How to Take the First Step Toward Your Goals

Some tasks just seem unattainable. The moment we think about them, we place them in the impossible category and assume that we could never do that. And when we declare something impossible, without even trying or giving a half-hearted effort, we cheat ourselves. 

We all have unlimited potential. If we truly gave our life a grand effort, we would astound ourselves. But we often believe our limiting beliefs and give up without a fight. 

Writing a book or even a blog seems overwhelming to me at times. The blank screen can be intimidating. Sometimes my thoughts are scattered and I wonder what I can possibly write that would be helpful to someone else. So often I assume that I don’t have any creative thoughts and never open my laptop to try. I often forget that the only way to write a book, or anything else for that matter, is one word at a time. When I break it down into words it becomes possible for me.

It’s the same way with exercising. Challenging workouts can be intimidating, so we declare ourselves unable to perform them. When we put forth an effort, regardless of how small, and work diligently every day toward our goals, we will achieve the desired results. When I first started running, one minute was challenging for me. But instead of focusing on my inability to run longer, I focused on my ability to run for one minute, and then, eventually added to it. 

We don’t start out the best. It takes practice and persistence to accomplish anything. The key is to start now. We have to start with what we can do, right now at this very minute, and add to it. How many times have we heard the saying, “A year from now you will be so happy you started today”? 

Here is my action plan for today. 

1. Take the first step—big or small— toward your goals. Today. You don’t have to have it all figured out. Just don’t put it off any longer. 
2. Change your story. Discard the negative thoughts and replace them with positive ones. The enemy will always be screaming in your ear that you can’t do it. Believe that you can do it and you will.
3. Schedule time to work on you, every single day. Remember that small steps taken daily lead to big results. 

Are you ready to take the first step? The only thing holding you back is what you are telling yourself. 

If you need an accountability partner, send me an email: candidasullivan@yahoo.com.

Have a wonderful day!

Candida

How to Live in a State of Gratitude

The Monday after vacation is always so hard. It’s usually the first day back into our routine, the first day back to work, and the first day when the after vacation blues set in. This morning I would love to be sitting on the deck, overlooking the water, with the same peace and gratefulness that I experienced on vacation. 

When we arrived at the lake house, and I experienced my first glimpse of the beautiful scenery, my heart immediately started extending gratitude to my Lord. As I breathed in the air, along with the peace and serenity, I was so grateful. And every few moments, I would whisper a thank you to Him. All of the stress of the previous weeks and months disappeared in those first few moments. And I couldn’t help but wonder if it would be possible to take the feeling home with me. 

Wouldn’t it be great if we could start every day with a peaceful and grateful heart? Imagine how much greater our lives would be, if we could learn to live in a state of gratitude. The reason we don’t get to a place of thankfulness every day is because we wait for the big moments in our life in order to feel grateful. So often we don’t appreciate the small things in our daily life. But if we could master the skill of gratitude, our lives would transform. When we feel gratefulness, our stress and worry diminishes. 

I know you’re probably thinking, this all sounds great, but how do I get there? How can I live in a state of gratitude? Here is my top three ways:

1. List three things you are grateful for each morning. And make sure they are three different things each day. Instead of just writing them down or saying them, feel them. Welcome that feeling into your heart. 
2. Pray and read His word daily. When we give ourselves a few minutes to talk to God, our whole day will be better. We should ask Him to lead us, guide us, and give us a Godly perspective on life. 
3. Live joyfully. We need to train our minds to see the good in every situation. 

When we can master these skills, our lives will transform. We don’t need it all to be joyful, we just need to learn how to appreciate what we already have. 

Happy Monday!

Candida

Today is a Gift

What we do today, will impact what happens to us in the future. The choices of today will yield the results for tomorrow. Living in the past, and always dreaming of the future will not help us reach our goals. Reaching our goals and living our life to the fullest requires us to seek God, become disciplined, and take action for the moment we are in right now. 

Every decision we make affects us in some way. We might not see the results immediately, but the process is still happening. For example: If I cut my calorie intake today and exercise, the number on the scale won’t change today. But if I do the same thing every day, I will start to reap the rewards—both physically and mentally. It boosts our mood when we eat healthier and exercise. Although, the benefits of exercise might not show up immediately for us, if we stick with it, the changes will happen— inwardly and outwardly.

If we show up every day, and do the things that we need to do, God will help us grow and prosper in our lives. Will it be easy? No. Stepping beyond our comfort zone and working hard is never easy. But it will be so worth it. When we start seeing the fruits of our labor, the feeling inside of us will be unexplainable. 

When I run, I always want to quit around the 1/4 of a mile mark. But if I keep pushing myself and keep running, although it is hard, my mind will get stronger along with my body. Pushing beyond what is comfortable for me is how I gain the mental endurance to overcome my challenges. And the feeling of completing my run is amazing. Because I know that at any time I could have quit, but I chose to keep moving forward. 

Every day is a beautiful gift from God. We all get to decide how we use our gift. What will you do today that your future self will thank you for? 

Photo courtesy of Unsplash

Psalm 118:2 (KJV)

24 This is the day which the Lord hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.

Live inspired and live well!

Blessings,

Candida

How to Be Good Enough

So often we feel as if we are not good enough. Society has a ton of rules that we feel determines our worth. Sadly enough, no one can adhere to the standards. We allow others to make us feel as if we have failed and come short. And when we feel that we can’t measure up, we talk negatively to ourselves. Our negative self-talk is the real reason we don’t feel like we are good enough. 

For years, I hid in the shadows because I had negative beliefs about my scars. When someone starred at me, made a snide remark, or looked at me with pity, it reinforced my beliefs about myself. And I always felt like I wasn’t good enough.

Wonderful opportunities have passed me by because I was too afraid to accept them. Because I would always travel to those moments in time, where a certain incident happened that made feel insignificant and focus on it. Instead of dismissing the harsh words or bad behavior, I nurtured it. 

I remember sitting in the principal’s office and hearing him converse with the state about my hands and whether or not I should be allowed to take driver’s education. I remember the harsh words spoken to me as I was fired for not wringing out a mop well enough. I remember the job interview where the interviewer could not get beyond my hands to even find out about my qualifications. Sadly, the list goes on and on. 

But one day, I realized my self-worth has nothing to do with my abilities, appearance, bank account, qualifications, or education. My real worth comes from God. He loved me enough to send His only begotten Son into this world to die for my sins. That makes me worthy. By the stripes of my Lord, I am forgiven. His blood makes me worthy of Heaven. 

Instead of focusing on negativity of the world, we need to focus on the love God has for us. Every day He covers us with His unconditional love, mercy, grace, and fills our souls with peace. And when we look at it spiritually we can rejoice in the fact that we don’t fit in with the world. 

Always telling ourselves that we are not good enough is just an excuse that our enemy created to derail our journey. Because if we believe that we are not good enough then we don’t have to push ourselves beyond our comfort zones. For me, it is the equivalent of saying, I can’t do that because my minds believes it is too hard, and more effort than I’m willing to put forth. So every time I try to use the not-good-enough card, I force myself to evaluate the situation.  

Example: I was asked to teach a writing class at Literary Festival. Instead of thinking about it or praying about it, I simply declined the offer and said, “I can’t teach others to write a book.” Without trying or asking God what He wanted me to do, I allowed my fear to answer for me. And then I convinced myself that I wasn’t good enough to do the job. Therefore, I missed an opportunity to share my talent and help others because of my skewed comparison.   

Now I go to God for guidance. And I believe in His ability to teach me how to grow and prosper for Him. Sometimes we just need to take a leap of faith and trust Him with our lives. He always knows what is best for us. Now I know that God would not open doors for me without equipping me with what I need to be fruitful for Him. 

Telling myself that “I can’t” and that “I’m not good enough” is nothing more than limiting beliefs. And I refuse to be the victim. These scriptures encourage me to overcome my self-doubts and negative beliefs. 

Philippians 4:13 (KJV)

13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

Joshua 1:7 (KJV)

7 Only be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law, which Moses my servant commanded thee: turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest prosper withersoever thou goest.

2 Timothy 1:7 (KJV)

7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

Psalm 31:24 (KJV)

24 Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the Lord.

Galatians 6:9 (KJV)

9 And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.

I would love to hear your feedback. If this blog helped you in any way, please comment below. 

Have a wonderful day!

Candida

The Importance of Discipline

This morning my bed beckoned to me, and I really wanted to go back to sleep. My mind searched for any plausible cause to persuade me to go back to bed. And for a few minutes, I contemplated it. 

Until I was reminded of my dreams. 

Going back to bed will not help me accomplish my goals. Nor make me feel good about myself. Sure the immediate satisfaction of snoozing makes me feel good for the moment, but the long term effect of it causes me stress, and hinders me from going to the next level with my goals. 

I don’t want to merely drift through my life. But every day I want to live intentionally with passion and purpose. I want to do the things that are hard right now, so that I may reap the rewards later. 

Discipline is the holy grail of success. Without the discipline to work on my goals, my talent is useless. And my hopes and dreams are nothing more than a wish. When I get a clear plan in place, however, and then work on executing my plan daily, great things start to happen. 

The discipline to do what needs to be done, even when we don't feel like doing it, is a great skill to master. To be honest, I never feel like writing or speaking at events.  I don’t wake up and feel like exercising. But in order to do the things that nourish my soul, I have to put forth an effort. When God sees my dedication, discipline, and hard work, He blesses my effort. 

The enemy is always in our way. He sets up traps to distract and destroy us. But when we follow God, regardless of the battle, the enemy has no control over us. 

The enemy would love for me to quit or waste my time, instead of serving God. That’s why I need to be intentional about my life and how I spend my time. I want to serve God all the days of my life. It is my heart’s desire to do His work, and be fruitful for Him. In order to do that, I need to seek Him daily, and ask Him to help me when things get hard. Instead of just giving up.

It has taken me some time to understand that every day we are in battle, and we need to figure out which side we are on. We can’t serve the Lord, following the enemy. 

Joshua 24:15  (KJV)

15 And if it seem evil unto you to serve the Lord, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.

Happy Monday!

Candida 

Overcoming the Struggle

Some days I have great thoughts and I’m able to articulate them well. I have a plan and know exactly what I’m going to write about. Today, however, is not one of those days. My thoughts are all over the place, and a defeated feeling has settled into me. And I thought, as I sat down at my computer and looked at the blank screen, I can’t possibly blog today. But if I wait until the perfect moment, it may not come. 

This is real life. While it might not be pretty, it is honest. And God often uses our struggles to help others. So my friend, if you are struggling, please know that you are not alone. 

Every day feels like a battle anymore. It’s hard for me to get out of bed at 5 a.m. It’s hard to read my Bible, pray, write, exercise, and do the things that will ultimately move me toward my goal. It’s especially hard when I’m distracted and overwhelmed. The moment I get in the defeated and stressed mind-set, the enemy has power of me. And it all seems impossible. 

But when I pray, the devil has to flee. My enemy cannot withstand my tears. My tears are a direct link to God. And He understands them. He understands my temptations, my failures, my heartaches, and my efforts. God knows the very desires of my heart. And He loves me. Especially on the days when I’m struggling. He doesn’t put His foot on me and yell at me. God doesn’t say mean things to me. He opens His arms and beckons for me to come to Him. In His arms I find peace, love, and so much strength.

As I dry my eyes, there is a renewed strength in my soul. God is with me always. In my weakness, He is made strong. Sometimes we just need to be reminded that we need Him to fight our battles. We can’t fight the devil on our own. 

I am so thankful to be a child of the King! And to serve a God that is always there for me. My words fail in comparison to His greatness. 

May God bless you, 

Candida

Cry Out To Jesus: Digging Ditches in the Valley

Some days my life is on point. My to-list gets accomplished and I feel great about the day. Even when things don’t go well, I’m able to make the necessary modifications to keep going. 

And then, there are days when just getting out of bed and taking a shower is a struggle. Sometimes I just feel burdened and overwhelmed. On these days, I become discouraged. And instead of turning toward God with my heart and tears, I tend to distance myself—without even realizing what I’m doing. 

During these times, every thing is a struggle. Sometimes I even wonder, where is God in my life? Why do I feel so sad and alone? And how in the world can I make it through this trial?

This, my friends, is what we call the valley. In the valley, is where the work takes place. This is where we dig a little deeper, and get as low as we can go. In the valley is where we pray, and do the Lord’s work. When we get our thoughts out of the way, then we are able to take the lessons we have learned and apply them to our lives. So often we feel alone during these times, but if we remember the footprints in the sand, then we understand that the Lord is carrying us. 

After just a few minutes in the valley, I’m usually ready to give up. We all like it when our life is easy. So often, we pray for things and then just sit back and wait for our prayers to be answered. But we have some work to do, however, before we get to the blessings.

While some things are out of our control, still God wants us to do the things that we can do. Yes, He wants us to pray and ask Him for help. But that doesn’t mean we should leave it all up to Him. We have a part in this as well. 

When I write these blogs, I can’t control who reads them. Nor can I touch anyone’s heart. What I can do, however, is set aside the time to write them, pray for guidance and understanding, and then pour my heart onto the pages. Once I’ve done my part, God will do His part.  We have to take the first step by faith. We don’t know how it will work, or how God will make it happen, but we just have to believe that He will work it out to our benefit. God blesses our efforts. 

The things which are impossible for us to understand are possible with God. He is always in control and He can change our situation or circumstance in an instant. Don’t give up!

Just remember the devil would love for us to give up. He tries every day to distract us all. But when we get as low as we can go, and cry out to Jesus, the devil has to flee. God understands our tears. In His time, He will deliver us and put us a mile ahead of the devil. And we will proclaim, the victory in Jesus. 

Sometimes we just need to remember that we are a child of the King! And His love for us is unconditional. We have nothing to fear. 

John 14:27  (KJV)

27 Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

May God bless you, 

Candida