Poetic Inspirations and Practical Applications for Blissful Living

Guest Post: I Can’t Stands No More

I Can’t Stands No More

Guest Post by Heart and Soul Health Coach Mike Fenton

 

Once there was a cartoon character named Popeye the Sailor Man (Robin Williams portrayed him in a movie version of the cartoon), and whenever Popeye would get fed up with being bullied by Bluto (his cartoon adversary) or became exhausted with life, Popeye would grumble, “I’ve had all I can stands, I can’t stands no more!”  He would then squeeze a can of spinach until it popped open, then eat the spinach and instantly he would have supernatural strength to handle anything.

When life gets tough and the daily grind is starting to take a toll on us, wouldn’t it be nice to have one of those cans of spinach to give us the strength and energy to get us through? Wouldn’t it be great if life was that easy? It can be, we all the ability to tap into our inner strength that can and will give us all the strength and energy we need. In the Bible it is written in Psalms 34:19 that, “A righteous man may have many troubles, but the Lord delivers him from them all.” If we have the Lord, we have the strength.

Sometimes life is frustrating as we struggle through one battle after another. The devil keeps attacking our attitude, and we may think to ourselves, if only I could find the strength to fight him off.

Often we wait until we are so beaten down there seems to be no way out, no help in sight. The last place we think to look is inside ourselves. We continually look for that “can of spinach” to get us through, and until we reach a higher level of consciousness we will continue to seek the external things in life that we feel are what we need to get us through. We must remember the external things in life are temporary and just as a can of spinach will lose its effectiveness, so will anything else external we put our hopes into.

Are you saying, “I’ve had all I can stands, I can’t stands no more” and searching for supernatural strength? Look to Philippians 4:13 which says, “I can do everything through him who gives me strength.”  I may feel like I’ve had all I can stand and I can’t stand anymore, but if I call out to God, He will give me strength no matter how big the problems are.

 

 

 

 

 

Guest Post: A New Day – A New Way

A New Day – A New Way

Guest Post by Heart and Soul Health Coach Mike Fenton

 

Each new day presents us with a choice to change things in our life or to keep things as they are. Bedtime is a good time to reflect on how we approached our life that day, and how that approach worked for us. If we are not getting the results in our life that we were hoping for than maybe it’s time to look at new and different ways to approach things. It’s useless for us to think that we can keep approaching things the same way and expect different results.

So why is it so difficult to take another approach to life, to look at things from a different perspective?  Two main reasons are we do not pursue different options, are complacency and the other is fear. We become complacent/fearful when we try to change things up, life may become uncomfortable for us.

With most change there is a feeling discomfort. During this time of change we can find comfort in the words of Psalms 71:21 which says “You will restore me to even greater honor and comfort me once again”.

When making a new approach to life we must remember God has a plan for us, so not only will we be comforted once again, we will also be restored to an even greater honor.

I will not be afraid to begin a new day in a new way for He is with me.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Guest Post: Ask

Ask

Guest Post by Heart and Soul Health Coach Mike Fenton

  

Last month in my newsletter I talked about change and how going through change can be a difficult task for some and a not so difficult task for others. One reason it may have been easier for others is because they sought help in trying to accomplish whatever the task was at hand. Any task becomes more difficult when we try to do it ourselves instead of seeking the help of others when we need it. It is important to decide which tasks we need help with, and those we can handle on our own.

It is important to remember that there will be times in each of our lives when we must seek the help of others in order to get things done. When we do, it is always important to remember that we can always come to the Lord when we need help as we are read in John 14:14 “ You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it”. There is no reason to feel as though we have no help when we come to the Lord in faith. We just have to ask in good faith.

We can also take comfort in what is written in Philippians 4:13 which reads “I can do all this through him who gives me strength”. How great is that? He will not only help us if we come to Him in faith, but he will also give us the strength to do it as well!

Our Lord is there to help us any time we need help, we just have to ask in good faith. He will never be too busy or unavailable, just ask.

November Reflection: I can come to the Lord when I am in need.

Guest Post: In Through the Out Door

In Through the Out Door

Guest Post by Heart and Soul Health Coach Mike Fenton

     Do you ever get the feeling that you’re not going in the same direction everyone else is? Like you’re trying to go in through the out door? And if you have, is feeling that way necessarily wrong? Sometimes following others is not our best option or the wisest thing to do. I remember as a child getting into mischief and telling my mom “everyone else was doing it” in which she would reply “if everyone else jumped off a bridge would you? So much for my argument, she was right, just because everyone else was doing something wrong did not make it okay for me to join in.

     Following the actions and/or words of others can either be a good thing or a bad thing depending on who it is you’re following or listening to. When we feel as though we want to follow or listen to others we should step-back and take time to think; what would following this person get me into? Where are we going and what is awaiting us once we get there? Or what is this person telling me, and is it in alignment with my personal beliefs?

     Life itself presents enough dead-end roads and wrong turns, we certainly don’t need the help of others to find those. As a matter-of-fact listening to bad advice and/or following bad directions can be exactly what gets us to those wrong turns and dead-end roads. That’s why it is so important to take the time to contemplate who and what it is we listen to, and then decide who we are to follow or listen to.

     There is one person however that we can feel comfortable in listening to and following because we know He will never lead us anywhere we should not go or tell us anything that is not right. He is our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. So when you are questioning the direction you are going in, or the advice you just received, bring it to the Lord in prayer and ask Him for his advice. Advice you can always count on!

 

Guest Post: Help Others by Prayer Every Day

Help Others by Prayer Every Day

Guest Post by Heart and Soul Health Coach Mike Fenton

With everything that is taking place in the world today it is easy to feel as though there is no hope for tomorrow. So many questions and not nearly enough answers to all the problems we face in today’s world. The easy thing to do would be to close our eyes, or to look the other way, but that is not going to help anyone. We must remain hopeful we’ll find a way. We must remember what the Bible tells us in Psalm 147:11 “the Lord delights in those who fear him, who put their hope in his unfailing love”. The Lord wants us to put our hopes in him and through His unfailing love he will see us through.

You have the power to help others simply by keeping them in prayer every day, the more prayers the better. As we pray for others and put our trust in God, we should also delight in knowing what is written in 1 John 3:3 which says “All who have this hope in him purify themselves, just as he is pure”.

By talking with the Lord every day in prayer we also establish a closer relationship with Him as well. If we want to know what His plan is for us the only way we will find out is through daily conversation in prayer with Him. If you really want to Help Others by Prayer Every Day, and to give hope to anyone for a better tomorrow, begin each day in prayer.

Guest Post: Change

Change

Guest Post by Heart and Soul Health Coach Mike Fenton

It’s been said that one of the biggest fears people have in life is getting up and speaking in front of a group of people. Another big fear people have is change. Many people do not like change and prefer to keep business as usual; their thought may be, “if it ain’t broke don’t fix it”. We also seem to find that as we age we have less tolerance for change, which usually is a result of complacency and in being content to live life as is, so be it.

But what about those that want to change but their circumstances do not allow them to? They know they were born to do something else. They currently are not living the life they wanted, and it is taking away their energies and in some cases depleting them of their will to live.

While not being who God created us to be can certainly be paralyzing, what is worse is to stop trying to be who we know we were meant to be, to stop trying to do what we know we were meant to do. It is more than just a feeling that tells us that, it is written in Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future” God has a plan for each and every one of us and if life does not feel right, then it’s possible we may not be doing what the Lord has intended and we may need to make some changes.

If life doesn’t feel right we should come to the Lord in prayer and ask him to give us clarity about what his plans are for us. We may find that it requires us to make some changes in our lives, but it is better to change and follow Gods plan than to be something we are not. 

Guest Post: He Ain’t Heavy

He Ain’t Heavy

Guest Post by Heart and Soul Health Coach Mike Fenton

 

One of the most important things everyone needs in life is a support system that is there for them when they are having issues. A support system can help us through some of life’s trying moments and can be anything from a family member, a friend or even a neighbor. We just need/want someone that will be there for us in our time of need, someone that will listen to our concerns and give us the words we need to hear, not the words we want to hear. Of course the best support system is a close relationship with God.

     But what about being a support system for others? Do you offer that support to those close to you? Can you see when someone is in need and offer to support them? We should always be on the lookout for the opportunity to be a support to others, especially those that are close to us.

    Being a support system for others may require different things for each individual. More often than not they are just looking for someone to talk to, someone that will listen emphatically and offer suggestions to help them through their problem or issue.

     Of all the assets we have, our time is the most valuable of all. By giving someone else our time we have given them something more precious than money. Because we have only so much time in this life, how we spend it is precious. That is why we need to be aware and cautious of who and how many people we offer our support to. There is just not enough time to help everyone.

     In any case the feeling you will get when helping others, being a part of someone’s support system is a very rewarding opportunity and one you will always remember. There are always opportunities to help others, to become a part of someone’s support system. In addition we never know when we may need a support system ourselves. So the next time such an opportunity arises don’t be afraid to say sure “He Ain’t Heavy”.

Guest Post: Finding Peace in Total Wellness

Finding Peace in Total Wellness

Guest Post by Heart and Soul Health Coach Mike Fenton

 

Total Wellness – when mind, body and spirit all come together in good health. Do we really need all three components to have and sustain Total Wellness? The answer is yes! Wellness of the mind, body and spirit are all essential parts of life and fostering each of them should be a part of our daily regimen.

Too many people think that fitness is wellness, it is not. Fitness means we are in good physical condition, it says nothing about what our mental or spiritual state is. If we desire to be in a state of wellness we must consider all three; mind, body and spirit.

The most important part of the three is having spiritual wellness. Someone that is in spiritual wellness is experiencing the peacefulness that comes from putting their faith in someone who will always be by their side, our Lord Jesus Christ. Philippians 4:7 reminds us; “peace. His peace is never ending to those that seek Him.

Through the peacefulness we find in Him we can minimize and in some cases eliminate unhealthy mindsets such as stress and anxiety. The American Institute of Stress says “It has been estimated that 75 – 90 percent of all visits to primary care physicians are for stress related problems”. So when we eliminate the stress and anxiety from our life it contributes to wellness of both, the mind and the body. We accomplish all this by coming into spiritual wellness, and through that, by putting all our worries and concerns in the hands of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Guest Post: L.O.V.E.

L.O.V.E.

Guest Post by Heart and Soul Health Coach Mike Fenton

   

Each day is an opportunity to move forward, to move back, or to stay right where you are. One of the things that can determine whether you decide to move in any direction at all is your perception of the successes you experience in life. If you feel as though you are being successful your tendency will be to keep moving forward, to climb higher mountains.

But what about when you are not moving forward and you are either moving back or staying right where you are? Circumstance can sometimes play a part in where you are and where you are going, but more often than not it is just an excuse because victory can be found in almost anything. Asking for and receiving forgiveness for the sins you have committed in the past is a victory which can be had anywhere, anytime! Isn’t that enough to make you feel comfortable enough to move ahead?

Are you putting too much emphasis on waiting for “earth shattering” results, while not spending enough time celebrating your small victories? By Living Out Victories Everyday you acknowledge even the smallest successes, which in turn helps you to feel as though you are moving forward.

However, Satan does not want you to acknowledge those accomplishments, he wants you listen to his lies. He wants to keep you weak because he knows that when you are in Total Wellness you no longer listen to his lies and you will continue to win your battles against him. You will then continue to spread God’s word and you become the Christian God wants you to be and the Christian the church needs you to be.

“With God we will gain the victory, and he will trample down our enemies.” Psalm 60:12. In Living Out Victories Everyday we experience a feeling of getting closer to God and our goals. Our victory does not have to be large, it only needs to be acknowledged by us. There is not a day that goes by that we cannot find something we are victorious over.

Living Out Victories Everyday helps bring our mind and our spirit into Total Wellness. You may say to yourself, “My power and the strength of my hands have produced this wealth for me.” Deuteronomy 8:17.

Do not let a day end without finding a victory (no matter how large or how small), one that you can acknowledge and be thankful for, because it is in those victories you will then move forward.

Guest Post: More Important than a Specific Diet

Image courtesy Ann Musico at www.threedimensionalvitality.com

Health and Weight Loss: More Important Than a Specific Diet – Step One!

Guest Post by Ann Musico

Image courtesy Ann Musico at www.threedimensionalvitality.com

Image courtesy Ann Musico at www.threedimensionalvitality.com

 

So many people begin a weight loss plan full of energy, enthusiasm and discipline. That may last anywhere from a few weeks to a few months depending on their progress, level of determination and what success they enjoy. Many reach their “goal” weight – celebrate with the junk food they love best and gradually slip right back into their old habits – regaining what they lost and often even more.

What causes this loss of that initial enthusiasm? From my own personal experience and from working with clients I believe it comes down to not having a compelling reason. What I mean by that is this: your goal may be to lose 20, 30 or 50 lbs or to get into a size 6, 10 or 12. That’s what I consider your “superficial” goal. If someone asked you why you were on a particular weight loss plan, you might say, “To lose 20 lbs.” But that’s not the compelling reason. Why do you want to lose the 20 lbs? Is it to be able to climb stairs without getting out of breath; to avoid developing diabetes like your mother; to have energy to play with your children or grandchildren; to travel with your spouse; to be healthy and energetic, to look amazing for your age? You must establish a clear, very personal goal you are passionate about.

Once you do this, you will find it much easier to stay inspired and motivated. Also, be willing to stay flexible and make adjustments, to change things up as you find what works well for you and what doesn’t. Different things work at different times. Life is not static and neither is your body or your health!

So before you begin Today’s the Day or any other plan you feel will be one you can incorporate into your daily life long-term, take the time to find your own compelling why. It can be the difference between losing a few pounds and then gaining them right back or keeping them off long-term and making lifestyle changes rather than just going on a diet.

What is your compelling why – for losing weight or for maintaining healthy weight?

Ann Musico 2Ann Musico is a holistic health coach who works with women of all ages to empower them to exemplify lives of vibrant health and wholeness – spirit, soul and body – in a way that is simple and effective, in order to be a positive influence in their world.  Her focus is on nutrition, detox and healthy, long term weight loss because she believes those areas are most often the root cause of so many other problems. And she addresses them not only from the physical but also the spirit and soul as well, which are often overlooked. Learn more at http://www.threedimensionalvitality.com