Balancing Corporate & Homesteading Lifestyles
Are You A Victim Of Circumstances Or A Victim Of Your Own Thinking
Your inner world has a tremendous impact on your circumstances. Your beliefs affect your thoughts, emotions, and actions. Your actions ultimately create your life. Interestingly, many of your beliefs are unfounded, and your thoughts and emotions are largely habitual. Changing any of these internal components will affect the results you experience.
Fortunately, your inner world is under your control, though making changes can be challenging.
Change your mind and your life will follow:
⇒Start and end your day by experiencing gratitude. It’s easy to focus on what you don’t have. Instead, spend a few minutes in the morning and before bed to list your blessings.
⇒By focusing on the positive, you’ll brighten your mood and increase the number of good things that come into your life.
⇒Focus on solutions. It’s a mistake to spend your time focusing on your problems. It makes you feel terrible and hopeless. It also fails to rectify the challenge you’re facing. When something is going wrong in your life, switch into solution-finding mode.
⇒What can you do to make a positive change? You have far more options that you realize.
⇒Take care of your body. One of the common causes of depression has been found to be undiagnosed heart disease. When your body is out of sorts, it skews the way you interpret the world. We are guided by our feelings, and when your health is compromised, your emotions can be misleading.
⇒Stay grounded in reality. Most of us live in a fantasy-land. We’re thinking about the past or speculating on the future. However, if you concentrate on living wisely and well in the present moment, the future will bring the joy you hope for.
⇒Remember that life is whizzing by 24/7. The actions you take right now determine your future. You can’t act today if your mind is elsewhere.
⇒Use positive affirmations. Give yourself the gift of positive thoughts and uplifting self-talk throughout the day. Negative thoughts lead to negative emotions. Positive thoughts will fill you with positive emotions. With positive thoughts, you can change your world.
⇒Examine your beliefs. Make a list of the beliefs that are holding you back and then question them. Where did you get this belief? Why do you believe it’s accurate? Is there a possibility that this belief is false? How much evidence do you really have in support of this belief?
⇒Track your thoughts. Set an alarm, perhaps on your smart phone, to notify you each hour. When the alarm sounds, consider how you’ve used your mind over the previous 60 minutes.
⇒What did you think about? Was your attention focused on your work, or did you worry about the cable bill? Did you use your mind to better your future?
⇒Measuring yourself each hour will help you to stay focused. It’s too easy to fall into old patterns if you only check yourself once per day.
⇒Learn to meditate. Meditation has many physical and mental benefits. It can reduce stress, strengthen your health, help to strip away your erroneous beliefs, and bring you clarity and focus. Meditation is one action that can have a huge, positive effect on your life. Incorporate time for meditation into your schedule each day.
Most of us believe we’re victims of our circumstances, but we’re actually victims of our own thinking.
No matter how bad your situation might be, someone has started with an even worse situation and led an incredible life. Changing your inner world is the key to changing your outer world.
Discovering the Hidden Secrets of the Law of Attraction
There's a pretty good chance you've heard something about the Law of Attraction in the past few years. For a while, it was pretty big news, and lots of people who wanted better lives jumped on the bandwagon.
While you're not hearing as much about it in the media these days, the Law of Attraction still holds true. Just what is the Law of Attraction, and how can it work to help you be happier and more successful?
What is the law of attraction?
The basic rule of the Law of Attraction is that like attracts like. When you're in a healthy, successful mindset, you'll be healthier and more successful. Positive thinking is a powerful tool as long as you use it correctly. So how do you do it?
Here are some ways you can use the Law of Attraction to make your life more fulfilling and achieve your goals:
⇒Visualize what you desire. You need to have a clear idea of what you want out of life, not just a general or vague picture. By envisioning every detail of your desire, you'll eventually receive it!
Know exactly what your goal is and outline the path for getting there.
Then track your progress. You'll be surprised at how much of a difference this makes!
⇒Allow yourself to succeed. You may think this sounds silly. After all, you're not the one holding yourself back – or are you? Many of us keep ourselves from the success we hope for, whether it's because we feel like we don't deserve it or we're just not paying attention.
Take a look at your life and ask yourself if you have behavior patterns or attitudes that keep you from taking advantage of opportunities that can help you succeed. Recognizing and being aware of these self-sabotaging attitudes is a big step toward change.
Do you consistently do something that sets you back every time you’re on the verge of achieving a goal? Forming a mindset that will allow you to be a success can make a huge difference.
⇒Have focus. It's easy to have many desires at once. For your best results, work on one or two things at a time and give them your full attention. Without the ability to focus your energy and thoughts on your goal, the chances of failure and distraction go up.So if you find yourself pursuing multiple goals but never get near any of them, it's time to focus. The Law of Attraction tells us that in order to achieve, we have to be in a clear, focused mindset, with a strong picture of a single goal.
Once you've focused on a single goal and achieved it, you can turn your focus to your next goal. This way, one by one, you are realizing success.
⇒Be willing to receive the bounty the universe offers you. The world is constantly giving you chances to make things better. If you maintain the right mindset, stay focused, and know what you want and how to get there, you’ll reap the benefits of those opportunities.
Every day there are opportunities that could lift you out of the rut and put you on the road to a better tomorrow. You just have to be willing to take advantage of them.
The Law of Attraction principles have helped many people change their lives for the better. Keeping a positive mindset and taking action to accomplish your goals will help you achieve the life you’ve always dreamed of.
Growing Sprouts: A Flock Favorite
With the winter cold coming and no more grass until spring, I like to provide my flock with sprouts throughout the winter. Wheat berries are one of their favorites! These are one well-balanced and nutritious food to include in a chicken’s daily diet!
Here's why: Wheat berries are the least processed form of the plant, and they generally retain most of their nutritional value. Wheat berries provide a balance of protein and macronutrients and contain methionine, an amino acid that is important for a chicken's growth.
Wheat berries have a high fiber content that helps chickens with digestion too. The fiber also slows down the absorption of sugar, preventing unhealthy blood sugar spikes.
And the benefits don't stop there, they also contain calcium and phosphorus, which are needed for bone formation. Lastly, wheat berries have high vitamin C levels, which promote iron absorption.
Ever since I started with chickens, friends and family love sharing posts and chicken tips with me. Facebook loves to share too since the algorithm picked up my interest in chickens.
My daughter shared an interesting post on wheat berries, and after a little research on my own, this was something I wanted to add to my chickens' diet ... and they LOVE it!
There are multiple ways to feed wheat berries ... dry, soaked, or sprouted. Since my flock gets scratch grains too, I decided it would work best to sprout them for the highest nutritional value.
In addition to the wheat berries, I also sprout alfalfa. On most days the flock gets a mix of both now that I have the sprouts on a perfect schedule. The 4 tray system for the wheat berries works like a clock ... and those buggers grow fast. As you can see in the far right photo, they are pushing out of the tray ... they were in there nicely this morning but were popping out by the afternoon ... just in time for the flock's afternoon treat.
Our feeding schedule: Out of the coop and breakfast (fermented grains) by 7:30 am. Sprouts at 2 pm and a little scratch at 3:30 pm before bedtime. This late snack gets their metabolism going to help keep them warm on the cold winter nights.
To sprout wheat berries or alfalfa, soak them for 24 hours then put them in a sprouting tray or mason jar. Water daily and after 4 days, they should be ready to go.
As an alternative, you can sprout your chicken's scratch grains. We use Hen Up Scratch Grains.
On the left is my set up for my sprouts.
Below are the products that I use. These are affiliate links and I may receive a small commission (at no extra cost to you) if you choose to purchase from one of my links.
Organic Hard Red Wheat Berries - 48lbs
These are the wheat berries that I buy from Amazon (this is an affiliate link)
Sprouting Trays & Stands (lids & mason jars not included)
These are the stands & trays that I use for alfalfa sprouts
Sprouting Tray System
This sprouting tray system works very well with wheat berries & I prefer over jars.
Sprouting Lids for Mason Jars
I use these lids for my mason jars with the sprouting trays & stands.
Tips To Stay Healthy During The Winter
How do you stay healthy during the winter?
The long, winter months and short days can increase your risk of getting sick. However, there are many things you can do to stay healthy, even when it’s cold outside and many around you have the flu.
Try these ideas to maintain your health in the winter:
Continue to exercise. It’s common to avoid exercising in the winter. When it’s snowing or freezing rain covers your driveway, it may be tempting to stay home under the covers. Instead of hiding from the elements, find unique ways to stay active.
⇒Exercise can boost your immune system and keep you healthy during these cold months. Exercise will also improve your mood, give you energy, and help you sleep.
⇒Try exercising indoors if the winter weather is harsh or go to a gym near you.
⇒Another option is to use winter activities as exercise. You can get a cardio workout by shoveling the snow and building snowmen. You can also get a great workout from skiing or sledding.
Get more vitamin D. Your body makes vitamin D when it’s exposed to sunlight. This vitamin regulates many processes in the human body, including your genes.
⇒When you don’t have enough vitamin D, you may get bone pain, heart disease, depression, muscle weakness, dementia, arthritis, and other health issues. This deficiency can also increase the risk of cancer.
⇒It’s harder to get vitamin D from the sun during the winter, so it’s important to make an effort to spend more time outdoors.
⇒Another option is to take supplements and eat foods with vitamin D. Fortified milk, cereals, and orange juice have extra vitamin D. Eggs and mushrooms are also good sources of this vitamin.
Wash your hands. You need to wash your hands all the time, but it becomes especially important in the winter months.
⇒One of the reasons more people get sick in the winter is because they’re indoors more, and they can’t open the windows or doors to circulate the air. This allows germs to build up in the air and spread easily. Spending more time indoors with others exposes you to more illness.
⇒Wash your hands with soap and water frequently. If you find that this dries out your skin, use moisturizer immediately after washing your hands.
Pay attention to your diet. What you eat affects your health. Nutrition sometimes suffers during the winter because fruits, grains, and vegetables can become more expensive and may be harder to find in parts of the country.
⇒You may also be tempted to eat more comfort food, such as mashed potatoes and gravy, because of the colder weather. Try to limit comfort foods with high fat, sugar, or salt. Instead, consider making healthier versions of your favorite meals.
⇒Fruits and vegetables have important antioxidants and other nutrients that can help your immune system and prevent some illnesses. So, you want to ensure they’re still part of your diet in the winter.
⇒In addition, you tend to wear more clothes in the winter, and may not notice body changes, so gaining weight can become an issue. Pay attention to the total number of calories you’re consuming each day. Read labels and measure portions. Avoid turning to junk food or snacks.
Winter doesn’t mean you have to get sick. Try these simple tips to maintain your health even in the colder months.
The A to Z Guide to Becoming More Optimistic
Studies show that optimists live longer, achieve more, and enjoy greater happiness and health. Even if you tend to see the glass as half empty, you can tap into these advantages.
Psychologists believe that about 50% of your optimist quotient is determined at birth. That leaves the remaining 50% that you can work on.
Train yourself to become more hopeful. You can complete most of these steps instantly, and a few require a little more time.
Instant Changes for Becoming More Optimistic
- Wear a smile. Your facial muscles communicate with your brain. Putting on a smile will make you look and feel more cheerful.
- Create a distraction. When you find yourself dwelling on the size of your thighs or how slowly traffic is moving, switch your attention to something more entertaining. Sing show tunes or remember romantic moments with your spouse.
- Study your dog. Most dogs will keep returning to the spot on the sidewalk where they found a burger wrapper last June. Let your best friend inspire you to hold on to your dreams.
- Count your blessings. Gratitude reinforces optimism. Wake up each morning thinking about what you’re thankful for. Write a gratitude list and post it near your desk where you can see it all day.
- Challenge your assumptions. Transform your self-talk by arguing the opposing side when you start to criticize yourself. Remember to run a reality check because unpleasant events tend to make a stronger impression than positive ones. The day your hot water heater broke stands out more than all the years it worked fine.
- Build on your strengths. Studies also show that using your core strengths will cause you to view your future more favorably. If your friends rave about your watercolors, enter a group exhibition. Apply your aptitude with numbers to tutoring children in math.
- Focus on solutions. Put your energy into overcoming challenges rather than catastrophizing about how much can go wrong. Needing a new car transmission will seem less overwhelming when you take your first steps to find a mechanic and adjust your budget to cover the bills.
- Exercise daily. Physical activity is good for your mind as well as your body. A vigorous workout will brighten your outlook. Play competitive sports or sign up for a dance class.
- Practice mindfulness. Trying to make yourself happier tends to backfire, but there is a better way. Engage fully with whatever you’re doing. As you increase your awareness and act from your heart, even tedious tasks become more meaningful and rewarding.
Longer-Term Changes for Becoming More Optimistic
- Marry an optimist. Hope is contagious. An idealistic spouse sets a good example and encourages harmony. If neither of you is optimistic, you and your partner can work on becoming more optimistic together and find friends who will be good role models.
- Adjust your explanatory style. When optimists receive disappointing news, they usually view it as temporary and attribute it to external causes. Lighten up if you’re taking the weather personally and remember the rain will end. It’s good to hold yourself accountable for behavior you can change, but avoid beating yourself up.
- Plan ahead. Feeling in control also helps to boost optimism. Clarify your goals and strategies to makes it easier to anticipate obstacles and persevere. As your successes add up, the process will become more automatic.
Wear rose-colored glasses and walk on the sunny side of the street. Being more optimistic is likely to extend your life and help you to enjoy those extra years more.
Affirmation: I Am Full of Hope and Expectations
Joyousness is the order of the day for me. I expect wonderful blessings.
Having a positive mindset sets the stage for my life. When I keep my mind from doubt and anxiety, I allow myself to enjoy my reality.
There is very little space in my life for worry. When I choose to expect only positive outcomes, that is exactly what I receive. Although what happens is sometimes different from what I expect, there is still enough to give thanks for.
Setting goals starts with positive anticipation.
Although the path towards a goal may be unclear today, I expect it to reveal itself in due course.
My approach is to prepare myself for my wishes and desires to become reality. I do that by remaining humble and driven at the same time. When they come my way, I know how to handle them. I use those realized dreams to further enhance my hopefulness.
Today, even the most trying circumstances fail to dampen my spirit. I know that even when things go in an unexpected direction, the onus is on me to continue along a positive path. My heart and soul are ready to receive goodness and light.
Self-Reflection Questions:
- In what ways do I prepare myself to receive the things that I work hard for?
- When is it okay for me to feel disappointed with the outcome of a situation?
- How valuable is hard work and determination in allowing me to be successful?
Affirmation: I Detach Myself From Negativity
I remove negative thoughts and ideas from my mind. I let go of unhelpful suggestions and harmful experiences. I focus on the light and positive inspiration. I see how optimism makes my life better.
I avoid dwelling on negativity that can hurt me.
Instead, I quickly analyze the feelings and the root causes of the negative emotion or thought. This allows me to make a fast judgment call on how to handle the situation.
I have the emotional and mental freedom to manage my thoughts and decide for myself what I think. I choose to fight negativity and eliminate it from my life. I avoid creating bonds to negative things, experiences, or emotions.
My defenses against negativity stay strong.
I eliminate all the stress, anxiety, and worries that come with negativity. I throw away and forget harmful things. I get rid of the pain that can damage my soul.
I focus on my center, values, and support network. I turn to them for help during negative circumstances. I also have the option of professional help. I have multiple choices that assist me on this journey.
I distance myself from negative people because they hurt my mind and spirit. I know this is healthier than dwelling on the pain.
Today, I detach from the negative things in my life to focus on the positive. I appreciate the universe through an optimistic lens.
Self-Reflection Questions:
- How can I detach from negativity when I am surrounded by it?
- Who can help me fight negative thoughts and ideas each day?
- What can I do to make negativity less influential in my life?
Affirmation: My Time Is Valuable
Each moment is precious. I can acquire more money and possessions, but my time is finite. So, I set priorities. I focus on the activities that are rewarding for me. I ensure my schedule matches my values. I block out time for the projects I feel passionate about.
I track my time. I figure out how long my routine activities take. I use that information to plan my day and eliminate nonessential tasks.
I avoid procrastinating. I seize promising opportunities instead of putting them off for later. I travel each year instead of waiting for retirement. I volunteer at my children’s school without waiting for a slow time at work.
I limit distractions. I turn off the TV. I limit my time on social media. I go shopping only when I need a specific item.
I take care of my health. I exercise regularly and keep up with recommended doctor appointments.
I spend time with family and friends. I share mealtimes and fun activities. I take my children along when I run errands so I can talk with them and teach them about adult responsibilities.
I learn and grow. I study subjects that enable me to advance my career and increase my personal knowledge.
I do meaningful work. I use my talents to help others through my job and hobbies.
I relax and play. Downtime and laughter keep me strong and cheerful.
Today, I recognize that my time is a valuable treasure. I manage it carefully so I can experience more happiness and fulfillment.
Self-Reflection Questions:
- What is one activity I want to stop wasting time on?
- If I could add an extra hour to each day, how would I use it?
- How does time promote healing?
6 Time-Saving Tips to Help You Get Work Done Faster
There are times when you have lots on your plate, but the time available doesn't permit you to do as much as you'd like. You could feel so overwhelmed that your mind can no longer comprehend the situation and feels like giving up. You probably even tried your hardest, but things seem to keep piling on.
This scenario calls for you to schedule your tasks. Use time management tools to help. For example, post-it notes are easily visible on your desk and allow you to prioritize what you need to do. You can use different colors for different tasks according to importance.
For example, use red post-it notes to prioritize unfinished tasks, blue notes for essential functions that aren't urgent, and green notes for critical tasks that you must complete immediately.
What other time-saving tips can help you work faster and get work done?
Consider these tips:
⇒Reach out to people before meetings. It shouldn't be surprising that meetings take up more time than anticipated. However, you can reduce this stress by speaking with participants before the meeting.
Find out if they can make it and if they want to add anything to the agenda. That way, your meeting won't go longer than expected.
⇒Remove all distractions. Sometimes, it seems that no matter how hard we try, distractions always keep popping up. However, if you can keep your desk free of distractions, you'll be able to focus better on the task at hand.
Take out all the unnecessary items on your desk, so you're less likely to get sidetracked with other stuff.
Start the most challenging tasks first. Some jobs are easier said than done. Rather than working on all tasks at once, start with the most difficult ones first.
That will allow you to feel more accomplished as you complete each task. And by the time you complete your major ones, the rest will seem easy!
⇒Do most of your work at your most effective time of day. Everyone has a preferred time when they are most alert and productive. Also, different people have rhythms unique to them that work in their case. And sometimes, one person's rhythm will backfire when someone else tries to adopt it.
Scientists believe that these differences result from age, education level, personality, and life experiences. And interestingly, just because you're a morning person does not automatically mean you should do the most demanding work early in the day.
Sometimes, your less-than-optimal times are your best times. Your goal is to find the time for your unique situation and get work done.
⇒Make use of templates. Templates are great because they let you accomplish everyday tasks with a few mouse clicks. For instance, if you need to check off multiple items on a to-do list each day, you can use templates to pre-fill individual tasks with relevant data.
Templates are quick and easy, and they can save you a lot of time over doing it manually. You can also create templates for repetitive tasks. Take a moment to look through your chores and find out which ones you can do with a template.
Then next time you need to complete something, insert the appropriate data into the template for quick completion.
⇒Practice saying no more. Saying "no" is a skill you can develop over time. The good news is that if you practice saying "no," you become better at it. Make it a point to avoid feeling guilty when you can't commit to doing something.
Instead, choose to prioritize your tasks and focus your efforts on those that matter most. Saying “no” can easily make you three times as productive because it frees you up to focus on what matters to you.
Be more intentional about your time and focus on using your time wisely. Use time management tools to easily keep track of things like due dates and times. Those few extra minutes you'll save per day will add up to a lot over the long haul.
Affirmation: My Life Is Filled With Silver-Lining Moments
Even on my darkest days, I am confident that the sun eventually comes out. That belief in silver lining moments takes me through challenging times. I attest to the fact that each difficulty is soon forgotten through positive thinking.
I recognize that tough times also call for resolve and courage. When I display strength, I am able to rise above the challenges. That ability turns the difficulty into success.
My life is filled with silver-lining moments.
I avoid worrying about hard situations that confront me. In time, a solution to any uncomfortable matter always presents itself.
I use disappointing occurrences as learning experiences. The lessons I learn prepare me to overcome future trials. Simply lamenting over disappointments rarely gives me the wisdom and strength to prevent them from happening again.
I am a strong believer in allowing my attitude to shape my future. I maintain a mindset that brightness awaits me after even the scariest period of darkness. When I take that approach, I religiously get the result I expect.
Today, I banish worry from my life because it is worthless. I choose, instead, to believe in silver linings. My decision to take the high road of positive thinking is powerful. I know I am capable of shaping my future by redefining my expectations.
Self-Reflection Questions:
- How do I show my gratitude when I get past a tough situation?
- Which situations make it difficult for me to maintain a positive mindset?
- What can I do to ensure silver linings appear after a difficult circumstance?
