Consistency......

I have been thinking alot lately about this word, consistency lately. It has been appearing in my thoughts almost daily so I thought I would get these thoughts out and share them. I am really realizing how important this word is in every aspect of my life.

The first thing I have realized I have to be consistent in, is in my training. Running has helped me to understand many life lessons. I can always compare something to running. As you all know, I have made a goal to run a marathon. This takes a lot of my time and effort. I have a schedule and I have decided to completely stick with it. I know that if I miss a day here and there that I am only cheating myself and I will not run as good as I want to run the day of the marathon. I wont be prepared. I have to be consistent in my training to be the best runner I can be. I also realize that the more I run, the easier running becomes. I can run longer distances and faster times than when I started. I have even learned to enjoy running. This consistency has all been worth it. Yes...I have days where I would rather stay home then face the cold but I go because I know it is necessary and I always feel rejuvenated and happy that I accomplished what I set out to accomplish. THAT is a great feeling!

About a month or so ago I started a body pump class that is an hour weight training class using a weight bar. I have only been doing it once a week because she kicks my butt AND I have little time in between my runs. Yesterday during our work out she said to everyone that they need to take the class 2-3 times a week to really tone your body. She told us to be consistent or we wont reep much reward. So there was that word again. Im glad she said that because she got me to commit to 2 days a week. I know it will help me build good muscle I need to run and help me with the flabby zones:)

The second thing is my eating habits. This is something I have significally changed. Because of these changes, I have been able to be the healthiest Maren I have ever been in my life. If I am consistent in eating healthy and making good eating choices I can keep the weight off and I have learned to find control. But, I have to be consistent. If I am not...the pounds come back on and that doesn't make me happy at all. I also find it is easier to just be good every day, rather than falling off the wagon all the time and trying to always get back on. THAT... is hard. I am also finding consistency in this and it feels great. Because of this, I have learned to enjoy eating healthy and I dont desire to go back to my old eating habits. Eating healthy makes me feel good. Eating crap does not. It is just not worth it anymore. .I also find the longer I do this the easier it too becomes. I now find myself in a good habit

The third thing is with my children. I have to be consistent especially with discipline . If Rowan is naughty, he knows right were to go. If I am not consistent in his discipline, he would know that he could do whatever he wanted with no repercussion. What would keep him from being naughty? Nothing. He would rule the house and not turn in to the nice young man I hope he turns into. I also have to be consistent in teaching him. Especially about gospel principles. We try to pray every night with him and before meals. He is now reminding US to pray and because of this consistency it has become a good habit.

The fourth thing is consistency in spiritual things. I am writing this last, but this special task always comes first in my life. If I am not happy with myself, I can not be a good Mom, Wife, Sister or Friend. Feeding my spiritual self brings me happiness and I find the more consistent I am, the more joy and peace flows into my soul. There was a time in my life where my spiritual growth was stagnant. That was because I wasn't doing these important, simple tasks. I didn't take the time everyday to make them a part of my schedule and slowly started becoming lazier in this area. These simple things protect us and as we choose otherwise, that protection weakens and the adversary starts to take hold. It all happens slowly but surely until we are in a dark place and we are desensitised to the spirit. We start to become past feeling. I have been there, I know. As I take time everyday to pray I feel like I can be a better Maren. I pray for help with the things I don't do so well and the Lord fills in where I am lacking. As I study the gospel, I understand and become enlightened and my desires to be righteous expand. I also find this with church attendance. If I miss a week, I feel a difference. I know that I need to be there every week. As I do this, I beome strenghtened spiritually and I leave with a strong desire to continue on this spiritual journey. I have more of a desire to be Christ like and I remember what really is important in life. I realize that the world often clouds my mind as I spend more time caring what they think and caring about things that don't really matter. The most exquisite feeling I have ever felt came from God, it did not come from the world. I also find that the more I do these things the easier they become. When I first made a change in my life it was hard. I struggled. Now, I am in a great habit. Things are so much easier now. I have also realized that living the gospel has made my life easier to live. Sometimes people think the rules are just too hard to live by and that you can be a good person with out them. Yes, you can be a good person, but I testify that our life becomes easier as we live by them. I think back to my life when I did whatever I wanted, no rules, it was all about me and I think about my life now, where I dont do any of those things and its a better, more peacful, purposeful life. I know what is going to happen in the end and I am working towards my spiritual salvation. I want no regrets.

So.... I am grateful for this lesson I am learning and for the balance that I am finding in my life through being consistent in both temporal and spiritual things. I hope I can always remember the importance of this and that it always stays in my heart.