Welcome to the blog of Pastor Alton Stone, from Simpsonville, SC. Pastor Stone is a retired Ordained Bishop of The Church of God, Cleveland, Tennessee with over 45 years of pastoral ministry.

Monday, December 24, 2018

Turning Things Around in 2019 (Part 4)

Turning Things Around in 2019 (Part 4)

-Choose yourself.

You won’t always be a priority to others, and that’s why you have to be a top priority to yourself.  

a. Learn to respect yourself, take care of yourself, and become your own support system.  

b. Love yourself first and foremost every day, instead of simply loving the idea of other people loving you.  

c. Your needs matter.  Start meeting them.  

d. Don’t wait on others to choose you, so choose yourself!  

Remember that once your needs are met, you will be better equipped and capable of meeting the needs of the people who matter the most to you and also those that God puts in your path. 

-Invest in your health.

No matter how much you think you dislike exercise and healthy eating, both will make you feel better in the long run.  If you don’t have your physical energy tuned up, then your focus, your feelings, and your purpose will all be negatively affected.  Recent studies conducted on people who were battling depression showed that consistent exercise combined with a healthy diet raises happiness levels just as much as Zoloft?  Even better, six months later the people who participated in this exercise were less likely to relapse because they had a higher sense of self-accomplishment and self-worth. Take care of yourself so you have the ability to take care of others.

-Live in the present.

a. Don’t avoid eye contact.  

b. Don’t hide behind gadgets.  

c. Smile often.  

d. Ask about people’s stories.  

e. Listen.  

You can’t connect with anyone, including yourself, unless you are undistracted and present. You are ripping yourself off from actually experiencing real relationships and real life if you stay stuck in the past.  

-Make time for the right people. 

At some point you’ll just want to be around the few people who make you smile for all the right reasons.  So be intentional about spending more quality time with those who help you love yourself more.  Remember that nothing you can give them will ever be more appreciated than your sincere, focused attention.  Truly being with them, and listening without a clock and without anticipation of the next event, is the highest form of compliment.

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