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3-D Living Newsletter - August, 2009
August 1, 2009
Welcome to the August edition of the 3-D Living newsletter. I hope you are enjoying the summer and finding time to relax and refresh.
In this issue:
ANN'S ARTICLE: "Walking in the Light"
GUEST ARTICLE:
"Habitual Thinking Made Easy" Part One by Rob Clinton
NUTRITION NUGGET: Fat - Part One
SUPPLEMENT SPOTLIGHT: Iron
FEATURED PRODUCTS: Organic Tropic Oil and Beet Juice Plus
WORD TO THE WISE: Dancing With God
ANN'S ARTICLE: "Walking in the Light"
Time. Everyone seems to have a love-hate relationship with it. We all crave more. It drags when you’re a kid counting down the days to Christmas. It flies by way too quickly with each passing year. Wishing there were more hours in the day doesn’t help. No matter how much we wish, pray or work, every one of us gets the very same 24 hours each day.
Like everyone else I’ve searched on and off for ways to use my time more effectively. From grade school on we’re admonished to develop good time management skills. “Time management.” It’s an oxymoron if ever there was one! No one can truly manage time – it keeps ticking away regardless of our best efforts. So that can’t be the solution.
Then I remember being told I needed instead to manage myself – to choose the most effective use of my time and energy by setting goals, prioritizing and following through. There’s definitely some merit to that, but it certainly isn’t the whole answer either.
Recently I came across the premise that we must learn to balance and manage the sources of our energy – physical, emotional, mental and spiritual. Again, there’s definitely truth to this and I’m sure that by making a concerted effort, I could improve, but still, I don’t see this as “the” answer to the dilemma of not enough hours in the day.
I picked up a book by a pastor about – what else? – time management. He shared some interesting information that I think just may be the answer! Albert Einstein proved light is the only unchangeable thing in this universe, just as God, Who is light is also unchangeable (James 1:17). He said that the only thing that could possibly cross the threshold of the speed of light would be called eternity. He proved the relationship between light and time. The closer you get to light speed, the more slowly time passes. A scientist in California explained this principle by using a mathematically proven model:
If astronauts traveled at 80% of the speed of light, flying away from earth for 15 days and then 15 days back, they would only have aged 30 days, but the people on earth would have aged 60 days. If they made the same trip again, but at 85% of the speed of light, they’d return to find the people on earth had aged 10 years to their 30 days! Finally, if they did this once more, only this time travelling at the threshold of light speed, which is as close to the actual speed of light without going beyond it, they’d return to find the earth had aged 30,000 years to their 30 days!
2 Peter 3:8 says: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. Literally!! So what does all this have to do with adding more time to your day? We are told in several places in God’s Word that we are to: walk while we have the light (John 12:35); live as children of light (Ephesians 5:8); and walk in the light (1 John 1:7).
So my solution to the whole time management problem is simply to “walk in the light” every day. I know you’re thinking – “So exactly how do we do that?” Walking in the light isn’t complicated or just for Bible scholars – it is comes down to practicing His Presence, being aware of Him continuously throughout each day. It’s talking to Him about every thing you do, every problem you come up against, every choice you must make and every conversation and appointment on your daily calendar. Granted, I try to keep that running dialogue between us mostly in my heart so as not to attract too many puzzled stares. Taking a few short minutes at night to plan the next day, asking for His direction and then committing the day to Him first thing in the morning has made all the difference in the world. When interruptions and problems rear their ugly heads, I’ve found if I make the choice to stay in peace and discuss it with Him, I end up accomplishing much more than if I fumed and stressed and strained.
So, try walking in the light and see if it isn’t the most effective and efficient way to manage your time!
GUEST ARTICLE: "Habitual Thinking Made Easy" by Rob Clinton
So why do we sometimes put things off? We know things need to be done. We know we have priorities and responsibilities; things that need to be taken care of, right? So why is it so difficult for a lot of us to just get up and take care of what needs to be taken care of?
Sounds so simple doesn’t it? Well in reality what’s simple is the fact that I could probably come up with a million reasons of why not to do something, versus why I should do it. Procrastination is a behavior brought on by a number of triggers; one of them being fear. Yes, fear! The reason someone may not start or do a particular task is out of fear. Possibly fear of not being in control? When you procrastinate, you have an illusion that you are controlling the outcome, when in reality you are becoming a victim of the outcome. So a lot of us may avoid something all together with the hope that it may not be here tomorrow?
I don’t know, but I do know this… Whenever we ‘avoid’ anything, it usually means that we are ‘afraid’ of something. So I guess we need to first identify those fears, and break’em!
Here are a few tips to keep you moving in the right direction of your ‘daily’ goals. Yes… weekly, monthly, quarterly, and annual goals still apply, and also in the form of short and long term goals, but for procrastinations sake, we’re going to jump right into the daily habits that should be formed.
First you need to schedule yourself a daily planning hour. You need to have this. This is your special moment, where you can really abuse your procrastination habit by not really having to do anything, except talking about or writing about what you need to do.
Second is recognizing what needs to be done. Always keep a notepad with you; this is first and foremost. Ideas, thoughts, and things that need to be done will come to you throughout the day. Some go in and some go out. So the idea is to capture as much of it as you can, and address all of your thoughts during your planning hour. Have two sections on your notepad. One Section for thoughts that can wait until ‘Planning Hour’, and another section for ‘Emergency Interruptions’ that cannot wait until the planning hour and need to be addressed right away. Of course, we want to avoid this section as much as possible, but it should be there only for ‘immediate needs’. Most procrastinators will have no problem putting something in the ‘Planning Hour’ section anyways because it ensures them that they can just do it later. HA! But don’t worry… later will be here momentarily.
Now the planning hour is here. Stop what you’re doing; this is where you get to have fun and layout what you want or need to do, without doing it! Talk about easy. Also, an important thing to remember is talking about what you ‘want’ and ‘need’ to do, not what you ‘have’ to do. Never say you ‘have’ to do anything. That word makes the idea of doing anything dreadful, and keeps you from doing it. Try saying to yourself that you ‘get to do this’! Wow, now that puts a spin on it. I ‘GET TO’ do something. How cool is that?
Return next month for the sequel of ‘Habitual Thinking Made Easy’ where we will develop some habitual patterns for executing your written goals effectively.
Visit Rob's website http://www.180coach.com or contact him via emal at info@180coach.com or call 770/820-5446 for a free consultation today!
NUTRITION NUGGET: Fats - Part One
Your body requires three macronutrients - protein, carbohydrates and fats. You need carbs and fats for energy, as building blocks for hormones, enzymes, cell membranes and healthy nerves; fat slows down food absorption so you feel fuller faster; fat soluble vitamins A, D, E and K need fat in order to be absorbed; fat keeps you warm, cushions your internal organs and if all this wasn't enough, your brain is 60% fat and requires the right fat to function properly! There are "good" fats (Omega-3 fats and monounsaturated fats like olive oil, avocados, olives, nuts and nut oils and butters) and "bad" fats which we'll talk about next month. Omega-3's provide essential fatty acids are found mostly in fish like salmon and tuna, algae like spirulina and chlorella, seeds like flax and chia and Omega-3 eggs. Grain-fed meat has a much higher percentage of Omega-3's than grain-fed. Omega-6 oils are the other essential fatty acid but the standard American diet provides way too much. When the Omega-6 to 3 ratio is too high, it causes serious health problems which you'll see next month.
SUPPLEMENT SPOTLIGHT: Iron
Iron is an essential trace mineral. Only tiny or trace amounts are needed but they powerfully affect your health. Vitamins can't be used by your body without minerals, which make up your bones, teeth, muscle, blood, nerve cells and tissues. The primary function of iron is to combine with protein and copper to produce hemoglobin. It's critical for production of red blood cells, which carry oxygen throughout your body. Too little iron causes too little hemoglobin in your blood, which reduces the amount of oxygen sent to tissues and organs. This results in iron-deficiency anemia. Symptoms are fatigue, dizziness, weakened immune system, and loss of energy. But, you can get too much of a good thing! If you have more iron than your body needs for adequate hemoglobin production, your body may have difficulty excreting the excess. It can build up forming dangerous free radicals. These can cause damage in your cells, increasing your risk of heart disease and cancer. Natural whole food sources of iron are safest. Many supplements contain a form of inorganic iron that is toxic. Iron rich foods like lentils, beans, lean beef, spinach and other dark leafy greens, egg yolks, liver and dried prunes and raisins paired with a food source of vitamin C helps your body absorb the iron efficiently. Stick with Whole food iron supplements as well.
FEATURED PRODUCTS:
Organic Tropic Oil
This is 100% pure extra virgin organic coconut oil, a whole food, which offers so many health benefits. It is cholesterol free and does not contribute to heart disease, cancer or other degenerative diseases. It's made up of medium-chain triglycerides, making it an excellent addition to your weight loss arsenal; it is healing to the thyroid; effective for eliminating parasites, preventing osteoporosis and improving digestion. It is extremely stable at high temperatures so it is ideal for cooking. Make your morning scrambled eggs with it or put a teaspoon in your smoothie or oatmeal!
Beet Juice Plus
Beet root is one of the most natural sources of bioavailable iron. It not only increases circulation, it supports and strengthens the liver. Iron supplements can be very hard on the digestion, but this whole food source is well-tolerated and very effective.
Call 1-888-747-6733 and use code 11379 or visit http://www.phporder.com/11379 to order either of these exceptional products and get a 20% discount on this and all future orders.
WORD TO THE WISE: Dancing With God
This is a little different from the usual Word to the Wise. This was taken from an email I received. It blessed me and I wanted to share it with you. I think it fits perfectly with this month's focus on effectively using our time:
When I meditated on the word “Guidance”, I kept seeing "dance" at the end of the word. I remember reading that doing God's will is a lot like dancing. When two people try to lead, nothing feels right. The movement doesn't flow with the music, and everything is uncomfortable and jerky. When one person realizes that, and lets the other lead, both begin to flow with the music. One gives gentle cues, perhaps with a nudge to the back. It's as if two become one body, moving beautifully. The dance takes surrender, willingness, and attentiveness from one person and gentle guidance and skill from the other. My eyes drew back to the word “Guidance.” When I saw "G": I thought of God, followed by "u" and "i". "God," "u" and "i" dance."
“God, you, and I dance.”
I must become willing to trust that I will get guidance about my life. I must be willing to let God lead. My prayer for you is that God's blessings and mercies are upon you today and everyday. May you abide in God, as God abides in you. Dance with God, trusting Him to lead and guide you through each day and season of your life.
If you enjoyed this issue of the 3-D Living Newsletter, please forward it to anyone you know who will benefit from it. They'll love you for it! If a friend forwarded this issue to you - just go here to get your own free subscription: http://www.threedimensionalvitality.com/Welcome.html.
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