Did you know that the greatest critic in your life is not someone else, but rather, it is YOU!!! Literally everyday we are all critical of ourselves in some kind of way about something. Society has taught us that we are not stylish enough if we are not driving the newest, latest, car or rocking the newest, hottest hairstyle and wardrobe...we are not good enough if we are not going to the greatest colleges, or entertaining the likes of the hottest celebrities out there. There are billboards all around us that tell us how to get the thinnest body possible because if we are not a size 2, 4, 6, or 8 then we are simply too heavy! Seriously, that along is enough pressure on us but then we come along and put more pressure on ourselves to actually meet the expectations of this cruel, cold society we live in. Think about it...how many times a day have you sat and wondered how you would look if you were maybe 4 or even 14 dress sizes smaller, or how much prettier would you be if you looked more like a super model and less like the nameless, faceless female that everyone tends to overlook?!! Ladies and even gentleman we have got to stop putting so much pressure on ourselves to be what society says and work with what we got. What are we teaching our young girls and boys by daily trying to fit into a mode that practically condemns having even one imperfection?
So often we hear so much about embracing who we are and loving the skin we are in and then somewhere else, someone else is telling us that "there is no need to have imperfections and flaws" all you have to do is fix this, cut that, change this, change that....and like so many folks around, we end up giving in to the pressure and we begin to question God about why He created us the way He did! Come on, let's stop this epidemic, this perilous disease that is killing us each and every day. Parents have you ever thought about how many times your child goes to school and is laughed at, looked at, and teased just because they are not skinny enough, tall enough, pretty enough,smart enough, dark or light enough? Have you ever thought about the things that they go through that is destroying their self worth and self esteem. We cannot sit by and continue down this path! If we as adults struggle and criticize ourselves, how much worse is it for our children out there? How do we stop being our own worse critic and get back to loving what we see when we look in the mirror? I am not saying that we have to embrace obesity or not try to promote a healthy lifestyle in every area, however, I am saying we teach people how to love and accept us...but how can that happen if we do not love and accept ourselves? Who can we turn to if we stand in the mirror and hate who we are, what we are, and where we are? Let's make a decision today that we shall NO LONGER BE OUR OWN WORSE CRITIC ever again!
Wednesday, July 31, 2013
Friday, June 7, 2013
WORDS, (THEY HAVE POWER!!)
No matter how many times someone tells you that you are not good enough, keep telling yourself just how good you are! Someday you will either believe the lies of others or the truth of your OWN words. There is a stupendous amount of power that we use to create and form our thoughts and the world....never think or speak that which you do not want to create. Envision yourself as an artist or a painter, your words give life to the canvass on which you are painting. A great artist or painter knows that in order for their work of art to become a Masterpiece there must be time and attention given to it. The Masterpiece is an expression of the artist and it must portray this true fact.
Someone once told me, " your words have color to them, they can paint a broad beautiful picture of warmth for everyone, or they can paint a broad cloud of darkness for everyone. You get to decide how others see you and the world you live in and invite them to partake in." I say the same thing to you that was said to me, and then I challenge you, whomever you may be, to paint your world with your words. Here is an example: Each and everyday there are many opportunities for us to paint a world that will be full of sunshine or full of clouds and gloom and doom. There is always a chance that we will encounter something that will cause us pain, anger, frustration, and other numerous emotions; however, there is a way to change the outlook of whatever may lie before us. Words have the ability to move all of us in ways that we cannot begin to fathom and it also has that same ability to make or break us. Whoever said that "sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me," tidbit, clearly had no clue of the power of words...or they walked and lived in heavy denial of it! Think of all those who have been torn apart by the hurtful words of friends, family, coworkers, and even strangers! Think about times in your own life when someone has mishandled your heart, mind, or emotions with the words they allowed to escape their lips. Who has the time to constantly be cut up by negativity, rudeness, resentment, unforgiveness, or just blatant hatred of another human being? What kind of life is that for anyone to live, especially when words are forever going to be a part of verbal communication! HERE IS A POINT TO PONDER: IF THE WORDS THAT I SPEAK TODAY WILL CAUSE ME REGRET TOMORROW, THEN I HAD BETTER CHOOSE TO PAINT USING A DIFFERENT COLOR AND BRUSH! SOMEONE ELSE' LIFE IS YOUR CANVASS! REMEMBER THIS SCRIPTURE, LIFE AND DEATH IS IN THE POWER OF THE TONGUE AND THEY THAT LOVE IT, WILL EAT THE FRUIT THEREOF....PLAINLY PUT,BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU SPEAK OVER YOURSELF AND OTHERS, OTHERWISE YOU MAY FIND THAT YOU HAVE THE BITTER TASTE OF DEATH LEFT IN YOUR MOUTH AND YOUR LIFE.
Someone once told me, " your words have color to them, they can paint a broad beautiful picture of warmth for everyone, or they can paint a broad cloud of darkness for everyone. You get to decide how others see you and the world you live in and invite them to partake in." I say the same thing to you that was said to me, and then I challenge you, whomever you may be, to paint your world with your words. Here is an example: Each and everyday there are many opportunities for us to paint a world that will be full of sunshine or full of clouds and gloom and doom. There is always a chance that we will encounter something that will cause us pain, anger, frustration, and other numerous emotions; however, there is a way to change the outlook of whatever may lie before us. Words have the ability to move all of us in ways that we cannot begin to fathom and it also has that same ability to make or break us. Whoever said that "sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me," tidbit, clearly had no clue of the power of words...or they walked and lived in heavy denial of it! Think of all those who have been torn apart by the hurtful words of friends, family, coworkers, and even strangers! Think about times in your own life when someone has mishandled your heart, mind, or emotions with the words they allowed to escape their lips. Who has the time to constantly be cut up by negativity, rudeness, resentment, unforgiveness, or just blatant hatred of another human being? What kind of life is that for anyone to live, especially when words are forever going to be a part of verbal communication! HERE IS A POINT TO PONDER: IF THE WORDS THAT I SPEAK TODAY WILL CAUSE ME REGRET TOMORROW, THEN I HAD BETTER CHOOSE TO PAINT USING A DIFFERENT COLOR AND BRUSH! SOMEONE ELSE' LIFE IS YOUR CANVASS! REMEMBER THIS SCRIPTURE, LIFE AND DEATH IS IN THE POWER OF THE TONGUE AND THEY THAT LOVE IT, WILL EAT THE FRUIT THEREOF....PLAINLY PUT,BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU SPEAK OVER YOURSELF AND OTHERS, OTHERWISE YOU MAY FIND THAT YOU HAVE THE BITTER TASTE OF DEATH LEFT IN YOUR MOUTH AND YOUR LIFE.
Death's Reality
Death,
It has a grip like no other, the magnitude of it hurts on many levels, and the harshness of it can sometimes shatter even the toughest soul. Why, is the simple, yet complex question that we all find ourselves asking. Why does it have to cut so deep, hurt so bad, eat away at us, and then leave an open wound that seems impossible to heal?! Although we know it is a part of the process of life; it is never any easier to let a loved one go. It will never get easier to say goodbye to someone who has come into your life and blessed it! Have you ever sat back and thought about how precious it is when someone touches your heart. Have you ever noticed how their smile, their words of kindness, generous acts of love, and moments of harsh truth has made your life beautiful? I have and if truth be told, you have too. Begin to look back over the memories you have created with loved ones and friends, think back to the very day they entered your heart.... What do you see, pay attention to how you feel, breathe in the scent of their spirit, and then smile. God has given us the ability to hold onto the ones that we love through those precious memories we have created with them. The bond that we share is so powerful, so surreal, and yet so strong that nothing can break it. As much as it hurts when death hits, as much as it knocks the breath out of our lungs, and punches us in the guts, it still has no power over life! While you may read this and think " how is that even possible?" Imagine this one thing for me and yourself, if death was so powerful..every life that has crossed over from life to death, would have taken with it, all the memories that we have ever created. Every single moment of happiness, joy, anger, frustration, fear, peace, hope, and love would have been laid to rest with our loved one! Without denial; death is indeed very painful to face, yet it is what helps to make life so much more meaningful. Life and Death go hand- in- hand and while many will never admit that fact; it still never changes the reality of it.
One cannot celebrate the joys of life without mourning the sadness of death and one cannot mourn death without celebrating the joys of life. Hold those dear to you; so close to your heart, embrace them, love on them, and always celebrate them, and then when they are gone from here; embrace the memories that have been created, always thanking God for the opportunity to have been touched by an angel! After all...you never know when they will be taken away from here.
It has a grip like no other, the magnitude of it hurts on many levels, and the harshness of it can sometimes shatter even the toughest soul. Why, is the simple, yet complex question that we all find ourselves asking. Why does it have to cut so deep, hurt so bad, eat away at us, and then leave an open wound that seems impossible to heal?! Although we know it is a part of the process of life; it is never any easier to let a loved one go. It will never get easier to say goodbye to someone who has come into your life and blessed it! Have you ever sat back and thought about how precious it is when someone touches your heart. Have you ever noticed how their smile, their words of kindness, generous acts of love, and moments of harsh truth has made your life beautiful? I have and if truth be told, you have too. Begin to look back over the memories you have created with loved ones and friends, think back to the very day they entered your heart.... What do you see, pay attention to how you feel, breathe in the scent of their spirit, and then smile. God has given us the ability to hold onto the ones that we love through those precious memories we have created with them. The bond that we share is so powerful, so surreal, and yet so strong that nothing can break it. As much as it hurts when death hits, as much as it knocks the breath out of our lungs, and punches us in the guts, it still has no power over life! While you may read this and think " how is that even possible?" Imagine this one thing for me and yourself, if death was so powerful..every life that has crossed over from life to death, would have taken with it, all the memories that we have ever created. Every single moment of happiness, joy, anger, frustration, fear, peace, hope, and love would have been laid to rest with our loved one! Without denial; death is indeed very painful to face, yet it is what helps to make life so much more meaningful. Life and Death go hand- in- hand and while many will never admit that fact; it still never changes the reality of it.
One cannot celebrate the joys of life without mourning the sadness of death and one cannot mourn death without celebrating the joys of life. Hold those dear to you; so close to your heart, embrace them, love on them, and always celebrate them, and then when they are gone from here; embrace the memories that have been created, always thanking God for the opportunity to have been touched by an angel! After all...you never know when they will be taken away from here.
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