I'm Alana, a in Branson, Missouri specializing in trauma. I consider it an honor to be able to walk alongside individuals in the counseling process who are hurting, struggling, or simply wanting to make improvements in their lives. Sometimes a part of that process includes seeking help from others who can walk alongside us and aid the process. Asking for help can be difficult, but I see it as a sign of great strength!
This is the Valentine Will made for me. Does he know his Mommy or what?
I just love it because...
1) It is actually quite a good likeness of the Coke bottle. 2) I really do love Coke, which I think he captured quite well with the two hearts on either side of the bottle. 3) He obviously put some thought into his gift to me. 4) It's sweet. Both figuratively and literally.
SO. Speaking of Coke. I recently declared on Facebook that I was attempting to give it up, or at least significantly decrease my consumption. If you know me well, you know this is a BIG deal. Because me and Coke? Well we are like THIS (picture appropriate hand gesture). In fact, it has always been one of those things that I literally "feel" like I can't live without. This to me was all the more reason to attempt giving it up. And so I did. Attempt being the operative word here. Right. I'll start with the bad news. Bad news is I did not give it up altogether. Good news is, it does not have the hold on me that it once had. I can now go a day or days without drinking it. HUGE progress. If I am at a social function and there is none available, I no longer break out into a cold sweat. You think I'm joking. So. I'm actually pretty happy with that. I would like at some point to give it up entirely, but for now I am content with this progress. Baby steps seem to be a theme in my life lately. It seems to work so much better than the "all or nothing" approach I have taken in the past.
And yes, I realize that wasn't an Ode. I am exercising my literary license on this one. A literary license also excuses fragments, by the way.
I'm not sure if it is all the Vitamin D from the sunshine I soaked in today or what, but I just felt the urge to update my blog. So here I am. I would like to set a realistic goal of updating it like once a week or so, but do not want to make any promises (especially to myself) that I can't keep. So let's just see how it goes, shall we? One day at a time. That saying works for all sorts of things, including but certainly not limited to blogging.
So, how in the world are you? Doing pretty well here. I mean, I have my struggles, but lately I have been experiencing some pretty cool things in the area of personal growth. And that growth is something I'd really like to share with you all. Partly because I need to share the testimony of what God has done in my life regarding this particular subject and partly because I think it might be helpful to some of you.
It may or may not surprise you to know that I have always struggled in the area of self-worth. I have always been aware of this, but recently realized just how BIG of a role this plays in a person's life. To me it didn't seem like a big deal. An issue? Yes. A big deal? No. I have recently discovered just how mistaken I was because as I took to heart some wise counsel on the subject and put into practice the suggestions made to me, I realized that this issue was effecting EVERY ASPECT OF MY LIFE.
Let me paint a picture for you. I did not love myself. I did not see my worth as a human being or a child of God. I thought that I did, but I truly did not. I constantly berated myself for not measuring up in any and all areas of my life. I said terrible, terrible things to myself constantly. This negative self-talk was so pervasive, that when I started to think about how I would stop it and ultimately reverse it, I was overwhelmed. How could I change my very being? It had gone beyond words, it was who I had become.
However, I did listen to the wise counsel I received and tried to put it into practice. Basically it boiled down to the fact that I had certain beliefs about myself and those beliefs were based on the words that had been spoken to me and that I spoke to myself. I was told that if I could replace those negative words with positive words and truth, then I would start to believe differently about myself. I will be honest, I was skeptical at best when this was suggested to me. I was also put off by the thought of saying nice things (words) to myself. Why? Because I knew I wouldn't believe them and it would feel fake. So, I set instead a goal of simply stopping the negative thoughts (words). I figured if that worked, I might eventually be able to also replace the negative words with positive ones.
SO. I did that. I started trying to simply be aware of all my thoughts and when a negative one came into my brain, I would just say, "No, I'm not going to think that." It was the best I could do at first and was actually quite overwhelming because as I said before, the negative thoughts were constant and pervasive. Eventually this became a habit and I was ready to move on to the next step, replacing the negative thoughts with positive ones. I chose to do this with scripture. I made a list of verses that were full of truth regarding my worth in Christ, typed them onto a piece of paper and placed them in my purse. When I started to have "those" feelings and felt "those" words come to mind, I stopped the thought, pulled the list out of my purse and replaced the thought with the TRUTH about me according to my Maker. It was cumbersome at first, but eventually it became second nature.
It sounds simple, doesn't it? And it is. And it isn't. Either way, it works. Or at least it worked for me. This paradigm shift in my thinking has truly changed my life for the better. I am amazed at how it has changed me in so many positive ways. It has gone beyond words, it is who I have become! Praise God! I can honestly say that I am almost completely FREE of those negative thoughts. I am truly bewildered and amazed by this fact daily. But wait, I haven't told you the best part. The best part is that this whole process has helped me to realize some things about God that I only thought I understood before. And that is the depth of His LOVE and GRACE for me, and my value to Him. Not only do I have a better understanding of that love and grace, but I have also figured out how to truly ACCEPT it. Thank you, God. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.
I know this has been quite lengthy, but it is only a glimpse of the journey I have been on. I hope and pray that these words will reach someone who needs to hear them as desperately as I did. If you struggle with this and would like to talk more about this with me, I would be honored to do so with you. Please send me an email or leave a comment with your contact info and we will chat over FB, phone, or even coffee if possible. I would love to share with you, pray with you, and help if I can.
I'd like to leave you with some verses and a couple of songs that have been my truth and comfort in this process.
"You are altogether beautiful, my love, there is no flaw in you." Song of Solomon 4:7
"Your hands shaped me and made me." Job 10:8
"For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do." Ephesians 2:10
"Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised." Proverbs 31:29-31
"The king is enthralled with your beauty; honor him, for he is your Lord." Psalm 45:11
"Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes. Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God's sight." 1 Peter 3:3-4
"Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable-if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things." Philippians 4:8
(This one I can't seem to embed, but trust me, it's worth the click)
Please help this Mom! She is trying to get 1,000 signatures (by Friday) to pass a new law. The current law denies her son (who lived 2 precious minutes) a birth certificate!
Sign the petition here! And read more about her story here!
My mom just had surgery, so we put together a little get well video for her.
The boys enjoyed being silly for the camera. Honestly it is mostly bloopers after the beginning. I was asking them to smile for the camera...that is why they keep saying "eee", I guess! Silly boys!
We love you and miss you Mamaw...please get well soon!
These are my favorite pics from Daytona Beach (remember I am catching up so this was in June). The boys had a great time. And just for the record, I really do feed my kids...they are just skin and bones by nature! So wish they got they trait from me, but sadly it is not so.
I've been hearing a lot about this website. I finally did a little research and I see and hear good things. I'm going to give it a try. Basically, you use their search engine and earn credits towards "swagbucks" that you can redeem for prizes and gift cards. Seems pretty cool to me. I have already earned 5 so far!
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