Hectic Holidays, Making Space for Peace and Preparing for the New Year...

It is our responsibility to guard our minds.

Offended? Does that irk you?

We all fall short, we sin, but that is where God comes in.

Last week we touched on setting EMPOWERING goals (check that out here)!

This week we will take it one step further and provide alternatives or supplements to last week's options and what the bible has to say about it all.

"Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.” Philippians 4:8.

The lesson of Philippians 4:8 is to study and dwell on the things Paul mentioned in order to guard our hearts by focusing on things that are pleasing to God. Christians must do their part in shifting what they are thinking about, and God will do His part by giving the power and strength to experience a transformation. Do not underestimate the power of prayer!

I'm with you, it sounds nice, but who has time? Do you know if your goals and your actions line up with what the bible is saying is true/honorable/right/ and pure? I thought so at times but maybe I was wrong!?

Making time for peace... In this world, it's easy to get caught up in making massive goals or trying to take bigger steps to reach success. In this fast paced world we end up not appreciating the value of a minute or the value of a baby step and the impact it can have on the mountain we are trying to overcome. We prioritize based on what the world has shaped us into believing and stretching ourselves to thin (perfectionism, comparison, fear of disappointment in ourselves or us to others). We end up giving the world what is left of us ... not all of us.

Think of the minute you spend wiping your rear and washing your hands after you go to the bathroom. What if you just didn't? Would it matter? Would you get pink eye, sick, get others sick? So we make that a priority, we take the time for that, but why don't we take time to guard our minds? our hearts? our spirits? Aren't they just as important? Can't we create healthy habits for those too? That may have been an obnoxious example, but it probably got your attention more than any others.

The reality is, whether we are running physically or running towards a goal in life, if we take baby steps we are less likely to stumble, fall, hurt ourselves to the point of not getting back up again. But when we take larger steps, we cause strain in all areas and the fall may be harder. IT IS OK TO FALL!, but we must get back up! We can't live there. And this is where we need not to underestimate guarding our minds, making realistic changes and taking baby steps that allow us to pivot, tweak direction, or get back up again!

I'm not saying you can't have big goals, what I am saying is you will be more successful in achieving those large goals, if you set smaller goals along the way with ACTION items (including God in them).

I've been asked how I have won certain races. My short answer, God. My long answer, asking God for help on a daily basis to execute the workouts that day (although part of me has felt guilty-there are those that are sick, hurt, in need of more help, should I be praying this?), to strengthen my mind to believe that it could be accomplished and to KNOW that it could not be done without him. Structure with training, PRAYER, journaling, and including God in all things is how it was done.

It's important to note there are things that are out of our control. Most things are just that and it is the reason God wants us to lean into him, his scripture, each other and prayer and ask for his help. Psalm 18 reminds us that only God can be our rock.

"The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge.He is my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold."

Having a support system certainly makes getting back up again, easier. So whether that be God/Scripture, your community, your sisters here at SheRUGGED... consider scheduling all the little things (your prayer time, your journaling, strength work, your drive time to pick up your kids, your meetings) so you have a clearer view of how, what, when, where, you spend your time and if you can pivot when needed (not to mention recognizing what you can change over what you need to give to God).

Guarding your mind means having a "God Bucket" and "You've Got this" bucket.

• "You've got this bucket--> Things in your power. I will take action steps (such as go to the gym daily) in order to better my health.

• "God bucket"--> I've been diagnosed with cancer and I can only control certain aspects of my health.

• WITH ALL THINGS, I will ask for God's help, I will put on the armour of God daily and will set myself up to reach success.

"Setbacks are setups for success"

This quote highlights taking that step back, in order to envision, plan, and execute. Maybe you did stumble, or fell, did God help point you in the right direction? Did he help you get back up? Or did you get back up to just keep falling over and over again?

Reflect on your 2022 year. Did you accomplish your goals? Do you feel at peace?

"If you don't change anything, nothing will change."

Everyone needs some help sometimes and we'd love for you to join us in our EMPOWERMENT PROGRAM if so!

The Empowerment program is a 1 year committment. It is limited to 12 ladies only! It begins January 1st 2023 and is ideal for anyone wanting to make a complete transformation and growth in their health, fitness, faith, confidence building, community and more!!!! Don't miss out, register today there are still spots available!

5 Action Steps to make space for peace

1. Read scripture stay connected

2. Journal and apply

3. Be still, be quiet -listen for him

4. Get active in your prayer life

5. Find Godly counsel and lean on them

Here are some of those alternative goal setting methods...

1.The 4-1-1 Method:

4-1-1 stands for 4 weeks, 1 month, and 1 year. We use the 4-1-1 as a productivity tool to reflect your top priorities. The 4-1-1 tool allows you to define your weekly, monthly, and annual goals. Because your daily activities manifest into your overall results, the goals you set are an effective and crucial accountability function for you.

I like to combine this method with the backwards method:

Backward Goals

Summary: To quickly find your goal, begin by choosing the overall success you would like to have. Then work backwards to identify what small goals, targets, and tasks need to be achieved to make that top goal happen. This is a backward goal with a realistic view of what it takes to be successful.

2. The WHOOP Technique:

It is based on a visualization technique known as Mental Contrasting with Implementation Intentions (MCII) in the scientific literature. WOOP stands for:

• W — Wish – wish something you want to accomplish for real, one that’s exciting, challenging, realistic.

• O — Outcome – imagine the best outcome of your goal, and feel how would the outcome make you feel.

• O — Obstacle – imagine the personal obstacles that prevent you from accomplishing your goal.

• P — Plan – make an if/then plan to name an action you could do if your obstacle occurs.

Think about it.. As mentioned in previous methods, you need to find a good intrinsic motivational “WHY.” .. So ask yourself..

1. It’s hard to take this goal seriously.

2. Quite frankly, I don’t care if I achieve this goal or not.

3. I am strongly committed to pursuing this goal.

4. It wouldn’t take much to make me abandon this goal.

5. I think this is a good goal to shoot for.

• Goal Setting is Motivation. The primary purpose of setting goals is to increase your motivation levels.

• Intrinsic, as stated before. Setting goals YOURSELF can help you obtain what YOU want and motivate you along the way.

• When you set goals, you have a clear mission to work for. As they say, you create everything twice: first in mind, and then in the real world. Goals are that first creation in your mind. Is God speaking to you in your dreams?

• Goal-setting and accountability help you stay on track with life. Personal growth and stepping outside of your comfort zone in order to obtain the life you want to live. <You can be moving in the right direction on the track but you can still get run over> make progress. Keep going.

• When you set goals, you see, plan, and think ahead. And even when they do not work out exactly as you planned them, they make you self-confident that you will succeed. Goals help you “pivot.” You take baby steps, learn to trust yourself, and then finish it with some minor alterations to keep things realistic.

• Goals show you the best point to focus upon for success. Efficiency! You set yourself up for success with focus and a clear vision.

• Again, Goals breed trust. If you take baby steps to the bigger goals you will learn to trust yourself and God. YOU WILL SUCCEED, because you just did on those baby steps.

3. The GOLDEN Circle Method:

Summary: Draw a target circle with three layers, at the center give your reason for Why you have goals, in the next layer describe How you can achieve them, and in the last layer describe What you have to do to achieve them.

• What? What type? spiritual, fitness, nutrition, financial?

• How?: By what means, what procedures, what help, what tools?

• Why? Why do you want to do this? What are the intrinsic and extrinsic motivations? Hint: you should have far more intrinsic motivators.

So now we have shared several methods to create and execute your goals! But if there isn't any motivation, there won’t be any success. So again, how will you motivate yourself?

1. Stepping outside of your comfort zone will be one way. It should scare you (not necessarily terrify you), and excite you all at the same time. It should be challenging, but realistic WITH HARD WORK. Too many times I have seen people give up on their dreams because they fail to create a positive mindset. GUARD YOUR MINDS!

2. Creating a positive mindset can and will take some work. Consider this short exercise before creating your goals. Joshua says:

Joshua 1:7-8 is a perfect example of how to change your mindset: 1) be strong and courageous, 2) be careful to obey the Bible, 3) do not turn from the Bible to the left or right, 4) do no let the Book of the Law depart from your mouth, and 5) meditate on the Word of God day and night.

*Fill in the growth mindset with a positive

Fixed Mindset: vs. Growth Mindset

I just don't have time for scripture I will pick one thing a day to sub out to make time

I'm no good at this I embrace challenges

I stick to what I know

Abilities determine things

I can't make things better

I give up when challenged

I don't want feedback

It's good enough

I always give up

I never reach goals

I don't like being in a group

Again, we'd love to have you join our supportive, structured, detailed, EMPOWERMENT program that can create an everlasting change for you!