Mind Makeover

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“If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you”

— John 15:18

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My Dearest MacKynzie,

The problem is that we are losing the desire to think for ourselves. We are getting our information from the wrong places, bombarded daily with thousands of commercials geared toward making us feel and think a certain way. Today, there is information everywhere.. television, social media, news, radio, youtube and billboards. Millions of dollars in research thrown in our faces casually like cancer slowly taking over our minds and bodies. We need to stop to ask ourselves questions and intentionally create a fruitful mindset.  Fruitful? You see, fruit at it’s best is sweet and beautiful. It contains all varieties flavors and colors with different ingredients for nourishing life. As children, we naturally have fruitful minds, we see beauty in the simplest things. We notice rainbows, birds and flowers. As we get older, our minds get damaged by experiences and negative people. Our fruitful minds get dropped and bruised over and over again until they become rotten and smelly. Unlike fruit, the great news is that you can choose to reverse the damage. Like anything else worth having (a great marriage, healthy body, good job), having a fruitful mind is not easy and requires work. A lot of us don’t make the decision to control our thoughts and actions. We don’t take the time and energy to radiate positivity no matter how dark the situation. We consume the gossip and blindly give in to the advertising, just because everyone else is doing it. It’t time for a mind makeover.

‘If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.’ My first thought while reading this passage is the saying ‘misery loves company’. The negative people in this world will love you for being negative with them. They will hate you ‘because you are not of the world’, not living with them in constant fear, anger and hatred toward worldly things.

My loving advice to you. Why worry so much about the things that you can not control? Stop worrying and start meditating and praying. You, my lovely lady, have such a beautiful and fruitful mind. You notice the rainbows, birds and flowers. You love others and you breathe life into everyone around you (except your brother lol). Do not worry if the world hates you, your mind does not need to belong to the world. You do not need to be the company of misery. You have been chosen to lead a gloreous life. 

My love to you and my prayer for an amazing life!  Live to inspire <3 to create!

The purpose of sharing this letter is to inspire you. Please ‘like’ if you found this article useful and please ‘share’ if you want to help inspire others. You never know who is watching ;)

Let Good Words Lead Your Life

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“Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.”

— Ephesians 4:29

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My Dearest MacKynzie,

I struggle with this everyday. It is so easy to indulge in the drama and negativity that surrounds us on social media, in social gatherings and on the news. Sometimes the negativity thrives because people encourage it, consume it and spread it. Politics, jealousy covered with nasty words, making fun of people that are different than us, and family drama. We all know at least one person that makes us want to fall asleep in a coffin after having a conversation with them...everything is a tragedy and the world is out to get them. If you don't know someone like that, then that person might be you. 

This may sound too easy, best way to keep the negativity out of your life is to watch what comes out of your mouth. It is not possible to be a content person with an unwholesome tongue. If you are having a rough time in life and everything seems to be going wrong, pay attention to what has been coming out of your mouth... what story you've been telling. 

We all go through challenging times in life. What you look and feel like when you come out of the other side has a lot to do with the words that were leading you through. If you are in a tunnel yelling at the top of your lungs about how dark and long and smelly the tunnel is then all you will see is a dark, long, smelly tunnel. Your perspective and attitude will be much different if you CHOOSE to focus on the beautiful flowers growing through the rocks while singing a happy song and listening to the beautiful echo. 

Almost everyone in this country has the potential to live a good, happy and healthy life. We all have unique abilities and talents. It is our responsibility to discover them and use them to make the world better. You will be much more fulfilled by finding the good in others and using your words to build them up... even if you feel like they don't deserve it. Building others up is not only about them, it is about you and your quest to be more like Jesus (WWJD). More of the passage from Ephesians says 'Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.'

Even if you are not a Christian, this message is for you. Not only is indulging in negativity effecting others, it is effecting our own dreams, passions and talents. It is effecting our lives by making us sick, depressed, angry and ungrateful. 

My loving advice to you. If you want to live a fulfilled life full of joy and gratitude, your first step is to watch what comes into your thoughts and out of your mouth. Use your words to build others up instead of tear them down. Walk away when negative talk surrounds you. Stick up for those that can not stick up for themselves, with positive encouragement and thoughtful actions. Express gratefulness for the wonderful things you have in your life, instead of longing for things that you don't. You will not be perfect, this advice is challenging. We are human. Follow your heart and be intentional about what and who you let into your life. Together we can make a small impact. 

My love to you and my prayer for an amazing life!  Live to inspire <3 to create!

The purpose of sharing this letter is to inspire you. Please ‘like’ if you found this article useful and please ‘share’ if you want to help inspire others. You never know who is watching ;)

The Simple Things

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“I perceived that there is nothing better for them than to be joyful and to do good as long as they live; also that everyone should eat and drink and take pleasure in all his toil- this is God’s gift to man.”

—  Ecclesiastes 3:12-13

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My Dear MacKynzie, 

I have always been a go-getter with a million things on my to-do list. I like to read, learn and accomplish. I don’t like to waste time doing things that are not productive. Over the years I’ve learned that sometimes it is ok to sit back and take a breath. Sometimes you accomplish more by accomplishing less. You and your brother remind me every day how beautiful the world is, from the smallest flower to the brightest sunset. Please do not lose your love for beautiful things and take time to appreciate all that life has given you. You are much more fortunate than most. You have parents that love you, a sharp brain to guide you and opportunity before you. 

My loving advice to you. Every day make a conscious effort to stop and take in a good moment. Keep your simple pleasure spirit, smell the flowers and look at the sunset. Life is much better when you take some time to enjoy it. 

My love to you and my prayer for an amazing life!  Live to inspire <3 to create!

The purpose of sharing this letter is to inspire you. Please ‘like’ if you found this article useful and please ‘share’ if you want to help inspire others. You never know who is watching ;)