There are some things that you absolutely should not carry into the new year.    The very first thing that has to go is your negative thinking and negative self talk.  How many times have you looked at your reflection in the mirror and made a horrible remark either in your head or out loud to yourself?   What did it accomplish other than making you feel worse about yourself?

You are your worst enemy!  If you wouldn’t say it to one of your friends, why, oh why, do you say such things to yourself?   Take care of yourself and guard your thoughts!   Even if you have to start with words of affirmations taped to your mirror – then start there!   Begin each day with words of affirmations.  When you walk up to that mirror and are tempted to just pick yourself apart as you usually do, this time shift your focus on the positive and uplifting words right before your very eyes taped on your mirror.   Instead of cutting yourself down, how about lifting yourself up?!   Speak loving words over yourself such as:

“I am a child of the Most High God!”         “I am beautifully and wonderfully made!”

There is such power in your tongue and in your thoughts!   I can’t stress enough just how important it is to speak lovingly to yourself and others!   There are so many people in this world that just cannot wait to chew you up one side and down the other or who feel it is their place to point out each and every flaw or imperfection – or create ones in their heads just to attack you.    Please, do NOT do this to yourself.   Build yourself up so when someone tries to tear you down, you do not lay sprawled out on the floor unable to move.  Instead you put on your armor of God and as every negative word is launched at you from others, you simply raise your shield in front of you so that those words cannot pierce your heart and soul.   You will be protected!

Speak beautiful loving words of light, love, and hope over yourself before you ever think about turning from that mirror and greeting others along your path during the day.  Start with loving yourself first!   Be mindful of your thoughts, your words, even your actions toward yourself.  If you’re having trouble thinking of any loving and kind words to say to yourself, I’m here to help you out!   Say things such as:

“I am so blessed!”    “I am strong!”    “I am confident!”   “I have victory in Jesus!”

I am a huge Joel Osteen fan.  Some do NOT like him at all, and that is their prerogative.  However, I have read his books and have seen him and his family at A Night of Hope just this past August.   He encourages in his messages, and that is something this world needs more of – encouragement!   He began the night with positive messages of hope, followed by beautiful praise and worship music, and then a message from the bible.   My family and I thoroughly enjoyed the entire experience.  I came home with a few more books written by Joel, and I have one right in front of me as I type this tonight.  I would like to take Day Five straight from his book:

I Declare:  31 Promises To Speak Over Your Life:

I DECLARE I am grateful for who God is in my life and for what He’s done.  I will not take for granted the people, the opportunities, and the favor He has blessed me with.  I will look at what is right and not what is wrong.  I will thank Him for what I have and not complain about what I don’t have.  I will see each day as a gift from God.  My heart will overflow with praise and gratitude for all of His goodness.  This is my declaration.

Will you join me as we say goodbye to 2013 and usher in the new gift of 2014 that we’ve been given?   Will you join me in speaking light, love, and hope over ourselves and in our lives?

Be kinder to yourselves as we go into the new year.  Leave negative thinking and negative self talk behind.   You’re better than that!   Start believing it and living it … today!

Blessings to you and yours!

~Shirley

Light, Love, Hope