Dealing with disappointments

So we all have disappointments in life, that's life.  Yes.  I accept that we are supposed to grow and learn and have experiences, but it doesn't make it fun or easy.  I get disappointed and wonder how I could've been better or made things turn out differently.  So, I think I need a list.. a list of what to do when I'm disappointed.  First of all, my family is the best.  I rarely am disappointed in them.  Each of my family members are individuals with goals and dreams of their own and that's good.  I am in no way wanting to manipulate or persuade any of my family members to do anything except follow their own righteous desires and dreams that are good for their lives.  I'm not really 'aiming' this post towards anyone.. I feel like I've been disappointed a few times in my life though and need reminded of what to DO when I feel like this.
1) Be Grateful.  I have been given so much.  Count my blessings, look at the good, focus on the positive and smile.  Even if it takes writing notes to myself to remind me of my blessings then I need to do that.  I keep a journal, a gratitude journal, and I try to write in it frequently.  It's about due for another entry!
2) Serve.  When I focus on others needs, my own needs become less important.  Serving gives me a sense of taking care of someone else and that feels great!  When I put others needs before my own, my own disappointments and problems seem insignificant, or at least lessened.
3) Smile.  Says it all.  I remind myself to smile often.  I look better when I smile!
4) Listen to uplifting music or talks. Putting positive 'things' in my mind fills it with good, happy thoughts and messages instead of the disappointments I may be feeling.  Play a video that is happy and listen to light, happy and inspiring music.

5) Focus on my talents.  Work on a project.  I love to create and make things newer and more lovely.  When I work on a hobby or talent, I feel great and accomplished and my disappointments are pushed away to the background and my talents and hobbies, things I love to do, are pushed to the forefront!  When I play the piano, I always am uplifted and in a better mood.  Singing makes me smile and be happy too.  A song is like a prayer of the heart spoken up to heaven.  Uplifting to my soul.
6) Give.   When I give of my time, talents, energy and love I feel good inside and it shows on the outside as well.  
7) Work.  Work hard and smart.  Get things done.  When I get things organized and manageable, I feel accomplished instead of disappointed.  Work my plan, set goals and plan to work.
8) Talk with a close family member.  When I talk to one of my kids on facetime or on the phone, I always feel better and do not focus on any of the disappointing things that may have happened that day.  I love my family and I have many family members to talk to.  I feel their love when we talk and share our day and lives with each other.
9) Read scriptures or good, uplifting inspirational books.  I can learn from the experiences of others when I read books that have stories of triumph and victory.  In good books I can find victory for good, triumph in overcoming obstacles to live a better life.  Reading books and listening to audio books helps me to learn how to deal with disappointments with dignity.
10) Love others for who they are.  I should never want to take away anyone's choice and force them to see things my way.  Everyone has the right to choose the way they want to live and it is my 'job' in life to not want to or have the desire to force others to see everything my way.  Love others no matter what they decide to do in their life.  This does not mean I should hang out with or spend time with people who are not on the same path as I am on as far as my goals are concerned, but that I can and should love others no matter what choices they make.  We can find common ground and enjoy our differences, or move on and make friends who are like minded and help us to grow and reach our goals.
11) Spend time with my husband.  My husband is the love of my life.  I look up to him, admire him, respect him and cherish our time together.  I always enjoy his company.  We have a good marriage and have raised 5 wonderful kids who we have a good relationship with as they are growing into adults.  I love to take walks, watch movies, go on drives, work side by side, and do lots of things with my husband.  He helps me feel happy and loved.  We are companions and I am so blessed to have him and he is blessed to have me.
12) Remember that Jesus Christ loves me and I am of great worth.  I am a daughter of God, a woman with a divine destiny and I strive to fulfill that calling of daughter, sister, wife, and mother to the best of my ability.  I cannot do anything alone.  I need my Heavenly Father and His love and guidance.  I know that God sent His Son Jesus Christ to this earth to be an example, to live and to give His life for all of mankind, for me.  He paid for all of my sins and took upon himself my heartaches and worries.  I must trust that God has a plan for me and that through His Son I can be made perfect someday and join with them and my family in an Eternal Life, if I strive to live according to His laws and love.


I have a lovely life, but I do experience disappointments now and then.  It is a human experience and I'm learning to deal and grow and move on.  I should never expect to never be disappointed in my life.  I am one, only one, woman, but I am one and I can be a positive influence for good to those who love me and want to be with me.

You can do anything... if you...

I have to write.  I have to write down what's going on or I'll explode.  I don't know if anyone will read this, and that part really isn't important because writing for me is like therapy.. getting thoughts and feelings out there instead of pent up inside and me not knowing what to do with them.
I am a strong person.  I am 53 years old and I have raised 5 kids, 2 of those children came to me at one time.  I survived and thrived.  I LOVE my children and the memories I have of raising them.  I was probably more of a pushover than I should have been, but all in all, they all turned out great.  My husband helped raise our family - he was very involved with decisions and the direction our parenting went.  He knew a lot and I don't even know where he learned it from.  He is a valiant son of God, striving to keep the commandments.
But this isn't really what I want to write about today.
I think I'm going to take the 365 blog challenge.. blog every day for a YEAR!  Why?  I don't really know.. because I want to see if I can set a huge goal and accomplish it.  I have done many things in my life and I find myself now wanting to improve and learn and stretch myself to do more.  I want to help others, be a positive influence for good, stay close to my family, children and grandchildren and love and help my brother and sisters all I can.  I have held many responsible church callings in my life and have learned a lot about leadership and delegating and getting things done.  In fact, my activity in my church, The Church of Jesus Christ of Later-Day Saints has helped me become more than I would be if I wasn't active or attending.   My religion and what I believe is a whole nother blog post though,
I was thinkking while I drove home this morning after taking my 24 year old son to his workplace (my car is in the shop and that's a whole nother blog post!) and I thought of that famous saying "You can do anything if you put your mind to it".  I do not know who to credit that quote to, but I was thinking about it and when I heard it as a teen, I thought that if you 'thought' hard enough, you could accomplish your goals, do anything you wanted to do.  Well, that doesn't work.  You can't just think hard about something and accomplish a goal, any goal.  What I've learned over the past few years, is that when you want something bad enough and you change your thinking and believe that anything is possible, with the right kind of work behind it, you CAN do anything.  But it takes work!  It takes a process.  It takes learning what works for you and then doing that process and not just setting a goal and sitting there thinking hard about it and hoping it will come to pass.  Often we cannot change circumstances around us.  We can't change the weather. We can't change the 'economy'.  We can't change other people's choices.  We can't change people to do what we think they should do. We can't control actions of others that affect our lives.  What we CAN do is change the way we look at our circumstances.  We can change the way we think, feel, and act.  We can choose to have a good attitude.  We can choose to work hard on ourselves to improve so we can reach our goals for ourselves.  We can become the best person we can be, with hard work and good ethics.

You can do anything if you put your mind to it is true... but it takes action..  Your mind comes up with an action plan and you work that plan over and over and over again until you see the results you want.  If you don't like the results you are getting, make adjustments, look at yourself and work on being your best.  These are all directed towards ME by the way.  Replace the 'we' with 'I' and it's all for me.  I need to change and work and grow for my dreams and vision and goals to come to pass.  
I have a goal to get up earlier in the morning and listen to uplifting personal development talks or read good books for 15 minutes every morning.   I know this will start my day on a positive note and get me off thinking the right way about me, my life, my circumstances, and my relationships.
So, I am declaring that I'm getting out of bed, that's out of bed and not looking at facebook on my phone, which is what usually happens for about 20 minutes before I get out of bed, at exactly 6:30am from now on.  I'm doing it.  I've written it so I'm doing it.    I'll do Personal Development for 15 minutes and after I've mastered this new habit, I'll add another activity to my morning routine, and so on for my day.  I need to develop structure and good habits for my business, social, intellectual and spiritual growth.
Ok.. First blog of 365 started.  I'll try to post photos to go with the posts.

Fun Business.

Herbalife is the funnest business EVER!  This is us at a 20's party!  There was a full spread of food, live music and tables and lots and lots of Herbalife Distributors who qualified for this special event.  We had so much fun!  Who wouldn't want to go to a fun dress up party?  Herbalife knows how to throw the BEST parties EVER!  Join us and start your amazing journey in this business of helping others to get healthy and fit.  Earn extra $$ around what you are already doing right now.  We can get you started and plug you in to the methods that work and invite you to all the inside trainings available.  So many training opportunities, you decide where you want to go with this business.  All very exciting!  We love Herbalife and consume the products every day and love sharing the opportunity and health benefits with others.  Call me for your phone interview or email job introduction.  No better time!   775-537-4605 Coach Alaina

 

Getting Real

Ok, getting real with myself.  Accountability and all.. set an example and do MY best.  I just did a body scan on myself.  It's been a while.  I have some serious work to do!  I am not happy with this.  I know I can improve, so not worried, but wow, didn't realize I was like this right now.  I'm good with the size that I am, size 6, but I had no idea that my body fat % was so high!  I've been slacking and backsliding.  So... this is the real part here.  My body fat is 38.2% (Yuck it was at 31.4 in Jan) and muscle mass is 25.0%   At least my internal body age is one less year than I really am.. 50.  My resting metabolic rate is 1308.  I will work hard and keep these stats updated for me and anyone who wants to watch me change.  :)   My goal is to have my bodyfat % at between 21%-26% so I have a lot of work to do.  Another goal of mine is to lose 17 more pounds.  I am 5'3" and want to weigh 120. 

I have cut out eating sugar and I think that's a big part of what's going on.  My fat% went up because I haven't been paying attention to the amount of sugar I was eating.  I haven't had sugar for a week now so we'll see the numbers change.  Unfortunately I injured my knee running the other day and I'm having to rest that.  No running or even walking for now.  It hurts and I've never had knee problems before.  This is hard.  I'm hoping that it will heal, I'll give it time, then I'll start brisk walking again and doing spin and elliptical again.   I haven't been to the gym regularly for a few weeks and wow does it show.  I'm still in a size 6, but my weight and fat % is unacceptable to me.  Time to get on the plan more seriously.  I have the tools.  I will journal my food on www.ichange.com/coach/alainamun regularly.  Eat 1200 good calories of clean foods.  Enjoy two healthy meal shakes a day.  Get my 70-99 gr protein a day.  Get my 25 gr fiber a day.  Drink plenty of fluids a day.   Get a good night's rest everynight.  I will do those things and I'll body scan weekly and keep this blog updated. 

I have set a goal to exercise for 30 minutes 4 times a week.  Fat burning here we go! 

I CAN and WILL reach my goals! 

Self Esteem

Just a bit about self esteem and having confidence.   When you are confident in who you are and happy with the person you are becoming, you do not need compliments and approval from others.  If you aren't feeling so confident, do some personal development in your day.  Read books, listen to DVD's, CD's that are uplifting and give you ideas to open your mind about how fabulous you are without anyone else telling you how wonderful you are.  You will learn skills to help you stay positive about you!  A person with quiet confidence is focused on a goal and it won't matter what others think.  Quiet confidence is attractive because it is modest, easy to see and people want to be like you when you have it!  So find out what your goals are.  Dig deep into yourself and find out why you do the things you are doing.  Focus on your goals and when it seems that people are trying to put you down for them, just focus on the goal and have that quiet confidence in knowing you are doing what your heart is telling you to do and you see it and feel it, but you don't need to seek out and crave approval and compliments and praise from others.  You will receive your rewards as you work hard, help others, have integrity in your work and teach others to do what you do.  That is the Herbalife way.  We tell our team about how to do a method.  We show our team how to do a method.  We have the them try to do the method with us there.  Then we have them Do the method themselves and they could fly!  If we set a good example and foundation for others to follow, we will have a strong team.  Set yourself up for success as you are a person of quiet confidence and you can give out praise more than you need it yourself.