Tag Archive: friends

How do you start a relationship?

Filed under: Encouragement, Friendship, Parenting, Uncategorized — 2 Comments

November 14, 2012

If you want to start a relationship with someone; whether it be for friendship or romance, how do you begin?

What steps do you take to get to know a person?

wikiHow answered that question with seven steps:

Ask Questions

Essentially, you need to ask questions to get to know this person better and open ended questions are best, of course, to allow a comfortable flow in conversation. The point here is to get to know whatever you can about this person.

Keep Conversations Active

You want to make sure the other person knows you’re interested in what they’re saying. Pay attention and respond physically by nodding your head, using facial expressions and above all, looking the person in the eye!

Verbally Respond

Ask more questions if the person is interested in something you know little about. Keep the conversation going…and to quote wikiHow:

“Convince yourself that you want to know, and soon you will be having a very engaging conversation.”

Plan Activities

Spend as much time as you can with the person; outings, phone, email, etc… It will show them that you’re interested and allow you to get to know them better.

Be Honest

If you are open and honest with the person, it will not only allow them to get to know you better but also allow them to trust you enough to be honest with you as well.

Be Interesting

Share interesting things about yourself, your family, your background which will encourage them to tell you more interesting things about themselves.

Bribe

Ok, so it doesn’t actually tell you to bribe them, but flattery does work. As I told my kids when they were first starting school, if there was someone they wanted to become friends with, compliment them, bring a treat or offer one from your snack or lunch and be sure to share. (Chocolate works well…) No one wants to be friends with someone who’s selfish.

These seven steps are good, but I’ve thought of a few more…

Observe

The best way to get to know someone is to, like #4, spend as much time with them as you can but especially in different situations and with different people. You can learn a lot from a person just by watching how they act with others; parents, friends, children, teachers, at church, at school, at a restaurant, etc…

Attitude

They say…”attitude is everything” and when it comes to starting a relationship, I believe that is true. People are naturally drawn to and want to be around others who are kind, optimistic, fun, energetic, confident and happy.

I would love to hear from you!!

Do you have any other other ideas or suggestions?
What, to you, is most important when starting a new relationship?
Please share them here or contact me directly at ispygod@gmail.com

Thanks!

Tags: dating, friends, how to find friends, how to get to know someone, how to start a relationship, people, relationships

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My motivation…

Filed under: Christianity, Fitness, Friendship, Weight Loss — 4 Comments

April 30, 2012

So apparently I have hit a nerve, or perhaps a soft spot (heehee), with my post the other day. Sounds like many of you are also struggling with motivation… YAY!! I’m not the only one!

I have been asked so many times how I stay motivated. Although, um… I ask that you do as I say, not as I do because at the moment, if you read my post: Lacking Motivation, I have not been terribly motivated to work out recently…

BUT, I made up a list of what kept me on track and quite literally going at times;

1st: Find a workout buddy.

It’s not only much more fun, but knowing that someone’s waiting for you is motivating in itself! Some of my peeps and I are blessed enough now to belong to a gym together, but for a long time we used to workout at each other’s homes!

On a side note if you are attempting Shaun T’s Insanity…it is imperative that you get insane together…that workout is seriously CRAZY!! (but oh so fun with people you can whine with!!)

“Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up!” Ecclesiastes 4:9-10

2nd: Take pictures & measurements.

(I know, I know, how awful…) Sometimes it is the best way to track how you’re doing when the scale has decided to go on strike against you! When you hit a “plateau” in weight loss, it very well could be your body and metabolism changing (which is a great thing, right?!!). Sometimes the only way to truly see your accomplishments is through a lens or on the measuring tape. Believe me, after a while the before & after pictures may be what you are most proud of!!

“A full and fair weight you shall have, a full and fair measure you shall have, that your days may be long in the land that the LORD your God is giving you. For all who do such things, all who act dishonestly, are an abomination to the LORD your God.” Deuteronomy 25:15-16

3rd: Workout in the early morning.

I have found that getting up early while everyone else is asleep works best for me. With a hubby & four kids, that’s about the only “me time” I get, and no one misses me while I’m gone. Plus, after work or at night never seems to work, something always seems to come up or I’m just too tired. I promise you, the hardest part is getting up!!

“For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do.” Galatians 5:17

4th: Find something you love

Try everything and switch things up to keep it interesting. I love kickboxing most, but I have tried everything; spinning, running, rock climbing, swimming, biking, zumba, boot camp, etc… if it’s a chore and you don’t enjoy it, you won’t stick with it.

“Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.” 1 Corinthians 13:7

5th: Set goals to stay motivated.

If you haven’t read my weight loss story: Lacking Motivation, now might be the time. In 2006 I started eating better, exercising, setting weight goals and rewarding myself when I achieved them. I have lost 75 pounds and have kept the weight off.

“Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable.” 1 Corinthians 9:25

Lastly: Register for a race.

Since I’ve started all of this, I’ve done several 5k races, 4 sprint triathlons, a couple mud runs (including the Warrior Dash) and a 1/2 marathon! It is so awesome (once you’re done of course) at the sense of accomplishment & pride you feel completing a race, and it sure helps to keep you motivated to workout!! (Plus the t-shirts & medals are fun to show off too!) 🙂

“Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it.” 1 Corinthians 9:24

What I realized though is that we don’t lack motivation in just weight loss, it can apply to everything in life;

Prayer time…

School work…

Household chores…

Bible reading…

Work obligations…

Parenting…

And as long as we seek direction, discipline ourselves, stay the course, and glorify God through every race, every load of laundry, every spreadsheet, every prayer, every test… we’ll be on the right track.

“And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.” Colossians 3:17

What area do you need to be more disciplined in?

What’s holding you back?

Make a plan, take a step, and see it through. No more excuses!!

Tags: exercise, fitness, friends, health, healthy-living, Insanity, measure, rock climbing, weight loss

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I am thrilled that you have visited my site, and my prayer for you is to see that God is alive, very real, and at work in every moment of your day!
There are no coincidences, ironies, or luck in life… every tiny detail is fashioned and planned by Him, and He wants you to see how tangible and involved in life He really is!
It's at these moments when “I Spy God,” and what my stories focus on…because God wants to get your attention!

Please, tell me what you think about any of my posts!! I would love to hear from and about you! Thanks for stopping!
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