Change your mind, change your destiny

Did you know 15,000 to 20,000 decisions and thoughts are made every day?

And out of those thoughts the majority of them are usually negative.

And not only are the majority of our thoughts negative, but they are usually on repeat in our minds!

Meditate on this verse:

“For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. And we will be ready to punish every act of disobedience, once your obedience is complete.”

‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭10:3-6‬ ‭NIV‬‬

But there is hope, start rewiring your mindset to form positive habits of writing down gratitude statements daily.

Turn off the news, turn off social media if you have to, play only music that has good messages. Start singing songs that give you life!

In order to have habits and change your destiny, we must start now on ruthlessly rewiring our negative self talk and mindsets through the washing of our minds with the water of the Word. (Ephesians 5:25)

Every journey begins as a single step. Every dream starts as a thought. One of our favorite quotes:

Your beliefs become your thoughts,

Your thoughts become your words,

Your words become your actions,

Your actions become your habits,

Your habits become your values,

Your values become your destiny.

What are you allowing to come in and cause you anxiety? The Bible says, “do not worry about anything but pray about everything!”(Phil 4:6)

What are you allowing to steal your time away from forming good habits?

Do a daily check on how you can start the day fresh and renewed!

How to Identify and Address Parental Fatigue When You Have a Special Needs Child

Parenting is exhausting. But when you have a special needs child, you might have even less energy than your friends who are also parents. You may spend more time caregiving and not connect on a meaningful level with those around you. It might be all you can do to fit a shower into your day.

If this sounds like you, you could be living with parental fatigue. And while you’re not alone in your struggle, you can’t continue to allow exhaustion to rule your life. Below, we’ll discuss how to determine your fatigue level and provide practical solutions to building a healthier life.

Gauge Your Fatigue Level

The first step to addressing your parental fatigue is to assess your fatigue level. Exhaustion can show itself in many different ways. For example, if you have been struggling with depressionor excessive anxiety, it can signify severe fatigue. Also, if you have found yourself unable to engage in physical activity or having to work to get out of bed in the morning, chances are you are dealing with chronic fatigue.

Another fatigue marker is your level of marital satisfaction. If you are more irritable and less receptive to your spouse than you were before becoming a parent, it likely means that you should take steps to get your fatigue under control. Likewise, a lack of social life and support can indicate that you need to find ways to increase your energy levels.

Try to find an exercise routine that you can fit into your everyday life. Spend a few minutes researching at-home workouts that you can do in 15 to 20 minutes. Along with boosting your energy, exercising can significantly improve your mental and emotional health.

Also, consider going to marriage counseling if you and your spouse are losing patience with one another. Working with a professional and seeking the Lord through scripture can turn things around. And even if you don’t feel like you have the energy for it, be intentional about reaching out to friends and relatives to get that much-needed social support.

Give Yourself Goals to Accomplish

It’s critical to set attainable goals for yourself when treating your fatigue. As you accomplish goals and reach milestones, your confidence will continue to build. For example, maybe you could return to school for a college degree. Today, you can easily find accredited online universities that allow you to complete your studies from home. You can boost your career prospects without compromising your other responsibilities if you go this route.

Another worthwhile goal is to improve your health. Try substituting one meal a day with a healthier alternative, such as trading your sandwich for a salad. Experiment with different bedtime routines until you find one that helps you unwind and get the restful sleep you need. And promise yourself to find a hobby that adds joy to your life.

Watch Out for Backfire

Finally, as you assess your fatigue levels and develop a treatment strategy, you may run into some unwanted outcomes. The key is to be aware of negative consequences to your self-care plan so that you can fix any mistakes along the way.

For example, be mindful that you are not focusing too much time and attention on yourself and neglecting your calling as a parent. Try not to overburden your support network. And be careful not to ignore the depression or anxiety symptoms and leave them untreated.

No matter how much you love your special needs child, it doesn’t change that your struggle is valid. Start evaluating your fatigue level today to come up with solutions. Don’t expect your journey to come without obstacles, but know that the only way to take back control of your health and well-being is to start making changes.

Would you like to read more helpful content or learn about our ministry? Visit cindydennis.org today!

A faith that can’t be tested- can’t be trusted

What would be the point of designing a car, building the car but not test driving it?

Car manufacturers have to test their vehicles for years before they can even release them to the public.

New cars have been put through strenuous tests of possible crash points, speed, weather, ease of use and child safety.

There would be no point to releasing a brand new car with all the bells and whistles without it going through rigorous checks.

The Christian life is no different. Get ready to be tested in every way!

James one says:

“My friends, consider yourselves fortunate when all kinds of trials come your way, for you know that when your faith succeeds in facing such trials, the result is the ability to endure. Make sure that your endurance carries you all the way without failing, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.”

‭‭James‬ ‭1:2-4‬ ‭GNT‬‬

So if you were experiencing some tests this week and your patience, and your faithfulness, and your words- rejoice! (Yes, be happy!) because you are going through stages to be more like Jesus Christ- The original design for how we should live our life!

So if there’s a coworker that really gets under your skin and you’re feeling tested- stop failing the test, figure out how you can pass the test in shifting your emotions and giving it to the Lord in prayer!