NOvember

I just cannot believe we are already in November!!  (SN: My baby turns 13 this month :D) This is the month of GREATfulness: great thanks, great food, great family fun so let's make this month GREAT by just saying no!

What do you need to say no to? What are some habits you have that is preventing you from being your best self? Is it procrastination, complaining, doubting, making excuses and/or putting limits on yourself? All of these characteristics can block our blessings! Let's say NO to these things so that we can finish 2014 strong!

No Procrastination

I believe I've shared with y'all before that one of the last prayers my mom prayed over me was about procrastinating!! Seriously. It was so easy for me to say 'I'll do it later' as if I have all the time in the world!! This bad habit has hindered so much but I'm thankful to say that her prayer is working! EVERY TIME, I think to myself I'll do it later I feel a nudge in my spirit that says no do it now. 

What are you putting off? The time is n:ow, not later. Do those hard things, do those scary things, do those necessary things n:ow. It becomes easier (or maybe you're just getting better) the more you do things instead of putting them off. Say NO to procrastination.

No Complaining

We can be anything we want to be in the world but the one thing we should never be is ungrateful! Complaining leads to ungratefulness. Have you ever been around a person who complained ALL of the time? It's the worst isn't it?! At some point you tune them out or better yet avoid them. I pray you're not that person! Start making it a habit of counting your blessings & stop counting your issues or what you don't have. When you look at all you have to be grateful for you won't have time to complain. This is Thanksgiving month so give thanks not complaints. This month let your spouse, kids, family, or friends know how grateful you are for them instead of fussing or complaining all of the time.

No Doubting

"Doubt kills more dreams than failure ever will." I pray against the spirit of doubt and fear right now. I'm so sick and tired of experiencing doubt in my life and if you're battling with it I'm sure you're sick and tired of it too! God said in His word:   For the Spirit that God has given us does not make us timid; instead, his Spirit fills us with power, love, and self-control. (2 Timothy 1:7 GNB). So let's trust God and act on the spirit He put in us. He also said GREATer is He that is in us than he (doubt, fear, insecurity) that is in the world. Do you believe? Do you have faith? Well let's act on that this month and ensure our actions match what we say we believe! Continue putting forth effort towards your goals & your dreams.

No Excuses

"Excuses are useless, results are priceless." You're either doing it or you're not... There is no such thing as trying! Stop with the 'I was going to' or 'I tried but' or any of those half hearted useless excuses! Yes it's hard, yes your past is horrible, yes you've failed before, yes no one is supporting you, yes you don't have all the resources but guess what??!! Our God is greater than all of that! I'm not saying don't acknowledge those issues. I'm saying don't let those issues keep you stagnant! No mater how bad it is it's just an excuse to not move forward. 

You said you want to lose weight- just do it.  You want to be an entrepreneur- just be it. You want to write a book- just write it. You want to be a better person- just be it. You might be asking 'how do I just do/be it'?! Stop making excuses and start taking action right where you are!

No Limits

You can probably remember the limits that were put on you from childhood! 'Don't do that, you might hurt yourself' or something like that!  I have to catch myself all the time because I do it often with my sons (& yes even my grown son). Limiting ourselves is an ingrained habit that we need to work on breaking every single day!! Each goal we achieve should be a signal to raise the bar not to sit back & relax. What is your biggest dream? Go make it bigger! We can do so much more than our imagination. Let's start pushing those limits. Think of something that seems impossible for you to work on this month.

Let's make NOvember g~r~e~a~t by using that powerful word no, starting n:ow! Say it with me 'Yes I Can'! 

Seasoned with Grace,

QueenZadia

Are You Ready to Lose Your Excuses?!

Okay, I don't literally make that face (I hope) but in my mind that's my expression.  Am I judging or criticizing the person making the excuses?  I don't think so.  I just remember when I was in her shoes making some of the same excuses.  But when I was ready to make a change nothing and I mean absolutely nothing *including my excuses* could stop me.  What I really want to do when I hear excuses is interrupt and say 'let me know when you're really ready to live a healthy lifestyle' but I don't.  I listen then give tips.

Today I'm going to share some Purposeful tips for the most used reason people give for not living a healthy lifestyle ~ TIME!


The lack of time is the most common reason I hear from people about not being able to exercise and/or eat healthy consistently.  Let me just start by saying when my office closed back in December I thought about all the stuff I could accomplish with ease while I take time off.  One of those things was the common task of laundry.  Let me tell ya'll...  I give laundry almost the exact time I used to give it when I was working!!  You know why?  I have not made it a priority.  This is what most people do with making healthier choices.  They do it when it's convenient or when they can 'get' to it or when it becomes absolutely necessary.  That's why the need to prioritize is my first tip!

• Prioritize: The truth is we make time for what we want to do.  If you really want to live a healthy lifestyle you will make time for it, you will make it a priority.  If you  have time for a t.v. show you have time to workout.  Review your schedule to figure out what time/days works best then plan accordingly.

• Plan: Living a healthy lifestyle won't just happen.  Plan your workouts as well as your meals.  If you know you only have a 30 minute or an hour gap for a workout, plan to utilize and maximize that time.  Once you start this, it becomes a habit.  

• Partner: Now if you do not have a workout partner don't use this as a reason to not workout!  Even if you can't workout with someone, get an accountability partner.  Share your goals with a family member or friend who will help hold you accountable (i.e. won't agree with your excuses, will push & motivate you and will be direct with you).  Remember iron sharpens iron!

• Perseverance: You will not lose weight overnight.  In fact, it might take a while to see results so perseverance is necessary.  Don't allow anything or anyone stop you.  Keep going no matter what.  One day you will catch a glimpse of your new self and smile at your progress!  It might be that you notice you're able to take flights of stairs without being winded or that your clothes are too big!  The only way you will see results is to persevere and keep going. 

My son and I saw results once we got passed our excuses!

So what's your excuse for not making healthier choices?  I challenge you to write it down then write your solutions to get passed your excuse.

Now is the time!

Seasoned with Grace,

QueenZadia