Little

   Ever heard the quote, “Courage doesn’t always roar. Sometimes courage is the little voice at the end of the day that says, ‘I will try again tomorrow.’” This is perseverance. Often times when we think of persevering, we think of intensity, maybe picturing tough work outs, emotional sports wins, or legendary fights like in the movies. But it’s not always. 

  Sometimes, in fact, most times, I think, perseverance is quiet. It’s the mom who gets on her knees each night to pray when it looks like her child will never change. It’s a trauma victim who chooses to get out of bed and keep living. It’s a dad who goes to work each day to put food on the table. It’s the couple who never stops hoping and believing for that baby. 

  Often the earth shaking victories only happen after moment upon moment of quiet decisions to simply push on. Perseverance doesn’t have to be big, loud, or obvious. The Scripture says it like this, stand your ground, and having done all, stand. (Ephesians 6:13) It’s putting your stake in the ground, refusing to quit, taking the step no matter how small it seems. 

  This week, don’t worry if you aren’t shouting success from the rooftops. You can only get to the mountaintop by climbing the mountain. Dig in, take the step, persevere. I can’t wait to see you succeed. 

~K.L.W.

Don’t Make It Difficult

  Hi friends! This week we are talking about simple ways to upgrade and improve our health. Too often we think becoming healthier requires big complicated overhauls of our whole lives, and while sometimes that may be true, most of the time, just starting with those small steps can bring about big change. 

  For years I wanted to be skinnier, feel better, and be “healthy.” So I bought intense programs and tried expensive meal plans, and most of the time I failed within a week. And not only that, I felt discouraged and as if I wasn’t good enough since I couldn’t stick to this rigorous plan amidst my already overly busy life. Can you relate? 

  It wasn’t until I realized that healthy isn’t a number on a scale, and becoming healthier didn’t mean exhausting and stressing myself out with complicated meal plans and intense workouts that I was able to start making progress. I learned that 20 minutes of yoga I enjoyed was better than dreading, avoiding and not doing a 30 minute HITT workout. I found I didn’t need to count calories and have the perfect diet if I just generally aimed for better more whole foods and less processed sugary ones. 

  Improvement does not happen all at once, but often with our health we think it should. Remember that growth is gradual, and improving your health is done one small daily decision at a time. Don’t beat yourself up or hold yourself back for not being the epitome of fitness and health. Instead, find the small things you can and will stick with to make yourself feel better, and soon you will have more energy for continued improvement. Don’t over complicate it. One simple step at a time. I can’t wait to see you succeed. 

~K.L.W.

A Privilege and A Responsibility

   Hi there! This week we are talking about Reading, and in case you hadn't heard, this is one of my FAVORITE things in the whole world. I LOVE books! In fact, years ago before my husband and I had the money to buy a house, I wrote a wish list of things I wanted in our dream home. Floor to ceiling bookshelves were on that list. And guess what? When we looked at the home we live in now, I walked into the livingroom and there were two bookshelves covering the wall. I was sold right then and there. 

  Ok, you might be wondering, besides the fact that I'm a total nerd, why do I love books so much? Well, because books can transport you to another world, teach you a new skill, and quite literally, transform your life. As an English major, I have read everything from Beowulf  (an old English poem written somewhere between 700-100 AD) to Monster (a contemporary teen novel by Walter Dean Myers). And while I enjoy reading works of fiction from all eras of history, what really changed my life was when I began to read to improve myself. 

  When one of my mentors told me I could move toward my dreams and goals by reading, I was thrilled. After all, I love reading, remember? But reading personal growth books is not always as exciting as reading a mystery novel. In fact, sometimes its hard and tedious. You may have to read and re-read as you learn and apply the concepts to your life. And as in all things, consistency is the key to getting the most bang for your buck when it comes to reading. You can't read one book and expect your life to be better forever. You have to keep growing and seeking out new knowledge. 

  We are privileged to live in an era when books are readily available. Throughout much of history, most people did not know how to read. Large groups of people (women, poor, slaves) were excluded from learning to read, and could be punished for doing so. And why do you think that is? Because those in power knew if they let women, slaves, and poor people learn to read, they would claim personal power and begin to improve their lives. We live in an age where much of the world has the opportunity to learn to read, and in America, there are libraries with books that can be borrowed for free. This opens up avenues that were never before possible. To not take advantage of this privilege is to do a disservice to those who came before us and fought so hard for us to have the right and the access to knowledge. 

  In the book of Proverbs, Solomon stated, "Get wisdom, get understanding [...] Though it cost you all you have, get understanding." (Proverbs 4) We are blessed to live at a time when wisdom is readily available, but it's up to us to take advantage of it. In fact, to not do so is detrimental and foolish. The book of Hosea says, "My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge." (Hosea 4:6) When we choose not to take advantage of the wisdom available to us, we actively destroy our lives. We have answers and solutions at our finger tips in books. And reading is one of the simplest ways to begin to find the knowledge we need and bring about change in our lives. 

  Today, I want to encourage you, whether you are an avid reader or haven't picked up a book since high school, seek out knowledge. Pick up a book on a subject you want to improve in, and start consistently reading. You've been given the privilege of access to knowledge. But as the saying goes, with privilege comes responsibility. Don't neglect the opportunity right at your fingertips. Grab a book and start to see the transforming power it can have on your life. Get reading this week! I can't wait to see you succeed!

~K.L.W. 

Word to the Wise

   Hi there! If I were to ask you who the most powerful voices for negative and for positive in your life are, you might list off the names of parents, teachers, mentors, friends, or bosses. However, few of us, when asked this question add ourselves to the list. The truth is though, while parents and teachers may have had a hand in shaping us and creating our inner narrative, as adults, the most powerful and persistent voice in our lives is our own. This being the case, we should be putting that voice to work for positive change in our lives, but far too often, we allow our own inner thoughts to be a force for negative. 

  Ask yourself this, what is the first thing that comes out of your mouth or into you mind in the morning? Are you frequently voicing thoughts like, "I'm so tired. I'm not ready for this day. I just have too much to do." Repeating these phrases in our head or out loud is reinforcing and teaching our brains to be tired, overwhelmed, unprepared, and stressed out day after day after day. The brain seeks out what you constantly tell it, and if you are always speaking tired, lack, doubt, fear and negativity, it will look for examples to prove those things right in your life. You will find more and more tiredness, frustration, lack, and discouragement in your life. 

  Conversely, if you begin training your brain with these words every morning, "I am so excited for this day. Great things are happening to me today. I am so grateful for the opportunity to live this day. I am getting better every day." You will find that your mind begins to look for ways to make them come true. Your brain will seek out opportunities to grow, to be grateful, and ways to energize your mind and body. You will find your words are a self-fulfilling prophecy, because your brain will seek whatever voice is loudest. 

  You have at your disposal, one of the simplest tools to change your life. Positive declarations are used by the successful in every walk of life from Olympians to rock stars. Begin today to become conscious of what your are speaking in your life. If it’s not promoting and progressing you, then stop saying it! Make a habit of only speaking life giving and uplifting words. You will be amazed at the shift in your mental, emotional, and even physical state of being. Put your words to work for you and not against you. I can’t wait to see you succeed! 

~K.L.W.