's motd Sunday Jan 3, 2010

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THE SECRET FOR PEACE

Sunday, 03 January 2010

Are you a peaceful person on this beautiful third day of 2010? We've talked about being peaceful before. Thinking peaceful is all about not dwelling on the past but enjoying what you have here in the present. It's also about looking forward to your future. Peacefulness is a state of mind.

You can look in people's eyes and faces and tell if they're at peace. There's just something about their similes and the warmness in their eyes that lets you know. Now a lot of people leave this earth not ever having true peace. And to me, that's very sad. I receive so many E-mails from people who're not at peace. Many of them hold on to the negativity of their pasts. And those people who write me with those kinds of issues always bring up someone from their pasts who made them feel really bad about their weight, especially when they were younger.

Sometimes it was a grandmother, one of your parents or maybe a sibling who'd said something very unkind to you about your weight. And you've held on to those statements your entire life. I know, when you're trying to lose weight, sometimes their words play loudly in your head, making it harder for you to stay on program.If you're facing these kinds of issues, my advice is for you to begin the peace-making process with yourself. And that process begins with your learning to forgive those who've put you down over the years about your weight. Most probably, these people don't even remember saying those mean-spirited things to you...but you remember. Forgive them. That's all I'm asking you to do. Maybe someone who said some of those unpleasant things to you has even passed away. And please don't hold a grudge against a dead person. (I've read a lot of King novels!)

And if the person who put you down is still alive, you don't have to write or call them so the two of you can "have it out." (What good would that accomplish?) Just forgive them. And when you do forgive those people, you will feel a lot of weight lifted from your shoulders. Hey, being angry with someone causes damage to your own peace. And I don't want you to be damaged this year, at all! I want you whole...I want you strong and...I want you to forgive.I also get a lot of E-mail from people who tell me how horrible they were to themselves last year. And I tell them to forgive themselves, too...and to move on. Now today is Sunday. Maybe you're going to church this morning or maybe you're going to stay home and pray alone. (To me, they're the same things.) While in prayer, please, do your forgiving. And I promise, you'll feel so much better having done it.

I am one who truly believes in the power of prayer. And I pray morning, noon and night. I also want to tell you that even though I don't know many of you personally, I always pray for you and your families. Have a beautiful first Sunday of 2010 and please take good care of you!Love,