Morning Motivation (1.0)

believe

[bih-leev]

verb (used without object), believed, believing.

1.

to have confidence in the truth,the existence, or the reliability ofsomething, although withoutabsolute proof that one is right indoing so:

Only if one believes in somethingcan one act purposefully.

-- 

Ever thought it might be a good idea to believe in yourself? We so often believe in famous people to win the next trophy, to cross the next finish line, to jump over the next hurdle. We also believe that friends will get that engagement ring, that promotion, that new car, that new home. We often believe that God will heal her, bless her, love her. But, what about us? What about me? What about you? What if, we took a little more energy and actually believed that we were enough. What if we actually said "I can do that, I can do anything!" ...and, believed it? Where would we be today? Where would you be today? 

-- 

Today, I charge you to actually believe that YOU can. Today, I charge you to stop doubting yourself and actually see yourself in that dream life working that dram job living in that dream house driving that dream car in that dream marriage. What happens if you just believe in you? Dreams actually start to come true! 

#youareenough act like it! 

Body Shamming... N E V E R ok

Hello loves! Happy Friday! 

Me: I actually see progress. You have to admit, I look smaller. 

Her: I can admit that. But, how much weight have you lost. 

Me: 10 pounds last month 

Her: Oh. 

So guys, if someone is battling something and they are working hard to achieve greater - do NOT say anything that may deter them from continuing on that path. 

Ten pounds. Ten pounds. Ten pounds. 

You didn't ask about the inches. You didn't ask about the clothing sizes. You asked about the weight. And, apparently it wasn't good enough for you. 

The larger problem with shamming is, the stammer rarely sees any issues with their shams. But the shamee hears something extremely hurtful and unnecessary. 

Her: you're buying all gym clothes, did you get a gym membership or something? 

Me: I work out daily. 

Really? Really? Because I am not thin, if I buy gym clothes I have to be just starting my workout plan? Maybe I have been battling weight issues for life (I have). Maybe I lost weight and need new clothes (I did). Maybe I was hoping no one noticed what I was buying because I'm discouraged to begin my workout. Maybe I am just trying to be great. Maybe it's none of your business what I'm buying and why I'm buying it. Commentary - not needed and not welcomed. 

Dear everyone that is trying to be better - you can do it! You are amazing! God loves you! You WILL reach your goals. 

Love. 😘

Abundant Blessings

Today I was headed to the grocery store and a little voice redirected my path to a new store. In line in front of me a woman was counting her pennies, literally, to pay for her groceries. Because I was able, today, I offered to pay for whatever she hadn't already scanned and paid for. She literally turned around and hugged me and said "you don't know how much you just blessed me". The woman behind me said "I came in here having a horrible day with too much on my plate. But you were Gods way of telling me, everything will be ok." I responded " keep claiming it and believing that God will bless you." The cashier then said "my mother tells me all the time 'you barely have a pot to ---- in' but I shush her because I'm trying." I affirmed her faith and we had a mini faith party right in the store. To me, tithing isn't about giving to a building to me, Christianity isn't always about going to church on Sunday in a suit. The purpose of our faith walks is to bless others and get them to believe that they are already blessed. Your purpose here is for people to see God in you. Let your blessed life be your testimony. Lastly, I saw the woman again in the parking lot and she was so full of gratitude that she pulled off forgetting to put her groceries in her car. She was just crying and kept telling me I didn't know how much she needed that. Bless someone today folks, genuinely, looking for nothing in return. HappyFriday  Folks! 

#trainyourmind 3.0

The best thing about my trainer is she used to be overweight. Why is that the best thing? She gets it. She understands it's not easy. She understands that you'll fail. She understands that you'll quit. But, she also understands that you'll get back up and try it again. And, eventually, that last try will come and you will succeed b

On Tuesday, yesterday, she told me to do 150 sit-ups and a 20 minute walk as my Wednesday workout at home. After church, I ate dinner. Then, I went for my 20 minute walk (today's distance, 1 mile) and attempted my sit-ups. 

Honesty moment: before I started, I gave up. I decided in my mind that I could not do 150 sit-ups so I didn't even attempt one. I failed myself in my thinking. Instead of simply following directions, I did 150 crunches. That wasn't even a challenge. I laughed at myself being lazy. I then got in the bed and kept thinking about how I failed myself. I texted Keriki to tell her how I failed myself (she's fit and hot like a model, I hate her. She knows it too.). Of course I got the Spelman woman pep talk so, I guilted myself into doing 50 Sit-ups. It didn't even take long ... 6 minutes and 23 seconds, smh. 

However, I hated how I felt. I felt grotesquely obese. It was hard. I couldn't even do 1 perfectly neat situp. I couldn't take it. I didn't like it. It was all mental. It was all in my head. I'm now determined to perfect my situp. I am challenging myself to do at least 50 sit-ups every night until they're "easy". . . Until they're routine. Because, I've never felt that way. And, I didn't like it one bit. 

Laugh it off and try again. 

Focus black man, focus. 

G. 

#trainyourmind 2.0

Same alarm clocks - different experience ....

Today I met B at 6. When we arrived she told me we would be on the treadmill for 45 minutes. WHAT? I hate treadmills. And, 45 minutes is an eternity in gym land. The catch was, "you just have to push yourself". For 45 minutes, every 2ish minutes, I increased the incline decreased the speed - decreased the incline increased the speed - over and over and over again. Around the twenty minute mark, my legs felt like jello. I could no longer increase the speed, nor could I walk flat. It was strange. So, I had to psyche myself out:

"Just get to 30 minutes"

"You can do this, it's only two minutes"

"Far less than halfway to go"

"It's just walking" 

"Just take one step at a time"

Just like that, I made it to 45 minutes and felt great. Not tired at all, just jello legs. And, the icing on the cake was when I weighed at home: 250.4. 

"Discipline is not being a Slavs to repetition, it's knowing what to do and when to do it." - TTC

What's your struggle? Get disciplined today. Fight your battles. Win the race. 

Love. 

G. 

#trainyourmind

Last night I set three alarms to get my mind right for my first gym session with a new trainer. 

I have been struggling with weight more now than I ever have. Currently, 253 with no regular food routine and no regular gym routine, I needed help. 

After setting the above alarms, I couldn't sleep. I kept waking up preparing for this gym date. But, I made it to the gym with @biancahopes. She seemed super bootcamp-y when I participated in her fit camp. So, I was legit worried. But, we did a fit test and I was gone 30 minutes later. After doing the treadmill testing speed and incline, sit ups, push ups, squats, step ups and stretching ... I feel amazing. 

This is day one. This is the beginning. This is the last day one. This is the last beginning. I claim health and fitness over myself and my life. 

Train your mind. Think positive thoughts. Be honest with yourself. 

Love. 

G. 

Thoughts on the Horizon ...

I've never been big on resolutions. But, I have always been interested in making plans to benefit my life. 2013 was a decent year for me... I have no regrets, lots of life lessons and an abundance of happiness. But, there are some things that I will be 100% mindful of in 2014.

1. I have absolutely no desire to make appointments for friendships. -- Relationships, in my mind, are two sided. I think it is important to give my all when it is receiprocated. There are people that I loved full heartedly that I need to love from a distance in the future. This goes for family, friends, associates, acquaintances, classmates, church family, village people, strangers... I have no desire to lose sleep over things that should not hold so much energy.

2. Do what you love. Love what you do. Enjoy the people you are doing it with. And, be mindful of it all.  -- Let's just say, with this, changes will occur. Yes, very vague - but, a change gon' come.

3. Love those that love you. -- This is coupled with the first message.

4. Be mindful of the connections you have. -- I am very socially connected, as in, I know a lot of people. But, I don't have many connections that I truly value. I can count the amount of people whose seasons are still alive and well. Then, there are others that I am just connected to, because I met them somewhere at some point. This year, I am going to be very conscious of the connections I have.  -- I will try my best to use instagram for what its for - sharing images. They need not be of me, or of my "profound thoughts", or of my plans, or of my family. But, instead, I will focus on sharing sights that I think are amazing - skylines, sunlight, moonlight, nature, children, travel, etc. -- I will use twitter as a conversation to join in or begin, sharing quotes that I hear or responding to questions that others ask. I want to use it for a platform to diversify my thoughts. -- I will use facebook as a way to motivate those that I am facebook friends with. I will use it to stay connected to people whose path I have once crossed. I will use it as a way to motivate myself. -- The bigger picture here is I will use social networks for their purpose, not for sustaining my life. We have become a bit to focused on connections for the wrong reason. My biggest connection should be community, as that is my passion. But, how can I be connected with the community if I'm not in the community? How can I be connected to the community if I am always on my phone? How can I be connected to the community if I am not living in the moment?

Keep thinking. Keep being. Keep believing.  Love all, but first - love yourself.

Happy New Year Folks.

Peace.