Planning Makes Perfect

I  heard a story once about a guy who sketched the plans for his house on a paper towel.  He ordered the necessary materials and began to build.  After digging the basement, work began on the foundation.  As the foundation progressed, he realized that his plans were way off.  If he were to continue, the house would not be able to support the weight of the walls and roof.  He consulted professional plans, a contractor, adjusted his plans, and was able to build a very beautiful and safe home.

As we make our plans today, lets remember that plans are subject to change and require flexibility.  It is not uncommon to make plans for the future and find out that the time needed to accomplish the task was more than anticipated.  It is also not uncommon to learn that you could accomplish a task in less time than was previously planned.  Planning is not just about the destination it is also about the journey.  How you handle the bumps along the road (setbacks) will determine how successful your plan will be. 

The first step in any planning process is to determine what you are trying to accomplish and how best to arrive there.  Let's take for example weight loss. If you are trying to lose weight you would need to determine the necessary steps to lose the weight.

1. Determine how much weight you want to lose
2. Determine what steps you are going to take to lose the weight
• change eating habits
• drink more water
• less fat
• more fiber etc.
• exercise
• what type?
• how often
• when will you exercise?
• where will you exercise?
• Will you have a partner? If so who?
• get enough rest
• set a bed time
3. Determine length of time to accomplish the goal
4. Set short term and long term goals (we will be dealing with goal setting in our next post)
5. Determine how you will reward yourself
6. Develop a contingency plan:  what will you do if you have a bad day?
7. When will you begin?
• Begin today. Even if you only change one thing, it will bring you one step closer to accomplishing your goals

To succeed you must take the time to develop a plan.  Luke 14:28-33 says that in order to build a tower (building) you need to first count the cost (make a plan).  Your assignment today is to work on a plan for what habit you are trying to overcome.  If you have questions post a comment and I will respond.  We will be talking about goal setting in our next session.  Until our next session happy planning!

The Thousand Mile Journey

How many remember taking trips as children with our parents and asking the age old question are we there yet?  Or getting lost prior to the days of GPS? Did your parents give up?  Absolutely not, they stopped asked for directions, consulted a map and continued to their destinations.  When you were learning to walk, did you fall?  Certainly.  I am sure many times but did you give up?  No, you are walking today.

 Confucius said that "a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step" and I believe this is true.  It is also true when it comes to making lasting changes in our lives. It is best to approach it as a thousand mile journey with each step bringing you closer to the destination.  But it is also true that you must take the first step.   The first step is choosing to change.  Choosing a better way.  Today you have chosen to give up some habit and take a step in a different direction.  I rejoice with you that you have made that decision.  It will not be easy but, with hard work you will achieve your desired outcome.

 Aesop in his fable the tortoise and the hare said the race is not given to the swift but he that endures till the end.  Many times in the past we all started journeys but became discouraged when we did not arrive at our destination fast enough.  We also became discouraged because we did not see immediate results.  Hold on don't, give up even if you have a bad day, remember there is always another opportunity to do better the next day.  1 Corinthians 9:24 says we all run a race but not all receive the prize, run so that you may receive the prize.  What is the purpose of making changes (running) if you do not expect to see a reward (prize).  The reward we desire is to be healthier, thinner, fitter spiritually connected and psychologically healthy.  These things will not happen by themselves you must cultivate them.

Today you have taken you first step in your thousand mile journey to a healthier you so that you may be healthy 4 life.  Tomorrow we will talk about making a plan.  Until later journey safely.

Danger Ahead

What if I were to tell you that were in serious danger and unless you take steps to avoid the danger you will be hurt or even die?  Truth is, each day we make choices that place us danger. We eat too much, eat things we know are harmful to our bodies, refuse to exercise, sleep too little, smoke, drink and practice many other harmful vices.  The funniest part of this is that we know what the end result of these practices will be yet we do nothing to change it.  We expect to have the same results as those who actually take care of themselves.  It is as if we are in denial.  

Some say the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result.  Maybe we all suffer from insanity because we do the same harmful things over and over again expecting different outcomes.  Proverbs 27:12 says that a wise man sees the danger and avoids it but a foolish man continues on and is punished.  We see the danger of diabetes, heart disease, obesity, premature death, joint pain and many other diseases but the pleasure of the moment convinces us that we are not truly in danger.  It will happen to every one but us.  We will be the exception.  Let me tell you you are lying to yourself.  You are in great danger and its time to wake up before it is too late.  How do we avoid the danger? We must make a change .

In order to succeed you must be ready for change and want to change.  Here are some steps that has helped my patients and others who have been successful at avoiding the dangers.  

1. Decide today to make a change:  you may have moments of failure but as long you keep moving ahead you will succeed.
2. Make a plan as to what you want to accomplish:  no one builds a house without plans.  They do not have to be detailed and can change as your needs change.
3. Set goals utilizing the SMART goal setting principles.
• Specific
• Measurable
• Attainable 
• Relevant
• Time-bound goals
  Example:  I want to lose 20 pounds in the next 4 months so that I can walk with less knee pain.
4. Begin small and build
5. Dedicate time for yourself
6. Don't let the seed pickers in
7. Challenge yourself
8. Stick with it
9. Maintenance
10. Avoid the dangers

This journey is not for the faint of heart, but if taken can lead to a new and better you.  A new you who faces the dangers head on and turns from them, one who becomes wise.  Make a wise choice today and choose to change, choose to turn from the dangers.  

Disclaimer:  before beginning any lifestyle change or exercise program, speak to your physician and get his approval prior to the start of the program.  Once you have been give the clearance, proceed at a pace that is safe for you.

The Natural Me

 

Before the Big Chop                                                                                                 After the Big Chop                                                     

So it's official.  I have joined the ranks of natural women.  That is to say I have decided to cut my hair and embrace the curls that I have beaten into submission all these years.  I did the Big Chop (BC) on October 17, 2012 because I became frustrated with trying to transition from a relaxer.  I had not had a relaxer in about four months and had about an inch and a half of growth and I felt it was enough for me to rock my TWA (Teenie Weenie Afro).    It was not a decision that I entered into lightly, after all, I have always had long hair and the length of my hair at that time was past my shoulders and very thick.  My children and my husband liked me with long hair and to be honest I had grown use to having my hair long and being able to style it relaxed.

 As it got closer to the day for the BC I was having what seemed like mini panic attacks and it was then I knew I had to cut it because I was attributing too much to my hair. I did not realize how attached I was to my hair until that day.  It had a power that I did not know that it had. My beauty comes from inside not the dead fibers on my head.  The decision to cut should not have been so difficult because after all, hair grows back but I learned from Nikki at CurlyNikki.com that our hair affects us psychologically.  Culturally women with long hair are prized and almost revered and so women invest hundreds of dollars in products, stylists,  weaves and wigs in order to achieve the long straight look.  Women who embrace their natural hair are perceived as being not as desirable, perceived as threatening and have a harder time fitting in.   Women with natural texture are less likely to be portrayed in a positive manner in the media.

I am enjoying my natural journey so far but have to admit I have receive mixed reviews.  My friends  have had nothing but positive comments and words of encouragement.  My husband and children told me that it makes me look younger which is a fringe benefit of the BC that I had not planned on. Who doesn't want to look younger?  I have also had comments from some who felt I needed to justify the cutting of my hair to them.  I found this interesting considering the hair was on my head and not on theirs.   I have had varying responses from raised eyebrows, shocked looks to just out right pretending that it did not happen.  Since the decision to cut my hair was my choice and part of my journey I am depending on the approval of others to go forward.  I am looking forward to learning about my hair's texture and what products works best for me. The natural journey has just begun.

I am on a quest to become a healthier version of myself spiritually, physically, emotionally.  I am inviting all who would like to come along to do so.  We will be covering many different topics with the aim of developing not only a healthier me but also a healthier you so that we can be healthy 4 life!