What do you suppose it means to be happy?  There is a lot of exploring going on these days for the elusive emotion of “being happy” --where do you find it, how do you create it, even what it is.

 But I would like to share a little secret with you -- happiness is not only for a lucky few born with it.

Happiness is not a thing that you can reach out and touch or leave in the fridge and take a sip when you need it.  Happiness is not on a beach in Hawaii (really!) or a perfect body.  It is not even in that ideal relationship that Chris Pratt tries to sell us in movies. 

With the images bombarding you every day, it is easy to think that happiness will arrive on your doorstep if you have the newest car, the best clothes, a fancy home.  It is easy to get caught in the trap of thinking that if you could find the right person, they would arrive with a box of happiness attached to his hip.  But all this does is persuade you that...

There is probably no woman alive who would tell you her life is anything but busy – and sometimes challenging. Women are pulled so many directions at once it can be easy to get stretched thin.

Women face trying situations among their friends and family, at home, at work, even with strangers. Everything taps into your inner strength and can drain it little by little.

You cannot do anything about what you experience because it is simply a part of life. But what you can do is learn ways to improve your inner strength to have the calm necessary to deal with all that comes your way.

There are tools you can utilize to help increase your ability from an internal mindset perspective - so that irrespective of what you face, you can have a life of calm.

 

One of the most accessible tools to help when you want to enhance mental strength is physical activity. Exercise does so much beyond giving your muscles strength and helping to manage weight.

Exercise...

Do You Understand Blood Sugar Levels?

Many women do not understand hyperglycemia and hypoglycemia. The prefix hyper means over or high, and the prefix hypo means under or low. Hyperglycemia is a blood sugar level that is too high, and hypoglycemia is a blood sugar level that is too low.

Blood sugar levels will fluctuate subject to our actions, environment, state of health, or even our thoughts. Healthy bodies circulate hormones to respond to changes in blood sugar level to efficiently consume the sugar while maintaining a healthy blood glucose balance.

Some womens' systems cannot either produce and release the correct hormones or respond effectively to them for various reasons. These incapacities cause both hyperglycemia and hypoglycemia.

What is Diabetes?

Diabetes is a disease in which blood sugar (glucose) levels in your body are too high. Diabetes can cause serious health problems, including heart attack or stroke, blindness, problems during pregnancy, and kidney...

Women have the opportunity to bring Jesus into our homes daily. Sometimes our lives can get hectic, and we can forget the most important things. But I know as we keep Christ as the center of our homes, we can feel peace and happiness there.

How do you make time for Jesus in your house?

Life is hectic. I appreciate that. But you cannot let your life come to be too busy to recognize, communicate, and serve your Savior, Jesus. It starts with an attitude of acknowledgment. "Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened." Romans 1:21

Once you acknowledge Jesus as the giver of life and all its blessings, you will be more motivated to…

Give thanks all through the day. Amid the bustle of our days, it is a great idea to pause, take a deep breath, and thank Jesus that we can be busy. Jesus said, “I am come that they might have life, and that they...

I know habits are patterns of behavior that are automatic responses or actions. This takes place after doing a specific routine for a duration of time until it becomes instinctive. I have had many habits during my life. 

By focusing on healthy and productive routines each day, I begin to create positive habits. Nourishing my body with healthy foods every morning is a healthy habit I maintain each day. Setting aside time each day for self-reflection and prayer has also become a positive habit in my life.

My character is made stronger by positive habits. These habits have become a part of me. I am a stronger and healthier person because of my healthy routines. I continue to create healthy behaviors and habits, leading to my positive transformation and growth. I become healthier as I practice my healthy routines.

Today, I honor my existing positive habits and continue them because they are a part of who I am. I create more positive behaviors and continue doing...

Are you always doubting decisions? Do you agonize over other people's reactions to your behaviors or opinions?

I will share some tips and tricks to help you stop worrying about what people think of you in this blog. Discover how to use constructive criticism to your advantage. Then, sort out negative judgments.

This will leave you with less anxiety and overwhelm. So you can remain more focused on yourself and the best way to achieve goals.

Let's get started.

Do People's Opinions Hold You Back?

Stressing over what others think and feel about you is a normal part of our DNA. We are programmed to seek others' approval.

Studies show there is a reward center that is activated when receiving a compliment. Even if you sense other people's recognition of your hard work, your brains fire up those same reward centers.

So, we feel good about ourselves when we are accepted. Yet, we cannot always be acknowledged and adored by everyone all the time.

Problems begin when we start pivoting our lives...

It is time to put 2019 behind us and forge ahead to the New Year! 

Are you ready? Do you know what you would like to achieve in the new year? Are you feeling confident in where you are at? Could you use a little "helper"?. 

If you are looking to achieve something big or small this coming year, whether it be an audacious goal or just creating some new habits, a vision journal will help!

I am certain you have heard of a vision board. That is a collection of photos from magazines and Pinterest, inspirational quotes and affirmations, photographs of your dream house (or your dream horse), and so forth that you put on a bulletin board or presentation board.

It is a visual collection of your feelings, thoughts, and ideas. This vision is very personal, so each woman receives precisely what she needs through this process. Usually, you place this on a wall, always visible from your desk.

Experts reveal that the subconscious mind works like a hard drive. Even when...

Speaking in public brings the heebie-jeebies to lots of women. Nearly 75% of all people suffer from speech anxiety (glossophobia). It is nerve-wracking, sweat-breaking, butterflies-in-the-stomach kind of panic. And it does not necessarily have to be before an audience of a hundred people. It could be that you are pitching an idea to three or four of your colleagues at a team meeting at work.

Public speaking terrifies us all because we worry about what people will think of us, which makes our brains freeze in panic. In turn, panic shuts down the rational part of our brain (the frontal lobe) responsible for our organizing, planning, thinking, and word production. Then chaos ensues.

But you can conquer glossophobia. Public speaking really does not have to be scary. It could be a lot of fun taking part in a wonderful experience, meeting new people, and learning new things. To make sure you and your listeners enjoy your next public speaking event, try these simple tips.

...

Feel like something is just absent from your life? Focusing on yourself, not others, may be the key to what is missing!

Are you comparing yourself to others and coming up short? It is time to end that destructive habit. Comparisons get you nowhere! Instead of leading to positive improvements, they cause you pain and discontentment.

A better option is to focus on your own needs and wants. You are a unique woman who requires a personal tactic! This method helps you boost your self-image because you are focused on refining yourself and not struggling to outrun someone else in an unknown race.

Learning to focus on yourself instead of everyone else around you is challenging. Women are so focused on families and friends that we do not appreciate how to focus on choices that define our lives.

Try these five tips to help you focus on thoroughly experiencing your life:

1. Allocate one hour a day to "me time." During this time, focus entirely on yourself and...

National Gluten-free Day is 1/13/2021

What is gluten?

Gluten proteins occur naturally in barley, rye, spelt, wheat, and crossbreeds of these grains. These gluten proteins are the substances that give grain products their shape, strength, and texture. Foods that typically contain gluten include breads, cakes, cereals, and pastas.

For the estimated 3 million Americans suffering from celiac disease, consuming gluten causes damage to the lining of the small intestine which prevents absorption of vital nutrients causing deficiencies that can lead to serious conditions, including anemia, diabetes, intestinal cancers, osteoporosis, and thyroid disease.

The gluten-free diet is popular among people without gluten-related medical conditions. The claimed benefits of the diet are improved health, increased energy, and weight loss.

Whatever your reasons for following a gluten-free diet may be, it is important to know how it will affect your overall nutritional needs. So, your doctor or...