inspirational books

• Praying

• Finding a hobby

• Taking a walk outdoors

Now, for the truth to be told. How do you find the calmness within? Throughout life it’s important to allow yourself to grow and change. After all, your future self is waiting. Striving for personal and spiritual growth is a must. For example, I spend time writing and journaling to find my calmness within. Everyone needs to find a moment where there is no one else around judging you or adding his or her opinion to the situation that will only impact your life.

HOW TO IMPROVE SPIRITUAL GROWTH

Sure sign of spiritual growth: you want more freedom, and less stuff. – Lisa Villa Prosen

Growth in general is often uncomfortable, messy, and full of feelings you weren’t expecting. But it’s necessary for you to go through the growth process. However, spirituality is less about doing and more about being our truest most authentic self everywhere we go.

Here’s some suggestions to help you improve spiritual growth:

• Read your Bible daily. For some people it’s as simple as just picking up the Bible and start reading it from cover to cover. For others, it’s a difficult process and you must develop a reading plan that’s right for you. Keep in mind that the easiest way to truly experience spiritual growth is to make Bible reading a priority.

• Meet together with other believers regularly. Attending church regularly or gathering with other believers is fundamental to spiritual growth. According to Acts 2:42-47, being in the presence of other believers is for teaching, fellowship, worship, communion, prayer, and to build one another up in the faith.

• Get involved in a ministry group. The best way to stay in church, is to participate often. Most churches offer small groups and many ministry opportunities. Pray and ask God for guidance in this area. In addition, some churches offer classes or counseling to help you find the appropriate place that’s right for you.

• Pray daily. Did you know that prayer is simply talking to God? There are no right or wrong words to say. Just be honest and be yourself. Give God thanks for your salvation. Pray for others in need. Pray for direction. Pray and ask God to fill you daily with His Holy Spirit. Simply put, there is no limit to prayer. Remember, pray often anytime and anywhere.

PRAYER FOR INNER PEACE AND CALM

Holy Spirit, please encircle me, come hold me safe and secure in your loving arms.
Wrap my mind up with your truth. Guide my thoughts and calm my fears.
Steady my emotions, Holy Spirit that you would guide my feelings.
May I not be overcome with anger. Please Holy Spirit sustain my soul, with vision for the future, and hope for tomorrow. I need you in my life today and forever more. Amen.

HOW TO CALM YOUR SPIRIT

Be kind. Be calm. Be joyful. Be humble. Be thankful. – Mary Davis

Our lives are always so busy with work, school, sports, hobbies, etc. Learning how to remove yourself from the madness of busyness can often times be very difficult, but necessary. You become more confident and you learn how to calm your spirit.

Here’s some helpful suggestions to assist you with calming your spirit:

• Address the root of your stress or discomfort.

• Take time to be alone to analyze your thoughts and feelings.

• Learn how to find stability in life by regulating your breath during stressful situations.

• Don’t be afraid to see a health professional or therapist to discuss issues in a safe place and no judgement zone.

• Establish a reward system to pamper yourself from stress to a more calming spirit. For example, read a book, do some journaling/writing, go for a walk or just sit and do nothing.

TIME FOR REFLECTION – JOURNAL PROMPTS

You can’t calm the storm, so stop trying. What you can do is calm yourself. The storm will pass. – Timber Hawkeye

As always, I want to give you some journal prompts that will help you find the calmness within. Believe in yourself and choose to shine while journaling your way to happiness. If you’re honest with yourself, you will achieve what ever you set your heart and mind to.

• What do I need to mute or remove from my life in order to hear God’s voice?

• How can I have peace and calmness in my life in the midst of chaos?

• When was the last time I felt truly calm and at peace?

• How does gratitude bring me peace?

• How can I simplify my life in little ways?

• What are some ways in which God’s presence is felt in my life?

• I cannot get enough of God’s presence because __________________.

• When I meditate on God’s goodness I __________________.

My prayer for you today is that you will find the right way to embrace the calmness within during any stressful moment in life. Now, are you ready to find your calmness within? If so, please share how you plan to find your calmness within along your journey. Remember, to stay patient and trust and your journey.

Believe in yourself today, tomorrow and forever!

Renew Inspiration is a participant in the Amazon, Blue Host and WordPress Affiliate Programs which are advertising programs designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com, Bluehost.com and WordPress.com

Moving Forward

LatishaApril 14, 201914 Replies

You don’t have to have it all figured out to move forward…just take the next step.

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).

Thought for the week – Moving forward means it’s time to write a new story.

Welcome back to Renew Inspiration! This week I have been in a very difficult place. It’s been hard to focus on writing so I had to step away to get my mind, body and spirit reconnected again. Have you ever been there or felt this way? Sometimes it helps to know that you’re not alone and you find comfort in knowing that others may be experiencing this same kind of feeling from time to time. Now, I realize it’s so important to be honest with yourself and with those closest to you so that’s where today’s topic originated from – Moving Forward.

WAYS TO MOVE FORWARD

The best preparation for tomorrow is doing your best today.

Today, I wanted to write a few words about moving forward. Whether you’re stuck in a rut from a recent break up or going through the grieving process from the loss of a loved one, many people struggle with moving forward. Now, speaking from experience, I do realize that moving forward is not always easy. However, it’s important for people to be honest with themselves and with those around them when choosing to shake it off and take the first step to move forward.

Here’s some common ways to help you move forward in various life situations:

• Change your attitude. Believe it or not, to manifest is to create exactly what you want in your life by choosing to consciously vibrate in alignment with that feeling now. So, don’t put off changing your negative attitude. Choose to shine and a leave a little sparkle wherever you go.

• Block out negativity. Let’s face it, negative vibes bring about negative vibes. I AM – two of the most powerful words. For what you put after them shapes your reality. So, why not make it a positive life, right?

• Take ownership. Be the first to own up to what you didn’t do or to any mistake you may have made in life. That’s how you learn and earn respect.

• Let go of the past. It’s not healthy to relive your painful past. If you continue to look at today through the eyes of the past, you can never see what the present moment has to offer you in life. Remember, you can’t change what happened, but you can change your mindset and actions in the present.

• Start small. Set small goals for yourself and write them down. Each morning, look at your goals and make a plan to do something productive that will help you reach your goals.

• Stick to a schedule. Make a plan and stick to it. I know life happens from time to time, but also remember your success is found in your daily routine. Create a daily To-Do List with 3 to 5 items on it and check your tasks off throughout the day.

• Be willing to forgive. In order to be kind to yourself, it’s important to commit to talking with yourself in a way that’s helpful, rather than harmful. Speak life into your situation, not death and destruction.

• Live in a moment of gratitude. Start every day with an attitude of gratitude. Afterall, gratitude makes sweet miracles of small moments. Breathe in beauty, exhale gratitude.

Don’t be afraid to find your own happiness throughout this process as well. Remember, achieving success and personal growth is not going to happen overnight. To be able to move forward in life, you may have to let some people and thoughts go in order to live a more fulfilled life with purpose.

Moving Forward, Renew Inspiration, Journaling, Reflection, Writing, Notebook, Journal — renewinspiration

TIME FOR REFLECTION – JOURNAL PROMPTS

Do not give your past the power to define your future.

As always, I want to give you some journal prompts that will help you throughout the moving forward process. Believe in yourself and choose to shine while journaling your way to happiness. If you’re honest with yourself, you will achieve what ever you set your heart and mind to.

• What would make you happy right now?

• What is standing in the way of that happiness?

• What is draining your energy from day to day?

• What do I need to give up, say no to or let go of?

• How can I re-prioritize my to-do list?

• What would I be doing if money or other people’s opinions didn’t hold you back?

• What are you afraid of?

• How can you confront those fears head on?

• What is a short-term goal that you’re confident you can achieve?

• What is an important lesson you’ve learned recently?

Thank you for reading my latest blog post. I really look forward to inspiring all of you with written word. When I write my Renew Inspiration blog posts, I strive to grow within myself with every word that I type. Believe it or not, my Renew Inspiration blog is the key to my very being. It gives me strength and power to reach so many people, both near and far. I would love to hear your thoughts about moving forward so please leave a comment. Peace and blessings!

Believe in yourself today, tomorrow and forever!

Seeking Wholeness Through Journaling

LatishaApril 5, 20198 Replies

Seek to be whole, not perfect. – Oprah Winfrey

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).

Thought for the week – I am God’s masterpiece. – Ephesians 2:10

MY PERSONAL JOURNEY

The right way to wholeness is made up of fateful detours and wrong turnings. – C.G. Jung

Welcome back to Renew Inspiration! I’ve always kept a journal when growing up, but I never got serious about journaling until December 2015 when my world changed forever. I remember the details like it was yesterday. I received a dreadful call from the Physical Rehab facility stating that my mother was found unresponsive and I need to meet the ambulance at the hospital. I felt an immediate panic that I have never felt before. I got out of bed feeling numb all over and my thoughts were scattered between confused, scared, and sad. Since it was so late at night, I told my husband to stay home with our children. As I drove to the hospital alone, I had to make calls to some of my family members, but my brother was the only one who met me at the hospital. We sat in this small room waiting to be updated by the hospital staff, but 10 minutes seemed like hours. My mind was racing from one thought to another. The nurse finally walked in with no emotion on her face. She greeted us with a slight smile and hand shake. Then, we followed her down the long dark hall to the ER. As we entered the ER space and saw our mother hooked to so many machines, I felt sick. Her eyes were closed and restraints held her hands and feet. Even though she was not moving, I began to pray and talk to my mother not knowing if she could hear me. A part of me thought she was already gone, but I had to reach for any hope that was left. My mother fault a good fight, but she took her last breath on that cold December night.

It was then that I knew my life would no longer be the same. I was broken and my heart was shattered in many pieces. I became sad, depressed and secluded. Journaling became my everything. I wrote letters to my mother expressing how I was feeling. I wrote my thoughts and feelings in my journal as well. Some days I just wrote words and to be honest none of them made sense to me at the time, but I find myself reflecting on them often.

JOURNALING CAN CHANGE YOUR LIFE

To change your life, you have to change yourself. To change yourself, you have to change your mindset. – Wilson Kanadi

Here’s some ways journaling can change your life so you can feel whole again:

• Helps you sort through life’s challenges and problems

• Release sadness and anger, in return, provides hope and peace

• Provides a safe place for expression that is considered a no judgment zone

• Offers an opportunity for personal reflection

• Allow yourself to experience personal growth and be present with oneself

GETTING STARTED WITH JOURNALING

You don’t have to be great to start, but you do have to start to be great. – Unknown Author

The process to get started with journaling is not difficult, but can seem overwhelming at first. Once you allow yourself to be free and honest, everything else will fall into place.

Here’s what you need to get started with journaling:

• Supplies – Choose a journal, notebook, computer, pen, pencil

• Space – Find a quiet and safe place where you can sit in comfort with very few distractions

• Time – Make a commitment to write in your journal at the same time every day even if it is only for 5 or 10 minutes

• Content Ideas – You can start with a list of what you’re grateful for; You can write down a Bible verse, inspirational quote or prayer; Write down your goals, hopes, and aspirations; Ask yourself questions, then answer them.

Be creative and make it personal. Use colorful pens, pencils or markers. Add stickers, pictures, or quotes. Draw pictures or write poetry. For additional journal prompts, please refer to any of my Renew Inspiration blogs.

BENEFITS OF JOURNALING

Journal writing is a voyage to the interior. – Christina Baldwin

Here’s some benefits of journaling:

• You begin to feel comfortable in your own skin

• You strive to create the life you desire

• You see what is working in your life and what is not

• Your relationships will improve over time

• You start to feel at peace with yourself

• You learn better coping skills

• You break old habits and learn new habits

• You learn how to live each day to the fullest

• You learn how to discover and align one’s vision and mission

POSITIVE AFFIRMATION STATEMENTS

I have the power to make changes. – Louise Hay

• I am worthy.

• I am the best me there is.

• I am capable and deserving of respect.

• I know that I am a winner.

• I am grateful.

• I forgive myself and others.

• I trust and believe in myself.

• I have unlimited power.

• I take steps towards my goals.

• I choose to shine and stand with confidence.

• I am grounded in love, peace, and joy.

• God will always be with me and guide my every step.

TIME FOR REFLECTION – JOURNAL PROMPTS

The purpose of our journey is to restore ourselves to wholeness. – Debbie Ford

• What inspires you to seek wholeness through journaling?

• What makes you feel complete and most empowered in life?

• How do you describe wholeness as it relates to your own life?

• How have you changed in the last 5 years? 3 years? 1 year?

• In order to be whole again, I need to ________________________.

• Write a list of things that make you happy, smile, and feel complete.

• How can you cherish your thoughts of feeling whole again?

• What area of your life, right now, makes you feel the best?

• What do you know to be true today about yourself that you didn’t know a year ago?

• What is your ultimate goal in life?

• What are your unique gifts and talents?

• How can you live your life more passionately?

• Let’s jump forward a year. What would you like to have achieved in the past year?

By now, I hope we can agree that it’s okay to be imperfect and to allow yourself an opportunity to keep learning, to feel scared and alone, to keep stumbling and failing throughout life’s difficult moments. The flip side of life’s reality is the freedom to feel whole again! Take moments in your life to relax, breathe, and just feel. Never underestimate the power of journaling. If you allow yourself to be open to healing and transformation, journaling can change your thoughts, feelings, and give you complete wholeness!

Believe in yourself today, tomorrow and forever!

Here and Now

LatishaApril 1, 201924 Replies

The past is your lesson. The future is your motivation. The present is your gift.

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).

Thought for the week – Be where you are, not where you think you should be.

Welcome back to Renew Inspiration! Let’s welcome April with a positive blog post detailing tips to help you work through and overcome your past challenges, strive to reach a successful future, and learn how to live in the present. Take a moment, look around you today and see all of the natural abundance in life. Feel the richness and see the beauty. Be grateful for here and now. I don’t know about you, but I am blessed. Today, I will focus on all that is right in my life.

The secret of health for mind and body is not to mourn for the past, not to worry about the future, but to live in the present moment wisely and earnestly.

LIVING IN THE PAST

Never be defined by your past. It was just a life lesson, not a life sentence. – Unknown Author

As we go through life’s journey, we tend to hold on to past mistakes and failures long after they have occurred in our lives. In most cases, it is difficult to begin and conquer the forgiveness process that will help us reach a healthier and more successful future.

Here’s some tips to assist you along the way:

• Tip 1 – Realize that the past is the past. It’s important to realize that the past is done and already behind us. If we can do this, we will work to acceptance and emotional healing a lot faster.

• Tip 2 – Become clear on your morals and values. Be honest with yourself. Our guilt and shame come from our actions in life not aligning with our morals and values. Identify these and work through them one at a time.

• Tip 3 – Create a re-do to affirm that you have learned from your past mistake(s). Take a moment to write down how you would have done things differently if you could go back and do it again. This is how you make it a learning moment so you can move forward.

• Tip 4 – Realize you did the best you could at the time. Don’t dwell on the negative impact of your mistake(s). You probably did the best you could and now you’re in a position to learn from your mistake(s).

• Tip 5 – Identify your biggest regrets. Take time to list your regrets into categories and tackle each one separately.

• Tip 6 – Accept your past as part of your story. Own it and live it. It’s your own personal story. Make this a learning moment. What’s done is done and you cannot change the past.

Remember, you are more than your past mistakes, and I promise you, you are so worth it to move out of the past and into a promising future.

MOVING TO THE FUTURE

When thinking about life, remember this: no amount of guilt can change the past and no amount of anxiety can change the future. – Unknown Author

There’s no doubt in my mind that it’s important to improve your future and the quality of your life. I don’t care how you look at it. It’s never okay to live in the past and not be willing to strive for a better future.

Here’s some tips to help you improve your future and strive for a healthier lifestyle:

• Tip 1 – Put your life on hold and write a better story for your day. Take a moment throughout your day to pause and consider what you would like to accomplish. It’s all about a clear mindset and uplifting a positive attitude.

• Tip 2 – Learn and identify what’s keeping you stuck in the same place. It’s important to learn what is keeping you stuck in the same place. Is it fear? Is it hurt? Is it confusion? Use your inner thoughts and feelings to help you work through the process.

• Tip 3 – Believe in yourself and focus on right now. It takes a lot of work and commitment to ensure that you are fully present despite what is going on all around you.

• Tip 4 – Set a realistic and attainable goal. Setting goals is the first step in personal accomplishments, but keep in mind that your goals should be realistic and attainable. You can do this by breaking the goals down in smaller steps.

• Tip 5 – Relinquish what you can’t control. Empower yourself to change what you can in life and let go of the rest. Focus on yourself and less time on trying to change or control others.

• Tip 6 – Be grateful and pass it on to others. Be grateful for what you have and you will attract positivity, opportunity and success.

Despite how difficult it may be, don’t obsess or worry about the future. Stay focused and just keep moving forward.

LIVING IN THE PRESENT MOMENT

Life is available only in the present moment. – Thich Nhat Hanh

I am open to receive what I’ve been asking for. Believe it or not, life is more manageable when you are grounded in the present. Achieve clarity through mindfulness practices such as deep breathing and meditation.

Here’s some tips to help you live in the present:

• Tip 1 – Sit still and focus on your breath. Take a moment each day to breathe deeply through your nose for about 3 seconds. Hold your breath for 2 seconds. Then, exhale for about 4 seconds. You can use this breathing technique to bring yourself back to the present if you ever experience stress or anxiety.

• Tip 2 – Practice savoring with all 5 senses. Use your 5 senses to fully take in the environment around you. Spend time being awareness to what you see, hear, smell, touch, and taste.

• Tip 3 – Eliminate distractions that prevent you from fully connecting with others. Don’t hesitate to make changes in your environment to help you stay present with those around you.

• Tip 4 – View mistakes as learning opportunities. Always strive to learn from your mistakes. Dwelling on past mistakes can prevent you from living in the present. It’s simple. Don’t allow yourself to be stuck in the same place for a long period of time.

• Tip 5 – Practice forgiveness. Now, here’s a good one. Holding onto grudges and life hurts can keep you from living a healthy life in the present. Identify people, including yourself, that need forgiving and work to make peace with them. Keep in mind that forgiveness is not about the other person, but it’s personal. It’s all about allowing yourself to move forward in peace.

• Tip 6 – Strengthen your spiritual well-being. Strive to feel connected with God or a greater power to help you stay grounded in the present. Read spiritual books and quotes. Meditate or do yoga to train your mind to become more still and present-focused.

My prayer for you today is that you can relate to some or all of my tips in some way or another. It’s so important to learn how to let go of the past, move forward to the future, and live in the present moment. For some, it may come as an easy task and for others it may be a struggle. Never hesitate to reach out for help from family and friends. There are a ton of professional therapists available to help you work through this process. Remember, you are not alone.

journaling, book, flowers, writing, Renew Inspiration, Here and Now — pixabay

TIME FOR REFLECTION – JOURNAL PROMPTS

With the past, I have nothing to do; nor with the future. I live now. – Ralph Waldo Emerson

LIVING IN THE PAST

• What don’t you like about your life right now?

• Why haven’t you dealt with your past before?

• Why do you want to deal with your past now?

• What are your favorite moments from the past?

• What’s your biggest learning lesson from the past?

MOVING TO THE FUTURE

• What does your dream life look like?

• Where do you see yourself in 6 months? A year? 5 years? 10 years?

• What distractions are hindering your productivity?

• What actions can you take today to simplify your life?

• What do you need more of in your life?

LIVING IN THE PRESENT MOMENT

• What do you love about your life?

• How do you have abundance today?

• What makes today better than yesterday?

• What’s something that keeps you grounded you can practice daily?

• How can you accept and embrace your emotions no matter what they are?

SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS and/or COMMENTS

Thank you for taking the time to read my Renew Inspiration blog. It really means a lot to me and I hope you continue this journey with me. I would love to hear from you. Strive to be in the here and now. Honor the past, learn from it, accept it and let it go. Do you consider yourself living in the past, moving to a better future, or living in the present moment?

Believe in yourself today, tomorrow and forever!

Inner Peace

LatishaMarch 20, 20195 Replies

She’s at peace and yet somehow on fire. – Samantha King

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).

Thought for the week – Your life becomes a masterpiece when you learn to master peace.

Welcome back to Renew Inspiration! Let’s welcome spring with a commitment to making inner peace a priority in our lives. I don’t know about you, but I could really use some inner peace within my life. Well, peace begins from within, if you are not peaceful inside, the world you see will be chaotic as well. To find peace, sometimes you have to be willing to lose your connection with the people, places, and things that create all the noise in your life. Now, let’s be realistic. Finding peace within is a wonderful thought, but also a difficult process to take on.

WAYS TO FIND INNER PEACE

If you seek peace, be still. If you seek wisdom, be silent. If you seek love, be yourself. – Becca Lee

Here’s some ways to find inner peace:

• Soothe and replenish your spirit. Quiet your mind and meditate. Sit quietly to free yourself of stress and worries.

• Simplify your life. Try not to do everything at once and set limits for tasks throughout the day. Also, limit your daily to-do list to only 2 or 3 of the most important things.

• Enjoy your personal journey. Take the time to experience and enjoy your own personal journey. Don’t be discouraged if the process takes a while. Remember, there is beauty in the process of becoming.

• Be patient with yourself. Inner peace develops over time so be patient with yourself throughout the process.

• Experience the present moment. Think about the present moment and less about the past or future. Believe it or not, being mindful of each moment can help you feel centered, calm and peaceful.

• Be happy and optimistic. Take time to do the things that make your soul happy. Focus on the positive in life to remain peaceful and in control.

HELPFUL TIPS TO IMPROVE YOUR INNER PEACE

Inner peace begins the moment you choose not to allow another person or event to control your emotions. – Pema Chodron

Here’s some helpful tips to improve your inner peace:

• Tip 1 – Limit time spent with people that make you feel negative in any way.

• Tip 2 – Find a therapist so you can talk about your inner feelings.

• Tip 3 – Don’t wait for appreciation or approval from anyone but yourself.

• Tip 4 – Be your own kind of beautiful.

• Tip 5 – Relax, think carefully, and act.

Peace is the result of retraining your mind to process life as it is, rather than as you think it should be. – Wayne Dyer

TIME FOR REFLECTION – JOURNAL PROMPTS

Today I choose: calm over chaos, serenity over stress, peace over perfection, grace over grit and faith over fear. – Mary Davis

The moment you start acting like life is a blessing, it starts feeling like one.

• What do I need to mute in my life in order to hear God’s voice?

• What does God’s voice sound like?

• How can I have peace in the midst of chaos?

• What brings peace into my life?

• How does gratitude bring me peace?

• When I meditate on God’s goodness and mercy, I feel ___________________.

• Replace entertainment for prayer time for one day this week and write about your experience.

• Fill your journal page with a list of things that make you feel at peace.

• What takes your mind away from God, thus robbing your peace?

Remember, finding inner peace is a process you must experience so take one day at a time. Be selective with your battles and allow yourself to let go of the stresses of daily life. So be smart, stay calm, and make finding inner peace a priority in your life.

Believe in yourself today, tomorrow and forever!

Hopeful, Not Hopeless

LatishaMarch 10, 20193 Replies

Where there is no vision, there is no hope. – George Washington Carver

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).

Thought for the week – Learn from yesterday, live for today, and hope for tomorrow.

Welcome back to Renew Inspiration! Hope is seeing light in spite of being surrounded by darkness. Sometimes in life, hope is all we have to hold on to. Believe it or not, hope is a necessary emotion that helps us engage with life. Hope is directly related to our sense of possibility. The greater our perception of possibilities, the greater our hope. Hope is what we feel when we think that life is worth living, when we are happy and thinking positive thoughts. Remember, happiness and optimism cannot exist without hope, but hope can exist without happiness or optimism. If we fail to reach our possibilities in life, then we experience a feeling of hopelessness and despair.

EMBRACE HOPE

It’s important to embrace hope in all aspects of your life. After all, hope is our energy, our fuel for living each day. Without hope in our lives, we lack the necessary energy to engage with life. Unfortunately, when a person has lost hope it can be hard to find motivation again.

Here’s some ways to embrace hope and find motivation within your life:

• Shift your expectations.

• Recognize that you can change your life at any time.

• Look for meaning in the most challenging moments.

• Listen to another person’s story to help clear your head.

• Find creative ways to handle stress and disappointment.

HOPEFUL LIVING

Once you choose hope, anything’s possible. – Christopher Reeve

Living a hopeful life is to recognize that everything and everyone matters, even you. Taking care of yourself matters.

Here’s some things you need to focus on:

• Conduct a hope audit of your life. How are you doing in health, work, family, relationships, etc.?

• Take good care of your health.

• Have a stress reduction strategy, such as meditation, yoga, reading, or writing.

• Create hopeful relationships and learn to forgive.

• Help others see the best in themselves.

• Develop a daily journal writing habit to release negative experiences and emotions.

CREATE A VISION FOR YOUR LIFE

Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow. – Melody Beattie

Creating a vision for your life is very important and will keep hope alive. A vision will allow you to capture your thoughts and dreams in one place. Then, you will be able to create a plan for achieving your dreams and having the best life. A vision will allow you to work toward life satisfaction and personal happiness. It may be helpful to write your thoughts down in a journal or create a vision board if you’re the creative type.

Here’s some tips to help guide your best efforts:

• Tip 1 – Remember to ask why you want certain things. For example, if one of your dreams is to write a book, why do you want to write the book?

• Tip 2 – Think about what you want, not on what you don’t want.

• Tip 3 – Give yourself permission to dream.

• Tip 4 – Be creative and consider ideas that you never thought possible.

• Tip 5 – Focus on your wishes, not what others expect of you.

Remember, consider every aspect of your life, personal and professional. Make sure to include family, friends, career, success, failures, health, spiritual connection and personal growth.

Here’s some questions to start your vision exploration:

• What really matters to you in life?

• What would you like to have more of in your life?

• Wat are your passions and dreams?

• What qualities would you like to develop?

• What are your values?

• What would you most like to accomplish?

This process is on-going. You may have to revisit your answers from time to time. Don’t be surprised if your vision has changed. Just analyze your answers and make the necessary adjustments, then move on.

TIME FOR REFLECTION – JOURNAL PROMPTS

We must accept finite disappointment, but never lose infinite hope. – Martin Luther King, Jr.

• Define hope and make sure to provide examples.

• What are you hopeful for on today?

• Have you ever given up hope on something or someone?

• Did you ever regain that hope again?

• Think about a moment when your hope was fulfilled. What were you hoping for?

• How did your hope develop and sustain its self during the waiting time?

• Describe what hope looks like, feels like, and acts like.

• What words inspire you and make you hopeful?

• What advice would you give a person who has lost hope?

Hope exists and is all around us every day. Hope engages our creativity and our problem-solving skills. Hope helps us to appreciate life and everything life has to offer. After all, life always offers you a second chance. It’s called tomorrow. Don’t lose hope. You never know what tomorrow will bring!

Believe in yourself today, tomorrow and forever!

Spoken Truth

LatishaMarch 9, 20199 Replies

The truth is rarely pure and never simple. – Oscar Wilde

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).

There are 4 very important words in life: love, honesty, truth, respect. Without these in your life, you have nothing. – Unknown Author

Welcome back to Renew Inspiration! Spoken truth can be defined as an individual who speaks facts only. For example, God is the spoken truth. When I think of spoken truth, I think of love, honesty, truth, and respect. How do you define spoken truth? As you think about your personal experiences, remember how important it is to love yourself, have honesty, know truth when you hear it, and respect yourself and others.

Thought for the week – Wake up, smile, and tell yourself today is my day.

HOW TO LOVE YOURSELF

Love yourself first and everything falls into line. – Unknown Author

Have you ever heard of the saying, “Remember to take care of yourself; You can’t pour from an empty cup?” Take a moment, right now, right where you are, and commit to loving yourself. Choosing to love yourself is not a selfish act. Believe it or not, when you begin to love yourself, your whole world will become better. You will have a whole new way of thinking about yourself and others. To love yourself will give you a deep appreciation for who you are.

Today is the day you can love yourself totally by doing the following:

• Falling in love with yourself.

• Being kind and positive.

• Acknowledging your effort.

• Guarding your energy.

• Carving out me time.

• Forgiving yourself for your mistakes.

• Don’t believe everything you think.

FREEPositive AffirmationsCLICK HERE

BENEFITS OF HONESTY

Honesty has a power very few people can handle. – Unknown Author

Honesty is a good way to live your life. One of the main reasons why honesty is important in our lives is trust. Trust is important because happiness cannot exist without it. Honesty is one of the key components to character and one of the most admired traits of any successful, responsible person. In addition, honesty helps to build trust and improve relationships.

In addition, being honest offers the following benefits in our daily lives:

• Honesty is the easiest choice – Believe it or not, it’s your choice to live an honest life.

• Honesty reveals your character – Allow others to see a snapshot of who you really are.

• Honesty gives you freedom – You have the ability to live free from false representation.

• Honesty gives you credibility – People will believe you and trust you mean what you say.

• Honesty keeps you out of trouble – You will have a greater chance of staying out of trouble throughout life.

TELLING THE TRUTH

The truth is still the truth, even if no one believes it. – Unknown Author

We were taught as children that telling the truth is good and telling lies is bad. As you can see, honesty and truth work together. Also, telling the truth causes one to back it up with actions which shows respect as well. Remember, truth will always prevail. Truth also gives closure from the past and provides a clear path to the future. Truth brings hope to people and helps to identify who you are.

Keep these thoughts in mind as you communicate with others throughout life:

• Look for the truth.

• Accept it when you discover it.

• Forgive and correct your mistakes.

• Seek professional help if you need it.

• See yourself in the future.

• Give yourself time to adjust.

• The truth will set you free.

SHOW RESPECT

Respect is one of the greatest expressions of love. – Unknown Author

Respect is a positive feeling or action shown towards someone or something considered important or held in high esteem. Respect conveys a sense of admiration for good or valuable qualities. When you show respect, you strive to be polite and kind.

Below you will find some other ways to show respect in your life:

• Be honest about who you are.

• Be sincere and show gratitude.

• Compliment the achievements of others.

• Offer your assistance to others.

• Respect the abilities of others.

• Maintain integrity and listen to others.

HOW TO BUILD TRUST

Trust can be rebuilt. It takes time, communication and pure honesty. – Unknown Author

Trust is something that two people in a relationship can build together when they decide to trust each other. When you decide to build trust it’s important to know yourself and your intentions. Be open to positive and negative feedback from others. Make sure to be reliable nd allow others to have confidence in you.

Here’s some ways to help you build trust in your life:

• Be honest and keep your word.

• Be transparent and share yourself.

• Give without any strings attached.

• Honor your promises.

• Be consistent.

• Speak from the heart.

• Express your feelings.

Spoken Truth, Love, Trust, Respect, Honesty, Reflection — pixabay

TIME FOR REFLECTION – JOURNAL PROMPTS

Honesty is the first chapter in the book of wisdom. – Thomas Jefferson

• How do you define spoken truth?

• What am I feeling today and what thoughts are creating that feeling?

• What would be my ideal life?

• Who do you see when you look in the mirror?

• What are 5 things I could do to take better care of myself daily?

• Who do you want to be surrounded by?

• What learned beliefs are you holding on to which aren’t true to your authentic self?

• How do you feel about honesty?

• Is the glass half empty or half full?

Today, I face my life experiences with an open mind, plenty of love, honesty, truth, and respect. Today, I speak with kindness and I am gentle. Today, I will act with intention. I am grounded. I am loved. I am enough. Spoken truth allows you to stay patient and trust your journey!

Believe in yourself today, tomorrow and forever!