I would like to address an issue that I come across so often in today’s post. But I will start with one of my favorite poems.
You Can If You Think You Can!
If you think you are beaten, you are,
If you think you dare not, you don't.
If you like to win, but you think you can't,
It is almost certain you won't.
If you think you'll lose, you're lost,
For out in the world we find,
Success begins with a fellow's will.
It's all in the state of mind.
If you think you are outclassed, you are,
You've got to think high to rise,
You've got to be sure of yourself before
You can ever win a prize.
Life's battles don't always go
To the stronger or faster man.
But soon or late the man who wins,
Is the man who thinks he can.
~ C. W. Longenecker ~
I was at a meeting today, my deep green smoothie at hand, while everyone else in the room was cupping mugs filled with coffee in theirs. I was minding my own business as a person that was about to take a seat next to me, looked quizzically at my glass jar and without any hesitation asked: “What’s that?!” I am up for spontaneous conversations, even if I am limited in time, and enjoy my diet being an ice breaker. “A green smoothie,” I said. She had a bewildered look on her face, so I quickly added: “It is blended greens and fruit.” “Huh…” she exclaimed, “what kind of greens?” “Chard and lambsquarters,” I replied. She then continued: “Well I COULD NOT live without MY coffee!” I half-jokingly (having already observed her reaction) said: “I can show you how.” “Not with THAT!” she finished, as she grimaced at my green smoothie.
At that point I knew that the conversation was pretty much over. The meeting was about to start… and her mind was SHUT tight to any new idea outside of what she holds so dearly… coffee seems to be one of those things.
It never ceases to amaze me how people determine the course of their life—with their own words. There is a Scripture in the Bible that says: “For as he thinks in his heart, so is he…” (Proverbs 23:7). It could not be more true! If you want to find out who a person truly is, spend enough time with them to hear what they spend most of their time talking about.
I sat next to this lady I thought that it would not take a keen observer to quickly see who was in better shape and better health. Here I was sitting lean, trim and energetic, while she was about 60 lbs overweight, her skin stretched over her plump body lacking the luster and glow it should have, huffing and puffing, while sipping on her coffee that she COULD NOT LIVE without.
I have met many people like her that have become prisoners not only of their own bodies, but their minds. On one hand they want a change—they want to be well, they want to lose weight, they want to live to see their children and grandchildren, on the other hand they see themselves either as victims to their eating and lifestyle habits or they connect food and happiness so closely that they cannot distinguish the two and chose one above the other, so they say things like: “I can’t live without (chocolate, coffee, bacon…etc.)”, or, “If I die I want to die happy!”, or another one of my favorites: “Live a little! Enjoy life!” [Amazingly I could think of food as happiness or enjoying one’s life.]
Our mindset affects our decisions, and decisions determine actions, whether we like it or not. If we say that we CAN’T do something, we, most likely, won’t. It is true not only when it comes to food; it can be relationships, learning another language, starting a business. Your limits are set by YOU! You determine how far you get in life, how happy you can be or how healthy you are. If you can’t achieve a goal that you set out for yourself, don’t blame anyone else—you are responsible! It does not mean that you won’t have any difficulties when you make up your mind to do something. You will! But you are the one who makes decisions on what to do about difficulties and obstacles that come your way.
When you want better health you have to make changes. It is obvious! If you didn’t you would not have ended up in a place that makes you consider them. Changes are never easy… at least not for the most part. But they are not impossible!
When you decide to make changes to your diet, fear, doubt and skepticism are going to be a part of this new journey. A lot of us have been through the roller coaster of these emotions more times than we care to count. However, we all have encountered people who have made positive, lasting and permanent changes to their bodies and their lives and health, with no turning back.
If you set out to make changes thinking of all the things you will NOT be able to eat, the way you do NOT want to feel, the pressure you do NOT want to endure, the criticism and skepticism you do NOT want to hear, you will be working against gravity.
Success starts in your MIND! Your objective in this is to stay focused on positive things you WILL experience as a result of the changes you are going to make. Think of the health and energy that you DO want for yourself, the better self-esteem you DO desire, eating delicious and nutritious foods that you DO want to enjoy.
Is your glass half-empty or half-full? Do you use excuses for your failures, or do you confront yourself and change to become a stronger and better person? Are you a victim or a victor?
Let’s look back in the Bible to gain wisdom on this topic. I love what it says:
“Finally, …whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.” [Philippians 4:8]
What it means is this: If you are sick, don’t dwell on your sickness—take steps that are needed to get well, and dwell on how the changes that you are making will get you well. If you are overweight, don’t think about foods you won’t be able to enjoy, or not being able to find the size of cloth you want, or people staring at you—think about solution to your problem, concentrate on things that will turn your situation around and become passionate about it. If it is changing your diet—great! Do it! If it is getting in a gym and working out—do it! Think about the places you can go, the clothes you can wear when you lose weight, and the people you will meet (and you will meet different kind of people when you feel better about yourself—after all, you attract what you are).
If you are reading this blog, you are probably making or considering making changes to your diet and lifestyle. As you prepare to make changes, think of the positive things you will experience. Think about your health improving, excess weight melting off, your mind becoming clearer, feeling better about yourself, being more in tune with spiritual things. Take some time to imagine the colors and crispy freshness of the foods you'll be putting on your plate. Feel your body thriving, tingling with a new-found vibrancy because of all the amazing foods you will be putting in your body.
It's not about all the things you'll be missing out on… It's about all the amazing things you'll be able to enjoy in a way you may never have done before.
Simply place your mind in a place of feeling your best. Own it with your thoughts, so that you can embrace it with the rest of you very soon.
Stop speaking and thinking NEGATIVELY! That was OLD you. The new you can be DIFFERENT. The new you can be POSITIVE! The new you can feel WELL!
I have faith that you CAN be successful. Do YOU?
Have an AMAZING DAY! Make it UNFORGETTABLE, regardless of what your situation is.
You Can If You Think You Can!
If you think you are beaten, you are,
If you think you dare not, you don't.
If you like to win, but you think you can't,
It is almost certain you won't.
If you think you'll lose, you're lost,
For out in the world we find,
Success begins with a fellow's will.
It's all in the state of mind.
If you think you are outclassed, you are,
You've got to think high to rise,
You've got to be sure of yourself before
You can ever win a prize.
Life's battles don't always go
To the stronger or faster man.
But soon or late the man who wins,
Is the man who thinks he can.
~ C. W. Longenecker ~
I was at a meeting today, my deep green smoothie at hand, while everyone else in the room was cupping mugs filled with coffee in theirs. I was minding my own business as a person that was about to take a seat next to me, looked quizzically at my glass jar and without any hesitation asked: “What’s that?!” I am up for spontaneous conversations, even if I am limited in time, and enjoy my diet being an ice breaker. “A green smoothie,” I said. She had a bewildered look on her face, so I quickly added: “It is blended greens and fruit.” “Huh…” she exclaimed, “what kind of greens?” “Chard and lambsquarters,” I replied. She then continued: “Well I COULD NOT live without MY coffee!” I half-jokingly (having already observed her reaction) said: “I can show you how.” “Not with THAT!” she finished, as she grimaced at my green smoothie.
At that point I knew that the conversation was pretty much over. The meeting was about to start… and her mind was SHUT tight to any new idea outside of what she holds so dearly… coffee seems to be one of those things.
It never ceases to amaze me how people determine the course of their life—with their own words. There is a Scripture in the Bible that says: “For as he thinks in his heart, so is he…” (Proverbs 23:7). It could not be more true! If you want to find out who a person truly is, spend enough time with them to hear what they spend most of their time talking about.
I sat next to this lady I thought that it would not take a keen observer to quickly see who was in better shape and better health. Here I was sitting lean, trim and energetic, while she was about 60 lbs overweight, her skin stretched over her plump body lacking the luster and glow it should have, huffing and puffing, while sipping on her coffee that she COULD NOT LIVE without.
I have met many people like her that have become prisoners not only of their own bodies, but their minds. On one hand they want a change—they want to be well, they want to lose weight, they want to live to see their children and grandchildren, on the other hand they see themselves either as victims to their eating and lifestyle habits or they connect food and happiness so closely that they cannot distinguish the two and chose one above the other, so they say things like: “I can’t live without (chocolate, coffee, bacon…etc.)”, or, “If I die I want to die happy!”, or another one of my favorites: “Live a little! Enjoy life!” [Amazingly I could think of food as happiness or enjoying one’s life.]
Our mindset affects our decisions, and decisions determine actions, whether we like it or not. If we say that we CAN’T do something, we, most likely, won’t. It is true not only when it comes to food; it can be relationships, learning another language, starting a business. Your limits are set by YOU! You determine how far you get in life, how happy you can be or how healthy you are. If you can’t achieve a goal that you set out for yourself, don’t blame anyone else—you are responsible! It does not mean that you won’t have any difficulties when you make up your mind to do something. You will! But you are the one who makes decisions on what to do about difficulties and obstacles that come your way.
When you want better health you have to make changes. It is obvious! If you didn’t you would not have ended up in a place that makes you consider them. Changes are never easy… at least not for the most part. But they are not impossible!
When you decide to make changes to your diet, fear, doubt and skepticism are going to be a part of this new journey. A lot of us have been through the roller coaster of these emotions more times than we care to count. However, we all have encountered people who have made positive, lasting and permanent changes to their bodies and their lives and health, with no turning back.
If you set out to make changes thinking of all the things you will NOT be able to eat, the way you do NOT want to feel, the pressure you do NOT want to endure, the criticism and skepticism you do NOT want to hear, you will be working against gravity.
Success starts in your MIND! Your objective in this is to stay focused on positive things you WILL experience as a result of the changes you are going to make. Think of the health and energy that you DO want for yourself, the better self-esteem you DO desire, eating delicious and nutritious foods that you DO want to enjoy.
Is your glass half-empty or half-full? Do you use excuses for your failures, or do you confront yourself and change to become a stronger and better person? Are you a victim or a victor?
Let’s look back in the Bible to gain wisdom on this topic. I love what it says:
“Finally, …whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.” [Philippians 4:8]
What it means is this: If you are sick, don’t dwell on your sickness—take steps that are needed to get well, and dwell on how the changes that you are making will get you well. If you are overweight, don’t think about foods you won’t be able to enjoy, or not being able to find the size of cloth you want, or people staring at you—think about solution to your problem, concentrate on things that will turn your situation around and become passionate about it. If it is changing your diet—great! Do it! If it is getting in a gym and working out—do it! Think about the places you can go, the clothes you can wear when you lose weight, and the people you will meet (and you will meet different kind of people when you feel better about yourself—after all, you attract what you are).
If you are reading this blog, you are probably making or considering making changes to your diet and lifestyle. As you prepare to make changes, think of the positive things you will experience. Think about your health improving, excess weight melting off, your mind becoming clearer, feeling better about yourself, being more in tune with spiritual things. Take some time to imagine the colors and crispy freshness of the foods you'll be putting on your plate. Feel your body thriving, tingling with a new-found vibrancy because of all the amazing foods you will be putting in your body.
It's not about all the things you'll be missing out on… It's about all the amazing things you'll be able to enjoy in a way you may never have done before.
Simply place your mind in a place of feeling your best. Own it with your thoughts, so that you can embrace it with the rest of you very soon.
Stop speaking and thinking NEGATIVELY! That was OLD you. The new you can be DIFFERENT. The new you can be POSITIVE! The new you can feel WELL!
I have faith that you CAN be successful. Do YOU?
Have an AMAZING DAY! Make it UNFORGETTABLE, regardless of what your situation is.
