Not Finishing What You Started Can Hurt You

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Do you pass the hallway of forgotten projects when you enter your house? Or all the projects you leave unfinished are stuffed into a closet where none of your guests can judge you over them.

The point is, you tend to leave a lot of the things you start unfinished, and whether you realize it or not, this habit could be hurting you in several ways

It May Make You Anxious

If you find yourself constantly feeling anxious, it could be because of all the projects you are constantly leaving unfinished. Even if you do not currently feel any anxiety, this does not mean you will not eventually feel anxious feelings because of your unfinished projects.

Not only that, but when feelings of anxiety go unresolved, they could lead to more serious issues such as depression. Thus, it is better to do whatever possible to avoid causing yourself to feel anxiety.

You Will Have Issues with Frustration

Whether you realize it or not, leaving projects unfinished is a deep source of frustration in your life. This frustration may not just be affecting your personal life. It could also be affecting your professional life, causing you to lash out at coworkers and even your boss. If this sounds like you, it means your unfinished projects could be what is holding you back in your career.

You Won’t Move Forward

Finishing what you start is an important part of creating change within your life. If you are not finishing the things you are starting, you are not changing. If you are not changing yourself, you are stagnant. Without change, you cannot move forward. You will set aside any goals or dreams you have for yourself, and you may never complete them. It could also mean that you will not feel a feeling of accomplishment, which is another crucial aspect of helping propel yourself forward in life.

Conclusion

Although you may not think that not finishing what you have started is hurting you, the truth is, it is. When you leave a project unfinished, it can cause anxiety and feelings of frustration to develop and fester.

Beyond just that, when you are not finishing something, you are remaining stagnant in your life and denying yourself the growth and development you deserve. It is time to stop setting tasks aside and start completing the things you start today!

Until next time, stay safe, and keep the faith.

Why Do We Need to Leave Our Comfort Zone?

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Your comfort zone is so, well, comfy. Why would you ever need to leave it? Not to mention that being uncomfortable is so … painful. However, there are several reasons you need to leave your comfort zone. Read on to find out more.

Your Comfort Zone Won’t Grow

Do you wish you were more comfortable with certain things? You will never become satisfied with new stuff unless you step out of your comfort zone. It is the number one reason that you should. Your comfort zone is a massive part of who you are, and if you want to grow as a person, your comfort zone needs to grow too. If you never step outside of it, you may become stuck in the same place for a while. Staying in the same place isn’t very fun. It can be pretty dull and frustrating.

Your Comfort Zone Might Shrink

Not only will your comfort zone not grow if you don’t step outside of it, but it might get smaller or shrink. Your comfort zone is like a muscle; it needs frequent work to stay strong and grow larger. If you stay in your comfort zone, certain things that might be slightly uncomfortable may soon seem scarier than before. Instead of getting comfier with them, they will start getting more painful. Before you know it, you could find yourself taking steps backward instead of forward.

Not Stepping Out of Your Comfort Zone is Settling

You might think that you don’t care if your comfort zone shrinks. Maybe you are too comfortable with some things already. But the reality is, if you decide not to step out of your comfort zone, you are settling for the way things are right now.

Are you thrilled with your life, or is there even one thing you wish you could change? Change comes when you step outside of your comfort zone. If you are still thinking about settling, give yourself a pep talk because you are too good to settle for your current comfort zone, no matter who you are.

Regardless of what your comfort zone might look like, it would help if you stepped out of it. If you never step out of your comfort zone, it will never grow, and it may even shrink. As a result, you won’t grow as a person. Don’t settle by refusing to step out of your comfort zone. Take steps to conquer your fears and expand your comfort zone today.

Until next time, stay safe, and keep the faith.

3 Uncomfortable Things That Will Make You More Successful

Doing uncomfortable things is difficult, mainly because they put you in a position where you aren’t comfortable. It’s hard to follow through on tasks when you are uncomfortable. The harsh truth is sometimes, these awkward things can make you more successful, especially if you do the following three things.

1. Develop Healthy Habits

Have you ever seen a successful person that stays in bed all day and eats nothing but junk food? Exactly, they don’t exist. The most uncomfortable thing you have to do to be more successful is to develop healthy habits. These habits include getting out of bed earlier, eating healthy, and exercising at some point during the day. These things aren’t fun, but they must be done if you want to be successful. Start developing these habits immediately because your old habits aren’t good for you anyway.

• Taking Risks

What do you consider successful? Do you want a different career or live in another city? Why haven’t you done it yet? You are probably still in your current situation because doing either of the above would involve taking a risk. Taking a risk can be scary and quite uncomfortable at times. However, if you never take a chance, you will never be successful because you will remain exactly where you are.

It applies to money as well. Many people think it is safer to store their money in a savings account, or maybe not save at all. But if you can invest your money in something riskier, like your own business, or stocks, this could lead you on the road to success—you have to take a risk to get there.

• Admitting You’ve Made a Mistake

It is tough, but everyone makes mistakes at some point in life, and it is uncomfortable to admit what you may have. When you acknowledge someone you made a mistake, this shows responsibility and increases the person’s respect for you. It can take you a long way in the business world. It can also help you mend friendships and network more efficiently because people will see you as the type of person they want to associate and work with professionally and personally.

Are you ready to be successful? Then it’s time to take note of the above three uncomfortable things that you will need to be able to handle before you can be successful. Success is probably right around the corner if you can manage these three things.

Until next time, stay safe, and keep the faith.

In Remembrance of Robert Parker

I was not going to say anything, but it doesn’t seem right to let the day go as if it was just another day.

On February 9^th, 2019, I lost my husband to cancer. If you were still here with me, today we would be celebrating 54 years of marriage. I feel blessed he married me. He was not perfect, but neither am I, however, we raised four boys. I am so proud of my sons.

One of the things I am grateful for, and you might say I am selfish, but my husband never forbid from doing the things I enjoyed. As long as I remembered I was married. That was never a problem because I have always respected the sanctity of marriage.

I do regret we did not do more tings together to build memories. When I used to tell him how important it was for us to create memories, It as for us to share together when we were and sitting in our rocking chairs. I didn’t think I would be alone without him, and not enough memories.

My husband was not active in outside activities. We occasional went to outside activities, but he preferred watching sports, and playing cards with his friends.

I miss him yelling out the TV or jumping up in excitement when he and his best friend won the whist game.

Robert was a friendly and he made friends very easily. Anyone he met immediately became his friend. He was fun loving and easy going. He was 6’3’ and weighted about 240. He was raised in Louisiana and worked as a sharecropper until he came to California at the age of twenty. He could have been a model on the romance book covers. He was very well built from working on a farm most of his life and helping raise his brothers and sisters.

Robert worked hard to take care of his family, and the end of the day he came home. I never had to wonder where his check went, because he always gave it to me, and ask for what he thought he needed till the next payday. And no, I did not start him to doing that. He did that on his own before we were even married.

I know I am rambling, but I feel a need to speak about him. The first time they discovered he had cancer; he would not have told me had I not been there with him.

I had discovered by accident, that they thought he had a tumor they wanted to remove. He was going to have the operation and not tell me. His reasoning, there was noting I could do but worry.

Our sons were understandably upset, and we were all there for him, only to learn it was not a tumor, but cancer. The doctor told us it was cancer, and he had about six months to live.

My husband being the man he was, looked at the doctor and said, Until the man upstairs tells me my time is up, I don’t accept your diagnosis.” I believe because he made that declaration of faith, he took the aggressive treatments and lived to see another eleven years.

When the cancer returned, it came suddenly, and we knew it was different this time. Even though he told them he wanted the aggressive treatments again, he was not able to. His blood pressure and heart rate remained high. They finally said after his last visit, that wanted to put him in hospice care.

Of course, he refused. He wanted his final days to be in his bed. All the kids, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren were there for him. He was blessed to be surrounded by his family. He was blessed to know how much they loved him and what he meant to them. I could not have been prouder of them around his bed, not for one day but everyday they were there.

The morning of February 9^th, my grandson, the nurse, and me were trying to move him back to the middle of the bed so he wouldn’t fall on the floor. We had gotten him situated when I noticed his eyes rolling to the back of his head. In panic, I asked the nurse why his eyes had rolled back.

The nurse turned from what she was doing to look in his direction then said, “I’m so sorry. We’re losing him.” She checked his vitals, then looked her at her watch. “I’m sorry, he’s gone.” She then reported his death, and I asked if they could pick him up later that day so his family and friends could pay their last respect to him.

I am so sorry. I had not meant to write all of this. It just came out. I guess I needed to release it from my mind. I’m starting to ramble, so I am going to call it quits for now.

Until tomorrow, stay safe, and keep the faith.

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Be That Kind Soul

Someone did that for me when I was about thirteen, and feeling very in secure. We called her Mama Kay, and she shared her thoughts about the kind of person I would grow up to be. Those words made me feel better about myself. I believe I have lived up to her assessment of me.

I try to do the same for others, especially when I notice an individual is insecure or has low self-esteem. I pray I have made a difference for the better in their lives.

Have you reached out to someone in some way that has made difference, even though you may never personally observe it. Try it if you haven’t in the past. It is such a small gift to give someone, but can make a huge difference in someone’s life. Be that kind soul who makes someone feel they are somebody.

Until next time, stay safe, and keep the faith.

You Are a Work in Progress

According to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, a “work in progress” means “a project that is not yet finished.”  Being a work in progress can bring a sense of relief to those who struggle with perfectionism. Having the mindset and understanding that you are in a constant state of growth can help you overcome the need to be perfect.

The opposite of being a work in progress would mean that you live life with the mindset of being perfect. However, perfection is an unattainable state that can lead to mental breakdown such as depression, anxiety, and feelings of disappointment. If you find yourself struggling to accept that you are a work in progress, then consider the following tips.

Three Ways to Accept Your Progress

Accepting yourself as a work in progress can be a struggle. Below are several helpful tips on how to celebrate your growth process and journey.

1. Celebrate today – Being focused on your next move can steal you from the present successes. Taking time to celebrate each small victory can help you overcome any feelings of failure.

• Monitoring thoughts – Watching your thoughts and monitoring your mindset can take time. Ask yourself what you are thinking or what your next move should be. This exercise causes you to pay close attention to the reasons behind your actions.

• Never settle – Continue to allow yourself to grow and change with each decision. Be mentally prepared to accept mistakes and embrace them as part of your journey.

Remember, perfection is not attainable, and you should not feel shame or beat yourself up when you don’t reach a goal. Having the drive to make the changes you want in your life will require that you be honest with your shortcomings. So, how can you be sure that you are on the right path?

Becoming a Life-Long Learner

In an article written by Alan Gehringer entitled “Personal Path of Progress: The Secret to Reach Your Full Potential”, he states that he has made it a priority to be a lifelong learner. He recommends the following steps toward personal peace with learning.

• Evaluate where you are currently and where you would like to be.
• Create a one-year plan around those goals.
• Share your goals with individuals that you trust and see if they have any perspective or guidance to give you.
• Assess your goals and include any training that you may need.
• Be comfortable with making mistakes as those can help you grow and move forward.
• Include personal and professional goals such as health and education.

Your personal plan should help you grow and reach the next level in life. This type of personal progress will keep you moving forward, growing, and motivated through any tough decisions.

Keep in mind that what gets measured, gets improved. Having a motto for yourself can keep you on track to reach your goals. If you struggle along the way then consider keeping a journal of your thoughts, or even seek the help of a professional counselor. Making life changes is not easy but it is fulfilling.

Until next time, stay safe, and keep the faith.

The Power of Confidence

The confident person is open to new things. If she believes an activity, event or person can benefit her in some way, she is not scared to get involved. That attitude means a limitless number of opportunities.

The person who lacks confidence in social situations has an extremely limited number of opportunities. They are always second-guessing themselves. They believe that dealing with other people will always result in a negative outcome, so they limit their exposure to what could be wonderful experiences.

That is the power of social confidence.

When you have a strong belief in yourself and your abilities, your advancement on the job is almost guaranteed. The high self-esteem that comes with confidence leads to more healthy relationships than for the person with low self-esteem. In financial matters, careers, one-on-one interaction and so many other areas, social confidence can power you to success.

Let us look at a few examples of how social confidence can help you live a better life.

Until next time, stay safe, and keep the faith.

7 Ways to Turn Worried into Excitement about Getting Things Done

Everybody worries sometimes. Right now, you’ve probably even got a few worries on your mind. You might be thinking about a relationship or a situation at work causing trouble. Maybe you’re worried about your health or whether or not you’re going to have enough money to pay the bills at the end of the month. Whatever the case, worry happens whether we intend it to or not. It becomes a problem when anxiousness starts to take over your life.

So, what is the goal? Is stopping worrying enough to put you on an even keel, or are you hoping for something…more? What if, instead of worrying, you could become excited, then use this excitement to get more done?

Let’s look at seven ways to achieve this:

Be Here Now

Worry has a way of trapping you anywhere but here. Either you’re worried about something that happened long ago or fretting about something still to come. Neither is going to get you anywhere. To stop worrying, you need to focus on the present. What interests you right now?

Realize This Gets You Nowhere Fast

Worrying stops you cold. Most procrastination is caused by worrying. With this in mind, why are you wasting your time and energy worrying? Sometimes just recognizing what a waste worry is will be enough to derail it altogether, especially when you have better places to be.

Throw Yourself into Something Interesting

Worry needs your attention to survive. Get busy doing something engaging to your mind, and you’ll forget all about worrying.

Rewrite the Script

If you’re seeing everything blow up around you, you may try focusing on the perceived disaster. Ask yourself how you could do things to handle the situation were it to happen. Once you have it, practice the scenario in your mind. Picture yourself handling matters.

Practice

Are you worried about something you need to do later? Having a dress rehearsal in your head will make things go smoother and eliminate worry.

Ask

Challenge your worry. Dig in and get to the roots until you understand your fear intimately. Ask yourself where the negativity came from. Peel back the layers until you get into the heart of the matter.

Try a New Path

In the end, worry can become very attached to the familiar. Challenge yourself. Find a different way to do things. Explore where this path takes you.

The main point in all of these is to enjoy the journey. It is where you find the excitement and enthusiasm which leads to getting things done. The rest is all momentum and many brand-new accomplishments just waiting to happen.

Until Next time, stay safe, and keep the faith.

HOW BOREDOM CAN HELP UNLEASH CREATIVITY

Many people claim that they’re not creative. However, the big secret is that everyone is creative. It’s just that sometimes we only recognize creativity when it’s our type of creativity. Everything is creative – from fixing your morning breakfast to deciding the outfit, you’ll wear today.

In other words, it’s not just painting or creating creative art; it’s simply living your life. It just doesn’t feel very creative in the hustle and bustle of life. However, there is one way to help unleash your creativity, and that is to slow down. Slow down and let yourself get bored.

Go for a Slow Walk

Most of us go for walks, but we walk fast because we’re doing it to exercise. We aren’t doing it to be in nature and think. Partially, it’s because we don’t have much time. The pressures of life keep us from taking our time and slowing down. But try going for slow walks; take at least an hour-long stroll. Let your mind wander, feel the fresh air on your face, and walk. Don’t think of everything else.

Take a Long Bath

If you cannot go out, take some extra time in the bath. Soap up slowly, feel the water on your body, and enjoy the sensations. Try not to make it a task you must do or get done in a specific time. Just enjoy. Add more hot water if you need to. Set up the room so you won’t need to get out for any reason. Just stay in there while you let your mind roam and stay in the moment.

Do Nothing

Everyone feels as if they always must be doing something. No one has downtime anymore. But having rest is necessary for your creativity. It would help if you took the time to do nothing to clear your mind. Doing nothing is an excellent way to sort of reboot your brain so that you can handle more complicated tasks.

Just Think

When you’re just letting yourself be bored, if thoughts come to mind, that’s great. Just explore the ideas without worrying about the direction it’s taking you. Daydream about your wants, needs, and desires. Think about things different from new angles, explore options, and get weird and silly and outrageous. It’s okay because you’re just thinking.

Today, boredom is not something that people often feel. When alone, we pull out our phones, flip the TV, or boot up the computer. Most of us never let ourselves feel bored or even just still and silent. However, if you want to unleash your creativity in a way that helps, find that silence and let yourself get bored.

Until next time, stay safe, and keep the faith.

How to Journal for Self Improvement

Keeping a journal is a technique that can help you improve your life. To some people, the ability to keep a journal comes naturally, while others struggle with it.

Whether you keep a consistent daily journal, an occasional journal, or jot notes to yourself when ideas come to you, this technique can have powerful implications in helping you attain your goals.

Making Things Happen

Putting your goals, thoughts, hopes, and dreams on paper can help you actualize what matters to you most. Bring your goals and dreams to life by writing them down. Read them as often as possible to focus your mind on living the life you desire.

Try these journaling strategies to help bring all your self-improvement goals to fruition:

• Write quickly and passionately. Let the ideas flow onto the paper without dwelling on one thing for too long. Writing in this manner will allow your goals, dreams, and wishes to flow freely beyond what you thought possible!

• Try setting a time goal and writing freely without pause until the period ends. When you finish, you may be surprised with what you’ve written and gain new insight and understanding from this activity.
  
  
• Write consistently. You may not be an everyday writer, but formulate a routine to keep your journal flowing. You’ll find a greater consistency in your thoughts and reflections when you write daily or weekly.
  
  
• Set goals and reflect on them. Outline your most crucial self-improvement goals when you begin your journaling experience. Reflect on them often to determine whether or not you’re taking active steps toward achieving them.
  
  
• Be honest. You can be sincere in your journal because no one else will read it but you. Share your secrets, dreams, and desires – even those you cannot share with anyone else. Use your journal as a sounding board, and never sacrifice honesty for any reason.
  
  
• Ask yourself tough questions. Self-reflection is vital to self-improvement, and your journal can significantly aid the reflection process. Ask yourself questions about where you’re at in life and where you want to be so you can brainstorm the necessary steps in the self-improvement process.
  
  
• Refer back to your past writing regularly. Look at positive writing to ease your thoughts when you have a bad day. When you feel lost or unsure about yourself, look back over your goals and insights to find guidance.

• There’s a wealth of vital information in your journal if you use it consistently, and you can turn back to this information to show you where to go next.
  
  
• Choose a journal that’s right for you. Select a journal that resonates within you and is something you feel comfortable writing in. You can purchase a journal from a bookstore, create your own, or collect loose pages in a binder. The right journal will inspire you to use it.

Simply putting your thoughts down on paper can help you realize your dreams and focus on what truly matters in your life. Strive to write in your journal as often as you need, and refer back to what you write to help you keep those goals in mind. Journaling is a powerful tool but is only effective when you’re willing to put your passion into it.

Until next time, Stay safe, and keep the faith.