WHEN YOU FOCUS ON GRATITUDE THERE IS NO TIME LFET TO BE FEARFUL

How are you coping?  Now more than ever we need to make sure that we are coping well; coping with love instead of fear.

FEAR IS UNDERSTANDABLE, MISERY IS NOT

It is understandable to be uncertain, afraid, worried, and have doubts.  It is understandable because these feelings are normal in response to the emotion of fear.  We are constantly seeing, feeling and hearing fear all around us daily.  Some of us have lost loved one, lost our jobs, and relationships that we depended on have fallen apart because of fear.

How can we cope with love when the evidence is overwhelmingly one of fear?  We start by breaking it down into bite size pieces.  Stress can be extremely difficult to process if you take too big a bite.  Food and life are similar in that way. The expression, “She/he bit off more than she/he can chew” tells us and reminds us about the importance of taking smaller bites or small doses.

DECREASE stress, FOCUS ON WHAT YOU CAN CONTROL

I: EMOTIONAL HEALTH – What is the number one emotion controlling your life right now? Is it a “hi” (happiness or interest), or “fads” (fear, anger, disgust, and/or sadness)? Are you getting enough r.e.s.t. (relaxation, enjoyment, sleep, and avoiding temptations)? The temptation to focus on all the negatives, lose hope, and over-indulge?

II: SPIRITUAL HEALTH – Who or what are you believing in? What are your spiritual beliefs? Are you behaving in ways that reflect these beliefs? Are you “being still” and trusting in your spiritual source of power to keep you calm?

III: PHYSICAL HEALTH – Make sure to EAT healthy foods and smaller portions (avoid the temptation to binge eat, drink, etc.). MOVE more. Walk outside (if you can) or around your home as often as possible. Get enough SLEEP to allow your body time to heal and recover from the daily stresses. Remember to stay properly HYDRATED (water preferably) if there are no medical contraindications.

IV: FINANCIAL HEALTH – a sticky topic for sure right now; however, focus on the things you can control (how much you spend wisely or waste carelessly).

• Have I reassessed and made a more realistic budget?
• Am I living within the boundaries of this new budget?
• Have I learned better ways to use my money more effectively?
• Do I allow myself, within reason, to appreciate and share my bounty?

PRACTICE C.O.P.I.N.G. WITH THIS ACRONYM

Learn to cope effectively. Maintain your joy, peace, and satisfaction when you cope with love.  Instead of doing (worrying & stressing), try being

Compassionate to yourself and others (a smile, a hug, or a word of recognition).  Reach out to someone you know is living alone.

Open minded about the opportunities for growth and love.  There is more than one way to solve a problem, but if we hold on to our limiting beliefs, destructive emotions, toxic thoughts, we may miss the opportunity to grow (learn something new).

Patient and wait in hope and trust the process of change.  This is a major change from what we have all known.  Know that you are being your b.e.s.t., when you are being loving, experiencing love, sharing that love, and trusting in “Love”.  This too shall pass, and God never gives us more than we can bear.

Interested in learning and improving your “total health” by focusing on all the positives you have in your life that you can strengthen. 

Nurturing to self and others.  Nourish yourself in healthier ways.  If you keep focusing on the negatives, you will keep having negative health and attitude, which further makes you stressed and unhappy.  Nourish you mind, body, and soul with healthy foods, music, uplifting words, and prayer.

Grateful for your blessings, which includes your friends and loved ones.  When you shift your focus onto what you have, right now and express gratitude, you will find there is NO TIME OR ROOM LEFT FOR FEAR.  Love always conquers fear.

OUR SOVEREIGN KING IS STILL IN CONTROL

If you believe, live and behave in ways that reflect this belief to encourage those around you who are struggling with their limiting beliefs.  I believe that God will work this out for our good because His ways are not like ours and He promised that we would live more abundantly.