Jen’s Gem: Your words create your life. Speak wisely!

About three weeks ago I embarked on an eating plan to drop a few pounds and get my unruly hormones in balance. I saw the amazing results of my cousin and declared, “I want that!!” and placed my order.

Within a few days, my kit arrived. I opened the box with glee, excited for my fresh start. Then I saw the sample menu for the first phase and questioned my sanity. My first thought was that I was going to starve to death and my children would find my emaciated body alongside my palm-sized piece of chicken and cup of broccoli.

However, quite the contrary has occurred as you can clearly see I am alive and well and writing this post. The extra pounds are falling off, my brain is less foggy and I’m sleeping better – well, a little better if truth be told. The plan is strict yet do-able and I’m committed to seeing it through.

During the process I’ve learned a few things about myself. First, I realllly like food! Good food. Second, my resolve is stronger than I thought. Third, a tiny change really does make a difference.

Remember last week when I challenged you with three questions? One of them was “Do you need to make a change?” Within that question I prompted you to think about a simple change you could make today that would improve your life. One small modification that might break a cycle of negative behavior or a less than fruitful routine.

I can attest to the success of this approach. For years, I have been saying that if I could go to sleep after dinner, I’d never have to go around the weight-loss mountain again. Evening is my weakest time of day when reruns of The Good Wife and a salty snack “call me.” When I’m stressed or overwhelmed, they shout really, really loud!

However, since being on this eating plan, I now brush my teeth after dinner and the TV has been turned off. Alicia and Peter Florrick will just have to learn to get along without me. Since making this change I have read an amazing book, increased my walking, and used the time to talk with my kids or catch up with friends.

One small change. One decision. One seed planted.

Sometimes we think we have to make a k-billion changes all at once in order to reach our goals. Sometimes we think we have to completely upend our lives because they are in such chaos to create the life we want. However, I’m sure you can see that this is not sustainable. You will wear yourself out and possibly set yourself further back than when you started.

One change. One decision. One seed planted.

Let’s think about that for a second. When you plant a seed for a tomato plant or cucumber, do you get one cucumber? One tomato? Nope – you get a harvest! You get a great tomato and cucumber salad for the entire summer! It multiplies, yes? So the smallest changes we make can reap a huge harvest.

“And don’t allow yourselves to be weary in planting good seeds, for the season of reaping the wonderful harvest you’ve planted is coming!” (Galatians 9:9 NKJV)

The Bible is chock full of the benefits of sowing good seed like the one above in Galatians. We’ve all heard the phrase, “you reap what you sow.” What you sow multiples.

What seeds are you sowing today with your thoughts or your words? Are you sowing seeds of doubt and fear? Are you sowing words of failure and demise? Are you sowing words of sickness? You may be saying, “Of course not Jen! Why would I do that?” Well…. Let’s do a reality check, ok? Do any of these phrases sound familiar?

“I’m so tired.”  “I’ll never get this project done.” “My kids are driving me crazy.” “I can’t take it anymore.” “I’m sick.” “I’m broke.”

Be honest now. I’m sure one or more of these or other phrases have escaped from time to time. I know I’ve spoken them. Your words create your life. Whatever your life looks like right now, you spoke it into existence. This may be a bit of tough love, but I’ve had to accept that the things in my life that are not what I want, I have created with my words.

God created this world and us with His words. Look at the magnificence of it all! Think about your children or loved ones. Think about the most beautiful place on earth. Do you think these were created with words of weakness or negativity? No way! They were spoken in love because God is love. He only knows love.

“A man has joy by the answer of his mouth, and a word spoken in due season, how good it is! (Proverbs 15:23 NKJV)

Your words create your life. Whose words do you want to use today? Yours, which may be full of negativity, sickness, and failure? Or God’s, which are full of peace, joy, and love?

Your decision to make this one small change, will change your life.