How To Build a Better You

One day all the employees reached the office and they saw a big note on the door on which was written: “Yesterday the person who has been hindering your growth in this company passed away. We invite you to join the funeral in the room that has been prepared in the gym”. In the beginning, they all got sad for the death of one of their colleagues, but after a while they started getting curious to know who was that man who hindered the growth of his colleagues and the company itself.

The excitement in the gym was such that security agents were ordered to control the crowd within the room. The more people reached the coffin, the more the excitement heated up. Everyone thought: “Who is this guy who was hindering my progress? Well, at least he died!” One by one the thrilled employees got closer to the coffin, and when they looked inside it they suddenly became speechless. They stood nearby the coffin, shocked and in silence, as if someone had touched the deepest part of their soul.

There was a mirror inside the coffin: everyone who looked inside it could see himself.
There was also a sign next to the mirror that said: “There is only one person who is capable to set limits to your growth: it is YOU.” You are the only person who can revolutionize your life. You are the only person who can influence your happiness, your realization and your success. You are the only person who can help yourself. Your life does not change when your boss changes, when your friends change, when your partner changes, when your company changes. Your life changes when YOU change, when you go beyond your limiting beliefs, when you realize that you are the only one responsible for your life. “The most important relationship you can have is the one you have with yourself” .

The world is like a mirror: it gives back to anyone the reflection of the thoughts in which one has strongly believed. The world and your reality are like mirrors lying in a coffin, which show to any individual the death of his divine capability to imagine and create his happiness and his success. It’s the way you face Life that makes the difference.

-Unknown

Live good and love God!

Sherice A. Hill

**Photo credit goes to selfdiscoveryradio.com

1. Drink more water-  Most people don’t drink enough water each day. Over 60% of the body is made of water and it is very essential for the body to function.  Water helps to reduce headaches, regulates body temperature and flushes body waste
2. Laugh often-  Laughter is a good medicine. It relieves stress, builds the immune system, improves blood circulation and reduces heart disease.  Laughter is a natural pain killer and it keeps you looking younger. Smile, it goes with every outfit!
3. Exercise regularly- Research has shown that exercise increases your life span, lower the risk of diseases, higher bone density and weigh loss. Find exercises that you love and do them daily. If you don’t like exercising alone find a partner and make exercising fun.
4. Forgive easily- make it a habit to forgive those who have done you wrong. Don’t carry around the baggage of hatred and hurt. It is an unnecessary load that hurts you more than the other person.
5. Be a lover- be a loving person. Let everyone that come in contact with you feel that love radiating from you. Give a helping hand, express a kind word or compliment someone. We don’t show love as much as we should and that’s the problem with the world.
6. Get enough sleep- sleeping improves your concentration and memory; it strengthens your immune system and enhances feelings of calmness and relaxation. A good night’s rest can improve your whole day.
7. Stop and smell the roses- sometimes you need to stop! Take a pause from your busy routines and appreciate the things in life that we often overlook for example nature. Experience God’s grandeur through nature and bask in the magnificence of his handy work.
8. Love yourself- it is important to love and appreciate yourself the way God does. We all have good qualities and time should be spent appreciating these attributes and finding ways to improve them.
9. Eat more fruits and vegetable- Fruit and vegetable are important to our diet. Experts suggest that we should eat 5-9 servings of fruit/vegetables but unfortunately most people don’t even eat a serving per day. One way you can start improving your diet is by substituting the pasta and the mash potatoes for raw vegetable when having lunch.
10. Avoid negativity- you don’t need negativity in your life.  Purge yourself of all things negative and all negative people. If you feel that someone around you is overly negative and critical let them go.
11. Go out more often- your social life is very important. Spend time with the people you love and who love you. Do something you enjoy and make time for this weekly, bi-weekly or monthly.

**Photo credits to www.healthy-holistic-living.com

Live good and love God!

Sherice A. Hill

A friend once told me the testimony of one of her friends and it really touched my heart. It helped me to further realize how great of a God I serve.

We all know that summer is fun for the kids but somewhat stressful for parents because of all the back to school preparations. My friend’s friend, uh let’s call her Jane for the sake of anonymity. Jane is a mother and one who is struggling to make ends meet. My friend called her one afternoon to find out how she was doing and later started inquiring about her back to school preparations, only to find out that she has not done any shopping and this was the midst August. She started to explain how she was facing financial difficulties but she is just waiting on God to deliver so she can start her preparations. My friend, being the kind person she is decided to send her some money to assist with school uniforms.

The following week my friend again phoned her only to find out that someone had offered to make the uniforms free of cost! So, the money she was given could be used for shoes, books or other suppliers. How great is our God! He worked upon the heart of my friend to call the time she did and offer to help. He decided that was the week he was going to come through for that woman. He is a God of timing and he always delivers. The faith this woman displayed only helped to build my own. She was unbothered by her circumstances because she knows she serve a risen saviour. Talk about faith! How many of us can truly say in times of difficulty we are at complete ease because we know God is in control? I am dying to reach that point! Jane’s testimony helped me and I hope it will help somebody else today.

Have a happy Monday!

Live good and love God!

Sherice A. Hill

There is this book that I use to write to God in. It was like our little post office. I wrote to him about everything! I told him when I’m happy, when I messed up, when I felt empty, when I felt alone, when I’m lost, my prayers, everything!

When I just started school I had no book to write in or any money to buy one so I decided to use the book i wrote to God in. Anyhow, I decided to read the letters I wrote to God. These started from February 2014. Going through I realized that God answered my prayers!
I told God that I want to start school September 2014 but I didn’t have any money, so I asked him to make a way because I want to further my education. I prayed for my father that he may be a part of my life again and we may develop a strong relationship. I prayed for my mother that she may learn to love Christ and have a relationship with him. Now over a year later, I’m in school, which I started August 2015 and God’s time was just right because I had just enough to start. My mother loves the Lord, is developing a strong relationship with him and soon to be baptized. It happened just when the signs of the times are fast fulfilling which proves to her that the Bible is fulfilling. My father still isn’t a part of my life now but he will be when God sees it fit because I’m still praying and I believe in the power of prayer. The answers didn’t come when i want them but God has good timing.

I burst out in tear….. Sometimes we pray and because God doesn’t come through for us the way we want him and with what we want and when we want we say that he doesn’t answer. My friends I’m encouraging you to never stop praying!! Pray Until Something Happens! Pray, pray, pray and pray.  He will answer your prayers as long as we’re faithful and obedient.

Alethia Dixon

Once there was a king who received a gift of two magnificent falcons. They were peregrine falcons, the most beautiful birds he had ever seen. He gave the precious birds to his head falconer to be trained.

Months passed, and one day the head falconer informed the king that though one of the falcons was flying majestically, soaring high in the sky, the other bird had not moved from its branch since the day it had arrived.

The king summoned healers and sorcerers from all the land to tend to the falcon, but no one could make the bird fly.

He presented the task to the member of his court, but the next day, the king saw through the palace window that the bird had still not moved from its perch.

Having tried everything else, the king thought to himself, “May be I need someone more familiar with the countryside to understand the nature of this problem.” So he cried out to his court, “Go and get a farmer.”

In the morning, the king was thrilled to see the falcon soaring high above the palace gardens. He said to his court, “Bring me the doer of this miracle.”

The court quickly located the farmer, who came and stood before the king. The king asked him, “How did you make the falcon fly?”

With his head bowed, the farmer said to the king, “It was very easy, your highness. I simply cut the branch where the bird was sitting.”

We are all made to fly — to realize our incredible potential as human beings. But at times we sit on our branches, clinging to the things that are familiar to us. The possibilities are endless, but for most of us, they remain undiscovered. We conform to the familiar, the comfortable, and the mundane. So for the most part, our lives are mediocre instead of exciting, thrilling and fulfilling. Let us learn to destroy the branch of fear we cling to and free ourselves to the glory of flight!

-Author Unknown

In order for us to grow we have to let go of the things that are stagnating us and embrace the changes we want to see. Nothing you want to achieve in this life will be handed freely. There is pleasure to receive from hard work and there is a certain thrill that comes with overcoming the fight. To see and be the change you want in your life; get up, pray up, dress up and work hard!

Live good and love God!

Sherice A. Hill

An elderly carpenter was ready to retire. He told his employer-contractor of his plans to leave the house building business and live a more leisurely life with his wife enjoying his extended family. He would miss the paycheck, but he needed to retire. They could get by. The contractor was sorry to see his good worker go and asked if he could build just one more house as a personal favor. The carpenter said yes, but in time it was easy to see that his heart was not in his work. He resorted to shoddy workmanship and used inferior materials. It was an unfortunate way to end his career.

When the carpenter finished his work and the builder came to inspect the house, the contractor handed the front-door key to the carpenter. “This is your house,” he said, “my gift to you.” What a shock! What a shame! If he had only known he was building his own house, he would have done it all so differently. Now he had to live in the home he had built none too well. So it is with us. We build our lives in a distracted way, reacting rather than acting, willing to put up less than the best. At important points we do not give the job our best effort. Then with a shock we look at the situation we have created and find that we are now living in the house we have built. If we had realized that we would have done it differently. Think of yourself as the carpenter. Think about your house. Each day you hammer a nail, place a board, or erect a wall. Build wisely. It is the only life you will ever build. Even if you live it for only one day more, that day deserves to be lived graciously and with dignity. The plaque on the wall says, “Life is a do-it-yourself project.” Your life tomorrow will be the result of your attitudes and the choices you make today.

– Unknown

What materials are you using to build your ‘house’?…..Will they improve the quality of your ‘house’?…..Can these materials stand the test of time?…..Will the end result be something you are proud of?

Think about it.

Live good and love God!

Sherice A. Hill

*Photo credits goes to http://www.motivationandmed.com

We all have things we would like to change about ourselves. Change is inevitable and change is good. Wanting to change aspects of yourself does not necessarily mean you don’t like being you, it simply means you wish to have more desirable characteristics; you wish to be a better you. Perhaps you want to lose weight, improve your social skills, grow closer to God, and be a qualified professional or even simply wanting to be a nicer person. Whatever you ultimately desire to change, the tips listed below will help you to be closer to your mark.

1. Determine what needs to be improved and what doesn’t. It is important for you to identify exactly what it is you would like to change.
2. Acknowledge qualities that do not require changing. Even though you may wish to change aspects of yourselves there are still qualities that you have that don’t require changing. Acknowledge these qualities and commend yourself for fostering them. These are assets of your personality.
3. Set SMART goals. Set goals that are Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, and Timely. It is crucial to set goals that are SMART because when you do this you become motivated towards finding ways to achieve them.
4. Maintain a positive attitude. A well-known quote states that “If the mind can conceive it you can achieve it.”  The mind is very powerful and often times we demotivate ourselves without even knowing it. We all talk to ourselves in our heads and when start using words like ‘Can’t’, ‘Hard’, ‘Impossible’, ‘What if’ we decide not to start before we even try. Be conscious of what you say to yourself and what you allow others to say to you. The Dalai Lama once said, “The way to overcome negative thoughts and destructive emotions is to develop opposing, positive emotions that are stronger and more powerful.”
5. Surround yourself with people that motivate and encourage you. Outside forces have a lot to do with who we are as an individual. If you surround yourself with negative people you become negative, but if you surround yourself with positive people you become a positive person. Surround yourself with people that have qualities you wish to emulate. Surround yourself with the Thinkers, the Believers, the Dreamers, the Hard-workers and the Motivators.
6. Make your own needs a priority. Your needs are important, that is why they are your ‘needs’. People think the basic human needs are food, clothing and shelter but I learned in college about the Maslow Hierarchy of need, where a person needs love, safety, and esteem. Stop putting your needs on the back burner. It is a painful thing to lose yourself in the process of loving someone too much, and forgetting that your needs are important too.  Yes, help others; but help yourself too.
7. Forgive people and move on. Hate is a powerful emotion. Don’t live with it dwelling in your heart. This hurts you more than the person that hurt you. Forgiveness is not only for the other person, it is also for you. Yes you won’t forget but the less time you spend hating the person the more time you can spend loving those that love you.
8. Let go of regrets. In life we all make mistakes and we all do things we regret. You have to let go of these regrets in order to grow. Learn from your mistakes and don’t let them consume you. Look at everything as a blessing in disguise and leave the past in the past.
9. Help other when you can. Yes, helping others can improve you as a person. The more you help others the more you help yourself as well. It is two folds. When you make a positive impact in someone’s life, you also make a positive impact in your own. Love begets love and kindness begets kindness. Be a kind person.
10. Keep working towards personal growth. Let this be a perpetual cycle. Always work towards bettering yourself. You are a different person today than you were last year and condition your mind to be a different person next year than you are today and not just different but better.

Live good and love God!

Sherice A. Hill