Challenged Myself

Positive thoughts create positive people!

 Why did I start this blog?

I have blogged for the whole month of January. That may not sound like a big deal… but for me it’s a major accomplishment. While I am a very outgoing and can have an in your face type of personality, I can also be very nervous, anxious, and lead by my fears.

When I was younger, I was used to being the odd one out. It was normal for me to do things on my own. I enjoyed my individuality to the point that I yelled at my nephew (we are only 4-5 years apart) who said he wanted to be like me and told him to be like himself. Of course, now as an adult I realize he was just admiring his slightly older aunt. I guess as a kid when people look at you like your crazy you think nothing of it. As I got older those looks started to cause me to second-guess myself. Eventually, those looks turned into notes left in my bags and then conversations of what a decent Christian girl should do. Maybe because my mom was very welcoming of God’s free will for us (my siblings and I) other parents felt the need to parent for her. Whatever the case, I began to establish this box of what a “good Christian” girl looked like. I lived in that box! I suppressed my creativity, my self-expression (to an extent), and I became that good Christian girl (whatever that means). Then like waking up from a nightmare, my life imploded. That box folded in on me and I was left to make sense of it all.

So, here I am in 2018 making a choice to live outside the box of fear, regret, and foolish standards set by man. I started this blog for the person that is looking for hope in the desert of despair. I am starting this blog because it’s time to say yes to me! It’s time for you to say yes to yourself!

I remember when I was trying to figure out how to get out of this cult I was a part of (I am aware I need a blog just for that). One of the things that opened my eyes to reality of what I was participating in was when I expressed an interest in pursuing one of my passions. My idea was not supported and I was told to help foster the leaders’ vision.  In that moment God asked me was I willing to bury my passion to help grow someone else’s. Please don’t get me wrong, there will be times in our life when we are support for someone else’s vision?  However, our vision should not perish because of another person. In that moment I realized that when it is all said and done God was and is going to hold me accountable for the dreams and visions he’s given me. Don’t let your dream die. Don’t stop believing that you can do it because you can do it, not by power or might but by the Spirit of the Lord.

I realize that it took me a long time to get to this place and I am still a work in progress. With that said, I want to be a source of encouragement to others. I want to start a 90 day positive self-image challenge. Why 90 days? I’ve not done anything this long and I’m challenging myself as well. I am going to post positive, encouraging videos on all of my social media sites with tips that have helped me get through some tough times. I also am going to leave the first 30 day part of the challenge on this blog. Refer back to it as often as you like. Each 30 days I will post the next set of affirmations and challenges for that month. If we break a large goal into small ones we can do anything. I hope you join me and I look forward to sharing my stories with you in February. It is the month of love and you guessed it I have not so normal love stories to share. In the meantime check out the 90-Day Challenge info below.

-90 Day Positive Self Image Challenge-

Who is this challenge for? 

This challenge is for anyone and everyone. Anyone that thinks they aren't worth IT. Anyone that needs to remind themselves they are worth the very best life has to offer. Anyone that is ready to give up. This challenge is for everyone that loves and wants to be loved back. Anyone that is trying to push themselves to the next level of their purpose.

How will this challenge work?

We will break the challenge up into increments of 30 days.

Challenge ourselves to capture our negative self-thoughts and replace them with this:

Positive Affirmation:

I AM WORTHY OF LOVE

I AM CREATED IN THE IMAGE OF LOVE

I AM WHERE I AM MEANT TO BE

Remember not to beat yourself up over any negative thought that wasn’t captured. Just keep trying.

With Love,

-Juls