by drjessicahouston@gmail.com drjessicahouston@gmail.com | Jul 11, 2016 | Self Improvement
Have you ever asked God to expand your territory? I know that I have.
Sometimes when we ask God to enlarge our territories and expand our borders, we are not prepared for that growth. There are times when, in order to expand and grow, we might have to give up a few things. Yes, even some of the things that we enjoy. The truth is that we have to make more room for what God wants to give us.
This means letting go of the things that waste our time. This means letting go of people and habits that currently are not contributing to our expansion. Are you willing to say goodbye to your self-sabotaging habits? Some habits that must be released include: having unrealistic expectations, being easily distracted, being unfocused and of course procrastinating. Set boundaries in your relationships and limit the access people have to you and your time if they are not building you up and supporting your growth. Purge the useless things taking up space. Get rid of the strongholds that keep you bound in unhealthy cycles and living beneath your potential. Prune the unhealthy stuff from your life so that you can flourish. That is how you will become the best version of yourself.
May you receive an unexpected blessing this week!
Dr. Jessica Houston, LMSW
expectingvictory.com
by drjessicahouston@gmail.com drjessicahouston@gmail.com | Jun 22, 2016 | Business, Self Improvement
Are you willing to stay true to your vision, even when it looks like the odds are stacked against you? There are times when life will throw you a curve ball that makes you feel as though you are just plain unlucky. You might be saying to yourself, I’m a nice person, I don’t steal, I am always willing to lend others a helping had, so why aren’t things working in my favor? Well, I have certainly been there. In fact, I have had some days when I didn’t think that I had another tear left to cry. I literally wanted to run away from my life. I was tired of getting my hopes up, just to be let down again. It actually seemed more reasonable to quit than to keep going.
However, I see now, that replaying those negative thoughts over and over in my mind were more harmful than helpful. The truth is that we often think ourselves into a state of anxiety. Did you know that anxiety, fear and worry are tactics used to take your eyes off of your vision? Think about it, any time spent focusing on the negative is time wasted. It is time wasted, because you are not spending that time building the vision that God has given you. I know that life can get rough at times. However, I also know that God has an amazing plan for your life.
Today I want you to think about what you are grateful for. Our minds are wired to focus on the negative, but imagine what would happen if you intentionally reframed the way that you talk to yourself. If a negative thought enters your mind, ask yourself if that particular thought will take you down a path of confidence and hope or down a path of self-doubt and fear. Now, you can choose to remain bitter about everything that has not gone exactly the way that you had planned. Just know that you cannot be happy and bitter at the same time. You have to make a choice. My hope is that you will immediately dismantle the negative chatter that WE ALL battle. You have a destiny to fulfill, so get focused and stay true to the vision that God has given you. Until next time……
Dr. Jessica Houston, LMSW
expectingvictory.com
by drjessicahouston@gmail.com drjessicahouston@gmail.com | May 30, 2016 | Self Improvement
We typically do not think about or discuss habits often, but they actually play a major role in our daily lives. While some habits should be maintained, there are others that must be corrected. The truth is that our habits often determine whether or not we excel in our personal and professional endeavors. Can you think of any repetitive thoughts or behaviors that are not aligned with what you say you want? Habits are easy to develop, but correction requires persistence and determination.
Habit #1: Negative Thinking- This is the culprit that causes us to think ourselves into a state of anxiety and/or depression. Have you not done this before? You are literally thinking about how you are going to make an absolute fool of yourself or you are ready to go after something that you want, but you talk yourself out of it. In fact, just as you are preparing to take action, you think, they will never give me _____, who wants to hear from me? I would love to _____, but I don’t have the skill, education, confidence, discipline, etc. Hopefully, you get my point. Negative thinking causes you to doubt yourself and has possibly caused you to miss out on huge opportunities.
Habit #2: Impatience- This habit is responsible for a great deal of poor decision- making. So things are not going as you had expected. You have not met your life partner, landed the job/client you have been praying for. Perhaps you have done everything you know to do, but you have only made very little progress. When in this position, the most convenient thing to do is assume that this is a sign that you need to quit or tone down your goal (settle). We far too often see what others have accomplished, but we have no idea how long it took them to get there. Please do not allow the habit of impatience to interfere with your journey towards getting what you deserve. Patiently waiting is not easy, but it sure is worth it. Especially, when you hang in there and ultimately achieve your goal.
Today, I am challenging you to become more aware of your habits and how they impact you on a daily basis. I am here for you, if you desire support in this area. My private coaching clients are yielding greater results in their businesses as well as their personal lives, because they are very intentional about weeding out the habits that have been impeding their growth and development. You can visit https://live.vcita.com/site/f1dfa0c2c49a295f/ to schedule a complimentary strategy session. Feel free to share this article with family, friends and/or colleagues. Until next time…..
Dr. Jessica Houston, LMSW
Expectingvictory.com
by drjessicahouston@gmail.com drjessicahouston@gmail.com | Apr 28, 2016 | Self Improvement
Have you ever felt a sudden desire to make a life changing decision? This decision might require that you leave an unhealthy relationship, return to school, change careers or even start a business. You think about your desire for a moment and become filled with excitement. Your mind is just about made up, but then you begin to wonder if you should act on it. At this point, you think it might be a good idea to get a second opinion. You share your idea with a friend or relative, and to your surprise, you walk away feeling discouraged. Perhaps you are told that you should set a more realistic goal. You might even be told a dozen reasons why this is not the right time or the right decision. Many people decide to give up at this point. However, this is an excellent opportunity for you to conquer your opposition!
Sometimes the people you expect to be in your corner will turn their backs on you. Many times the people that you hoped would support you are secretly your opposition. Your opposition seeks to plant doubt in your mind and destroy your vision. This is why you must be careful about who you share your dreams with. Never accept advice from someone who has never done what you are attempting to do. You might not have all of the money you need to reach your goals, but press forward anyway. You might not have all of the support you need to reach your goals, but press forward anyway. Finally, you probably have a ton of questions, and very few answers. At this point, you know what to do next….press forward anyway. Keep pressing towards the mark, those who do not give up will reap their reward. When you have a passion and a burning desire to enhance your lifestyle, you will always have opposition. Ignore the critics. If a desire is placed in you, it can be fulfilled! Are you ready to conquer your opposition? Until next time…..
Dr. Jessica Houston, LMSW
Success Coach and Empowerment Speaker
by drjessicahouston@gmail.com drjessicahouston@gmail.com | Mar 28, 2016 | Business
So, I realize that most of us have been taught that being competitive is a good thing. In fact, some of you reading this have probably been reprimanded for not being competitive enough. I hope that you are open to a different perspective, because, I want to share with you a better way to excel in life and in business. Below you will find 3 reasons why you should never compete.
Reason #1: Competing is a major distraction. If you are focused on your competition, then you are not focused on improving your knowledge base, your skills, your services, your creativity, etc. Think about it, if you are running a close race and you take a moment to look back, those few seconds could cost you the race. Likewise, do not be concerned about what your “perceived” competitors are doing. Instead, I want you to focus on how you can be better than you were the day before.
Reason #2: Competing causes you to aim too low. If you are in competition with a person or an organization, you are likely striving to catch up with them or surpass them. I believe that this is setting the bar too low. What I challenge you to do instead is remove the bar! I am willing to bet that you have the capacity to do something that has never been done. All you have to do is take the limits off of what you believe you can accomplish and trust your genius.
Reason #3: When you cease to compete, you are in a position to dominate. Domination is the goal of champions. When you dominate, you have a commanding influence. You are not trying to compete, because you are in a league of your own. So, from today forward do not waste any time or energy competing. In this season, I’m challenging you to dominate to the extent that you will have more opportunities than you can handle. In fact, I’m challenging you to dominate to the extent that people are lining up to pay you, because they are anxious to learn how you do what you do.
No one can beat you at being you. Now get out there and dominate!
Dr. Jessica Houston, LMSW
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