With a fresh start, I'd like to ask each of you to reflect upon how you might live a balanced life this quarter. The way I've been able to do this over the past decade is to give myself a 8 "things" to do each day that I KNOW lead to balance, health, and peace (in a crazy, troubled world)!
If you have never seen/done the 8 Daily To Do's, I've posted them on the banner so you can see them ALL QUARTER LONG. Knowing them is one thing--doing them is another.
Wednesday I'll give you my "pep" talk!
Be encouraged,
Becky
I am sorry to miss this call, I will be out of town for the next 2 weeks. Getting things done is my biggest weakness. I did make it to al-non meeting today, thanks to you all keeping me accountable.
ReplyDeleteHi everyone,
ReplyDeleteI am really looking forward to making ANY change this quarter!! The last quarter was not so successful for me. Now that I feel a little more settled after our big move, I feel like I can be a little more focused. I was doing great with exercise and watching my calories during our 1st four months here when we were living in our apartment, but as soon as we made the big move into our house, I lost all focus and discipline and gained my 5 lbs back. We ate out a lot and because I was so busy, didn't plan many meals. My MAJOR goals are to exercise 3-5 times a week, menu plan and go back to CYL bible readings.
I just emailed my husband the answers to all the questions from the blog last week and asked him to hold me accountable. I have some close friends in New York that would do it for me, but I need someone physically around me to do so. I haven't met another woman here in Colorado Springs yet to do that for me. It will be interesting to see how this goes with my husband. He is SO full of grace that he might be too easy on me. I'll keep you posted!!
Look forward to this quarter!!!!
Maureen
test
ReplyDeleteMaureen---this is Mickey
ReplyDeletewanted to invite you to a great talk. If you are interested?
----------Also, to answer the Q_________
1. I get out of balance when I have to much going on.
I have decided to consentrate my focus on PRAYER
and FORGIVNESS this Q/2
2. I know you might think me goofy but I wrote the 8 daily to do's on my workout bag.
-------Welllll it helps me to remember----and keep focused in my life.
3. To be balanced means to me ...also, staying calm. So, that would mean not blowing it by getting out of control ( yelling, or just blowing it) so consentrate on LOVING BETTER.
4. I just live disorgonized and just like I Think it was BEth from last Q1 who said "you have to be determaned each DAY." to work at it.
5. I tend towards getting mad at myself and saying. "OH, I will never change. What's the use.
6. Balanceing would also mean to me
ReplyDeletenot forgetting ohters and doing a good job being a person who cares.
Also, I feel that I should appogize about the last phone call. I didn't here the number Becky gave me and then I steped over I think it was Beth. Hope you can understand. I feel nervous on the calls.
ReplyDeleteone more thing,
ReplyDeleteI thought that I should number my calander.
so this is what I did---Q_2
then for each day WEEK 1 DAY 1
I don't know if I will do this for the rest of my life but it helps me to see what I am doing and try to be thankful for each day.
Hi Mickey,
ReplyDeleteI don't know how to get folks email address, so I will answer you on here.
my email is maureengonzalez09@gmail.com
Let me know about the talk.
Maureen
I keep an annual sheet with my goals: Spiritual, Family, Career/Edducation, Emotional, Physical, Financial, Social. I started this in 1993 and have kept it up. It is great to see where I was and where I am, where I think should be, and where I still want to go. I have daily, weekly, monthly, annual, and ultimate goals. It started from a talk from Zig Zigler. Now, here is my inventory.
ReplyDelete1. I plan to lose at least 8 lbs
2. The biggest change I can make is "planning"-- my day, my life.
3. Amends, off the top of my head, no amends, but I am sure I will pray and remember one.
4. My dream is to be happily married one of these days - soon I hope!
5. The greatest gift I can give is love-- but I also enjoy giving gifts.
6. I thought it would take one day to clean out my closet, but I finished the closet and now need the drawers and shoes.
7. I started planning my sleep and started taking melitomin (sp) and had a good night's rest last night.
8. I spend at least 10 minutes a day with God, reading the daily bread and scripture, but I know my spiritual life need more.
9. Addictions - I didn't think I had any, but maybe it is food; I am a lifetime member of Weight Watchers, its my accountability.
10. I asked a friend to help with part of the accountability and she agreed -planning part.
I am having trouble with hormones now and have anxiety about almost everything, but I'm getting help.
God Bless and I just prayed for our group-- to balance better. Bev...
maureen
ReplyDeleteI emailed you hope you have time.
becky
ok I will get the inventory done today.
I had listened to the call yesterday afternoon as I wasn't able to be on it - and I was struck by Becky's statement around "fear of failure is actually fear of hard work". I think that for me, that is true. There are days I am up for it and then there days that I'm just like "I don't have it in me". And while it's easier to put it down to "fear of failure"... it is more truthful to identify it as "fear of hard work, or resistance to hard work".
ReplyDeleteSo two things to share...
1) I went back and listened again to the call this morning and had completely missed the part where Becky talked about using the CYL Journal. I went and found mine and it was exactly 2 years ago to the day that I had last written in it. I don't think that is a coincidence and I dated today's page and wrote down my 8 things.
2) In today's daily Bible reading, Deut. 32:46 & 47 say "he said to them, 'take to heart all the words I have solemnly declared to you this day, so that you may command your children to obey carefully all the words of this law. They are not just idle words for you - they are your life. By them you will live long in the land you are crossing the Jordan to possess.'" When I think about all the Israelites had come through - in their whiny, fearful, sinful way, all the while still being loved and brought along by God...now here they are at the river Jordan - maybe the scariest part of the journey before they cross into the Promised Land, it makes me think about how true that is for me as well. The scariest part, the hardest part is right before the promise...right before the break through. I don't know about you gals, but I feel like I've been through a desert lately...and I'm at the river Jordan and it is scary, and hard, and I feel like God just gave me a promise. "My words are not idle words for you - they are LIFE - cling to them and by them you will live long and enjoy that Promised Land once you've crossed this Jordan."
I think Becky is our little Moses...8 ways to a balanced life...fail to plan - plan to fail...cling to God's word...everyday renewing our minds, our hearts, our resolve to do the work before us.
Hi everyone,
ReplyDeleteYesterday I did not get up in time to go to the gym as I had "hoped and wanted to". So, the entire day I was really discouraged and felt defeated. But, then around 7:00 when I got home, I said to myself "why not go now"...grabbed a piece of fruit, skipped dinner and went off to the gym. I worked out on the machines for 45 minutes and burned 424 calories! I felt so great! Then I said to myself "I love coming here, why don't I do it more regularly?" Then on the way home I had this light bulb effect....."because you have to PLAN IT!!!, not just hope and want to go, but PLAN it out at the beginning of the week which days I can go. I know Becky has been saying this for years to me, but this time it really hit home.This go around with my 8 to do's is really the right timing in my life to apply what I know works!! I'll keep you posted on my planning.
WOO HOO!!!!
I'm VERY proud of you all! For the many who have been in my groups before, I'm excited for your progress. For those of you who are new to the group calls and blogs, PLEASE NOTE that (for some unknown reason) you must hit the POST COMMENT twice--even after it says it did not accept or post your comment, JUST HIT IT AGAIN. And for some unknown reason it will post! Have a great week. B
ReplyDeleteI know that one of the most important things I can do this quarter is to detail my days, and then follow the details! As mentioned by another blogger, I too was impacted by Becky's statement about the fear of failure actually being a fear of hard work, a fear of sacrifice, a fear of foregoing pleasure and comfort or a fear of the character it will take to do the right thing. In the book of Joshua, God commands Joshua many times not to be afraid. I htink he is saying the same to me.
ReplyDeleteI know I need to take charge of my time and also do away with out of control and binge eating. When I consistently do these things, my life is more balanced. Here's to a new quarter!
Hi, everyone,
ReplyDeleteI am new to this program and new to blogging. So I hope to get the hang of things here soon.
Becky's comments about being afraid of hard work really hit me. If you were to ask me to help you do about anything, I'd help. But I struggle so with tackling things that require just "me". Food control, exercise, and even house cleaning have always been difficult for me because it is something "I" have to do. Does this sound familiar to anyone or is it just a quirk of mine? Last summer my husband of 25 years was killed in an accident, and I'm finding myself having to do a lot of things solo. Bill paying, home upkeep, well, most everything. So, I am struggling.
But, God has been faithful and has never left me, although at times, I have not spent the time with Him that I should. I believe that God led me to this program and am prayful that I will achieve much more than weight loss which I need, 30-40 pounds.
I am looking forward to the next few months. Reading your insights as well as the encouragement from Becky, might just be the kick in the pants I need!!!
My focus this quarter really seems to center on Talking and Listening to God and defining my dreams.
ReplyDeleteBeing the owner of two severely struggling small businesses, I think my dreams have been swallowed up lately. Working on my business, is something I have to do but I was not gifted in working with accounting. I did find two online jobs, one which pays good but is not interesting and one that involves writing. I just tested for an extra job with the writing company today. I hope I pass!!!
Since the quarter began, I've been pondering incorporating my love of Bible Study with writing. I'm thinking out loud here, but pondering writing devotionals for magazines or something like that.
The CYL journal has helped me to focus all these things into one place. (I do have the bad habit however of jotting things on bits of paper and having to go find them and enter them in the journal.)
I'm really grateful for the first assignments this quarter. Love the specific guidelines and am working hard to apply them. Loved the inventory.
Thank you Becky, and welcome to all the new ladies!
Attending to the 8 daily to-dos, I have reported on the previous posting that I am doing great with both physical and spiritual areas. And, to extend this, want to share that we are now into 100 + days into the new year and I have not missed an appointment to spend time with God. And, I have not missed a day exercising. For me, this is an accomplishment and has been achieved with your encouragement.
ReplyDeleteI know I am late doing all of the assignments...I have been out of town -3 different trips in three weeks. I have not been passive however, and have been working on my must list daily. Becky, I will email you with my inventory. I just listened to the call today. I have had great breakthrough and I thank God for all that He has done for me. To Him be the glory!
ReplyDeleteThis has been an especially tough week for me, but I'm really committed to starting the day with prayer, journaling, and reading the CYL Bible. Each day's reading has given me words to hang on to as I deal with the stresses of school and an overloaded schedule.
ReplyDeleteI haven't been able to do all of the 8 Daily To Do items, but I have tried to prioritize my days as best I can. I managed to get a substitute for my WW groups for two weeks so I can finish grading research papers and close out the marking period. With two 3-credit college courses, I am overwhelmed with assignments to complete, too, and I've really been struggling with anxiety. I know God tells us to "be anxious for nothing" and to bring everything to him, and I'm trying my best to do that.
Thank you, Becky, for your ongoing encouragement for all of us. I look forward to doing better this quarter than last, and I wish everyone in this group many blessings.
Wanda
Wanda, I vividly remember the feeling of anxiety, overload and fatigue--besides my own drive to get all A's. I often thought I was "losing it." You are right to start each day in prayer--somehow it makes everything that is packed into the day go smoother than without that time alone with God. Be specific in your prayers AND yes, it is good to delegate what is not a MUST do on weeks that papers (for grades) are due.
ReplyDeleteFinally, don't forget to do your spiritual breathing when everything hits and you feel the zing in your cheeks, just say, "I breathe in Holy Spirit and I breathe out anxiety, fear, and doubt." Especially when you lose something (a post, a receipt, a paragraph, just pray for courage to keep looking and/or ask God to show you where it might be.
You're in my prayers.
B
Oh, Becky. How much I appreciate your words this morning! I worked on one of my college courses until 11 p.m. and then awoke with a jolt at 2:40 this morning--20 minutes before my alarm--partly because I still have much to do to get ready for today's classes. I won't shortchange my quiet time this morning, and I will plan my day so that I get a full night's sleep tonight.
ReplyDeleteI'll be at school at 3 p.m., but I'll try my best to make the live call.
I really appreciate your prayers!
Wanda
Anyone else find that one out of each set of To Do's is easier, and one is always more challenging?
ReplyDeleteAnd I put on my inventory that prayer is something I can give away as a gift to others (so often we think of time spent etc, but prayer allows us to be away from them and still offer soemthing to them).
I'm praying about being on a prayer list for a future ministry opportunity. That seems like something you just sign up to do, but I always struggle when I offer to be on such lists.
So, I'm praying about...praying.....
I find that too. I am adjusting the order in which I fill out my CYL journal and it helps. Reading through the Psalms first helps me to the emotional inventory. I have heard God speaking so clearly to me lately. I was journaling and asking God for wisdom about disciplining my daughter and putting a stop to her rude behavior...and the next morning, the pastor's message was about Ephesians 6 and disciplining children. I took so much away from his message and some things I felt were just for me. Thinking about and writing eating plans and exercise have been so helpful as well. I am right on track with my weight loss. And I even had to take a break from walking for a couple of days because I had abdominal surgery. I kind of think my quick healing had something to do with the fact that I had been working out for 2 weeks prior to that. Praise God and thank you Becky.
ReplyDelete