Do You Need a Resolution?

We are officially in the shadows of the post festive period; fairy lights and Christmas trees have been put away until next Christmas, and it's now #backtowork. I am sure we are now all firmly focused on our new year resolutions and goals for 2016. This will form the backdrop of today's post.

Sad, dismantled Christmas tree

I remember in my childhood and teenage years, with every new year that ticked over I would make a firm pledge to the skies of what I will do religiously and abstain from for the next twelve months. The opening pages of my journal (because I just HAD  to get a new one every year) would have sentences beginning "I will give up...", and "Every morning, I will...". The problem with doing this, is that by mid January I would have already flouted half of these resolutions. I sadly did not have the discipline or tenacity to stick to them.

It's for this reason, that I no longer make new year resolutions.

I have learnt these three things about new year resolutions: One, that once you place a restriction on yourself, or tell yourself you cannot do or have something, you are naturally drawn to it. Two, if you really serious about making a lifestyle change you do not need to wait until the 1st of January to do it; and three, the first time you don't do something you promised you would commit to, you become a failure. You have failed to keep your new year resolution.

So how do you avoid this problem?

Juicing: one change I was determined to make before the new year

Don't get me wrong, new year resolutions probably do work for some of you reading this, but I guarantee you that for most people, there is probably a better way to go about things.

Bringing me to my next point. Goals. I have weighed this whole business of making life decisions at the new year and I have figured that it's probably better to make attainable goals, with an end date in mind, that can be achieved, and whose success can be fairly measured. So for instance instead of "I will quit smoking", you could probably tell yourself, "by April 2016, I will be a non smoker". This is a better resolve because it gives you the chance to quit gradually, without breaking any resolutions, and without the risk of relapsing. 

Have you tried a visionary board?
Sorry about the poor focus

Visionary boards are also a great way to keep you focused on your impending achievements. Incase you are not familiar with visionary boards, they are simply a visual of what you'd like to see in your life, and they can be built with words, magazine cut outs and drawings. I like visionary boards but I have learnt that they will only work if you believe in your vision; you keep your visionary board visible; and if you set yourself timeframes in which to achieve your goals.

What do you think? Do you agree with me? Are new year resolutions difficult to stick to? Have you set some goals for this year? If so what are you doing to ensure you achieve them? Please share.

Study Time: Faith

Hi all,

By the time this is published it will be 2016! How were your new year celebrations? Me, I had a wonderful time at church followed by a massive party at my aunt's. We literally partied until day break!

What better way to start the year than to exercise a little bit of faith? You have probably set yourself goals or a list of achievements you would like to see fulfilled this year. Well, to have any chance of realising those dreams for 2016, you will need faith. That, and a little bit of hard work!

This installment of Study Time will give you the basics of what faith really is. After you have read this, you will need to go out and add to your new found knowledge, and most importantly ACT on this knowledge. 

Definitions of Faith

Dictionary: Belief that is not based on proof
Bible:  Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. (Hebrews 11:1, NIV)

The first thing to note from the two definitions is that faith is knowing that something exists without you even having to cast your eyes upon it, feel it or even taste it. For example, it's like ordering a new sofa, and clearing space for it before it arrives, because you know it's coming.

Before Crossover Night on the 31st

Key Scriptures: Hebrews 11: 1- 12, James 2: 14-26

If you have a copy of the Bible, turn to Hebrews 11, or simply google it. There you will read about all the champions of the Hall of Faith, and what their faith did for them

Six Things to Know about Faith

1. It requires action 
Just as the body is dead without breath, so also faith is dead without good works (James 2:26, NIV)

2. It must be authentic

Truly I tell you, if you have faith, and do not doubt...you can say to this mountain 'Go throw yourself into the sea', and it will be done (Matthew 21:21. NIV)

3. It has to impact others
What good is it, dear brothers and sisters, if you say you have faith but do not show it by your actions. Can that kind of faith save anyone? (James 2: 14, NIV)

4. It will make you look foolish
Some were jeered at... (Hebrews 11: 36, NIV)

5. With prayer, it will not fail
You can pray for anything, and if you have faith, you will receive it. (Matthew 21:22, NLT)

6. Start small, it can be built upon.
"Truly, I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed...nothing will be impossible for you" (Matthew 17:20, NIV)

The main thing to also remember is that faith is not magic. It requires patience and perseverance. I must also repeat that it won't work if you do not act. What have you always wanted to do? Start a business? Go on a course? Get healthy? Save money? Travel? Write a book? 

Why not start your chain of action by writing one of your goals on a large piece of paper, and underneath that goal, list one thing you will do each week of this quarter (January to March) to work towards it? Pin it up somewhere you can see it as a reminder, and as a way to hold yourself accountable to the promise you have made to yourself. With each quarter that passes you can change this sheet of paper, replacing it either with the same goal or a different one. 

At church, after crossover night

In keeping with the theme of faith, one of the most important thing the Good Book says about faith is:  "...the very message about faith that we preach: If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe with your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved" (Romans 10: 8-9). 

Not only that, God is 100% faithful and dedicated to us. If you submit your plans to him, you will do more than just achieve goals, you will smash them!

So if this lesson has awakened your faith and you'd like to be saved and to enjoy a relationship with the God I speak of; or your faith in God has been dimmed by disappointment and you'd love to rekindle it, please read aloud the following prayer:

Heavenly Father, I recognise that I am a sinner, and ask for forgiveness for my sinful nature.

I believe that Jesus Christ died on the cross for me, rose for me and is coming back for me.

I declare in Jesus' name that I am saved!

Amen!

It's as simple as that!

Was meant to take a photo of the party food before we tucked in!

Good luck with your endeavours this year. I pray you will have enough faith to step out and make life happen!

Cheers to the New Year!

Happy New Year in advance beauties!

What will you be doing to wave goodbye to 2015 and to usher in the new year? I will be spending it at church, and then at a little shindig at my aunt's house.

Getting ready to go out and greet Mr. 2016

Whatever you decide to do have tons of fun and do not forget to stay safe. See you in 2016!

Merry Christmas and Thank You!

Inviting Light Into My Home

We're back!

SoulJourner's Story went on a two week hiatus as bae and I received devastating news a couple of weeks ago. It left me feeling emotionally exhausted and too worried and unmotivated to think or write anything. Time needed to be taken out to pray and reflect. When writing my last post on scriptures to encourage the young professional, I didn't realise that I would be the very person with the need to fall back on those scriptures. Apologies to you if you have missed SoulJourner's Story. I promise you we are on a roll now!

Darkness cannot comprehend the light

Thank God for His mercies, things are looking up now, and I will continue to say 2015 has been/is still a great year for us. 

To change my gloom into cheer I decided to invest in some christmas decorations. It's the first time I have bought any since moving into my flat two years ago. I am well aware that baubles and tinsel are just by products of the season, however the bonding time my sister and I had over the hour we had to tart up my living room in lights and a tree really did my soul some good. Besides, they are pretty to sit and look at!

Sometimes when life gets a bit 'heavy', one might need a distraction to fix one's mind on something a bit lighter. I decided to inject my bathroom with a bit of colour, which up until last week was awashed with lifeless beige. This was a fun, fairly inexpensive project which offered me some light relief.

Bathroom Rug - £6

Wall Art - £4

(Primark)

As the news we received pertained to the health of a family member, I was also moved to purchase a Nutri Ninja. It was as if I was given a huge nudge to make some of those changes I have been long speaking about. For those who do not know what a Nutri Ninja is, it's a super high powered blender that liquefies fruits and veg, to give you fully nourishing smoothies and juices.

Bathroom Drawers - £19.99 (Argos)
Green Bottle - £3 (Wilkos)

The last weeks  have taught me that encouragement and support can come from the most unexpected places: people who are a little more than strangers, but come into your life for a short time can be a great pillar, when friends and family are unreachable. I also learnt how much strength we carry within us, and can be tapped into when it is desperately needed. 
Please watch this space, we have fantastic posts coming up right here!

How do you overcome despair when it hits?

Clean Living

(Currently watching the XFactor final!) 

Study Time: Five Scriptures to Encourage the Young Professional

The past week has definitely been a lot quieter, but it was all crowned at the weekend with the christening of a beloved friend's baby! Three of my friends decided to pop baby boys within weeks of each other so I am living in a babytastic world right now!

You might have noticed that at SoulJourner's Story we changed our tagline to reflect the fact that our material is to educate and uplift the young professional, which has been good for us because zoning in on a target audience has given us more focus. Whether you are in higher education, between jobs, a business person or in full or part time employment, you fall into the 'young professional' demographic so far as you still see yourself as a young'un. 

Life for the young professional is so exciting! Yet it can be quite tumultuous as we spend the majority of our waking hours with people we have little in common with, and for the most part being employed by the same company is the sole tie binding us with them. If you add to the mix the fact that many of us are also dealing with millions of other issues outside of work, you can see how it all can become a little overwhelming!

I have thus put together five Bible scriptures to encourage the young professional. Although this is Study Time, my usual disclaimers do not apply because whether you consider yourself a christian, any other believer in God, or a non believer for that matter, I feel we can all do with a little lifting up from time to time. 

So please stay with me...

At the train station. En route to the christening

1. When you hate your job
So I saw that there is nothing better for a person than to enjoy their work, because that is their lot. (Ecclesiastes 3:22a, NIV)
Frankly life is a gift and you ought to enjoy it. This includes your day job. Firstly because it's your way of providing a service to your community and to society as a whole. Secondly because you will spend a large chunk of your life doing it! Therefore although gratitude is key to fruitful living, it's OK to want better, and it's definitely OK to strive for better!

Freezing at the train station!

2. When you are feeling overwhelmed by your workload

Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you. (1 Peter 5:7, NIV)

Inasmuch as I believe in hard work, there are times when it all becomes too much. Have you realised that talking to a friend about your problems often helps to relieve the pressure we are under? Why not talk to God about it, when you feel snowed under? He (or she) is always available to listen, and is on standby to help when you call. If "talking" seems a bit strange to you, you can even write your thoughts down in a letter, and address it to God.

3.Nervous about an interview or a business meeting?

So be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid and do not panic before them. For the Lord your God will personally go ahead of you. He will neither fail you nor abandon you (Deuteronomy 31:6, NIV )

Leading from my last point, when you cast your anxiety to God, He will go ahead of you, and do whatever He needs to do to ensure you get what belongs to you, if it belongs to you.  He has no choice! This knowledge alone should empower you to face any interviewer, manager, board member or exam!

4. When your hard work is being overlooked

And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.(Galatians 6:9 ESV)
All I can say is "chin up". It's difficult when you are always the first to arrive, the last to leave, and the one always putting yourself forward for the big projects,and yet no one seems to care! Trust me when I say that even if you are not praised by your colleagues or boss, seasons will eventually turn to favour you. It's the law of the universe and it's the law of God. Besides you will refine skills that will open up opportunities for you elsewhere.

The tracks at London Bridge

5.Handling workplace discrimination

Don’t let anyone think less of you because you are young. Be an example to all believers in what you say, in the way you live, in your love, your faith, and your purity. (1 Timothy 4:12, NLT)

I love this one. Depending on what you do your industry might be a bit of an 'old boys club', or you might be in the minority in other ways. I remember my uncle once telling me "Maddie, in life you will find yourself in situations where you will be at a disadvantage for the following reasons: your gender,your size and your ethnicity'. Well whether true or not, I have always made it a point to speak well, to dress well, to always be polite, to always be confident, to continue to educate myself, and to continue smile! 

I hope you have enjoyed today's post. 

What are some of the ways you encourage yourself when the chips are down?

Organising Your Team Christmas Dinner?

The past week has been somewhat super-busy! There has been a little bit of stress trying to get boxes of branded goodies shipped to Asia in time for a trade fair. I have been lugging heavy boxes around and staying late to greet clients. Not only that, I have been charged with organising our team Christmas lunch. And it is such a big team too! No wonder my body finally folded on me over the weekend and I am now suffering from a nasty cold.

A winter warmer to chase the sniffles away

At church, I am also organising a team dinner for myself and my Sunday School colleagues. Surprisingly, this is probably the more difficult one to set up. I won't go into the reasons why, just in case any of them are reading this!

I would like to share with you what I have learnt through the organisation process of Christmas dinner. These tips can be applied to your work lunch (or dinner), your church dinner, or simply a nice meal for your group of friends.

1. Always find out from your boss or finance team how much budget you have at your disposal. This is always important as it helps to narrow down your options. Also you don't want to find the perfect restaurant or catering company, only for it to be turned down by your boss. If organising this for your group of friends, how much is everybody willing to put in?

2. For most work teams, the date will have been already written into the annual calendar. But if this is a team lunch for friends, you will need to find the date that best suits the majority of your group. You won't please everybody but you might want to think of the people who bring life and energy to your gatherings , or the person who best gels the team together. Will your date suit that person? It's probably a ruthless way to look at things, but you do want to enjoy a pleasant and fun gathering, so looking at who will be able to make it is equally as important.

A thank you gift from my manager, for all the hard work

3. Research your options. For me this was the difficult part as you need to find options that will cater to everybody's needs. A good way to do things is to pick three of your favorite restaurants and present them to your boss, or to your team and get them to cast their votes. The factors to consider when researching your options are, does it meet your team's budget? For those in your team with special dietary requirements, do their menu include vegetarian and pescatarian options? What other dietary options do you need to consider? Are your options in locations that everybody can get to? If not, you may want to think of organising overnight stays. If you are stuck on where to look try googling "open table".

4. Before you commit to any one restaurant or caterer, make sure you clear with them how they would like to be paid. Is it by purchase order? Or by credit card? Do they require a deposit? Make sure you find out all of these and also ensure that the preferred method of payment is OK for your finance department. This part is VERY important.

5. And there you go. Make your booking! Inform your team of all the details. Make sure they know the closest train/tube stations to the location, and other public transport that serves the area. You might even want to agree on a meeting point first before making you way over to the restaurant together. If you are dealing with a group where lateness is rife, you may want to be a little dishonest with your meeting time. (ssshhh!)

Stems cut, nicely arranged in a vase

6. Enjoy your lunch or dinner! As an afterthought what entertainment other than the food have you organised for your team? You may want to do a secret santa. Or book an evening of karaoke or a round of drinks for after dinner. Take a look at points 3 to 5 again to help you through the process.

Wherever you decide to eat, remember that organisation and communication with your team is the key. Have a wonderful Christmas dinner, you and your team!

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