I read a powerful statement earlier today....Thoughts are just words strung together. This statement really made me think about the power of thoughts and how we have to be intentional about what we think. It also made me think about the old saying, Sticks and stones may hurt my bones, but words will never hurt me. That is the biggest crock of _____. The impact that words have on our lives is life changing. Thoughts can bring healing..forgiveness...change. So if thoughts are words strung together, then we are able to change our thoughts. We have to be intentional about the words that we string together when we are thinking about our lives and situations. We can not change our past but we can change what we think about our present which will create our future.
You may say how can I change my thoughts because I have so many:
1. Be intentional about thought stopping...when you find yourself worrying or criticizing yourself say STOP.
2. Intentionally change that thought to a present tense affirmation. Remember an affirmation can be positive or negative, so speak the present tense about a situation in the positive. ( ex. Thought: I am always broke. Change: My needs are satisfied)
It is about intentional thinking...not just letting your thoughts be any words strung together. Remember the following: Proverbs 23:7a says, For as a man thinkth in his heart, so is he......
Monday, April 30, 2012
Wednesday, April 25, 2012
This Number is not Who I Am.
I had a epiphany Monday morning....I have let a square box that displays a number gauge my thoughts about Who I Am. So many times, I have stood on this box and it reads those three digits and I am either happy or sad. If you have not figured it out, it is my scale. How many times have you stepped on the scale whether in the comfort of your bathroom, a doctor's office, a Weight Watchers meeting and it spoke to you messages of I am not small enough, I am not cute enough, I am a failure because the number went up or you did not lose the amount of pounds you wanted this week. Well the light came on for me and I decided that I will not give in to those three digits and let them drive my thoughts about me this week. Self love is far deeper than three numbers on a scale, it is about loving yourself unconditionally. The willingness to look in the mirror and say " I love and accept you exactly as you are.". I have noticed that I have made better choices and also my desire to exercise has improved. I am who I am regardless of what the number is...I am Lacrecia Vernise Dangerfield...the apple of God's eye.
Creating powerful thoughts about who you are will change your destiny.
Sunday, April 15, 2012
Celebration of Life
This weekend I had the opportunity to attend two different Celebration of Life events for two individuals that have impacted my life and the life of others. One was a Homegoing Celebration and the other was a birthday celebration. We celebrated the lives of these individuals through music, laughter and inspirational words. Dana C. Dixon left an impact on those that knew him through his humor and service to others. He lived his life on purpose and with purpose pouring into others.
The birthday day celebration was for a family member that impacts the lives of others through his humor and service also. He also has chosen to live his life on purpose and with purpose by pouring into others. As I reflect on the lives on these young men, I question whether I am living my life on purpose and with purpose with intentionality.
What can we all do to leave the world a better place because we are living or lived ? Make the choice today to live your life on purpose and with purpose.
The birthday day celebration was for a family member that impacts the lives of others through his humor and service also. He also has chosen to live his life on purpose and with purpose by pouring into others. As I reflect on the lives on these young men, I question whether I am living my life on purpose and with purpose with intentionality.
What can we all do to leave the world a better place because we are living or lived ? Make the choice today to live your life on purpose and with purpose.
Saturday, April 7, 2012
Stating your truth and walking in it......
"You have go to be willing to lose everything to gain yourself." - Iyanla Vanzant
Well, I was going to write about Invitation only and who we invite in our life should only bring appreciation - esteem and value and not depreciation- bringing the value down. Instead, I just finished watching Oprah's Life Class with Iyanla Vanzant (ok I am two weeks behind - it was on time) and this spoke so many truths that I overflowing and wanted to share with you some of the nuggets that were shared.
"Until you heal the wounds of your past, you are going to bleed." - Iyanla Vanzant. We are walking around bleeding because our past continues to come forth into our present.
Pain is (P) ay (A)ttention (I) Inward (N) ow. We must Feel our pain...Deal with our pain...and Heal our Pain. The willingness to feel our pain is the first step in being able to deal with our pain so that we can heal our pain. Asking yourself what is my pain? What is keeping me stuck? How many time do you see yourself as the strong person and not allowed to experience your pain?
Another nugget was How you treat yourself is how you treat God? So if you are not a priority then God is not a priority. This nugget slapped me in the face because I allow the opinions of others to negate God's thoughts towards me. He sees me as being wonderfully and marvelously made, He sees me as the apple of His eye, He sees me as being my unique authentic self but I have allowed the thoughts of the world, others, media to establish an identity that I don't even like. So I am the Lacrecia Vernise Dangerfield that God created and spoke into being. If it does not align up to the world's view so what???????
So how do you get unstuck? These are the steps that Iyanla shared:
Tell the truth....how do I contribute to the pain, who are you, what do I want?
Stop telling your old story.
State the facts and speak the truth - "Right Where I am God is"
Ask for what you want
Get a vision- the vision will pull you through. Not a picture but a vision.
As your sister, I stand with you as you tell your story and speak the truth.
Well, I was going to write about Invitation only and who we invite in our life should only bring appreciation - esteem and value and not depreciation- bringing the value down. Instead, I just finished watching Oprah's Life Class with Iyanla Vanzant (ok I am two weeks behind - it was on time) and this spoke so many truths that I overflowing and wanted to share with you some of the nuggets that were shared.
"Until you heal the wounds of your past, you are going to bleed." - Iyanla Vanzant. We are walking around bleeding because our past continues to come forth into our present.
Pain is (P) ay (A)ttention (I) Inward (N) ow. We must Feel our pain...Deal with our pain...and Heal our Pain. The willingness to feel our pain is the first step in being able to deal with our pain so that we can heal our pain. Asking yourself what is my pain? What is keeping me stuck? How many time do you see yourself as the strong person and not allowed to experience your pain?
Another nugget was How you treat yourself is how you treat God? So if you are not a priority then God is not a priority. This nugget slapped me in the face because I allow the opinions of others to negate God's thoughts towards me. He sees me as being wonderfully and marvelously made, He sees me as the apple of His eye, He sees me as being my unique authentic self but I have allowed the thoughts of the world, others, media to establish an identity that I don't even like. So I am the Lacrecia Vernise Dangerfield that God created and spoke into being. If it does not align up to the world's view so what???????
So how do you get unstuck? These are the steps that Iyanla shared:
Tell the truth....how do I contribute to the pain, who are you, what do I want?
Stop telling your old story.
State the facts and speak the truth - "Right Where I am God is"
Ask for what you want
Get a vision- the vision will pull you through. Not a picture but a vision.
As your sister, I stand with you as you tell your story and speak the truth.
Sunday, April 1, 2012
Self-Care means setting appropriate boundaries
Self-care is not being selfish, self-care means to set appropriate boundaries. The opportunity to decline the invitation to participate in any event that does not feed your passion or that is not edifying to your spirit is about self care. As a helping person, I have at times out of a feeling of obligation to say "yes" to participate in situations that I have begrudgingly participated. I was not taking care of myself because I created inner stress which can be deadly. Have you ever participated in a conversation where some one has spoken negatively about you or into your life? You negated your self-care because this created anxiety, shame, etc. in your spirit.
Boundary setting means being able to say "No" when you participate in a situation that is draining to you or that you are not passionate about but say yes out of a feeling of obligation. Another way to set boundaries is to set limits on situations...when a person is speaking to you if it does not add to who you are being able to walk away or addressing the situation by saying, I will not allow you to speak to me in this manner is setting boundaries and caring for yourself.
This week take care of who you are by setting approrpiate boundaries.
Boundary setting means being able to say "No" when you participate in a situation that is draining to you or that you are not passionate about but say yes out of a feeling of obligation. Another way to set boundaries is to set limits on situations...when a person is speaking to you if it does not add to who you are being able to walk away or addressing the situation by saying, I will not allow you to speak to me in this manner is setting boundaries and caring for yourself.
This week take care of who you are by setting approrpiate boundaries.
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