Day 6 of the 30 Day Inspired Living Challenge

DAY 6



EAT 7 SERVINGS OF FRUITS AND/OR VEGETABLES TODAY!

Your body will thank you for putting nourishing foods into it!

Here's the scoop:

What? - Eat 7 servings of fruits and/or veggies today!

Why? - You are what you eat! As a divine individual, your body is a temple and littering is strictly prohibited! The vitamins, minerals, enzymes, and antioxidants in fresh fruits and vegetables are unmatched. Eating whole nutrient rich foods reduces the risk for heart disease, hypertension, diabetes, certain types of cancer and so much more. Fruits and vegetables are functional too! They can improve your mood, boost your energy, and clear up infections. Your diet should be rich in a variety of fruits and vegetables. Your mind and body will thank you!

How? - Use these tips if you aren't used to consuming this many servings or want to make today's challenge easier for yourself.

1. Keep fruit out where you can see it. That way you'll be more likely to eat it. Keep it out on the counter or in the front of the fridge.

2. Get some every meal, every day. Try filling half your plate with vegetables at each meal. Serving up salads, stir fry, or other vegetable-rich fare makes it easier to reach this goal. Bonus points if you can get some fruits and vegetables at snack time, too.

3. Explore the produce aisle and choose something new. Variety is the key to a healthy diet. Get out of a rut and try some new fruits and vegetables.

4. Bag the potatoes. Choose other vegetables that are packed with more nutrients and more slowly digested carbs. Read the "Carbohydrates" section of The Nutrition Source to learn how to add good carbs to your diet.

5. Make it a meal. Try some new recipes where vegetables take center stage, such as asparagus with warm tarragon-pecan vinaigrette, or spicy broccolini with red pepper.

Ready, set, GROW!

Day 5 of the 30 Day Inspired Living Challenge

DAY 5



WRITE A THANK YOU NOTE!

The more we demonstrate gratitude, the more we have to be grateful for!

Here's the scoop:
What? - Send a thank you note - physical or electronic - to someone who has done something for you recently.

Why? - Besides being common courtesy, taking the time to say thank you can go a long way towards developing healthy relationships. Even if we don't do things for others just to get a "thank you", it's always nice to hear that the recipient of our kindness appreciates it enough to say thank you. Telling another person how you feel about their act may inspire them to do more kind acts for you and others. You too will be inspired to pay the kindness forward and lend a helping hand. The more we demonstrate gratitude, the more we are given to be grateful for.


How? - Think of something someone has said or done for you. It can be big or small as long as you express gratitude for what was done! If you struggle to think of something recent, reflect on something from the past that you may have forgotten to say thank you for and express it!

Ready, set, GROW!

Day 4 of the Inspired Living Challenge

DAY 4


COMMIT A RANDOM ACT OF KINDNESS!

Giving is the ultimate act of divine living! Today, give something away!

Here's the scoop:
What? - Give something away. Maybe you have an item lying around that someone else needs or maybe you've been meaning to take a bag of clothes to the Goodwill. Perhaps your coworker needs help with her workload. Whatever it is, find something valuable to give away to someone else - time, a listening ear, money, resources, etc.

Why? - It's impossible to give without receiving! Giving is a divine act, and your life is enriched when you give. Blessing others with a portion of what you've been given is a tangible expression of gratitude for the abundance in your life. It's also a humanitarian act as you reach out to meet the need of another person.

How? - Look for people in need! This challenge requires that you develop a consciousness of service. You'll have to be looking for opportunities throughout the day to help someone and give something away. Don't take no for an answer! Give wholeheartedly and observe the amazing effects of giving on yourself and others.

Ready, set, GROW!

Day 3 of the 30 Day Inspired Living Challenge

DAY 3



HAND WRITE A LETTER TO A FRIEND OR FAMILY MEMBER!

When is the last time you actually sat down to write a letter and mailed it? With e-mail, texting, instant messaging, Facebook and a host of other communication tools, we can send messages in a flash. But there's value in taking the time to think carefully about what we want to say and then spending the time and energy writing a letter.

Here's the scoop:
What? - Write a letter, by hand, to a family member or friend.

Why? - Connection and interaction are basic human necessities. Electronic communication is commonplace, but a handwritten letter requires a different level of consideration. Imagine the other person's surprise when they take your letter out of the mailbox! We rarely received handwritten communications, but reconnecting with a loved one pen pal style can inspire you both to enjoy more fun and interaction in your relationship.


How? - Grab pen and paper and share your thoughts! Tell the other person how you feel about them and share what's been going on in your world. Say all the things you've been meaning to say but haven't gotten around to!

Ready, set, GROW!

DAY 2 OF 30, THE INSPIRED LIVING CHALLENGE

DAY 2



NO TELEVISION!

Television can be a total time sap and block to your productivity and creativity!

For today, turn off the tube!

Here's the scoop:
What? - No TV today!
Why? - The average American watches 3 hours and 46 minutes of TV each day (that's more than 52 days of nonstop TV-watching per year).
By the age of 65 the average American will have spent nearly nine years glued to the tube! Think about how many important things you can accomplish if you just reduce your TV time in half!
People who watch the news every day report higher depression rates than those who don't. This challenge is designed to inspire you to think critically about how you spend your discretionary time. If you spend every night in front of the TV, you're missing out on a lot! Think about the alternatives - reading, spending time with family, journaling, meditating, exercising, starting a new project...there are countless things to do with your time that will yield meaningful results!
How? - If you find yourself in the break room at work and the TV is on, grab a book or head some place quiet. Instead of watching TV as you get dressed or eat dinner, concentrate on being present in your life and your activities. Choose a theme for the day (i.e. love, joy, peace, happiness, health, etc) and reflect or write about it whenever you feel tempted to turn on the tube.

Ready, set, GROW!

OCTOBER 2 - DAY 1 OF 30, INSPIRED LIVING CHALLENGE

It's here!!! It's actually here!

The 30 Day Inspired Living Challenge begins today, and I'm so excited that you're joining me. Feel free to share your thoughts, ideas, and progress in the comments section at any time.

Without further ado, let's begin!

DAY 1



NO COMPLAINING!

Sounds simple, huh? You may not realize it but most of us complain internally and externally way more than we should. Complaining is a waste of energy!

Here's the scoop:
What? - No complaining - out loud, to yourself, in your head. Nada.
Why? - Forming the habit of not complaining forces you to stop looking at what's wrong in your life and examine what's right...and how you can create solutions for your challenges. You'll find that your mood will gradually improve as you focus on what you want instead of complaining about what's not right in your life.
How? - When you find yourself complaining, STOP! Replace the complaint with gratitude for some blessing you have! Immediately look for a solution to the complaint and ditch any whining about your circumstances.

Ready, set, GROW!

A setback is a setup for a comeback!

“A setback is a setup for a comeback!”
-Willie Jolley

Today, I want to share some notes with you about setbacks. We often think of setbacks as being obstacles on our paths to success, but I submit that setbacks are blessings & opportunities in disguise. When people tell me of hardships they’re facing or problems they’re having, I’m always excited for them. I say “Congratulations” and they look at me like I’m off my rocker. But here’s the secret: a setback is always a setup for a comeback for a child of God.

God is in the business of prospering His children. We see countless promises in the Bible – a comforting word that God will provide, a thought about the pointless nature of worrying, the tenet that everything works to the good of those who love God. There should be no doubt in our minds that God is always prospering us…so why do we allow fear, anxiety, and depression to steal our joy?

Part of the problem is that we don’t truly understand the blessing in the storm. Take a moment to think back on the darkest nights and most difficult seasons in your life. As we go through a storm, we sometimes struggle to find meaning in the hardship. However, the purpose and value of the struggle is usually revealed long after the difficult time has passed. Over time, God’s unfailing love for us should build our faith muscle – it should be a reminder that His timing and His ways are perfect and that if we just keep going and trust Him, we’ll be blessed beyond our wildest dreams.

Jimmy Dean says, “I can’t change the direction of the wind, but I can adjust my sails to always reach my destination.” The other part of the problem is that we insist on having control. We want to give God part of the problem and keep the rest to ourselves to worry and brood over. But God is infinite! How silly of us to continually weigh our minds down with the cares of the world when God has promised us that He would never leave or forsake us. When we find ourselves drifting off course, we can “adjust our sails” so that we can reach our destinations. God gives wisdom generously to those who ask so in seeking Him and His will for our lives, we can use the bricks of hardship to build the foundation of our victory.

There’s silver lining to every cloud of doubt – it’s up to us to find it! If you’re facing tough times, fret not! In fact, celebrate and praise God because something amazing is on the way. Your breakthrough starts with you!

© 2009, Lisa Nicole Bell