The Horror and Beauty of Goal Setting

Alas, I was transfixed....when i finally began to grasp the innate power of setting one´s own goals.

How powerful I felt, that I could write and craft a precious list of life goals, that I could hold tightly and recite aloud daily, and often.

It was liberating....it was the ultimate flex, to emancipate myself....from my own meandering. To harness my artistic soul and force it to form itself into something resembling direction and ambition....and dare, I say......a  career.

That was many years ago. Many goals later..... I proudly was able to assign a few large check marks and gloat at my accomplishments.

To be able to say....with some authority...¨I am going to do this, by this date....." and actually mean it and believe it was possible........was and still is an intoxicating drink.

But now, friends, I also must speak of the horrors of goal setting.

The biggest disappointment of writing down my life goals, was that it was simply not whimsical at all. I had always danced through life....both literally and figuratively......enjoying the surprises and emotional roller coaster that is the common experience of most Canadian women.

I liked not knowing what was coming around the bend. I liked not knowing who I was going to meet. I liked not knowing what I was going to earn. I liked not knowing what I was going to eat.

To then, do a sharp personal turn and declare that I would control my every move in life....in order to accomplish a list of written goals......was, on a certain level.....an unspeakable horror.

How would God surprise me.....if He wasn´t on  my list? How would I fit my family onto my rather lengthy list of personal goals? How would my children´s journeys fit into my own rather complex list of written goals?

Must I always be rewriting my list of goals when I uncover yet another delight in life, that I had not yet written down on paper? How do I include my husband and my friends on this battle weary list? Did they even want to be trapped into my favorite font?

Lord, I do not have the answers. When I think I have the answers.....I feel that the books I must write are many....too many to utter....too thick to describe.

Lord Jesus, how do I dance through life....if I must write every line upon a list? There are no brownie points for the big green check marks on my list. There is only the personal satisfaction....of a fait accompli.

And so now, having uttered these horrid truths...I must run and hide....for I fear I have betrayed....my best friend.....my list.

C,

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There for the Taking

My local city libraries have approximately 170,000 items on their shelves. That total spans two library branches located within our city limits. i dont live in a particularly large city. however, our local libraries are well used by residents and highly valued by city planners.

I so enjoy that legendary Robin Williams film entitled "Good Will Hunting". It's main character, a rebellious genius, gets into a verbal battle with an Ivy League brat, by stating quite convincingly.... that he was able to get all the same knowledge as the ivy brat simply by paying less than 5$ a year in late fees to his local public library. i can't help but applaud. 

Now  before u think i am just some bookworm with a penchant for books....permit me to enlighten you otherwise. I am not a mere reader of books.

i read to learn. THEN i take what i have learned and try it out in the real world. I put into practice what i personally study. Through trial and error i tweak my strategies until i receive the desired outcome.

Much of what i have personally put into practice which has propelled me forward in life, has been eagerly gleaned from free or low cost high quality books. Sometimes i splurge on a high cost book and usually discover it is worth every single penny...even if the cost is over a 100 dollars. Good timely accurate information is priceless.

Some of my learning curve has stretched from written pages to dance playfully with websites, podcasts and blogs.  i have also , on more than one occasion, taken it upon myself to personally contact a well respected author with the intent of being able to ask more precise questions. 

 I pride myself on having the courage to contact well accomplished authors for the sole purpose of learning more about a vital subject of interest.

You must bet on yourself sometimes, to use the skills u already have to get u moving towards your written life goals. 

Well, i am going to be brief today. i am simply going to ask u  a question. Are u sure that u have taken full advantage of what your local public library has to offer?  Have u maxed out it's advantages for the attainment of your life goals?

It just may be possible, that somewhere, hidden in a massive library book shelf or in a stack of audio book cd's..... lies the next bite of information u have been waiting for. Don't u want to get that much closer towards the accomplishment of one of your life goals?You are passionate about your life goals aren't u ?

in peaceful productivity , 

Carla.

The Cost of Freedom

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I am not talking about war....nor weapons in the traditional sense of weaponry...but I am talking about
trappings of the soul and mind....which bind and trip up us mere mortals...when and if we allow them to do so.

There's a verse in the bible (james 4:7) ...which encourages us to
"Resist the devil and he will flee"...

That verse, in my understanding, also applies to things which trap our minds and lives ....snares and concepts and personal policies which prevent us from living fully. Even religious rituals which may have been initially created out of sincere love and devotion, can become warped and compulsive habits which control and bite out huge chunks of time which we would otherwise use to pursue our  wonderful life goals.

We need to be in control of ourselves, and not allow rituals to rise and become dictators over our time and dedication.

If we truly want to achieve our life goals , we must be permitted by ourselves to devote 100% of our time towards these goals...without being manipulated by guilt or a sense of inordinate religiosity.

Try to do only those religious activities which add real value to your life and your honoring of God.The rest is a waste of time and a thief towards your goal setting.

Has someone ever told you how to dress, how to wear makeup and where you should go?

How did you feel when they told you these things? Did they pretend that they were advising you these ideas "for your own good"? Or was it all just a guise to control you and keep you down? Was it an attempt to try to make sure you didn't have a better life than they did? Was it an attempt to make sure you had less success or fame than they had? Were they just trying to prevent you from making them jealous?

Envy is still a monstrous giant...a sneaky rebellious reptile, which will cause even the closest relative to put a stumbling block in front of another family member just to prevent progress and slow down your path to success.

When you sit down and ponder life...... check in on the status of your progress towards the accomplishment of your life's goals, don't forget to check in in your habits. Any habits which do not carry the sweet scent of freedom, are not helpful. You and your mind and your body must have the time and emotional and spiritual freedom to work on your goals with 100% dedication. Multitasking will not do.
If loving God is supposed to give us freedom......that freedom should give us full permission to live
a joyous, challenging, adventurous and wonderfully kooky life. It should not be boring, or predictable or safe by any means. Jesus lived a life of great adventure. He was also sinless. His freedom led him to lay  down His life for us all. What a treasure. What humble freedom. What passion Jesus showed for us, in that he harnessed all the power within his personal freedom and used it to  conquer death and the grave. He overcame any negative thing that would try to steal our joy or progress.

Whatever religious activities you are personally involved, I pray that they are bringing you closer to the freedom and joyful spirit of God who birthed in you  those goals that are sooooo worth fighting for. Peace on,
Carla.

Extreme Fat Farm Experiment #1

OKOK,,,,, enough already. Time to come clean....... if I haven't blurted it out already.

The Extreme Fat Farm I operate....has how many members???
Do tell.

OK, ok.....it's really just me. I put myself into my own self orchestrated massive
Extreme Fat Farm Challenge.

The fat farm is just me and my big fat ego.
No members....other than me myself and I.

But since my readers are smarter than I am, y'all figured that out months ago no?

Sigh....feels good to be in the clear.

Ok, so now an update on the Extreme Fat Farm Experiment.( and thus it will be called from now on)

Well, so far I've convinced one other person to also jump  in her local lake too. Not my zone,but in her own local  zone's lake/bay. And I must say that I am quite surprised that someone actually took my advice at face value and tried it for herself. She said it was quite refreshing.

Have you done anything kooky lately and convinced someone else to try it too?
Did you spend many days, weeks....er months or even years trying to get someone to try that new thing you discovered?

Part of the miracle or natural wondrous power of a pure natural jump into the lake is the
massive change in temperature that quickly affects the whole body, mind and spirit.
Lakes are usually cooler rather than hot, and this cooling affect resets something in the inner core of our being.

I've written before about how Tony Robbins, ( yes THAT Tony Robbins) makes a regular habit of soaking in ice cold water before he gets going on one of his high octane conferences/seminars.
Tim Ferris is another celeb who also touts the extreme "inner reset" that occurs when you immerse your body in ice cold water. ( his own ice machine will bear testament to his extreme approval of this type of ice cold water plunge 'therapy".)

Well, that's all for now, friends. Thanks for riding with me this unruly moose called life.
Peaace.
Carla
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Extreme Fat Farm 8 No Numbers

Not gonna share the numbers yet....perhaps I will further on in this journey.
I want my family and friends to be able to read this blog years from now and see and sense the transformation.

This isn't a small journey. It  is life transforming.

i could talk about the weight loss. It has begun.

But I also know in my gut, that it is the muscle formation that is far more important than some bragger pounds of fat lost.

They...the little grey men...tell me that muscles weigh more than fat.
But the vain woman in me still wants to feel lighter...to see those measured numbers
go far below what I have carried with me for a portion of these my precious middle age years.

For a woman....of any age,....one's weight can become an unhealthy obsession.
But for others it is simply a tool to measure something to do with one's health and with one's appearance.

When I watch videos about IRON MAN competitions, I see the brilliantly lean muscle mass. I hear reports of 2% body fat.
2% body fat????

I would like to walk around and feel what it feels like to have that kind of body fat composition.
To feel what its like to trip lightly up a hundred stairs, to go for a 5 k bike ride in a few fast min.
To feel the waist of the pants I wear to rest lightly on my hips, not clinging madly to a plus size.
To tap lightly on harder abdominals....and know they can easily carry my frame into my next years.

i have discovered with glee, that the local industrial section, with huge flat parking lots, is wonderfully vacant on sundays. I can cycle for chunks of time without having to battle potholes and traffic and  staring motorists. Thx God. This new discovery is going to be a blessing.

Onward,
C.




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Extreme Fat Farm 7....Sometimes Moderation Will Not Do!

There's something else I want to write about.
Unfortunately the pressing idea has just briefly escaped me.

Oh great. I remember now.

There's this notion of boot camp.
and then there's this notion of moderation.

I have often been persuaded into the "do all things in moderation" way of living. It appeared prudent and has the appearance or illusion of calm wisdom.

But this is what I have discovered so far this summer. Sometimes moderation will not do.

Sometimes only the EXTREME will do. A MASSIVE change. A BIG step.

I have always been a big fan of baby steps, of small consistent steps in moderation to accomplish one big goal.

But the problemo with moderation....is that it's kinda hum ho...kinda dull and kinda boring.

Moderation will get you places....like a turtle, slow and steady wins the race.

But EXTREME is a heck of a lot more fun .....AND it gets you there faster!


So voila, the notion of the EXTREME FAT FARM.....where extreme notions turn into BIG ACTIONS to get obese, or overweight folks like me to take a flying leap into a freezing cold lake and just start walking. Walking and walking and walking in the cold water.

This EXTREME notion of motion in the cold water has resulted in weight loss and muscle formation and rejuvenation of emotions and mentality.

It wasn't about making some mild and gentle daily strut around the block. It was about....I am sick and tire of this crap and I am going to make  a BIG CHANGE....and NO ONE and NOTHING is going to stop me.

I had in my mind this notion of a boot camp. Where folks run hot....run fast and furious like mad for
like 1 or 2 weeks straight and transform their bodies and mentalities so that they become fit for army service.

Well, life is sometime as challenging as army service. WE neeed to have the tools to perform the service that life demands.One BIG TOOL is our physical body.

It will either be able to carry you through to accomplish your goals or it will fail you and will wind up at some diet and exercise club with some stupid monthly payment and a "gentle plan" designed by some spandex king with a condescending disgust for "older" folks.

No thankyou.  I will design my own EXTREME FAT FARM....and it will knock that sucker out of the park.

with a practical  toothy grin,
Carla.


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Extreme Fat Farm 6

Ok second post in one day. I wanted to fess us something.
These results I am getting are not only from lake walking.
A little bit of cycling has come into the picture.
Not oodles, but every now and then, my purty pink bike is doing it's  thing.

So there, it's off my chest.

Sometimes the lake walking has morphed into swimming.....sometimes not.

Sometimes the lake walking changes into a bike ride.

I am not talking IRON MAN levels yet....but hey  I have put no limits into what I am headed for.

This body was headed for middle age hell...and I just woke up one day and said....No. Not today, not me. NO!

and so I began with a giant blasted leap into a very chilly local lake and away I have gone.


Peace part 2,
Carla.


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Extreme Fat Farm 5

new beach today. new area to water walk/swim. High waves....very rocky lake bottom.
Turns out my MEC dry bag is more "water resistant, than water proof..."  because I see too many
water droplets when I unravel the folding top of the bag after swimming.

So I've invested in a waterproof small size clear cell phone bag from the same MEC. I must admit...I really just love going into that store....browsing the kayaks, the "instant meals on the run" for those who love sports and camping and adventure as much or more than I do".

The great Napoleon Hill, I think it was, talked about how "Thoughts are things" and that when you are often around people who think positively and with energetic prosperous ideas, that it affects you and how you yourself think and feel when you walk through an area. MEC has very  cool people working there, full of energy and great ideas. The customers too are like minded and understand the call of  the water.

Well, back to today's water walk. Since I  used a new area for water walking/swimming...I didn't have the same measured out area to "lap". So I just used the nearest buoys to walk/swim between.
The lake was very wavy today, so the going was slow. But I brought a trusty new floaty board with me today to help me battle the waves.

I presume that authentic lake swimmers would frown on the use of a floaty board, but alas, I don't really care. Lol.

Have you done anything wacky outside the box lately to help you reach some goals?

Sometimes, doing something extreme that other folks would call "odd" is just the ticket to the progress you are craving.

It's probably been about a month now  and I must say that......Jumping straight into a very cold lake was just the ticket for me.


Peace,
Carla.






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Extreme Fat Farm 4

The Lake was too warm today. How bizarre. How can it be that a great big lake like Lake Simcoe can actually become warm???

Perhaps there is a good side to this....that if I actually feel the water being too warm, that this might just mean that my body is becoming more acclimated, in a good way, to spending significant time in lake water.

Perhaps also, this is the first day I actually have a tiny bit of understanding what Tony Robbins and Tim Ferriss struggle with, in seeking out very icy water for ice cold baths, to shock their systems regularly into higher performance mode.

I never thought I would understand the attraction to going into ice cold water. To me it was always something to run away from. But my experience this summer with the mental and physical rejuvenation I attribute to regular walks in the cool lake water, has changed my mind.

Do you have extreme ways you use to boost you into a high performance mode?
Do share.

Peace,
Carla.

P.S. If you're looking for some entertainment that will also double as a motivational speech, try the two following biographical flicks currently on Netflix...by the names of "Kim Swims" and "The Iron Cowboy".


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Extreme Fat Farm 3

Yes yes yes....you've noticed I am not politically correct when I talk about "fat-ness".
The reason being....that yes, I have been there and done that myself....live and in living color.


I have faced almost every obstacle that any other overweight human being has or is facing.

That's why I refuse to sugar coat it....for lack of a better word.

Here are some of the obstacles that are being overcome
as the Extreme Fat Farm Challenge continues with 
Epic Lake Walks.

DISCLAIMER: This blog post, as well as any other post in this blog is  intended for conversational purposes only, not for medical advice. Please always obtain medical advice from a licensed medical practitioner. Any exercise discussed in this blog post or any other post on this blog should be approved by your medical practitioner before undertaking. Use proper water safety and supervision
when in or near lake water at all times. Use a life jacket if recommended for your condition by your doctor and/or the lifeguards.

Obstacle: When humans are overweight or obese, there are usually blood sugar control issues that creep into the state of the body. These sugar issues can dramatically impact regular daily life and also the ability or willingness to participate in hard core exercise. When an obese person has trouble with his/her body regulating it's blood sugar levels, he/she may be extremely fearful of engaging in hard exercise because he/she may rightly fear the potential for a "low blood sugar crisis".
A low blood sugar episode can  trigger a fainting spell and a mental and emotional panic while he/she scrambles to supply to his/her body the blood sugar  boost it needs as quickly as possible.
Answer:
I don't know the proper medically correct answer for this......but for me, it has worked in my favor simply to power through that fear and do the exercise anyway.....but in the gentleness of cool lake water, while trying to make sure I have a sweet snack on hand to boost the blood sugar after the hard core exercise is done....such as with a melted freezie on hand in my bag by the lake.

Obstacle: Worrying about appearances when you may have been hiding from showing your body in public for years....or at least for what seems like years.
Answer: Do it anyway. Despite what we may feel about our "imperfect" physiques.....it
really doesn't matter what any other human mutters or thinks about yours or my appearance. Let them point and stare .....let them take photos if they so choose. Be proud of your beautiful human body....no matter it's current state. God gave your body to you. Wear your body with pride. Chin up.

Lake walking can help you remold your physique to function the way you need it to ....in order to support your life's goals and dreams.



Obstacle: What to WEAR??? Nothing fits or the things that do fit are so costly.
Answer: Suck it up, buttercup. Don't ever allow your lack of fashionable fitness attire dictate whether you exercise or not. Wear whatever you have and if you have to wear your own tshirt and cut off pants into the lake to start your walks....then do so. Just make sure that you are always safe and
that your clothes are not weighing you down too much as you walk in the lake. Clothing such as tshirts and cloth shorts are still going to weigh much more when they get wet than if you wear an old bathing suit. My current fave "lake walking attire" is an old one piece bathing suit with a small tshirt over top for modesty sake. Note that it will be easier to walk in a bathing suit that is designed for being wet and functional than in any clothes made from regular fabrics.


Obstacle: People or perhaps YOU might think that walking instead of swimming in a lake in public is weird. Kinda like those folks who are "mall walkers" and strut in their joggers round and round the interior of a shopping mall before the stores open.

Answer: Well, the point is one of the BIGGEST obstacles ALL of us face whenever we try to move ahead is overcoming the fear of what other people or even ourselves may think of us if we do something that is a little out of the ordinary.

My question is this....Do you really want to waste your life being ordinary? Have you been able to accomplish you goals by doing what you think "looks cool"????
I rest my case.

Well, that's enough chit chat for now. Embrace your goals. Write them down. Speak them outloud to yourself and God six times a week. Be proud of your goals. You deserve to accomplish very  Interesting things. Your body was given to you by God to permit you to accomplish wonderful things.
Be encouraged today. Small Changes begin with little steps in a brand new direction.

Peace,
Carla.

P.S. If you're looking for some entertainment that will also double as a motivational speech, try the two following biographical flicks currently on Netflix...by the names of "Kim Swims" and
 "The Iron Cowboy".





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Extreme Fat Farm 2

If the regular "watch your diet and exercise"theme song worked for most folks, all of us would be fit and trim as star athletes. We wouldn't be running around in oversized stretch pants and XXL tshirts.
We wouldn't be hiding from bathing suits and swimming pools and muttering about the folks who actually feel good about their bodies and have good energy.

But methinks that many of us, need an Extreme Jolt to get our bodies in motion again.


Jumping in the lake...yes literally.....provides that extreme jolt and then some. The cold wakes up, and
cleanses out the cosmic dust of the day. The natural aspects are just fun distractions from the sand that clings to everyone and everything.

The other day I saw a seagull fly with a live wiggling fish in it's beak ....the sideshow was the entourage of other gulls that came to poach his dinner.  I swoosh away the floating flying ants that dot the translucent green lake path. I try not to step on anything that doesn't look like sand.

So, what's the progress so far with the fat farm?

No weight loss yet. Like as in NONE.

I told you there were no guarantees.

But here's the good part, the good and noticeable improvements:

Accumulation of new muscle tone and noticeable firming of abdominal and leg muscle area. Skin is smoother as these muscles are being used in the water in a gentle and persistent transition. Starting to feel more "put together". Energy lasts longer throughout the day with fewer energy drops in late afternoon.What was 4 lengths is now 6 lengths of the buoyed off area. There is now Less morning stiffness of both leg and feet joints.

A "high" similar to what is called "runner's high" kicks in a few hours after the lake walks.
The positive mental and physical mega boost affects everything.....the ability to problem solve,
optimism towards life and one's own physical future. An ability to handle a little bit less sleep.

The lake drops our inner core temperature to a wonderful new low. It's like a huge RESET button is hit to the metabolism. The modern motivators Tony Robbins and Tim Ferriss both are great fans
 of  dunking into freezing cold water. They loudly laud the positive effects of this temp "RESET".

Tim Ferris, if I am to understand his podcasts accurately, has installed an ice making machine in his home in order to be able to have icebaths whenever he needs that kind of "RESET". Tony Robbins jumps into very chilly water before he starts off his day to conduct one of his high powered motivational conferences.

Temperature jolts are  a new tool in my creative tool box. I  recall how being outside in winter weather often provided that jolt that created a positive mental stream, but I had really forgotten what it felt like to be in the lake and really enjoy myself.


Peace,
C.

P.S. If you're looking for some entertainment that will also double as a motivational speech, try the two following biographical flicks currently on Netflix...by the names of "Kim Swims" as well as  "The Iron Cowboy".











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I Operate an Extreme Fat Farm

I operate an Extreme Fat Farm.

These are the excuses that float or don't. You decide.

Goal: To walk four lengths of the swimming area roped off by buoys in the local lake.


Excuse: It's too cold.

Answer: That's the point.


Excuse: I can't get there.

Answer: Uber, taxi, city bus, walk, push your car downhill until it starts and jump in.


Excuse: I don't have anything to wear. I haven't worn a bathing suit in years.

Answer: here's a scissors and bring a pair of your old jeans.

Excuse: I can't swim in cut offs.

Answer: We aren't swimming yet. Just walking in water. You can do that in cutoffs and an old tshirt.

Excuse: My legs are hairy and I don't have a razor to shave with.

Answer: the Fish don't mind.

Excuse: The Fish????!

Answer: They haven't bothered me yet.

Excuse: I don't have lake shoes.

Answer:Neither do most folks around here.

Excuse: But you don't guarantee weight loss.

Answer: That's correct.

Excuse: What if I catch a cold from being wet and cold so much?

Answer: You might.

Excuse: What will people think of me jumping in the lake with my clothes on.

Answer: Good entertainment.

The end....is sometimes the beginning.

Peace,
C.


P.S. If you're looking for some entertainment that will also double as a motivational speech, try the two following biographical flicks currently on Netflix...by the names of "Kim Swims" and "The Iron Cowboy".












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Look Out! Mom's In the Lake!

I said I would do it and I did it.

I began working on my water fitness goal.

Today was a perfect day...

So I toted along my water shoes (see photo on the left) and dry bag from MEC and my trusty sunglasses
and away I went to waddle through four lengths of the swimming area roped off in my lake..

Was I shy? Yup. Was I the only one to be walking the length back and forth....ugh..yuppers.

But if you can't stand alone to start achieving your own vital goals, who do you think is going to
want to listen to what you have to say?

When you're a kid you can get away with being needy. But when you're middle age....it's downright
disgraceful not to be able to do stuff on your own two feet.

And so, today was the first day I walked four lengths in a  row of the roped off swimming area of the lake. I don't actually know how many  meters or feet it is...but perhaps I will measure it some day...or ask someone.

What excuses do you have to overcome before you take a few steps to achieving your goals?

My biggest obstacle....was what do I do with  my wallet when I am in the water?
So MEC had the answer.
MEC has a great assortment of "dry bags" which are super lightweight and waterproof.
I've only used it once so far....but yet it did keep my stuff dry and was very easy to tote around while playing in the lake.

Do you have a goal you have been postponing because of one small excuse?
Write down what that small obstacle is. Pray to God to show you the answer.
He always knows.


In Peaceful productivity,
Carla.


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Don't Ever Underestimate What You Bring to the Table

My intention is to encourage you, my precious readers. It has come to my attention once again, thatthe "world" is full of folks who are full of.......themselves. This condition of pride and arrogance causes so much harm and is a quite serious threat to the self esteem and goal setting of many many really good people all across our beautiful globe.

All it takes is for someone to roll their eyes at something you do or something you have just created and bam, your self esteem and goal setting process are at risk. Sometimes it doesn't take more than one negative comment from a nosy neighbor to throw someone off their stated plan of achievement.

That is why it is soooooo very extremely important to be your own best cheerleader. It is vital that you protect that motivation that keeps you rolling steadily towards accomplishing your own set of written goals.

In case you are a new reader of my blog, permit me just to explain that I am a HUGE fan of empowering people to succeed by insisting that ALL of us WRITE down our own short list of life goals. It has been proven time and time again, that written goals are much much much more likely to reach achievement than those that simply remain in our imagination. So..... please do write down at least one of your most important goals and keep that goal in a place that you will remember. .....perhaps in your wallet, in your email
files, or written on your mirror in lip liner....whatever works. Just don't hide your list of goals in some obscure file in a forgotten drawer. You need to be able to find and read it out loud regularly. There are always going to arrive times in our lives when we need to remind ourselves what our goals are.                                   Keep your written goals handy for regular reminders.

Your determination to DO that which you have written on your list is a precious process. It is so precious that one actually has to protect that "goal setting " process. The reason for this, is that there are going to be many humans who won't align themselves into agreeing with your written goals. You need to avoid those humans like the plague.

FOCUS FOCUS FOCUS on your written goals. As stated in a previous post..... .............................FOCUS is the PERFECT HEDGE. ...................................................................Permitting yourself to stay focused on your written goals is going to be one of the absolute BEST gifts that you can give to yourself. Focus takes time and energy. It takes support.

It is my prayer that you will find the support that you need in order to accomplish the goals that please God on your list of written goals. And by saying "the goals that please God" I am not in any way suggesting that these goals need to be religious in nature. I am simply saying that if you want God's blessing on your goals, you are going to want to choose goals that are in alignment with the basic "good will towards mankind"(Luke 2:14b kjv) as the bible describes.

So as you carry on and perform the duties required to set your goals and plans into place, may the love of Jesus keep you calm and serene. Ignore the naysayers and negative thinkers. Walk slowly and confidently into the perfect will of God for your life.

Peacefully productive,
Carla

ARE You Ready for An Increase?

So  many folks whine and complain and moan and groan that they have been waiting so long for their proverbial "ship" to come in. They have visions of vacations in hot countries and luxurious designer clothes and a fancy new car.

But I wonder sometimes, if many of the folks who feel this way, would really be able to handle it if  and when their situation suddenly changed...
What would you do? If your blog views suddenly explode and your ads started earning hundreds or thousands of dollars every month? Are you ready for such an increase? Do you have a bookkeeper and/or tax advisor to help guide you through times of increase?

Maybe you are an artist and have a profile with Patreon, hoping that someone will have a soft spot in their heart and want to sponsor your artistic creations. But my question today is this....is your heart and mind and emotions ready for your increase?

Do you have a plan for the extra money when it comes in ? Do you know exactly what you are going to do with it? If you say that you are going to invest it....do you know exactly where and how you will invest?
If you say that you are going to get out of debt, do you know which debts you will pay off first?

Sometimes it bears repeating that we shouldn't just be prepared for the "bad times"...but also for the good times.

Write down a plan as to what you will do when you start getting more money into your life. Know where you will shop, what you will buy, and precisely what investments you will purchase. Know also where you will save your money, as to what account you will put the money in, and whether you will spread the money over several accounts. There will be research you will need to do to determine what your tax situation will be also when your "ship" comes in. Be prepared. Expect good things.

Peace.



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