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You are here: Home / 2012 / Archives for June 2012

Archives for June 2012

A Quote of Biblical Proportions

June 28, 2012 by Joi 3 Comments

Pine Mountain, Kentucky

Ye have compassed this mountain long enough; turn you northward. – Deuteronomy 2:3 (KJV)

You have circled this mountain long enough. Now turn north. – Deuteronomy 2:3 (NASB)

The above verse (the bottom one) accompanied an edition of an  inspirational newsletter I subscribe to.  The newsletter was about an actual mountain and an actual situation of losing track of where the path was. Sounds like something I’d do, if we were to be honest. My sense of direction is akin to bat’s sense of sight.

The quote really resonated with me.  I grabbed my Bible, just out of curiosity to see how it was worded in the King James Version. It resonated just as strongly and, at least in my opinion, sounded even more lyrical.  Both versions of the verse are now written on a large index card and hang over my computer desk along with a few other quotes that I find to be exceptionally inspiring and motivational.  Another card nearby says, “Nothing will work unless you do. – Maya Angelou”

I can’t tell you how many times Dame Angelou has kicked my butt with those words.  I’ve been know to literally say, “Yes, Ma’am,” as I get back to work.

The beautiful mountain verse is also incredibly inspirational.  The words serve as powerful  reminders to know:

  • When it’s time to give up.
  • When it’s time to try a new approach.

When it’s Time to Give Up

I know it may be strange to see me, the queen of “Fight! Fight! Fight!” mention the words giving up in a positive light, but let’s face it. Sometimes it’s time to give up! For example, some people hang on so tightly to the PAST or to their Pre-conceived vision of the FUTURE that they waste today. There are few things in the world any sadder than wasted time or un-cherished moments.  I hear from people almost daily who are sad becuase…

  • Their marriage has ended.
  • Their “nest” is empty.
  • They lost their job.
  • They can’t have children.
  • The face they see in the mirror isn’t the one they saw 1o years ago (isn’t that a pip?)

The list goes on, because unfortunately none of us make it out of this world unscathed or unburdened.  The first thing I always tell people is that they have every right in the world to feel sad, disappointed, angry.. or any other emotions they feel.  We can’t help how we feel, after all. BUT, we can help how tightly we hang on to these feelings.

The spouse who’s marriage has ended who keeps looking at old photographs and listening to old songs, for example.  They hang on to the past so tightly, they’re squeezing the life out of the present – and nothing leads to a dead future faster than that.

How about the empty-nester who keeps wanting her children to be little again?

A. That’s not going to happen.

B. Why in the world would you want it to? They can change themselves now!

On a smaller scale, think about the baby boomers who are still trying to look just like they did when they were in their twenties?!  I’m the first one to say that a woman or man should wear whatever they darn well want to wear. All I hope for is that they aren’t tacky – and if they are, that they’ll stay out of my line of vision.  However, there’s a lot (a whole lot, actually) to be said for dressing in a manner that’s becoming to you.  If someone sends you a memo saying that the 70’s wants  its clothes back or the 80’s wants its mullet back… you might not be as becoming as you are just becoming a joke.

Relationships can also make people dig their feet in deeper when they should simply move on. Bad, dysfunctional relationships rob your life of positive energy, fun, and its very breath.  Some people waste years trying to make a lousy relationship un-lousy when lousy is all the relationship can be.

You have to know when it’s time to turn north. Going in circles doesn’t get you anywhere.  It just keeps bringing you right back to the starting point – the very definition of insanity and the picture of  wasting the life you’ve been given.

When it’s Time for a New Approach

Oh, geez. Time to tell on myself. I hate when that happens – but I get into so darn much stuff and make so many mistakes that I beg to be used as an example! Due to a thyroid that no longer exists (literally), I have to watch my weight like an obsessive hawk. Problem is, I’m not an obsessive hawk.  I’m more of a laid-back dove – and one that’s very, very fond of eating.

Imagine the trouble that gets me into.

The problem was under control for the most part until the past few years. Until recently, pounds would creep up and I’d simply walk further and more often until I was back in fighting form.  However, for some reason (it couldn’t be age, could it? Surely not.), the routine just isn’t working as beautifully as it once did.

This dilemma was in the forefront of my mind, actually, on the morning when I read the verse.  It jumped off of the computer screen, got in my face, and demanded, “So. Just how long are you going to keep doing the same thing, while expecting different results? How long are you going to keep dialing the same number and expecting a different answer each time? How long are you going to keep circling the same mountain?”

After writing the verse down on an index card, I immediately began to go over every single thing I ate and drink.  I researched the number of calories I was actually burning during my 30 minute walk each day. Turns out, not nearly as many as my feet thought we were. They had me convinced we were “torching calories” when, in fact, we were just kind of slapping them on the wrist – and not very hard at that!

I’d been, literally, leisurely walking around a mountain – again and again.  It occurred to me that it was more than past time to turn northward.  Then, and only then, would things begin to look up.

Spend a little time with this verse and see if there’s an area of your life it wants to discuss. If it does, you’d be wise to listen.

~ Joi

Ye have compassed this mountain long enough; turn you northward. – Deuteronomy 2:3 (KJV)

You have circled this mountain long enough. Now turn north. – Deuteronomy 2:3 (NASB)

>>>> The picture at the top was taken on a recent trip to gorgeous (gorgeous!) Pine Mountain State Resort Park in Kentucky.

Filed Under: Books I Love, Self Improvement Tagged With: inspiration, motivational quotes, self growth

So… How Have YOU Been?

June 28, 2012 by Joi 1 Comment

Steph and Rusty

I read once that if you’ve been away from your blog for a while, you should never, ever, ever apologize for it.  Actually, I’ve read that LOTS of times. “Experts” say you should just pick up where you left off, hit the ground running and act like the norm had never been infringed upon. Apparently that’s the norm.

So, I guess you know what’s coming. That’s right. An apology for having been away for so long!   Norm and I have never seen eye to eye, and I see no reason to start now.

Deep breath.

I’ve been absent from my beloved self help blog for a while now for one reason and one reason only. She stands about 5’2″ and goes by the name Stephany.  She is, of course, one of my ridiculously beautiful, intelligent, witty, and talented daughters.  In fact, she’s the “baby,” even though she has hated that word since she was 3 years old.  I always thought the youngest of the family would embrace being the “baby,” and ride it for all it’s worth. Not Steph.  When she was 4, she asked me, “Are you going to have any more babies?”  I thought she was worried about losing her spot as the youngest, but she had other ideas.  When I told her “No, we think 3 beautiful little girls is the perfect number,” she looked disappointed. I asked her, “Why, did you want me to have another baby?”

My adorable little munchkin said, “Yeah, I wanted to be the boss of them babies.”

She has never cared for the title “baby,” but clings to the title, “boss.”  Don’t tell her, but she’s both.

Steph recently married one of the coolest guys in the world, Rusty.  He’s been like a son for so long to me that I can’t remember life without his wonderful laugh.

At any rate, during the weeks (okay, months… have it your way) leading up to the beautiful outdoor wedding and reception in the park, the only thing this mother of the bride could think about was:

  • What dress do I want to buy? Long… will that be too hot? Shoes? How will I wear my hair???
  • What punch will I make?
  • How many cakes should we have?
  • What flavor should the cakes be?
  • Are the bridesmaid dresses okay with each girl?
  • Favors… holy moly, I think we need more favors!
  • Let me just check Pinterest…
  • What if it rains?
  • Will my much loved uncle (who recently had open heart surgery) be able to come to the wedding?
  • Long. I think I’ll wear a long dress…
  • Does she have something blue to go with borrowed and new?
  • Oh. I hate the napkins we have – lets get cuter napkins.Do we need sweet tea and unsweet tea – and why does anyone bother drinking unsweet tea anyway?
  • Will a long dress be too hot?

My poor, overloaded little brain cells simply couldn’t think about anything else.  I’d actually log in to add something, then inevitably would get sidetracked, log back out and… well, see above.

I’m exhausted! The wedding and reception were even more beautiful than we hoped for, the long dress wasn’t too hot, and the napkins were too cute for their own good. As for the punch, the boss’s favorite flavor is Lemon, so I made a KILLER lemonade punch everyone loved.

Best of all, we all survived. Even her dad. It was touch and go with that one for a while there.

Ironically, another time I was mentally and emotionally pulled out of commission involved the wedding of another daughter, Emily.  I believe we’ve established that I cannot multitask when it comes to my three little girls. They will always, always, always get my undivided attention.

It’s a mommy thing.

I’m finishing up a few articles that were in the works – before the poor things were abandoned.  God willing one will be up today.

You have my word that I’m completely back in the game now, coach.  The good news is, there’s only one single daughter (Brittany) left and she equates the word “marriage” with the words “game over.”

Given her great love of the game, we’re good here.

Or is that hope speaking?

~ Joi (“Mom”)

Filed Under: Self Help Daily

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