A Big Announcement! At Least It Is for Me...

Those of you who regularly read Raychelle Writes know that I enjoy interviewing authors and artists. I love blogging about all things writing and hosting other writers. Oh, and I have a thing for children's books, so I write them, illustrate them, and review them, too. All and all, I see writing as a way to share what I am learning. It is cathartic and a true outlet for me.

There are many other subjects that I am passionate about and wellness is one of them. I am a certified personal trainer and I have a degree in the wellness and fitness field. For the last several years, I have been posting about health, fitness, and wellness on Journeys Fitness. It has been said that we teach what we need to learn and I will admit that I am always on the quest for better and more balanced ways to live.

So, I am excited to announce my first project in the self-help genre! The Living Well: Taking Your Journey to a Balanced and Successful Life is a collection of original essays and published blog posts where I offer my take on success, conquering fears, atonement, finding your balance, setting goals, motivation, and happiness. My intention in writing this book is inspire each of us to consider our place in life, decide how to improve it, and then take action. My hope is that The Living Well becomes a resource for living which will be revisited as often as needed for years to come.

The Living Well is scheduled for release this summer. Stay tuned for other exciting news!

Be good to yourself! More next time...

Tying the Knot

Life offers many challenges on the road to self-discovery. Every individual is presented with a unique set of circumstances. The way that these challenges are handled will determine success or failure, happiness or sadness, growth or stagnation, and more. I remember many years ago hearing the following quote: "When you find yourself at the end of your rope, tie a knot and hold on tight." Just when you think that your situation couldn't get any worse and you have tried everything to make things better, a little faith and a little patience will go a long way. Easier said than done, right?

The key to receiving your blessings and rewards in life is perseverance. Perseverance is fueled by a clear vision. It is critical to focus on the big picture. Be clear about why you have embarked on a certain path. Consider what the ultimate goal is. Take your attention away from drama and distractions. Focus on what you are striving to achieve. If the goal is worthwhile, then tie the knot. If it isn't, then let it go.

My point is that we only get one shot at this life. It is precious and special and has much to offer if we don't give up on it. Disappointments are inevitable. So-called friends will come and go. Even our families will give us grief from time to time. But the simple joys in life will always outweigh the hard times if we just cherish them.

So, when the finish line is in sight, but your legs are about to give out, Tie the Knot.

When your best friend "does you dirty", Tie the Knot.

When your spouse takes you for granted, Tie the Knot.

When your children rebel, Tie the Knot.

When your boss is breathing down your neck, Tie the Knot.

When your faith is a little shaky, Tie the Knot.

When you are struggling to break a habit, Tie the Knot.

When your grades just aren't cutting it, Tie the Knot.

When people try to take advantage of your gifts, Tie the Knot.

When someone breaks your confidence, Tie the Knot.

When someone slanders you, Tie the Knot.

When you lose a loved one, Tie the Knot.

When your money is too funny, Tie the Knot.

When others are critical of your success, Tie the Knot.

When you are down and depressed, Tie the Knot.

When you faced with a hard decision, Tie the Knot.

Tie the Knot. Hold on tight. Don't give up. Persevere. Fight through the rough times. Know with a certainty that no mistakes were made in your creation. You are alive for a distinct purpose. Figure out for yourself what that purpose is. Now, go forward, live your life, and be great at it! No one can do it for you and no one can do it better!

Be good to yourself! More next time...

What's Your Motivation?

"I'm asking you to believe.Not just in my ability to bring about real change in Washington...I'm asking you to believe in yours."--President-Elect Barack Obama

"I've missed more than 9000 shots in my career. I've lost almost 300 games. Twenty-six times I've been trusted to take the game winning shot and missed. I've failed over and over again in my life--and that is why I succeed."-Michael Jordan

"The big secret in life is that there is no big secret. Whatever your goal, you can get there if you're willing to work."-Oprah Winfrey

"Success doesn't come to you . . . you go to it."-Marva Collins

"Success does not consist in never making mistakes, but in never making them a second time."- George Bernard Shaw

"What would you attempt to do if you knew you could not fail?"-Robert Schuller

"It's never too late to be what you might have been."-George Eliot

"Whether you think you can or whether you think you can't, you're right."-Henry Ford

Motivation can be simply defined as "the direction and intensity of one's effort". (Sage, 1977)The direction of effort refers to whether an individual seeks out, approaches, or is attracted to certain situations. Intensity of effort refers to how much effort a person puts forth in a particular situation. The view of motivation most widely endorsed by sport and exercise psychologists today is the participant-by-situation interactional view. Summarized, the best way to understand motivation is to consider both the person and the situation and how the two interact. (Weinberg, 2007)

Have you ever wondered why your consistency in exercising fluctuates? Well, achievement motivation and competitiveness are believed to develop in three stages:
1) Autonomous competence stage.Occurring before the age of four, children focus on mastering their environment and on self-testing.
2) Social comparison stage. Beginning around the age of five, a child focuses on and directly compares his performance with that of others.
3) Integrated stage. A balanced combination of stages 1 and 2, this stage represents those who know when it is appropriate to compete with others and when it is appropriate to adopt and measure performance by their own standards. While this is the most desirable stage, not everyone reaches it because it requires introspection and maturity.

So, start by asking yourself, "What's my motivation for exercise?" If the root cause of your decision is tied to an internal characteristic, you are more likely to continue the behavior indefinitely. If your motivation comes from competition, you will likely quit when you defeat your opponent, lose miserably, or if your opponent ceases competition with you. If your desire to impress or please someone is at the root of your desire to get in shape, what happens when that person is removed from the picture.

My point is that,like everything in life, you must do it for yourself. Every decision that you make must be in line with the vision that you have for your life. Whether it be for health, wealth, education, or family, you must know your purpose and act accordingly in everything that you do.

It's a new day. What are you going to do? What's your motivation?
More next time...