Fresh Start, Goal Setting
January is almost over and many women have already given up on their New Years resolution. The gyms that were packed at the beginning of the month will start to see the number of attendees decrease within the next few weeks.
It is proven that only a whopping 8% of people will actually be successful in achieving their goals for the NEW YEAR!
We all want to up our game and be the best version of ourselves. So what sidelines us? Why do we constantly give in and give up?
Over complicating the steps may be one simple reason. We tend to put the cart before the horse. We push for willpower that truly doesn't exist. Willpower is something that grows within our brains. Just as we grow spiritually by allowing the Holy Spirit to rule and reign within our hearts.
A Stanford study shows that their are 5 proven ways to actually
increase your willpower! There is a small region behind your forehead, it is a squiggly-shaped area which helps us exercise self restraint, and another part of the brain called the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, this is a lump of brain cells located further back and is associated with your working memory and guess what... meeting GOALS.
These areas of the brain actually grow as we strengthen them! How amazing is that. God is so good. He has created the most phenomenal computer within our heads (kind of weird, yet so fascinating).
You see I LOVE it when God's Word lines up with secular science. And gals it truly does! These 5 things are all truths that we have already been given as children of the Heavenly King. Let me break down this Stanford study with a Biblical perspective.
The 5 things you can and should start doing to increase your well-being and achieve your LIFESTYLE WELLNESS goals today are:
1. Rest.
Many of us are NOT getting enough shut eye at night, (7 to 8 hours is highly recommended) and even still we are so busy through the day that we don't pause to be still. Wow..
(Psalm 46:10, Psalm 127:2, Psalm 4:8)
2. Meditation/Prayer.
I often say in my Coaching sessions that prayerlessness is one of the greatest sins of our day. We have the privilege to sit and converse with the God of the universe and sadly we skip over this far to often. We are called to be a people who are prayerful in everything, and a people who sit in quiet times of meditation.
(Psalm 1:1-3, Psalm 19:14, Psalm 104:34, Philippians 4:8)
3. Nutrition/Diet.
~We find 2 main diets in scripture. Science has proven time and time again that a more plant based diet is beneficial to us as humans (all around, physically, mentally and spiritually). We find in the book of Daniel where he abstained from the kings choice meats and delicacies (this is what we know today as a Vegan diet). Doing a study in the book of Daniel yields some interesting thoughts. Many Theologians compare the United States to Babylon saying that our culture really resembles a modern day Babylonian empire. You can take this thought or leave it, the truth is that we are not getting enough fruits, vegetables or whole grains in our diets.
~ The second diet is found in the book of Leviticus. We know it as Kosher eating or Clean eating today. God told His people to abstain from unclean animals and He protected them through this diet many times in the Old Testament. Today the best diet that mimics a traditional Kosher diet is what we know as the Mediterranean diet. Promoted as one of the most life giving ways of eating this is a close second to the Vegan diet. However there is more research supporting a heaver plant based diet, the Mediterranean is a great choice as well.
4. Physical Exercise.
God created us as moving beings. Everything we do is an act of worship to our Savior and our creator! We need to move more. Not as a punishment for bad choices, but as a love for the temple and out of reverence to our God.
(1 Corinthians 6:19-20, 1 Corinthians 10:31, Romans 12:1, 1 Timothy 4:8, 3 John 1:2, 1 Corinthians 9:27, Proverbs 31:17)
5. Encouraging yourself/ Giving Grace.
Self-shaming, hate, condemning thoughts, these things are not from the Lord. He has poured out grace upon grace toward us and we are called to walk in the truth. We must understand WHO WE ARE IN CHRIST. We are a New creation, the old has gone away. Instead of telling yourself what a failure you are when you mess up, you need to turn to the Truth that God has spoken about you. You are righteous and redeemed. You are blessed and highly favored. You are a chosen daughter of the King. Ladies it is time we stop listening to the enemy and start walking in truth listening to the Holy Spirit and remember who we are.
(John 1:2, Romans 15:7, Romans 6:6, Genesis 1:27, Jeremiah 1:5, 1 Peter 2:9, Galatians 3:27-28)
Walking in the Truth that God has already given you will truly help you achieve all of your goals, physically and spiritually. Science proves it. I am so thankful that God has given us His word. Now let's make a FRESH START encourage one another to walk in wisdom and change our lives from the inside out.
Christian lifestyle wellness is not as complicated as it sounds. In all honesty it is quiet simple. We just have to be willing to obey, and learn a little more.
Shalom,
Brittany