How ironic is this?
The idea for this particular topic, Bounce Back, came to me a few weeks ago when I was brainstorming qualities that make for a “Healthier and Happier Life.” By last week, I had most of this email typed and ready to go. Then yesterday, something interesting happened…
I was blind-sighted with extreme insecurity. It seemed to come from out of nowhere, and I couldn’t shake it off. As I struggled to find my way back to positivity, it just took one little negative comment on Facebook to completely derail me, and I was emotionally knocked down for a whole morning. I was crying and not able to focus. As I cried, it just played on my insecurity, and I thought, “Who am I to tell someone to bounce back when they are down? Clearly I am a mess and have no right to speak into anyone else’s life.”
Are you picturing this?
I mean, it was bad. So do you know what I did? I took my own advice (that I was going to share in this email), and I reached out to some of my close friends. By the afternoon, I was focused and even more motivated than before to get this email typed and sent. In fact, I ended up re-writing much of this email based off of what I learned from that experience.
The reality is, I struggle with many of the same things you struggle with. I hope you can sense how much I relate to you, sweet friends, and I hope some of the tips this week help you as much as they have helped me.
As I tried to process the interesting dynamic of me, as a blogger, struggling with the very thing I thought I was going to speak on, a close friend of mine offered a new perspective that I want to share with you today, and then we will talk about five steps you can take when you need to bounce back after feeling discouraged or disappointed.
A handful of my sweet, dear friends offered comfort and encouragement when I needed it most. One friend, in particular, sent me some quotes and scriptures that she had penned in her prayer journal.
Two of the quotes she had written down were these:
“Let God use your weakness for His glory. He will transform you by His power.”
and
“Never doubt in the dark what God told you in the light”.
Something about that pair of quotes smashed together reminded me of something I have known for a long time but had forgotten momentarily because my feelings got in the way…. God uses our pain for His/our/other people’s gain. Instead of growing weaker though this, I can actually learn from it and grow stronger, and instead of it beating me down, I can rise up and help other people with the things I learn.
That simple thought was very empowering, and it pulled me out of the funk I had found myself in.
Great friends are such a blessing, aren’t they? Alright, so how about you? Are you feeling discouraged? If you are, or when you are, here are a few things you can try that will help you pull out of your slump…
5 steps to bouncing back when you feel discouraged or disappointed:
1. Identify what success looks like to you.
Whether you are trying to lose weight, get your finances under control, be a great parent, or grow a business, your idea of success is unique to who you are and what you need. So take some time to ask yourself, “What do I REALLY want?” Your answer to this question is what success looks like to you. If you are needing to bounce back after feeling discouraged, start by identifying and picturing what bouncing back will look like and feel like.
2. Find the right tools that will guide you to success.
For some MPM readers, this means starting Weight Watchers, but it could look different for you. Perhaps Meal Planning Mommies is one of the many tools in your tool belt. If meal planning and eating is a struggle for you, chances are good that is what brought you to Meal Planning Mommies. Once you are able to define what success looks like for you, ask yourself, “What do I need in order to succeed?” Maybe it is a book, an ecourse, journaling, or even the right equipment to get a job done. Whatever it is for you, make it a priority to get those things in place.
3. Find your people (or your person).
This one is huge for me. We are not meant to do life alone, and when we are isolated, it can be easy to be brought down. Alternatively, when we have a person, or a group of people standing in our corner, it can be a game changer.
Is there someone in your life who has had success in the area you are trying to improve on? Ask if you can learn from them or if you can start getting together for coffee or a walk so you can glean a steady dose of wisdom from them. Don’t worry if there is not someone currently in your close circle of influence that you can learn from right now. There is PLENTY of fresh material available if you just look for it (more on this at the end of this email).
4. Take action.
Once you find your inspiration and you have the tools you need, take action… now. If you decided to work out again, get up and make it happen right away. If you decided you are going to eat healthier, make it happen at your next meal. One idea I read lately, when it comes to losing weight, was to find one recipe you love that is low in calories/Smart Points and eat it all week. That may not sound practical or appealing to you, but if you can even just get a few recipes lined up for your week, it will go a long way.
5. Speak positive affirmations over yourself.
If you have a friend who is great at encouraging, you can always hit them up when you feel yourself getting discouraged, Of course, there are other times we can to find it in ourselves, through prayer and by recalling what we know to be true through God’s word. When you make a mistake, knowingly or unknowingly, don’t let it become a catastrophe in your mind. YOU ARE NOT STUCK.
When I go through occasional bouts of depression, I have to fight against thinking of the worst case scenario and ruminating over it. When I am in that state of mind, I tend to turn all the seemingly bad things in my life into TERRIBLE things. In that moment, I make things much worse than they actually are with my Eeyore approach to the problems. When I find myself there, I have to allow myself space and time to get my bearings again, but I have found fighting lies with truth to be the most effective.
I found this on Pinterest recently:
Your mind will always believe what you tell it. Feed it faith. Feed it truth. And feed it with love.
Is there something that needs to be plucked out of your life in order for you to bounce back? If it is sin that is pulling you down in guilt and shame, pray and confess it and believe that you are forgiven with a clean slate. Is it a spiritual attack? One of my favorite authors, Susie Larson, says this: “Make the devil sorry that he messed with you.” You are not small. You are important, and with God’s strength, you can pull through.
Is there an area of your life that has gotten you down lately? If you are looking to make a good “bounce back” story I have some great resources that can help you!!
Here are just a few of the great resources you will find in this year’s Ultimate Homemaking Bundle valued at over $3,600 (but you can get it for $29.97 right now)…
1. 28-Day Smart Start Weight Loss Challenge by Martha McKinnon ($27.99)*
This one is perfect if you are looking to get your weight back under control. Martha is the blogger at Simple Nourished Living, and her life is a success story. Martha also shares WW information on her recipes and is a blogging friend of mine.
2. 15-Minute Marriage Makeover: Refresh Your Relationship, Add Sizzle to Your Sex Life & Be Happier in Just Minutes a Day by Dustin B. Riechmann ($14.00)
I think you will be surprised at how much Dustin, from Engaged Marriage, packs into this. If you are looking for practical advice that you can put into action right away, this is your guy. Dustin is very relatable, and his advice is very doable and will strengthen your relationship with your spouse. This is very well written!
3. The LWSL Ultimate Cleaning Guide by Ruth Soukup ($20.00)*
Ruth Soukup, from Living Well, Spending Less, is amazing at setting goals and accomplishing them. This is definitely someone to learn from. With her ebook, you will be able to set your housecleaning goals and then find the motivation and tips to make those goals a reality. There are lots of step-by-step instructions for tackling various areas in your home as well as printable checklists and calendars. If you want to get your house in order, you want this ebook.
4. Family Culture: Building A Strong Family Identity by Rachel Norman ($12.99)*
Rachel Norman, founder of A Mother Far From Home, offers a fun, little tool that will help you determine your family’s core goals, mottos, and beliefs. This printable resource is simple enough that you won’t feel overwhelmed, and it gets straight to the point, so you can get maximum results without too much time. By the time you are done with this resource, you will feel more optimistic about your family and will be equipped to run a home with intentionality.
5. You’re a Good Mom: 31 Days of Printable Affirmations to Inspire and Encourage by Lauren Tamm ($5.99)
If you are struggling with parenting and need some positive encouragement, these 31 positive affirmations are here for you to reflect on, memorize, and put in your tool belt. Lauren, from The Military Wife and Mom, has created these beautiful printable affirmations so you can put them where you can read them over and over again until the truths really sink in.
6. Revival: 6 Steps to Reviving Your Heart and Rebuilding Your Prayer Life by Christi Gee ($11.99)
If you are ready to go a little deeper, Christi Gee, from Revival Pray, has you covered with her 6 steps to reviving your heart and prayer life. This one is not for the faint of the heart, but if you are seriously committed to finding spiritual renewal in your life, this guide will not disappoint.
HANDS DOWN, THIS IS THE BEST DEAL OF THE WHOLE YEAR!!
These six resources alone would normally cost you $80.97, but you can get the whole Homemaking Bundle right now for just $29.97!
There is so much more to this incredible bundle that I cannot possibly share it all in this email! To see what other great ebooks, ecourses, and printables are included in the Ultimate Homemaking Bundle (135 in total, valued at over $3,600), just click HERE.
This was tip #2 in our series of 5 Tips to a Healthier and Happier Life. If you missed tip #1, Learn Something New Everyday, you can find that here.
That’s all for today! Be sure to check your inbox tomorrow for tip #3! 🙂
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