Results will take as long as they take.”
It is so easy to give up if you don’t see expected results, immediately. This is especially true with exercise. You drag yourself to the gym and you sweat and burn. The pounds you planned to lose in three weeks remain stubbornly in place. Discouragement sets in and you want to give up.
Don’t worry! This is a common experience for everyone. The good news is that you can turn things around. The secret to not giving up is to practice mindful exercise. Instead of counting your chickens before they hatch, enjoy each moment of your workout for its own sake. Experience exercise as an enjoyable healthy escape from the real world.
While exercising, your mind may stray from your movements. But, stay mindful each the movement. Exist in the moment and gently remind yourself to focus. As you stay focused, without demanding rewards, the exercise itself becomes its own reward – and you will see the results you expect.
When you’re faced with a tough problem, get creative. When you’re confronted with a difficult challenge, that’s your chance to take a creative approach.
Don’t get your thoughts bogged down in the difficulty of the situation. Instead, get enthusiastic about the creative possibilities.
Don’t get trapped into overanalyzing what’s already been done. Take advantage of the opportunity you now have, and create a completely new approach.
You never have to be stopped by those who say it can’t be done. With a positive creative approach, it can indeed be done.
Step back, give yourself some perspective, and open your mind to all the possibilities, even the ones that seem outrageous. When you’re confident that you’ll come up with a creative solution, you will.
History is filled with examples of people who have used creativity to turn negative situations into positive value. Get creative, and you can do the same.
— Ralph Marston
Read more: http://greatday.com/motivate/111226.html#ixzz1heL2IJd1
~ Colossians 3:12, N
Let your life be your witness
What does it mean to be a martyr? Does it mean to be like Saint Stephen, willing to give your very life for what you believe? The root ofmartyr is “witness,” and there are many ways we are called to testify to the gospel. These can be familiar but they are no less courageous than the path Stephen took. Being a good parent, a loving partner, honest in business dealings, compassionate—these are powerful forms of attesting to the Good News. How will you testify to the gospel with your life today? On this second day of Christmas let us pray for a spirit of courage for that witness not only in words but with our lives.
TODAY’S READINGS: Acts 6:8-10; 7:54-59; Matthew 10:17-22 (696)
“For it will not be you who speak but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.”
Give it your all
Saint Peter Canisius might have been what today we call a Type A personality. He lived at a pace that illustrated his saying, “If you have too much to do, with God’s help you will find time to do it all.” Sometimes it seems that he did do it all. He had a master’s degree by 19, became a popular preacher, a founder of the Catholic press, and a diplomat who used his gifts to bring the challenge of Christian values into the marketplace. Whether or not we have as much energy as Peter Canisius, the important thing is to give what we have and do what we can.
TODAY’S READINGS: Song of Songs 2:8-14 or Zephaniah 3:14-18a; Luke 1:39-45 (197)
“The Lord, your God, is in your midst, a mighty savior.”