My friend, Andy, is coming out with a new e-book, Early to Rise, in January. Essentially, through his book, he’s asking me to do the thing I hate most – getting out of bed…early. Ugh.

I’m not being dramatic. It doesn’t matter if it’s 5 am or noon; if I got 4 hours of sleep or 10. I love being in bed. I guess that makes me a big lethargic, but oh well. I love being cuddled in my favorite quilt, which is really more like an adult blanky that I made with my now-deceased Grandmother when I was 12. Yep, I just made you feel guilty for judging me for having an adult blanky. Shame on you.

I told Andy I hated mornings.

His response: “I HATE getting up Miranda. Hate it.  But I love BEING up. Big difference!” Wow – alright already, I can do this!

Early to Rise Cover
(current version)

The Challenge

After the short introduction, the book is to be read over 30 days – about a page and a half of reading for each day, which takes me about 5-10 minutes depending on my morning alertness.

Here we are on day one. So, I didn’t get up early. I didn’t sleep well, so I decided I needed to rest a bit more (I think that’s what you call an excuse). But I did spend some quiet time reading “Day 1″ before I started my day. I was determined to start this when I said I would.

Like at the beginning of a new journey, there’s the heightened excitement that comes from the unknown and from starting something new. Like that super cheesy workout video I did for about 2 weeks that now collects dust on my video shelf.

However, the introduction to Early to Rise is quite inspiring. There are two entire pages dedicated to “motivation – why do you want to change your life?” It might be a good idea to read this section every morning before getting to my daily reading – you know, to help my brain and body remember why I am no longer cuddled in bed with my husband.

The Plan

Get up a bit earlier each day to accomplish tasks, like the writing I’ve been neglecting, the crafts I miss doing, or even the cleaning that I enjoy (yes, I’m that lame). Then, I’ll report back to you and share my challenges. It might not be daily, but it will be frequent.

Oh, and how perfect is this timing? Great new year’s resolution – right?!

You can request the pre-release and in-progress version here or wait until it comes out in January and buy it (or both!). By purchasing the book, you’ll help Andy feed his family. I’ve seen his family and his kids are cute – so please don’t let them starve!

To find out more information about Andy and his book, check out the links below:

Andy Traub on Twitter

Early to Rise on Twitter

Early to Rise Website

Are you interested in joining me? Let me know by leaving a comment below and we’ll hate mornings together. See you in the morning!

We can’t help it. We can’t stop it.

We can prepare for it.

Photo from stevendepolo, Creative Commons

Last month, I spoke at my first professional (and paid) speaking gig. Needless to say, I was very excited and nervous at the same time.

But this is a new adventure in my life. Moonlighting as a guest speaker for small events at my church has given me some experience, but this is a step toward a possible new vocation.

Am I ready for this change?

Yes.

Because I have prepared.

Prayer

I have spent a lot of time in prayer these past few months. I’ve learned that I don’t know it all, nor do I know what the right path is for me. I need to trust in God and follow His plan for me. I have also ran across some great devotionals from The Confident Woman Devotional by Joyce Meyer (affiliate link). Here are some of the ones that provided the most encouragement.

•  Lord, I believe You have a great future for me and that I can walk in Your purpose for my life. Isaiah 43
• Lord, thank You for the examples in Your Word of individuals who stepped forward in faith despite their fears. Help me to do the same. Ezra 3:3-4
• Lord, You used people of all ages throughout the Bible. I am excited about what You have for me to accomplish. 1 Timothy 4:12

Support

We all need someone in our life to act as a sounding board – whether it’s a family member, friend, or mentor. Someone who has a “judge-free” ear and can offer level-headed feedback.

I am lucky enough to have a couple of these people in my life, who all give different perspectives. They help me reign in my crazy ideas and help me weed through my processes.

Honesty

I love singing. I’ve been a part of a worship team for my church for the past 12 years as a back-up vocalist. And I will always be a back-up vocalist. Why? I don’t have “chops” to hold a song on my own. But the key is that I’ve realized this.

Being honest with yourself is so very important. We need to know our limitations. There are things that can be learned, and there are things we have been given as a natural talent. Focus on those talents to use your time most wisely.

Use people who will give honest feedback. Don’t look for a “yes-man” to stroke your ego. That wont help you.

Planning

I love lists. Grocery lists, to-do lists, travel lists…the list is endless I am a planner. And as such, I used a wonderful life planning tool, with a few edits to fit my needs, written by Michael Hyatt. I also have a 5-year plan and a personal development plan.

In my plans, I included my passion for public speaking. I also noted things I needed to do and set dates to achieve goals. These things help keep my drive alive and motivate me to reach my dreams.

Question: How do you prepare for change? Leave a comment below!

*Photo from stevendepolo, Creative Commons

I thought life for everyone was like this. I rarely noticed kids at school who “looked” different. I thought people chose to keep old beat-up cars for nostalgia purposes. And the adult working at McDonald’s late at night, I assumed that was the shift he chose to work.

I didn’t know there were struggling people out there.

I live in South Dakota, where helping your neighbor isn’t even a question that needs to be asked. It’s just a given. But really, shame on me.

Slowly, though, as I’ve grown, I’ve come to realize that life isn’t always so peachy for everyone.

Very recently, I had my imaginary perfect world blow up – simply due to one book.

A book by author and blogger, Jeff Goins, called Wrecked: When A Broken World Slams into Your Comfortable Life - which will be available on August 1st.

I received the honor of being a member of the book’s launch team. As such, I received an advanced copy and devoured the content in about 4 hours. And here is some great news, you can get the first fifth of the book free here!

Here is a teaser from his book and a message that I shared with a group of young girls at a leadership camp.

“If you feel you’ve been given more than you can possibly handle, take heart. This is the point where you learn to grow into who you’re meant to be. It’s when you’re in over your head that you start taking your work seriously, when you finally grow up and into your destiny. No one’s going to give you a map.” – Wrecked, pg 102-103

This book helps us realize one thing – we were made to hurt.

The truth that I share with others after reading this book is simple. You’re going to fail. You’re going to get wrecked at some point. But it’s ok. It’s healthy. It’s needed. If you have faith, you believe it is happening for a reason. And that reason is to discover who you really are.

Can you believe that?

I do. And I’m glad that Jeff wrote this book – to help challenge us to seek the situations that will wreck the core of who we are.

This world needs more wrecked people and less perfect people. And I may be one of the first converts.

Here is a message from Jeff.

So, are you ready to get wrecked? If so, WAIT! If you buy the book the week it comes out (August 1-4), Jeff will send you over $158.00 worth of free stuff, including electronic versions of the book! Check out the book’s site for more information on that!

And finally, if I haven’t given you enough of a reason to buy this book, take a look at the awesome list of endorsements. It’s a pretty impressive list. Almost as impressive as the foreword by Michael Hyatt.

So, who is ready to get wrecked? It’s a pain that is life-changing!

Question: Have you been wrecked? Share your story below and visit the Wrecked Stories Page to read other’s stories!

If you were a singer, would it matter if you were singing to the birds or to a concert hall?

If you were a writer, would it matter if you had 0 visitors on your website or 10 best-selling books?

If you were a basketball player, would it matter if you were on the “B” team or if you were a starter?

Photo from Bhope34, Creative Commons

Is it a passion?

The answer to these questions will help you understand your level of passion.

Now, don’t get me wrong. There is no reason to not want to be the best. You should dream the highest dream you are capable of.

But what happens if you don’t achieve the best? Do you quit? Or do you continue on because you love it. Because you feel empty if you don’t do it.

Who do you pursue your passion for?

I pursue music for me. Because I enjoy it. Because it feeds my soul. Most of my iTunes library contains Christian artists, like Casting Crowns, Tenth Avenue North, or Mercy Me. I pursue being a worship leader for God. I love playing music to Him and for Him. If I stop being a worship leader, I will still seek worship through the music I listen to.

I write because I enjoy sharing a message. My favorite communication is speaking, but writing helps me develop my messages and build my platform (for more on this, check out Michael Hyatt’s new book, Platform: Get Noticed in a Noisy World. I’ll write even if no one visits my site or reads my books. I write for me. Because I love it. And, let’s be honest, because my husband needs a break from me talking all the time.

But there are other things that I have been involved in that I don’t have a passion for. Not everything can have our attention. And just because a friend supports a cause does not mean we will feel the same way about it.

I recently had that experience with my mom, where she signed me up for a committee that I really had no interest in helping with. So, when meetings came up, did I want to attend? No. Did I attend? No. Other things were more important. I fulfilled the duties I was asked to do, but that was it. I had no passion. (Don’t get me wrong, the organization is totally awesome. I just didn’t have passion for the event.)

The point is – find out what you want to do – what you like to do. They should be the same thing. And then pursue it because you love it, not because you get paid the big bucks or your name is in lights.

Pursue it for you. Then share it with the world.

Question: Who do you pursue your passion for? Leave a comment below!

Some of the links above contain affiliate links.

Photo from Bhope34, Creative Commons

I think of hatred.

Resent.

Every cake and cookie type confection that has ever been made.

Then I think about Jamaica, which is the reason I am getting into shape. My trip that will be here in 6 months.

Relaxing on our Honeymoon

I remember the beaches, landscape, and ocean. I remember the food. The people. The relaxing week we spent there on our honeymoon in 2010. And the bikini I was able to wear.

The bikini that has collected dust in the back of my drawer for the past 2 years.

After all of those thoughts, I’m happy with my choice to watch what I eat. I want to go back to that magical place feeling good about myself.

But it’s not easy. To say that I’m a carb addict is an understatement. Beside the occasional steak or chicken breast, carbs essentially make up my entire diet. The 3 P’s – pasta, pizza, and potatoes.

Ok, it’s not that limited, but that’s not the point. The point is I haven’t eaten those things in moderation.

That’s why I’m dieting.

And because I have those memories of Jamaica, I can handle it.

Celebrating the Little Wins

The memories are not my only joy, there are other little wins as well.

Like this weekend celebrating Father’s Day. We had 2 gatherings. The lunch meal at my aunt’s house consisted of chips, salads, and desserts. I passed on all of those “no-no” items. Supper was at a local steakhouse, who serves some of the best fresh-baked buns. They sat there on the table looking at me. And I looked back. I engaged in an internal debate. You know, “If I just had half, that’s better than a whole one.” But I didn’t.

I said no.

I won. The biggest joy of the day was finding my willpower.

And to put a cherry on top of it all, I lost 4 pounds last week when I weighed in. Well worth passing on the bread!

So to all of you out there who struggle with food, I will pray for you. I’m not healed, but I’m here on this journey with you. And to everyone else struggling with an addiction or bad habit, it’s time to change. No more waiting for tomorrow.

Now is your time.

Find your willpower.

Celebrate those little wins.

Question: Have you been reintroduced to your willpower recently? Leave a comment below!