Working outside the home is the right choice for me

Working outside the home is the right choice for me.

My decision to work outside of the home is the best choice for my family. As a working parent, I am able to provide a secure future for my family.

My family's finances benefit from the work I do. I am saving for my children's college tuition and other important expenses with my salary. I am able to responsibly plan for the future with my additional income.

I believe that my career is beneficial for my children's social development. Sending my children to pre-school, daycare, or leaving them with a Nanny has innumerable benefits for their social development.

In pre-school, my children are exposed to a variety of people and activities that I would be unable to replicate at home. My children are learning the skills they need to prepare them for school.

There are people better trained than I whom I can trust with my children's education. Staying involved in my children's class allows me to participate in their accomplishments.

I am a better parent because of my job outside of the home. Having a place to go and a change of scenery helps me appreciate what I have when I am home.

My work keeps me feeling useful, valuable, and intelligent. When I come home from work, I feel refreshed and better able to enjoy my family time. It is to my family's advantage for me to work outside of the home.

Today, I work because I want to. To me, the benefits of working outweigh the benefits of staying home. I am happy working outside of the home.

Self-Reflection Questions:

1. Why do I work outside of the home? 2. How should I respond to criticism about my decision? 3. How do my children benefit from my career?

Stepping back helps me to refocus

Stepping back helps me to refocus.

It is easy to get caught up in the game of life, so I take time to step back, away from the noise, and think. I pause at the fountain of life and refresh my soul.

When I step back, I can look objectively at my life. Removing myself from the busyness of life allows me to reflect on my priorities. I can identify talents to strengthen and successful areas that I might have overlooked.

When I get too busy and fail to take a break, I become emotionally charged and driven by my feelings. I feel as if I am becoming consumed by the tasks I must complete. Then I remember to step back so I can nurture the creative person inside of me, and all is well again.

Driving myself to constantly achieve, without a break, leads to exhaustion. There comes a point where I must place my well being ahead of my productivity. When there is too much on my plate, I compromise the quality of my work.

Stepping back helps me achieve balance. When I reflect on how I have been spending my time, I see areas that I am neglecting. When I step back, I am able to make a plan to pursue the dreams I may have put aside.

Today, I choose to take a break from the routine and reflect on where my life is headed. I am honest with myself about negative habits I can give up, skills I need to work on, and which areas are my strong points.

Self-Reflection Questions:

1. Am I living according to my values and priorities? 2. How can I shield myself from exhaustion? 3. Is it time to revise my plan for my future?

Planning ahead saves me time and money

Planning ahead saves me time and money.

The average family wastes over $2000 per year due to lack of planning. Instead of being one of those families, my family saves money by living strategically.

At the start of the week, I plan my family's meals in order to maximize the use of my groceries. I choose meals with the same ingredients to prevent items from spoiling in the refrigerator and going to waste.

While planning the meals for the week, I use the Internet to find deals and printable coupons for the items on my list. Armed with a shopping list and matching coupons, I make better choices at the grocery store.

I am stronger than the pride that tries to prevent me from shopping for sales. Using coupons is fun because it is easy to do and saves me money. When I provide for my family's needs while saving money, I feel smart.

Each week, I also plan my family's activities so we can identify ways to best make use of our time as a family. I group car trips together in order to save time as well as money on gas.

My home is organized so I know where things are when I need to use them. The ability to find what I need with ease prevents me from purchasing items I already own simply because they are misplaced.

Today, I choose to pay attention to the small details of my affairs so I can identify areas where I can save time and money. I prepare my week in advance to refrain from wasting.

Self-Reflection Questions:

1. How can I make time to plan effectively for my week? 2. What three things can I do to save money that is currently being wasted? 3. What could my family do with the savings from being organized?

Peace leads me

Peace leads me.

I follow the way of peace and run from the path of confusion. I have peace with every step I take. I may not always be certain about where I am heading, because I don't know everything, but I always trust my inner sense of direction.

I take risks without violating my peace. When I am uneasy about a situation, it means that I need to wait before making a decision. I would rather delay an action than take a wrong action. I stand still until peace leads the way.

I have a heightened sense of awareness of my conscience. When I hear my conscience calling out to me, I obey. My conscience is a gift placed in me by my Creator as a compass, to keep me headed in the right direction.

I am strong enough to do the right thing, even when I don't want to, because I have my emotions under control. I am in charge of the thoughts on which I allow my mind to dwell. Instead of living by my emotions, my emotions are subjected to my will.

Every decision I make must be approved by my conscience. Losing sleep and feeling regret are strong signals that something is wrong. When those signals begin to flash, I proceed with extreme caution.

I stop to do some honest self-reflection and guide myself back to a path that restores my peace. When I separate my rational brain from my irrational desires, I make better decisions.

Today, I choose to follow the path of peace. I separate myself from anything that causes confusion and I pursue clarity.

Self-Reflection Questions:

1. Am I at peace with my recent decisions? 2. Can I recognize the voice of my conscience in decision-making time? 3. Do I allow my emotions to lead me or do I follow peace?

Patience sustains my center

Patience sustains my center.

My soul is at peace when my mind is settled and free from worry. Ridding myself of anxiety calms my emotions, allowing me to experience complete peace.

To have peace, I must let go of the things that are beyond my control. I exercise restraint when I would rather react. I wait instead of becoming tense because it is better to wait than to act hastily. I choose to exert self-control.

I am saturated by patience from the inside out, bringing peace to my core. Waiting is something I can do proficiently. Periods of waiting are simply temporary while better things are being prepared for me.

Keeping realistic expectations is the foundation to an attitude of patience. I know that, in reality, there are often complications or inevitable setbacks. Accepting that life is not perfect helps me to gracefully deal with trying situations.

I choose to have the attitude of a problem-solver rather than a victim. I make valuable use of my time finding answers and figuring out ways to help myself. I refrain from engaging in behaviors that do not produce a result, such as complaining.

I change what I can change, if not the situation, then my attitude about it. Either way, I am responsible for keeping my inner peace. Instead of over reacting out of bitterness, I allow patience to rule my actions, keeping my emotions in line.

Today, I choose to have faith that I can overcome any situation, just as I have done successfully in the past.

Self-Reflection Questions:

1. Are my expectations realistic? 2. How can I be more flexible in the face of challenges? 3. What are the benefits of waiting patiently?

My positive attitude attracts quality friends

My positive attitude attracts quality friends.

My friends are gracious people who love me just the way I am. I feel good when I am around my friends. Spending time with my friends leaves me feeling a deep sense of happiness.

I am successful at forming valuable relationships through my positive personality. Unafraid to be myself, I let go of inhibitions and have a blast with my loved ones. Because I accept myself, others accept me.

My confidence draws people to me because I make them feel good about themselves too. I make it a point to look for the positive in everyone and highlight it. I forgive people's mistakes, just the way I want people to overlook mine.

I refrain from judging others because I am imperfect, too. I am a work in progress, learning from life's experiences. I am humble enough to understand that we are all works in progress - improving, yet unfinished.

Instead of focusing on my friends' shortcomings, I focus on what we have in common. Whether I look for something that separates us or something that draws us together, I know I will find plenty. Therefore, I choose to seek the positive.

I have the courage to eliminate the negative from my life. Not all the people who come into my life are positive influences. It is up to me to keep those who make me feel inadequate out of my life. I choose to surround myself with quality friends.

Today, I choose to exhibit a positive personality to attract other positive people into my life.

Self-Reflection Questions:

1. Whose company do I enjoy the most? 2. How do I feel after a night out with friends? 3. What changes do I need to make in choosing friends?

My peace endures through the storm

My peace endures through the storm.

When I am in the midst of the storms of life, my peace enables me to prevail. My peace is everlasting.

The harder life gets, the more I abandon my selfish desires and let the hands of peace carry me. In the hands of peace, my need to be right melts away. Pride is replaced by a desire for harmony.

It is easy to be at rest when the sun is shining. When the clouds begin to roll in and darken the day, I need my inner sense of calm to take over my emotions.

When anger brews within me due to an injustice, peace is like a soft blanket covering me. I breathe deeply and allow tranquility to overtake me. My emotions are balanced and in order. Challenging situations are futile against me because I am well prepared.

Instead of waiting until I am in the middle of a storm to desperately search for serenity, I actively engage in harmony on a daily basis. I exercise my muscles of peace by thinking before I act. The longer I calmly reflect on a constraint, the less challenging it becomes.

In the heat of the moment, there are issues that feel bigger than what I can handle. In those instances, stress creeps up slowly to steal my peace. Pausing to breathe and think helps me to calm down and keep things in perspective.

Today, I choose to stay calm, especially in the middle of the storm, by giving myself time to withdraw from the situation and put things in perspective.

Self-Reflection Questions:

1. Do I practice peace on a regular basis? 2. What happens to my emotions when I give myself time to calm down? 3. Why is it important to remain calm instead of allowing myself to become overwhelmed?