Stepping Out of Your Comfort Zone by Sharele Hatfield

Stepping Out of Your Comfort Zone

Think about your life right now. Is it everything you’ve dreamed of? Are you in a good place? Or are you sailing along doing the same things you’ve always done, content to let life pass you by? Take a good hard look at where you’re at, and see if you need to gather the courage to leave your comfort zone and take a chance on doing something great! 

Assess Your Situation 

Really take some time to assess where you are in life. How are your relationships? Where are you at in your education or career? How is your spiritual journey? Is there something in your life that you need to change? What are you afraid of? Identify it and write it down in a sentence like “I am feeling _____________ about _______________. I am afraid of ____________ because _______________. Right now, I’d like to change __________________.

Writing down how you are feeling, what you are afraid of, and what you’d like to change will help you get clarity on where you are in your comfort zone. 

Identify Steps to Take

Identify what the first step is to change how you are feeling. Do you need to have a heart-to-heart with someone? Do you need to ask for a raise at your job? Do you need to register for a class? Write it down and set a date by which to accomplish it. 

Gather Courage

Identify what gives you courage. Reading your Bible or devotions? Talking to a friend? Seeking advice from a counselor or pastor? You will need courage to step outside of your comfort zone. Figure out what gives you courage and utilize that. 

Just Do It! 

After you’ve assessed your life, identified what steps to take, and gathered your courage, you are ready! Take that actionable step outside your comfort zone. It’s guaranteed to not be as scary as you think it will be! 

Nothing ventured, nothing gained. Take steps outside your comfort zone, and watch the positive things that will happen in your life! 

Benefits of Collagen Supplements by Sharele Hatfield

Benefits of Collagen Supplements

One of the newer buzzwords in health supplements is collagen. You may have heard about, but do you know what collagen is, and what it does in your body? 

Collagen is the most abundant protein in your body! Collagen promotes healthy bones and joints. It also improves the look of your skin and helps with skin elasticity. Finally, it helps you build muscle. 

As you can see, collagen is an important part of your body! Unfortunately, starting at around the age of 30, collagen production in the body slows. That’s why you might notice some aching joints, saggy skin, or difficulty with digestion as you age. Never fear! There are some great collagen supplements out there that we are going to take a look at. 

What Can They Do?

A quality collagen supplement can do more than just make your knees stop aching! Take a look at this list of what collagen can do for you. 

• Encourage healthy bones
• Encourage healthy joints 
• Help encourage muscle mass
• Aid in gut health 
• Support your immune system 
• Strengthen hair and nails
• Help with skin elasticity

What to Look For

Let’s take a look at what to look for in a quality collagen supplement. 

• A diverse amino acid profile. Our body needs 20 amino acids in order to function. The more amino acids in the collagen, the better! 
• Hydrolyzed bovine collagen. Collagen can come from many different sources, but bovine has been tested and found to be the most effective. 
• Look for a supplement that contains both Type I and Type III collagen. These are the most potent types. 

What to Avoid

When looking for a quality collagen supplement, avoid the following ingredients. 

• Marine collagen. Marine collagen is derived from any aquatic animal, and can be hard for the body to absorb. 
• Magnesium stearate. This is a filler with no nutritional value, and can be hard on the digestive system. 
• Titanium dioxide. This is a coloring agent and can be toxic. 

How to Take It

Most collagen supplements are in powder form. This powder can be stirred into coffee, tea, oatmeal, pudding, or applesauce. Best of all, because collagen is a protein, it will keep you fuller longer! 

Collagen supplements are a great way to give your skin a boost, help your joints and bones, and aid your digestion!