Picture this: Christmas morning, you wake up, make a cup of coffee (or tea), and everyone gathers around the tree to open up gifts.
You're SO excited, because you wrapped up the PERFECT gift for your kid. They've been begging you for this over and over again, sometimes with tears in their eyes, for MONTHS.
As the pile of presents grows smaller and smaller with each gift opened, you see that shiny, beautifully wrapped, ribbon-laden box with the tag that has your child's name on it.
They reach for it, and you hold your breath as they tear off the paper and open the lid to see what's inside.
Overwhelming joy rushes out of them as they thank you and hug you and thank you some more. You can't help but feel like Best Mom In the Universe!
The next day, you notice the box is still there, with the gift still inside. A week later, it hasn't been touched or moved.
A month later, your kid comes to you with tears, begging for this one gift again. You remind them that you've already given it to them, and their response is, "But...I keep forgetting it's there, and when I remember, the instructions just seem too difficult!"
And this amazing gift sits unused, because your child has made the choice to not take hold of it.
This, my sweet friend, is what we often do with Jesus' gift of PEACE.
In John 14:27, Jesus says, "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid."
We beg Him for it, with tears in our eyes. He hands it to us in a shiny package called the Bible, wrapped in the Holy Spirit, and we leave it to sit unused.
Does that sound familiar to you, even just a little bit?
Yes, His peace comes with instructions, but they are clearly laid out for us and simple to follow.
Not easy - sometimes it's much easier to NOT follow them. Which is probably why we make the choice to ignore them, and then His peace sits unused yet again. But friend, that is OUR choice. God isn't taking that gift back, or hiding it from us. It's sitting right where we left it; we're just making the choice to ignore it and His instructions.
If you struggle with feelings of depression, anxiety, fear, worry, helplessness, hopelessness, or anything like those, please know that Jesus has already given you His peace. It is YOURS. It cannot be taken away from you. You can choose to ignore it, or you can choose to read the instructions and learn how to use it. But the gift is YOURS and the choice is YOURS.
I would be honored to talk more about this with you and pray with you. Please feel free to reach out to me at missiannsmith@gmail.com anytime!
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Philippians 4:4-7 tells us:
4 Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. 5 Let your reasonableness[a] be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; 6 do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Let's walk through this for a moment.
The first thing Paul tells us to do is REJOICE. Why do you think that is? Not only rejoice, but rejoice in the Lord, and to do so always.
As much as we'd like to think we're great multitaskers, the truth is that we can really only focus on one thing at a time. If we're busy focusing on rejoicing in the Lord, we don't have the mental capacity to pay attention to our fears, worries, phobias, and problems.
Paul goes on to say that we are to make our requests known, through prayer and with thanksgiving.
Not only are we supposed to rejoice, always, in the Lord, but when we request things of God as we're instructed, we're supposed to also do this with thanksgiving.
So first we make sure that we're rejoicing in the Lord. What does that mean? We rejoice simply in Who God is. He is the Almighty who loves us unconditionally. Who sees every terrible thing we've done, and instead of shunning us for eternity, sent His son to take our place because despite those awful things, He still wanted to keep us forever! Sometimes that's hard to comprehend - especially when we think about the people around us who have done terrible things. Sometimes we'd much rather shun them - but not God.
We can rejoice that God is:
- All powerful
- Loving
- Gracious
- Merciful
- Kind
- Just
- Wise
- Considerate
Plus a host of other wonderful and amazing things!
As we rejoice in all that God is, we are also supposed to come to Him with our requests. This doesn't mean only the prayer requests of those around us; God truly wants you to speak about what's on your own heart. Sure, He already knows - but He wants you to ask Him. It's the simple act of asking Him that creates the relationship He wants with us. There's no relationship there if we simply expect Him to just do everything He knows we want, without ever expressing ourselves to Him. Relationships involve communication.
God not only invites us to request things of Him, but He is instructing us to do so!
We are to make these requests through prayer, and supplication with thanksgiving.
What in the world does that mean?
He doesn't want us to simply lay out a Christmas list of desires. He wants us to be grateful for the things that we have. What's the point in giving us more if we don't appreciate what He's already given us?
Sometimes this can be difficult - but look at what Paul says will happen if we do this: And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
WOW! This is the type of peace that we can't even wrap our minds around. Have you ever experienced that? Where you just felt so peaceful and you simply couldn't explain it?
Friend, do you want that kind of peace to wash over your heart and flood your mind? The peace that drowns out all of your worries, makes all of your fears obsolete, and cures every phobia?
The instructions are simple: rejoice in the Lord always, make your requests known to Him through prayer and with thanksgiving. Perhaps not the easiest of instructions, but they are simple.
Here is my challenge to you today: spend a few moments writing down the attributes of God that you can rejoice over. Write down as many as you can think of - feel free to Google some if you need reminders. Put this list up where you can see it and refer to it everyday.
Then write out your requests for God - next to each request, include a reason to be thankful. Ask Him for more of His peace to reign in your heart and mind. He's promised it to you; it's okay to thank Him in advance for it as well as part of your thanksgiving.
I'd love to hear from you. What are some of your favorite attributes of God?
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With kids back in school and the fall season upon us, now is the time when we start thinking about all that sick time we'll have to take when someone inevitably catches some kind of ick.
But what if there was a way to stay above the wellness line, and arm your body with a line of defense to fight back when germs, viruses, and bacteria come knocking?
There actually are several things you can do to help you and your family stay safe this season, and throughout the year.
1. Eat well
Doing whatever you can to reduce or eliminate sugar is first and foremost when it comes to taking care of your health. That's easier said than done with many kids!
Fortunately there are some delicious treats you can make for your kiddos that will satisfy their sweet tooth while simultaneously supporting their immune system as well.
NingXia Red is an antioxidant juice that my family drinks every day. Not only is it delicious, but it's FULL of good-for-you antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals. I have some great recipes for a Peanut Butter & Jelly Smoothie, as well as NingXia Red gummies, for the kiddos who love their fruit snacks. These are included in my free Back to School Wellness guide. You can grab that here! The guide also includes some diffuser recipes, wellness capsule recipes, and a checklist of items to have on hand that will help keep your family healthy and safe.
You also want to make sure that your family is consuming lots of foods with Vitamin C, antioxidants, probiotics, and prebiotics. Garlic is a great one too! Load up on oranges, spinach, and berries.
2. Exercise
Before you groan at me, exercise doesn't have to mean hitting the gym. There are lots of ways for your family to exercise together! Here are just a few ideas:
- Hit the bike trail
- Throw on some music for a dance party
- Pull out that old Twister game
- Go ice skating
- Take everyone bowling (just try to avoid the snack counter!)
- Laser tag
- Hiking
If you need some ideas to get a workout in yourself, I highly recommend JessicaSmithTV on YouTube! She has TONS of free workouts, some as quick as 5 minutes and some as long as over an hour. Whether you're looking for indoor walking, cardio, yoga, kickboxing, HIIT, or strength training, you can find it all on her channel.
3. Know what can deplete your immune system
Did you know that our bodies were not designed to handle the plethora of synthetic chemicals and toxins we're forced to process every day? From products such as household cleaners, body wash, candles, home fragrances, perfumes, lotions, makeup, just to name a few.
As a result, our bodies become sluggish and overloaded, working hard to overcompensate - meaning that our energy levels are lower, and our immune system function is not as strong as it could be. We're much more susceptible to illness because our bodies are spending so much time trying to process all of these chemicals.
Some of these chemicals are beyond our control, because they're found in our environment or in public places. However, we have complete control over what we allow inside our homes. Research greenwashing to make sure you're armed against companies who claim to be "green" or safe and toxin-free, then make educated decisions about the types of products you'll bring into your home. I am SO grateful that I work for a company where I can be sure each and every product is pure, plant-based, free of synthetic chemicals and toxins, and actually does good things for me and my family!
If you would like more information about Young Living and how their products can help you, please reach out to me any time. I would be honored to answer your questions and walk alongside you into a lifestyle of wellness.
4. Mindset actually does matter
You may not realize this, but the more stress you're under, the easier it is for you to get sick. Stress triggers the production of the hormone cortisol in your body, which can lower your ability to fight infection. It can also cause higher blood pressure and contribute to poor sleep.
There are lots of ways to improve your mindset:
- Meditation
- Mantras
- Gratitude journal
- Essential oils
- Maintaining good gut health through nutrition
- Sleep
Again, many of these can seem easier said than done, but my role as a wellness coach is to walk with you every step of the way to help you find what works best for your lifestyle and family.
5. Consistency in your daily routines
A lot of people swear by taking over-the-counter products when they start to feel a little under the weather. Sometimes this works; sometimes it doesn't.
It is much easier to stay healthy when you are consistent with your daily wellness regimen. That includes taking your supplements regularly; using essential oils daily (topically, aromatically, and if you're using Young Living, internally is a great method as well); spoiling your body with healthy food and regular exercise; keeping your mind focused on positivity.
These are just a few ways to help your family stay well this season.
If you'd like to get started with a 3-day Kick Start Your Immune System challenge, you can find that in my Drops of Blessings community on Facebook.
For members of my exclusive Essentially Vibrant community, we're going to begin a three-week Fall Into Wellness series to implement everything we've learned and walk through it together! I'd be happy to give you more information about that, just reach out to me anytime!
Tell me, which steps are you and your family going to take to stay above the wellness line this year?
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When we talk about boosting our energy, we often hear things like "drink more water", "get some exercise", "take your vitamins", and other things we need to physically DO.
But what are some external sources that can sometimes increase - or zap - our energy?
Exposure to Light
Have you heard of Seasonal Depressive Disorder? It's a real thing. That's when some people experience feelings of depression during the months when there is much less sunlight. The weather isn't as pretty, so we often stay indoors.
It's also common for people who work indoors under florescent lights all day to experience some symptoms of fatigue and depression, due to lack of natural light.
If you find this is the case for you as well, try making a habit of spending at least 10-15 intentional minutes outdoors each day. Even if it's cloudy, you can still reap the benefits of UV exposure and increased Vitamin D, which will boost your energy.
Scent
Our sense of smell is very powerful and can bring up a lot of memories. If we smell something that reminds us of something painful, that can drain our energy. Synthetic fragrances made in a lab with lots of chemicals can be incredibly draining as well, because our bodies weren't designed to process manmade chemicals. When we're around a lot of "fragrances", our bodies are fighting to work through those which means other functions (e.g. energy producing functions) can sometimes lag.
It's helpful to surround yourself with natural scents that uplift and encourage you. Fresh baked bread or desserts are wonderful if they invoke happy memories. Flowers and plants are great choices. An easy way to access scents like this is with essential oils! Just be sure you know the source of the oils you use, because so many are mis-labled and actually contain fillers or synthetic chemicals to make them more cost effective (I will only use Young Living because of their transparency and commitment to quality).
What You See
Scientists tell us that many different colors can invoke certain emotions, which can greatly affect our energy. Surrounding yourself with bright colors like yellow, orange, and green can be helpful. More muted colors such as grays, browns, and blacks might drain energy.
If you're able to paint your walls with colors that energize you, go for it! If that's not an option, some things you can do are to buy decorations like wall art, flowers, pillows, desk accessories in the colors of your choice.
What You Hear
When you surround yourself with sounds of complaints, or the musings of the melancholy, it's easy to take those feelings on yourself. Negative feelings like these can very quickly suck the life and energy right out of you!
If you find yourself listening to people who tend to complain a lot, make an effort to infuse the conversation with positivity, or consider spending less time with those people and more time with those who are upbeat.
Take some time to think about the music, podcasts, and shows you listen to. Do you feel encouraged, lifted up, and optimistic afterwards? Or do they leave you feeling sad or downtrodden? What enters our minds via words and music can have a dramatic effect on our emotions, which can then affect our energy levels.
After evaluating these different external elements, what are some areas where you think you could benefit from a few tweaks or changes?
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Gyms can advertise all they want that they're no judgement zones and everyone is welcome, but for me...NOPE. I just don't like them.
Lee and I have gone a few times (pre-Covid) and mostly do the 30-minute circuit because no one else uses it. But honestly? I hate the gym.
I do not like working out with other people around. I am not that graceful, I do not flow well, I look ridiculous, and I'd much rather look silly in private, thankyouverymuch.
For those of you who are like me and hate the gym, I thought I'd share a few of the FREE workouts I've found to do at home!
First, you have your basic walking/jogging/swimming (if you have a pool - I don't).
Second, YOUTUBE.
It's my favorite.
Here are some of the best (in my opinion!) fitness instructors on YouTube, who have full workout videos available.
If you're just starting out...
- Walk at Home by Leslie Sansone
- Lucy Wyndham-Read
- Pahla B. Fitness (she does a lot for 50+ fitness)
- Up to the BEat Fit
If you're intermediate...
- JessicaSmithTV (she is my FAVORITE - she has a TON of beginner and more advanced ones too)
- BodyFit by Amy (she has a bunch of prenatal and postnatal workouts as well)
- AngieFitnessTV
For the more advanced peeps...
These are only a few of the ones that I use regularly, but there are SO many more for you to explore!
If you try one, let me know which one and what you think!
Do you have any other YouTube favorite fitness instructors you would add to this?
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