10 Keys to Loving the ME on the Inside of YOU!

In my post “Only the Strong Survive” I shared with you my experience of being in a very low place in my life, mindset, and emotions, and how I overcame! I want to share with you 10 keys, that when picked up, ignited, and used daily will give you peace in any environment, and will help keep your mind focused on the greater good God has in store for YOU!!

I will be releasing 1 key a day to you over the next 10 days.

1.  Pray.

Prayer is simply communicating with God. You can pray at any time, and anywhere. Your prayer doesn’t have to be this loud, long, drawn out, sermon for God to hear you. You can pray in your car, in line at the store, at work, quietly to yourself. I pray all the time. Prayer is a lifestyle for me. It’s essential to  your spiritual growth, which leads to growth in the natural. Here are some keys to remember concerning prayer: When you pray, first start off asking God to forgive you of your sins-missing the mark (Mark 11:24-26), that opens the door for God to bless you with the desires of your heart and the things you are believing Him to do in your life. Forgiveness also allows you to come to God with a pure heart. Next, thank God. I Thessalonians 5:18 tells us to “give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. When life is great and things are happening in your favor, and going according to plan, it’s so easy to be thankful to God. However, it’s during our valleys that we want to feel sorry for ourselves and ask God why, but that’s when He is simply saying, “Just trust me.” Life could be just a little bit worse. Matthew 11:30 tell us “For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light. Many have translated this scripture to mean, God won’t give us more than we can handle. When we’re in certain situations, it feels like life isn’t worth living any more, but God is saying give me thanks in the midst of it and I’ll take the burden, weight, concern, and stress of it away from you and give you a peace that will surpass all understand (Philippians 4:7). Then, tell God what it is you need and have faith that it is done. God says in Matthew 17:20, “…if you had faith even as small as a mustard seed, you could say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it would move. Nothing would be impossible.” Decree and declare that it is done in Jesus’ name! Amen.

2.  TAKE QUIET TIME FOR YOURSELF EVERYDAY.

Every day, make time for yourself! I’m going to say it again…every day, make time for yourself!  Set aside at least 15 minutes, during the day, for “ME TIME.” During this time, make sure it’s quiet, and you’re alone. A lot of times, I take my quiet time in the bathroom. It’s a personal space, where I have privacy, its quiet and there’s nobody else there. During this time, use it to clear your mind of everything, and just enjoy the quiet. You will be amazed at how much peace you will invite in to your being by incorporating quiet into your day.

3.  WRITE YOUR VISION.

Habakkuk 2:2 says, “…Write the vision and make it plain upon tablets, so he may run that read it.” A great time to write down your vision and/or goals is after your quiet time. You are relaxed, your mind is at peace, and clear from all distractions. You are able to really think clearly and rationally about your life and your future. Write down steps to an action plan. Start small. What do you want your life to resemble in the next few days, weeks, months, and year? Write it down on paper and read it daily.

4. RESEARCH THE STEPS YOU NEED TO TAKE IN ORDER TO LIVE YOUR VISION and GOALS.

Think about what it’s going to take for you to accomplish your goals and reach the place you envision yourself being. If one of your goals is to go (back) to school, research schools in your area offering the programs you are interested in. Research funding sources/options  (Pell grants, scholarships, student loans, work study programs, private sponsorships, etc.). Visit your local S(mall)B(usiness)A(dministration)for complimentary assistance with starting your own business and obtaining business loans. I have named just a few of the many, many resources available to us, especially as women. The internet houses an abundance of information, so I encourage you to utilize your resources. If you don’t know where to start, pray and ask God to guide you and He will give you the answers you need. It may come thru a casual conversation you’re having with someone in line at the grocery store, you may find your answers on your newsfeeds on Facebook, or you may find your answers in a commercial on TV. You never know how God will give you the answers to what you need. After you make your petition known, BOLO-Be On the Look Out, because you will get your answer!

5. SEE YOURSELF BEING WHO, WHERE, and WHAT YOU ENVISION.

Now this is where your faith comes in…every thought, idea, wish, and hope you have are unique to you, and so is your faith! God said, if you have faith the size of a mustard seed (Matthew 17:20); and just to give you a visual, you can fit about 2 mustard seeds on the head of a needle, you can say whatever it is you want to the atmosphere and it shall manifest!! You should want to be who you envision yourself being, see yourself in the location you envision, doing whatever it is you envision, literally every time you close your eyes…that’s how bad you should want it!!

6.  CREATE AN ENVIRONMENT OF LIFE FOR YOU TO THRIVE IN.

Your environment speaks to the space you’re in spiritually, in the natural-your earthly place. You may currently reside in a house, an apartment, a condo, or even a room that you don’t desire to be in, but you can change the environment to one that only peace, love, and joy inhabit. You can achieve this environment thru a number of ways; one, thru prayer. Ask God to dispatch Angels to bring peace, love, joy, and good wherever you are. You can also change your environment thru music. Whenever I am going thru certain situations, there always seems to be a song that I’ll hear on the radio that speaks directly to my situation at that moment in my life, and I just continue to listen to it. The more I listen to it, the more it ministers (speaks) to me and my situation, and it gives me hope! It’s like God himself is saying, “Danielle, I got you baby! Now be at peace.”

7. ELIMINATE THE NEGATIVE AND EMBRACE THE POSITIVE.

Negativity, or negative vibrations, birth more negativity (darkness): depression, chaos, drama, sickness, confusion, accidents, and loss. Negativity is a breeding ground for negative spirits. They thrive in those environments and naturally nothing GoOD is produced in them. You have to learn to recognize negativity (negative vibrations) and shut them down at the root! Anything that brings you harm, sickness, or misfortune is a form of negative vibrations. They come in the form of people, books, magazines, TV shows, music, and even words. You must eliminate, annihilate, destroy, and/or shut off every negative vibration in your life. God says you cannot be unequally yoked, 2 Corinthians 6: 14, “…how can light live with darkness.” You must let go of anything, or anybody who is not bringing positivity, positive vibrations, or light into your life in order to keep living life as God created it for you: filled with joy, great health, prosperity, and peace! (John 10:10b)

8.  LOVE THE “ME” ON THE INSIDE OF YOU!!

Loving yourself comes thru knowing and accepting the “ME” on the inside of YOU! You have to love yourself unconditionally, just as Christ loves the church (all people) before you can truly love others. Loving yourself simply means embracing who God created you to be, and once you’re able to do that, you’re ready to live your purpose! You are unique, hand-crafted,fearfully, and wonderfully made by God Himself and there is nobody walking the face of the earth exactly like you, who will ever be able to do exactly what you were purposed to do, the way you can…now that’s an amazing promise and revelation!!

9.  DO SOMETHING FOR YOURSELF EVERYDAY.

What do you like to do? Now, think about the simple things that you like to do for yourself. Just as it is important for you to have quiet time for yourself every day, it is equally as important for you to do something for yourself every day. Here are a few suggestions:

• Drink your favorite beverage; a cup of hot tea, hot coco, or a glass of wine
• Purchase a new bottle of polish and polish your nails
• Rent a movie and watch it while eating your favorite snack
• Read a book
• Expressing your thoughts on paper thru writing in your diary or journal
• Watching your favorite TV show
• Call a close friend for a little “girl talk”
• Play a game you enjoy
• Arts & crafts
• Exercise; take a walk or a workout class

Taking time for yourself says “I value the Me on the inside” and your spirit will exude the love, care, and concern you show yourself on the outside by abiding in a constant state of peace. You will begin to see a difference in your emotional, mental, and physical states, and so will those around you. Take time to do something for the ME on the inside of YOU!!

10.  WRITE DOWN AT LEAST 5 AFFIRMATIONS (POSITIVE STATEMENTS) ABOUT YOURSELF.

Speaking to the ME on the inside of YOU (your spirit or subconscious) is one of the most valuable investments you can deposit into your life. Words carry weight, and they give direction to the atmosphere (universe) as to what you want to have and see happen in your life. Stand in front of the mirror, look yourself in the eyes, and say at least 5 affirmations out loud to yourself every day. Here are a few affirmations you can start with:

• I LOVE the ME on the inside of my body.
• I am BEAUTIFUL inside and out.
• My GIFTS make room for me in EVERY situation.
• I am the HEAD and not the tail.
• I am the GREATEST at what I do!
• I am APPRECIATED.
• I am VALUABLE.
• I am a WINNER!
• I can do the IMPOSSIBLE.
• I KNOW my PURPOSE.
• I am UNIQUE.
• I am ABOVE and never beneath.
• I am AMAZING!
• I am SMART and INTELLIGENT.
• My LIFE has a PURPOSE worth LIVING!
• I am a CONQUEROR!
• I have JOY!
• I am SUCCESSFUL!
• My IDEAS are RICH.
• I am a LADY with great VALUE.
• I am ROYALTY!
• I WON’T GIVE UP!
• I AM ONE in a LIFETIME.
• I am PRETTY!
• I am LOVED.
• I HAVE EVERYTHING I need to ACCOMPLISH my goals.

I encourage you to write these affirmations down and post them somewhere you can see them every day. Personally, I have affirmations on the home screen of my phone, on the walls in my rooms, on my bathroom mirror, as passwords I use every day. So, whatever works for you, do it, and watch your mindset be transformed to one of LOVE, PEACE, and VICTORY!

These 10 keys are just the beginning of you igniting a love for the ME on the inside of YOU like no other! When you love yourself, then you look at everything in a whole new perspective. You don’t accept the things you once accepted, you don’t entertain the same people you once entertained, and your whole outlook on your life begins to transform not just to surviving day to day, but thriving and moving towards your purpose in life!

I pray the peace of God over you, that His love abide in you today, tomorrow, and always! I Bless You!

Peace & Love to YOU!!