Latisha

Stay Inspired – SMART Goals

LatishaJanuary 24, 20186 Replies

Some people are inspired to dance, to sing, to draw, to become a doctor, an engineer, a teacher, an entrepreneur, to do mission work, to lose weight, to be great parents, and even to be the President of the United States. In order to stay inspired you have to give and receive remarkable influence. You have to work hard and show your passion for whatever you set your heart out to do. You have to surround yourself with like-minded individuals so you will feel the positive synergy and be infused with fresh energy. I have decided to become a blogger which means I have a passion to write and to express my thoughts on paper. I love to encourage and help others to reach his or her full potential. There has to be a fire within you in order for you to strive to reach your goals. You have to think positive and plan for success. Well, how do you start? First, you should set some personal goals for yourself. However, not just any kind of goals, make sure you set SMART goals for yourself.

S – Specific – Well defined so that anyone can understand the goal
M – Measurable – Needs to have parameters in order to know if the goal was achieved
A – Attainable – Must be a realistic goal that challenges you
R – Relevant – Make sure the goal is consistent with your other goals and will aid you in achieving your long-term goal
T – Time Oriented – Create a time frame for when you want to accomplish your goal

Here are some examples:

Simple Goal – I want to improve my health.
Smart Goal – I will improve my health by eating 60 grams of protein and drinking 64oz of water every day.

Simple Goal – I want to lose weight.
Smart Goal – I want to lose 25 pounds by July 31, 2018 by increasing my cardio activity and decreasing my calorie intake.

Simple Goal – I want to change my lifestyle.
Smart Goal – I will improve my lifestyle by making conscious food decisions at every meal while focusing on protein and fresh veggies.

Simple Goal – I want to be at my ideal weight.
Smart Goal – I will achieve my ideal weight (190 pounds) by December 31, 2018.

Next, you need to write down your goals to clarify and strengthen your daily intentions. Break down your goals into small and manageable steps to overcome any anxiety you may have. Hold yourself accountable by maintaining focus and discipline throughout your weight loss process. Rewarding yourself will help reinforce the positive actions you’ve taken so you can continue doing it every day. Effective systems and habits make it easier for you to accomplish your goals on a regular basis. Simply put, your success is found in your daily routine.

Motivation for Weight Loss

LatishaJanuary 18, 20182 Replies

Despite your personal commitment and determination to succeed, it is hard to stay motivated when you commit to weight loss. There are so many barriers, such as family obligations, tight budget, crazy work schedule, no time to exercise, fail to preplan meals, etc. We can find excuse after excuse to not stay on track. Well, I have some suggestions to get you motivated today, tomorrow, and forever more.

First, change your way of thinking and know that motivation begins with you. Believe in yourself and become your own cheerleader throughout your journey.

Second, create a Weight Loss Journal and write down your personal weight loss goals, both short-term and long-term. Also, include your starting weight, exercises, motivational pictures, and inspirational quotes.

Third, find time for prayer and meditation throughout your journey. It is important for you to have a clear mind in order for you to focus on the total weight loss experience from head to toe. Now, I am not saying that this journey will be an easy one, but with your personal commitment, a changed mindset, and planning, you can set your self up for quite the experience.

Fourth, give yourself a pep talk and/or compliment yourself at least once a day. For example, look in the mirror and say “I believe in the person I’m becoming” or “I am beautiful, inside and out so I will eat write and exercise today”.

Fifth, surround yourself with supportive and like minded individuals. For example, join a local gym, take a class at your local recreation center, schedule workouts with family or friends, join groups on social media, and read uplifting blogs like this one everyday.

Finally, remember that your weight loss success is found in your daily routine, not in excuses.

Here’s a few quotes to help renew inspiration within you on today.

MIND: Rule your mind or it will rule you. ~Buddha

BODY: Embrace & love your body. It’s the most amazing thing you will ever own.

SPIRIT: Water your roots, so your soul can blossom.

Martin Luther King Jr. Day

LatishaJanuary 15, 20184 Replies

Martin Luther King Jr. Day is an American federal holiday marking the birthday of Martin Luther King Jr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day is observed on the third Monday of January each year, which is around King’s birthday, January 15. The campaign for a federal holiday in Martin Luther King Jr.’s honor began soon after his assassination in 1968. Despite opposition from various US states, President Ronald Reagan signed the holiday into law in 1983, and it was observed three years later. Unfortunately, some states resisted observing the holiday, so it was officially observed inall 50 states for the first time in 2000.

Martin Luther King Jr. was a strong spokesperson for nonviolent activism in the Civil Rights Movement, which successfully protested racial discrimination in federal and state law. Martin Luther King Jr. helped to change many unfair laws and showed us how important it is to love and respect each other despite the skin color. During his time on Earth, he fought many discrimination battles, led many dangerous protests and marches, where black people were beat, called racial slurs, bitten by dogs, sprayed with powerful water hoses and sometimes killed. Often times, black people were arrested for participating in these widespread events trying to fight for equality in America.

I often wonder what Martin Luther King Jr. would say today if he was still here on Earth. Black and white people are able to attend the same schools, eat at the same restaurants, live in the same neighborhoods, shop at the same stores, drink from the same water fountains, but yet we are still divided as Americans.

Where do we go from here? Well, we can start by reading and learning about our black history. It is important to know what happened to our ancestors in the past so we can grow and learn in order to move forward. We need to teach our children about history facts, responsibility, reality for what we know it to be, and how to stand for what is right. I don’t know about you, but I know for a fact that racism is alive and well in America and abroad. Not only what you read about in the local newspaper or watch on your local news, but I have experienced racism first hand. You cannot change a person’s heart and how they were taught to feel about you because of the color of your skin. I don’t try to change people’s thoughts about me, but I do live my life as an example of how an American should live every day, not just on Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

Step Out on Faith

LatishaJanuary 14, 20184 Replies

Have you ever just stopped to listen to your mind, body, and spirit? Now, come on I need you to be honest with me. Sometimes we have to take a moment to reflect on our lives and those individuals who surround us day to day. It is also important to think about what really makes us happy as we approach our personal goals in life. Do we wake up each day to strive to be better than yesterday or just to be mediocre? Do we strive to help others achieve his or her goals or are we selfish? Do we always put the needs of others (family and friends) before our own? If you answered YES to any of these questions it is not uncommon.

I have come to a point in my life where I want to do something that I have never done before. Believe it or not, you are reading it right now, this very moment. I have decided to step out on faith to pursue a blogging career. I have always enjoyed writing in my journal, but I recently began writing to comfort my soul when my mother passed away in December 2015. This was a dark time for me, but writing allowed me to capture my feelings on paper and allowed my tears to flow freely. Writing offered me a new way of looking at life. Yes, I am sad and I will truly miss my mother’s presence here on Earth, but I have a new inner strength that is scratching to get out in order to help others overcome his or her fears.

Now, don’t get me wrong. I am nervous about the new venture, but I am determined to succeed in all that I do in life. Yes, that means my new blogging career as well. I love to learn new things and I cannot wait to see what my new passion has in store for me. I hope you are ready for the fun and motivational adventure that we are off to explore. Come on, don’t be shy. I would love to have you stop by and visit often so we can encourage one another throughout this journey, we call life. Until next time, live…love…laugh…CELEBRATE life every day!