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! 

Dream Big by Sharele Hatfield

Dream Big

You have probably heard the expression “dream big” at times. But what exactly does it mean to dream big? To me, it means dreaming of the best, happiest life that you can possibly imagine, and thinking of the steps that are needed to make that happen. Read on for some tips about dreaming big, and how to make your dreams come true.

Decide What You Want

 First, decide what you are dreaming big about. Do you want another job? Do you want to own your own home? How about a vacation home? Do you want to pay cash for a new car? Your dreams are your own, but first you need to identify exactly what you want. What is your big dream? What is the happiest life that you can imagine? Start with that, and write it down. 

Make a Plan

A dream without a plan is just a wish. In order to make your big dream come true, you need to have a set plan in order to make it happen. Work backwards. Start by writing down your big dream. Then write down what would happen immediately prior to achieving that dream. Work your way backwards, writing down the steps that you will need to take in order to make this dream happen, until you get to the present day. Then, take a look at your plan, and decide on your action items. Do you need to take a class? Do you need to write out a budget? Do you need to open a savings account in which to deposit a set portion of your paycheck? Decide on at least three action items that you can take immediately in order to start making your dream happen.

Have Accountability 

 One reason why people don't achieve their goals and dreams is because they lack accountability. Find someone to give you accountability. This means someone who will check in with you periodically to make sure that you are doing what you are supposed to do in order to achieve your goal. This needs to be someone who will be honest with you, and give you some tough love if necessary. Having someone to be accountable to will keep you on the path to achieving your dream.

 Take these steps in order to imagine and achieve the biggest dreams that you have! 

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Thеrе’ѕ Nо Success Withоut Fаilurе by Sharele Hatfield

Thеrе’ѕ Nо Success Withоut Fаilurе. KEEP Going. You’re Сlоѕеr Tоdау Thаn Yоu Were Yеѕtеrdау!

Thе key tо ѕuссеѕѕ is еmbrасing failure. Fаilurе is thе gateway to perseverence that bringѕ about grаnd ѕuссеѕѕ аnd triumрh. Without fаilurе, you won't have thе орроrtunitу to learn critical lifе lеѕѕоnѕ ѕuсh аѕ perseverence and implied information.  

Implied information iѕ subtle, quiet and often invisible. It'ѕ thе kind of understanding that is diffiсult tо transfer frоm оnе реrѕоn to аnоthеr. It'ѕ аn аbilitу you асԛuirе thrоugh triаl and error.

An еxаmрlе оf implied information is riding a bike. Whilе уоu саn ѕhаrе tiрѕ on gооd bikе riding, уоu саn't tеасh ѕоmеоnе to stay uр оn thе bike. They muѕt lеаrn оn their оwn through triаl and еrrоr.

A lot of people think they nееd tо knоw еvеrуthing bеfоrе thеу try ѕоmеthing nеw. Thеу dоn't realize thаt great ѕuссеѕѕ can соmе after fаilurе. Thеу don't understand that ѕuссеѕѕ can only соmе thrоugh rеаl еxреriеnсе. 

Think аbоut your firѕt еxреriеnсе of riding a bikе. Sее what I mеаn? Fаilurе is nоthing mоrе than an opportunity tо gаin implied information and rеаl еxреriеnсе.

Thе secrets to success are preparation, hard wоrk, and lеаrning frоm fаilurе.

Believe in уоur роtеntiаl! Trу tо do thingѕ in a diffеrеnt way. Dоn't fеаr making miѕtаkеѕ, but lеаrn frоm thеm and kеер gоing bесаuѕе success аnd fаilurе аrе twо ѕidеѕ оf a coin. Always rеmеmbеr, every success story iѕ аlѕо a story of grеаt failure.

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At Home Exercise Ideas by Sharele Hatfield

At Home Exercise Ideas

At this time, almost all gyms and health clubs around the United States and Canada are closed. But that doesn’t mean that we can’t still exercise! Regular exercise is great for both your physical and mental health, so let’s take a look at how we can continue to exercise at home. 

Get Outside

If the weather in your area permits it, getting outside can be one of the best ways to exercise without any gym equipment! Going for a run, walking your dog, or gardening are all activities back at you moving, and burn lots of calories! Additionally, getting outside helps to clear your head, gets you some Vitamin D, and lets you enjoy nature. Take some time to go outside, get some exercise, and see what is blooming in your part of the world! 

Your Personal Trainer

If you enjoy working out at home instead, take advantage of a free streaming service such as YouTube to find great workouts. You can search for any type of workout that you would like to do, and specify if the workouts should require equipment such as dumbbells. Purchasing an inexpensive set of 5 to 10 lb dumbbells and some elastic resistance bands can really ramp up your workout! So move your couch aside, grab some water, and find a workout on YouTube or another free streaming service that you enjoy! Even better, find a trainer's YouTube channel and subscribe to it. That way, you don't have to search all the time for a trainer that you know you like.

Use What You Have 

If you take a look on a website like Pinterest, you will find thousands of ideas for using what you have around the house to complete your workouts. One example of using your furniture to complete a workout is doing tricep dips using a dining room chair. Another great way to get a workout in when you don't have any equipment is to look up body weight workouts. These types of exercises, such as push-ups, utilize your own body weight to work different muscle groups.

Involve Your Family

Working out at home can sometimes get lonely. If you have family living with you, get them on board with your workouts! If you have babies or toddlers, there are videos that show you how to lift your children in order to work your different muscle groups. For preschoolers and up, look up kids aerobic or yoga videos, and do those with your children! If you have a spouse or another adult living with you, invite them to join your workout. Consider letting them pick what the workout is every other time, so that they will continue to work out with you. 

It can be hard to find the motivation to workout at home, so schedule it into your day. You will feel much better, mentally and physically, if you get movement into your day, every day!

What Is Self-Motivation? by Sharele Hatfield

What Is Self-Motivation?

We hear the term “self-motivation” quite frequently, and most of us know that it’s a good thing to have. But how does self-motivation work? And how does one motivate oneself? Let’s take a look at what motivation is, and how it works. 

Motivation is defined as “the reason or reasons one has for acting or behaving in a particular way”. For example, someone’s motivation to exercise might be to lose weight. Someone’s motivation to take their medication might be to stay healthy. Self-motivation is why you behave the way you behave, with no outside factors. You aren’t acting a certain way because other people are pressuring you. 

Factors of Self-Motivation

According to Emotional Intelligence expert Daniel Goleman, the four factors of self-motivation are:

• Personal drive to achieve
• Commitment
• Initiative
• Optimism 

Your personal drive to achieve is your desire to meet or exceed certain standards. Your commitment is how dedicated you are to personal goals. Your initiative is your willingness to take advantage of opportunities, or to seek out opportunities. And your optimism is your positive attitude. 

Attitude

Your attitude goes a long way into your level of self-motivation. Having a sense of optimism- a good attitude even when things are going wrong- can lead to increased self-motivation. A big part of motivating yourself is learning to pick yourself up and dust yourself off when things don’t go your way. Having a growth mindset as opposed to a fixed mindset can help you overcome obstacles and stay motivated. 

Do an evaluation of your personal drive to achieve, your commitment to your goals, your initiative, and your optimism and attitude, and see how self-motivated you are to achieve your goals. If you are lacking in self-motivation, consider your mindset, and form a plan of how to improve yourself! 

Tips for Staying Focused in Difficult Times by Sharele Hatfield

Tips for Staying Focused in Difficult Times

Having a crisis- a global one like COVID-19 or a more personal one- can send us into a state of unfocus. Many people report a “brain fog” for months following a crisis. For most of us, life still needs to happen in the midst of or following a crisis. So how do we maintain our focus and continue to take care of ourselves and our families even when we feel like we can’t think about anything else? 

Unplug

When a national or global crisis is happening, there is an information overload coming from all directions. 24-hour news channels, the newspaper, and social media keep us informed as to what is going on, but nobody can digest all of the news that is coming at them continually. To lower anxiety and retain your focus, consider unplugging or limiting the amount of media you are taking in. Get off social media for a few days, or resolve to only watch the news for ½ hour per day. Taking a step back from the barrage of information coming your way will go a long way to help restore your focus. 

Focus on What You Can Do 

Worrying about what you can’t control sucks up your mental capacity and leaves you little ability to do anything other than worry. Instead, think about what you can do and can control. Make a list if necessary. Can you send a care package to a friend who is sick? Can you make dinner for a family down the street who all has an illness? Can you go and sit with a friend in the hospital? Serving others always makes us feel better, grounds us, and helps us regain our focus. 

Be Still 

Psalm 46:10 says “Be still and know that I am God”. What does it mean to be still? It means taking some time away from the news, the worry, and the stress to sit with the Lord in prayer or reading Scripture. Find some Scripture verses about comfort and anxiety and reflect on them. You will find that even after just a few minutes spent in prayer and with the Bible, your anxiety will be less and you will be able to focus better. 

Unplug, focus on actionable steps to help the situation, and take some time to be still to regain your focus during difficult times! 

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Perseverance is Key! by Sharele Hatfield

Perseverance is Key

We hear a lot about perseverance when someone has set a goal. But how does someone persevere? It's not just something magical that happens. You need a plan, accountability and a reward for yourself when you reach your goal. Let's take a look at how to plan to persevere.

Set a Goal

In order to reach a goal, you first have to set a goal. Setting a goal is actually a science. You want your goal to be SMART. SMART stands for specific, measurable, achievable, realistic, and time-bound. Instead of saying something like “I want to lose weight”, you would state “I want to lose 20 pounds by losing 2 poundss per week for 10 weeks, beginning on April 1st, 2020, and ending on June 10th, 2020.  I will achieve this by using a food tracker to keep track of my food intake, drinking eight glasses of water per day, and exercising for 30 minutes per day, four days per week.”

This goal is specific because it gives a set amount of weight that you want to lose, and the steps that you will take to lose it. It is measurable because weight loss is able to be measured on a scale. It is achievable because a 2 pound per week weight loss is what doctors recommend for someone following a diet. It is realistic, because you are not wanting to lose 20 lb in 2 weeks. You are giving yourself enough time and enough realistic tools in order to accomplish it. Finally, it is time bound because there are specific dates within your goal. 

Have Accountability 

Now that you have set your goal, your next step to persevering is to have an accountability partner. Your accountability partner is someone to help you persevere to meet your goal. This can work anyway that you and your accountability partner want it to, but the most common way is to have your partner check in with you once or twice a day to make sure that you are following the steps to meet your goal. Most people cannot persevere all on their own. It takes having a partner or friend encouraging them in order for them to stay on track.

Work It

 Now that you have your steps to persevere, and your accountability partner, you need to put in the work to reach your goal. One thing that can help you persevere is to break your goal down into smaller, baby steps. This will keep your motivation up because it will not seem so overwhelming. Plan out what you intend to do to meet your goal each day, persevere through those tasks, and check in with your accountability partner.

Celebrate Your Achievement 

 Meeting your goal is quite an accomplishment, and if you decide on a reward for yourself at each stage of your goal setting, it can help you to persevere through hard times. Let's take the weight loss goal above. A reward or celebration for losing 5lbs could be going to get your nails done. A reward or celebration for losing 15 pounds could be a new pair of shoes. Decide on small rewards to give yourself along the way to keep your perseverance up!

 Perseverance is key to meeting our goals, but we all need a little help along the way. Having a clear plan, choosing an accountability partner, breaking our goal down into smaller steps, and rewarding ourselves along the way will help us maintain a persevering spirit!

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Growing in the Time of Crisis by Sharele Hatfield

Growing in the Time of Crisis

When we think of a crisis situation, we do not often think of it as an opportunity for growth. We are generally focused on getting through the crisis, comforting those around us, and finding our new normal. However, growth is possible during a time of crisis. Let's take a look at some opportunities for growth when you are faced with a crisis situation. 

Challenge Your Mindset

Challenging your mindset is one of the most difficult things that we as humans can do. You probably have spent your entire life thinking a certain way about different topics and situations. Most of us have the mindset that a crisis is a negative thing. Try to challenge your mindset, and see the good that can come out of a crisis situation. Our world is currently experiencing a crisis due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Most people would think that this is an entirely bad situation. However, if you watch the news or look at social media, you see stories about the good in humanity coming out during this terrible situation. As Mr. Rogers said “look for the helpers.” Look for the people who are doing good at this time of crisis, and let their actions inspire you to change your mindset.

Learn Something New 

 A time of crisis can be an opportunity to learn something new. This new skill or talent that you learn could someday help someone else. We see stories about people taking this time to sew masks for medical personnel. People have learned to sew in order to help doctors and nurses who do not have enough protective equipment. Something else that you could learn that could potentially save a life is CPR and the Heimlich Maneuver. There are online classes that you can take to learn these skills that may one day help someone else. A time of crisis is a great time to reassess your skills and your knowledge, and to consider learning something new that could do some good for others down the road.

Refine Your Relationships 

 During a crisis, people often evaluate their relationships with others. This could be because they see how important their relationships are, and realize that life is short. Take this time to work on the relationships in your life. Spend some quality time, either in person or over the phone, with someone who you love. Take the time to nurture those relationships. On the flip side, evaluate if there are people in your life who are leading you down a negative path. Consider if you still want them in your life, and if not, take steps to distance yourself. This is the perfect time for doing so.

 During this time of crisis, evaluate your mindset, learn a new skill that could help humanity either now or at a later date, take the time to work on the good relationships in your life, and consider what to do about the negative relationships in your life. We can use this time as a time of growth, and learn things about ourselves that we did not previously know. 

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It's Now or Never by Sharele Hatfield

It’s Now or Never 

As we navigate these uncertain times, it seems like the world has come to a standstill. Across the country, schools are shut down, travel is restricted, and businesses are closed indefinitely. One of the keys to surviving all of this is to take a look at the opportunities that lie in our daily routines being so disrupted. I encourage you to take this time to think about what you really want out of life. Is it another job? Is it a change in a relationship? Is it wanting to prioritize a part of your life that has been lacking? Whatever it is, this is the perfect time to make that change. 

Identify What You Want Most

During these unusual circumstances, this can be the perfect time to focus on what you really want out of life. Perhaps you just want life to go back to normal. But I'd be willing to bet, for most of us, there is some aspect of your life that you want to change. Take this time to identify what you want that change to be. Then, make a plan. Write it down, and talk it over with someone you trust. What do you want to change? What are the concrete steps that are needed in order for that change to happen? Do you need someone to help you make this change? If so, reach out to them. Take this time to strategize about how your new normal is going to look.

Take Action

In order to change, we have to be willing to work for it. What steps does your change require? Do you need to take a class? Do you need to work on your resume and cover letters? Do you need to spend more time with someone? Look around for opportunities to complete the steps in your plan. Right now, a lot of online class platforms are offering free trials. Sign up for one, and learn something new. In this time of social distancing, download something like FaceTime or Zoom onto your phone and reconnect with someone who you have been missing. Use your time wisely, work hard, and follow the steps in your plan in order to make a change in your life.

Be Accountable

You may have heard the expression that a dream without a plan is just a wish. I would take it a step further, and say a plan without accountability is just a wish. Have someone who you are accountable to. Tell them about the change that you want to make in your life right now. Tell them about your plan. Then, have them commit to checking in with you every so often to make sure that you are hitting all your steps and working hard. If you are not accountable to anyone, you may never accomplish your goals.

Stop waiting for the perfect time to make a change in your life. That time is now. Take this time to figure out what you want, and make the steps to make that happen. Be accountable to someone. As we see all the tragedy in the world today, we know that life is precious. Adopt the mindset of “it's now or never”, and get going on reaching your goals! 

Supporting Others During Difficult Times by Sharele Hatfield

Supporting Others 

During this unprecedented time, it is so important to support others. We can use our gifts and talents to help people in their time of need. By doing so, we can also help ourselves feel better by contributing and helping those less fortunate. Read on to find some practical ways that we can help to support others, especially when so many need our support.

The Power of Prayer

One of the first ways that you can help to support other people is to pray for them. Make a list of those for whom you would like to pray, and if there is something specific each of those people need, write that down too. Take some time in the morning or at night do you remember those who need our support in prayer. Ask God to help them overcome their trials, and to give them strength.

Practical Partnerships

Another vital part of supporting other people is to make sure that their physical needs are being met. Take the time to check on your neighbors, your school, and your community. Are there people in need of money, time, or talent? Some practical ways to support members of your community during a crisis include going grocery shopping for them, bringing them a meal, helping them with yard work or other household chores, or offering to babysit any children that they may have. Helping out in these practical ways can take some of the burden off of someone doing through a hard time. 

Being Present 

Supporting other people through a hard time also means showing up for them. Many times, people just want someone to be a listening ear. Show up, be a shoulder to cry on and a hand to hold, and then figure out a way to make them laugh. Being present goes a long way in helping someone go through a tough time. 

I hope that you can use these tips in order to help someone in need. During this difficult time, we all need some support. Perhaps you have heard the adage “to make a friend, be a friend”. That is especially important to remember now that we all need some support. Go be a friend to someone today, and watch how it raises your spirits, too! 

Dealing With Isolation by Sharele Hatfield

Dealing With Isolation

COVID-19 is the topic of every conversation as is the resulting quarantine. Schools have been closed, churches have closed there buildings and important events have been cancelled. Our daughter's very first dance competition was cancelled. She is devastated as I'm sure so many are also with the cancellation of events that you have been looking forward to attending . Important family events, such as baptisms, weddings, and graduations have been postponed indefinitely for many families. Sporting events, plays, concerts, and other events being cancelled have left millions of school kids disappointed. Finally, the closure of many community centers, libraries, restaurants, and museums have left people with nowhere to go and no way to connect. So how do we deal with isolation during this time? Read on to find ways to keep connected and keep sane, even when we can’t see people in person. 

Get Outside

As long as we leave some distance between people, there is no reason why we can’t get outside and get some exercise! Go for a hike, walk your dog, go for a bike ride, or go geocaching. Getting outside is a proven way to boost your mood, and everyone can benefit from a little extra Vitamin D! 

Hang Out Online

Even if you can’t see your friends or family in person, you can utilize Skype, Zoom, Google Hangouts, or another type of video service to see and talk to your loved ones. Take your book club online, reconnect with an old friend on Facebook, or Facetime with a relative. Technology can help us stay connected even while we are social distancing. 

Virtually Visit 

Many museums and zoos have virtually opened their doors, even when they are closed to the public. Take a virtual tour of a great museum that you might not get to visit otherwise, or watch animals on camera. Many zoos have cameras on their cutest animals, such as the pandas or penguins. Several aquariums also have video set up, and there are dozens of eagle cams set up around the country. Watch a baby eaglet hatch or check out some great paintings online! 

Learn Something New 

Your local library often has free courses that you can take on a wide variety of topics, such as languages, business, crafts, cooking, and more. Additionally, many online learning providers are waiving fees during this time, so you can get on and try a new skill that you’ve always wanted to learn. This may be the perfect time to learn to knit, speak another language, decorate a cake, or start your own business. 

Look For Ways to Support Someone Else

If you are reading this, I imagine you are in a better position than so many others. Take time to send a card to a nursing home or send an encouraging message to a new mother. Two minutes of your time encouraging and supporting someone else can make dealing with this isolation more bearable for someone else and in turn help you feel better about yourself.

This time in our world can be scary and isolating, but if you look at it as an opportunity to try something new, get outside, reconnect with loved ones, support someone else, it will change your mindset and help you deal with the isolation we are experiencing!