If you “only” operate by sight, you will never truly see what God can do…
Tag: increasing faith
Do You feel Held Back By Worry and Have a Head Full Of Doubts?
Two monks were returning to the monastery in the evening. It had rained, and there were puddles of water on the roadsides. At one place a beautiful young woman was standing unable to walk across because of a puddle of water.
The elder of the two monks went up to her, lifted her and left her on the other side of the road, and continued his way to the monastery.
In the evening, the younger monk came to the elder monk and said, “Sir, as monks, we cannot touch a woman ?”
The elder monk answered, “yes, brother”.
Then the younger monk asks again, “but then Sir, how is that you lifted that woman on the roadside ?”
The elder monk smiled at him and told him” I left her on the other side of the road, but you are still carrying her.”
Like the monk, we can easily fall into the trap of carrying our worries around with us. Draining our energy and making us tired. Over the weeks and months, our fears can eventually affect our physical and emotional health leading to a whole host of problems.
It may seem like things will never get better, like things will remain the same as they have always been, but I would like you to know today it doesn’t have to be that way.
A journey of a thousand miles begins with one step. It may seem like you will never overcome your relentless worry or crippling anxiety, but I would like you to know today that you can. But you can’t sit inactive.
It is pleasant to daydream, wouldn’t it be amazing to be without worry or anxiety, but to make your daydreams come true, you have to start walking in their direction. You have to take action.
You have to take the first step, and then the second, the third, and all the steps that separate you from your goal. This is valid for every improvement you would like to make, small or big, relating to your job, health, finance, self-improvement or spirituality.
Take a step today and download my book, How to Stop Worrying, on Amazon. Currently on free promotion. Click on the image below.
Gain the knowledge to strengthen your faith and cast your worries to one side.
Thanks for reading, and enjoy your week.
5 Things to Quit Right Now
Inspiration of the Day
Don’t fear failure. Fear being in the exact same place next year. Don’t be held back by indecision, move forward in faith.
How To Free Yourself From Anxiety With 7 Easy Steps
Several years ago due to having stressful situations in my work life, social life, and personal life I developed terrible anxiety, which led to panic attacks — resulting in loss of sleep, problems with eating, which in turn affected my overall health.
I went from a very social person to someone that hardly left the house. At one point I thought I would never recover which only fueled my anxiety.
Today I would like to share the top 7 ways I used to overcome my anxiety.
1. Remember to Breathe
Pay attention to your breathing. Most people take their breathing for granted. Breath is by far the most important of all the steps, as we breathe in a completely different way when anxious than we do when calm.
So if you breathe in a way that calms the body, nature will do the rest.
When we are anxious our ‘fight or flight response’ is triggered — originally named for its ability to enable us to fight, or run away when faced with danger physically.
Fight or flight was essential for our ancestors, but now it’s activated in situations where neither response is appropriate, like in traffic or during a stressful day at work.
Symptoms include dry mouth, fast breathing, heart pounding, tense muscles, and slow digestion. These symptoms create more anxiety which leads to an anxiety loop. Anyone that has had anxiety knows how quickly this anxiety loop can lead to a panic attack.
Remember to breathe
When you begin to feel anxious, do some diaphragmatic breathing. When people are anxious, they take shallow breaths reducing the oxygen intake. Diaphragmatic breathing takes in maximum oxygen which signals to the body that the threat is gone so it will return to normal functioning
To check if your doing it properly simply put a hand on your chest and stomach while breathing. When you breathe in your stomach should rise, as if filling up with air, and when you breathe out the stomach will fall.
2. Move Your Body In Any Way You Can
Walking, running, riding a bike, dancing, swimming or Zumba. Step two is also linked to breathing but has the added effect of taking your mind off your problem or worry. Step two may lead to more of step three.
3. Sleep You know You Need It
Studies show that sleep loss is associated with higher levels of depression and anxiety—but it’s not completely clear if anxiety keeps you up at night or if dealing with insomnia increases your risk for anxiety. Either way, the vicious cycle can put your brain on edge.
4. Avoid Caffeine
Caffeine can exacerbate anxiety as it acts as a central nervous system stimulant. It is making your body more aware of the feelings of anxiety. Plus, caffeine keeps the body awake which can affect sleep, which is essential to help overcome anxiety.
5. Keep a Gratitude Journal
Simply keeping a gratitude journal—regularly writing brief reflections on moments for which we’re thankful—can significantly increase well-being and life satisfaction.
6. Expand Your Social Support
Social support is a core component in managing stress and coping with anxiety. So, reach out, call someone you haven’t talked to in a while. It is all about connection.
7. Stay away from drugs or alcohol
Perhaps they work in the short term, but they often do the opposite in the long term.especially with panic attacks. Talk your doctor if you feel you cannot stop using.
Summary
Having suffered from anxiety myself, I highly recommend diaphragmatic breathing, more exercise, more sleep, and less caffeine.
The main lesson I learnt in my recovery was patience.
We all want instant results, but like learning to drive a car, you don’t just jump in and drive. You take lessons and the more lessons you take, the better you get.
Similarly when you want to recover from anxiety, after a few days using the above tips you might not see that much change, but after a few weeks, if you record your progress in your gratitude journal, you will see a massive difference.
I wish you all the best on your journey.
Thanks for reading.
If this post has inspired you in any way, please share. You may help someone in the deepest of despair.
Inspiration of the Day
The journey can seem hard, but anything worth getting never comes easy. Plus, anything attained with hardwork stays with you forever.
Take the weekend to rest your mind and body so you approach the coming week with energy and strenght.
How to Overcome Your Fears, Get Unstuck, and Fuel Your Success
Fear. What is fear?
Like any other negative emotion, fear is something that is not real. F.E.A.R. – False Evidence Appearing Real… Underlining “FALSE”.
But even though it does not exist, fear can control you, fear can manipulate you, fear can determine your destiny. In fact, the majority of the population lives in fear.
They fear being abandoned, they fear for their security, they fear for their health.
When we let fear have this much control, fear is running our lives
We try to avoid what we are afraid of, so we run from fear, we find it hard to be ourselves, we do not dare to live the life that we want because we are so afraid.
But, when you stop running, facing your fear with faith, fear loses its power over you.
When you have the faith to confront your fears you will see that those things that you are afraid of are not real, and are not likely to happen.
Picture your life 1 year from now talking to a friend about the last 12 months…
Do you want to reflect on a year where you where afraid to do what you really wanted? Where you let fear control all your decisions?
Or
Do you want to reflect on a year that was filled with amazing moments, amazing experiences, filled with love joy and happiness. A year that you walked in faith and accomplished more than you ever dreamed.
“You don’t need to let go of fear to act on the things
that you want. You don’t need to let go of fear
to be you!”
It’s ok to be afraid and still act, it’s ok to be afraid and still be you, it’s ok to be afraid and still love. It’s ok to be afraid.
You don’t need to let go of fear and then act, you can act despite of fear.
Why?
Because fear is not real and something that is not real cannot stop you!
Acting despite fear is….. faith. So … Don’t let your life be run by fear. Let it be run by faith.
What are you most afraid of?
Take a good look at it, bring it to your awareness, look at that fear knowing that it is not you, that it’s not real.
Look at that fear knowing that it has no control over you when you walk in faith, knowing that God is by your side every step of the way.
Pray each morning and throughout the day. Keeping your mind on the goodness of God; He will give you courage and confidence.
FEAR to FAITH
Fear can only run your life if you avoid it. When you face it, it doesn’t matter how big it seems, it will disappear. You will see clearly that “this is not real”, “this is not me”.
You don’t need the fear to be completely gone for you to live, for you to have faith, for you to act on love, for you to do what you want.
Because fear cannot hold you back when God is by your side.
You can feel fear and still act in faith and you can feel fear and still be you.
Don’t let fear run your life, instead, live out of faith and love.
It is always about this same choice, Fear or Love.
Once again, imagine your life this time 10 years from now…
Do you want to live 10 years running away from your fears?
Or
Do you want to live 10 years from a place of faith, being courageous despite of fear, living a life of love, a life of adventure, a life of excitement, a life of passion… your dream life?
Don’t let fear control your life…dare to dream, dare to love, dare to have the faith to be You.
Live a Life Without Fear
Inspiration of the Day
Make A Commitment to your Crazy Dream; It Could Change The World
Just do it is probably one of the most recognisable slogans there is. It is a direct command. Sometimes that is what we need. Someone to say, just do it.
I can only speak for myself, but I often think about doing something for weeks or even months before I start.
We all have things that we would like to do, things that would improve our mental and physical health, but we talk ourselves out of it with excuses.
Starting is the hardest part. Attending that first meeting or making that first phone call, or puting them running shoes on for the first time. Once that is out of the way though, it’s so much easier to follow through.
So, whatever you have been putting off for weeks, months, or even years. Take the first step today. Send the email, make the call. Invest in some running gear. it could be as simple as getting some information.
What holds most people back is they get a burst of faith and decide to climb a mountain before they have walked a mile.
I will use weight as a relatable example.
If you want to lose 10 pounds, eating nothing but salads and milkshakes is not a good starting point. You might keep it up for a week, but chances are you will crash and end up upset which will lead to binge eating and ending up heavier than before.
Instead, start by replacing the slice of cake with a handful of nuts and an orange. Park the car 10 minutes away from work; a few small changes like this will get better results.
Then, when you see the improvement, it will give you the faith that you can do better. So, you slowly cut out unhealthy foods and replace them with healthier options.
Most challenges that we face can be broken down into a series of steps. And when you do this, the challenge seems more manageable; fearful thoughts change to thoughts of faith, which in turn shift to feelings of accomplishment when you start completing each step.
Now, instead of a vicious circle of fear leading to worry and doubt, you have a circle of faith, expanded awareness, and peace of mind.
Whatever is the main thing that is holding you back take the first step today, just do it. And remember that one small step forward is better than staying where you are.
Enjoy your week.
Live Today With Faith 