Life’s Challenges – Page 5 – Renew Inspiration Mind Body Spirit

Worthy Enough To Shine

LaPorterJuly 28, 20204 Replies

I am worthy of the very best in life, and I now lovingly allow myself to accept it. – Louise Hay

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Welcome back to Renew Inspiration! I am worthy. I am loved. I am whole. I am enough. I choose to shine bright on today. How about you? Now, it’s important to note that the ways I choose to shine may be different than yours on any given day, but the end result should be the same, we’re worthy enough to shine! Our lives should be an example and reflect positive vibes through the eyes of others. For example, it seems like random people always offer me positive compliments regarding my smile or grateful compliments for the kind gestures that I showed them (holding the door open or just saying hello or good morning). Despite how dark it is all around us, we are all worthy enough to shine so let’s get to it.

AMAZON RESOURCE #1

WAYS TO KNOW YOUR WORTH

The only keeper of your happiness is you. Stop giving people the power to control your smile, your worth and your attitude. – Mandy Hale, SimpleReminders.com

Remember, that at any moment you can choose to feel whole again and worthy, no matter what is or isn’t in your life. You need nothing to feel worthy except your realization that you are. Nowadays, it’s so important to know your worth.

Here’s some great ways to know your worth:

Be yourself and be your own inspiration.
Set reasonable goals for yourself.
Be kind to yourself and take back your personal power.
Build on your strengths, not weaknesses.
Be decisive and take risks.
Have faith, show gratitude, and stay hopeful.

AMAZON RESOURCE #2

WAYS TO SHINE

Your value doesn’t decrease based on someone’s inability to see your worth. – Unknown Author

Even when I am not feeling well or just simply having a bad day, I try hard not to reflect my negative vibes and feelings toward others. As we travel along this journey called life, we will experience some ups and downs. However, the way we respond to life’s challenges is the key to overcoming the obstacles that occur in our lives.

Here’s some great ways to shine throughout your life during difficult times:

Read God’s Word, pray and meditate.
Smile and believe in yourself. Yes, believe in the awesome person you’re becoming.
Show kindness everywhere you go. Especially, to unkind people.
Forgive people who don’t deserve it. Then, let it go.
Acknowledge your patterns of stress and release them into the atmosphere.
Move out of your comfort zone throughout your journey so you can grow.
Allow yourself time to heal from life’s challenging moments.
Be gentle and patient with yourself. Practice self-care routines.
Love unconditionally. Find time for self-reflection and to write in your journal.

Every situation in life is meant to be temporary. When life is going as planned, make sure to enjoy every moment. And when life is not going as planned, know that it will not last forever and better days are sure to follow.

JOURNAL PROMPTS

Your greatest obstacle and your greatest strength stare back at you in the mirror every day. – Unknown Author

I love journaling because it is a safe place for me to put my feelings and emotions into words, then put my words into action. Remember, journaling is your very own personal journey throughout life, your ups and downs, your successes and failures. In addition, 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. Everyone takes their own path. Ready, set, write!

- Do you feel worthy enough to shine?
- How well do you really know yourself?
- Where does your mind wander throughout the day?
- Do you strive to learn something new every day?
- What do you need to do to become healthier (inside and out)?
- What are some things that you want to change in your life?
- What would you do if you can travel into the past?

Free Colorful and Creative Stock Photos

WORTHY ENOUGH TO SHINE KEEPSAKE

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

Please accept this WORTHY ENOUGH TO SHINE keepsake. Post it on your wall, mirror and/or social media accounts and cherish it always.

Renew Inspiration, Worthy Enough To Shine, Keepsake, Yellow Flower, Nature, Sunshine, Bloom — Worthy Enough To Shine – Renew Inspiration

SHARING WITH ONE ANOTHER

Your worth can never be determined by someone else. You don’t have to prove yourself to anyone. – Unknown Author

Let’s talk. Remember, your actions will always reflect who you are so the closer you get to being who you are meant to be…the brighter you shine! How do you choose to shine during life’s most difficult times? Please share your responses in the comment below so we can learn and grow together. I am excited to hear from you. Until next time, stay encouraged, stay healthy, and stay safe!

Believe in yourself today, tomorrow and forever!

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Journaling to Inspire

LaPorterJuly 14, 202016 Replies

Renew Inspiration, Journaling, Inspire, Pink Flower — pixabay

Don’t be ashamed of your story. It will inspire others. – Unknown Author

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Welcome back to Renew Inspiration! I hope you have your journal and something to write with. I don’t know about you, but 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. Journal writing can be whatever you want it to be and it can be your very own personal journey throughout life to reflect on, your ups and downs, your successes and failures.

As we begin to think about journaling to inspire, let’s take a moment to think about the following questions:

Why do I write in my journal?
What do I want to learn about myself?
How do I shine from day to day?
How do I stand out in a crowd?
Do I inspire myself and others along my journey?

HOW TO BECOME INSPIRED AGAIN

The real difficulty is to overcome how you think about yourself. – Maya Angelou

Believe it or not, journaling is not the only option available to you. When you no longer feel inspired in life, it’s important to make positive lifestyle changes to help you become inspired again.

Here’s some helpful suggestions:

Change your physical environment. If your indoors, go outside and vice versa.
Enjoy the various facets of nature. Go outdoors and take a walk.
Be venturous and try something new. Find a new hobby that you will enjoy.
Read an inspirational book. Choose a book to help boost your motivation.
Listen to a podcast. It’s nice to find encouragement while listening to others.
Be creative. Take an art class, spend time coloring/painting, etc.
Listen to music. Music can be a mood changer.

AMAZON RESOURCE #1

CONCEPTS TO IMPROVE LIFE’S INSPIRATION

These mountains that you are carrying, you were only supposed to climb. – Unknown Author

An inspiring person has two core beliefs:

To believe in themselves.
2) To believe in others.

When people speak of their personal ambitions, it is with great passion, optimism, and enthusiasm. Now, here’s some important concepts that are required in order for you to improve life’s inspiration:

Goal Setting

If you want to live a happy life, tie it to a goal, not to people or things. – Albert Einstein

Goal setting is important in every aspect of your life. To pursue new ideas or strive to reach your dreams, you must have a plan to do so. Here’s some steps to follow when goal setting:

Identify what you want and name your specific goal(s). Identify one or two things you want most and set these as your beginning goals, such as weight loss, building stronger relationships, being a better person, etc.
Write your goal(s) down and write the steps needed to facilitate the goal(s). Make sure to include changes in habits and lifestyle that must take place.
Take each of the steps you wrote down and incorporate them into your current lifestyle.
Begin to visualize yourself after your goals are achieved.
Evaluate your progress as you move through the steps you’ve identified as necessary to reach your goals and adjust your efforts as needed.

Self-Confidence

Self-confidence is a super power. Once you start to believe in yourself, magic starts happening. – Unknown Author

Self-confidence is extremely important in almost every aspect of our lives, but if we are honest with ourselves, we sometimes struggle to find it. There are two main things that contribute to self-confidence: self-efficacy (when we see ourselves and others mastering skills and achieving goals) and self-esteem (we cope with what’s going on in our lives and know that we have a right to be happy). Here’s some ways to build self-confidence in your daily routine:

Prepare for your journey. Look at what you’ve already achieved, think about your strengths, think about what’s important to you, and where you want to go in life.
Set out on your journey. Build the knowledge you need to succeed, focus on the basics, set small goals and achieve them.
Accelerate towards success. By this point, you should feel your self-confidence building from within. Keep yourself grounded and always aware of how you feel throughout this process.

AMAZON RESOURCE #2

Self-Reflection

Where you are a year from now is a reflection of the choices you choose to make right now. – Unknown Author

Self-reflection is a process of examining one’s own thoughts, feelings, and sensations to gain better insight of one’s life. Self-reflection allows you to:

Notice negative patterns in your life.
Keeps you focused on the bigger picture.
Prevents you from worrying about things out of your control.
Helps you face your fears.
Allows you to clearly define happiness on your own terms.
Allows you to make decisions based on your conscience.

Self- Discipline

Self-Discipline is a key ingredient to success. – Unknown Author

Self-discipline gives you the power to stick to your decisions and follow them through, without changing your mind, and is therefore one of the most important requirements for achieving goals. Here’s some effective ways to help improve self-discipline:

Practice mindfulness meditation to help refresh yourself.
Think in milestones which includes smaller tasks and healthy habits.
Embrace discomfort in order to learn from mistakes and grow.
Create daily to-do list and plan to complete tasks.
Stay consistent and track your progress.
Set rewards to treat yourself from time to time.
Set consequences when you fail to meet your expectations.

Self-Care

Saying no can be the best form of self-care. – Unknown Author

Prioritizing everyone else in your life may seem honorable, but the reality is, totally neglecting yourself isn’t good for anyone. In order to take care of others, you first need to take care of yourself. Here’s some great ways to practice self-care throughout your journey:

Make time for exercise or yoga.
Read an inspirational book or read positive affirmations.
Listen to soothing music with your eyes closed.
Create a relaxing routine (warm bath, meditation, reading, writing in your journal).
Get out in nature (go for a walk, run, or hike).

AMAZON RESOURCE #3

Spiritual Foundation

Be like a tree. Stay grounded. Connect with your roots. Turn over a new leaf. Bend before you break. Enjoy your unique natural beauty. Keep growing. – Joanne Raptis

Without a strong spiritual foundation, you cannot withstand the storms of life that you may be facing, whether they are financial, emotional, or relational. Although society and culture may offer many solutions to help you brace against the struggles of daily living, here’s the three essentials needed in your spiritual life to weather any storm you might be dealt:

Praise and Worship
The Word of God
Prayer

These spiritual essentials will help you build strength which is your spiritual foundation and begin to experience a powerful new sense of God’s presence and purpose in your life.

JOURNAL PROMPTS

Your life only gets better when you do. Work on yourself and the rest will follow. – Unknown Author

Mind

Your mind will always believe everything you tell it. Feed it faith. Feed it truth. Feed it with love. – Unknown Author

What is overwhelming in my life right now?
What am I ashamed of and/or what do I fear?
What matters most to me right now in this very moment?

Body

Your body is healthy and beautiful. – Unknown Author

What are my strengths and weaknesses?
What are my short-term goals and long-term goals?
What is my proudest accomplishment and my biggest failure?

Spirit

Everything you need is within you. – Unknown Author

What brings calm to your spiritual well-being?
How do you plan to increase your faith in God or a Higher Power?
What is my vision for my life in one year, two years, three years?

AMAZON RESOURCE #4

JOURNALING TO INSPIRE KEEPSAKE

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

Please accept this journaling to inspire keepsake. Post it on your social media accounts and cherish it always.

Renew Inspiration, Journaling, Inspire, Flowers, Writing — Journaling to Inspire -Renew Inspiration

SHARING WITH ONE ANOTHER

Never lose hope. Storms make people stronger and never last forever. – Roy T. Bennett

Let’s talk. Do you spend quality time journaling? Do you inspire to become a better person? Why or why not? Please share your responses in the comment below so we can learn and grow together. I am excited to hear from you. Until next time, stay encouraged, stay healthy, and stay safe!

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).

Powerful Not Powerless

LaPorterMay 15, 20202 Replies

Passion is energy. Feel the power that comes from focusing on what excites you. – Oprah Winfrey

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Welcome back to Renew Inspiration! Despite what is happening in your life, right now in this very moment, know that you are powerful not powerless. When it seems like you will not make it through life’s challenges, take some time to improve positive thoughts and learn benefits of journaling. We have to start conditioning our thought patterns differently so we can regain control of our inner being.

DEFINE

Truth is powerful and it prevails. – Sojourner Truth

• Powerful (adjective): Having great power or strength.

• Powerless (adjective): Without ability, influence or power.

AMAZON RESOURCE #1

WAYS TO IMPROVE POSITIVE THOUGHTS

Thoughts have energy. Make sure your thoughts are positive and powerful. – Unknown Author

As I stated before, knowing who you are shows how powerful you are as an individual. Take advantage of this time at home to improve your positive thoughts throughout your journey. Believe it or not, positive thoughts can give you more confidence, improve your mood and even reduce the likelihood of developing stress-related disorders.

Here’s some ways to improve positive thoughts:

• Start the day with a positive affirmation or quote.

• Spend time in prayer and/or meditation.

• Be thankful and focus on the good things.

• Focus on the present, be kind and take time for yourself.

• Find humor in bad situations.

• Turn failures into life lessons.

• Transform negative self-talk into positive self-talk to motivate, inspire and uplift your spirit.

AMAZON RESOURCE #2

BENEFITS OF JOURNALING

The most common way people give up their power is by thinking they don’t have any. – Alice Walker

In addition, journaling is another positive way to help release what’s held captive inside you. Journaling allows you to say things that you would probably never say out loud. Keep in mind people cannot define journaling the same way because it is a personal written journey. You are the author who writes the beginning, the middle, and the ending. Often times journaling….

• Helps us make space for our hearts.

• Turns memories into reality.

• Gives us time to process our personal experiences.

• Helps to create an energetic and visual level of comfort.

• Offers a way to fully express ourselves.

• Has no boundaries and no limits set to what we can write.

• Has no set format, just write, write, write.

• Allows us to be creative souls with no set criteria or instructions.

• Provides an opportunity to write until our mind, body, and spirit are one.

If you are struggling in this area along your journey, don’t fret, just begin to write down your thoughts (positive or negative) in your journal or in a notebook. It’s important to be honest and to focus on what matters most to you in your life. In reality, the enemy always fight the hardest when he knows God has something great in store for you. Before you know it, you will begin to take charge of your life again and know in your heart that I AM POWERFUL NOT POWERLESS!

AMAZON RESOURCE #3

JOURNAL PROMPTS

Everything is within your power, and your power is within you. – Janice Trachtman

• How do you define powerful? Powerless?

• What were your highs and lows this week?

• What are some of your power struggles?

• What is at least one lesson you learned today?

• What are your strengths? What are your weaknesses?

• How do you plan to become more powerful in the near future?

• What makes you feel powerful? Powerless?

• What is my proudest accomplishment?

SHARING WITH ONE ANOTHER

Take back your power. – Kate Northrup

Let’s take a moment to share with one another. Do you consider yourself powerful or powerless? How do you stay focused on positive thoughts during difficult times?

Please share your responses in the comment below so we can learn and grow together. I am excited to hear from you. Until next time, stay encouraged, stay healthy, and stay safe!

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).

Trust the Timing

LaPorterApril 5, 20206 Replies

Hold the vision, trust the timing and process. – 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).

Thought for today – Trust the wait and embrace the uncertainty.

Welcome back to Renew Inspiration! I pray that you and your families are still healthy during this coronavirus pandemic. My message to you on today is to be patient and trust the timing. Trust the timing mentally, physically, and spiritually. Remove your expectations of when it should happen or what it should look like, and live in the present.

Now, repeat after me – I am in perfect balance. I am physically and emotionally connected and healed. I am free of worry and I am at peace with who I am. Every day I grow stronger and more relaxed. I love myself and life. Before moving on, take a moment and allow these words to resonate with you. Keep re-reading these words until you believe each and every word.

AMAZON RESOURCES #1

TRUST THE TIMING

I am learning to trust the journey even when I do not understand. – Mila Bron

To begin with, I know that you may not have all the answers right now, but the truth is none of us do. In life we all know that there is never a dull moment. Despite all of the unknowns in life, I still strive to trust the timing and want to encourage you to do the same. While it is easy for us to give up or to lose hope, I suggest for us to do the opposite. Dig deep down within to find the courage, the peace, and the strength to trust the timing in ways that will make you come out of this difficult time a better person.

Here’s a few ways to trust the timing within your life:

• Be present. Take a deep breath, inhaling and exhaling slowly. Focus on your breath and this will instantly bring you to the present moment. Notice that with every breath, things change within you and all around you.

• Give thanks. Acknowledge where you are right now and what it took to get you there. Then, say THANK YOU from the heart for your life and for your family. Feel the gratitude for what has gone well and for the many blessings that are coming your way.

• Be open and honest. Remember that life is all about learning and honesty. Be curious to experience a different way of doing or being, with yourself and with others.

• Make time for reflection. Sit in silence to just be with yourself and your thoughts. Be honest about how you feel and what you’re thinking. Write in your journal for a few minutes everyday and gradually increase your time each week.

• Have unwavering faith in yourself. Know that everything is unfolding as it should and one day, you’ll be able to look back and connect the dots. Recognize and celebrate small wins. Keep a journal to track your accomplishments and lessons learned.

• Repeat a daily positive affirmation. Find or create a daily positive affirmation that resonates with you and what you want to embody. I’ve included a few of my favorites in the next section of this blog post.

AMAZON RESOURCES #2

AFFIRMATIONS

The best is yet to come. – Unknown Author

As we cope with high anxiety, lots of worrying, and the stress of everyday life, it is important to keep our inner thoughts on positive and inspiring words of encouragement. I encourage you to take a moment each day to repeat a daily positive affirmation to uplift your spirits and to give you strength to endure all that you may experience.

Here’s some encouraging and positive affirmations to consider:

• I face today with an open mind.

• I am grateful for all that I receive.

• Today I lead with love and speak with kindness.

• My actions reflect the words that flow from my mouth.

• I am gentle with me and will act with good intention.

• I believe it is safe for me to honor my needs first.

• I allow others to support and love me.

• I have the ability to achieve and succeed.

• I set myself free because I forgive myself.

• I feel it is safe for me to choose and every choice is an opportunity.

As I am writing this blog post, my prayer for you is to become all that you want to become during this crisis and beyond. Your future is far better than your past. Remember to listen and trust what it is you need and the rest will follow. Believe this in your mind, body, and spirit. Know that no obstacle will stand in your way. Why you ask? Simply, because your potential is limitless my friend. Your faith should never waver. What God has for you, is for you. Trust God’s timing. Trust God’s plan for your life.

AMAZON RESOURCES #3

JOURNAL PROMPTS

I love journaling because it is a safe place for me to put my feelings and emotions into words, then put my words into action. Remember, journaling is your very own personal journey throughout life, your ups and downs, your successes and failures. In addition, 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. Everyone takes their own path. Ready, set, write!

Mental

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

• How does the thought of gratitude bring you peace and comfort?

• What negative thought patterns do you have? How do you plan to correct them?

• Have you spent more time today thinking about the past, present or future?

• How often do you spend time practicing meditation?

Physical

• What are you proud of yourself for today?

• What have you done lately for yourself?

• What does your self-care routine look like?

• How much do you truly love yourself?

• How are you mistreating your body or compromising your health?

Spiritual

• Where did you see God in your life today?

• What attribute of God is most significant to you?

• What prayer have you seen answered recently?

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

• Where does your true spiritual power reside?

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).

Strive For Excellence

LaPorterMarch 15, 20206 Replies

Renew Inspiration, Strive, Excellence, Challenges, Affirmation, Journal Prompts — unsplash

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We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence is not an act, but a habit. – Aristotle

Thought for today – There’s no wrong or right way, just strive for excellence.

Welcome back to Renew Inspiration! I sure hope you and your family are in good health. My family is healthy and safe, but we’re still trying to wrap our heads around the schools being closed for 3 weeks starting tomorrow. This brings me to this week’s discussion.

At any time, we have to brace ourselves for various life’s challenges, such as the coronavirus outbreak, massive school closings, national emergency being put in place, etc. Sometimes we’re ready to face the challenges head on and other times we are caught off guard which leads to stress and anxiety. Often times we are in panic mode or find ourselves just falling to our knees crying out to God. Today, I want to encourage you to strive for excellence throughout your journey especially during these difficult times.

WAYS TO STRIVE FOR EXCELLENCE

Excellence is not a skill, it’s an attitude. – Ralph Marston

To begin with, let’s define excellence. According to the Webster Dictionary, excellence (noun) is defined as the quality of being outstanding or extremely good. Now, do not confuse striving for excellence with striving for perfection (being free from all flaws or defects). It’s important to note that they are not one and the same. Also, keep in mind that your journey will be different from my journey or someone else’s, but in the end, we are still striving to push harder than yesterday so we can have a better tomorrow.

Here’s some ways to strive for excellence throughout life:

• Find time to pray and meditate often
• Practice gratitude – keep a list and be sincere
• Schedule time to exercise and get it done – no excuses are allowed
• Keep a success journal and reflect on your written words often
• Identify your values and stick to them
• Learn something new every day – online courses, reading, watching informative videos, listening to podcasts

HOW TO OVERCOME CHALLENGES

Perfection is not attainable, but if we chase perfection, we can catch excellence. – Vince Lombardi

Despite how things may be going in your life right now, it’s important to learn how to overcome challenges that may occur in your life from time to time. Let’s face it, life happens to the best of us whether we’re ready or not. In some cases, these challenges may be life changing, such as a death of a loved one, a terrible accident or a medical diagnosis. As you navigate throughout life, be a reflection of what you’d like to receive. Don’t over complicate the process. What you give out throughout your journey, will always return back to you. Make sure to give love, truth and respect every day.

Here’s some suggestions to help you overcome challenges:

• Embrace self-awareness
• Use time to your advantage, don’t procrastinate
• Commit to focused discipline
• Engage your own creativity
• Think BIG, be proactive and set goals
• Re-evaluate your daily tasks
• Don’t be afraid to ask for help from family, friends or co-workers

EXCELLENCE AFFIRMATIONS

My goal is not to be better than anyone else but better than I used to be. – Unknown Author

Remember, everything in your life is a reflection of a choice you have made. If you want a different result, make a different choice. Now, repeat the excellence affirmations noted below:

• I am a woman or man of excellence.
• I am kind, smart and can accomplish my goals.
• I am increasingly excellent in all that I think, say and do.
• I attract love and excellence into my life.
• I demonstrate excellence within me.
• I strive for excellence and thirst for knowledge.
• The energy of excellence is infused into my very being.

Close your eyes and take a deep breath. Now, open your eyes and recite these powerful words again. Take a moment to add some additional excellence affirmations to make this list complete.

JOURNAL PROMPTS

Walking the grounds of gratitude, I stumbled upon the palace of happiness. – Brendon Burchard

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. Everyone takes their own path. Ready, set, write!

• What did you achieve today?

• What can you do right now to lift your mood?

• Define 3 things you can do to improve yourself.

• Describe a time when you had to make a really hard choice.

• Right now, my greatest challenge is _______________.

• My greatest qualities are _________________.

• What do you love most about my life?

• What are 5 good/healthy habits you want to start next month?

• How can you improve your mindset so you love yourself more?

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).