When I went to Alaska for Christmas, I had an awakening. I made a promise that when I was there I would try to be fully present each moment and try to find peace with having lost my Dad on Christmas Day two years before. This was also the first time I wasn't married and was no longer a family unit. Traditions were gone, relationships ended, and who was I in the midst of it all? It wasn't my plan for my life to be this way. But then I had a moment, looking out at the stars one night while we were out in the mountains and I said to God, I'm ready. I am ready to live and love again. And everything changed. And all the anxiety, worry, and burden on my heart melted away.
I read an article a little while ago talking about how we spend most of our lives rehearsing each moment rather than being fully present in it. We plan out conversations, even what other people will say, or how a certain moment will go. And then if it doesn't go according to plan, we feel disappointed or discouraged. But we never just allow ourselves to be present. Why is that? We wish away days instead of finding the purpose in what we are there for. And when we know our purpose in life, that's when we start living. And purpose doesn't have to be this BIG profound thing. It's just listening to your heart and finding what means the most to you. It's our guiding light. And it puts everything else into perspective.
So what I have learned is to enjoy every moment that God brings to you. Live in the now. Say what you want to say. Allow yourself to feel what you want to feel. Be true to who you are and never settle for less than what you deserve. And by all means, just go for it. Whatever makes you happy and brings you joy, surround yourself with more of that.
Believe & Achieve,
Natalie Rene
I am certainly aware that life is not sunshine and rainbows. Yet I have made it a choice to live in the most positive way that I can and to try to find the best in every situation. And it is not easy and is something I struggle with because we cannot control what we are faced with daily.
I can honestly say I've had my fair share of pain. Ok...let me be frank, gripping pain and hurt, some of which I cannot understand the "why" behind it. And don't we often feel that way. Why me? What could possibly by the lesson here? Haven't I had enough? How could this happen to me? You can be pushed so far in life that you have two options: digging deep and finding strength or giving up.
Giving up is not an option and it never will be for me. I have too many blessings, my daughters, family, friends, students, fit family and they deserve the best me. I have chosen to use my pain to heal and not hurt others. And it's a choice. There is negativity everywhere. And I have seen some people go out of their way to hurt others, accuse them of things, and to try to tear them down. And sometimes it is just the lack of action that is the most shocking or indifference that is most hurtful.
I used to be a fighter and would want to go head to head on these things. But it's not worth it. It takes too much energy and some things will never change. I am fiercely loyal though and do believe you have to stand up for yourself and for those you care about. But you truly have to find out what is worth fighting for & what is worth letting go. The positive spin on this, you get to choose WHO you want in your life. You get to choose WHAT you allow in. The rest should fall to the wayside or it becomes too much noise.
Life is not a game. Love is not a game. It does not mean that either is easy, but it certainly should not be filled with things that do not lift us higher. So embrace the fact that you have the power of choices each day in your life, whether with your health, family, relationships, and work place. You can find comfort in knowing that kindness and goodness is rewarded and will never be taken lightly by those that matter the most. And what strength you will have when you come out on top. And you will, I promise.
Stay strong,
Natalie Rene
Patience is a virtue...but one that so many of us struggle with. In a world of instant gratification, we often throw in the towel right before a break through can occur. And then we end up in this vicious cycle of beginning, giving up, and starting all over. It then takes a mental toll on us more than anything.
With health and fitness, I see this happen all the time and I understand it because the struggle with patience was the old me. When I decided to get my health and fitness back in order, my mind was wrapped around the old athlete. But my body was different. I was older, my metabolism slowed down, and I had 2 children. It wasn't going to happen as quickly and I soon learned that I was going to have to be patient. And it was with myself that I would have to learn the most patience because it was NOT going to happen over night.
Physically, I was going to have to embrace the small victories like having more energy, avoiding a donut (my nemesis), and focusing on the feeling of health, not a number on the scale. When I started focusing on those things, my whole perspective changed.
When I became a beachbody coach, I realized that my journey was my story. And I wanted to empower others to find their way. I've been there and know what my challengers (members of my online health and fitness groups) are going through. There is a very critical period in health and fitness that you have to overcome in order to see the break through. And it's the mental more than anything. We have been engrained to think of beauty as only physical, compare our bodies to others, and think that there should be a magical pill to fix it all. It's about one thing, balance. And that takes patience and practice. One day at a time. And then the next thing you know, you look back at see how far you've come.
The same thing applies to life. We have this internal battle of what could have been or what was. I think all of those moments are intended to bring us into our truest self and prepare us for our destiny. Yet we dwell on it so much that we prevent ourselves from moving forward. It is no different than our health and fitness journey. We allow the past and what we've created in our mind to hold us back. And for what? It's only preventing us from happiness.
We must be patient in everything and seek the lesson. Although challenging, I made a decision that this year would be about living in the moment and being present. With that mindset comes peace and patience for what's to come. So my hope and prayer for you is to exude patience in all you do, whether trials or tribulations, or in the best moments, just be patient and know you are exactly where you should be. And don't give up, whatever you do, there's too much ahead of you.
Believe & Achieve,
Natalie Rene
#MyTruth #MyPhilosophies
Understanding
*You cannot save someone no matter how hard you try. Nor can you change someone either, it has to come from one's self.
*Some people come into your life only for a moment, to teach you a lesson, open your eyes, and maybe even save you. And that was it.
*Letting go is sometimes the most painful thing to do, but then you realize holding on is even more painful.
*Seeing the best in those
around you is a virtue. But that does not always mean those people are the
best to have in your life.
Mindset
*If you try to be everything to everyone, you will never be anything to anyone. Especially to those who truly matter.
*Sometimes what you want isn't what you need. And sometimes what you need the most isn't what you want. Figuring out the difference is key.
Mindset
*If you try to be everything to everyone, you will never be anything to anyone. Especially to those who truly matter.
*Sometimes what you want isn't what you need. And sometimes what you need the most isn't what you want. Figuring out the difference is key.
*Teaching isn't so much
about the content as it is about the lesson.
*The mind is amazing thing, it can convince itself of anything. -Phil Harman
*If you have
passion, then you have purpose. You cannot have one without the other.
Love
Love
*No one can ever
complete you. You have to become whole first. Then they become an addition to
you.
*It's not selfish to love
yourself first. For if you don't love yourself, how can you fully love
another?
*If someone
means the world to you, you don't just make time, you always have time.
*Even the strongest of people need a soft
place for their heart to fall.
Compassion
*People may forget what you once said, but they will never forget how you made them feel.
*Start your day with gratitude and your whole day will take on a different tone.
*Surround yourself with those who make your heart feel joy, appreciation, and hope for the future.
God
Compassion
*People may forget what you once said, but they will never forget how you made them feel.
*Start your day with gratitude and your whole day will take on a different tone.
*Surround yourself with those who make your heart feel joy, appreciation, and hope for the future.
God
*Never let anything or anyone get in the way of your dreams. God has a plan for you and it's His will that you complete it.
*When you surrender your control to Him, it's amazing what your eyes are open to see. And it's amazing how light your burden becomes.
*Be still and let God do the rest. –Psalm 46