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I came across some notes from a seminar from Hyrum Smith at a Business Expo a few years ago. He spoke of our basic human needs and beliefs. It was so awesome and wish I had taken more notes like I usually do. 

I feel the need to change right now in my life. Lots of areas, lots of reasons. I am doing the 30 Day Challenge with Chalene Johnson and l.o.v.i.n.g. it :-) It's about goal setting, creating and maintaining to do lists etc. My kind of challenge! Working at home and being a mom to a toddler is HARD work but so rewarding. I have to feel like I am on top of my game all day every day - and for moms (and dads) out there, well, you just know that every day is NOT going to go as planned. 

Some days are easier than others to realize that you are "off track" with [whatever]. You can insert your work, your eating, workouts, attitude, budget, house work...the list goes on...and on...and....

To get change in anything we must first change our behavior; but that's hard. So why would I change my behavior if I don't recognize the problem or how BIG the problem is affecting everything else. I have a super huge problem with thinking that I have super powers and can do it all. It's a blessing and a curse. Sometimes I get into the swing of things and my attitude stinks and I don't realize how that attitude is actually effecting everything else. 

One question you can ask yourself is, "Will the results of my behavior meet my needs overtime?"

This question alone will help you look at the black and white of the issue, the simplicity of the situation and leaves little to no room for justification. 

• Will this brownie help me have a healthy body if I continue to eat them as I have been? 
• Will being short tempered with my kids help me create a loving home atmosphere where confident kids abound?
• Will my negative, self-destructive thoughts help me reach my dreams and goals?

If your answer is NO then you have just discovered a bad "principle" in your belief "window," or your beliefs that you hold to be true and live your life by. Bad principles lead to bad results. It's only when you RECOGNIZE those bad principles that you desire change and begin your path of behavior modification. When you realize that you have been living by a bad principle, your behavior changes. 

Your behavior window grows as you learn more about the world and how it works. Going to school, seminars, conferences, meeting new friends, going to special groups like fit clubs or reading books etc. are all things that help expound your knowledge. Sometimes when you recognize a bad principle you don't know what to replace it with so it creates feelings of failure, confusion etc. 

Love the book failing forward, by John C Maxwell. It helped me through a time in my life where I really felt like it was over due to a "failure" I had created in my life. But I realized that it was just one big step in my process to success and happiness. I am OK with my failings now, doing my best to fix it, learn from it and MOVE ON. 

Our behavior changes as we learn new principles, beliefs and the like. As you learn how to take better care of your body you watch more carefully what you put into it and are willing to "invest" in healthy things instead of going for what's cheap/fat etc. As you learn what it does to children when you snap at them, you don't react in your parenting but are proactive and take different approaches that build them up rather than confuse them. 

Next time you find yourself in any kind of rut or unhappiness as yourself, "Will the results of my behavior meet my needs overtime?"

Take your next actions based on your answer. Talk to someone you can trust and find a success partner who can always be honest with you and help you just be the best you you can be! We all need and deserve someone like that in our lives. You would be surprised how willing people are to do that. It fills their basic human need to "be needed" and "appreciated" - it will do the same for you. Life is all about paying it forward. 

I love to be inspired by other people. Inspiring stories are all around you. I love the raw humanity that exposes itself as people dig deep and triumph over whatever has beset them for so long.

This past weekend I was reading stories of people who have joined the "Joy Fit Club" and was really touched. I took a moment not to just relish in the joy that comes from seeing other people succeed, but I was also touched as they shared their suffering before their success was realized.

Weight loss is such a personal yet public struggle. People may see you overweight but they have no idea of the pain and struggles you deal with on the inside. Judgments from others, though they may be unspoken, cut deep and your unhappiness is all you feel.

As I was reading some of these touching stories, I came across a quote that someone choose to live by as they were making their lifestyle change of, well, a lifetime :o) “When you know better, you do better." This is a quote from Maya Angelou and one that speaks of seeking knowledge, personal accountability, power, change and harmony.

The old adage, "knowledge is power" is seriously lacking. It's the consistent application of true and correct knowledge [read: principles] that thereby creates power and opportunity. That is what people who make big lifestyle changes understand. To know is not enough. I mean, I knew this morning that when I ate that handful of Skittles it was not a wise choice. However, I didn't let that knowledge stop me from doing it ;-) But when I correctly and consistently apply true principles to my life, I see and become the change I seek. This is true in any area, addictions to food or otherwise.

I see and meet people everyday who are in various stages of their journey to fitness whether it be a fit body, mind, soul, habits....they all kind of go hand in hand though, don't they? I love that I get to play some small part in their life. I love learning of people and what make them tick. I love learning of their weaknesses, not to judge or poke fun at them but to help them find and see ways to take control and become the change they do desperately seek. I LOVE LOVE LOVE seeing and hearing of their small and big triumphs.

I love it when I see people develop and take personal responsibility for their life and choices. I believe that our ability to choose is one of the most precious gifts we have. It may seem like a big or daunting responsibility but through this challenging life where we honor that stewardship and push through obstacles and pain is where we find true growth and eternal expansion of self; because when you know more, you truly do more.

My wish is that we can all experience this eternal growth as we reach for and do more. I am here for you every step of the way, but it's up to you to begin.