Category: From the Inside Out

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From the Inside Out

Inspire Moment #118: Piece of Glass

Last night I removed a tiny piece of glass from the side my face from a car accident I was a victim of 13 years ago! I may not be as sharp as I used to be, but I’m still bringing hope into your life. Remember to keep your head up today! When it’s time for it to happen, it will. Sometimes it takes a very long time for something deep down below to come to the surface in your life, but when it’s your time you will know! Stay positive!

 

92130 Magazine features Coach Angie and how she turned her own tragedy and adversity into her life’s mission, to inspire others and help them live their best lives!

Aug/Sept 2014 Issue – “Faces in the Crowd”

92130 Magazine Article on Angie 8-1-2014 (Cover+)_Page_292130 Magazine Cover on Angie 8-1-2014 (Cover+)_Page_1

 

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Emotion From the Inside Out Inspiration

Inspire Moment #112: Mental Baggage: Carry-On or Check it?

When we travel we have the option of checking our bags at the airport or carrying them on the airplane with us.  Upon arrival at the airport if our carry-on is oversized, we’re forced to check our bag.  Like a suitcase overfilled with clothes and shoes, our mind can be overfilled with thoughts.  Our lives are packed with appointments, activities, obligations, etc. and all of these generate thoughts.   Just as we can leave our baggage with an Attendant, wouldn’t it be great if you had an Attendant you could leave your mental baggage with? (worry, troubles, concerns, resentment, anger, etc.)

001The Attendant I trust in is God.  You may have a different Attendant, but if you don’t consider the benefits of having one.   Imagine being able to leave your cares, worries, anxieties, troubles, at the feet of an Attendant who will care for them on your behalf?

When my mental baggage begins to overflow I turn to Matthew 6:25.  “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink, or about your body, what you will wear.  Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes?”

Regardless of where you find your inspiration, letting go of the mental baggage can help lighten the load, bring you peace and comfort, and allow you to fly care-free.

 

 

 

 

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Courage From the Inside Out Inspiration

Inspire Moment #100: Footprints

As I walked on the beach early this morning close to the ocean I noticed a long path of footprints in front of me.  They were going in a straight line.  There was only that one trail at first, but as I kept taking steps forward another path came into the picture and intersected with the original trail, and then took its own course into the ocean.  There weren’t any people in sight.  It was in the quietness of this morning staring at the two different paths that Inspire Moment #100 hit me, Footprints.

We are all moving in a direction.  Sometimes we don’t know where we are headed and other times we know exactly where we are going.  A couple questions for you to ponder are 1) What is leading you in your life?  2) What is tugging at your heart for you to go one way or the other?  We are all on a different path and my last question for you is this, when your journey isn’t turning out the way that you envisioned it to be, would you trust something or someone to lead you along a different way?  A way, a path, that just feels like it fits for you.

The inspiration behind Inspire Moment #100 is to encourage you to take some rest this week and to think about what is leading you.  Think about what is important to you on this journey.  You are making Footprints every day so if you aren’t going in the direction that you planned, trying opening up and intersecting with a new path to help get you on your way.

Know that along your journey people will come into your path, your life, for a just a couple steps or maybe for a couple seasons.  They bring something to your journey.  They could bring comfort.  They could bring support.  They may bring hardship.  They could bring negativity.  They should bring love.   They might just bring you joy.

The key is to make a strong Footprint in your life every day because the journey that you’re on does have a direction, you just have to trust it and be a good passenger.

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Balance From the Inside Out Motivation Work-Life Balance

Inspire Moment #98: Permission Slip

Remember when you were a kid you had to get a permission slip to go on a school field trip?  Maybe sometimes you would get one from your mom or dad to take a different bus home with a friend or to have another friend’s parent pick you up after school?  Remember those days…when you got the approval to take some time and do something fun, something different, something you needed to do?

Inspire Moment #98 is about your Permission Slip in life now.  It’s often hard to give ourselves the permission to take a break from the busy life most of us lead.  The approval to know that it’s ok to go out and have some fun during the week or to stay in and rest, to take time off from work for a vacation, or go out to lunch instead of staying in having a working lunch in the office or simply  just taking time to eat lunch!  Why are we so hard on ourselves?

We had to get a Permission Slip when we were younger and so it gets your Coach thinking that maybe some of us still need a Permission Slip to do things in our life today.  If you struggle with that then it’s time to “Flip the Switch™” in your mind and create your Permission Slip.  Please keep reading for a suggested action step on where you can start.

Could your Permission Slip be a reminder on your phone?  If so, what does it say?  How often do you see it?  Could is be something you write out on an index card that says “Permission Slip?”  Is it a check mark you put in your calendar that allows you permission twice a week to do “those things” to bring you back in balance?  If so, how do you remember to check it off?  Take an Inspire Moment now to think about what action step you will take today or next week to remember to give yourself a Permission Slip. 

Because allowing yourself to do what you need to do in order to feel truly in balance with who you are on the inside is the most important authorization you can give yourself in life.

Categories
Balance From the Inside Out Inspiration Motivation

Inspire Moment #96: Temperature Control

Since I have been “under the weather” the past couple days it made me think about the weather conditions in one’s personal life and how to control and balance that thermostat when circumstances and conditions change.  Welcome to Inspire Moment #96: Temperature Control.

Since you aren’t able to control the circumstances and weather that you live in, what about trying to have a better handle on the temperature of the person, yes you, living in the conditions?  Let’s think of your temperature thermometer as your heart and your mind.  How are they doing?  Are they balanced?  Do you have the right mindset?  Are they overwhelmed or is it stifling hot?  Is it just too cold or dreary to even deal with current the circumstances outside?  Stop and think about those answers for a minute! 

The conditions you live in will always change.  Thank God for that because change is good!  One day it could be gorgeous, blue skies, and the sun is shining in your life.  You feel happy as can be!  The next day it could be hot and humid with afternoon thunderstorms.  Your thoughts change and you get down and out because it’s a downpour outside and the lights just went out.  All that changed was the weather…and your mood!  The motivation here is to inspire you not to let your current circumstances take control over the Temperature Control in your heart and head!  If you begin to feel loss of control and your inner temperature begins to rise or drop drastically, take a minute and re-balance.  Re-set the temperature!

Take an Inspire Moment now to think about your Temperature Control!  Are you letting the conditions of your circumstance and the world you live in to control the climate of your heart and head?

Remember, if you can change your thoughts you can change your mood!  Set your Temperature Control today!

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From the Inside Out

Inspire Moment #95: Dimmer Switch

You may not have one in your bedroom or family room, but you certainly have one in your heart.  Let’s learn a little more about Inspire Moment #95, your Dimmer Switch.

How bright is the light inside with where you are in your life today?  Is it a little dim, perhaps like the setting you would use after eating a nice dinner in your home?  It’s not dark but it’s also not as bright as maybe you would like it to be.  Or is your switch all the way up as bright as the light can shine in a room? Maybe it gets dim for a second but it’s always bright because of the joy in your heart.  Perhaps it is completely dark in your life today and you can’t even find the switch.  You don’t even care to look for the switch anymore.  You think to yourself “is there any hope for light?”

Maybe your Dimmer Switch won’t go up to full brightness today, but I want to help you see more light just for today. Ok, so let’s do a little strengthening by putting some weight on your heart.  I am your strength and conditioning coach for the MIND and I want you to take an Inspire Moment now to please ask yourself these questions and answer them honestly…

1- Why is it dark in the first place?  Was it always dark or did you intentionally dim the light?

2- Is there a possibility for it to get brighter?  Do you even want it to be bright?

3- If the light could always remain brighter than where it is now, would you even want it to be?

Think about the answer. Think about your Dimmer Switch because many things can turn the lights out in life, but you are the only one that can operate that switch in your heart.  Let your light shine from the inside out.

 

 

 

Categories
From the Inside Out Your Mentality

Inspire Moment #91: The Spirit Inside You

It takes you over like a blustering gust of wind.  Sometimes you don’t feel it coming but when it hits, it sure is powerful.  Do you know what I’m talking about?  That feeling that comes over you to ignite your entire being.  Pushing you to take that step to do something for someone or about something, in your own life or the people around you.  If you don’t know what that feeling inside of you is called, welcome to Inspire Moment #91, The Spirit Inside You.

The spirit just came alive in me at Panera Bread just now when I saw an older lady with an O2 tank and cane waiting for her food at the counter.  I glanced because I was just going to the counter to a napkin to wipe down my table.  As I went back to my table The Spirit Inside of me pulled me over like a police officer pulling over a speed racer on the NJ Turnpike.  It slapped me with the feeling of “you can help her. Go back and see if she needs help Angie.  Go ask her now.”  So I listened to it, went back, and I learned that she didn’t need my assistance but she appreciated and thanked me for the kind gesture.

So enough about me and The Spirit Inside me, let’s learn how you find The Spirit Inside You or re-kindle that relationship!  First step is to begin noticing your thoughts.  It seems like these days we are too busy in our own lives to even notice our own thoughts.  Action – slow down now, right now, and take notice.  Second step is to acknowledge what the thoughts are telling you to do.  Action – listen closely and listen often.  Third step is to follow what the spirit is telling you to do.  Action – give yourself the permission to follow that leader.  Trust it.  It’s all about becoming MINDFUL.

The Spirit Inside You has always been there and today it welcomes you to its divine place.

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From the Inside Out Time is Now

Inspire Moment #82: Hope & Happiness

Hope – where do you find? In things? Other people?  Is it always found in the same place or does that change? Is it consistent?

Then once you find your hope, what are you looking for?  Once you find your hope, what are you seeking?  Are you seeking relief?  Are you seeking forgiveness?  Are you seeking acceptance?  Are you seeking love?  Are you seeking purpose?  Are you seeking help?  Are you seeking guidance?  Are you seeking strength?  Do you wish you had more hope? Can you ever have enough hope?

Happiness – where do you find it? In things? Other  people? Where you live? Career?

Then once you find your happiness, do you find it in one place all the time or does that change?  Where do you find it all the time never ending or is that impossible?  How often do you find happiness?  Is it consistent that you can feel it every day or does happiness depend on your circumstance?  Do you wish that you had more of it?  Can you ever have enough?

Inspire Moment #82 is asking you a lot questions to get your wheels spinning to the answer.  They might be spinning already.  Well now I just have one more question if they are spinning, have you found your direction now where to find your Hope and Happiness?

Suggested action step…check out Psalm 62.

Categories
Confidence From the Inside Out

Inspire Moment #81: Don’t Put the Flame Out

If there is a fire in your heart for something, don’t ever extinguish it.  If the flames are so hot like a wildfire that you don’t know how to control it, fan them.  Yes, fan them!  If you live with that fire every single day of your life, share it with the world because that is who God made you to be.

Inspire Moment #81 is Don’t Put the Flame Out.  There will be people in your life who want to throw a bucket of water on you to reduce and even put the fire out.  Best thing to do when those people enter your life is to walk the other way.  Don’t let them take that passion that is inside of you away from you.

If there is no fire in your heart and you’re cold inside, maybe it’s time to find the passion and heat things up.  Find a purpose.  Maybe it’s time to ignite a flame in your heart today.  First suggested step is doing something different in your life and I’m not talking about taking a different route to work. Sure, that’s good but what your Strength and Conditioning Coach is suggesting is to take an uncomfortable baby step and do something today that brings the courageous little kid inside of you out to play!  Heck, what do you have to lose?!  Nothing!  So just like Nike says, Just Do It!

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From the Inside Out

Inspire Moment #80: Toxins in Your Mind

This Inspire Moment #80 came to me on Sunday afternoon when I was relaxing and it got me thinking to write about Toxins in Your Mind.  You are probably familiar with toxins in your body that come from food, the environment, etc.  Well, just like toxins in your body vary in severity and can range from minor to taking over your life and almost deadly, so can the Toxins in Your Mind.

So my goal for you with my Inspire Moment #80 is to help you start to identify the Toxins in Your Mind and release them.  Simply start the process by thinking and answering the questions below.

Is there anyone/anything in your life that you are spending time doing that you don’t enjoy?  If so, you are probably spending time thinking about how you don’t enjoy it, or that person, and those thoughts alone are toxic.  Action plan = Remove the things/person from your life and/or change your thought pattern about that thing/person.  Change!  Find and think the positive.  Start now.

Are there areas of your life that don’t make you feel at peace or at rest?  Home, office, bedroom, etc.?  If so, you are probably spending time thinking about how you don’t feel at rest/peace when you are there and that is toxic.  You spend all of your life going to and from these places so make sure it brings peace and rest.  Action plan = Add your favorite color to the location, organize it differently, re-decorate, throw things away.  Change!  Find and think the positive.

It may just be minor toxins in your head now, but they will add up quickly  into something much bigger if you do not take care of it now. You will continue to struggle for balance and feel discontent if you don’t identify and release them.  Inspire Moment #80 is coming at you head on!

Think about what you are thinking about, FLIP THE SWITCH™, and release them now because there is no sense in harboring toxic waste in your mind one more day!