I do not want you to be happy. I don't want you to be filled up with happiness.
I want you to be filled with absolutejoy!
But what is the difference between joy and happiness?
Happiness is external; it comes from an outsidesource. For example, chocolate, good music, and relaxing all make me happy. But none of them make me joyful because
joy comes from within.
Joy can not be taken away by outside factors. Nothing and no one can take away your joy.
I personally feel that as a society, we settle for happiness. We have this idea thatmoney, power, looks, and attention will make us happy. We sometimes think to ourselves, "I'd be happier if I was 10 pounds thinner" or "I'd be happy if I only had a boyfriend" or "I'd be happy if I just got that promotion."
But all of those things, don't have any true substance. Yea, it would be great to get a promotion, and there is nothing wrong with wanting and striving towards a promotion. But we need to realize that there is a fine line between working hard for a promotion or raise, and living for a promotion or raise. We need to remember that the perfect body, money, power, cars, and a six figure salary won't fill our hearts. We will only feel satisfied and fulfilled if we have joy in our lives.
Joy comes from within. For me personally, helping people brings me joy. Writing, praying, and researching information for G4G makes me joyful. It's like there's this little ball of light inside my chest, and as I write, pray, or research for G4G, it's like that ball of light gets
bigger, and bigger, and bigger, and bigger
until it just pours out, and I can't help it but to to be who God made me to be!
It's like radiating love. Joy are those things in your life that make you radiate love, and make your heart feel full.
In your life joy can come from/be in different forms. Joy might come from writing, it might come from being an amazing friend, it might come from going to church, playing music, helping others, having a career you're passionate about, or spending time with family.
Find the joy in your life! :)
Joy is powerful.
Joy is more powerful than suffering.
Joy is more powerful than stress.
Joy is more powerful than insecurities and negative thoughts.
Happiness is flimsy. Happiness can come and go in the blink of an eye. Maybe being popular or fitting in will make you happy, but if you're not sticking true to who you are, being popular won't satisfy your heart. Maybe making a six figure salary would be beneficial and make you happy, but if money is the center of your life, you're heart won't be satisfied.
But the best part about joy, is that joy does not leave us due to suffering, or hard times.
Romans 5:2-5 "And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God No only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character hope. And hope does not disappoints us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit whom he has given us."
Joy will stick with us though thick and thin because it has been poured into us. It's OURS! I know that having joy in hard times is a hard thing to put into practice. I've been trying really hard do this in my life, and it's NOT easy but when I do find joy in the days where I think I'm about to break, it's really is a game changer. **This week why don't we to find/focus on something in our lives that bring us absolute JOY! If you want please feel free to comment at the bottom at let G4G know what brings you absolute joy?!?
"Happiness is a cheap substitute for joy." ~ Matt Chandler
When I looked up the word "confidence" on merriam-webster dictionary, it said that confidence is "the quality or state of being certain." Well, there's the problem right there.
I think that sometimes we let our own self-doubt take over.When we feel a lack of self-confidence it's because we question, feel uncertain, and even become cautious of ourselves, talents, abilities, looks, and opinions. Sometimes we doubt that we can accomplish a task. Sometimes we question if we can get an A on an exam. Sometimes we don't feel we have the body to wear a particular outfit. Sometimes we're not sure if we will find another circle of friends if we don't give in to peer pressure.
When we are feeling unconfident, the thoughts running through our heads might sound something like this...
Does my breath stink?
Do I look fat in this?
I'm not as smart as she is.
I feel huge.
I look so gross.
I can't do this as well as they can.
*All of the examples above are ways that we doubt ourselves, talents, abilities, looks, and opinions.
I know that we feel a lack of self-confidence due to a variety of variables. We could be feeling unconfident because of a rude comment that was made, or an article in a magazine. We might have compared ourselves to another person, maybe we didn't get a promotion at work, or maybe we are facing a bully. But we have to remember...
*Just like light is within us, so is our self-confidence. We control our our self-confidence.
Be confident in yourself, because confidence is all we really have.
You keep your head up. Stand tall! "It's not who you are that holds you back, it's who you think you're not." ~Author Unknown. You are an awesome person, and it's okay to believe that about yourself.It's not arrogance. Arrogance is when you have to put others down to feel confident. Being a confident woman is knowing thatyou can do whatever you put your mind to.
Philippians 4:13 says, "Ican do all things through Christ who strengthensme."
With Gods help there is nothing we can't achieve.
This week, why don't we try to commit to being more confident. Ask yourself, "Self, what area of my life do I need a confidence boost in?" If you need a boost in your appearance, maybe you can put a post-it on your mirror that says, "You're beautiful." If it's work, maybe say 2 good things about yourself before you walk into the office. If it's a bully/mean person try your very best to not let their comments bother you.
How are YOU going to be more confident this week? I'm going to write 1 nice word about myself in my planner for everyday of the week. Thank you so much for reading G4G! I'd LOVE to hear what you plan to do this week, so please feel absolutely free to comment below and give suggestions so we can support each other!
If you got it, ROCK IT
If you like to sing; SING AS LOUD AS YOU CAN!
If you like to dance; DANCE WHENEVER AND WHEREVER YOU FEEL LIKE IT!
If you are an athlete; PLAY YOUR HEART OUT!
If you are a mom; TAKE PRIDE IN THAT FACT THAT YOU ARE A FANTASTIC MOM!
If you are really intelligent; PUT YOUR TEST SCORES/PAPERS ON THE REFRIGERATOR!
I had to ask myself a question: What is the definition of beauty? What is beauty?
The dictionary says, that beauty is "acombinationofqualities, such asshape, color, or form, that pleasestheaestheticsenses, especiallythesight."
I could not disagree more.
"Beauty is not in the face; beauty is a light in the heart”
~ Kahlil Gibran
A lot of the time, we define beauty as something tangible; as something we can hold, or achieve.
We think of beauty as a bar we need to reach.
We think of beauty as a standard we must uphold.
We think of beauty as a something that can be seen on our faces, but we often forget that true beauty comes from the light inside of us. I know it's a strange concept, but what I really mean to say is that
You shine!
I believe that every girl and every woman on this planet displays true beauty because of the
joy, goodness, kindness, love, and LIGHT
that is in their hearts.
What is the most beautiful thing you can think of?
I think of Mother Teresa caring for the sick and dying. That's beauty.
I think of adopting my sister. That's beauty.
I think of helping others. That's beauty.
I think of friends, and family, and love. That's beauty.
I think of the cross. That's beauty.
I feel that as women, we sometimes do beauty an injustice by defining it solely upon our looks.
We will NEVER be more beautiful, than when we are truly joyful.
No amount of make-up, clothing, or attention will ever make us feel more beautiful, than when we let the wonderful things within us shine though.
The next thought that might come into your head is, "Tinamarie, I'm sad. I'm hurt. I'm angry. I feel gross inside. I'm scarred. I don't shine." But I'm telling you right now, you have talent, you haveexcellent qualities, you are still moving and still going, and you are going to love yourself again.
*No bully, mean comment, guy, or magazine cover can ever take away the light that is inside of your heart. The light that comes from within you. It was given by the one who made you. No one, and nothing can take it away.
You shine.
There is good in your heart. There is light in your heart.
Matthew 5:14 says, "You are light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden." I love this scripture. I love this because it's a calling from God. In this scripture God is saying, "I made you toshine. And when you shine, nothing can stop you."
A real girl doesn'tneed make up, because she knows she's beautiful as she is.
A real girl doesn'tneed to get attention from guys to feel loved, because she knows that love takes many different forms (parents, siblings, friends, family!).
A real girl doesn'tneed to read magazines to find out what's in or out, because she has her own sense of style.
A real girl doesn't drink or smoke to fit in, because she knows that doing the right thing is more important than fitting in.
A real girl doesn't dummy herself down for a guy, because she knows that anyone who doesn't embrace her amazing mind isn't worth her time.
A real girl isn't defined by the mirror,
because she's defined by her heart.
Sometimes we fall into a trap. We begin to believe that to be a "real" woman, or a "real girl" we need to act, or dress, or talk, or behave a certain way. But we need to remember that being ourselves, makes usbeautiful, amazing, strong,realwomen. It's who we are on the inside that makes us who we really are!
*picture taken at American Girl Store in New York, New York
