my affirmation statements

Affirmation statements are a way to remind yourself of what you are becoming. I read one of these per day.

Abilities and talents (Updated April 7, 2007)

• I am an original, insightful, and astute thinker and analyst
• I am a highly-proficient researcher, with a voracious appetite.
• God has given me an incredible gift of wisdom, and I confidently use it to help others live fulfilling and meaningful and purposeful lives.
• I regularly produce simple, easy-to-understand forms, software, and other tools that help people live more satisfying and productive lives.
• I write often - articles, emails, blog posts, books, ideas, and brainstorming.
• I use words with craft and skill and impact - grabbing the attention of the reader and making a practical difference in their life, beliefs, values, or decisions.

Aesthetics (Updated May 2, 2007)

• I regularly listen to a wide variety of music throughout the day.
• I fashion a pleasing personal appearance.
• I wear clean, well-fitting, appropriate clothing.
• I shower and shave at least every other day.
• I decorate my home simply, yet beautifully and elegantly appointed.
• I intentionally schedule time to view art.
• I recognize and take the time to appreciate beauty everywhere.
• I take beautiful photos and bless others with them.
• If it doesn't taste good I don't eat it.
• I regularly use cologne to spice up my atmosphere! :)
• I maintain an intriguing fragrance in my home.
• I compliment others about their fashion, and tell them why.
• I keep a clean car, inside and out.
• I keep the shore of the pond behind my house clean of litter.
• I attend wine, coffee, and other food tasting events, learning to discriminate and "appreciate."

Attitude (Updated May 16th, 2007)

• I will make the most of this day based on my present circumstances and what I've been given.
• This will be a great day, because the God of the whole universe loves me, cares about me, and has everything under control!
• I will find something new to be grateful for today.
• Crisis = Danger + Opportunity
• I will think outside of the box today, and hop-scotch out of the ruts I'm in!
• Today is the only day I have.
• This is not a dress rehearsal.
• I will find a way.
• I won't let the jerks get the best of me today.
• Trials are an opportunity to develop patience, character, and perserverance.
• I woke up today. Yay!
• I will be kind today to someone who doesn't deserve it.
• I will blow bubbles in an unexpected place today.
• I will thank a minimum-wage worker for their service to me today
• I will eat-left handed today.

My children (Updated June 23, 2007)

• I demonstrate love to my children in the love language that means the most to each of them. (Justin -time with, trust, fairness. Olivia -gifts. Rebecca -time with, involvement and appreciation of her activities, words of affection and affirmation.)
• I proactively help my children grow: spiritually, emotionally, mentally, relationally, and in life skills.
• I set clear and firm boundaries, and give swift, no-nonsense consequences.
• I consistently read devotional material, and pray with my children, one-on-one and as a group.
• I carve out time in my schedule for just "hanging out" with my kids, one-on-one, and as a group.
• I am encourage my children to discover, develop, and utilize their unique talents, gifts, and abilities. Justin -guitar, poetry, song-writing, video taking and editing, working with teens. Olivia -art, fashion and cosmetics, decorating, dogs. Rebecca -music, dance, drama, sports, socializing.

Fitness (Updated October 24, 2007)

• I move my body every day
• I exercise in a well-rounded way, for health, fitness, weight control, stress relief, strength, flexibility, and stamina benefits.
• I eat well... Not only what I eat, but how, when, where, and why I eat it. I'm a sophisticated eater!
• I am a gourmet not a gourmand.
• I seek ways to incorporate physical activity in random, everyday events.
• I am actively seeking activities that have exercise as a fringe benefit, such as dancing.
• Fitness is more impotant than appearance.
• If I make fitness a priority, other things are going to have to get knocked down a notch.
• Exercise feels good afterwards!
• Exercise early in the day and get it out of the way!
• It's easier to eat one less cookie than it is to exercise for one more hour.

God

• I spend ample time communicating and communing with God... scheduled and spontaneously
• I joyfully seek and accept God's will and plan for me
• I am filling my life with worship music that ministers to my heart
• I am increasingly fine-tuning my ability to hear what God wants me to tell others.
• I have several men and women who pray with me on a regular basis.

Identity

• I am a strong and confident Christian man.
• I am an intelligent, sensitive, talented, creative, and growing child and servant of God
• I have a very satisfying life as a single man.
• I am increasingly aware of and defining my life purpose, mission, vision, and values
• I am growing daily in wisdom, and stature, and favor with God and man.

Job

• I am throwing myself into the opportunity I have at New Life to impact people - one on one and in groups.
• I am enjoying the opportunity at my church job to exercise, not think, and to get to know fellow church employees.

Money

• I am a generous person, but don't give away what I don't have.
• I am consistently working my way out of debt.
• I am increasing income and decreasing expenses on a regular basis.
• I am learning to be wise in financial affairs
• I am seeking and finding ways to use my gifts and passions to generate income.
• I live within my means.
• I am open to new and unexpected and unusual sources of income that God may send my way
• I devote sufficient time and attention to necessary financial details.

Recovery and serenity

• I accept myself for where I'm at and who I am today.
• I am actively seeking to make restitution for the harms and wrongs I have done throughout my life.
• I am learning what my true hungers are at any given time.
• I appreciate beauty in women but don’t lust, linger, or fantasize about them.
• I keep good boundaries in my relationships with women.
• I recognize and interrupt self-sabotaging thoughts and behaviors as soon as they happen.
• I take care of myself very well, in all areas
• I take the time to breathe, and relax my stomach
• I take criticism well, welcoming the chance to either receive and learn, or defend, or let it roll off my back.
• I do not use pornography, or any form of visual stimulation (including mental fantasy).
• I grieve and suffer losses and disappointments thoroughly, and then move on.

Relationships

• I am assertive and set boundaries as soon as I need to.
• I am building strong connections with men.
• I am clear with others what my boundaries are.
• I am comfortable around people in social settings, and do not avoid or resist or escape interaction with them.
• I help others know what they can do to help their relationship with me work better.
• I say “no” and get out of commitments and relationships quickly and gracefully when they aren't working for me any longer.
• I seek “win-win” outcomes to every conflict.
• I initiate social interaction and chit-chat.

Task management

• With important things I am careful, slow, and deliberate.
• I am learning to keep most things as simple, quick, and easy as they can be to accomplish the result.
• I am learning to organize my time, responsibilities, tasks, and information in ways that work for me.
• I invest more time, effort, and thought into things up front if it will save me time, effort, or thought in the future
• I organize my household in a way that makes it easy to use and keep clean
• I structure my time and tasks in such a way that it capitalizes on my “bursts of energy!”