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
by drjessicahouston@gmail.com drjessicahouston@gmail.com | Jan 7, 2015 | Self Improvement
Habits are repetitive behaviors that we repeat without any effort. Some people are naturally patient, generous and positive. However, others must consciously work towards becoming a better person. A great way to activate your best self is to make self-care a priority. When you develop positive health habits such as eating appropriately, getting moderate exercise and getting an adequate amount of rest, you are likely to feel more energized and be in a better mood. Second, it is important that you give yourself permission to be imperfect. If you make a mistake or if you did not reach your goal as quickly as you would have liked, this should not be an opportunity for you to succumb to negative self talk. Instead, acknowledge what happened, but choose to move forward. Finally, commit to doing one random act of generosity every day. It can be as simple as giving a compliment or writing a thank you note to someone who has inspired you. Generosity has been shown to increase your level of happiness significantly. Developing the habit of generosity is worthwhile, because it benefits both the giver and the receiver. This week I challenge you to take the steps necessary to activate your best self. Until next time….
Dr. Jessica Houston, LMSW
Expectingvictory.com
by drjessicahouston@gmail.com drjessicahouston@gmail.com | Nov 18, 2014 | Self Improvement
There are times when life will throw you a curve ball that makes you feel as though you cannot move forward. 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. However, I see now that discouragement, anger and replaying those negative thoughts over and over is just another tactic of the enemy. The enemy does not want to see you happy. What excites the enemy, is seeing you give up and ultimately stop believing that better days are ahead. Did you know that Satan will work through others to get you to take your eyes off of your vision? Think about it….if you are spending most of your time focusing on the negative, you are not spending 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 a plan for your life. Today I want to challenge you to redirect your thoughts. I want you to reframe your thoughts whenever you see them going in the wrong direction. You have the power to be happy. Likewise, you also have the power to remain bitter about everything that has not gone exactly the way that you had planned. If you would de-clutter your mind and begin utilizing the gifts, talents and skills that you have, you can accomplish more than you ever imagined. I want you to decide right now that you will immediately dismantle the negative chatter and begin building the vision that God has given you. Until next time……
Dr. Jessica Houston, LMSW
expectingvictory.com
by drjessicahouston@gmail.com drjessicahouston@gmail.com | Sep 8, 2014 | Self Improvement
It is human nature to be anxious about a situation that is plaguing us. It is also common to focus on what is missing and how far away we are from our desired destination. However, when we focus on what is missing, it is almost impossible for us to experience genuine happiness. I know that I have not come close to experiencing all that God has intended for my life. However, even during difficult situations, I must be patient enough to wait until God is ready to reveal his plan. What do you need to hand over to God today? His desire is not for us to be worried, broken and unhappy. His desire is for us to be whole, prosperous and filled with unwavering joy.
God wants us to be confident in his ability to meet our needs. This means, that we cannot continually worry about how our situation is going to work out. There is often an urge to give up, when you are under pressure and cannot see the entirety of God’s plan. Unfortunately, if you succumb to the urge to give up, you forfeit the multitude of blessings that God has in store for you. Will you please take a moment to thank God for all that he has already done in your life? Stop right where you are and take a few deep breaths. Breathe, relax and let go of the urge to worry. If you think about it, God always comes through for you. It might not be within your desired timeframe, but he will respond to your request according to his divine timing. He knows when it is time to shift your circumstances. Push through your fears and hold on to God’s promise. Praise him in the midst of your battle and see what happens! Until next time…..
Dr. Jessica Houston
expectingvictory.com
by drjessicahouston@gmail.com drjessicahouston@gmail.com | Jul 1, 2014 | Self Improvement
Do you truly recognize your value? Sometimes others recognize our value more than we do. Unfortunately, when this happens they offer us less and we accept it without thinking twice. It took me a long time to recognize my value. It never crossed my mind that I had qualities, skills, and attributes that made me unique and valuable. In fact, before recognizing my value, it never crossed my mind that I deserved the best in my personal as well as my professional life. Once I recognized my value, I began expecting more and in return, I began receiving more. People who do not recognize their value are typically unsatisfied with their lives. Some of the consequences of not recognizing your value includes but is not limited to poor treatment, lower wages, and overall mediocre living. In essence, when you do not believe that you are worth more, you are willing to accept less than you deserve.
Are you ready to begin living with purpose? Are you ready to begin living your best life? If so, what are you waiting for? You should not waste another moment wishing that you could have the relationship, financial stability, or career that you desire. Your opportunities are limitless. However, you must understand what you have to offer and believe that you deserve the best. Moreover, you must recognize your potential and no longer settle for mediocrity. Do you take advantage of your strengths and talents or are you keeping them to yourself? When you realize that you deserve more, you will begin to expect more. Knowing your value creates an opportunity for you to set high expectations. This week I challenge you to list at least three strengths that make you valuable. Keep these three items at the forefront of your mind and continually remind yourself that you will no longer accept poor or even mediocre treatment. You deserve the best and you should not expect or accept anything less than the best. Have a great week!
Dr. Jessica Houston
expectingvictory.com
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