Monday Motivation

Good morning. Grace and peace be unto you!

Passion is defined as a strong barely controlled emotion. What are you passionate about? What gets you excited?

Passion is the juice that many run on while waiting for all of the perverbial ducks to get in a row. It must be taken in every single day. It is the adrenaline that feeds our bodies to push when our mind is saying we are tired.

Passion is the thing that wakes us up before the alarm clock and keeps the midnight oils burning. PASSION
Do you have it?

Like a cold drink of water on a hot summers day...passion. Do you have it? You bettah get it. What gets you up in the morning and delights your very heart? That is your passion.

And as always remember to. . . live Blessed

Wednesday Word

Good morning. Grace and peace be unto you!

Our Word for today will come from
Isaiah 64:8 
Yet you, LORD, are our Father. We are the clay, you are the potter; we are all the work of your hand.

And as always remember to...live Blessed

Thursday Thoughts

Good morning. Grace and peace be unto you! 

A few random thoughts from what I've read or heard this week.

Write down your 2 major life goals.

Put them where you can see them. 

Filter everything through those.

Your team/church/organization is only as strong as its weakest member. You might want to find out what their problem is. 

The reason why many people are still troubled, still seeking, still making little forward progress is because they haven't yet come to the end of themselves.

And as always remember to...live Blessed

Monday Motivation

Good Morning. Grace and peace be unto you!

Wow, where has the time gone? We are already in the middle of May, June will be here before we know it.

I just want to encourage you to look at yourself in the mirror and evaluate where you are in your life.
Are you at the same place, doing the same things and having the same feeling that you have been having for the past few years? When are you going to move toward your purpose? See it is easy to see I will when I get ________ done. News flash! That won't every happen. There will always be an excuse as to why you can't. Why you don't have enough money, why you don't have enough time, why you can't get out of the place of stuckness.

My sister, don't be afraid of change. It is never comfortable but necessary if you are going to fulfill the purpose that God has placed in you. Purpose is calling, will you answer the call?

And as always remember to...live Blessed

Friday Findings

Good morning. Grace and Peace be unto you!

Continuing with our look at Mental Health...

In 2016, Americans spent over $4.8 trillion on retail purchases. [1]	That's enough to cover the entire surface of the Earth in $100 bills.

For some people, shopping turns into compulsive buying

Compulsive buying is an uncontrollable desire to shop which results in spending large amounts of time and money on the activity. Generally, a person who buys compulsively gets the urge to shop in response to negative emotions (not to be confused with occasional “retail therapy”) and often has problems with relationships and finances as a result of their shopping behavior. [2]

of Americans are affected by Compulsive Buying Disorder in their lifetime. [3]

The four stages of compulsive buying [4]

1. Anticipation: Thoughts and urges start. They may focus on a specific item or the act of shopping itself.
2. Preparation: Research and decision making take place. A person may look into sales or debate about where to go shopping.
3. Shopping: Shopping happens. This is the so-called, "thrill of the hunt." The person gets a "high" while doing it. 
4. Spending: Something, or many things, are purchased. The person is sad that the shopping experience is over and may be disappointed about how much they've spent afterward.

Are you at risk for a compulsive buying problem?

If you agree with most of the statements below, it may be time to seek help. [5]

• If I have money left in my paycheck, I have to spend it.
• Other people would judge me if they know how much I spend.
• I buy things that I can't afford.
• I've overdrawn my bank account buying things that I didn't need.
• Buying things makes me feel better.
• I'm anxious on days that I don't go shopping.
• I pay the bare minimum on my credit card(s) but keep charging items.

How is compulsive buying different from hoarding?

People who compulsively buy may purchase so many items that it leads to hoarding. Sixty-one percent of people with hoarding problems meet the criteria for compulsive buying [6]; however, there are also key differences between compulsive buying and hoarding. [7]

Process of shopping		The item being acquired
To elevate social status or relieve negative emotions		To collect items that have sentimental value or perceived usefulness
Little to none		Strong emotional connection to items
Purchased items are either flaunted or hidden		Items are accumulated to the point where the functionality of a person's home is compromised
More common among women		More common among men

How is compulsive buying related to mental illness?

	People who have Compulsive Buying Disorder often meet the criteria for other mental illnesses as well, such as mood disorders, anxiety disorders, substance use disorders, eating disorders, ADHD, and a variety of impulse control disorders. [8]
	Excessive spending can be a symptom of Borderline Personality Disorder. [9]
	Spending sprees may occur during manic episodes of Bipolar Disorder; however, this is different from Compulsive Buying Disorder and spending sprees generally stop once a manic episode has ended. [10]
	Compulsive buying is often driven by feelings of anxiety, depression or low self-esteem. [11]

How is compulsive buying treated?

	Some professionals classify compulsive buying as an obsessive compulsive disorder, while others liken it to an impulse control disorder [12]. Therefore, there is no one specific treatment for compulsive buying.
	Treatment for compulsive buying is determined by a provider after consulting with an individual.
	Medication may be used to manage symptoms of underlying mental illness and control unwanted or intrusive thoughts about shopping.
	Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is almost always incorporated into treatment for compulsive buying.
	Support groups modeled after 12-step programs have been helpful in dealing with compulsive buying behaviors. Debtors Anonymous (www.debtorsanonymous.org) is one such support group and has meetings at locations across the country.
	Other ways of addressing compulsive buying include self-help books and simplicity circles. [13]

Take control of spending

• Keep track of your spending to see if you notice patterns.
• Set a budget for how much you can spend on shopping. You may want to set weekly limits. Use cash for shopping purposes and keep your credit and debit cards at home when you go out.
• Identify what triggers the urge to shop or spend, and think about what you can do to manage those triggers.
• Do your best to avoid the urge to shop for unnecessary items before bills are due or immediately after getting paid.
• When you have money that is “burning a hole in your wallet,” transfer it to a savings account or use it to pay o˜ credit card balances.
• If you can’t fight the urge to shop completely, channel it productively. Buy necessities like cleaning supplies or toiletries instead of clothing, electronics or other luxury items.

And as always remember to...live Blessed

Tuesday Tools

Good morning. Grace and peace be unto you!

Tuesday Tool Mental Health Screening Tools.  Feel free to click the link at the bottom to go be connected to the screeners.

Mental Health Screening Tools

Taking a mental health screening is one of the quickest and easiest ways to determine whether you are experiencing symptoms of a mental health condition.

Mental health conditions, such as depression or anxiety, are real, common and treatable. And recovery is possible.

If you're unsure which screen to take, here are some guidelines:

The Depression Test is for individuals who are experiencing overwhelming sadness.	The Alcohol or Substance Use Test will help determine if your use of alcohol or drugs is an area to address.
The Anxiety Test will help if you feel that worry and fear affect your day to day life.	The Youth Test is for young people (age 11-17) who are concerned that their emotions, attention, or behaviors might be signs of a problem.
The Bipolar Test is for individuals who have mood swings - or unusual or extreme shifts in mood and energy.	The Parent Test is for parents of young people to determine if their child’s emotions, attention, or behaviors might be signs of a problem.
The PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) Test is for those who are bothered by a traumatic life event.	The Psychosis Test is for young people (age 12-35) who feel like their brain is playing tricks on them (seeing, hearing or believing things that don't seem real or quite right).
The Work Health Survey is a screen to explore how healthy or unhealthy your work environment is. It is in a testing phase and every screen taken helps us better understand mental health in the workplace.	The Eating Disorder Test can help explore eating-related concerns that have an impact on your physical health and overall well-being.

Following the screening, you will be provided with information, resources, and tools to discuss the results with a provider.

http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/mental-health-screening-tools

And as always remember to...live Blessed

Wednesday Word

Good morning. Grace and peace be unto you!

Our morning word comes from
Hebrews 11:7 New Living Translation It was by faith that Noah built a large boat to save his family from the flood. He obeyed God, who warned him about things that had never happened before. By his faith, Noah condemned the rest of the world, and he received the righteousness that comes by faith.

What do you have the faith for? What comfort zone is God pulling you from? Noah's faith saved his family. Your faith will help you to step out on that thing that you can not see. Hum, that is faith.

When we really understand faith, we realize there is always an element of unknown. Otherwise, it would not be faith, it would be what I can do on my own. 

Ladies, I encourage you to step out on faith. Noah had no idea what a boat or water was but he believed God. GOD will not give you bad direction. Make sure that you are spending enough time with him that you recognize his voice over all others. Stepping out is hard, an even more complicated if we don't have the assistance of our savior. Like Noah, you must get direction and then step out in faith knowing that he has your back.  What Ark are you supposed to build?

And as always remember to...live Blessed