Finding And Keeping Motivation

“How do I get motivated?” This was a question recently asked by a friend in regards to losing weight and getting healthier. Obviously, there is already a little motivation there or at least a curiosity to learn more, since they are asking that question, right? Whether it be weight loss or any other thing you want to accomplish in life, you can jump start the motor to motivation! How, you wonder?

Here are 10 ways to do just that --

1. Ask yourself why do you want to do this, other than just because you should. Write down all of the reasons. It will get the brain subconsciously thinking about how this new adventure will be helpful to you.

2. Make it a part of a larger goal. Determine how it will fit into the big picture. For example, “When I lose the weight and get in shape I will be able to participate in that marathon with my sister.” Or, “I will be able to go on bike rides with my grandson.”

3. Find inspiration. If your ultimate goal is to be able to climb to the top of a mountain, put a picture of that mountain on the wall in front of your treadmill. Think about all the things you will be able to do once you accomplish this goal.

4. Don’t take on too much at once. Remember Rome wasn’t built in a day! Start with one thing and conquer it. Right now it is still cold outside and weather isn’t so great. Instead of focusing on fitness, I’m working on eating habits such as watching portion size and fat content. Once I feel comfortable with that, then I will move on to another task.

5. Get rid of negative or discouraging thoughts! Don’t “hope” that you will be able to do this. Tell yourself that it IS going to happen. Be confident in what you say.

6. Commit publicly. It holds you more accountable. Now that I’ve created Simply Living Lighter, I kind of have to follow my own advice! 

7. Accept that there will be good days and bad days. Either way, a new day starts tomorrow.

8. Build on successes. If you walked around the block twice today, go for three times tomorrow. Before you know it, you will be walking around the whole city!

9. Get support – especially when motivation is starting to downslide. Call on someone to pump you up and nip that discouraged attitude in the bud! On the other end of it, share your victories. There’s nothing to better to boost your self-esteem than someone telling you that you’ve done a great job!

10. Keep it interesting and make it fun. You aren’t limited to a gym membership or eating plates of lettuce for the rest of your life. You can get a lot of exercise by walking around your local zoo or the botanical gardens. You can make a nice romantic dinner for you and your partner from the “yummy but it doesn’t taste like it’s healthy for you” website that you found last week.

Walt Disney once said "If you can dream it, you can do it." I believe you can do anything you set your mind to. You just have to take the first step!

When Life Hands You Lemons, Go Make A Chocolate Milkshake!

“What! That’s not how the saying goes!” you say.  I know, I know. I’m fully aware of the old cliche that encourages “When life hands you lemons, make lemonade!”  I also acknowledge that it is simply advising that you should take a bad situation and try to make something positive out of it.   

This past week however, I really dug deep into my feelings about this statement.  I’ve been given enough lemons the past few months that I could not only make lemonade, I could also make lemon cheesecake and maybe even some lemon drop candy. So how is it, I really feel about lemons?

When I hear this old phrase, I feel like I’m being told I need to just make a better version of what I already have.  Frankly, I have come to the point in my life that I really don’t want more of the same, I want to experience something different, like chocolate milk shakes!

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard people say “If this bad thing hadn’t have happened to me, then I would have never done that.” I’ve been told of countless stories in which someone had decided to change careers, go back to school, moved to somewhere they’ve always wanted to live, or taken up a hobby that they’ve always wanted to do, simply because something came along and messed up their world. Had this not happened, they would have never chose to do something different.  In the end, they were happier than they could have ever imagined they would be.

Such as it is for me. I don’t want to get to the end of my life and feel like it was bland.  I want that satisfied feeling you get when you know that you’ve ridden every ride in the theme park.  When I say I want to “live” my life, I mean more than just existing or living like a robot 
carrying out my daily tasks.

This past year, my husband and I have started on a journey and I’m even more convinced now, that we are heading in the right direction.  We’ve made a lot of changes such as growing our own food and raising chickens.  Who knew that chickens could be so fun!  I have a new career and he is moving towards that direction also.  One that fits us as individuals, not working at it just because we have to.  If our unfortunate financial situation had never happened, we would not have made these changes.

My message is simple --  

1. Choose your path in life, don’t let it choose you.
2. You can do anything you want, but you can’t do everything.  Determine what it is that is going to provide a sense of fulfillment and go after it.  

In this world you will have hard times, everyone does.  Try not to look at them as a set back so much. Instead, use them as an opportunity to go into self-evaluation mode and determine what could make your life just a little bit happier. Let it be a growing experience.

So when life hands you lemons....don't settle for just lemonade (even though that is yummy), go make yourself a chocolate milkshake instead!

       

How to practice safe stress!

As we become young adults, one of the things we are taught or we learn, is how to have safe sex.  While that is very important in the whole scope of things, when are we ever taught how to have safe stress?

When deciding what to write about today, I thought I would let the nurse side of me come out a little.  In my goal to live a more simple and fulfilling life, one of the things I have to contend with or overcome, is how to manage stress.  With kids, a husband, work, and multitude of other things that goes on every day, sometimes it can become pretty overwhelming.  Therefore, more I understand how stress works and can use it to my advantage, the better off I will be.

There are three types of stress:  acute, sequential, and chronic.  Acute is short term and invokes the fight or flight response.  This would be stress caused from oversleeping on a work day or can’t find your keys.  Sequential is a major event that provides a series of challenges, such as a house fire or your only vehicle breaking down.  It may not last for a long period of time.  Then there is chronic.  It is ongoing and long term, such as financial or relationship issues or workplace difficulties.  

Stress can actually be both good and bad for you.  Studies have shown that a small amount of stress can actually strengthen your immune system.  It also causes us to release endorphins, which is our body’s natural pain relievers and feel good hormones.  Left unmanaged however, we have an increased risk for stroke, heart attack, infertility, anxiety, depression and even speed up our aging process.  No one wants that!

So just how can we practice safe stress? 

1.  Acknowledge that your stress exists.  The first step to success is admitting there is a problem.

2.  Avoid stress sneezers.  These are people that spread stress like germs when they walk into a room.  Their negativity and being frazzled are constantly present, and before you know it, you’ve caught the bug too!

3.  Problem solve!  Instead of complaining about your problem, spend your energies finding a solution to help make it better.                   

4.   Experience moments of joy every single day, without feeling guilty!  Take that bubble bath instead of a quick shower or sit outside for a few minutes to watch the hummingbirds.

5.   Find humor!  Laughter truly is the best medicine.  It has even been shown that a 30  second fake smile can change your mood.

6.   Practice SPEED:

     (Recommended by the Stress Doc)

S - Sleep at least 6 hours.  Any less causes cognitive or thinking impairments.

P - Prioritize - We are in a do more with less world.  Figure out what is important and what can wait.

E - Empathize - Often times, you will realize life isn’t so bad when you hear about other people's experiences.

E - Exercise - Not only does exercise have physical benefits but has psychological ones as well. It releases more of those endorphins that make you feel good and improves your mood!

D - Diet - Avoid a diet high in fat and sugar as it causes mental cloudiness.  Alcohol and caffeine causes moodiness, headaches, and more.  Strive to eat more healthy and nutritionally well-balanced meals.

    

So remember --

You can change your life!  

You can control your reactions!

You have the ability to relax your body!       

Exercise and eat right!

Breathe!

Taken from an anti-stress book for children called “Don’t Pop Your Cork On Mondays”

Don’t pop your cork on Monday

On Tuesday keep your cool

Always stay calm on Wendesday

Thursday don’t play the fool

Don’t be glum on Fridays

On Saturday live to the max

Sunday will be fun days, if you relax, relax, relax!

As for safe sex....Once you get your stress under control, then maybe we can talk about that another day!

Enjoy your day!

Sherri

To Be A Kid Again!

Today I was going through some old paperwork and came across this "letter" that I had printed out from the internet in 1999.  13 years later, I still feel the same way, so thought I would share.  It does not have an author listed to give credit to.

To Be A Kid Again!!

Dear to whom it concerns;

I hereby officially tender my resignation as an adult.  I have decided that I would like to accept the responsibilities of a 6 year old again.

I want to go to McDonald's and think that it's a four star restaurant.

I want to sail sticks across a fresh mud puddle and make ripples with rocks.

I want to think M&M's are better than money, because you can eat them.    

I want to play kickball during recess and paint with watercolors in art.

I want to lie under a big oak tree and run a lemonade stand with my friends on a hot summer day.

I want to return to a time when life was simple.       

When all you knew were colors, addition tables and simple nursery rhymes, but that didn't bother you, because you didn't know what you didn't know and you didn't care. 

When all you knew was to be happy because you didn't know all the things that should make you worried and upset.

I want to think that the world is fair.  That everyone in it is honest and good.

I want to believe that anything is possible. 

Somewhere in my youth...I matured and I learned too much.

I learned of nuclear weapons, war, prejudice, starvation and abused children.

I learned of lies, unhappy marriages, suffering, illness, pain and death.

I learned of a world where men left their families to go and fight for our country, and returned only to end of living on the streets begging for their next meal.

I learned of a world where children knew how to kill...and did!

What happened to the time when we thought that everyone would live forever, because we didn't grasp the concept of death?

When we thought the worst thing in the world was if someone took the jump rope from you or picked you last for kick ball? 

I want to be oblivious to the complexity of life and be overly excited by the little things once again.

I want to return to the days when reading was fun and music was clean.

When television was used to report the news or for family entertainment and not to promote sex, violence and deceit.

I remember being naive and thinking that everyone was happy because I was.

I would walk on the beach and only think of all the sand between my toes and the prettiest seashell I could find.

I would spend my afternoons climbing trees and riding my bike or finding hidden pictures in the clouds.

I didn't worry about time, bills, or where I was going to find the money to fix my car.   

I used to wonder what I was going to do or be when I grew up, not worry about what I'll do if this doesn't work out.

I want to live simple again.             

I don't want my days to consist of computer crashes, mountains of paperwork, depressing news, how to survive more days in the month than there is money in the bank, doctor bills, gossip, illness, and loss of loved ones.

I want to believe in the power of smiles, hugs, a kind word, truth, justice, peace, dreams, the imagination, mankind and making angels in the snow.

I want to be 6 again.                 

Sincerely;

The kid in me...........                           

Unexpected blessings -- see them, acknowledge them, and appreciate them!

When deciding what I felt inspired to write about this week, I could hardly pass up the opportunity to talk about unexpected blessings. You know, those little things that tend to make our life just a little bit easier or even a little happier.  This past week, I have had some very noticeable experiences that just truly made me smile.

At the beginning of the week, the county was working on the road beside our house.  They had placed a large pile of rocks near our drive-way and I commented to my husband that since we can't afford it, I sure wish we could have those rocks for the two low spots that hold water and make it difficult to drive through.  We agreed that would be nice, but unfortunately they were not ours, and were for repairing the road.  Later in the afternoon, I went out on the porch and could not believe what I saw.  I called to my husband to come and look.  Both low spots were filled with new gravel and spread out nicely. Apparently they had some left over and was kind enough to give it us.  If they only knew how much we truly appreciated that!  What a blessing!

A few days later, I was thinking about an event coming up that I would need a little money for.  With my husband getting laid off a few weeks ago, this would be no easy task to accomplish.  I had just been giving this serious thought and was brainstorming when I went to the mailbox to check the mail. Inside I found an envelope from our bank and it felt like it had a card in it. I opened the letter and read that because the bank had to make some critical updates on their website and it inconvenienced a lot of people, they were giving each of their customers $50.00 for their trouble.  Attached was a gift card that could be used anywhere.  Another blessing in disguise!

Yesterday was the greatest of all.  For the past year, I have been looking for a new job.  Not because I don't like the one I have, it just doesn't work well for what I need.  I've had interviews here and there for other positions, but none of them panned out.  It seemed I was always being disappointed. Finally, I came across a position that would meet every need I had for the most part, and would be doing something I loved.  I interviewed and was confident that all those other disappointments were simply because I was supposed to have this job.  Last week I found out that the answer was again "No" and that it had been offered to the other individual who had slightly more experience than I did.  Strangely I didn't fall apart like I had in the past.  I accepted that this was the way it is supposed to be and moved on.  Imagine my surprise yesterday when the telephone rang and I was told that the other person was unable to take the position and would I still consider coming to work for them.  I am truly excited beyond words!

It was then that I began reflecting on the experiences of the week.  I realized that often times these unexpected blessings come much more than we think.  We are just either too busy or are in a different frame of mind to realize and acknowledge them.  As I sat there,  I was able to think of other occurrences that had happened recently but I didn't notice them at the time.  If I had, I surely would have been more appreciative and even more happier over all.

I challenge you to pay attention to the small details in your life and look for those unexpected blessings.  Maybe even write them down.  Once you start discovering how many good things are really happening to you, it will be more difficult to dwell on the negative.  When bad things happen, and they will, try to stay focused on the good.  It is so easy to get bummed out when things are overwhelming.  But as I see the blessings, acknowledge them, and then appreciate what has happened, I am much better able to deal with the stress and keep myself in the right frame of mind.

I would love to hear about any unexpected blessings you may have had recently.  Please share!

Have a great weekend!

Keeping on the sunny side of life....

This morning I thought about an old song I used to love called "Keep On The Sunny Side."  It's words go like this:


There's a dark & a troubled side of life
There's a bright, there's a sunny side, too
Tho' we meet with the darkness and strife
The sunny side we also may view

[cho:] 
Keep on the sunny side, always on the sunny side,
Keep on the sunny side of life
It will help us ev'ry day, it will brighten all the way
If we'll keep on the sunny side of life

The storm and its fury broke today,
Crushing hopes that we cherish so dear;
Clouds and storms will, in time, pass away
The sun again will shine bright and clear.


Let us greet with the song of hope each day
Tho' the moment be cloudy or fair.
Let us trust in our Saviour always,
Who keepeth everyone in His care.


This has been an especially hard week for me.  My husband was laid off from his job a couple of weeks ago, and yesterday I learned that I did not get a really great position that I had interviewed for.  My first instinct was to go crawl up in my bed, pull the covers over my face, and cry the rest of the day away.  That would have been the easiest thing to do, as I worried about the future and wished life was just a little less difficult.  Instead, I chose an alternative.


I remember as I heard the news, I felt the sting of the first, warm tear form in the corner of my eye followed by that achy feeling you get in the back of your throat when you are doing everything possible to keep from crying.  Before it could go any further however,  I stopped myself and said "You are not doing this today!" While it may be a setback, I just have too many positive and good things in my life to let negativity take over.


I then thought about an older couple I know of, who for years have had the belief that any time something negative happens, you off set it with a positive.  They practiced this faithfully.  If they had a day where they ate a lot of fast food or junk, then the next day they would only eat healthy food.  If they had a lazy day, then the next would be productive.  If they had a stressful day today, then tomorrow they would make sure they did something fun. It seems to have served them well and are one of the happiest couples I know.  If it works for them, then why not me?


In the end, I didn't go crawl up in bed and I didn't cry.  Instead, I tried out some new cleaning tips that worked well, I spent time writing and working on my Facebook page "Simply Living" which has allowed me to meet some great new people!  I took some new pictures of my chickens and edited some other photography that I had been wanting to do.  I also read a couple of chapters on a great book I am reading.  In the evening, we all had a treat of cookies and milk.  And by bedtime, I was able to go to sleep with a smile on my face, knowing that I was at peace and would have a restful night, which I did.


Why I am I telling you this?  Because it is just so easy to dwell on the things that are wrong in our lives.   With situations like our economy and now drought conditions for those who grow food, how could you not fall into that trap?  The important thing is don't!  Instead, keep reminding yourself of what is good.  Do not focus on what is wrong, but dwell on what is right.  

I have no idea what my future holds financially or otherwise.  What I do know is that if I stay on the sunny side of life, I will make better decisions, I will be healthier, I will accomplish more tasks throughout the day, my friends/family will still enjoy my company, and I'm more likely to have better outcomes when presented with new opportunities or a chance to do something different. 


Try to keep that sun shining and keep on smiling!            
Sherri

If you are too busy to laugh, you are too busy!

"A laugh can be a very powerful thing.  Why, sometimes in life, it's the only weapon we have."

                 -- Roger Rabbit          

This week, my husband and I were discussing our journey to our more simple and fulfilling life.  One of the things that we agreed we are still lacking, is more laughter.  Sometimes it's hard to find humor in things.  Just this week, my husband was laid off from his job.  Granted I'm scared of what the future is going to hold, but I refuse to give into yet another disappointment.  Instead, I joked that I would probably have to update one of my previous blogs "Living On Less" to be called "Living On Even Less Than I Thought I Was Going To Have To."

Laughter is innate.  It is an ability we are all born with.  Babies smile and laugh within a short time after they are born.  It does more than just put us in a better mood.  Research has shown that it restores balance to our immune system and enables us to fight off diseases, as well as providing other health benefits.  It helps us connect with others and just simply makes life more enjoyable.

Probably one of the funniest people I can think of was Lucille Ball.  She would have been 100 years old last year.  For 9 years she made America laugh with her "I Love Lucy" show.  People still frequently watch it today.  It is easy to relate to her as she had flaws and often made mistakes just like we do.  Life wasn't always easy. Somehow though, she always managed to make things right and had the ability to laugh at herself and find humor in the end.  That is what we need to learn from her.

So how can we bring more laughter and happiness into our lives?

      

1.  Smile!  It's quick, easy, free, and contagious!

2.  Rent some funny movies this weekend.  Have you ever watched a hilariously funny movie 

and kept a stone cold face with your arms crossed?  I don't think so!

3.  Count your blessings.  It's harder to stay in a negative frame of mind when you truly think of all the good things you have in your life.  

4.  Try to socialize with generally happy people.  As they say, "you are what you eat!"  When people have a positive attitude, it tends to rub off on others.  Being around negative people can put you in a serious, down mood quick!

5.  Share funny stories.   Don't be afraid to bring humor at your own expense.  There have been many times I've broke tension in a room with a funny story about something stupid I've done.  My friends still laugh about why I'm called "Grace" from many years ago.  

6.  Just have fun and let your hair down.  Awhile back I was at the park with my daughter and actually went down the slides.  It was so much fun!  I even played hide and seek in the dark some time ago.  I took great pride in not being able to be found.  I laughed and it felt good!

         

Do you feel like you laugh enough in your life? I hope so. Because “If you laugh - you change; and when you change - the world changes.” -- Shilpa Shah

Have a great rest of the week and keep smiling!                     

Sherri

P.S.  Incidentally, they call me Grace because I have a tendency of randomly falling down for no expected reason.  I swear it's because of the shape of my toes.  It really is a sad, sad site!