3 Ways to Empower Your Life

Transformation. We've been talking about it for a few weeks now. What do you want to transform your life? Your relationships? Your future? Your body? This week I'm sharing a powerful technique you can implement today to start this transformation. I'm talking about the power of your WORDS. 

Words are powerful. Words can lift us up or tear us down. They can motivate and push us forward in life. We must be selective - say "Selective" - in the words and thoughts we use to ourselves and to others. I trust that my words encourage and inspire you. So today we'll be taking a look at 3 ways our words can empower us and give us focus so that we can fulfill our destiny whatever season we are in. 

                          

1. Combat negativity and doubt
There is so much negativity that comes at us in this world. Negative relatives. Negative news. Negative thoughts. It's a battle - for sure - to stay positive. It is especially important to think on positive thoughts when we are going thru a tough time. When we lose a job. When we get sick. When a loved one leaves. This is when our spiritual practice - our Faith - pays off because life isn't always a bed of roses. 

Thoughts will always come. Who knows where they come from but it is our WORDS that are make the difference. This is why it is so important to speak out words of faith and hope and encouragement. This is what faith is all about - speaking out what we do not see. "I will be healed", "I will be successful". "I will get through this." "I will rejoice and be glad." "Today is a gift." These thoughts will guide our thoughts and our steps forward. 

2. Have a Vision
We must have a vision for our lives. Someone once said "If you don't know where you're going, any path will take you there." We must be intentional in our choices. We don't have to have it all planned out but we do need a vision. 

I want a family. I want to be healed. I want to earn a good income. I want to serve others. The Words says that "He will give you the desires of your heart." What is the desire of your heart, dear one? Are you focused on your past or on your future? I believe each day is a gift from God to fulfill the plan he has for us for good and not for evil. Ask yourself "Who can I be a blessing to today?" God will bless us when we take the focus off of ourselves and bless others. 

3. Be Intentional

We must be intentional with our words. Yes, it takes effort, but if we want to move forward and see our family move forward we have to be intentional in building each other up. I used to tell my son "You can be anything you want to be. You can be the President of the United States if you want to." I was trying to give him a vision for his life, to inspire and encourage him since his dad was never around to do so. 

As we age, it is even more important to have goals and a vision. Some call it purpose. I call it destiny. I don't want to look back on my life and ask did my life really matter? Sure, I was successful. I raised two sons as a single parent. I got a masters degree while going thru a separation and divorce. I endured a stressful career for 33 yrs. I overcame numerous health issues by the grace of God, but writing these blogs posts to encourage others and share what I have learned about the power of Faith is what is really important to me today. My spiritual gift is the gift of Faith which is the foundation of my life. This blog is part of my legacy.

Someone once told me "If you encourage one person, you will have done your job." My goal is to inspire you to develop the power of Faith in YOUR OWN life because life is tough and we need supernatural power to overcome life's challenges.  

For Reflection

What words are you speaking to and about yourself? Others? Are they positive and faith-filled? This week try and catch what you are saying about yourself and maybe, put a positive spin on it. You are rewiring your brain at the same time which is good news. 

If you enjoyed this post, consider joining our community by entering your email in the box above. You'll receive my weekly posts plus a copy of my free e-guide entitled "7 Steps to Finding Your Spiritual Path". Check out my offerings on Pinterest and my newest book on spiritual growth, "Ignite the Power Within: 10 Steps to Supercharge Your Spiritual Growth",  available at your favorite online bookstore and thru my website. Simply email me at arielpaz08@gmail.com and I'll get it right out to you!

Stay tuned for part two on this topic next week to help you ignite the power within and discover YOUR destiny!

Until next time, keep smiling and keep looking up!

Ariel Paz

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How to Craft a Life You Love

Spring is officially here and it's a great time to declutter. Let's face it. Most of us have too much - too much stuff, too many projects, too much activity. If we are honest with ourselves, we will admit it. We pack too much into every minute, every day. As a result, we end up stressed and overwhelmed. We don't get enough sleep and our immune system falters. Then we get sick. We neglect our relationships, our bodies, and our spiritual growth. Spring reminds us there is always another opportunity to start anew, to grow, and to blossom. 

It's Not Totally Our Fault

We live in a non-stop world. The pace is frenetic and the world constantly barrages us with news, noise, and negativity. It's too easy to get sucked up in the whirlpool of it all; a downward spiral of never ending things to do, places to go, and stuff to take care of resulting in constant frenetic activity, exhaustion, and very little rest, reflection or true relaxation.

There is an Answer

I know you've heard this phrase, and it is applicable to so many areas of our lives but it seems to have disappeared from mainstream society, especially here in the United States. One principle that we all know but often forget to implement and it is this: keep it simple. 

                                      

Start With the Basics 

Like your wardrobe. Is your closet packed so full you really don't know what you have in there? Time to get rid of some stuff. What haven't you worn in the past year? What don't you feel good in? What makes you look fat, old, or dated? Chuck it - give it to a friend, Goodwill, or a shelter.

Next move on to your house. Same idea. Start with one room at a time.  How about the kitchen, the fridge, and the pots and pans? Every year around early spring, I get this urge to clean and declutter. I am very selective before I buy anything that is going to sit on my kitchen counter or that has only one use. 

Recent Personal Experience

I have been looking for a new toaster oven. Mine is over 10 years old. Does it still work? Yes but it looks a bit ratty. So on a recent shopping excursion to Costco (one of my fav places), I spied a spiffy shiny multi-purpose toaster/air fry oven. 

Well, I got it home (and bruised my arm because it was so heavy). Unpacked all the various pieces for the different functions, and set it on my kitchen counter. It was too big to fit in a cabinet. I read the cookbook that came with it to see what all it could make. Not impressed. I already have an air fryer setting in my new GE oven. 

Well, long story short. I woke up the next day and saw this big black appliance taking up space on my kitchen counter and thought "Nope, it's too big. It's going back to Costco" and that was that. 

Do You Really Need It?

If we want to declutter our space and our life, we have to get really clear on our priorities. What is truly important? Do you really need all those items to clean, dust, and insure? When was the last time you used whatever? My criteria is if I don't love it, I chuck it. Ok, I get it. Some things have sentimental value. Keep one or two and donate the rest. Live in today instead of the past. Today is a gift, that is why they call it the present. Enjoy it.

Clutter Hinders our focus. 

I can't stand clutter. It smothers me. I need space and light. Stuff seems to multiply like rabbits: gifts from friends we don't need, use, or want, old items we are saving for some sentimental reason, books, records, and photo albums we rarely even look at or listen to. Live in the present and have done with old stuff from the past. Chances are pretty darn good your kids or your relatives aren't going to want anything old you may be saving anyway.

Look at Jesus. 
How much stuff did he have? Did he have to schedule everything in a calendar? He made time for people, healing, and speaking words of faith, forgiveness, and encouragement. When we are ruled by the stuff of this world, what time do we have for the things that really matter? Things that will last into eternity? "Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and all these things shall be added unto you." (Matt 6:33). 

When we declutter our lives and get rid of stuff that no longer bears fruit or serves us, we make room for God to bring in something new. Like preparing for the birth of a new baby, we must make space for the new if we want to grow and move forward in life. 

For Reflection

What are you holding on to that no longer serves its purpose? It may be material possessions but it could also be old patterns of thinking that clutter our mind and prevent us from seeing life in new ways. Simplify your life and see what new thing shows up. I can't wait to hear from you!

If you enjoyed this post and would like a little help prioritizing your life while having fun at the same time, check out my ebook entitled "Take Back Your Life: 5 Keys to Reclaiming Your Personal Power."  Life can be simplified so you can have more peace, more power, and more joy. And when those extra challenges come up, you won't get so stressed out because you have your priorities straight. Order your copy today at your favorite online bookseller. 

I do hope you will join our growth-oriented community. Just enter your email address in the box provided. You'll receive my weekly newsletter plus a copy of my free e-guide entitled "7 Steps to Finding Your Spiritual Path". 

And, pop on over to Pinterest and check out all the tips, ideas, and recipes I have curated for you. And if you are looking for a new read, check out my books available at most of your online booksellers. 

Stay tuned for more positive and practical wisdom to help you ignite the power within and discover YOUR DESTINY!

Until next time, keep looking up!

Ariel Paz

All rights reserved. If you'd like to use this material, please contact me at arielpaz08@gmail.com

How to See More Miracles in Your Life

What is it that you want to see transformed in your life? Have you given up on that dream? Perhaps you've uttered the phrase "It's going to take a miracle." Well, some things do, so today we are going to talk about miracles and how to see more of them show up in our lives.

Miracles are not just a thing of the movies and imaginary cartoon characters. Miracles are REAL. In fact, they happen everyday. We just don't hear about them as much because the media is fascinated with negativity, the horrific, and the hideous. For some odd reason, people are drawn to negativity. Or we attribute them to "coincidence". No, recognize that God is doing something supernatural in your life. 

Personal Testimony
So who am I to write on miracles? I feel qualified to write on this topic because I've had several of them occur in my life. Pick up a copy of my book "The Power of Faith" and check them out. In fact, I've had several more occur since writing that book including another miraculous healing, a restoration of a close family relationship that was severed, and financial provision. God is still in the miracle working business. So what it is that we can do to help things along?

First, let me remind us all that it is God's will that we prosper and be in good health. See 3 John 1:2.  There are many verses in the Bible that talk about having abundance, joy, peace, love, and healing. All of these are available to us at any time in our lives and here are some steps YOU can take to see them start happening NOW!

1. BELIEVE you deserve good things.
It all starts with having FAITH. No matter how many mistakes or poor choices we have made in the past, we can start today with a clean slate. When we turn to God, ask forgiveness and ask Jesus to help us, the windows of heaven begin to swing open wide. All good things come from God, not "the Universe" or by the law of attraction as some would have you believe. I am not going to debate these other philosophies; this is a Christian blog and I write from a Christian world-view where God and I are a team. 

2. Get crystal clear. 
I think one reason many of us don't move forward in life is because we are not clear on what we really want. Once we get clear and have a vision, God can go to work. But if we are unclear, doubtful, or wishy-washy, God waits on us to get clear. 

Like when I was house-hunting. I wasn't sure at first exactly what I wanted in a new home. Even though God presented the ideal home to me right from the get-go, I still had to think and rethink it. I spent weeks with realtors visiting other options until I realized the first option was exactly what I wanted and needed after all. Silly me. 

3. Claim the promise. 
Once we get clear, then we can start claiming the promise and by that I mean speaking out what it is that we want to show up in our lives. For example, if we want to be healed, we can claim Jeremiah 30:17 which says "But I will restore health to you and heal your wounds, says the Lord" or Mark 5:34 "Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering." There is power in our words and in the words of Scripture. Instead of saying things like "I'm going to end up in the poorhouse" or "I'll never be able to..." start speaking out words of faith regarding whatever miracle you want to see happen. This is an expression of faith and faith pleases God.

4. Take action. 
We cannot sit idly by and wait for things to happen. We must take personal responsibility and do our part. Whatever it is, take the first step. Read that book. Take that class. Go to the gym. Get that degree. Whatever is in your power to do - like Nike says - "Just do it!" Slowly but surely we will make progress towards our miracle.

5. Trust God to do the impossible. 
Often, situations look impossible and hopeless. We cannot see clearly how to resolve them or what to do next. These are the situations God specializes in. Does the medical report sound hopeless? Does your relationship seem doomed? Has your job ended? What seem like endings are really new beginnings when we have faith to envision a brighter tomorrow. Whatever God brings us to, God will bring us through. This is what is called Grace and it is amazing.

So there we have 5 steps to seeing more miracles in our lives. Give them a try and let me know how things turn out. You will not be disappointed. Sometimes God answers prayers in different ways from what we expect, so be open to his answer in whatever form it shows up in.

For Reflection

What is it that you want to see transformed or restored in your life? Do you believe it can happen? What steps can you take now to make it a reality?

If you enjoyed this post and would like to join our community, enter your email address in the box provided. You'll receive my weekly posts plus a copy of my free e-guide "How to Develop a Spiritual Practice".

Until next time, stay tuned for more positive and practical insights to help you ignite the power within and discover YOUR destiny!

Keep looking up!

Ariel Paz

How to Eliminate 4 Negative Thought Patterns

Spring is a time for renewal, rebirth, and transformation. Who doesn't love seeing new life, bunnies, flowers, and the gorgeous tree colors? It is a time for transformation and that is what today's post and this month's series is all about. 

What transformation would you like to see in your life? Perhaps lose some weight? Get in better shape? Get your financial house in order? Take that trip you've been dreaming of? Break a bad habit? (We all have them :)) All of these are very exciting and motivational personal growth projects to start on. 

Our progress in life and in our goals has much to do with how we think. Often we pick up negative thought patterns which we are unaware of. Awareness is the first key to transformation so this week I'm sharing four thinking patterns that keep us stuck instead of moving forward. 

The Root of the Problem 
As you probably know, change starts in our minds. We all have sub-conscious tapes playing and thought patterns that keep us from making the changes we so desire. I would like to EMPOWER YOU to address some of these faulty thinking patterns. So, what are some of these negative thinking patterns that prevent us from living our best life?

1. Procrastination
You've heard that saying "Don't put off till tomorrow what you can do today" and it is so true. What doesn't get done today, will spill over into tomorrow's to-do list and eventually we will feel overwhelmed and give up on everything.

Some of us have trouble keeping the house clean and let clutter take over. Clutter keeps us distracted and unable to focus. We spend too much time trying to keep up with stuff. We have enough to take care of with just the basics. This is why I endorse the minimalism lifestyle. Keep only what you use, need, or adore and get rid of the rest. Check out my Pinterest board on simplifying your life here. 

Yesterday, the front of a drawer just dropped off and - instead of getting upset, I just laughed. 

"Another thing to fix and add to the to-do list". 

When I found the wood glue, turns out it had all hardened and was no longer usable. Another trip to Home Depot....Just put it on the never-ending to do list. 

Perhaps you have trouble managing your finances. Or getting to the gym. These are all habits we have to incorporate into our daily lives because they form the foundation of a healthy and balanced life. Procrastination keeps us from exerting the EFFORT to take control of our lives. Nobody ever "FEELS" like doing the work but if we wait to "feel" motivated, well you know how that goes. 

We use excuses such as "I don't feel like it", "I'm too tired", "I'll do it tomorrow", "I'm too busy". Do any of these resonate? The answer, friend, is discipline and don't tell me you don't have it, because you ABSOLUTELY DO!

Procrastination is a bad habit you can conquer. 

2.  Distraction
You've decided today is the day you are going to declutter your office. You have good intentions and you start off with good momentum. Then you think of someone you want to call and pick up the phone. Or you get bored and mindlessly wander into the fridge or cupboard for a snack. Or you pop on over to some social media platform just to see "what everybody else" is doing. 

Distractions come in many forms all designed to keep us from accomplishing our goals and moving forward in life.  Distractions take us out of the present moment. Some distractions are playing games on our phones, watching television, working on the computer., shopping. Now there is nothing inherently wrong with any of these, except when we turn to them instead of focusing on our goals and dreams instead. Check out my Pinterest board on mindfulness here. 

3.  Rationalization
I had a friend who kept saying she's on a diet and wants to lose weight yet every time we go out to eat, she says "I deserve this" or "I'll start my diet tomorrow". Working hard at the office all day is not a reason to overeat when you get home at night. Nor is the fact that you broke up with your boyfriend or the fact that you don't have a boyfriend. If you want the confidence to attract a boyfriend, stop rationalizing. 

So let's talk about stress for a minute. We all have it and we are each responsible for managing it so it doesn't spill out onto other people, but sadly, many people have not taken responsibility for managing their stress. Just watch the nightly news. Or the guy at the local gas station. Or your idiot boss. 

We can all come up with ideas to rationalize our actions yet all that does is keep us stuck right where we are. If we want to transform our lives, we must prioritize our goals and values over our negative thoughts.  

4.  Condemnation
Okay, so I said I was going to lose weight this week and once again, I head for the cheese and crackers or the wine or the ice ceam or the chocolate. I keep going back to the food issue because many of us struggle with it. I know I do.

These are just examples of how we can derail ourselves by our own choices and lack of commitment and awareness. Notice I did not say will power. Will power will only get us so far. We have to make a firm commitment to our goal to keep on track AND we have to stay mindful.

Emotions can have a powerful impact on our ability to say "No". We all fall off the wagon from time to time, but what is worse is beating ourselves up about our slip-ups. When we guilt ourselves, we decrease our resolve to start again fresh the next day. Eventually we will capitulate by saying "What's the use?" and resign ourselves to our condition. How we use self-talk plays a huge part in our success or failure. 

Instead of beating yourself up, give yourself some grace. Say "Well, today I didn't do so well on my diet. I'll do better tomorrow," then go for a walk. Feed yourself faith and hope instead of despair and condemnation. Every day is not going to be easy. Every day is not going to be successful. Yet there will be successful days if we keep at it and eventually the successful days will outnumber the unsuccessful days. We will conquer that mountain and imagine how amazing you are going to feel when you do!

For Reflection

Which of these four thinking patterns do you succumb to? What excuses do you make? How do you treat yourself after a slip up? Awareness is the first step to change and I hope this post has helped you become aware of some patterns that may be holding you back. To learn more on this topic, get your copy of my short ebook, "Take Back Your Life: 5 keys to reclaim your personal power" and do leave an honest review.

If you enjoyed this post and would like to join our community, enter your email in the box provided. You'll receive my weekly newsletter plus a copy of my free e-guide "How to Develop a Spiritual Practice." This ebook is designed to help you establish new habits to grow spiritually and emotionally which are the basis of a peaceful and joyful life. Get your copy now. 

I invite you to pop on over to Pinterest and check out all the interesting stuff I have gathered there on a variety of topics such as health and wellness, fitness and exercise, cooking, travel, beauty, mindfulness, motivation and more. 

Stay tuned for more practical and positive wisdom so you can ignite the power within and discover YOUR destiny!

Until next time, keep looking up!

Ariel Paz 

How to Use Mindfulness to Transform Your Life

Ever notice there is always construction going on someplace? Just like the roads around here, we are all a work in progress.  Seems like there is always something to repair, reconstruct, or rebuild. The same goes for us. You'll know when a change is needed when you hit a rough patch - a relationship goes on the rocks, communication gets muddied, you feel down, depressed or lose your joy.

The good news is that tough times are actually opportunities for change, growth and renewal and this week I am sharing three ways being more mindful can help us transform our lives.  

            

1. Make time to self-reflect 

When we go through a tough time, the tendency is to want to move through it quickly, to distract ourselves, to distance from loved ones or to keep ourselves too busy to think. But this is the wrong approach. Tough times come to teach us something, to grow us up, to refine our character. The question to ask ourselves is "What do I need to learn from this?" and "How can I be better?"

2. Be More Mindful

Awareness is the first step to change. When we slow down our busy lives, we are able to be more mindful during our day. It will all get done, sooner or later but better to do it in peace than in a hurry. You know how when you take a nice leisurely stroll you notice the flowers, the sounds of the birds, the colors of the trees,  provided, of course, you are not talking on your phone. Ahem. 

Versus when you go for a run, all you can think about is your legs, your breathing and your feet. You don't really notice your surroundings. This too is being mindful in a different way. When we run, we focus on our body instead of the scenery, just watch out for traffic and deer. 

Life is not a race. We should not be rushing through it. We should be enjoying it and paying attention: to our thoughts, our feelings, and our actions. This is what wholeness is all about. Making all of these work together in harmony. 

3. It's a Skill 

Practicing mindfulness is a skill we all can benefit from. It helps us to pay more attention to ourselves by shining the laser beam of attention on our thoughts and behaviors. 

When we shine the light on ourselves rather than focusing on what the other person said or did, we are able to see things more clearly. It is only then we are able to make positive changes because we can only change ourselves.  For more on mindfulness and meditation, check out my posts on this important topic. 

An Example
Let's look at over-eating for example or eating when we are not really hungry. I know I still struggle with these myself. Ask yourself these questions before you get something to eat. 

- Am I really hungry?

- When did I eat last?

- What am I feeling?

- What am I thinking about? 

Keep a diary of these thoughts and when you eat and you will see patterns in your eating that you can adjust to lose the weight. Often we go on auto-pilot and eat not out of true hunger but something else usually something emotionally stressful and we are trying to self-soothe ourselves with food or drink or a smoke. 

4. Take off the Pressure 

Personal story

I hate pressure. I don't do well under pressure. After retiring, I still felt the pressure. But where was it coming from? Me! Finally, I put up a sticky note on my kitchen cabinet that said "Stop the pressure." There was no need. Many of us pressure ourselves needlessly and this steals our peace and our joy. 

Change and transformation take time. Rome wasn't built in a day, right? Be gentle with yourself. Keep at it and keep the faith. Don't try and lean on your own will-power which is limited. Instead, lean on God. It is by his grace and through his power that we are able to overcome the obstacles in our path to growth and transformation. 2 Corinthians 12:19 says "My grace is sufficient for you". Hang on to that promise and you will be victorious no matter what you are trying to change because God is faithful. 

For Reflection 
What are you struggling with today? What can you do to be more gentle and compassionate with yourself? What is one step you can take to make the change a reality today? 

If this post resonated with you, join our community by entering your email address in the box provided. You'll receive my weekly newsletter plus a copy of my free eguide entitled "How to Develop a Spiritual Practice". 

Stay tuned for more positive and practical wisdom to help you ignite the power within and discover your destiny. 

Until next time,  keep looking up!

Ariel Paz

How to Live in the Present to Transform Your Life

What do you want to see transformed in your life? A bad habit? A relationship? Your finances? The Resurrection reminds us that new life can come from something dead. Things might seem hopeless but when we focus on the cross, we realize there is always hope. Hope to start again. Hope to make things new. And one of the keys to transforming our lives, is to practice living in the present moment so that is the topic of this week's post. 

Life is not always a bed of roses as you know. The key is to make it a bed of roses - by staying in today. Today is where Joy is found. Today is where action is possible. Today is when forgiveness heals. Today is when we can express love. 

There are several factors involved in transformation: the power of decision, the power of faith and believing, and finally, taking action in today. 

1. Reprioritize Your Life 
If we want to make changes we need to be really clear on our priorities. Start by asking yourself these questions:

- What do I REALLY want my life to look like? In 5 years? In 10 years?

- Where do I REALLY want to live?

- What TRULY makes me happy?

- What ONE SPECIFIC THING do I want to change?

Be specific in defining your goals. There is always something to work on, to improve, to learn, to unlearn. Growth and change make for a healthier, more enriched and more joyful life. Brendon Burchard, high performance coach, says this: "When you're done changing, you're done" and I agree.

2. Forget about the Past - Today is a new day

How often do your thoughts go back to some past event? Or become anxious about some possible future event that probably will never happen? Or let a situation control your thoughts? I'm guilty of this and it's a bad habit. We are suddenly anxious and often, don't even realize why. It's because our thoughts took us there. 

3. Conquer Mindlessness 

How often do you say or do something without realizing it? We could be driving, or taking a shower, or going to get something from another room and forget what it was. And our mind wanders. Happens to all of us. It's called mindlessness. 

Other forms of mindlessness include time we spend watching stupid television shows, playing games on the computer or cell phone, picking our skin or nails, pulling our hair, or snacking when we are not hungry. These are all forms of mindlessness which take us out of the present moment. 

Mindlessness is the failure to pay attention. It's like we are on auto-pilot. We eat, drink, pick, or do something unhealthy without really being present. I call it a trance. Who knows how or why it happens. 

So what should we pay attention to if we want to transform our lives? Here are some key things:

Pay attention to yourself.
Pay attention to your moods.
Pay attention to what emotions and feelings you are experiencing as you experience them and how your body is reacting. 
Pay attention to your reactions.
Pay attention to your interactions with others.
Pay attention to how you are feeling when you eat.
Pay attention to your calmness level.
Pay attention to how tired you are.

Pay attention to how loud you are talking. 
Pay attention to how much you have to do in any given day.
Pay attention to your stress level.
Women, pay attention to your hormones.
Men, pay attention to your work demands.

One thing that is particularly important is to pay attention to our urges.
- the urge to eat.
- the urge to snack
- the urge to get a drink or a smoke
- the urge to shop
- the urge to speak unkindly
- the urge to be impatient, rude or snarky

- the urge to interrupt

- the urge to raise your voice

- the urge to pick or pull at our skin, our hair, our nails

3. Managing Urges 
We have hundreds of urges in the course of a day. Often, we act on them  because we are unaware that the urge is controlling our behavior, not conscious choice. For example, I developed the habit of getting a snack later in the evening. I tend to eat dinner early so by 8 or 9 pm. I am often ready for a snack. I don't like to go to bed feeling the slightest bit hungry. Well, I am also trying to lose the winter weight I picked up. Which will win? The urge to snack or the desire to lose the weight? It's a daily struggle and it all goes back to our commitment to our decision to change. 

We cannot prevent urges from happening, but we can change our actions and how we respond to them and that takes being mindful and present. We can choose a response the is in line with our values. So in this example, I can choose to have a cup of hot tea instead of a piece of chocolate. Tea does not break my fast or spike my blood sugar. It's about noticing the urge and then making a conscious choice to do something different. This is called Habit Reversal Training, teaching ourselves new positive habits. 

When we continue to act on our urges, we eventually develop a habit and we all know how hard it is to break a habit. The key is to be aware of our unhealthy habits and behaviors and nip them in the bud. The more we pay attention - stay present- the more in control we are of our thoughts and behaviors, the more we are able to make conscious choices and move forward in improving our lives.

For Reflection 
I trust this post has been enlightening for you as learning about it has been for me. Is there a habit you would like to break? What urge do you have that needs to be replaced? What response could you replace it with? 

If this post was helpful to you, consider joining our blog community. When you enter your email address in the box provided, you'll receive my weekly emails. You'll also receive a copy of my free eguide entitled "How to Develop a Spiritual Practice."

Stay tuned for next week's post on transformation. So glad you're here to learn how to ignite the power within and discover YOUR destiny!

Keep looking up!

Ariel Paz 

How to Live in Victory Over Your Circumstances

Life has its challenges, for sure. Some of us are facing illness or health challenges. For others, it could be a broken relationship, financial stress, or loss of a loved one. Some of us are facing more than one of these. Storms often seem overwhelming and insurmountable while we are going thru them, but the key is to keep our focus on the Resurrection power of Jesus Christ. And that my friends, is why we celebrate Easter. 

A Little History Lesson
Jesus Christ was a real person, not just a prophet, not just a teacher, who lived about 2000 years ago. More importantly, he was the incarnate Son of God which means he is personification of Holy God. He became flesh so that we may know who God is and what we wants of us, to believe in him and to follow him. The Garden of Eden didn't work out. The Ten Commandments didn't work either, so God chose his one and only Son, Jesus, to come down from Heaven to this earth to show us how it's done. 

The Problem 

Jesus did many miracles. Raised people from the dead. Gave sight to the blind. People were flocking to him everywhere. But. He was becoming too popular with the Jewish people. The Jewish religious leaders of the day were afraid of losing their power over the people and of the Roman soldiers having to step in. It was all about control, power, and ego. Not much has changed has it? Look at Putin for example. 

The Decision

Jesus was persecuted by the Jewish leaders of the time which led to a shameful and humiliating death on the cross at the hands of the Roman govenor, Pilate. He knew Jesus was an innocent man, yet he gave in to the misguided people. He, too, was weak and afraid and was already under scrutiny from Rome. It takes courage to do the right thing. 

Atonement

Until then, the only way to absolve people of their sins was by the shedding of blood, usually an animal, typically a lamb. Blood is the only way to atone for sin and Jesus willingly surrendered his life so that our sins could be atoned for once and for all eternity. This is why Jesus is called the sacrificial lamb. And this is why we take communion - to remember that only the blood of the lamb can make us holy in the eyes of God. 

 

What This Means to Us

The fantastic news is that when we meet with a situation that seems impossible to us, we can call on the name of Jesus and he can turn it around. I have seen many miraculous breakthroughs,  healings, and solutions because of prayer and calling out to Jesus. There is supernatural power in the name of Jesus Christ. Yet, so many of us fail to use this power and then wonder why we struggle. 

When we celebrate Easter, we are reminded of new life and transformation, victory over sin and death, triumph over evil. When we look at the cross, we are reminded that new life can come out of what appears to be dead. When we accept Christ as our Lord and Savior, we receive Jesus' Resurrection power thru the Holy Spirit. This is why I pass on Buddhism, Islam, and all the other belief systems out there. Only Jesus rose from the dead and only He can bring life from death.

Personal Story
I have seen this power in action in my own life many times. God has restored me from several serious illnesses that the doctors could not figure out. I remember one stroke specialist at Johns Hopkins scratching his head and muttering to himself about the vestibular migraines I was having. 

After a bankruptcy and a nasty divorce, Christ has restored my finances and moved me to a place of provision and abundance. After being raised in a chaotic and dysfunctional home, he has replaced fear, worry, and anxiety with faith, peace and joy. He has given me peace after my oldest son decided to estrange himself from me for no apparent reason. And that is what I want to share with you, dear friend. No matter what painful things you have gone thru, Jesus can heal you. He can give you a peace that passes all understanding. That is why I put all this effort into writing this blog. Jesus has transformed my life. What he has done for me he can and will do for you when you put your trust in him. 

   

We were not made to endure all these things on our own. Jesus is a friend who sticks closer than a brother. 

Peace through the Pain  

Easter is a time to be transformed. God sees every pain and hurt we endure. He sees our fears, our shame, our guilt,  and he wants to renew us by transforming our minds. We were not meant to live stressed out, anxious, defeated lives fearing when the next shoe will drop. 

When we accept Jesus, we learn to trust, to have peace and hope despite our circumstances, and to forgive those who have hurt us. His plan for us is for good and not for evil. No matter what mistakes we may have made or what others may have done to us, God is able to make us new and whole again. This is the power of the Resurrection. 

A time for renewal and forgiveness.

Easter is a time to let go of the old, and embrace the new. It is a time to let God heal our hearts, by filling it with the great love he has to offer us through His son, Jesus Christ. It is up to each of us whether or not we choose to receive this free gift of grace and love. 

My life has been redeemed by the blood of the Lamb; so in a spirit of humility and thankfulness, I offer some reflections on what Easter means to me, and I trust that they will encourage and comfort you as well. When we pause to look at the cross, somehow it puts our "light and momentary afflictions" into perspective.

Easter reminds me that:

- I always have another opportunity for transformation and change

- miracles still happen when I believe 

- God's grace is sufficient for me

- Jesus paid the price for all my sins and mistakes, past, present and future

- God is always there no matter how far away I drift from Him

- no matter how dark it may look on Friday, Sunday is coming

- when I wonder "Does God really love me?" all I have to do is look at Jesus' outstretched arms on the cross and hear him say "I love you this much"

- when I am suffering, I know Jesus has suffered so much more than I ever will and that makes my pain more bearable

- no matter what I have lost or how much I have been hurt, misunderstood, or mistreated, God can bring healing and peace to my soul 

A Prayer to Remember
Here is one of my favorite prayers that helps guide me on how to handle the adversities of love. May it encourage you today. 

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace,
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
where there is sadness, joy;

O
Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console; to be understood as to understand;
to be loved as to love.

For it is in giving that we receive;
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.

For Reflection 

Where do you want to see new life? What seems dead? Do you believe Jesus is the Son of God? Do you believe in the Resurrection? If not, will you accept him into your life as Lord and Savior today and allow him to restore and renew you? 

If you are a believer, will you rededicate your life to him and live the abundant life he promises us? We are each on our own spiritual journey and it is up to us which path to choose. 

May God fill you with his great love and peace. May he heal your broken places, and make you new. Amen and amen. 

If this post has encouraged you, join our community by entering your email address in the box provided. You'll receive my weekly newsletter plus a copy of my free guide entitled "How to Develop a Spiritual Practice", which details the 10 daily practices for connecting deeper with yourself and God. 

Stay tuned for more positive and practical wisdom to help you find healing, wholeness, and harmony and discover YOUR destiny!

Until next time, keep looking up!

Ariel Paz 

Lent: A Time to Look In the Mirror

When was the last time you looked in a mirror? This morning? In your car? Many of us spend lots of time in front of the mirror: primping, styling our hair, and making sure we look just right before we head out the door. Now I am all for looking your best, but how often do we look inside and consider the fact that our inner person is even more important?

I think Michael Jackson realized this when he sang this powerful song. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ocJNahTwok

On stage since a small child, Michael was always in the limelight. He had the glitz, the glamor and the fancy clothes. But as we all realize sooner or later, the glitz, the glamor and the lights fade all too soon and then where are we? When all is said and done, how much time have we devoted to shining up our souls? 

Lent is an ideal time to take a look within. 

It's a time to get alone and get quiet with ourselves and God. Too many of us are focused on outward success: money, possessions, fancy cars, jewelry, prestige. Now I have nothing against outward success but true success has nothing to do with money. How many of the rich and famous are inwardly destitute? Lonely, unhappy, and unfulfilled? Commit suicide? Look at Michael. 

True Success
True success  is about  growth, change, transformation, and becoming a kinder, more peaceful person. It's how we feel about ourselves, the steps we take to heal our hurts, pains, and insecurities, and then what we can do to make a difference in this hurting world of ours. This is what Lent is really all about; it is an opportunity to work on our spiritual and emotional selves and ask ourselves how we can become more like Jesus. We need to turn our eyes away from what the rest of the world is doing, and focus instead of what God would have us become. We need to realize the world lives in exact opposition to how God would have us live. 

Each of Us in On Our Own Journey 
We are each on our own spiritual journey, like I say in my books.  The obstacles we encounter in life are stepping stones to healing, wholeness, and harmony.  The rest will come when we get our priorities in order. "Seek ye first the kingdom of heaven and his righteousness and all these things shall be added unto you," (Matt. 6:33). The kingdom of God, as it says in the Bible, is righteousness, peace, and joy. These are all inner, spiritual qualities. 

So, when was the last time you took a good look inside? What did you find there? Be honest with yourself but remember to see yourself and others through the eyes of love with compassion and mercy, just as Jesus does. We each have our own wounds that need healing but no one ever healed by shame, guilt, or condemnation. We heal by being loved and Jesus showed us how much he loves us when he died on that cross.

For Reflection:

Are you aware of what hurts or pains you need to heal? Where is there  brokenness? Is there someone you need to forgive this season? Spend some time this week with Jesus and ask him to heal your broken places and make you whole so you can move forward into YOUR DESTINY!

Love to hear your comments on this post. If you'd like to find healing, wholeness, and harmony and ignite the power within so you can discover YOUR destiny, enter your email address in the box provided. You'll receive my weekly posts plus you'll receive a copy of my free e-guide entitled "How to Start a Spiritual Practice" to learn some tools to help you grow spiritually and do pass on to a friend who may need healing as well. 

Until next time, remember you have the power to make that change!

Keep looking up!

Ariel Paz

How Not to Let Your Emotions Get the Best of You

Ever get caught up in the heat of the moment, do or say something mean and then regret it later? Who hasn't? Dierks Bentley, one of my favorite country singers, has a song that goes "I knew what I was feeling, but what was I thinking?"

Emotions and feelings cause us to say and do the most stupid even deadly things sometimes. One of the strongest emotions is anger, and we have all seen what pent-up anger can provoke one to do. 

Another powerful emotion is fear and it's cousin, anxiety which can lead to overwhelm. Both of these cause us to think and act irrationally. What's more, they steal our peace and joy, if we don't master them.

What really happens when we get overly emotional? 
The two sides of our brain compete for control. The left hemisphere controls logical, analytical, rational thinking. The right side controls our creativity, intuition, and expression of emotions. When our emotions take over, our rational logical thinking goes out the window. An example is when we fall in love, those butterflies and daydreams make us completely oblivious to the reality and flaws of the other person. All we can think about, is how they make us feel. 

In a similiar way, when we are angry, the anger takes control of our brains and causes people to strike out in harmful, hurtful, and even deadly ways. We say things we later regret. We lash out at innocent family members because we are mad at the boss, or someone else. Remember, words can never be taken back. 

Fear and anxiety can take over our rational thinking as well. We start imagining all sorts of horrible outcomes which usually never materialize. These thoughts and feelings can manifest as panic attacks which are an example of a distorted perception of reality. What's worse is when we start verbalizing these to others and suck them into our quagmire.

Unexpressed negative feelings result in physical symptoms. 
On the flip side, unexpressed emotions are dangerous as well. Not unlike a volcanic eruption, unexpressed feelings can result in a tumultuous explosion and then, after the fact, we wonder "What was I thinking?" or "What were they thinking?" The truth is we weren't thinking because the thinking side of our brain was hijacked. 

Unexpressed negative emotions can result in a multitude of physical ailments such as skin problems like cystic acne & boils, headaches, digestive issues, weight gain, high blood pressure, dizziness and imbalance and many others.  Stroke and heart attack can both be caused by strong emotions. Is it any wonder so many people are on prescription drugs these days? Our bodies are speaking to us and if we supress or ignore our negative emotions, we will suffer physically as well as emotionally and mentally.

Negative thought patterns also affect our emotional well-being. 

As psychologist James Allen says in his book, "As a Man Thinketh", our thoughts control our not only our destiny but our bodies and feelings as well.  If we start thinking negative thoughts, we will soon feel depressed, anxious and down. The more we dwell on negative thoughts the more power we give them. If left to continue, unexpressed anger can turn into depression.

What to do?
Here are some techniques I've discovered to help me be more aware of what I am feeling so I can maintain my equilibrium and my mental and emotional health. Give them a try and see if they help you too.

1) Tune in to your body
Pay attention to signals your body is sending such as a fluttering stomach, tightness in the chest, headache, rapid breathing, feelings of anxiety. Also any behaviors done in excess such as over-eating or over-drinking, shopping, and excoriation are all signs of emotional distress.

2) Be aware of your triggers
We each have areas that we are sensitive about. For example, I have realized that one of my triggers is about finances and money. Having come from a poor single-mom home, and gone through a bankruptcy with my ex, I am super sensitive when it comes to money issues and ultra concerned about making wise financial decisions.

We need to be aware of what our triggers are and realize what the fear is behind them. This will help us be more aware when we discuss these topics and help us not to over-react when the topic arises. Perhaps you have a trigger of low self-esteem. Any time someone makes a comment directed at you, you get defensive. Ask for clarification rather than reacting and saying something hurtful back. Two wrongs don't make a right.

3) Take a time out
Distance myself from the person or situation to diffuse rather than escalate it. The longer we expose ourself to an angry or anxious person, the more effect they will have on us. Emotions are transferable, so this is a crucial self-care step. The Bible says "Do not associate with angry people lest we become like them, and endanger our souls" (Prov. 22:24 TLB)

If I feel myself getting worked up, I immediately lower my voice which helps to calm me down.  I am getting better at recognizing my emotions in the moment and the cause of them. If I don't realize it immediately, I give myself alone time to calm down and get quiet so I can get in touch with what is bothering me.

Another option is to walk away, get off the phone or go into another room. Don't allow yourself to get drawn into an emotional maelstrom which I know is easier said than done. Just yesterday I was on the phone with my adult son and it turned into a two hour conversation because of unresolved issues from the month before. Bottom line, don't let hurts accumulate. We have to deal with them in a timely manner, not a month later. 
   
4) Pay attention to your thoughts
Notice the thoughts going through your mind. What am I thinking? Is it true or is it fear-based? Often we have negative beliefs that do not serve us but continue to control our behaviors and actions. Thinking we are "unworthy" or "stupid" or "lazy" or "old" or "fat" will steal our joy and our self-esteem. Watch the self-talk. 
- Practice mindfulness.
- Refuse to dwell on negative, worrisome,  or fear-based thoughts.

- Replace negative thoughts with positive, encouraging thoughts. 
- Give the other person the benefit of the doubt.
- Clarify misunderstandings by asking questions like "What did you mean by that?" rather than assuming the worst. 

- Realize you don't have to take action on every thought that comes into your mind. We have to evaluate our thoughts and make a conscious choice whether to act on them or not. 

5) Look for the positive. 
    Choose to think healthy positive thoughts.
    Find something positive about a negative situation.
    Read inspirational books and material like this blog.
    Listen to uplifting music.
    Dance.

    There is always another way to look at things. 

    We never really know what another person is thinking or feeling.

    Take a positive action: go for a walk, listen to some music, do some yoga, do something to take care of yourself. 

6) Journal.
     Writing my thoughts and feelings on a regular basis helps me to:
     a) be aware of my thoughts and emotions
     b) helps me to distance myself from them so I can look at them objectively and unemotionally
     c) helps get them out of my body and onto paper

7) Practice prayer and meditation
     Connect with your inner self and with the God of your understanding.
     Listen to what the still small voice is telling me
     When we settle down enough to pray and meditate, we calm the mind which, in turn, calms the body. Calming the mind also helps quench any fears or anxiety we may be experiencing.

For Reflection 
The more we understand about the connection between our thoughts and our feelings, the better we will be able to control both and the stronger our personal power will become.  Can you recall a situation where your emotions got the better of you? How did you feel after? Journal this situation. 

If you'd like to join our community and receive a copy of my free e-book entitled "How to Develop a Spiritual Path", please enter your email in the box provided and I'll get it right out to you. I welcome your feedback on my posts.

Until next time, stay turned for more practical and spiritual wisdom on how to ignite your personal power and remember, keep looking up!

Ariel Paz