It's the end of January and our theme--Freeze any Debt, Melt off Fat, and Conserve Your Time--is about to come to a close. That means BEFORE we can turn a page, we need to review our past successes (and even the mistakes) and regroup/reassess/rearrange and move forward.
Week 1: Freeze, Melt, Conserve
Week 2: Shop Your Closet
Week 3: Walk it Off
Week 4: Most Important NOW!
Week 5: Honestly Assess Progress
This week's assignment? You and I have to honestly assess our progress to date. Has our impulsive spending remain frozen or is it thawing? Have we saved money by shopping our closet--and encouraging ourselves with the loss of weight? Have we walked off weight and calories and saved money by exercising for FREE! And have you saved TIME and MONEY or CALORIES by asking yourself a simple question, "What is my most important now?"
This week, review and regroup. Weigh in--did you stay the same weight, lose more weight, or gain pounds or inches. How is the savings/spending plan progressing--if it is not going well, revise your goals and make them more manageable THEN ask someone to keep you accountable to your new plan.
You and I cannot DO any of this alone. Change doesn't happen without the help of God and others.
Before we head into a new month, take the next week and honestly assess your progress and renew your goals--and realize that daily accountability leads to weekly, then monthly success!
Be encouraged,
Becky
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3 comments:
Dear Becky,
Belated happy anniversary, and thank you for your helpful words yesterday. I'm so glad that our ice storm made it possible for me to be home and participate in the conference call.
Thank you for pointing out both vs. 6 of Psalm 23 and the verses in Matt. 6; I really needed to reread them and let them sink in! This has been such a stressful season in my life, and I know it's not supposed to be that way. I have been consistent with morning Bible reading, but that quote from Chambers made me think that perhaps I've been more "fanatic" than "faithful" as I've rushed through the readings and my prayers lately and have not been journaling as well as I used to.
It's good to take an honest look at where we are at this point in those three specific areas. Here's my update:
(1) Freezing debt and "shopping my closet" -- I've had a couple of unexpected expenses (a sick cat, a broken printer), but I have not spent ANY money at all on clothing, and I have pulled out some things that had lain in the bottom of drawers or hung in the back of my closet. It feels good not to have wasted money on the many, many sales around. In addition, I called my phone / TV / Internet / and wireless provider and changed plans, getting rid of the "frills" I don't need and literally cutting my cell phone bill in half.
(2) Burning fat -- I'm really disappointed in myself here. Having just celebrated my 30th anniversary as a part-time leader for a major weight loss organization, I must admit that I haven't "practiced what I preach" the last week and a half. The stress of preparing and grading exams at school has led me off course, and I need to get back right away. All employees must weigh in monthly, and Saturday is the end of the month; I'm at my official goal but about six pounds above where I'd like to be. I sent my supervisor a note and asked if she would be my accountability partner this week; I'll be sending her a daily food diary until I get back where I want to be. As for the "burning fat" part, I've done absolutely NO exercise, and I have to get back to it this weekend! Our new semester starts tomorrow, so it's a fresh start for school and for my goals.
(3) Conserving time -- Again, I'm disappointed here. I let myself get behind with school work early in the semester, and I've been racing to catch up ever since. Too many times that has left me tired and frustrated from lack of sleep and "down time," and I know I'm not the teacher I want to be when I'm stressed out.
As I listened to you yesterday, I wrote down "All the stuff that traps us will come under God's control if we PURSUE HIM." We'll be able to "shake off [our] compulsions to be anxious and worried . . . ." As Hamlet said in his famous soliloquy, "'Tis a consummation devoutly to be wished." I know, however, that wishing alone can't make something happen; pursuing God with all my heart, blocking out the cares of the day as I spend those predawn moments of my quiet time, and really interacting with God through prayer and journaling can bring about change.
So . . . once I finish grading the last of the exams, put the grades in the computer tomorrow between greeting my new classes for the first time, and come home for the weekend, I promise to get back on track. My goals for the next week are to get at least seven to eight hours of sleep a night, plan my days in advance, eat healthily, get to the gym, and enjoy the many blessing of the moment rather than worrying about things that haven't happened or that I cannot control. (I also promise not to write such a long entry next time.)
I am grateful to be part of this group, and my prayer is that each one of us draws closer to God as we seek to be the kinds of "disciples" He would have us be.
Have a wonderful weekend, everyone!
Checking in for the week:
With regard to each area, I love that you give us things to remember Becky. They really stick with me, and in my overcrowded aging brain, that is a good thing!
Finance wise--our small business is struggling in a huge way. I've barely been able to draw any paychecks, but am spending less anyway. I went to my favorite bookstore yesterday, looked at those magazines I love to buy and said MIN over each one. Came home with only a $6.00 pretty calendar thing to use upstairs in my house, to write things in (so I dont have to run downstairs all the time).
Exercise--managing to walk almost five days a week. Still need to utilize exercise bike and treadmill when my husband doesnt want to walk the dog kids. I also need to take time to eat, because I quite often forget. Stocked up on some healthy grain cereals etc. Being diabetic, diet soda is my downfall. Trying to drink some green teas and things to replace the soda.
Time--I am doing some other courses at this time. In one we are stuyding David. He is a model of being someone after God's own heart, who often inquired of the Lord. I am getting to my CYL Bible reading daily (in addition to homework/study), most days.
I think your message this week was ideal, making time with Him the goal that surpasses all other goals. I see this thought flowing in the other studies I am taking, which is of course, not a coincidence.
Thank you for another great call and happy anniversary!
Hi Everyone,
I have not been able to check in. I wanted to say how to say how encouraged was by the high numbers given in last conference call.
Originally I was going to rate my week as a 3, but after reviewing my progress for the month, I am going to give myself a 5! Assessment week is my favorite week so far. Becky, the tips really helped.
Very Optimistic,
Sherry
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