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3 Tips To Change Your Expectations In the New Year

We have made it almost to the end of 2002 and the clock is rapidly ticking in the new year. Whether we had a good year or not, most of us hope that the new year will be better. Maybe 2023 is the year you receive the promotion you have been eyeing. Or, you achieve your weight loss goal. Or, you meet Mr. or Ms. Right.

Image by Heiko Stein from Pixabay

One of the best ways to succeed in the new year is to set your expectations on success. Following are three tips to help you do just that:

  1. Think success. You may have heard the saying, where the mind goes, the man follows. This holds true for what you hope to achieve. So, instead of thinking you would be passed over for that promotion yet again, think that you have the qualifications and therefore you stand as good a chance as anyone to get that promotion. Invest in your professional development. Focus on your strengths. Learn as much as you can about the new position so when the opportunity comes along, you will be prepared to take advantage of it.
  2. Speak success. Say it out loud — I am the new (name it) for my company. I now weigh (your ideal weight) and I feel and look great. I am meeting the man (or woman) of my dreams. Share your expectations with others who are supportive, not those who will discourage you or make you feel like a failure. Whenever you are tempted to say something negative, turn it around into a positive statement.
  3. Act success. Your expectations should lead you to act with confidence. When you say I am the new (name it) for my company, you should say it like you mean it. This does not mean you must brag or boast, but your quiet confidence should shine through your speech and actions. Join groups and associations where you are likely to meet the right people.

When you change your expectations and begin to think, speak, and act for success, something amazing happens. You appear more confident, people begin to take notice and soon you will find success in whatever area you’ve been hoping for is coming your way. But it takes practice, determination, and belief in yourself.

I cannot end this New Year message without interjecting a word about faith. Everything I’ve said above is dependent on faith — in God and His will for your life. He is the One who makes everything possible, but He expects you to do your part as well. So, think, speak, and act success, but place your expectations on Him.

Happy New Year!

A diagnosis of type 2 diabetes can send your life into a tailspin. It can leave you feeling alone and overwhelmed, but it doesn’t have to. Join my type 2 diabetes network group and get the help and support you need.

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Bringing You Thanksgiving Greetings From Afar

For the first time since I migrated to the United States, I’m spending Thanksgiving away from home. I’m in Trinidad where Thanksgiving is not celebrated and the atmosphere is completely different. It feels weird, but I know it’s only temporary and I can still be thankful for this day regardless of where I am.

You too may be in a different place this Thanksgiving, either physically, mentally, or emotionally, and the feeling may be weird or even painful. But take heart, it will pass. Think of things you can be thankful for — friends, family, even life itself. So, whether you’re celebrating over turkey and all the trimmings, or you are in a distant place this year, give God thanks.

I’m bringing you some of my previous posts that I hope will bring some smiles, encouragement or whatever it is you need this Thanksgiving holiday.

Tell Others What You are Thankful For

Changing With the Times

Diabetic Meal Plan For the Holidays

Happy Thanksgiving!

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How To Stop Procrastinating and Reach Your Goals

The weekend is over, Monday morning has rolled around and you know you should be up by a certain time and heading for your walk or to the gym, but instead you do what you have been doing for the past five weeks since you set your goals — you procrastinate. Later, you feel badly, like a child caught with her hand in the cookie jar. This article deals with how you can stop procrastinating and reach your goals.

Procrastination is the habit of putting things off. What are some of the things you put off on a regular basis? Check all that apply.

Procrastination is another form of excuse. The reason you did not get dressed and go for your walk is —- fill in the blanks. That’s your excuse.

So naturally the next question is why did you make that excuse? Maybe you don’t like walking. Maybe you find it boring, tiring, tedious, whatever. These excuses, say the experts, may be the result of “task aversion.”

So, how can you cure this habit of procrastination? Note that it is a habit, a practice of doing something else instead of what you know you should be doing. Therefore, instead of doing something else, anything, other than walking, can you think of an activity you enjoy that will produce the same results as if you walked for 30 minutes?

Walking the dog, pushing the baby in a stroller are all forms of walking that you may find more enjoyable. Also, walking with a buddy or walking while listening to music or an audiobook will make the time seem to pass more quickly and may even make you look forward to walking every morning. If this doesn’t work for you, try breaking it down into a shorter period, say fifteen minutes.

So far, I’ve only talked about walking, but what about other things you keep procrastinating? Like adopting a new way of eating or preparing your food? How do you avoid putting these things off? Here are three suggestions:

  1. Write the activity somewhere where it’s always visible — like on your fridge, mirror, or planner. Do not make a long list of things you should be doing. Just the main one you want to work on.
  2. Think of the end goal. What do you hope to achieve when you stop procrastinating? Weight loss? Lower glucose levels? More energy? Keeping the benefits in mind will motivate you to move toward your goals.
  3. Enlist the help of others. If you are trying to change your eating habits, and the rest of your family is not, then you have a problem. Look for flavorful recipes that the whole family can enjoy. When dining out, choose menu items that cater for those who are on low-carb, nutritious diets that are pleasing to taste and satisfying.

Procrastination is a habit that can seriously derail your goals if you don’t overcome it. You can do so by writing your goals down, focusing on the benefits of achieving your goals and enlisting your goals. How do you beat procrastination? Drop us a line and let us know.

A diagnosis of type 2 diabetes can send your life into a tailspin. It can leave you feeling alone and overwhelmed, but it doesn’t have to. Join my type 2 diabetes network group and get the help and support you need.

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How The Lack of Self-Care Leads To Unhappiness

Self-care, as the name implies, means taking care of yourself — your mind, body, and spirit. Illness, lack of time, and overwork can cause you to neglect self-care, and in so doing, it can lead to unhappiness. You may have a family to look after in addition to a full time job, and these things make it almost impossible to make time for self-care, but for your own happiness and that of those around you, you need to factor in time in your busy schedule for some self-care. Let’s look at the different ways that lack of self-care leads to unhappiness.

  1. You feel stressed and exhausted. When you aren’t taking care of yourself, you’ll often feel stressed and exhausted. This in turn can lead to burnout and a feeling of resentment. For example, it could be that you are exhausted from taking care of everyone else’s needs. Over time, if you don’t factor in self-care, you could end up resenting your loved ones. When you are constantly exhausted and stressed out, it’s impossible to maintain a positive outlook. Self-care helps to combat stress and it also boosts your energy levels.

2. Personal hygiene suffers. Neglecting your self-care can cause your personal hygiene to suffer. If you’re constantly rushing around with little time for a bath or shower, or time to visit your hairdresser, or get a manicure or pedicure, not only will your hygiene suffer you will not look your best and others may feel uncomfortable around you. The trouble is, failing to take care of yourself leads you to feel even worse. So, maintaining self-care is crucial for your mental health and personal hygiene.

3. You can gain weight. It might surprise you to know that lack of self-care can also lead to weight gain. How, you ask? Constant rushing around without having time to sit down to a decent meal can cause you to indulge in junk food, which can lead to feelings of guilt, which can lead to more bingeing for comfort. You may also turn to alcohol, which also causes weight gain, and as you gain weight, you begin to feel unhappy.

Lack of self-care can lead to a vicious cycle of poor hygiene, stress and exhaustion, and weight gain, all of which lead to unhappiness. In my next post, I will talk some more about the importance of self-care and how you can get your life into proper balance so you don’t neglect self-care.

Do you find yourself neglecting some aspects of your self-care? What steps have you taken to try to correct this? Leave a comment in the box below, If you suffer from diabetes or are taking care of someone who has diabetes, I invite you to join my Type 2 Diabetes Network group by clicking on this link.

A diagnosis of type 2 diabetes can send your life into a tailspin. It can leave you feeling alone and overwhelmed, but it doesn’t have to. Join my type 2 diabetes network group and get the help and support you need.