Think for yourself

Sometimes we come to realize something we have been taught isn’t completely accurate. Maybe it was distorted by cultural, religious or generational beliefs. Maybe the person who taught us wasn’t properly taught themselves.

Did you ever think about the fact that most of our understanding was taught to us by someone else. When we were learning to speak others taught us what to say, the names of people and objects, and how to act (probably the same way others taught them). We started school and others taught us how to use our brain and how to act (probably the same way others had taught them). We went out into the workforce and others taught us what to think, what to do, how to act (probably the same way others taught them).

Most of the interpreting our mind does is based on what others have taught us. We seldom have a truly original idea of our own. We look at our future filtered by our past teaching and experiences and seldom give ourselves space to quiet our frantic chattering mind and look with fresh new insight.

As I grow older I realize I see nothing as it really is, I see it the way others taught me to see it. This can be overwhelming to my soul.

A practice of prayer and meditation help clear or clarify the decades of others understanding we have been taught with. As we ask for Divine guidance, setting aside our initial programmed reactions to the thoughts that come up and allowing ourselves to hear the ancient wisdom within, we are able to determine what we think and not just what others have taught us to think.

You’re never too old to start thinking for yourself. 💕

E.A. Fussell

06.16.2023

Someone is waiting on you

It’s easy to get caught up in using circumstances as excuses. Excuses hold us back, keep us stuck, prevent us from realizing our dreams.

It’s not selfish to have dreams. When we hold ourselves back from attaining them we miss out on helping someone who needs the person we could be.

When we let go of excuses and look past our circumstances we open the door to miracles. Opportunities begin to appear, we think of new ways to get where we want to go, helpful people show up, and new insight comes in.

Difficulty only limits our dreams if we let it. Release excuses, think outside the box, embrace your possibilities. Someone somewhere is waiting. They need help from the person you might be when you attain your dreams.

E.A. Fussell

06.14.2023

Hold onto the promise

When things aren’t going great it’s difficult to believe things are rigged in our favor. When our health deteriorates, when relationships sever, when business fails, when loved ones pass on, we may not be able to see past the pain, disappointment, discouragement. But Romans 8:28 tells us, “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.”

When I’m going through a challenging time I have to remind myself that it doesn’t say some things. It says all things. Even the difficult things. Just because I can’t see the favor, doesn’t change the fact that it’s still there. When I hold onto that promise it helps calm the turmoil inside my heart and mind and gives me hope.

E.A. Fussell
06.13.2023

God is the strength in which I trust.

When we are trusting in our own strength, we have every reason to feel apprehensive, anxious and fearful. What can we really predict or control? Nothing.

When we let go of all the things that keep our mind in constant motion and turmoil, even for a brief moment, we are able to reach deep into our stillness and find peace that passes all understanding.

Inside each Believer there is a place where perfect peace abides. A place where all things are possible. A temple inside where the strength of God sits, waiting for us to ask, seek, and receive. When we feel confused, exhausted, weak, or afraid we must remind ourselves:

God is the strength in which I trust.

E.A. Fussell
06.12.2023

What does five years from now look like?

Let’s write. Get out a piece of paper, a notebook, or your journal and answer the following questions:

What do I want in five years? Where will I live?
What will I be doing?
Who is in my life?
How would I describe myself?
What does a typical weekday look like?
What does a typical weekend look like?

Write freely from your heart. Be as detailed as possible. Then close your eyes and imagine everything you have written as of it were today. Feel all the emotions surrounding the things you wrote; love, joy, success, health, confidence, worthiness, freedom.

Each night, before you fall asleep, do the imagination exercise. Especially feel the emotions.

Sometimes what we want changes or we get more clear on it, so every six weeks review and update your answers. Remember you can have, be, and do anything so let your heart flow freely without restrictions when you answer the questions.

The universe listens to your thoughts, especially those infused with emotion. It is always conspiring with your subconscious mind to bring about what your thoughts are focused on. So focus on what you want (not what you don’t want).

Let’s write. 💕

E.A. Fussell
06.11.2023

Love is everywhere

There are all kinds of Love. Gentle, tough, unconditional, conditional, friends, family, lovers, spouses, platonic, passionate. Just for today, or even just the next hour, try seeing everything around you as an expression of Love. Including yourself.

It’s easy to see Love in flowers, sun shine, a smile on a loved ones face. But stretch that organ between your ears and imagine that even an annoying pothole or the frown on a stranger’s face are expressions of Love toward you.

Maybe the pothole is a reminder to slow down and take care of yourself, it offers an example of what happens when we just keep overlooking a small problem. When we continually ignore little issues in the road of our life the situation keeps eroding until it is an annoying or dangerous pothole.

Maybe the frown on a stranger’s face is a silent cry for someone, anyone, to show they care, even if it’s only through your smile back at their frown. When we see someone frowning it brings our energy level down a notch, maybe Love sent them to remind you that your energy reflects itself on those around you. Smile more, even if no one smiles back. 😊

Love surrounds you, even when you don’t notice it or accept it. 💞

E.A. Fussell
06.09.2023

Accept setbacks with grace and mercy

A fitness journey can feel overwhelming. There are highs and lows, good days and bad days. You go along totally on track and then BAM! Something unexpected blocks progress or interferes with your routine. Once sidetracked it takes extra effort to get back into the flow.

Most of the battle happens between our ears. I have been sidetracked this week. No running, no exercise. Frustration was setting in because I know how much effort will be required to catch up. This evening I had to remind myself to chill out. It’s okay. It will just take a little longer to reach my goals.

If you have gotten sidetracked on your journey try not to beat yourself up. Frustration will bring you down even further and create an additional obstacle to overcome. Life happens. We just have to deal with whatever comes up and in the process remember to treat ourselves with the same grace and mercy we would give to a friend.

E.A. Fussell
06.08.2023

Perception vs Truth

Perception. An idea, a belief or an image we have as a result of how we see or understand something.

Jumping to conclusions because of perception can be dangerous. We get ourselves into mental and Spiritual trouble with mis-perceptions. Others hurt us with their mis-perceptions of us.

Many things influence our perception. Upbringing, religion, education, race, experiences, beliefs, physical appearance, peer pressure, social messages. How can we ever know the truth with so much confusion?

Have you ever realized that perception does not exist in God. He knows. He never has a mis-perception. He knows. Good or bad, He knows. He is the only one who ever truly knows us.

As Believers we have access to His Divine guidance. The Holy Spirit residing in us can see through all of our social filters and programming straight to the truth in any situation, if we listen. Through the Holy Spirit we are able to see and hear without judgement, release attachment to outcome and neutrally view any situation.

When we look at something or listen to something without judgment our emotions stay at bay. We don’t get lost in feelings; our feelings don’t get hurt, and we don’t hurt others.

It requires diligent practice to walk in the Spirit. It’s not a one-and-done kind of thing. But if we take time to practice seeing and hearing through God’s guidance, we may find things are different than we originally thought they were. Through the Spirit our perception gets purified which leads to knowledge of the truth.

Let’s try it today. We will pause our reactions and take a moment to look and listen through the Spirit. In placing our feelings on a brief hold before reacting to any situation we give ourselves an opportunity to see the truth (not our perception), we protect our integrity, and we may prevent ourselves from unwitting hurting another.

E.A. Fussell
06.08.2023

Choose your pieces wisely

Thoughts from this morning’s meditation:

We are each a small piece of the massive puzzle that makes up the world. A puzzle that cannot be complete without us. And each of us is a world of puzzles within ourselves. As we work on piecing ourselves together the world comes together.

An old story came to mind, it goes something like this:

Thoughts from this morning’s meditation:

We are each a small piece of the massive puzzle that makes up the world. A puzzle that cannot be complete without us. And each of us is a world of puzzles within ourselves. The pieces we choose to put ourselves together impact the world surrounding us and vibrates out to infinity.

Note to self:

Be wiser in the pieces you choose as part of yourself.

(An old story came to mind, it goes something like this:

To challenge his young son a dad gave him scotch tape and a map of the world from a magazine page which had been torn into small pieces. The child put it together in record time and took it to his dad. The dad said, “That’s amazing! How did you do that?” The child said, “It was simple. On the back of the page was a picture of a man. When I put the man together the whole world fell into place.”)

E.A. Fussell

06.04.2023

Accountability partner

Do you have an accountability partner? We were created to be connected. The right accountability partner can help you stay on track and reach your target. Whether it is a craft project, financial goal, fitness level, healthy nutrition, anything you want to accomplish may be reinforced with the right partner.

While I am overly connected and accountable in my work life, I shy away from it in my personal life. Thankfully I am able to hire coaches and trainers who hold me accountable. But you don’t have to spend money to have an accountability partner.

It can be a spouse, family member, friend, neighbor, church member, colleague, anyone willing to pray with you, encourage you, and help you stay on track. And, if they have a goal, you can serve as their accountability partner.
Win-Win!

Obviously God is the ultimate partner, but He tells us to connect with others in this life:

Iron, sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.
Proverbs 27:17 KJ

Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour. For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up. Again, if two lie together, then they have heat; but how can one be warm alone? And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.
Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 KJV

Lord, in whatever project or goal we are pursuing, guide us to choose the right accountability partner. Bless the person who agrees to be that partner for us and bless us through our pursuits that we may be a blessing to Your Kingdom. Amen

E.A. Fussell
06.03.2023