Five Days to Happy Day 3 - Action

 

In the last two days, you should have started taking inventory of your thoughts (Day 1) and envisioning what would make you happy (Day 2). If you still have that "Ugly Thoughts" list, good. Keep adding to it. What about your "Dreams" list? Have you stuck it someplace you'll see it daily? These two lists are your motivators. They're very important that you keep both where you can easily access them. If you have them on your phone, try to set an alarm to go off at the end of the day or shortly after you wake so you can reread them and make changes.

Yesterday I mentioned how after I began to envision what I wanted out of life, I made the necessary changes to achieve those dreams. This is what Day 3 is about: Action.

My "Dream Life" list looked something like this a few years ago:

1. Visit New York in the winter.

2. See NYCB perform "Swan Lake."

3. Overcome my fear of flying.

4. Visit Ireland.

5. Get a book - or two - published.

6. Grow my hair out to my waist.

These are all things on my "bucket list" that I have sitting on my desk. One of them has been accomplished, three are in the works. I had my first book published June 6th of 2017. My hair is in the process of growing, but every curly haired gal knows split ends are killer and trims seem like they take more than they do so it's moving along quite slowly. Visiting New York in the wintertime- specifically Christmastime - would have been crossed off last December, but hubby and I decided to stay here for Christmas instead, BUT it's still in the works of being planned. Last June I did finally fly, and although it wasn't as bad as I thought it would be, it still isn't my favorite thing in the world.

Another fun goal I have yet to write down is get fit and healthier, which is in the works! I started a workout program a little over a month ago and I'm feeling so great with where I'm at physically and mentally because of it. As much as I hate the workouts, I actually look forward to them because I know I'm bettering myself. And hey - I'm losing weight in the process!

What all these things have in common is they take work, planning, and patience. These three elements are what make up the "Action" sequence of having a happier life. And this is also where a lot of people lose ambition and settle. Don't settle. I repeat, DO NOT SETTLE. You will become unhappy and bitter and that just isn't fun.

Look at your "Dreams" list. You could have a lot of things written down or there could be few. If there are many, prioritize them. Which ones are most important to you? For me, it was writing a book.

Now, here's the fun part. You're going to make a third list. (You really are going to hate me by the end of this because of all the lists you'll have.)

On that third list, write at the top what your dream is. And then write down what things would have to be done to achieve that dream. Do this for each dream goal you have. When you're finished, start planning. For example:

I wanted to publish a book. To do that I first had to write a book, which meant I needed a story. I started with a concept, and idea, and brainstormed what this story could be about and when/where it took place and who it involved. Then I made an outline. And then the tough work started. I had to write, and I had to stick to a schedule of writing 1,000 words a day and do this 5 times a week. It was hard, I cried, and I hated the long hours and slaving over something that didn't see like it would turn into anything. But as the weeks sluggishly rolled by, it did. I saw progress. Before I knew it I had reached 50,000 words. And not long after that, I had finished writing by first book. I was elated! Then I had to edit, and I despised every second of it. But I did it anyway. I had come too far to quit. So, five revised drafts later, my book was published.

Take your dream, understand what needs to happen to achieve it, and start planning. What you want is baby steps. Try not to overwhelm yourself because then you'll get discouraged and not want to continue. Simply write out what you need to do to make your dreams happen, and make that third list realistic. "Win the lottery" is not how you plan for a happier future. If money is an object, consider working more hours or finding a job that pays better. Or, if neither of those are an option, babysit, make and sell crafts, offer to walk people's dogs. There is more than one option for all of life's obstacles. Don't lose hope because the answer doesn't jump at you right off the bat.

I truly hope you're finding this challenge challenging and exciting all the same.

God bless, lovelies!

x.

Hope

Five Days to Happy Day 2 - Envision

Yesterday I asked you to track your thoughts and write down all the "ugly" ones you have. Did you? Are you embarrassed because of them? Keep that list and keep adding to it. It might be helpful to date it each day so you can see if your thought process changes, even slightly.

Today's challenge branches off of being self aware. Today is all about envisioning what you want out of life. This works for anyone, of any age and of any economical status.

Now, before I continue, let me tell you something. Once you realize you are the only obstacle standing in your way, nothing can stop you. Money, education, gender, age, nothing. Everyone has a chance in this world to do great things. Not everyone has the same opportunities starting out, but that doesn't make the journey impossible. So first and foremost, get the "I can't" attitude out of your head!

Envisioning what you want out of life is simple: what are your dreams? What's on your bucket list? What did you want to be when you grew up? Answer these questions. Write them down. And put them on your bathroom mirror with a Post-It note. Read them every day. Picture yourself doing all those great things you've wanted to do. Today's challenge could quite possibly be the easiest one this week because it all revolves around using your imagination. Don't worry about the "what if's" and the "I can't." Those aren't important today.

In high school I pictured myself being an author, traveling to Ireland, and having a lot of pets. Back then those were just dreams, but as I grew older I realized how powerful our thoughts are and once I realized that, I started to change how I thought and made changes. But that's a challenge for another day.

Envision what you want. Write it down and put it somewhere you'll see it daily. Along with today's challenge, continue writing down your "ugly thoughts" on that list you started yesterday. Don't forget to check in for tomorrow's challenge!


God bless, lovelies!

x.
Hope

Five Days to Happy Day 1 - Self Awareness

"If you think about how the beginning of creation started with the power of a thought, you would understand how powerful your thoughts are. Thoughts are pure energy and the driving force of creation; thoughts contain unlimited creative power. Before anything thing can become physical, it must first begin as thought before it materializes into dense matter. Your imagination is your gateway to creating the life of your dreams or your worst nightmare. Why do you think the most successful people visualize their success first then make it happen? Do you want your thoughts to control you or do you want to be in control of your thoughts?" - Unknown

I begin with these two quotes because I feel they set the tone for this challenge. Really, challenge isn't a good word for it. Lifestyle fits it better.

2016 was a year of self-discovery. I "relearned" who I was and what I liked and what I wanted out of life. 2017 has been about making the necessary changes to achieve those dreams. The main change I've had to make is my thought process which isn't as hard as it sounds. It's quite simple. The first step to changing your thought process to be become aware.

Our inner voice (i.e. our thoughts) shape us. As the first quote says, if we keep doing the same things, we'll get the same results. Einstein said repeating our actions and expecting different outcomes is the definition of insanity, and I believe him to be right. If we don't like our life, we can simply think up a new one!

Okay. Let's not get ahead of ourselves. Aware.

To be aware of our thoughts means to be conscious of the things we're allowing our mind to come up with. Thoughts shape emotions, emotions shape actions, actions shape our lives. Noticing the sky is blue or that it is about to rain, or that the neighbor is mowing their lawn are examples of being area of our surroundings, but I want you to be aware of your inner self. This includes taking "inventory" of what you think.

Day 1 is all about being aware, so here's the challenge for today: every time you think a bad/angry/bitter thought or catch yourself about to say (or after you've said) something hurtful/spiteful/or insensitive, WRITE IT DOWN! When we start to become aware of what we think, and how those thoughts lead our lives, we begin to see where we need to better ourselves. Writing down your "ugly" thoughts will embarrass you. Trust me. You will be able to see on paper how awful we can be as humans, and each thought and action will glare back at you with more intensity than when you initially thought/did it. This list can be shared or kept private, but keep it with you. Every day over the next five days you'll be working on this list. Each time an "ugly" thought enters your mind, write it down.

Ugly thoughts can include things such as:

"What an idiot driver!"
"Ugh, my in-laws are coming over."
"I swear I'm going to strangle that child!"
"What a moron! Who does that?"
"Is she really that self-centered?"

Or they can be directed at yourself like these:

"I'm not good enough."
"I can't do this."
"I'm not pretty/smart/handsome/educated/etc. enough."
"I will never be able to do that."

And so on. Four years ago I was the girl who didn't think I could do half the things I've achieved. I always had the "I'm worthless" and "I can't do that" thoughts running on repeat in my mind. Writing a book has been my biggest dream for almost ten years, but I could never get past the first few chapters because I didn't believe in myself. But then I started taking inventory of my thoughts, and that slowly started to change.

I recommend writing your ugly thoughts on paper (I have reason for this) and keep it in your wallet or purse - somewhere you can keep it with you throughout the week. As I said, feel free to share the list with someone else or simply keep it to yourself. Either way works. It's a small step, but being self aware can help transform your life overtime.

I hope that in the following days, you are able to become more aware of how you view yourself and your life and the people in it. Check back tomorrow for Day 2's challenge!


God bless, lovelies!

x.
Hope

Five Days to Thinking Your Way into A Happier Life Intro

The "Five Days" challenge will officially begin tomorrow, but tonight I wanted to explain what it is.

You've heard the term, "mind over matter." It simply means your thoughts are stronger than circumstance, but it's easy to let circumstance rule our decisions and happiness. When you realize that your mind is the most powerful muscle in your body, it opens up doors of opportunity. Over the next five days, I want to teach you - and challenge you - to change your way of thinking.

An example I want to leave you with tonight is one I'm sure to use several times over the coming days. In Genesis 1, God created the Earth by speaking life into a void of darkness. In the same way that God thought and spoke something into existence, so can we. Our minds are a gift, and when unlock it's true potential, we are left with a world at our fingertips.

God bless, lovelies!

x.
Hope

How I Successfully Cured Pinkeye WITHOUT A Doctor's Visit

I woke up with a swollen and red eye one morning this past spring. I had slept in late and thought it was due to the way I slept, but low and behold, it was pinkeye.  (I was self-diagnosed but after studying medicine for years I was confident that my symptoms lined up with pinkeye, especially as the days progressed.)

My mom's first instinct was to tell me, "Go to the doctor." Don't get me wrong, doctors can be very useful, but there was a time when people did not run to the clinic for everything an as an herbalist-in-training, I wanted to try my hand at curing such a common illness.

There are four different causes of pinkeye: bacterial, viral, chemical or foreign object related, and allergies. Symptoms of these types vary slightly but there are some tell-tale signs you can look for.

Viral pinkeye is most common to have redness, eyelid swelling and tenderness, itching or burning, tearing and/or clear or watery drainage. Bacterial infections of the eye can cause redness, eyelid swelling, greenish-yellow drainage, and mild pain. Allergic pinkeye typically effects both eyes and is accompanied by increased tear production, itching, and redness. Chemical or foreign object related pinkeye is the easiest to determine as it is often the result of having something get in your eye such as an incest flying into your eye or some sort of chemical splashing into your eye. It also is accompanied by redness, tearing, and irritation.

I had bacterial related pinkeye.

**Before I continue, I must add in a disclaimer that I am not a licensed medical doctor, nor am I saying that herbal medicine is right for everyone. I am simply explaining what I did and how it worked for me. For anyone interested in treating ailments with herbs, please do your research beforehand as some herbs can be dangerous if taken incorrectly or in large doses. Herbal medicine is not for everyone and I am not discrediting doctors whatsoever. Herbalism is my choice of treatment and self-care for my family. Using herbal medicine has been, and will continue to be, my preferred choice of treating ailments and illnesses. I would be more than happy to discuss the why's and how's of my decision if anyone is curious. Feel free to contact me with any herb-related questions.**

After self-diagnoses, I turned to my medical books for how to treat it. In one book, "The Herbal Drugstore" by Dr. Linda B. White and Steven Foster (I would recommend this book to anyone), it talks about the different types of prescription and OTC medicines used to treat pinkeye, as well as several herbal alternatives. I used a mix of the two.

Polymyxin B (which is Neosporin) was listed under the Drug Treatment section. This was odd to me because the tube says not to put on or near the eyes, however after doing more in-depth research, many doctors used to instruct patients to rub a small amount in the inner corner and around the eyelid of an infected eye. Neosporin helps to kill any bacteria and assists in speeding up the healing process and I used this method once a day before bed. (I also used anti-redness eye drops for a couple days but those did not seem to help so I discontinued the use of those.)

Tea - yes, tea - was listed with herbal remedies. Green tea can be used to treat viral and bacterial eye infections. The book says to soak a tea bag in water (cool water will help reduce symptoms in red and swollen eyes) and place it on the eye for several minutes. Knowing chamomile tea is also a great herbal alternative, I researched what benefits chamomile would have for eye infections just for fun. What I found was persuasive enough to add chamomile to my pinkeye fighting regimen.

The three treatments I used were Neosporin, green tea, and chamomile tea, which is good for treating both viral and bacterial pinkeye infections.

I started out rinsing my eye with green tea and chamomile tea every hour, alternating between teas. At night, I used a very small amount of the Neosporin on the inner corner of my eye and around the eyelid. I did this for three days and the swelling went down tremendously. On the fourth day, I cut out the green tea and only used chamomile as an eye rinse. Instead of using it hourly, I washed my eye several times throughout the day and continued to use the Neosporin. In total, my infection was gone within a week.

When my eye was still swollen, I would use a cool compress, using a clean rag each time. I would religiously wash my hands after touching my face or treating my eye, and  threw out any makeup I had used days prior to getting the infection and avoided makeup of any kind during treatment. My husband - the only person that was exposed to the infection - did not catch pinkeye and I have since not had any complications or other issues with my eye. I was extremely happy about the results and how quickly the infection cleared up, and would absolutely use the same method again if I had to.

x.

God bless, lovelies!

The Miracle of Coconut Oil - 35 Reasons Why You Should Be Using It

Since I discovered coconut oil a few years ago, I've been in love. It's such a versatile oil that it can be used for almost anything. It's packed full of healthy fats like caprylic acid, lauric acid, and capric acid which makes up over 50% of the chemical makeup of coconut oil. These healthy fats are known as medium-chain fatty acids, or MCFAs, and these types of fats aren't really stored as fat. MCFAs are digested through the liver, which converts them to energy quicker. The process of doing this creates ketones which is what happens when our bodies process fat into energy.

I've created a list of all the amazing benefits of coconut oil and why you should be using it for more than just cooking.

Beauty

1. Natural moisturizer
2. Sunscreen
3. Deep conditioner
4. Teeth whitener
5. Make up remover
6. DIY shaving cream
7. Homemade deodorant
8. Face cleanser
9. Can lighten age spots
10. DIY body and lip scrub
11. Lip balm
12. DIY coconut oil and sea salt foot scrub
13. Improves the overall appearance of skin and skin issues (burns, eczema, dandruff, psoriasis, and dermatitis)
14. Has anti-aging properties by improving antioxidant levels and aids in detoxification

Health

1. Increases healthy cholesterol and converts bad cholesterol into good, which:
2. Promotes heart health and lowers the risk of heart disease
3. Protects the liver and kidneys from damage
4. Works to prevent cancer
5. Boosts your immune system (acts as an antibacterial, anti-fungal, and anti-viral agent)
6. Aids in weight loss and muscle gain because it is processed as a energy and not stored as fat
7. Prevents osteoporosis because coconut oil helps increase the calcium absorbed, making our bones stronger
8. Treats candida and yeast infections because of the capric and lauric acids
9. Helps balance hormones because of the of healthy saturated fats in coconut oil
10. Supports thyroid functions
11. Treats kidney and bladder stones
12. Improves memory and cognitive functions (studies have shown coconut oil improves and treats Alzheimer's Disease, and a study done in 2004 found that the MCFAs in coconut oil helps improves recall ability)
13. Gives energy without any side effects because the MCFAs are converted into energy immediately and not stored as fat
14. Aids in digestion by destroying bad bacteria in our guts 
15. Improves the symptoms of diabetes
16. Reduces stress
17. Reduces inflammation and arthritis
18. Improves symptoms of gall bladder disease and pancreatitis
19. Reduces stomach ulcers and ulcerative colitis
20. Heals UTIs and kidney infections because the MCFAs work as an antibiotic and kill the bacteria causing these issues
21. Improves overall mouth health and prevents gum disease

Is all coconut oil the same?

In a word, no. The processing of the coconut oil is what makes the difference. The best type of coconut oil to buy is organic, unrefined, cold-pressed and in a glass jar. The benefits of coconut oil dramatically decrease when it's processed at a higher hear and refined, so always look for unrefined and cold-pressed on the jar.

Why a glass jar?

If I can go without buying something in plastic I will. With plastic, there is a chance of harmful compounds being introduced into the coconut oil which kind of defeated the whole purpose of buying coconut oil.

For all the DIYs listed at the start of this post, I will be posting recipes for those soon. Until then...

God bless, lovelies.