April 21: PILE ON LOVE INSTEAD OF PILING UP WORDS.

Affirmation: I am connected to God, myself and others.

An idea from Atomic Habits:

"On any given day, you may struggle with your habits because you're too busy or too tired or too overwhelmed or hundreds of other reasons. Over the long run, the real reason you fail to stick with habits is that your self-image gets in the way. This is why you can’t get too attached to one version of your identity.

Progress requires unlearning. Becoming the best version of yourself requires you to continuously edit your beliefs, and to upgrade and expand your identity."

For more on this idea, see Chapter 2 of Atomic Habits.

Update what you think of yourself- Your self-image.You and I are:-God’s incredible creation.-Loved immensely and intensely.-Courageous, Compassionate and Connected -Talented, gifted and capable -Kind, loving, and thoughtful -Handsome and Beautiful Add your own statements (I would appreciate  hearing your thoughts)
~~~~Ponder and Personalize Psalm 23:2, 3. Think about how the Lord, your shepherd, meets your needs for rest, nurturing, and renewal.

1“The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. 2 He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, 3 he refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake. 4 Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. 5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. 6 Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. ‭‭Psalm‭ 23‬:‭1‬-‭6‬ ‭NIV‬‬

~~~~~

Wholehearted Guidepost from Brené Brown

Cultivate Play and Rest and Calm and Stillness. Let go of exhaustion as a status symbol and productivity as self worth and anxiety as a lifestyle.
I have been intentional about making habits instead of goals using James Clear’s research from Atomic Habits. I have decided to set the habit of living wholeheartedly. So these 10 guideposts (Brene’ Brown) of what to cultivate and what to let go of are part of daily habits. I set them up as reminders on my calendar to prompt me to practice the habits daily. I remind myself who I am:I am authentic.I am self compassionate.I am resilient.I practice gratitude and Joy.I am intuitive and have trusting faith.I am creative.I make time for play and rest.I make time for calm and stillness.I find meaningful work.I enjoy laughter, song and dance.

~~~~~

Mastering the 7 Decisions from Andy Andrews 

The Joyful Decision 

5. TODAY I WILL CHOOSE TO BE HAPPY.

Happiness is a choice. I am enthusiastic about each day. I am alert to its possibilities.

I will become the master of my emotions.

I will greet each day with laughter. I know that enthusiasm is the fuel that moves the world.

The world belongs to the enthusiastic, for people will follow them anywhere! My smile has become my calling card. It is, after all, the most important weapon I possess. I am the possessor of a grateful spirit. 

Joyful Decision

Today, I choose to be happy.

~~~~~

Reading for Today

Walk in Grace. Live in Love. by Bob Goff

April 21

WHEN JESUS ROSE FROM THE DEAD, HE SHOWED THAT OUR LIVES ARE THE BEST SERMON WE'VE GOT. PILE ON LOVE INSTEAD OF PILING UP WORDS.

Jesus said to them, "Come and have breakfast." None of the 

disciples dared ask him, "Who are you?" They knew it was the Lord. 

JOHN 21:12 

Shortly after Jesus rose from the dead, His friends were embarrassed and con­fused. So they went back to what they knew best: fishing. I don't blame them. It's comforting to do things you know you're good at when you feel bewildered or ashamed or insecure. 

Jesus' friends pushed back out into the water and started fishing. A voice came from the shore and said something that must have sounded familiar. The voice told them to throw their nets on the other side of the boat. This had hap­pened before. It was life bookended with the same statement. You know how the story ends-these men ended up with so many fish, they almost broke their nets. That's when the nickel dropped. Peter knew it was Jesus. He immediately jumped in the water and swam to the shore. Sans swimsuit. 

When Peter got to shore, he saw a fire burning with fish on top and some bread set aside for them. Jesus didn't say the biggest "I told you so" of all time. He didn't chastise His friends for deserting Him in His greatest moment of need. He didn't take advantage of a "teachable moment" to tell them what to do the next time they were tempted to say they didn't even know Him and desert a friend. What He did was simply this: He made them breakfast. He let His presence on the shore with them do all the talking. 

If we commit to becoming the kinds of people God created us to be, our lives will tell better stories than our words ever will. They will be the testimony people need to see and feel before they hear a word we're saying. Who is it you think you need to teach a good lesson to? Don't make a lot of noise in their lives; make them a stack of pancakes. 

 

Who will you make a stack of pancakes for? When?