Will Power

"Will Power"has been on my mind lately. What are the "will power struggles"we face each day? Why are some days hard to have a strong will power and other days its much easier? People tell me I have a strong will power but what does that mean, really?

I have done a little personal study about "will power" and this is what I have come to understand on my own. I believe in the importance of learning a principle, putting it into action and sharing it with others and that is what my blog is for.

6:00 a.m. Alarm goes off.
One side of my mind says, "Time to get up"
The other side says, "Oh man!! It is so cold, I can lay here a little longer.... I've still got time"
The battle continues inside my mind for a while longer.
DING, DING, DING!! First Will Power struggle of the day! Which of my 2 minds will win? The mind that knows I have many things to do and I will feel better to get an early start or the mind that can only see the present moment and would rather stay in bed?

I started paying attention to the struggles I faced throughout the day. There are constant battles going on in my 2 minds. I have one side that is mindful about what I "should be" doing and what will have better long-term effects and I have the other side that lives in the present and is motivated by what I want now.

I think it comes down to this: being true to our inner self and doing what we know we should be doing!!1 I have more peace, happiness and fulfillment in life when I am true to the side of my mind that knows what I "should do" to become the person I know Heavenly Father wants me to be.

There are some things that I do to increase my "will power" daily:
1. Get at least 7 hours of sleep at night.
2. Daily quiet time to connect with my spiritual being. I read the scriptures, pray, ponder, listen/read talks from the living prophets, set goals or listen to peaceful music. I try to listen to the message from Heavenly Father that is whispered in my mind or heart that day- this becomes my "to do list" for the day.
3. Exercise my body and rejoice that I am strong, healthy and my body can MOVE!! This is my way of expressing gratitude for my physical body I am blessed with.
4. Eat healthy food that keeps a balance of nutrition and blood sugar levels. Following our inner mind that we eat what we know we should and avoid what we know is bad, can bring great happiness and health. When our body is fueled right, our spirit also feels right.

When I look back at myself 25 years ago, I had some hopes and aspirations I hoped to reach when I hit the 40's. I wanted to feel happy, be healthy, serve my community and church and enjoy life. These are things that I can control, no matter the circumstances and today I am reaping those REWARDS!! My life-long choices of eating healthy, having an active lifestyle, serving in positions that have come my way, all contribute to the person I am and who I am becoming.

Who do you want to be in 25 years from now? Join me in the "I Will Power" to strive for your best self. Nephi in the Book of Mormon has always been my hero.., "I Will Go and Do".

New Blog

I was inspired by my Aunt Jewel to start a blog to share my passion for being Happy and Healthy for Life. I have spent my life trying to find a happy balance between being healthy and feeling healthy. I love reading articles and finding recipes and talking to people about what makes them happy and healthy and I have a lot of knowledge stored up inside that I want to share. I think this blogging will be a great way to express my knowledge, tips and habits that I have learned for myself throughout my life. So here it goes.....

Today I was asked by a friend who is going on a road trip for some ideas of how to keep control of feeling healthy on the road. These were my first thoughts:

1. Carry healthy snacks with you in a cooler so you can eat small amounts every 2-3 hours.
2. Choose healthy snacks that combine healthy carbs/protein/low-fat/fiber. I think of choosing 2 of those to combine in one snack. For Example: small apple/string cheese, nuts/yogurt, raw veggies/hummus.
3. Eat bigger meals earlier in the day and eat lighter at night. You will feel so much better the next morning if you don't eat heavy at night. Leave out the carbs at night if possible.
4. A healthy dinner would look like your plate cut in half and fill one half with veggies. Then cut your plate in half again and choose a protein for one quarter of the plate and the other quarter, choose a high-fiber or whole-grain version of bread, pasta, rice, tortillas.
5. Choose grilled, baked or broiled meats. No breaded, fried foods.
6. Drink lots of water. Stay away from sugary drinks. Don't drink your calories.
7. If you eat consistently throughout the day, you will avoid over-eating and stuffing yourself with unnecessary calories.
8. Keep gum in your purse to chew when you are done eating your meal to avoid seconds or dessert.
9. Encourage the people around you to make healthier choices by making suggestions of eating out locations that you know have good options. Be okay to stand out as a good example of health and share what you are doing with others. They will respect you even more:)
10. Enjoy your journey of building relationships on the road. Focus on the visiting, not the next meal. We can learn so much from the people around us. Find their strengths and share yours!!

Happy Trails to You!