YOLO? LIVE IN THE MOMENT? NO REGRETS?

Our culture thrives off of says, such as: You Only Live Once (YOLO), Live in the Moment and No Regrets! But what none of those sayings address, is your success in the future. It is great to enjoy the present moment because it is a gift from God; however, if you are never working towards a goal you will have nothing when the moment has passed. These ideologies play off of the concept of instant gratification; instant gratification leads to emptiness and a desire for more. It feeds the flesh not the soul. A girl goes out to a party and says, "It doesn't matter what happens tonight as long as I have fun!" whereas, a woman says, "I am excited to have fun, but I know my actions have repercussions. I will exhibit DISCIPLINE and wise judgement". Key word here is discipline. Discipline is DIFFICULT and usually physically and emotionally painful! But why do we practice discipline? Because it sets us up for rewards in the future! Your reward is your encouragement. The thought of your toned body in your summer bathing suit is what encourages you to go to the gym when you'd rather watch Gossip Girl season reruns in your room. The thought of becoming the company CEO one day encourages you to work as hard as you can now to prove yourself! And where does our strength come from to accomplish this all? God. Knowing He is with you through your entire journey! So start living a disciplined life! Start setting yourself up for the future! Wake up 30 minutes earlier tomorrow just because you know the most successful people in the world wake up early! And when you do you can cherish those moments because they are purposeful!
"We can't simply wish our lives were different; we have to press through laziness, fleshly desires, and bad attitudes and REFUSE TO GIVE UP on the discipline that will yield good fruit later on" Joyce Meyer, Trusting God Day by Day 

This post is based off of:

Hebrews 12:11New Living Translation (NLT)

11 No discipline is enjoyable while it is happening—it’s painful! But afterward there will be a peaceful harvest of right living for those who are trained in this way.

Set Yourself Free...

In the spirit of the 4th of July I encourage all girls to declare their independence from those who hold you down or barriers that hinder your growth to make your dreams come true! Our founders lead with enthusiasm, courage and determination. A confident lady overcomes the struggles and limits placed on her by society. So how can this be done? Well, First, knowing your mission helps you picture and plan the journey. If you don't have a clear vision set your sights on what make you fulfilled. (graduating, starting a business, helping a charity, rebuilding a family relationship, traveling the world, being a public figure, or simply smiling more). Secondly, understanding who your real friends are- this is never easy but is a life changer. From personal experience I discovered my true friends and self at my lowest point. I hope these tips help you from seeing the lowest. People all over the world have different experiences but this makes the individual stronger.  As a teen I knew I had my whole life in front of me but I was restricted to my city borders. When I tested my borders I found just how big this world really is, filled with the good and the bad. The big question I asked myself was, "who do "I" want to be?" I looked to God first for guidance. Secondly, I wanted respect, respect from others and I wanted to respect others. Third, I wanted passion. I wanted a rich life full of love, happiness, and discovery. The metamorphosis from a girl to woman is recognizing your independence from the negative agents in life and welcoming the positive energy for a healthy well being. Remember you are strong and you can do all things through Christ! (Philippians 4:13)

Carbs, Why they are NOT the enemy!

Many people have been led to believe that cutting carbohydrates is the secret to weight loss. As a candidate for my Bachelors of Science in Nutritional Science and a health enthusiast, I am here to tell you that carbs are not the enemy! Carbohydrates break down and feed your brain glucose. Your brain needs glucose to function. Thus you NEED carbs in your diet. If you cut them completely your body turns to your muscle to break down and use as an alternative energy source. When your brain is forced to use an alternative to the ideal glucose YOU ARE DAMAGING YOUR BRAIN! Ultimately, it is about balance. A true woman exhibits SELF-CONTROL, and knows her limits. A woman, also, knows that her identity is not in what she is eating, therefore, when she has a piece of cake at her friend's birthday she does not become crippled, but takes responsibility to go to thy gym later and eat smart tomorrow! Being a woman is about knowing when it is O.K. to have some fun. A girl eats healthy because she is concerned about others seeing her eat healthy, a woman eats healthy because she RESPECTS HER OWN BODY!

Deeper Thinking:

University of Virginia. "'Bad Carbs' Not The Enemy, Professor Finds." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 2 October 2007. <www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/09/070928160756.htm>.

Galatians 5:22-23New International Version (NIV)

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

xoxo