Prayers for Boston

My heart goes out to those that are affected by the Boston Marathon Bombing.  It's amazing to me how so many people came together to help those affected in the race and ran towards them instead of away.  I know it can be hard to think that there are so many awful people in the world but I know that there is more than double the amount of amazing and helpful and courageous people out there to the horrible ones.  We as society like to talk about all the awful things going on because it's "news" when there are people every day risking their live for others or striving to make this world a better place.

I wanted to share this video with you.  I know this talks about crossing the finish line and may be a hard topic for some of you out there but the message itself is what is important.  Through all of these awful things that go on in our world we are not alone. "Fear not, I am with thee oh be not dismayed for I am with thee and will give thee aid, I'll strengthen thee and help thee and cause thee to stand omnipotent hand."  I know that we can all come together and help those that may have gone through this terrible ordeal.  Send messages of comfort and love.  Let them know that they are not alone.

 


Here are a couple of links that could help as well.

• Staying Positive in a Negative World
• Finding Strength Amidst Grief

How to Stop Competing

The topic I would like to share with you today is about competing this is such a huge problem for me in my life. I tend to find myself competing with others over having a great blog, being skinny, and trying to be the best. I know I am not the best one bit but I compete with my inner self on being the best.  This video from Studio 5 is so great and is exactly what I needed to hear. Julie de Azevedo Hanks talks about 'How to Stop Competing with Others.' I would like to touch on a few key parts:

1. Here are 4 reasons why we compete:

• We compete to cover up insecurities and self-doubt
• We compete to prove self worth, that we're good enough and loveable. I think this may be the number one reason why I compete.
• We compete because we're afraid that there is a limited supply of love and success.
• We compete because we are grown up in a competitive nature where there is only one winner.

2. "Each woman has a unique path, unique talents, and unique challenges."  I love this! I believe this is so true.  I have a hard time with this because I find myself constantly saying "I wish I had a house like so and so," "I wish I had bills paid off like so and so," "I wish I had the strength to work out and lose weight like so and so," but I don't.  I am a unique individual with a unique path, unique talents, and unique challenges there is no one out there that is like me I am unique!

3. The last thing would be to appreciate all things beautiful.  I love this, it is so simple yet so powerful.  I think I need to focus more on how life is beautiful and how things just always seem to work out in the end instead of trying to control everything and try to be perfect in everything. 

I decided I would take my favorite quote from this subject on competing and create a little print out.  You can download it from the link below or just look at it.  I don't expect everyone to have to download it just thought I would create it for myself and share it in case anyone else wanted it as well.  Here it is:   

This is a free printable that I have created just for you! I hope you enjoy it! You can click here to download it for free!!

       

I Surrender!....

Have you ever felt like you just want to surrender from the challenges of life, throw down the white flag and just say I give in?  That's how I feel right now, I just want to surrender and get a break.  The last couple of months have been the hardest times for my husband and I and I don't understand why.  We have had so many car issues that are constantly breaking down we have had 11 cars in the 4 years we have been married.  A couple of days ago we just found out we owe taxes, $600 worth.  I hate taxes, I just don't understand them and I hate that we have to pay.  It's funny though if you think about it, when you have to pay taxes you hate them but when you get money back from taxes you love them.  This year we hate them.  Then to top it all off my husband, Derek, just got laid off from his job yesterday.  I just don't know how much more I can handle from all of this.

Then this morning, I came into work to read my Bloglovin' feed and I read this wonderful blog post from Mallory from 'From California to Kansas' had a great post that is exactly what I needed today.  Head on over here to read her post.  I just wanted to share an awesome quote that she had on her blog that spoke directly to me.

Source: google.com via Mallory from 'From California to Kansas'

Source: Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints

I hope you all know that challenges will come and they will go but they will help you.  It could be that Heavenly Father could be lining things up in your life to make your life better.  I hope know things will get better for us.  However, sometimes it just sucks going through it.  Until next time!

Stop Pretending to be "Fine"

Have you ever been asked the infamous question "How are you" and you respond with "Fine" when inside your heart is screaming out that it's not fine and that your not okay?  Have you ever wanted to scream out to the world that you are broken, frustrated, overwhelmed and not okay one bit?  If so, then this post is for you.

On my favorite show that I always talk about, Studio 5, they had a segment a couple of weeks ago called 'Stop Pretending to be 'Fine''  I really enjoyed this segment because it spoke directly to me.  Whenever someone asks me how I am doing I always put a smile on my face and say "I am fine" or "Good" when really I am having the hardest time.  But sometimes I am afraid of spilling my guts or complaining about things in my life that may not seem like such a huge deal to them. One thing that Julie de Azevedo Hanks said in this segment is to 'asses the relationship.' If anacquaintance asks you how you are doing you might respond differently than if a family member or close friend asks you how you are doing. I always try to sound happy and act like nothing is going on but sometimes I just let it all out to family and it has actually helped sharing somethings with them. I have a wonderful sister-in-law that has helped me through some dark times. She has been in these situations before and she has really helped me out. It's nice when you finally let out how you really feel and you find out that they have been through the same thing and share with you what helped them overcome that situation.

The last thing that I liked from this segment was when she talked about being brave. She says; "What will I gain if I share my real self with others? It takes courage to be real and share your struggles, but the payoff is worth it. Closer relationships, more emotional support and help are just a few of the benefits of sharing more of yourself with others. I hope this is true because that is why I started this blog. For the longest time I always felt like I was the only one going through some of the struggles I am going through but then a couple of weeks ago I found out that I wasn't the only one out there and that there were many others going through trials like me.

Since I am talking about being brave and sharing how you really feel, I would like to share with you what I am going through right now. This is a little hard for me to talk about but I can't overcome my feelings if I don't share them. I suffer with major insecurity. I always feel like what I do is never good enough. I was not an A student like my brothers, I am not amazing at sports like my brothers, or popular like them. I don't have children, and suffer from spending too much money and in result with debt. I don't have a lot of friends and feel like it is really hard for me to make friends. I feel like I have all of these great things in mind for me and can see where my life would go but then when I try to get there I just fall short and can't complete them like I thought. Maybe I just set my goals too high for me to complete, whatever it is, I would like it to stop so I can feel accomplished. Have you ever felt this way? If so, how did you overcome these thoughts and feelings? How have you succeeded in something that you really wanted to accomplish? If you want, take a minute to share some ideas, I would really appreciate it! Thanks for letting me share my true feelings! Until next time!