The leaves are all (finally!) starting to change and fall down, making the yards bright with color.  I love driving anywhere right now because the trees are all an array of oranges, yellows, and reds. There are still some crops in the fields and farmers out hustling to get them picked. 

It's a busy time of year when we can get caught up in the craziness of fall activities. While you're busy harvestin, pickin, carvin pumpkins, haunted housin, hot cider drinkin, bein social, find yourself falling for the truths of who we are and not into the lies that society and sometimes even ourselves put into our minds.

You'd be surprised how much of an impact your thoughts can have on your daily life. Whether your thoughts occur subconsciously or intentionally, your thoughts affect your mood, emotions, actions, and self-esteem.

If you tell yourself you can, you will. It might not be quick, it might not be easy, but if you keep telling yourself that you can do it and move with intention and persistence, it's going to happen. 

If you give up before you even try and tell yourself you're not capable, not smart enough, not good enough, not _____ enough... then you're right. With that mindset, you won't. 

If you changed your mindset, woke up everyday telling yourself the truth about who you are, it's incredible how much it can change your entire day. A few months ago, I was struggling with some negative situations and being harder on myself than I should have been. My self-confidence was rocky at best and I was getting frustrated.

My sister-in-law to be started a reading group on a book about leadership, and to start off, we had to make a list of positive affirmations about ourselves. Ever heard of those? Well, they're amazing. It turns out, what you tell your self does in fact affect your whole day and your whole attitude towards yourself. Fast-forward a few months and I'll tell you hands down that they can indeed change your life. It doesn't happen over night, but if you want to change how you feel everyday, change your thoughts. 

What are positive affirmations you ask? These are specific thoughts you repeat to yourself that help you picture and believe in what you're saying. They have to be specific. Write them down, read over them often, repeat them to yourself throughout the day, and ya know what happens? You start to believe it day by day and then one day you realize it you believe it completely, and wonder how in the world you ever believed the things you used to. 

So as the winter starts to slowly make its way in, don't let the winter gloom get a head start on your winter blues, practice falling for these truths and the leaves won't be the only things fallin-- so will your insecurities and doubts, and what will arise is a new perspective-- full of hope, joy, and love.

I am enough. 
This one can be hard to believe sometimes, and for awhile, was the one that was hardest for me to tell myself. It stinks, but there are people that we come across that are going to lie, cheat, be selfish and degrading. What we have to remember is their actions and their decisions are not things that should affect our perception of ourselves. Not for one second should another person EVER make you feel as if you are not enough. You are. You're more than enough. You're worthy of loving yourself and being loved by people that love you as you are. You don't need to change who you are. You can go in public without brushing your hair and makeup on without needing to feel self conscious. If someone has a problem with it, then that's not your problem to worry about. You are beautiful/handsome just as you are-- you don't need to try to impress anyone at all. The right job, the right friendships, the right relationship, the right opportunities will come to be in the right timing, and for each of these, you are already enough. You don't have to change yourself, you don't have to try to be someone or something you're not. As you are right now is all that you need to be. You're smart enough, capable enough, strong enough. We aren't called to be perfect, but every little piece of you-- flaws and all-- is perfect and makes you who you are and who you are will ALWAYS be enough. 

I am choosing to be happy. 
Winter blues are a real thing, but they do not have to be a thing for you. Choose to be happy. Good things and bad things are part of each day, each week, each year. There are moments we feel on top of the world and moments we wonder if the valley is ever going to end. When things go the way you want and when they don't, you can still choose how you react. Choose to be happy regardless of the situation. Every moment we spend sad is a moment of happiness we will never get back, so why waste it? I love smiling and being happy and bringing joy to others. Sometimes my heart feels like it could burst with joy, and I know that isn't just by chance. I choose to be joyful, no matter how stressed or anxious I feel, If I start to feel stressed, I close my eyes and tell myself that I am okay, that everything will work out, that God already has a plan. I let the joy overcome the negativity because I choose to. Choosing to be happy is an active decision, you choose how you react and when you choose happiness, you'll be surprised that no matter what happens, you can find the good in it. When you're seeking the goodness, the good will find you. 

I am thankful. 
Every morning I open my eyes and the first thing I do is thank God for another day. For giving me breath to live this day, for my family, for my friends, for a home to live, a job to work, for grace, for growth, for love, for peace, for everything that will pass in this day. Living with an attitude of gratitude is powerful, especially in a time of social media allowing us to see everything that everyone is up to, it's so easy to fall into the trap of comparison and of wishing we had this or were doing that. Do not grow envious, but grow grateful. We're alive and that in itself is a gift. When you are thankful for what you have and for all that you are, you will find your heart full of peace and contentment.

Remember, you have the power over your thoughts. Not your friends, your family, your husband or wife, boyfriend or girlfriend. You and only you can choose what you tell yourself. If someone is constantly nagging you or negative towards you or around you, choose to do something about it. If you know a circumstance will bring you into a negative situation, don't do it. You can choose to surround yourself with negativity, or you can choose to surround yourself with people who will build you up, encourage you, push you, and help make you into the person God created you to be. 

Create your own list. Think of things that you struggle with, and turn them into something you excel at. It won't happen overnight, but over time, you will notice a change and that change has the power to do amazing things-- to impact not only your life, but those around you.


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A friend shared a link to this video below on his Instagram yesterday, and I've listened to it a few times since then. I had started writing this post before I watched this, and knew I had to share it with you because it fits perfectly. If you have 7 minutes, watch it. Listen to it a few times. Listen to it every morning when you wake up. Listen to the words and believe it. 

You are a masterpiece.