by drjessicahouston@gmail.com drjessicahouston@gmail.com | Sep 18, 2015 | Self Improvement
Have you ever been tempted to set a small goal, simply because you perceived it as being easily attainable? I believe that most of us have been guilty of this more often than we would care to admit. Perhaps you didn’t pursue what you really wanted, because you were afraid that you would not be able to obtain it. Now, just take a moment and imagine what you could accomplish if you decided to challenge yourself more. What if you decided that you would much rather try and miss the mark, than not try at all? Are you willing to stretch yourself beyond what feels comfortable? We are naturally wired to avoid discomfort. For this very reason, you must be intentional about pushing yourself out of your comfort zone. Begin by thinking about what it is that you would like to accomplish before the end of 2015. Next, ask yourself “How can I stretch this goal?”
Your potential is unlimited. Therefore, you have the capacity to overcome any challenge that you encounter. Remember, your mind sincerely believes whatever you ask it to believe. Today, I challenge you to upgrade your belief about what you are capable of achieving. You deserve to have a vision that stretches you. Don’t worry about seeming unrealistic. If you want to be extraordinary, you must first have an extraordinary vision. When you upgrade your vision, you are ultimately choosing to challenge your self-doubt and silence your inner critic. Until next time….
Dr. Jessica Houston, LMSW
Expectingvictory.com
by drjessicahouston@gmail.com drjessicahouston@gmail.com | Jul 30, 2015 | Self Improvement
I know that everyone has an idea of what they would like their life to look like. However, have you ever taken the time to think about what you REALLY want in every aspect of your life? In essence, what goals do you have related to your relationships, career, finances, health and spirituality? If you haven’t taken the time to write down AND visualize your ideal future, I challenge you to do it sooner rather than later. Many times when we think about what it is that we really want, we realize that we are not heading in the right direction. Instead of beating yourself up about not being where you desire to be, begin taking the actions that are necessary to get you closer to your desired destination. What one action can you take today? Are there any thoughts or habits that you need to release? Is it time for you to begin investing in your dream? Whatever it is that you need to do, I want you to commit to it. Be persistent until your goal is met. It is time for you to begin living the life that you say you want. However, the only way for you to get there is for you to take action! Until next time…..
Dr. Jessica Houston
Expectingvictory.com
by drjessicahouston@gmail.com drjessicahouston@gmail.com | Jul 15, 2015 | Self Improvement
When you commit to your dream, God will little by little push you out of your comfort zone. I often surprise myself at how I have transitioned from being an extreme introvert with low self-confidence, into being a bold and confident leader. One thing I know for sure is that when you are TRULY ready to grow, God will then take you so far out of your comfort zone that you will have to depend upon him to be your life vest. So, in essence, you will either have to totally depend upon him or you will sink.
Many people say that they are hungry for success, but only a few are willing to do what it takes to get there. How committed are you to your goals? How committed are you to your dreams? Actions speak louder than words. My challenge for you this week is to do more and analyze less. I can guarantee you that you have no idea how brilliant you are. You have no idea how much you can accomplish, because you are afraid to go out into the deep. You are wondering if you have what it takes. The answer is an astounding YES! Don’t worry about sinking, God will be your floating device IF you give him the opportunity. Until next time….
Dr. Jessica Houston
Expectingvictory.com
by drjessicahouston@gmail.com drjessicahouston@gmail.com | May 14, 2015 | Self Improvement
Habits are tendencies that we consciously or unconsciously repeat day after day. There are habits that impede our success and habits that bring us closer to success. What habits do you have that you need to maintain? Likewise, what habits do you have that you need to sever? Today I would like to encourage you to develop the happiness habit. Yes, there will be times when we are disappointed, sad and even angry. It is important that you feel those emotions, but you should not stay stuck in those emotions. If you remain stuck in your anger, disappointment and/or sadness, it will be impossible for you to be happy. You must find a way to move forward. If you cannot do it alone, please ask for help from a trusted loved one or an experienced professional.
One of the first actions that you must take when developing the happiness habit is deciding that you will not allow others to control your emotions. For the most part, we are in control of how we choose to respond to the events that take place in our personal and professional lives. Unfortunately, people who are angry, depressed and/or dealing with a life changing event can intentionally or unintentionally hurt innocent people. For this reason, it is important for you to understand that you are just the recipient of their unaddressed emotional discontent. The second action is that you must attack your negative self talk. Negative self- talk is a commonality among all of us, but those who are happy, dismantle their negative thoughts quickly. The final action you must take in order to develop the habit of being happy is to practice gratitude daily. There is a direct correlation between gratitude and happiness. Therefore, keeping the people, possessions and victories that you are grateful for at the forefront of your mind will contribute to your overall happiness. Never allow a day to pass without counting your blessings. I challenge you to decide today that you will make happiness an integral component of your life. Go ahead and smile. You deserve to be happy! Until next time…….
Dr. Jessica Houston, LMSW
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by drjessicahouston@gmail.com drjessicahouston@gmail.com | Feb 3, 2015 | Self Improvement
I was having a conversation with my sister the other day about how you can sometimes love someone so much that you avoid facing the truth. Have you ever loved, respected and trusted someone who turned out to be the exact opposite of whom you initially thought they were? Well, I have been there many times and I will tell you that it hurts. It hurts when the person you thought that you would spend the rest of your life with cheats on you. It hurts when someone you thought was a friend, lies on you, spreads rumors about you or shares something that they promised not to share. We can pretend that we do not see the red flags. We can even try to rationalize their behavior. However, at some point, we must face the truth. In fact, in time, the truth often reveals itself. Why is it that we are afraid to face the truth? I believe that we sometimes elect to avoid the truth, because the truth will hurt. The truth could take us out of daydreaming mode and catapult us into reality. It is our human nature to avoid pain. For this reason, we are likely to do all that we can to avoid feeling pain. Unfortunately, this tendency to avoid feeling pain can cause us to stay in relationships or circumstances that we know are not good for us. Is there a truth that you have been avoiding? Facing the truth might cause a temporary loss. However, walking in truth, will yield a return that is much greater than what you have lost. Until next time…….
Dr. Jessica Houston, LMSW
Expectingvictory.com
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