Achuckallen

Instigating Better

Emotional Health

It’s Monday – Let’s Kill It!

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Monday Motivation: How To Make Every Day A Little Better

Mondays can be challenging. The start of the week, coming off a fun weekend, can sometimes feel like a drag. But with the right motivation, it doesn’t have to be that way! Learn how to make every day great with these tips on Monday Motivation.

Monday starts a new week and a chance to reset your goals. For some people, this means setting aside time to work on their fitness or eating healthy. Others may use Monday to focus on their mental health or productivity. No matter your goals, there are ways to make every day a little better.

Here are some tips for making Monday (and every day) a little better:

1) Make time for yourself: Whether taking a few minutes to meditate, going for a walk, praying, reading your Bible, or favorite book, make sure to carve out some time for yourself each day. This is time you can use to recharge so that you can be your best self for the rest of the day. This is worth rising just 15 minutes earlier. The benefits far outweigh the extra time in bed.

2) Set realistic goals: It’s easy to get overwhelmed by all the things you want to accomplish in a day (or week). To avoid this, set realistic goals for yourself and break them down into small steps that you can complete efficiently. This way, you’ll feel good about completing your goals and be less likely to get bogged down by them. Build a habit of creating your “top 3” things you need to accomplish on Sunday night. You will rest better and be better prepared when Monday comes. Keep your list short and bite-sized. The dopamine hit you get when checking off a part of the “big 3” is awesome!

3) Find something to look forward to. Having something positive to focus on can make even the most challenging days more bearable. Whether it’s looking forward to your favorite TV show at the end of the day or planning a fun weekend activity with friends, find something that you can look forward to. My favorite is to look forward to Monday night dinner out. Everybody goes out on Friday. Why not go eat out without the wait on Monday?

It’s Monday morning, and time to start the week off right! One of the best ways to do this is by setting weekly goals. ThIt’sill help you stay on track and motivated throughout the wit’s

  • Make sure your goals are specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART).
  • Write your goals down and refer to them often. Keep them in front of you!
  • Share your goals with a friend or family member to hold yourself accountable.
  • Give yourself small rewards along the way as you reach your goals.

It’s easy to let the weekdays become a blur of monotony, but it’s important to find the little things to make every day meaningful. Here are a few tips on how to do just that:

  1. Wake up with a positive attitude: Start your day off on the right foot by setting the intention for a great day. Give yourself a pep talk in the mirror or write affirmations to remind yourself of your extraordinary qualities. When you start with gratitude, everything changes. Science proves that written gratitude and affirmations are wildly more effective than just thinking about them.
  2. Do something nice for someone else: Make someone else’s day by performing a random act of kindness. Make it not so random, and give it some thought. It doesn’t have to be monetary, just thoughtful. Buy them coffee, hold the door open, or compliment them.
  3. Make time for your passions: Whether taking a cooking class, going for a hike, or reading your favorite book, make sure to schedule some activities that make you happy. Living in your desired zone each day will keep you from falling into the trap of staying in your drudgery zone. Make something happen to enjoy your day or at least part of it. My day always includes some music, reading, and sports.
  4. Connect with loved ones: Take some time each day to reach out to friends and family, whether it’s through text, social media, or good old-fashioned conversation. I use an app – Streaks – to capture the things that give me joy and make me better spiritually, physically, mentally, and socially. One of my “streaks” is connecting with one of my six daughters daily. That alone gives me great joy.

Here are a Few Practical Tips for a Better Everyday

  1. Get enough sleep: Most people need around eight hours per night. Going to bed and waking up at the same time every day will help regulate your body’s natural sleep rhythm. Sleep affects every part of your mind and body. If you are one of those folks that think you are the exception to this, you are not!
  2. Move More: Walking is a great way to get your heart pumping and improve your fitness level. It has also been proven to make your emotional health greater. I use it to listen to books and sometimes to listen to music as I think about my week or day.
  3. Take a Nap: When feeling overwhelmed or stressed, take a few minutes (10-20) to relax and rejuvenate. A quick nap is often referred to as a power nap. I prefer to think of it as an efficiency nap. That’s because I stay far more efficient when I grab a nap rather than trying to power my way through the afternoon.

We all know that Monday mornings can be tricky. We all have challenging days. Some days are more complex than others, but we all face challenges that can make us feel overwhelmed or discouraged. When you’re having a difficult day, it’s important to remember that you’re not alone. Other people are facing their own challenges, and we all have bad days from time to time.

When your Monday seems insurmountable, take a deep breath and relax. This may seem impossible when you’re stressed, but it’s important to try to calm yourself down. Taking some deep breaths and focusing on relaxing your body can help reduce stress and make it easiwhat’sdeal with whatever is causing your difficult day. My friend, Julie Homrich taught me a valuable lesson, “don’t believe everything your brain thinks.” Things are rarely as bad as we make them in our mind.

Talk to someone who understands. Sometimes talking to someone who has been through similar experiences can be helpful. They can offer support and advice on how to deal with your situation. For many of us, seeking out a coach, counselor, or therapist can be so healthy. Don’t be afraid to do so.

Write down your thoughts and feelings. Putting your thoughts into words can help you process them and figure out what’s causing stress or anxiety. Writing can also be therapeutic and help you release some pent-up emotions that make your day difficult. Again, science has proven that brief journaling of your thoughts can significantly reduce your stress levels.

Also, take a break from technology. Disconnecting from electronics for a while can help you focus on other things and give your mind a break from the constant stimulation of screens. Spend some time away from social media. You’ll be happier and more satisfied without it.

Get your prayer life in order. Make having a conversation with the Divine an essential part your day. Of all the keys to a better Monday, prayer is the essential element. Don’t complicate it. Simply talk to God and then hush to “hear” His responses. If you are married, pray out loud with your spouse. It will radically improve your marriage and your joy.

Monday motivation is an important part of life. It helps us stay focused, organized, and energized throughout the week. We can make every day a little better by taking a few minutes to plan out what we want to accomplish and focus on the positive aspects of our lives. The key is finding what works best for you and embracing it as part of your daily routine. Make Monday Motivation work in your favor, and watch how much brighter your days become!

Go in Peace, Chuck

Mirror Neurons: How They Affect Us And Help Shape Our Lives

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What if I told you that a particular type of neuron could shape and determine how we interact with others and the world around us? It may sound like something from a science fiction movie, but it’s real – and these are known as mirror neurons. Read on to find out more about how they work and how they can influence us in everyday life.

What are Mirror Neurons?

Mirror neurons are special cells in the brain that fire when we see someone else performing an action. For example, if we see someone else picking up a pencil, mirror neurons in our brain will fire as if we were picking up a pencil. Ever wonder why we “catch a yawn?” It’s because of mirror neurons working in our brains.

Scientists believe mirror neurons are crucial in helping us understand and empathize with others. They may also help us learn new skills by imitating others. The old saying goes, “Want to see who you’ll become in 5 years?” Look at the five people you spend the most time with.  

Research suggests that people on the autism spectrum have difficulty understanding and empathizing with others, which may be due to mirror neurons. More research is needed to confirm this link. Still, it makes sense why so many people on the autism spectrum are super-smart but not necessarily empathetic in interpersonal interactions. I learned recently that you can actually strengthen and train your mirror neurons to build empathy and compassion.

How Do Mirror Neurons Work?

Mirror neurons fire when we see someone else doing something. For example, if we see someone smiling, our mirror neurons will fire, and we will feel happy too. Scientists believe that mirror neurons are essential for social interactions and learning.

Mirror neuron research is still ongoing, but scientists believe these special brain cells play a crucial role in our ability to understand and empathize with others. My first thought when I learned about this from my friend, Julie Homrich, was that this has massive implications for how we equip young people to think creatively and authentically.

Mirror neurons fire when someone performs an action and when another person observes the same action. For example, if you see someone drinking from a cup of coffee, the same neurons in your brain will fire as if you were actually drinking the coffee. Likewise, if you see someone praying, you may be inclined to think more spiritually.

This ability to understand and empathize with others makes mirror neurons unique. They help us feel empathy and connect with others more deeply. Mirror neurons also allow us to learn new skills by observing others. The key is if we learn healthy or unhealthy habits as we mirror.

Some studies have shown that mirror neurons may be responsible for specific social behaviors, such as imitation and conformity. So, the next time you see someone do something, take a moment to think about your mirror neurons at work! Should I strengthen my mirror, or should I break it into pieces?

Regarding mirror neurons, the pros seem to outweigh the cons. For one, they help us understand and empathize with others. Additionally, research suggests that they may also benefit our physical health.

Empathy is essential for social cohesion. It allows us to put ourselves in another person’s shoes and see things from their perspective. This is crucial for building relationships, resolving conflicts, and working together cooperatively. Mirror neurons seem vital in allowing us to develop empathy, enabling us to grow in our relationship with Christ as we become more like Him.

I think we would all agree that the world would be a far better place
if we were to have more people acting like Jesus!

Physical health benefits have also been linked with mirror neurons. For example, one study found that people with damage to their mirror neuron system were more likely to suffer from chronic pain. Additionally, research suggests that mirror neurons may play a role in motor rehabilitation after a stroke or other brain injury. But, again, the positives are determined by what influences us.

There are Potential Downsides to Mirror Neurons

Though much potential for good comes with mirror neurons, there are also potential downsides. One such downside is those mirror neurons could potentially be used to exploit and manipulate people. For example, if someone wanted to get a rise out of another person, they could deliberately do something that they know will trigger the other person’s mirror neurons. Unfortunately, this seems to be the business plan for social media.

Another potential downside is that mirror neurons could contribute to excessive confirmation bias. This is when people only pay attention to information that supports their preexisting beliefs and ignore information that contradicts them. This can lead to problems like echo chambers, where people only expose themselves to ideas and opinions they already agree with. It can also make it difficult for people to change their minds about things even when presented with new evidence. This seems to be a significant issue in America today.

If we cease to learn as we fire only mirror neurons from
what we already think we know, we cease to be lifelong learners.

Mirror neurons help shape our lives profoundly by enabling us to understand others’ feelings and experiences. As research continues, we may discover more about mirror neurons, but one thing is clear: they play a significant role in human behavior and social interaction. Understanding how they work can help us better understand ourselves and others, ultimately contributing to a healthier society. And we could use that.

Next time you recognize your mirror neurons firing, ask yourself, “is this helping you grow more like Jesus?” Or is it making you less like Jesus? You’ll immediately know how healthy your mirrored relationships are.

Choose those five most prominent relationships well. They have a much more significant impact than you might have noticed.

Go in Peace, Chuck

4forFRIDAY with Chuck Allen

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1. An APP We Can All Benefit from ANXTY Widget (Panic Button)

This is most likely my favorite ap of 2022. I use it every day. It’s a simple way to connect and anchor your runaway thoughts to the intense love of God. It’s so, so good. If you are stressed, anxious, or fearful. Maybe even overwhelmed, this is a life-altering app. The folks from SoulSpace.co did it again. This is a must for every follower of Jesus!

2. A Gadget that I Use Every Single Day: Broadlink WiFi Plugs

Worshipful, powerful, inspiring, happy. I could go on and on. When you get to Revelation 19:1, just crank it up! BroadLink Smart Plug Mini, Smart Wi-Fi Timer Outlet Socket Works with Alexa, Google Home, IFTTT, Support Both 2.4G and 5G Wi-Fi.

3. An Article That Can Help Anyone, from INC. Magazine

I’ve been an evangelist for gratitude for years, but when you read an article designed for business leaders that supports your theology of gratitude, it’s hard to pass up. The article starts this way; “Everyone wants to be happier. Yet happiness can sometimes seem hard to come by.”

A Fun and delicious Dinner Downtown: Campagnolo

Last week, we joined a few neighbors for dinner at this fashionable and fun restaurant and thoroughly enjoyed our evening. It really is a great date spot and delicious Italian food! The lasagna was good,, but the Spaghetti a Cacio e Pepe was amazing!

A Wonderful Quote from Max Lucado

“You don’t influence God’s love. You can’t impact the tree-ness of a tree, the sky-ness of a sky, or the rock-ness of a rock. Nor can you affect the love of God.”

Go in Peace, Chuck

4forFRIDAY with Chuck Allen

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1. A GREAT Article from Scott Sauls: Jesus and Women During Advent and Always

I loved this article. It might offend you, but give it prayerful consideration. Here’s a snippet from Scott:
“It is clear that God esteems and elevates women and men. For this reason, I am sharing something I have previously written about the place of women in the world, in the church, and in the story of God. The following excerpt was posted after we decided to commission our first class of Deaconesses at Christ Presbyterian Church. It isn’t explicitly about Christmas, but I hope it will nonetheless enrich our understanding of God during the Advent season.”

2. A Christmas Album that I Cannot Stop Listening to. A Very Maverick Christmas, Especially Revelation 19:1

Worshipful, powerful, inspiring, happy. I could go on and on. When you get to Revelation 19:1, just crank it up!

3. A Powerful Article from Crosswalk: 7 Things We Regularly Get Wrong about Worship

Don’t read this unless you are ready to be challenged a bit regarding your heart towards worship. Here is a clip from this excellent article. “

“I didn’t get anything out of that today.” “I didn’t get anything out of the sermon.” “I didn’t get anything out of that service.” “I guess her song was all right, but I didn’t get anything out of it.”

“Sound familiar? Not only have I heard it countless times over these near-fifty years in the ministry, I probably have said it a few times myself.”

4. A Powerful List of Seven Commands for a
Peace-Filled Life from Psalm 100

In Psalm 100, we find seven such imperatives in Hebrew, seven commands related to gratitude.

One: “Make a joyful noise to the Lord.” The Hebrew means to “shout,” to actively and publicly vocalize your praise to God. To “shout” involves your voice, mind, emotions, spirit, and body in personal, passionate worship. This is an act of public praise.

Two: “Serve the Lᴏʀᴅ with gladness.” “Serve” here means to focus your entire life and existence on your sovereign Master, giving him your whole heart and surrendering your entire life to his service. This is for every moment of every day, not just an hour at church. It means to yield your life all day, every day, to his Lordship. Do this with “gladness,” rejoicing for the privilege in a lifestyle of praise.

Three: “Come into his presence with singing.” God’s “presence” refers to his “face.” This command calls us to seek personal, transforming intimacy with our Lord.

Four: “Know that the Lᴏʀᴅ, he is God.” “Know” means to acknowledge or confess, to testify publicly that the Lord is God over all the world. This is a public confession made proudly and boldly.

Five: “Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise.” We learn that gratitude allows us to experience God’s presence, power, and grace.

Six: “Give thanks to him.” Once you are in his presence, find specific reasons to express your gratitude to your Father.

Seven: “Bless his name.” The “name” of God denotes his presence, personality, and very essence. This means to thank and praise God himself.

5. Another Great Article: Benefits of Gratitude: 28+ Surprising Research Findings from PositivePsychology.com

This is a powerful, secular perspective that also aligns with all that the holy scriptures describe regarding gratitude and serving others. Here’s a sample: “

The benefits are split into five groups:

  • Emotional benefits
  • Social benefits
  • Personality benefits
  • Career benefits
  • Health benefits

There are many benefits of gratitude, but these categories cover quite a few.

BONUS: A POWERFUL QUOTE FROM GIL HOPKINS

“Life’s journey is not to arrive at the grave safely, in a well-preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, totally worn out, shouting ‘Holy Crap, what a ride!’”

Go in Peace, Chuck

The Rush from Thanksgiving to Christmas

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It’s a full-out sprint from Thanksgiving to Christmas Day. Every year, I tell myself that I’ll be better prepared for the mad dash of the season next year. And yet, here we go again. I have been fighting pneumonia this week and receiving daily IVs to feel better. Yet, through it all, life keeps racing on.

But in this crazy season, it seems critical to note that the problem isn’t the season. Instead, the problem is how we approach and experience the season.

Here are three things that I am trying to build in my life during this busy season. I trust that they might assist you as well.

What if we were to reestablish our agency over our calendars and build a few simple boundaries to guard our hearts and attitudes?

1. Get Serious About Sleep. Every study on the planet supports that you cannot sustain a healthy physical, emotional or mental life without adequate sleep. Break your pattern of thinking you can power through with just 5-6 hours of sleep. I can assure you that you are not the exception to this rule. Do whatever is required to get your sleep. I went to bed at 8:30 the other night to ensure I got some rest. Before you blow me off with the typical line of “I have no time to rest well,” hear me say that should you choose not to, the universe will ensure that you do – one way or the other. And ‘the other” isn’t the best route – get some sleep!

2. Get Serious About Getting Scripture In Your Soul. When we don’t take the living, breathing Word of God and ingest it daily, we say, “God, I’ve got this. I don’t need you today.” Friends, we have answered that question with a resounding – “not so good!” Even as a pastor, I’ve gone through seasons when I haven’t been disciplined or passionate enough to get God’s Word in my soul daily. Every season I allow that to happen, I suffer from more significant anxiety, negative self-talk, unhealthy relationships, and poor decisions. Every time I am faithful, even to get 5 minutes of scripture in my soul daily, I function at a far higher level. Keep this in mind – The prescription for a messy, hectic life is the calming, directive guide in the Bible – Take your medicine. The more you taste and see that it is good, the more you experience its very nature of love, power, and peace. We all need more love, strength, and peace this season.

3. Get serious About Service. If this is the most wonderful time of the year, why have we made Christmas all about us? The first Christmas was founded as a gift. God the Father sent God the Son as a gift to humanity. A gift designed to be given and received and shown again and again. Friend, if you want to experience the joy of Christmas, give! Serve someone in any way you can, and watch how God uses that gift to bless the one you are serving and you!

There is an old saying that goes:

“If you want happiness for an hour, take a nap. If you want happiness for a day, go fishing. If you want happiness for a year, inherit a fortune. If you want happiness for a lifetime, help somebody.”

Here is an excellent list of reasons to serve others this Christmas season:

1. Helping Others Feels Good

When you help others, it promotes positive physiological changes in the brain associated with happiness. These rushes are often followed by longer periods of calm and can eventually lead to better well-being. Helping others improves social support, encourages us to lead a more physically active lifestyle, distracts us from our problems, allows us to engage in meaningful activity, and improves our self-esteem and competence.

2. Helping Others Brings a Sense of Belonging and Reduces Isolation

Being a part of something other than ourselves leads to a feeling of belonging and provides people with a sense of purpose. It allows people to see beyond their own experiences and builds camaraderie among neighbors, family, and community.

3. Helping Others Helps to Keep Life in Perspective

Many people don’t realize the impact a different perspective can have on their outlook on life. Helping others, especially those who are less fortunate than yourself, can provide a real sense of perspective and make you realize how blessed you are, enabling you to stop focusing on what you feel you are missing – helping you to achieve a more positive perspective on the things that may be causing you anxiety.

4. Helping Others Makes the World a Happier Place Because It’s Contagious

Acts of service have the potential to make the world a happier place. An act of kindness can improve confidence, control, happiness, and optimism. It can also encourage others to repeat the good deeds they’ve experienced – it contributes to a more positive community. We can all agree that is a good thing, can’t we?

5. Helping Others is As Much About You as it Is About Them

Scientific studies prove that the benefits of helping others can last long after the act itself by providing a ‘kindness bank’ of memories that can be drawn upon in the future. It is, in a sense, a long-release medication for the soul.

The Dash from Thanksgiving to Christmas can be brutal, but remember – The problem isn’t the season; the problem is how we handle it!

Get serious about your sleep.
Get serious about scripture.
Get serious about service.
And have a very merry Christmas!

Go in Peace, Chuck

This Week’s “I Might Be Wrong, But I Doubt It”

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AChuckAllen August 4, 2022

Have you ever been in the shower or riding down the road thinking, and it hit you that you might be wrong, but you doubt it? Yeah, me too. This week’s article is focused on POLITICS! But, you know the age-old story; avoid politics at the Sunday dinner table if you want to keep the peace. But, here we go. Why do we get so whacked out about politics in America these days?

POLITICS IN AMERICA

America is in an information war – with itself. Our public forums, where we Americans discuss public issues, are broken. There’s little healthy discussion – and plenty of fighting. One reason why: Persuasion is difficult, slow, and time-consuming – it doesn’t make good television or social media content – and so there aren’t a lot of good examples of it in our public discourse. As a result, we have become propagandists, not persuaders. We have chosen the path of picking a side and unfolding a shock and awe campaign of how bad the other side is, regardless of who the other side is.

The old vertical propaganda model cannot withstand the changes in communication brought on by the new participatory media – talk radio, cable, email, blogs, chats, texts, video, and social media.

Pew research says that 93% of Americans are connected to the internet and 82% of Americans are connected to social media. We now all have direct access to communicate in the public square – and, most of us engage at some level in the propaganda machine. A lot of folks use their social media connections and platforms to knowingly and unknowingly spread misinformation, disinformation, conspiracy, and partisan talking points – all forms of propaganda. We’re all propagandists now. At times, we create our own version of dissent.

The inability of Americans to allow for dissenting thoughts has become an epidemic. When we do not allow for common decency in dialogue with those we disagree with, we lose all sense of humanity and turn what could be beneficial for the country into a battle of anger, resentment, and outrage. It doesn’t take long!

Hold your convictions close to you, but be cautious that your convictions are more than preferred thoughts and outcomes. America became America out of appreciation for how our Creator made us uniquely different, and we bond around that rather than fight about why it is the case.

Be sure to leave room for your fellow American to be right, even if it is seldom the case.

Be sure to leave room for you to be wrong, even if it doesn’t happen often.

As a country built on diverse thought, we must accept that wherever diverse thought occurs, conflict is lurking around the corner. Conflict, friend, isn’t the problem.
The problem is mismanaged conflict.

Most conflict is internal. When someone thinks differently than you, they will most likely act, react and vote differently than you. That doesn’t have to make them your enemy. There is a reason that they think that way, and the way they think may have nothing to do with you – at all!

To demonize them without attempting to understand them is doing yourself disfavor! Leave room for that Republican or Democrat to share why. If they don’t know why, other than some talking puppet on an alleged news show, don’t argue; simply step away.

Everyone has the right to be wrong!

If you do find yourself in a heated exchange, be the grown-up in the room and take the heat down. Speaking truth in love is the key here. When we shower others with our worst, we rarely have an opportunity to persuade, we simply become part of the propaganda. Besides, we owe it to the world to lessen the noise and increase the collective IQ.

Step away from the keyboard when you are heated. There is no need to convince others of your lack of control. The country needs men and women of conviction, courage, and wisdom,
not more screaming and banter.

If you want to discuss politics, check your logo and ego at the door and have a clear, common, and compelling reason for what you say. Say it in a way that is helpful, thoughtful, and wise. Be willing to be corrected and be willing to accept differences, and watch how we can find a middle ground.

I might be wrong, but I doubt it.

Go in Peace, Chuck