by drjessicahouston@gmail.com drjessicahouston@gmail.com | May 12, 2014 | Self Improvement
Psychology Today has one of the best definitions of gratitude that I have seen to date. According to Psychology Today (2014) gratitude is an emotion expressing appreciation for what one has—as opposed to a consumer-oriented emphasis on what one wants or needs. This is a profound and life-changing definition. Imagine what would happen if you practiced gratitude on a daily basis. Where you exert your energy is extremely important. You can weigh yourself down by focusing on lack or you can give yourself a boost by being grateful. If you focus on being thankful for all that you have, you will be happier. You will also be much more likely to experience success. Gratitude is connected to happiness and success. For this reason, I believe that gratitude is a gift. Unfortunately, it is a gift that is often unopened. We focus so much on our weaknesses and problems, that we often forget how blessed we truly are.
What are you grateful for today? Whenever I begin to feel down, I reach into my gratitude gift basket and pull out something that I am grateful for at that very moment. Did you know that gratitude can counteract feelings of hopelessness and doubt? Visualize an obstacle or struggle that you have overcome. Thinking about a past victory helps you recognize that you have everything that you need to be successful. We often have a tendency to minimize our accomplishments. The next time that you reach a goal, take the time to congratulate yourself. If you celebrate the small victories, larger victories will follow. This week, I challenge you to write down three things that you are grateful for every night. You should do this for seven consecutive days. Writing down what you are grateful for is an excellent way to end your day. If you enjoy it, keep doing it! Until next week……
Dr. Jessica Houston
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by drjessicahouston@gmail.com drjessicahouston@gmail.com | May 7, 2014 | Relationships
If someone has touched your life in a positive way, please let them know. As an author, speaker, educator, and victory coach, my primary goal is to help others recognize their value and maximize their potential. With the help of mentors and coaches, I have been able to reach my goals quicker and easier. For this reason, I understand the importance of social support. After overcoming low confidence, I can now look in the mirror and say “I am beautiful.” With newly found courage, I can stand before an audience and share some of the secrets that have held my happiness hostage for years. However, what I cannot do is read the minds of the people whom I pour into on a daily basis.
Has someone encouraged you when you were feeling hopeless? Has someone inspired you? If so, please send them a thank-you note or give them a quick call to say thanks. The individual that took the time to encourage or inspire you might just be feeling down today. They might be feeling as though the work that they do is in vain. In fact, they might be thinking about giving up on their mission. However, hearing how they have made a positive impact on your life can provide the boost that they need. Your testimony can be exactly what they need to continue their mission and their assignment. God sends people our way for a reason. If someone has made a difference in your life, please let them know how much you appreciate them. Your words will help refuel their energy and reaffirm the need for their service to others. You never know what someone might be experiencing. This week I challenge you to give someone a few words of encouragement. Until next time…..
Dr. Jessica Houston
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by drjessicahouston@gmail.com drjessicahouston@gmail.com | Apr 30, 2014 | Self Improvement
We have officially reached mid-week and I am excited to share how you can develop and maintain a winning mindset. I believe that we are designed to win and therefore we should always expect victory in every aspect of our lives. Although there are times when we feel like the odds are against us, we must understand that goals are designed to stretch us. For this reason, I want to encourage you to stay in the game, even when it seems as though the odds are stacked against you. I say this because there is a blueprint to winning and you are capable of overcoming some of the most common obstacles to winning. To name a few, some of the obstacles to winning include: fear, self-doubt, lack of planning, lack of discipline, and lack of support. Are you allowing one of the aforementioned obstacles to hold you back?
Winning requires strategy and determination. Most people fail to reach their goals because their strategy is ineffective. Others fail to reach their goals, because they simply are not determined enough. When you have a strong desire to win, you do not allow a set back to convert to a permanent failure. Please understand that there is a difference between a temporary defeat and a permanent failure. Those who win do not give up if a goal is not met, they simply revise their strategy. Winners understand that there is always room for growth and development. Therefore, even those who seem to be at the top of their game have advisors and coaches. Finally, winning requires that you strive for excellence. Once you develop a winning mindset, you will no longer settle for mediocrity. This week, I challenge you to set a goal that stretches you. What would you like to accomplish over the next 7 days. Your goal should be specific and measurable. Write it down and seek out an accountability partner, coach, or mentor. Finally, be sure to have a clear mission and an appropriate strategy. After developing a winning mindset, you will become unstoppable. Until next week……
Dr. Jessica Houston
http://expectingvictory.com
by drjessicahouston@gmail.com drjessicahouston@gmail.com | Apr 20, 2014 | Self Improvement
There is much to be said about an individual who truly believes that anything is possible. I know that it might sound far- fetched, but if you do not believe in yourself, how can you expect for someone else to believe in you? I believe that we depend on the opinions and expectations of others far too often . When it comes to your vision, do their opinions really matter? Instead of asking everyone what they think, try doing some self-reflection. You have the answers. In fact, I am confident that you are much more creative than you even realize. Are you making your decisions based on your desires? If you are not careful, you will end up making decisions based on what you believe will make everyone else happy. Do not focus on trying to blend in with the crowd. I have found that it is okay to be different. Trust you own intuition. It feels good to be true to yourself. It also feels good to believe in yourself. One of the greatest gifts that you can give yourself is self-trust. Take a moment to think about how much closer you would be to your goal if you had believed in your abilities sooner. You are worthy of greatness. You do deserve the best. Give yourself permission to take your life to the next level. Whatever you do, do not dim your light for the sake of fitting in. Are you willing to trust yourself? Remember the most important opinion is yours. You can either build yourself up or tear yourself down. The choice is yours. Until next time….
Dr. Jessica Houston
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by drjessicahouston@gmail.com drjessicahouston@gmail.com | Apr 6, 2014 | Self Improvement
Everyone has gifts, talents, skills, and unlimited potential. However, everyone is not willing to take full advantage of their potential. In fact, most people allow fear to prevent them from maximizing their potential. Typically, our current circumstances cause us to set small goals that are easily attainable. We do this because it makes us comfortable and because we do not need faith, hard work, or outside assistance to reach mediocre goals. Unfortunately, when we do this, we are not stretching ourselves and we are not maximizing our potential. Think about it, when you are attempting to build muscle, you cannot continue to lift the same amount of weight. If you keep lifting the same amount of weight, your strength will not increase.
Are you maximizing your potential? When you maximize your potential, you understand that the process will be uncomfortable. However, you also understand that stretching yourself, will allow you to go further than you could ever imagine. When you maximize your potential, you set goals that you cannot reach without the help of someone else. It takes courage to maximize your potential, because dreaming big places you in a vulnerable position. No one wants to fail and this is the reason why most people set goals that are easily attainable. Are you willing to be different? Are you willing to become the person whom you were designed to become? Do not wait for perfect timing. It is time to begin maximizing your potential now. Until next week….
Dr. Jessica Houston
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