Seek the LORD and his strength, seek his face continually. (I Chronicles 16:11)
Thought for today – Allow God to amaze you with what He can do for your situation.
Welcome back to Renew Inspiration! How often do you seek God’s face? For some, seeking God’s face is done on a daily basis and for others seeking God’s face is done on an as needed basis. What does it really mean to seek God’s face? Well, I believe seeking God’s face simply means to seek God’s presence in your life. Presence is a common translation of the Hebrew word “face”. Literally, we are to seek his face throughout our lives.
Here’s some ways for us to seek God’s face throughout our lives:
• Read God’s Word, study it and meditate on it
• Fasting and praying regularly
• Confessing your sins and repenting to God regularly
• Reading daily devotions
• Singing praise and worship songs
• Attending church services regularly
When you think that everything is against you remember God is always with you.
pixabay
Journal Prompts – Time for Reflection
Let’s spend some quality time seeking God’s face while writing in our journals.
• What is on my mind right now?
• What do I need to meditate and/or pray about?
• What feels like a struggle in my life right now?
• What advice do I need to receive from God?
• Am I prepared to receive God’s advice?
• How can I strengthen my relationship and faith in God?
• How much time do you spending reading God’s Word, praying or meditating?
As you travel throughout your spiritual journey, there are always obstacles that we encounter while living our lives on Earth, but we must work around them in order to seek God’s face and see him clearly. It is always important to stay away from anything and anyone who blocks us from being in the presence of God. Through this spiritual process, remember to seek God’s face by calling and pleading for Him to fill your presence with His anointing from on high. Only then will you receive the necessary peace, comfort, security and healing from God. Be peaceful, be happy, be whole.
Believe in yourself today, tomorrow and forever!
I WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU
How much time do you spend seeking God’s face? Challenge yourself and spend some quality time reflecting on the answers to the journal prompt questions noted above. Please share your thoughts and comments. Renew Inspiration is a participant in the Target Affiliate Program which is an advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Target.com
You might not write well every day, but you can always edit a bad page. You can’t edit a blank page. – Jodi Picoult
pixabay
Thought for today – There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you. – Maya Angelou
Welcome back to Renew Inspiration! Today, I want to express the passion I have for writing. There are many reasons why I write. Sometimes I write because I am happy, and I also write when I am sad. However, the main reason why I have a passion for writing is to escape. When you hear the word “ESCAPE” what is the first thing you think about? For me, when I think about the word “ESCAPE”, I think about breaking free from something. When I write, I like to escape from life as I know it each day. I like to escape the pain and misery of losing both my dad and mom. Losing your parents leaves a hole in your heart that can never be filled. I like to escape the frustration of parenting adopted children with disabilities and behavior problems. I like to escape the racism of this wicked world for not only having black skin, but also for being a woman. I like to escape from mental illness both depression and anxiety. I like to escape from those sleepless nights when I just listen to my thoughts go on and on. Writing allows me to be honest with my feelings and help me cope with challenges that I face throughout my journey.
pixabay
Journal Prompts – Time for Reflection
Start writing, no matter what. The water does not flow until the faucet is turned on. – Louis L’Amour
Keep Calm and Write On
Let’s use our Journal to escape from negative thoughts, pain, hurt, sadness, and bad memories. Remember, journaling should be a safe place for you to write how you feel and to reflect on your heart felt thoughts. This is your personal journey so make sure you are honest throughout the process.
MIND – Be still and know that I am God. (Psalm 46:10)
• Meditate on escaping from something from within and write about it.
• What takes your mind away from God?
• What brings you the most joy in life? Describe it in detail.
• What qualities do you think others admire about you?
• How much do you truly love yourself? How do you show it?
BODY – No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape that you may be able to bear it. (I Corinthians 10:13)
• What do you feel right now in this very moment? Listen to your body and write about it.
• Do you feel courageous on today? If so, take time and write about it. If not, how can you build courage in your life?
• Where do you struggle with pride, dishonesty, or being discontent?
• In what area of your life do you need to improve self-discipline?
• How do you de-stress during the week?
SPIRIT – The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. (Psalm 34:18)
• How do you cope with pain, misery, sadness, being alone, etc.? Write about it.
• How is God your strength and protector? Write about it.
• When do you feel God’s presence most in your life? How do you respond?
• What is one way that you can improve your spiritual walk?
• How can you improve your prayer and meditation routine?
As you can see, writing to escape is real and takes little effort on your part. If you don’t currently write in a journal today, take a moment and think about how journaling could help you cope with the daily challenges of life. Believe it or not, sometimes I just pick up my pen and just start writing words, not sentences. Before I even realize it, I am writing paragraphs. Writing to escape can help you clear your mind and offer you an opportunity to break free from internal bondage. Writing to escape can help you lose yourself on paper and forget about time. Most of all, writing to escape can bring about a peace that is more powerful than the stress in your life right now. So, what are you waiting for? Let’s get our journals and write to escape!
Believe in yourself today, tomorrow and forever!
I WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU
Please share what you escape from as you write, think or just meditate. How do you plan to escape the challenges of life? What is holding you back from journaling? I look forward to reading your comments and feedback!
Renew Inspiration is a participant in the Target Affiliate Program which is an advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Target.com
Inner peace begins the moment you choose not to allow another person or event to control your emotions. – Pema Chodron
Thought for today – At the end of the day, I am at peace because my intentions are good, and my heart is pure.
Welcome back to Renew Inspiration! It seems like it has been so long since I have shared a blog post with you. Unfortunately, life happens to the best of us, right? Today, I want to talk about the “Peace in the Midst of a Storm”. Whether your storm is BIG or small, it takes internal strength to overcome many obstacles in life. After all, as long as we are living on Earth, we will always experience some type of storm. So, instead of living your life worrying about the “what ifs”, spend time preparing your mindset with peaceful thoughts, such as scriptures, prayers, positive affirmations, inspirational quotes, uplifting words, etc.
Peace
Today I choose: calm over chaos; serenity over stress; peace over perfection; grace over grit; faith over fear. – Mary Davis
Today, I am totally safe and surrounded by love, light, peace, and joy. Today, I invite peace and harmony to dwell in me and surround me at all times. Today, I have the freedom and power to create the life I desire. It is important to speak peace into your life every day. How about you? Can you honestly say these statements with confidence? It is important for you to know that you already have peace within you, right now, in this very moment. Just because you may be struggling right now, does not mean you are failing life forever. Keep believing in yourself and good things will happen in the near future.
In the midst of life’s greatest storms, do not forget your divine heritage as a son or daughter of God. -Ronald A. Rasband
In the midst of it all, what do you feel? What are your thoughts? How do you cope with every day struggles of life? Now, I realize my struggles may be different from your struggles, but can we agree that it takes a strategy to not only cope with the struggles of life, but to overcome such struggles?
Let’s face it, painful life experiences often leave heart-deep scars within us. Even though danger is long past, fear still lingers around us. It affects our present relationships and experiences, and even our perception of God. We may never know why it has happened to us, but we do know that we can and will survive it. We also know that God has given us a new day and a new season to reach out for His blessings in joy and gratitude. Painful experiences leave scars within us, but they also leave strength and wisdom in the midst of the storm, giving us the opportunity to help those enduring similar trials.
Storms of Life
Your storm is bigger than you are, but your Jesus is bigger than your storm. -Ron Hutchcraft
Even in the midst of life’s many storms, we have the capacity to stand in the center of our own peace. Now, let’s think about that for a moment before we proceed. When you are faced with the storms of life, think about how God is your strength and power; God is your protector and He will guide you through the storms of life if you let Him. Needless to say, it is always our choice. Will we allow God to lead us or will we try to handle our storms ourselves?
Here’s some storms of life examples:
• Stress
• Health Issues
• Financial Difficulties
• Unemployment
• Wayward Children
• Divorce
• Lack of Transportation
• Mental Illness (Depression, Anxiety)
• Imprisonment
• Grieving the Loss of a Loved One
• Various Addictions To Overcome Life’s Obstacles
God promises to make something good out of the storms that bring devastation to your life. (Romans 8:28)
When was the last time you not only experienced a storm in your life, but you push through the storm with your inner strength? If you struggle in this area, please follow these tips to overcome life’s obstacles:
• Stay focused on positive thoughts instead of negative thoughts
• Don’t ever give up
• Challenge yourself and try new things every day
• Each day you should choose happiness
• Choose to shine and smile
• Don’t compare yourself to others and find time to celebrate your little accomplishments
pixabay
Journal Prompts – Time for Reflection
Are you ready to write yourself into a peaceful state? If so, grab your journal and let’s get started. Journaling should be a safe place for you to write how you feel and to reflect on your heart felt thoughts. This is your personal journey so make sure you are honest throughout the process.
MIND – Meditate on peaceful thoughts. Define those thoughts in detail and write about them.
BODY – What do you feel right now in this very moment? Listen to your body and write about it.
SPIRIT – How do you cope with struggles? What set a spark in your soul? Write about it.
Remember, my storm may be different from yours, but at the end of the day we both are in the midst of something that makes us uncomfortable. Instead of ignoring and judging others, let’s be more supportive to others who may be experiencing difficult life situations. Sometimes just lending a listening ear will do wonders. Life is not about weathering the storm, it’s about learning to dance in the rain.
Believe in yourself today, tomorrow and forever!
I WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU
Please share what brings peace into your life. How do you find peace within? How do you overcome obstacles in life? Can you write yourself into a peaceful state? I look forward to reading your comments and feedback!
Renew Inspiration is a participant in the Target Affiliate Program which is an advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Target.com
Starve your distractions, feed your focus. – Unknown
pexels
Thought for today – Be focused. Be persistent. Never quit. One day or day one. You decide.
It’s time to focus on what really matters, right? Life, family, careers, households, hobbies, etc. Whether you are trying to focus on some personal goals for yourself or trying to pursue a new career, it’s important to:
• Set Goals
• Stay Motivated
• Be Productive
• Change Your Mindset
A mind troubled by doubt cannot focus on the course to victory. – Arthur Golden
Set Goals
• Evaluate your current situation – What do you want to change?
• Determine your goals – What do you want to improve?
• Write down your goals and revisit your goals daily
• Write down a plan to reach your goals
• Establish a reward system when you reach milestones
• Check your progress and readjust your goals as necessary
Stay Motivated
• Recite positive affirmations and quotes
• Read inspirational and motivational books
• Pick a healthy habit to work on daily
• Join a supportive group to receive encouragement and feedback
• Determine weaknesses and strengths
• Think positive and remind yourself of your goals
• Track your progress throughout the week
Be Productive
• Strive for consistency while working on projects
• Observe how you plan your days – Use a daily To-Do List
• Define your priorities – What’s important to you?
• Have a positive mindset daily
• Define your focus
Change Your Mindset
• Positive thoughts equal positive outcomes
• Admit that your thinking needs to be adjusted
• Seek positive support from family, friends, support groups
• Immerse yourself in personal growth – Read inspirational books or listen to positive speakers
• Forward thinking will move your focus away from where you don’t want to be to where could be
The secret to change is to focus all of your energy, not on fighting the old, but on building the new. – Socrates
pexels
My Journal Prompts – Time for Reflection
MIND
• What is your favorite memory or life experience?
• Write about an obstacle you overcame today.
• When was the last time you listened to your intuition, and what was the outcome?
BODY
• Name one area of physical or emotional health you excel in, and one you would like to improve.
• What is your priority in life at the moment?
• What are you proud of yourself for today?
SPIRIT
• How do you respond to setbacks and failure? Why? How could you change this from within?
• When do you feel most confident?
• Write down 5 ways to relax and commit to doing at least 1 each day.
GOALS
• What is your ultimate goal in life?
• What is a habit you want to develop? How will it help your long-term goals?
• Identify your biggest time management mistake.
FOCUS
• What are your 3 biggest distractions, and how do you plan to reduce them in your life?
• What are 3 areas of your life where you are the weakest, and how do you plan to strengthen them?
• Today I showed focus today by _______________________________.
Remember, improving your life starts with improving your mindset. Here’s some suggestions to help you feed your focus throughout your journey:
• Write in your journal every day.
• Write thank you notes to people who help you throughout your journey.
• Read positive affirmations and quotes.
• Write a Wins Checklist based on your best experiences and accomplishments.
• Adopt a healthy lifestyle. Look at how you sleep, what you eat and how much/little you exercise.
pexels
I WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU
How do you plan to feed your focus? Will you consider journaling to help you feed your focus? I look forward to reading your feedback!
Renew Inspiration is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program and Target Affiliate Program which are advertising programs designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com and Target.com
Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever. (Psalm 107:1)
Thought for today – Be kind. Be thoughtful. Be genuine. But most of all, be thankful.
Welcome back to Renew Inspiration! Here’s to another week that our Heavenly Father has given us. Take a moment to think about how blessed you are on today. Did you thank God for waking you up this morning, for giving you the activities of your limbs, for shelter, food, clean water, the beautiful sunshine? Unfortunately, there are a number of people who did not wake up this morning. Don’t take your life for granted. Be thankful for everything that you have and for everything that God will bless you with in the near future. Remember, there is always someone who has less than you or is worse off than you are, so stop complaining and start appreciating all that you have in life.
My To-Do List for Today(tinybuddha.com)
• Count my blessings
• Practice Kindness
• Let go of what I can’t control
• Listen to my heart
• Be productive yet calm
• Just breathe
Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. (Philippians 4:6)
For those of us who have received another opportunity on this Earth to get our lives back on track, let’s get started today – No Excuses, No Procrastination. No matter what your personal goals are, it’s important to set yourself up for success throughout this journey. Well, I know you are probably wondering how to get started, right?
Helpful Tips to Get Started
• Make it up in your mind that you want to make positive changes in your life.
• Determine what the changes will be and what the changes will look like.
• Determine what you want your goals to be, then write them down.
• Make plans to reach your goals every day by creating a To-Do List.
• Start keeping a journal to track your progress and include both successes/failures.
• Re-evaluate your goals and make challenging adjustments throughout the process.
Remember, whether your goal is to lose weight or write your first book, this process always begins with a thought. In addition, it’s important to hold yourself accountable throughout this process so write about it often.
Take it day by day and be thankful for every breath.
pixabay
My Inspiration and Success Guide
• Create some personal goals for yourself and track your progress
• Find some ME TIME and do something that you enjoy
• Start a gratitude journal and write what you are grateful for each day
• Read an inspirational book and write your thoughts about the book in your journal
• Take a long walk and enjoy nature then write about your experience in your journal
• Try a new exercise and stretch afterwards
• Just do nothing or take a power nap
• Take a hot bubble bath, relax and clear your mind
• Find some time for self-reflection and meditate on your successes/failures
At the end of the day I am thankful that my blessings are bigger than my problems.
My Daily Pep Talk
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, I am worthy to be loved, I love my smile, I choose to shine on today, I will rise and not fall, I will work toward my dreams and/or goals, I believe in myself on today. Repeat 3 times.
Now, be creative and create your own person affirmations to describe yourself. Allow this to be your pep talk in the morning, repeat it throughout the day, and you can even post them at home or at work.
My Journal Prompts – Time for Reflection
MIND
• What takes your mind away from God, thus robbing your peace?
• What is your biggest dream and/or goal?
• What has prevented you from going after your dream and/or goal?
• What thoughts have I been repeating in my head lately? Are they true?
BODY
• List 5 ways you’ve become stronger and more courageous this week.
• Lord, please strengthen my heart when it comes to ________________.
• When I’m in pain, physical and emotional, I find strength in ________________.
• How can I make more space in my life for the things I love and enjoy?
SPIRIT
• Where do you see the unmistakable mark of the creator? Thank and praise God for it.
• How is God trying to get your attention to stop, treasure, and ponder how he’s working in your life right now in this very moment?
• When have you seen God use something small to produce a big outcome?
• What can I do to nurture my spirit more throughout the week?
I WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU
So, grab your journal and write down at least 10 things that you are thankful for. As the day goes by, review your list and add to it as you see fit. Make sure to set some goals for yourself and plan to reach those goals every day. What are some of your obstacles throughout this process? Do you struggle to get started with new projects or to stay motivated? Did you practice the Pep Talk this week? If so, how did it help you throughout your day? Did you try any of the journal prompts? If so, how did they help you begin your journaling process? I look forward to reading your feedback!
Renew Inspiration is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program and Target Affiliate Program which are advertising programs designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com and Target.com
Thy word is thy lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path. (Psalm 119:105)
Welcome back to Renew Inspiration! So, how often do you read and study God’s Word? Do you just read your favorite verse, pray, then move on with your day? In order to be engaged in God’s Word throughout our lives, we must schedule quality time to not only read God’s Word, but also to write down our personal thoughts about the verses read, determine how we can apply the verses to our own lives and cross reference the information in the Bible Concordance.
Here’s my suggestions for beginning this spiritual journey:
• Set a time to better engage in God’s Word and stick to your plan.
• Gather your materials, such as Bible, Notebook/Journal, Pens, Highlighters, Sticky Notes, Bible Concordance, Dictionary, etc.
• Designate a quiet space with no distractions, such as cellphones, televisions, people, noise, etc.
• You may want to play some soft music in the background to set a relaxing mood.
• Make sure your study area is free of clutter and well lit.
• Pray and meditate while studying God’s Word to open your mind and heart.
• Speak to God often to strengthen your relationship and ask Him to direct your study time.
Thought for today – Each day I need to let God’s Word interrupt me, rearrange me and redirect me.
Making time to read and study God’s Word is so important. God’s Word can help guide us in the right direction or make us rethink a situation before we pursue it further. In addition, our time spent in Scripture must alter us if it has truly been an encounter with God. God has created us to interact and respond to His Word in multiple ways. We should all endeavor to engage in God’s Word throughout our lives and hold ourselves accountable throughout our journey.
Here’s some ways to better engage in God’s Word:
• Study – When we study God’s Word we are investing focused time in a passage word, character or theme. Study requires you to analyze the Scripture which takes concentration and focus. The primary goal of study is understanding.
• Devotional – The goal for devotional reading is application. Simply put, what the Scripture means to me. However, we must make sure this is not the only way we interact with Scripture or we risk losing the truth.
• Meditation – Meditation is the ability to hear God’s voice and obey His Word. During meditation it is important to fill your mind with Christ. The goal of meditation is reflection.
• Memorization – It is important to understand what Scripture teaches us so have God’s Word hidden in your heart and mind. Memorizing God’s Word helps us achieve the goal of discipline.
• Action – Clearly, we must be focused on doing what Scripture teaches. We must be changed and compelled into action, whether in our thoughts or our actions. Spending time in God’s Word must lead us to obedience.
So, as you can see, there are various ways to better engage in God’s Word. Keep in mind, you may not be able to engage in all of these ways each day but schedule your time to include all the areas of study, so you can have a better understanding of God’s Word. Remember, spending time studying God’s Word is our intentional determination to grow in our understanding and to strengthen our bond with Him. Even if you have not engaged in God’s Word in the past, take a leap of faith and start today.
And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:7)
• What takes your mind away from the Lord, thus robbing your peace?
• What is your biggest dream?
• What has prevented you from going after your dream?
• What thoughts have I been repeating in my head lately? Are they true?
BODY
Who is own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripe ye were healed. (I Peter 2:24)
• List 5 ways you’ve become stronger and more courageous this month.
• Lord, please strengthen my heart when it comes to ________________.
• When I’m in pain, physical and emotional, I find strength in ________________.
• How can I make more space in my life for the things I love?
SPIRIT
Behold, I will pour out my spirit unto you, I will make known my words unto you. (Proverbs 1:23)
• Where do you see the unmistakable mark of the creator? Thank and praise God for it.
• How is God trying to get your attention to stop, treasure, and ponder how he’s working in your life right now in this very moment?
• When have you seen God use something small to produce a big outcome?
• What can I do to nurture my spirit more? I WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU
How often do you read God’s Word? When is your favorite time to ready and study God’s Word? Do you have a favorite scripture that is hidden in your heart? Do you keep a written Bible Journal or Notebook to reflect your study time? If so, please share in the comments section. I look forward to reading your feedback!
Renew Inspiration is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program and Target Affiliate Program which are advertising programs designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com and Target.com
The inspiration you seek is already within you. Be silent and listen. – Rumi
Welcome back to Renew Inspiration! I hope you enjoyed your 4th of July holiday to my United States readers. I don’t know about where you live, but it was humid and in the 90’s. No grilling here! I cooked some steaks and hamburgers in the Air Fryer which makes for less cooking time and less mess to clean up in the kitchen. Well, enough about cooking and food. I want to discuss a very important topic today related to our mental state, relaxation and total well-being. The topic is called meditation.
pexels
Did you know…
• Meditation reduces stress?
• Meditation helps with clearing your thinking?
• Meditation increases our capacity for empathy and compassion?
Meditation is not a way of making your mind quiet. It’s a way of entering into the quiet that’s already there. – Deepak Chopra
pexels
Thought for today – 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.
The goal of meditation isn’t to control your thoughts, it’s to stop letting them control you. – Unknown
Alright, let’s be honest here. Do you practice meditation daily? weekly? monthly? or never?
Meditation, when practiced regularly, can bring about a true personal transformation from the inside out. As you allow yourself to experience your inner peace and security, you will naturally begin to discover aspects of yourself that were previously hidden due to stress. Keep in mind, when practicing meditation, your body undergoes a structural change, which demonstrates the profound impact of simply sitting down, perfectly still, with your eyes closed, breathing deeply nice and slow. Meditation relaxes the entire brain and places your entire body in a calm way of living. Simply put, meditation is spending quality time with your soul and not allowing anything or anybody to distract you.
The body benefits from movement, and the mind benefits from stillness. – Sakyong Mipham
Physical Benefits of Meditation:
• Lowers high blood pressure
• Lowers the levels of blood lactate, reducing anxiety attacks
• Decreases tension-related pain
• Increases serotonin production that improves mood and behavior
• Improves the immune system
• Increases the energy level, as you gain an inner source of energy
If you correct your mind, the rest of your life will fall into place. – Lao Tzu
Mental Benefits of Meditation:
• Anxiety decreases
• Emotional stability improves
• Creativity increases
• Happiness increases
• Gain clarity and peace of mind
• Problems become smaller
• Sharpens the mind by increasing focus
As you can see, meditation is your time to relax, unwind, and practice your deep breathing techniques. Even though you are free to meditate anywhere, it would be nice to create your very own personal space in or around your home dedicated to meditation.
Tips to Create Your Personal Meditation Space
Tip 1: Choose a location with nature in mind. For example, lush green trees, soothing blue water, beautiful flowery garden, next to a window, on a patio, porch, empty room decorated with nature colors and pictures, etc.
Tip 2: Keep the space clean. If the environment around you is clean, your mind can also be relaxed during meditation. Less clutter is better.
Tip 3: Invite lots of fresh air. An airy and well-ventilated room is surely going to make you enjoy your meditation better.
Tip 4: Light shades work better. Pastel shades give a more soothing feel compared to dark or bright colors. You may choose a room which has either white or light shade walls that helps you relax.
Tip 5: Light it up as you like. Allow sunlight to come through your windows or if it is evening you may want a specific type of lamp to help set the relaxing mood.
Tip 6: Smell the relaxation. You may choose from a variety of fragrances as per your choice. Whether it is aromatic incense sticks or essence oils, the choice is yours.
Tip 7: Think comfort. You may choose a soft yoga mat, a low-height mattress, soft cushion or a comfortable chair.
Tip 8: Play it soft. You may choose some soft instrumental music which helps enhance your experience.
Journal Prompts
Let’s make it common practice to write in your journal after you practice meditation.
• I like to practice meditation because ___________________________.
• When I practice mediation, I feel ___________________________.
• What are your daily habits?
• What is a habit you want to break?
• What is keeping you from changing?
• List 5 emotional trigger words. How do they make you feel?
• Has your mind spent more time today focused on the past, present or future?
Remember, once you get into the habit and experience the mental clarity, emotional stability, physical relaxation that the meditation practice offers, not practicing meditation seems unimaginable. So, what are you waiting for? Let’s set aside some quality time today to renew inspiration – mind, body and spirt by practicing meditation!
I WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU
If you practice meditation, please share your favorite place to meditate. What is your favorite time of the day to meditate? Do you like music playing in the background when you are meditating? Were you aware of the health benefits when practicing meditation? Have you experienced any positive health benefits while doing meditation? If so, please share in the comments section. I look forward to reading your feedback!
Renew Inspiration is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com
Welcome back to Renew Inspiration! Did you know that there are journals for just about everything that goes on in your life? Well, I want to spend some time discussing just a few journal types that helps me cope with the lost of my mother (the grieving process), the emptiness that I feel inside (depression), the various stresses of life that I experience often (looking for part-time work and parenting children with hearing loss) and allowing my creative juices to flow while writing (Renew Inspiration blog and HubGarden articles).
Journaling is my safe place, my time to just write how I feel and scream on paper and no one will ever know. Let’s take a moment to define journal. A journal is a personal reflection of who you are, it’s a repository for all the things that interest and inspire you. A journal provides a safe environment to experiment with your writing style and technique. Simply put, when you write in a journal it becomes your personal journey of creative and heart felt thoughts.
Benefits of Journaling:
• Reduce stress – Expressive writing has been shown to lower stress levels.
• Improve your memory – Regular journal writing can improve your short-term memory.
• Stay organized – Keeping a journal such as a weight loss diary lets you maintain an organized record of your progress and journey.
Journaling Tips:
• Keep a regular writing schedule so journaling becomes a habit.
• Don’t over think your written entries, just write honestly.
• Be creative. Add photos and positive quotes to enhance your written entries.
Types of Journals:
Bible Journal – Bible Journals can provide you with a therapeutic way to better cope with everyday situations, understand your feelings and establish a connection between your life and the biblical content. Include notes, scriptures, life lessons and examples, pictures, quotes, questions, etc.
Bible Journal Prompts:
• What is your favorite scripture and why?
• What values do you want to live by? Find a scripture to support your values.
• In what area of my life do I need to improve self-discipline?
Gratitude Journal – Gratitude Journals allow you to recognize, appreciate and record pleasant occurrences in your life. Also, you can include blessings, special moments of authentic happiness and contentment. Include what you are grateful for, personal thoughts, quotes, stickers, etc.
Gratitude Journal Prompts:
• What are you grateful for?
• What would my ideal day look like?
• What is one thing that I can do to change my attitude?
Prayer Journal – Prayer Journals allow you to deepen your relationship with God by writing down your prayers every day. Learn by reflecting on prayers that have been answered, and others that haven’t. Include prayers, scriptures, personal thoughts, self-reflection notes, quotes, etc.
Prayer Journal Prompts:
• What is one thing I could do this month to improve my prayer life and spiritual walk? Hint – Start a Prayer Journal.
• What is one thing I can do today that would promote a gentle and quiet spirit within me? Hint – Read a scripture, pray or meditate.
• Do you think God will answer your prayers? Why or why not?
Reading Journal – Reading Journals can be a place to store your personal reactions to what you’re reading. Writing down your responses will allow you to discover how you feel about the book itself, the characters, scenery or plot. Include the book(s) you are reading, personal thoughts, emotional responses, connect the book to your own life, questions you may have about the book(s), connect with the characters, etc.
Reading Journal Prompts:
• What is your favorite book and why?
• What is one book you’d like to read before the end of 2018?
• If I was given the opportunity to write a book, I would write about….
Scrapbook Journal – Scrapbook Journals is a cross between scrapbooking, journaling, collaging and sketching pictures to tell a story or to highlight a special memory. Include pictures, personal thoughts, quotes, stickers, etc.
Scrapbook Journal Prompts:
• Do you consider yourself being a creative person?
• How do you like to retell a story or special memory?
• What is one thing that I can do this week to improve my creativity? Travel Journal – Travel Journals are a place where you can write about trips you have taken, what you learned during and after the trip. Include adventures, stories, memories, pictures, personal thoughts, culture, customs, the people you met/saw, favorite places you visited, quotes, etc.
Travel Journal Prompts:
• What makes this trip special to you?
• What are you planning to do on this trip?
• Take time to reflect on the location, people, the customs and the food.
5 Tips for Capturing your Best Journal Ideas:
1. Take your journal everywhere you go to capture those special thoughts or moments as they happen. If your journal is too big, you can always buy a small notebook to use while you are on the go. Then, transfer or glue your notes in your journal at a later time.
2. Select a journal that feels right to you. You can purchase a beautifully crafted handmade journal, a hardcover book with unlined pages, a softcover notebook with lined pages, a 3-ring binder with loose paper, or just a spiral notebook. It really doesn’t matter your style, just make sure that your journal feels right to you and you can comfortably use it to capture your thoughts.
3. Handwrite your journal entries so you are unable to edit your thoughts. Handwriting keeps things more spontaneous and gives you clues about your emotional state. If you’re anything like me, you can tell what you’re feeling just by analyzing the state of your writing.
4. Create an informal table of contents in the beginning of each journal. Number each page and try to list the topics covered as you go along. This makes finding stuff a lot easier down the road or when you just want to reflect on some of your past writings. Don’t worry about doing this each time you journal, but make sure to complete this step before starting your next journal.
5. Don’t worry about format, grammar, or spelling. Remember, this is your personal space and a written account for how you feel right now in this very moment. Don’t worry about following your traditional writing rules, just write.
So, whether you are currently writing in a journal on a regular basis or you would like to start, these journaling highlights should help you on your journal writing journey. Go ahead and grab your journal and write your ideas so you’re able to retrieve your thoughts whenever needed. Your journal holds your pertinent life information, so you can remember and reference at any time in your future. Believe in yourself today, tomorrow, and forever!
I WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU
If you do keep a journal, please share some of your writing experiences or the types of journals you like to keep; organizing tips and techniques; pros and cons of journaling; journaling tips that help you continue your journey. We learn from one another, so your comments are necessary for all of us to learn and grow. I look forward to reading your feedback! Renew Inspiration is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates and Target Affiliate Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com and Target.com
And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; And patience, experience, and experience, hope. (Romans 5:3-4)
Thought for Today
Trust the wait. Embrace the uncertainty. Enjoy the beauty of becoming. When nothing is certain, anything is possible.
Welcome to Renew Inspiration! I am so glad you decided to read my blog on today. I want to spend some time talking about patience. Unfortunately, patience in life is not spread evenly amongst people. Some of us have it, and some of us don’t. According to the Webster Dictionary, patience is the capacity to accept or tolerate delay, trouble, or suffering without getting angry or upset; to wait or to do something despite difficulties or to suffer without complaining.
Everything comes to you. In the right moment. Be patient. Be grateful. – Unknown
Well, what does patience mean to you? As we go through life, we often take a lot of things for granted. For example, do you have patience with yourself when you are dieting or exercising? Do you have patience with your family as it relates to doing household chores, doing school work, going to various appointments during the week, participating in school events or running errands on the weekend? How about your co-workers helping you meet important deadlines for projects at work? Now, let’s take a moment to think about your personal behavior. Do you find yourself screaming a lot, losing your temper, or always stressed out about something? The real question should be, do you have patience hidden within?
Let’s Get Personal
For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise. (Hebrews 10:36)
Honestly, I consider myself to have lots of patience, but lately I find myself wondering how much patience I really do have. Well, my husband and I adopted 2 boys with the hopes of giving them lots of love, positive support, and helping them become more independent in life. Yes, we want the same dreams for our boys as you have for your children. We want them to be successful in school, play sports, learn karate, play video games, and enjoy their favorite hobby. Both of our adopted sons have a hearing impairment, but we do not allow it to define our children. Both boys attend speech therapy and behavioral therapy regularly.
When we adopted our children, I knew it would be a struggle because of the adoption itself, the unknown factors involved with their history of abuse, the boys being developmentally delayed, and the hearing impairment. After years of therapy and the cochlear implant in 2016, we came to realize that these factors help define our children. I truly understand that. However, I was not prepared for all the negative energy that the oldest child is bringing into our household. Unfortunately, he is defiant (disrespects, lies, don’t follow directions, sneaky, failing grades). I don’t think you can ever prepare yourself wholeheartedly. After all, you have opened your home and your hearts to strangers. You have sacrificed so much to provide things for these children that they probably would have never had in their young lives. You are willing to love them despite their past trauma and living situations. In most cases, you don’t even know what the children really went through in their young lives. It takes a lot of patience to parent children I am sure you already know, but it takes even more patience when you have negative factors playing a huge role in the dynamics of your family unit.
I wanted to provide you with a real life example because I am living with this lack of patience every single day. To take it a step further, I noticed that I began struggling with patience especially after my mother passed away in 2015. She was my ROCK, my strongest supporter, my EVERYTHING. She encouraged me and always complimented how well I worked with our boys through their personal struggles. So, as I write this blog today, I ask myself the very same question that I asked you earlier, do I have patience hidden within?
Patience is not the ability to wait but the ability to keep a good attitude while waiting. – Unknown
When I decided to blog, I wanted my blogs to be different. I want to impact your lives in a unique way. I want you to think about your life and how you can make positive changes as you read my blog. I want to impact your life in a positive way. Remember, to grow from within, sometimes you press yourself to move out of your comfort zone and be willing to feel awkward. Yes, you may feel uncomfortable when evaluating your current living situation or when trying to change something for the better, but that’s when you know the best is yet to come. Don’t be afraid to be different. Don’t be afraid to be alone. You are not alone while going through this process. Well, it’s time for you to get your journal or notebook out so you can start the necessary work.
Symptoms When You’re Impatient
How do you know when you’re being impatient? You will probably experience one or more of the following symptoms:
• Shallow breathing (short breaths)
• Muscle tension
• Hand clenching/Tightening
• Restless feet
• Irritability/Anger
• Rushing /Quick decisions
Patience is the calm acceptance that things can happen in a different order than the one you have in mind. – David G. Allen
Ways to Manage the Symptoms
Here’s some strategies to help you manage symptoms for patience:
• Take deep slow breaths, and count to 10.
• Focus on relaxing your body.
• Learn to manage your emotions.
• Force yourself to slow down.
• Practice active listening and empathetic listening.
Patience is a form of wisdom. It demonstrates that we understand and accept the fact that sometimes things must unfold in their own time. – Jon Kabat-Zinn
Journal Prompts – Ways to Work on Patience in your Life
• What does patience mean to you?
• What gives you patience and why?
• Do you believe in something most people don’t? If so, what keeps you believing?
• What future challenge are you most looking forward to and why?
• What is the best way to show patience to family? friends? strangers?
Prayer for When You Are Waiting and Feel Impatient
Heavenly Father, I know I am impatient, so prone to worry, to give up, to lose hope. Please help me to rest in your promises on today. In this season of waiting, renew my joy in this moment so that I do not miss your presence in this place. Thank you for never giving up on me. Thank you for love, your guidance, and your glory even when I cannot see. In Jesus Mighty Name, AMEN.
I WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU
So, what’s your story as it relates to patience? Think about your life right now where you are. Describe a situation or a person in which you wish you showed more patience? Don’t be afraid to comment or ask a question. WE all learn from other people’s struggles and life experiences. Help can be found if you take the first step today. I will be waiting patiently for your comments and/or any questions you have. Believe in yourself today, tomorrow, and forever!
Renew Inspiration is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com
Having courage does not mean that we are unafraid. Having courage mean we face our fears. We are able to say, “I have fallen, but I will get up.” – Maya Angelou
Thought for today – Always remember that you deserve to be happy. You deserve to live a life you are excited about. Don’t let other people make you forget that.
Welcome to Renew Inspiration and Happy Father’s Day! Knowing when to walk away is wisdom. Being able to is courage. Walking away, with your head high is dignity. Now, think about that for a moment. What does courage mean to you right now in this very moment? Your honest response would be a great journal entry if you want to reflect on it later. According to the Webster Dictionary, courage is defined as the ability to do something that frightens one and the strength to withstand in the face of danger, fear, difficulty, pain or grief. So, how does one take courage to the next level? There is no right or wrong answer here. Everyone handles situations in their lives differently. However, many situations occur in life that call upon us to do something we find scary, upsetting, uncomfortable, anxiety provoking, or distressing. For example, when I decided to start blogging, I had no idea where to start. Then, I took time to research online and read through various books about blogging. After a while, I had the courage to invest money into my new venture and here I am five months later writing my thirty fourth blog! We have to learn how to move out of our comfort zone throughout this journey called life, so we can develop, grow, and expand both our mental and physical capacity. Are you up for the challenge? I sure hope you are.
Here’s some ways to help boost your courage:
• Don’t overthink it. Once you’ve decided to do anything in life that requires courage, don’t wait, proceed to act.
• Commit yourself ahead of time. Schedule an appointment or tell others when and where you plan to attend the activity. Committing yourself ahead of time or stating intentions to your support system will make you be accountable and you will follow through with the activity.
• Do the activity with a friend. Recruit a friend or family member to participate in the activity. Interacting with another person is a true way of managing fear and anxiety.
• Think of how good you’ll feel afterwards. Give some serious thought to how great you’ll feel about yourself after you take this leap of faith. You will feel more confident and increase your determination.
• Think of the doors that would open for you. If you struggle with courage and anxiety issues, you may need to seek help from a mental health professional or support group. Take some time to consider all the ways your life could be different if you were able to tackle your issue(s) successfully and use the motivation this process gives you to take the necessary step. Journal Prompts – Time for Reflection
• What are five things that make you nervous or uncomfortable?
• What is it about each of these five things that bothers you most?
• Where does this discomfort come from?
• What is your personal definition of courage?
• Have there been times in your life when you’ve needed to be courageous? Take a moment to write about the situation and what you did to overcome your fears.
• Is there someone in your life whom you would characterize as courageous? If so, write about what you admire about this person and their courage.
• Complete the following sentences – Every day, I am afraid of_____________________. I show courage by _____________________.
• Describe an area of your life in which you wish you were more courageous? What is it, and how would you benefit?
Inspirational Quotes
Success is not final. Failure is not fatal. It is the courage to continue that counts. – Winston Churchill
Courage does not always roar, sometimes courage is the quiet voice at the end of the day saying, “I will try again tomorrow.” – Mary Anne Racmacher
You gain strength, courage, and confidence by every experience in which you stop to look fear in the face. – Eleanor Roosevelt
My strength did not come from lifting weights. My strength came from lifting myself up when I was knocked down. – Bob Moore
With courage you will dare to take risks, have the strength to be compassionate, and the wisdom to be humble. Courage is the foundation of integrity. – Mark Twain
Courage is what it takes to stand up and speak. Courage is also what it takes to sit down and listen. – Winston Churchill
So, the next time you hesitate to activate your courage, take a moment and review the components of this blog. Remember, having courage is about a brief moment in time in which we take action to do what we know is healthy for us. Believe in yourself today, tomorrow, and forever!
Renew Inspiration is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com
