WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 6, 2021 Get into Shape

 WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 6, 2021 Get into Shape

New Year’s Resolutions - Part III

We have looked at the parable of the talents - where one person gets 10 million (my substitution) and works it into an additional 10 million; another person gets 5 million and doubles that, and the third person is scared that he might lose the money, so hides it away - doesn’t even try to use it!!

We all have talents - are you using your talents?

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So, I went to https://www.jrni.co/ which is a coaching company.  They had an assessment as to if you could be a good life coach. (Yes, I am skeptical - for this is a company that makes money by selling coaching products).

The analysis was (not a surprise - they want people to get into their program!!): 

*** (Their assessment -  quoted from the website)

First things first, should you become a life coach?

BASED ON YOUR RESPONSES, YOU’D MAKE AN INCREDIBLE LIFE COACH.

(ME: Their analysis (based on ten questions), was that I am a Helper!!)

-. Your heart cares about one thing: Building deeper connections with people and making an impact in their lives.

-. Your favorite questions to ask: "What can I do to help others? How can I be more effective in helping?"

-. You're committed to supporting others during difficult times.

-. You love being surrounded by people who are willing to be vulnerable about their struggles and helping them grow from their struggles.

-. You have a gift of making people feel seen, heard, and understood.

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(The skeptic in me says - yes, they are trying to get me to bite for their program about $4,000.  Now, I am retired, I have a doctorate, and I should get additional training.  But, this might not be the priority for my money!!!)

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But, before I look more at being a life coach, I want to look at something even more important - taking care of yourself!!!

You cannot reach your full potential, use the talents and skills that you have, fulfill the purpose God has for your life, or even make a good effort toward pursuing these when you’re not right physically. Yet no factor seems to be more overlooked when it comes to your God-given potential.

A healthy body is critical to the preparation and execution of the various activities and opportunities the Lord gives you. You need a healthy body to fulfill your use of your talents.

Good health is absolutely necessary for the following:

-. Mental Focus to set and keep working towards our passions, using our talents and skills

-. Enthusiasm - (I think you have seen me use the quote from Emerson “Without enthusiasm, nothing great was ever achieved)

-. Clear thinking - if you are tired, it is easy to allow ‘stinking thinking’ to get into your mind

-. Motivation - motivation is affected by our mental focus, clear thinking, and enthusiasm.

-. Perseverance needed to keep going.  Being able to respond quickly

So, as we think about what talents we can use - how we can move forward from just being ‘okay’ to ‘great’ if physically we can’t do it.  I KNOW I ‘have to’ walk, to keep going.  There are days, when my mind says “I’m too tired to walk”, “Not today, we did enough walking yesterday”, or “Not today, you can catch up tomorrow!!!” 

I unfortunately have not done all the right things physically.  Last spring when I was playing Granny Basketball, at the end of practice we were to shoot free-throws - and I was lucky to get the ball close to the basket.  My arms muscles haven’t been used - and I haven’t focused on improving them through weights and exercises.  I walk - but I don’t do squats and lunges (and, thus my knees are stiff).  

So, when my body says “no”, my focus, thinking, and motivation goes away.  I like my 10 to 15-minute nap (about 1:00 p.m.) - and it is about all I need to get my body enough rest to function well.  I do sleep well.  

BUT - if I want to use my talents, if I want to help others, if I want to not be just okay, but great, I need to work on my physical being.  And, at age 73, if I don’t work on it, it will deteriorate quickly!!!  

And, thus an “unspoken” talent is that of being physically able to go eight hours a day, or two hours at a time (with coaching), or for two-hour walks (and squats and lunges)!!!  (So, one of my New Year’s Resolutions is to keep going!!!) 

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Another focus is ‘how serious am I’? (or how serious are you?)  Will I do something for a few months and then drop it?  And, that can be with exercise as well as using your talents.  

Is this a “pipe dream’ for me?  Do you have such thoughts?  A pipe dream is defined as “an unattainable or fanciful hope or plan.”

That ‘nagging little voice’ (that isn’t God) in my head says “just sit back and let the days go by”, but if I have some talents and abilities, shouldn’t I be using them?  I think all people need to have value in their lives.  (I used to have value as “Papa”, but since that door has been shut, my value has been questioned!!)

More tomorrow on New Year, New Me (or New You)!!!

LOVE WINS!!

Hugs!!

Karen