Tag: Self Care

25 Positive Affirmations to Begin Your Week ♡

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Hey, everyone! My name is Q’Zion, and welcome to The Joys and Trials of a Christian Teen! Today is Sunday, and that means a new week has officially begun. Regardless of what this upcoming week has in store for you, Sundays are a time for us to relax, recharge, and start off our week strong!

Positive affirmations are the perfect way to make sure your week is productive. And if Thanksgiving is coming up where you live, I’m sure we could all use a little bit of self care before the holiday season comes around!

Here are 25 fun, relaxing, and positive affirmations to help you start your week! Let’s get this party started!

25 Positive Affirmations to Begin Your Week

1. This week will be better than the last/ the best one yet!

2. This week, I will take time to recharge.

3. I am grateful for today, and I look forward to the week ahead of me.

4. I chose happiness today.

5. I am confident in the abilities that God has blessed me with.

6. This week, I will achieve my goals.

7. I am positive and creative.

8. I am enough, this week and forever.

9. I can handle whatever this week throws at me.

10. I am blessed.

11. My self-confidence is at an all-time high!

12. God is with me: there’s nothing I can’t do!

13. I will not allow anything to disturb my peace.

14. Many good things will happen, this week.

15. I am capable of doing great things!

16. I choose success and the work that will get me there!

17. This week is my time to shine!

18. I am unique, and proud of it!

19. I am exactly who God made me to be, and I will let my light shine, this week!

20. I will grow stronger every day, this week!

21. Today, I’ll take time to take care of myself.

22. Today is the new day that God has made!

23. My life has a purpose and a meaning.

24. Today, I chose healing.

25. This week will be a blessing in my life and the lives of others.

Whether or not it’s actually Sunday, for you, these positive affirmations are a great way to boost your energy level and make your week even more productive! And saying kind things to ourselves is one of the key factors to doing great things! I encourage you to try out these affirmations for yourself, and see just how positive your week can be!

Please tell me down below in the comments, which one of these encouraging and inspirational statements did you like the most? I would love to hear from you!

Have a happy and healthy rest of your day and/or night! God bless you all, and I will catch you next time! Peace in! ♡

Daily Habits for Mental Wellness as a Christian – PT. 1

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Hey, hey, everybody! This is Q’Zion, and welcome to The Joys and Trials of a Christian Teen.

There are so many aspects to being healthy . . . not just how much exercise you get or how healthy you eat. Are those things important? Absolutely! But a healthy body is not the only factor of a healthy spirit. That’s where mental wellness comes in. While this is a major topic on my blog, I realized that I’ve never directed a post about positive mental habits for fellow Christians. But that changes today.

As followers of Christ, there are so many ways to please God. And one thing that I know God wants is for us to be healthy–mentally, physically, and spiritually. And implementing healthy, productive habits into our daily lives to boost our mood and gain a sense of self worth is perfect for maintaining mental wellness and deepening our relationship with our Heavenly Father, in the process. Today, I will be listing a few ways that we can do so, with a scripture representing each point. So without further ado, let’s get started!

Practice Gratitude in all Circumstances

Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

– 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

For me, showing gratitude as a Christian is not simply just being thankful. It’s showing appreciation–through our actions, thoughts, and words–that God has loved us enough to bless us with salvation (eternal life) and all the other people and blessings that put the icing on the cake. While anyone can practice gratitude, it’s even more critical that we practice this lifestyle as followers of Christ.

By acknowledging the things that we are blessed to have, even in the moments where everything isn’t going our way or we don’t feel our best, we can build on our relationship with God as we give Him glory for all that He’s blessed us with. And the best part is, when we show God that we are thankful, He can (and will) bless us with even more than what we have now. What an amazing Father we serve!

Communicate with God through Prayer

This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. 15 And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him.

– 1 John 5:14-15

Praying should be a no-brainer for all followers of Christ. Some people say that they are happier when they spend time with their family and friends. And while our loved ones are all wonderful gifts from God, it’s important that we take time everyday to communicate with the Lord, as well, with the power of prayer.

One of the most common questions that I see about prayer is simply “How do you pray?” Well, the simplest answer to that is have a conversation with God. That could be in the form of thanking Him (another great way to express our gratitude), asking Him for what we need, asking for forgiveness, and even using memorized scriptures to strengthen our conversations. Praying doesn’t have to be difficult, in fact. Even “Thank you, Lord” is a prayer.

Instead of thinking of praying as a daunting task (particularly for new Christians) think of it like this: God has given us the gift of being able to speak to Him whenever we’d like. We can get to know more about Him and better our spiritual and mental wellness while doing so. And when we decide to take that opportunity, we are taking a huge step towards becoming the best people that we can be; both as people and most importantly, God’s children.

Get Your Exercise

Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.

– 1 Corinthians 6:19-20

Although they are most often separated as two different topics, our physical and mental health are more connected than some may realize. For example, if you eat an apple everyday, you will most likely have lower hormone fluctuations (meaning less mood swings) and a boosted mood. While on the other hand, too much stress can suppress one’s immune system and make them more susceptible to diseases.

Our bodies are yet another blessing from the Lord. And the functions of our bodies that seem as simple as walking and breathing are miracles. And because our bodies are such gifts, we’ve got to do what we can to keep them healthy. Exercise (preferably 30-60 minutes a day) is the perfect way to release happy hormones (therefore making you feel more relaxed and accomplished) while keeping our physical health in check. But, even if you get bored during your next jog, you can always play some of your favorite gospel tunes to add worship to your workout!

Understand Who You are In Christ

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.

– John 14:27

Having a sense of confidence is something that anyone can struggle with, including God’s children. But the thing is, when we take a look into God’s Word, we notice that throughout the entire book, He is constantly telling us who we are to Him: the apple of His eye, forgiven, loved, saved, strong, made with a purpose, wonderfully made, and worthy to have a happy, eternal life.

While self confidence is something that can take time to build, we can’t help but be grateful when we receive all that God has called us to be. So whenever you need a little bit (or a lot) of encouragement, take time to study who God says you are. Because at the end of the day, that matters WAY more than what anyone else thinks/says about you.

Mental health is critical in our day to day lives, and we should all take time to make sure that we are taking time out of each day to maintain a happy, healthy, and godly state of mind. Hopefully, these simple yet life-changing habits will help you do just that. Please tell me some of your healthy habits (as a Christian) that you do to maintain mental wellness. Also, were any of these tips eye-openers for you?

Have a beautiful and blessed day, everyone! God bless you all and I’ll catch you later! Peace in! ♡

The Difference Between Being Lonely vs. Being Alone – Words of Wisdom #21

Q'Zion2 Comments

Two words: alone and lonely. While the two adjectives sound fairly similar, they also hold two completely different meanings. You see, a lot of people believe that “being alone” is the same thing as “being lonely.” But despite this common misconception, it remains very common for certain people to feel at peace when being alone, and others to feel lonely in a room full of people. Why is this? And moreover, what exactly does this mean?

In today’s episode of Words of Wisdom, we will be diving into the subject “How does being lonely differ from being alone?” a little further.

To begin, let’s review the top definition of each word of this comparison in the Oxford Dictionary. Take a look.

First, lonely’s definition.

Now, the definition of alone.

Do you see any difference? If not, try reading both definitions one more time, and see if you can detect it. Then, check your answer down below.

While the true meanings of alone and lonely may seem the same at first glance, I think the more you read them, the easier it is to understand why they’re so different. So the answer to today’s question is, being lonely represents an emotional longing to have a companionship, of some sort. Meanwhile, alone is just the physical state of being unattended by another person.

Many times, people mistake the word alone as a bad thing. But when we think about it, almost everyone enjoys a few minutes a day doing something that they love in solidarity, whether that something is listening to music, spending time with God, or even working up a sweat in the gym. In fact, I believe that the times in which we are enjoying the moment in solidarity are likely some of the most peaceful moments of all. That’s why it’s possible to be happy when we’re by ourselves, or lonely even when we are in the presence of others.

Really, identifying the difference between the two is all about our state of mind.

So, today’s final words: being alone is not the same as being lonely. Instead, it’s a great way for us all to practice self-care and come to a place where we can simply enjoy our own company–and develop a closer relationship to God, in the process. I challenge anyone who is willing to take some more time in solidarity, and find ways to enjoy moments of solitary peace. We all need them, every once in a while.

Have a fantabulous day, everybody! God bless you all, and I’ll catch you later! Peace in! ♡

30 Day Salad Challenge: Update #1

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Three weeks ago, me and Goodmommy decided that we wanted to begin eating more greens. So, we began our 1 month salad challenge on the sixth. And while I didn’t expect it, I’ve ended up absolutely loving this simple change in our eating habits. While most people don’t realize it, salad is such a versatile food–it can be super delicious if you just incorporate the right ingredients to make the flavors pop the way you need it.

When I announced the beginning of our salad challenge–and you can view that post HERE–I said that I was going to do a few updates along our journey to share some of the tweaks that we’ve made to experiment with our salad. And as always, I came through!

For the most part, our salads have stayed exactly the same since when we first started. The only change was this new Cesar salad dressing that we replaced with the French dressing. At first I was dreading the thought of trying something new, just because when I get used to something, I like to stick with it.

But it turned out, me and Goodmommy liked the Cesar salad even better than the sald with the French dressing, which was a huge shock for both of us! I think that was just another example of why it’s good to try new things, sometimes: they might be better than you ever imagined.

As I’m quite sure you can tell, I’ve thoroughly enjoyed taking on this challenge. In fact, me and Goodmommy agreed that we want to continue eating a salad every day from now on. I truly thank God for showing us how we can have fun with eating healthy. Keeping a healthy diet really has a positive effect on your mindset, as well. I can’t wait to see what God has in store for us, in the future.

Have a beautiful and blessed day, everyone! See you next time! ♡

We started our 2022 salad challenge . . . ♡

Q'Zion1 Comment

Hey, everybody! Welcome or welcome back to my blog! ♡

For those of you who were here when I wrote my 2022 goals, one of them was to eat salad 2-4 times every week. Let’s just say that I was a little slow with putting this goal into action. Still, the year is not over, and it’s never to late to make a nutritional change in your diet. Yesterday, Goodmommy and I began a 2022 salad challenge consisting of one salad per day for a sum of 31 days.

At first, I was a little skeptical to do this challenge, considering that we hadn’t yet mastered creating variety in our homemade salads. However, after Goodmommy showed me an article with some of the health benefits of eating a salad a day–including stronger bones and heart, fiber, weight control, and the regular perks that happen when you eat fruits and veggies every day–it helped me to understand that completing this challenge would be really good for us, in the long run.

Today, July 7th was the second day of our salad challenge, meaning that we started on July 6th and will have completed our salad challenge on August 6th. I took a picture of me and Goodmommy’s salad so you all can see what we incorporated.

This is my salad for today, which consists of green leaf lettuce and Romaine lettuce–one of the most nutritional leafy greens in the world– some air-friend chicken, and some French dressing. Even though I had the exact same thing yesterday, Goodmommy tossed all the ingredients together today, so I could automatically taste the improvement!

This is how Goodmommy’s lunch looked before her salad was tossed. It is pretty much exactly the same as mine with the exception of the sweet beets–the little red bits. Although I’m hesitant to add them into my salad, Goodmommy really enjoys them. I have to admit that they give the salad a really nice pop of color, which I like.

To keep you guys in-the-know about our progress with our salad challenge, I will try to post our salad once a week, so you all can see how we add more variety into our salads as we further master making them at home. I thank God that we have the resources to be able to buy the ingredients that we need to better our health.

While salad may not be many people’s first choice when it comes to lunch, it really is benefitial to keep your insides just as healthy as your outside. And in my opinion, when you are healthy on the inside, it eventually begins to show through in how you think on a daily basis. And the more that we can do to keep ourselves healthy and happy, the better.

LET’S CHAT~Have you ever done a nutritional challenge? Did you enjoy it?

Have a beautiful and blessed day, everybody! See you next time! ♡

The Joyful Blogger Tag 🌻 | national day of joy ♡

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If you could describe the best feeling in the world, what would it be? Come to think of it, there are a few that come to my mind. Love, gratitude, hope, peace. But what about the word “joy”? The dictionary itself defines the word as “a feeling of great pleasure or happiness.”

And while some might say that joy is a synonym to the word happy, it’s more of an abundance of glee that feels like a burst of energy throughout your body; in other words, pure bliss. Today happens to be the National Day of Joy, and a special Hug Holiday, which ironically go together perfectly. I mean, if there’s anything that bring us joy, it’s a warm hug.

In order to celebrate this day catered to joy, I decided to answer some fun yet thought-provoking questions in my original creation: The Joyful Blogger Tag 🌻 Feel free to answer each of these questions on your blog, as long as you state my name as the original creator (Q’Zion) and provide a link to the homepage of my blog within that post. And, without further ado, let’s get started!

What brings you the most joy–that does not include materialistic items?

Firstly Father God, who all my joy comes from. Then my family and friends. My pet fish. Seeing others be kind to one another. Doing what I love to do: including writing, art, listening to music, singing, reading, looming, etc. I think I feel happiest when I am doing what I love with the people that I love. While participating in my hobbies is always fun, whether I do it individually or with others, I always love to share my work with the people whom I care about the most.

Which color do you associate with the word “joy” the most?

I know this might be a little standard, but yellow is the first color that comes to my mind after reading this question. Bubblegum pink is a pretty close second, though. I think both of those colors are bright, energetic, bright and happy–looking. Brighter colors in the warmer spectrum tend to make me the happiest. On the other hand, colors like purple, blue and green give me a serene vibe. It’s funny how different colors and shades can make us feel different emotions, isn’t it?

How do you think you’ve grown as an individual within the past year?

The past year–or two–of my life have had a huge affect on the person that I am today. For one, I think that I’ve got a lot wiser, both due to things that God and my Goodmommy has shared with me as well as personal experiences. Now I am much more confident in who I am and how I look, and as a result I am a lot less shy then I was years ago. I have come to discover that I am wonderfully and perfectly made. In other words, I am exactly who God wants me to be. And I think that as long as I keep that motto in my heart, I will continue to grow.

What are you most grateful for?

The list is so long that it would never end, as there are always things to be thankful for when you look at the big picture of your life and what it could be. Right now, I’m most thankful for love and peace in my home. Being able to laugh, smile, and just enjoy life. I know that’s a pretty simple answer, but the things that make us happy don’t have to be complicated. In fact, most times it’s the everyday miracles that bring us the most joy.

How do you find joy through the trials of life?

When life gets tough and you’re in a tight spot, it can be tough for some to find things to be joyful about. However, I always like to remember that even though things might not be going my way, I’m still alive and breathing. Therefore, my journey is not over. Life itself is one of the greatest blessings of all. If we weren’t alive, how would we be able experience joy in the first place?

Wow! Those questions were the exact daily dose of happiness that I needed. The entire purpose for this post was to give us a chance to reflect on what makes us feel joy, and what we are grateful for even throughout the trials that we face. Remember, nothing and nobody can take your joy without your permission!

LET’S CHAT~What brings you the most joy? And furthermore, what is your favorite way to spread joy to others? Feel free to share your responses in the comments. I would love to hear from you all!

Have a joyful day, everybody! See you next time! 🌻

7 Daily Self-Care Habits to Help You Feel Your Best

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Over the last year, I feel as though incorporating self-care into my daily routine became more important for me. So much so that finding small ways to be kind to myself throughout the day has become natural.

Self-care is a necessity for anyone, no matter what age or gender. And while we all take care of ourselves in different ways, I think we should do so on a regular basis.

I am a strong believer that not only can self-care be fun, but also have a substantial effect on how you think and live. Due to its importance, I have listed some simple habits–most of which I do myself–that you can incorporate into your everyday routine to help you feel like your best self.

1. Wash your face in the morning.

A substantial amount of bacteria gets attached to our skin every 24 hours. And while some bacteria actually protects our skin, others types may lead to clogged pores, a buildup of oil, acne, and a multitude of other issues. This is why taking a damp, warm towel or a facial wipe that includes ingredients that will moisturize your skin should be included in everyone’s morning routine.

2. Eat more meals in smaller portions.

While we may be tempted to eat half of tonight’s dinner in one sitting, many scientists believe that it is best to eat more, smaller meals. Not only will it prevent you from getting hungry as frequently throughout your day, but it also constantly provides your body with nutrients. This then instantly boosts your metabolism, making your body and mind alike more optimistic and energetic.

3. Keep your space organized.

The space that we are surrounded in every day makes a difference in our mental clarity. For example, most of us would probably feel more at peace in a house where everything is put in a designated place rather than one where objects are randomly scattered across the floor. Space organization is everything when it comes to self-care! So a good idea is to pick a room in your home–or a digital option such as your liked Videos or emails–and organize it. A clean space is a huge step forward to a clean mind.

4. Unplug from social media for a day.

As a person who is practically inseparable from her phone and computer, I understand that this can be much harder said than done; especially when trying to make it a habit. While unplugging isn’t something that I do often, every now and again I will take a day off of my electronics. And it can really help to clear your mind off of all the “noise” that comes with social media. The next day, I return to it feeling refreshed and rejuvenated, in a sense.

5. Have a 3-minute breathing session.

There are times where we all need to sit still and take some deep breaths. I find this tip especially helpful for those who feel stressed or have anxiety, as it helps calm you down within a short amount of time. However, even if you don’t have any major events going on in your life, a 3-minute session of deep breaths can be very beneficial to your emotional health.

Related Post: What is Self Care?

6. Laugh as often as possible.

In my house, this isn’t so much a tip; more of just regular life. My family knows how to have tons of fun together, so we are just about always laughing. However, studies have shown that while the average 4-year-old laughs up to 300 times a day, most 40-year-olds laugh as little as 4 times daily. Laughing produces the “happy” chemical named endorphins, the ultimate hormone for feeling your greatest.

7. Create a ‘positive vibes playlist’.

Listening to music is like a therapy to most people. It’s like that safe haven whenever you need to clear your thoughts or relax or have a little “me time.” A great idea if you are a music lover is to create a playlist of all the songs that never fail to make you smile. This way, whenever you need to take a little break, you can go to your playlist and feel the good vibes.

As a blogger, self-care posts are some of the most wholesome to write. I really enjoy helping people feel like their best self as they live their best life, and I hope that these self-care habits will help you make the most of your daily routine.

LET’S CHAT~Do you have any positive self-care habits in your daily routine?

Have a blessed day, beautiful people, and I will see you later! Peace in! ♡

7 Ideas for Personal Growth in Summer 2022

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If there’s anything that I love about summer, it’s that it gives me the opportunity to grow, learn new things, and change for the better because of it. Summer is a season of transformation, and becoming a wiser, happier, and healthier person than you were before.

Many people look for ways that they can grow during this time of year, but don’t know where to start. To give you a bit of a helping hand, here is a beginner’s guide to self improvement, including 7 of my favorite tips for personal growth that you can apply to your life during the summer of 2022.

1. Spend your time doing things that will make you better.

As we set the goal for ourselves to grow as individuals, we have to be sure that what we do on a daily basis reflects that desire. While there is no problem with having fun (responsibly) from time to time, we must show ourselves approved by doing productive things that will improve us in some form. In other words, we should do things that will help us reach our goals.

2. Volunteer in your community.

One of the best ways to work to grow over the summer is by volunteering into local organizations and helping people in need. At this point, we have more than enough time on our hands. Plus, it always feels good to know that we’re spending it in a way that will help the people in our communities who need our assistance.

3. Be open to trying new experiences.

Our comfort zones are a good thing, but only to a limit. Sometimes we need to move beyond them in order to transition to the next stage of our lives. Change can be a good thing–making the decision to improve yourself is change. And as we transform, it’s beneficial when we occasionally try new productive things, giving us another opportunity to gain wisdom as we learn from each experience.

4. Practice self-care on a regular basis.

Self-care is and always has been important. In order for us to continue to improve, we need to take care of ourselves mentally, physically, and spiritually on a daily basis. Whether that means a few minutes of meditation, positive affirmations, reading, a hot bath, or listening to music, spend some time each day to clear your mind and get some me time.

5. Stay present and in the moment.

A critical part of personal development is staying present in every second that life has to offer. Even though summer break offers much time for us to learn and grow, it can fly by in a heartbeat. Therefore, be sure to take advantage of each moment that you have on Earth, with an intention and drive to reach each of your goals. So, while its good to plan for our future, make sure that you still remain present and grateful right where you are during each step of the journey.

6. Learn from others’ mistakes, so you don’t have to make them.

Honestly, I have to remind myself of this tip from time to time, just because it can be super easy to forget or dismiss. However, it holds so much wisdom that simply cannot be ignored. As we surround ourselves with positive role models who are willing to invest in us, we must pay attention to their experiences and what they have taught them. Take their wisdom as guidance for your future. And although we shouldn’t spend our time with them in order to grow, learn what not to do from the negative role models, as well.

7. Create positive habits

Those behaviors that we participate in have a significant affect on our lives and health. Healthy habits make up a healthy life. Focus your time doing things that are good for all the aspects of your health. This way, you can make room to continue your growth.

Personal growth is a mission that truly never stops, as there is always room for improvement. That being said, every single step counts, no matter their size. Developing as people is a process; one that takes time and patience. That being said, as long as we never give up, we are getting closer to whatever goals we want to achieve. We just have to keep pushing.

LET’S CHAT~Do you have any favorite tips for self improvement? Please feel free to share your responses in the chat.

Have a beautiful and blessed day, everybody! See you next time! ✨

Rest Well – Words of Wisdom #4

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Genesis 2:2-3 NIV (New International Version)
2 By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work. 3 Then God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work of creating that he had done.

The words of wisdom in the Bible hold a lot of meaning. And this section, in particular, stands out to me, a lot.

I find it amazing that even God Himself: the Lord of lords and King of kings, rested on the seventh day. He worked during the first six days–He created the world and everything in the world. And when He was done, He rested.

Now, we notice that the Bible just calls the Sabbath day “the seventh day.” We can conclude that this is technically Saturday, the seventh and last day of the week. While this is important, what I really want you to know is “Sabbath” means a day of rest or absence from work.

We don’t all have the same exact schedule–some people are off of work on Saturday, and others on Sunday. Some factors are simply out of our control. What matters is that when our time allows we take a break from work, and rest. That will likely be a day or two out of the week. It doesn’t have to be a lengthy period of time.

When we get our rest, we aren’t only resting our bodies, but also our minds. If we’re always on the go, then we will eventually get burnt out.

It’s just like how our bodies need sleep everyday–if we don’t get it, they can malfunction. That’s just how God made us.

We need at least one day out of the week as a break from work to regain our energy. As we work, we should put in our absolute best effort. In order to continue that same mindset, we need to take care of ourselves, too.

So it’s okay to take a rest from time to time. When we do our best work: good work, then a break is well deserved.

And if God rested, then we can, and should, too.

Have a beautiful and blessed day, everyone! What you think about rest? ❤️