Many moms don’t have a support network they can rely on as they strive to grow and raise amazing kids. And even those who do, find it difficult to coordinate schedules to get together.

I’ve read your blogs, I’ve received your emails and been so encouraged by your comments. You are all incredibly encouraging and inspiring. So, I thought it only makes sense to figure out ways to get us all a little more connected so that we can spur one another on.

Join The Community

Community Page – I’ve added a Community page where I’ve list all the ways we can connect. I’m also adding a list of all of your blogs so that we can easily find one another. A community of inspired moms.

1. Inspired To Action Facebook Page – I’ve set up a Facebook page where you can start discussions, ask questions and encourage one another. Join us!

2. Motivation Mondays – I hope you’ve been enjoying Motivation Mondays. Starting next week, I’ll add a little link-thinga-muh-jiggy to the post so that you all can share your inspiration (story of how you took action this week) or an action (a practical post that will help us be better moms) on your blog and we can all stop by, say hi and be encouraged.

I hope you’ll join in.

4. Twitter - If you have a Twitter account, you can follow Inspired2Action and get all the latest updates. Let’s use the hashtag #inspiredmoms when we’re writing something that might inspire others or when you have a question one of the other moms might be able to answer.

5. Your Stories – I’d like to start a regular series highlighting you’re stories of action or inspiration. If you’ve started a new habit or if you’ve overcome an old one. If you’ve developed a mission statement or accomplished a goal, please share it with me and I’ll try to share it in an upcoming post.

(FYI – many of you have emailed me you’re stories already, but I’d love it if you’d use this form to submit it again. It would totally help my organization. Thanks!)

You’re story doesn’t need to be huge. In fact, one of my favorite stories is how Kait spent an entire week just setting her alarm and standing up in the morning. Then she let herself go back to bed. I LOVE simple goals. Now she’s developing her routine and is on a roll. Isn’t that awesome?

Action begets action. We want to hear YOUR story!

Action step:
1. Join us on Facebook.
2. Share your actions and inspirations on Twitter.
3. If you have a blog, please post it in the comments on the Community Page. I’ll organize them all on the page soon.
4. Use the Contact page to tell me you’re story. Be sure to include your blog address, if you have one, and I’ll feature these stories in upcoming blog posts.

Quick Introductions

It’s been awhile since we’ve introduced ourselves and there are lots of new folks here.
1. Name or pseudonym
2. Location (optional)
3. What do you do?

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Click here to download our NEW ebook: Mission Statements for Moms.

Click here to download our FREE ebook: Maximize Your Mornings.

Or join our community of Inspired Moms on Facebook here.

Related posts:

1. Welcome To Inspired To Action Welcome! My name is Kat and I’m so excited to...
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3. Join The Maximize Your Mornings Challenge! The other day I got this email from Michelle: I...

I can be a “wee” bit obsessive about music.

I love music. You may have noticed that from the music giveaways and my occasional lyric references.

Ok…Maybe a Lot Obsessive
Every now and then, I get in a serious rut with an artist or song. Let’s see, I owned every single tape Amy Grant recorded and didn’t listen to much else until I was in jr. high. (T-A-P-E…it’s like a plastic rectangle box with brown string in it that plays music us old people used to listen to while the earth was being formed).

Good Thing I Have a Gracious and Long Suffering Family
Then, more recently, my family took a 26 hour road trip JUST after I’d discovered Brooke Fraser’s music. We listened to her 3 cd’s the whole time. Yes, 26 hours…

My New Find
Every now and then I find music that I completely moves me and that’s happened again this week. I was aimlessly surfing the web researching a post and I came across this song by Taylor Swift.

I’ve listened to it constantly ever since. (For some people, that would be a metaphor. Me? Nope. Day 4 of the repeat button.)

I’ve heard a lot of songs by parents about their children, but I don’t often hear songs by the children about their parents.

It is one of my most fervent prayers that my daughters and I have a relationship like this when they’re grown up.

This song has deeply inspired me and I hope it inspires you too.

(RSS and email readers click here to watch the video.)

So, anyone get a little misty eyed? What songs inspire you?

(FYI – Check back tomorrow for my post about why and how to take a Yearly Retreat.)

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Click here to download our NEW ebook: Mission Statements for Moms.

Click here to download our FREE ebook: Maximize Your Mornings.

Or join our community of Inspired Moms on Facebook here.

Related posts:

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2. Motherhood and Identity 1. Motherhood and Identity: I Became a Mom and Lost...
3. Motherhood and Identity: I Became a Mom and Lost Myself A couple weeks ago, I received this email from a...

A mission statement is worthless.

A mission statement is worthless unless it is seen and used….often. So how do you “use” a mission statement?

1. Post Your Mission Statement Where You’ll See It Often

Make sure you post it in one or multiple places where you’ll see it throughout the day and week. I have mine posted at the top of my weekly planning sheet that I keep in the front of my notebook.Some places you could post it are:

• On your refrigerator
• On your bathroom mirror
• Keep it in the front of your Bible
• Write it in your prayer journal
• Make it the screen saver on your computer
• Frame it and put it on your wall

2. Measure Things Against Your Mission Statement Regularly

Your mission statement needs to be a part of your regular decision making. When you are planning for the week, month or year measure your plans against your mission statement. Do they line up? Do the things you plan to do help you reach your goals?

When new opportunities arise, measure them against your mission statement. Don’t say yes unless they are a match.

3. Review and Revise Your Mission Statement

Your mission statement shouldn’t be set in stone. As you grow and change, it should change with you. The changes will be small and subtle but hopefully each incarnation of your statement will only inspire you more.

4. Make More Mission Statements

You don’t need to limit yourself to just a life mission statement. You can create mission statements for every aspect of your life or your family. You could even help your kids create their own.

For example, OrgJunkie has a Housekeeping mission statement. When she shared it in the comments here I was so completely inspired by it.

To provide an inviting and peaceful household environment, for my family and all that enter, that is conducive to living simply, loving deeply and laughing abundantly. I will make strides everyday to achieve this by practicing and teaching good daily habits and routines along with effective organizational skills. I will graciously and cheerfully serve my family and genuinely enjoy my commitment to creating a home sanctuary that is above all else pleasing to God.

You could create a mission statement for how you want to approach health and nutrition in your family. You could have one for your blogging goals, or your ministry roles at church.

Just remember that your Life mission statement is the one that should dominate your decision making and goal setting. The other statements can be used to inspire and give direction, but don’t let them ever take precedence over your primary one.

Conclusion

When it comes to our Mission Statement, we need to either use it or lose it. There’s no point in creating one if we’re not letting it affect our goals and decisions. So put it in a prominent place. Constantly review it to make sure it’s relevant. And expand it to give you direction in every aspect of your life.

How do you use your Mission Statement?

2GNG4RUPH78A

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Click here to download our NEW ebook: Mission Statements for Moms.

Click here to download our FREE ebook: Maximize Your Mornings.

Or join our community of Inspired Moms on Facebook here.

Related posts:

1. Purposeful Motherhood: How To Create A Mission Statement Today we’re going to create a mission statement. Yay! I...
2. Purposeful Motherhood: Mission Statements for Moms Moms need mission statements every bit as much as Fortune...
3. Purposeful Motherhood: Why Moms Need Mission Statements Mission statements are for Fortune 500 companies. They’re for women...

Today we’re going to create a mission statement. Yay!

I highly encourage you to set aside some time to work on this from beginning to end. It will require some focus, thought and prayer. But don’t worry about making it perfect, just get a good rough draft. You can tweak it and refine it in the coming weeks.

List Your Roles

The first step in creating a mission statement is to identify your roles in life. Some of them might be things you do. Some of them might be things you are. As you write things down, don’t worry about your order, just write.

Examples:

Wife
Runner
Writer
Christian
Business owner
Employee
Mother
Sunday School Teacher
Small group leader

Prioritize Your Roles

Now order your roles according to what is important to you. Don’t order them according to the places of your greatest responsibility or reward, but rather based on what is most vital and important to you.

For example:
When I was making my mission statement my list looked something like this.

Believer
Wife
Mother
Writer
Small group leader
Runner
Web designer

Simplify Your Roles

Which of your roles are absolute? Which ones MUST you do?

This is where it gets hard. We don’t want to exclude anything, but we must. Our mission statement should not include everything we want to do. It’s kind of like a map. If we stop in every single town along the way, we’ll never reach our destination.

Your mission statement needs to be focused, so that when you’re feeling scattered, you can rely on it to get you back on track.

Example:
When I made my mission statement, I focused on my top four roles. Not that the others weren’t important to me, but the top four are my core.

Believer
Wife
Mother
Writer

Dream

Now select your first priority. Write it down. Take a few minutes to decide what your ultimate dream goal for that role would be. When runners run a race, they don’t just run. They always know where the finish line is and they run to it. If someone were to talk about you in this role, what would you love for them to say?

It doesn’t need to be perfectly worded. Just jot things down.

Now continue this process for each role.

Example:
Now this may be kind of morbid, but when I worked on my mission statement, I thought about what I would want people to say about me when I die.

I’d want God to say,”Well done, good and faithful servant.” I’d want Jimmy to say I was a good and loving wife. I’d want my kids to say that I loved them well and helped them live lives in passionate pursuit of God. And I’d want others to say that I inspired them to love Jesus more.

Create Action Statements

Now it’s time to work your list for each role into actionable phrases. Your mission statement should be active. It should tell you what you should be doing.

Example:
Here’s what I came up with for my mission statement:

To pursue Jesus with my whole heart and surrender all that I am and all that I have so that I can be fully used by Him.
To make Jimmy feel loved, cared for and admired.
To have fun with my children and help them grow up to be people who know, deeply love and wholeheartedly serve God.
To live my life in such a way that others are inspired to fully pursue Jesus and desire constant growth in their personal lives.

Conclusion

More than anything, spend time praying as you develop your mission statement. Ask God to make sure His desires and your desires are aligned. Ask for wisdom and words that will inspire you when times get tough. He has big plans for you, make time to find out what they are.

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. – Jeremiah 29:11

Care To Share?

I realize that your mission statement is very personal, but I’m sure it would inspire others to read what you’ve created. If you’d like to, please share your mission statement here in the comments.

And of course, if you have any questions, don’t hesitate to ask.

---------
Click here to download our NEW ebook: Mission Statements for Moms.

Click here to download our FREE ebook: Maximize Your Mornings.

Or join our community of Inspired Moms on Facebook here.

Related posts:

1. Purposeful Motherhood: How To Use Your Mission Statement A mission statement is worthless. A mission statement is worthless...
2. Purposeful Motherhood: Mission Statements for Moms Moms need mission statements every bit as much as Fortune...
3. Purposeful Motherhood: Why Moms Need Mission Statements Mission statements are for Fortune 500 companies. They’re for women...

Mission statements are for Fortune 500 companies. They’re for women who close deals, carry briefcases and wear their hair in something other than a ponytail.

I’m a mom. I change diapers, watch Sesame Street and listen to the “Choo choo Song” seven thousand times a day. Why do I need a Mission Statement? Isn’t that a bit over the top? What kind of mom does something like that?

A purposeful one.

I love this quote from G.K. Chesterton:

How can it be a large career to tell other people about the Rule of Three, and a small career to tell one’s own children about the universe? How can it be broad to be the same thing to everyone and narrow to be everything to someone? No, a woman’s function is laborious, but because it is gigantic, not because it is minute.

Leading a company or a country is no greater or more important than leading a child. Motherhood should be approached with just as much vision, passion and purpose.

Passion is something mothers have in abundance, but we are rarely taught to have vision and purpose. Today is a great day for that to change. Are you ready?

Why Moms Should Have A Mission Statement

1. Make Better Decisions.
A Mission Statement gives you a guideline to help you make wise decisions that benefit you and your family. It helps you to differentiate between the seemingly urgent and the truly important. When you need to simplify your life, you know what needs to go and what needs to stay.

2. Get A Bird’s Eye View.
Developing a mission statement is an opportunity to think big about your life. We get caught up in the day to day and lose sight of why we do what we do.

3. An Unwavering Reminder.
Mission Statements don’t have a monthly cycle. They don’t get discouraged. They don’t get overwhelmed. Having a Mission Statement is like having the best version of yourself beside you on your worst days, encouraging you to press on and pointing to the goal.

Homework

You read that right. Homework. Remember, the name of this blog is Inspired to Action. My job is to do the first part. Your job is to do the second part. We’re a team. Go team!

1. Print out the Mission Statement worksheet. Download it here. There is an example of how I have used it and a blank one for you. Put it someplace that you’ll see it often. We’ll discuss it and fill it out this week.

2. Pray. Spend 5 minutes today praying that God would give you vision for current roles in life and inspiring words for your mission statement.

(FYI – Sorry I didn’t post much last week. I’d felt better and then much worse. Thanks for your prayers, I think I’m definitely on the mend now.)

---------
Click here to download our NEW ebook: Mission Statements for Moms.

Click here to download our FREE ebook: Maximize Your Mornings.

Or join our community of Inspired Moms on Facebook here.

Related posts:

1. Purposeful Motherhood: Mission Statements for Moms Moms need mission statements every bit as much as Fortune...
2. FREE Mission Statements for Moms eBook Free New eBook – Mission Statements for Moms The new...
3. Purposeful Motherhood: How To Use Your Mission Statement A mission statement is worthless. A mission statement is worthless...

CRASH!!! Searing pain. A badly twisted ankle.

Now I must run on it. I must jump. I must come down hard on that ankle. The pain will send me to the floor.

But I do it anyway.

Why?

If I said, “Just because.” You’d call me insane.

If I said, “Olympic gold medal.” You’d call me Kerri Strug.

She had a purpose that was greater than her comfort.

What is your purpose? Why are you getting up early in the morning? Is it just because you think you should? That’s not good enough.

Olympians don’t sacrifice, struggle and push themselves beyond comfort every day just because they should. They have a very clear and specific goal. The Olympic Gold Medal. One thing. One dream. One tangible purpose.

Name your goal. “I want to be a patient mother.” “I want to be joyful.” “I want God to heal my broken heart” “I want a deeper passion for God.” “I want a greater understanding of the Scriptures.” “I want to be whole so that my children can be whole.” “I want to walk free from my sin.” “I want God to use me to help others.”

What is the one thing you want God to do in your life right now?

Name it and cling to it. Let it be the dream that drives you out of bed.

Kerri Strug dreamt about standing atop the podium with the medal hanging around her neck.

I dream about one day hearing my children talk about what a patient mother I am.

What’s your dream? Imagine a scenario. And when your alarm goes off, remember that no amount of sleep or warmth will make that scenario a reality.

Action Step:
Take time right now to pray about what your purpose is. Then come back here and share it with us. Let’s pray for and encourage one another as we pursue our goals.

Here’s Kerri’s dream coming true (RSS and email readers, click here to view video). Enjoy!

---------
Click here to download our NEW ebook: Mission Statements for Moms.

Click here to download our FREE ebook: Maximize Your Mornings.

Or join our community of Inspired Moms on Facebook here.

Related posts:

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3. Excuses or Change: What Are You Going To Make Today? I love this commercial. It inspires me as a runner,...

(I’lI continue the Squash Your Morning Excuses series soon, but I just wanted to share a quick encouragement with you about the value of faithfulness. If you’re struggling during your time with God in the morning, feeling groggy or unfocused, be encouraged that it will get easier and that there is value even in sleepy quiet times.)

——–

It was 6:30am and like clockwork she came scampering in, blanket in one hand, Bible in the other.

“What are you reading today Mommy?”

Clearing my groggy, unused voice, I replied,”The story of Joseph.”

“Oh! I like that one. I’m reading about David.”

We settled in and continued our reading. She made herself comfy under the blanket next to me and within a couple minutes I heard her slow and steady breathing. Her Bible was askew on her chest, her eyes closed…

…and I couldn’t have loved her more.

She just wanted to be with me. She could have stayed warm. She could have stayed cozy. She could have stayed in her bed.

But she wanted me more.

I didn’t care that she fell asleep. I didn’t care that we didn’t finish a task.

It meant everything to me that she loved me more than her comfort.

—————

There is value in faithfulness.There is value just in just going to the feet of Jesus. Even if you fall asleep.

Here is a song I love and listen to often in the morning. It’s called Faithful and it’s by an artist by the name of Brooke Fraser. (RSS and email subscribers, click here to watch the video.)

“Faithful”

There’s distance in the air and I cannot make it leave
i wave my arms’ round about me and blow with all my might
I cannot sense you close, though I know you’re always here
But the comfort of you near is what i long for

[CHORUS]
When I can’t feel you, I have learned to reach out just the same
When I can’t hear you, I know you still hear everyword I pray
And i want you more than i want to live another day
And as I wait for you maybe I’m made more faithful

All the folly of the past, though I know it is undone
i still feel the guilty one, still trying to make it right
So i whisper soft your name, let it roll around my tounge,
knowing you’re the only one who knows me
You know me

[CHORUS]

[BRIDGE]
Show me how I should live this
Show me where I should walk
I count this world as loss to me
You are all I want
You are all I want

The God of Heaven and Earth wants to be with you. To give you vision and purpose for your day. He wants to tell you that you are beautiful, unimaginably loved, and that together, you’re capable of doing amazing things.

Whether you believe it or not. Whether you feel it or not. This is true.

And each time you choose to come before Him, in faithfulness, one more layer of disbelief is peeled away.

Even if you fall asleep every now and then.

---------
Click here to download our NEW ebook: Mission Statements for Moms.

Click here to download our FREE ebook: Maximize Your Mornings.

Or join our community of Inspired Moms on Facebook here.

(I just have to say, I’m blown away by all of you who took the time to introduce yourselves here. Please know I’ve been praying and will be praying for each of you. I hope you’ll take a minute and pray for each other as well.)

Getting up early doesn’t need to mean that we get less sleep. Really. It doesn’t. In fact, we can quite easily get up early enough to read, exercise and pray without sacrificing any sleep at all.

The Super Magical Top Secret Solution

Isn’t that wonderful news?! Wanna hear the super magical top secret solution?

Go. To. Bed. Earlier.

Shocking, but true.

Now, before you slap me in the face, I know (BELIEVE me I know) that’s easier said than done. I have spent FAR too many nights going to bed the same day I needed to wake up.

And who do you think won the “Mean Mommy” award the next day?

Good Evening = Good Morning

So, the key to having a great MORNING routine is to have a great EVENING routine.

I love what Rachel from Small Notebook says, “I love staying up late — the quiet, the lack of interruptions, the feeling that I get a couple of extra hours added to my day. The only problem is that I’m borrowing the quality from the next day. “

Truth.

This is why I encourage you to start your morning routine by getting up only 15 minutes earlier. Because you’re actually adjusting your morning AND evening routine. This is imperative. We can only burn the candle at both ends for so long. Eventually we’ll get burned.

Rarely do people stay up late because they’ve been uber-productive all evening. More than likely, it’s because they found their #3 best friend from the 2nd grade on Facebook and they HAVE TO SEE if she’s still rocking the poodle perm. So they check out her pictures. All 327 of them.

Not that I’ve ever done that. Of course.

It’s called the internet time warp, rabbit trail, black hole. And it usually sucks us in after our kids are in bed, our husbands have fallen asleep reading and the dishes are “soaking” in the sink.

Not that you’ve ever done that, either. Of course.

By having a solid evening routine we can get things done, have fun AND go to bed at a reasonable time so that we can get up at a reasonable time.

My Evening Routine

So what does an evening routine look like?

Jimmy and I divide and conquer when it comes to our evening routine. After dinner, he gets the kids ready for bed, while I clean the dishes and tidy the house. That way, once we put the kids to bed, the housework is done and we can both relax with a clear conscience.

Once the kids are in bed, here are the evening tasks I try to complete:
1. Clear out my inbox.
2. Finish any tasks that didn’t get done that day.
3. Write
4. Catch up with friends on Facebook and Twitter
5. Prepare everything I need for the next morning (iPod, running clothes, Bible, notebook, pen etc.)
6. Get ready for bed.
7. Go. To. Bed.

Isn’t it ironic that the very thing we desperately WANT to do in the morning is the very thing we desperately DON’T want to do in the evening. So when you’re headed to bed, pretend you just woke up and now you realized you have 7 more hours to sleep. Ah!

Tip – Bed Time Cue
Just as it’s important to set an alarm to wake us up, we need an alarm to tell us when to go to bed. It doesn’t need to actually be a regular alarm. For me, I go to bed when Jimmy goes to bed. I know that if I stay up later than him I’m most likely doomed to hours of mindless surfing.

For you, perhaps it’s the end of the news or your favorite show. Maybe it’s when you let the dog out or bring the dog in. Maybe setting an actual alarm would help you.

An Important Note – How To Waste An Evening

Just as we’re trying to be intentional about our mornings, it’s important to be intentional about our evenings. That doesn’t mean we need to work or be “productive” in the evening, but it does mean that we need to do things on purpose. So “flipping channels” or “surfing the web” probably aren’t the best uses of our time.

1. Flipping channels
Now, I confess. I’m not much of a TV watcher. So maybe I’m biased here, but mindlessly watching TV one of the worst ways we, as moms, could spend our precious quiet time. Tune in to a show you love. Watch a movie. Check the TV listings. Have a purpose when you watch tv. Don’t just turn it on and expect to find something that will benefit your life. Odds are, you won’t find it.

(Stepping off soapbox.)

2. Surfing the web
That index finger I was pointing at you a minute ago? It has now turned around and is poking my forehead. My biggest time waster is mindlessly following links on blogs, Twitter, Facebook, rss feeds etc.

As sad as it sounds, I’ve found that I need to set a time limit on my web surfing. I think it all goes back to the night I spent 45 minutes researching the Carrie Underwood/Faith Hill award controversy and watched the YouTube video multiple times “just to see if she was really upset.” Because, clearly, spending my time doing that added so much value to my life.

Sheesh. So timers are now my best friend. When the alarm goes off, I have to step AWAY from the computer to get out of the social media trance and be productive again. Sad, but true.

Tonight’s Challenge

My evening routine has improved DRAMATICALLY over the last year. I used to see midnight regularly. Now, I’m usually in bed around 10:30pm. I get a lot more sleep and my kids don’t seem so annoying. Or maybe I’m just not so cranky.

Tonight I challenge you to go to bed 15 minutes earlier, so that tomorrow you can wake up 15 minutes earlier and squash the “I’m too tired to get up excuse”. Are you up for the challenge?

Discussion Point: What time are you planning to go to bed tonight? What are your obstacles?

This post is part of WFMW.

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Click here to download our NEW ebook: Mission Statements for Moms.

Click here to download our FREE ebook: Maximize Your Mornings.

Or join our community of Inspired Moms on Facebook here.

Related posts:

1. Squash Your Morning Excuses: A Purpose Greater Than Comfort CRASH!!! Searing pain. A badly twisted ankle. Now I must...
2. Excuses or Change: What Are You Going To Make Today? I love this commercial. It inspires me as a runner,...

Welcome to the “Maximize Your Mornings” series here at Inspired To Action. This series will run for two weeks (here is the Series Homepage). During that time we’ll cover some of the key elements of starting and continuing a great morning routine.

I’m thrilled that you’re joining us and I hope it inspires you to make some simple changes that will have a huge impact on your days.

Wax On, Wax Off

If you’ve read the ebook Maximize Your Mornings (if not, it’s free. Download it here.), you’ve probably already started a morning routine or you’re really excited about getting started. Maybe you’ve set your alarm for 5:30am, printed out your “Read the Bible in a month” plan and are looking forward to start training for a marathon. Great!

Now go sand the deck.

“Um….Kat? What are you talking about? All I know is that, starting tomorrow, I’m going to get up at 5am EVERY day.”

Wonderful. Now go paint the fence.

“Huh? That doesn’t have anything to do with my “Read the Bible in 30 Days” plan.”

That’s ok. When you’re done with the fence, wax the cars.

“Where’s the unsubscribe button? I think this Kat lady is looney. By the way, starting tomorrow, I am going to do The 30 Day Shred EVERY day on the ADVANCED level.”

Some of you may remember the scene from Karate Kid when Daniel was so eager to learn Karate and how to kick and punch that he grew frustrated with his mentor, Mr. Miyagi because all he made him do were simple chores, like waxing the cars and painting the fence. So Daniel confronted Mr. Miyagi and discovered that through those chores he learned muscle memory habits which, apparently, translate easily into high level martial arts.

(Good to know. Next time someone tries to attack me I’ll be sure to “swiffer the kitchen” or “change the diaper” and take them down.)

(RSS readers, click here to watch the video.)

My Point

I’m sure many of you are just itching to be early risers and have super productive mornings. But when developing a morning routine, we need to FOCUS on the HABIT.

It’s easy to be distracted by cool stuff like kicking and punching or, in our case, getting up at 5:30am, running for miles or praying for hours. Everyone loves radical change. It’s fun. But right now, those measurements are distractions from our true goal – the HABIT of waking up early to get with God.

A habit is something we do automatically and it is acquired slowly through small simple changes. It isn’t cool, flashy or impressive. But once we’ve practiced it enough, it becomes automatic. It becomes easy to get out of bed in the morning and to bounce back into our habit after sickness, vacation or other disruptions.

How To Create A Habit

Habits are created slowly and gradually.

If you’re just starting a morning routine, I encourage you to review your plan. Is it doable? Is it sustainable?

No matter how ambitious you feel, I encourage you for the first week to get up no more than 15 minutes early.

Set your alarm back 15 minutes. Spend 5 minutes reading/praying. Spend another 5 minutes exercising (pushups, squats, situps) and spend your final 5 minutes planning your day. Every week, move the clock back 15 more minutes and extend your time in each area.

It might seem too simple, too easy, but that’s kind of the point. An early morning routine isn’t supposed to be torture. It something you look forward to and enjoy.

Keep it simple to create the habit.

Simple Action Step

Today’s simple action is to introduce yourself here in the comments.

Please share:
1. Your name (or pseudonym, if you prefer)
2. The reason why you want to get up early
3. Any obstacles you think you’ll face while developing the habit.

Let’s use this list to pray for one another. I’ll be praying for each of you and I hope you all will take a few minutes to pray for each other as well.

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I am a perfect mother.

Oh? What? You didn’t know that? I’m surprised since I try so hard to broadcast that fact to everyone. That’s why I rush my kids out the door so we won’t be late. That’s why I spit on my hand and wipe their faces so that they won’t look messy. That’s why I whisper harshly to my children, telling them to behave in public.

And all that trying to “be perfect” only increases my imperfection.

How many of us fall into the trap of believing that we need to be “perfect moms” who raise “perfect children?” That we need to mother a certain way, dress a certain way, keep our homes a certain way and discipline a certain way. That our kids need to behave a certain way, look a certain way and speak a certain way.

Those are called puppets, not children. And we are actors, not mothers.

Perfection vs. Balance

The world calls us to be “perfect” mothers, but I believe God calls us to be “balanced” mothers.

A “perfect” mother puts appearance above relationship. A “balanced” mother sacrifices appearance for relationship.

A “perfect” mother seeks approval from others. A “balanced” mother seeks approval from God.

A “perfect” mother finds reward in perceived success. A “balanced” mother’s reward is a peaceful heart, family and home.

A “perfect” mother perpetuates the lie and spreads disillusionment. A “balanced” mother breaks the lie and spreads hope, truth and inspiration.

The Challenge

The challenge for us today is to focus on being balanced rather than perfect. That every moment we’d love our children more than our clean house or the approving look of a stranger. That our confidence, strength, hope and identity would be found in God and the trust He’s put in us by giving us His perfect little gifts that look to us and call us “Mommy.”

How To Be A Balanced Mother

Here’s the problem. I can’t be a balanced mom. Neither can you. We can’t do it alone. As humans we crave the approval of others. Until we migrate our identity from this world to the arms of God, we will strive to be perfect mothers. That’s why I’m so passionate about spending time praying and reading every morning. Before the voices of others crowd out His, we need to hear from Him that He has given us everything we need to love well. We need to be reminded that we are precious, beautiful, powerful and worthy of the love of the Almighty, Everlasting God. Because once we hear that….who cares what anyone else thinks.

And that, right there, my friends is a truth that demands a good fist pump.

Simple Start

In reality, though, words are cheap. Action speaks loudly. So, here are 2 simple things you can do to take action towards being a balanced mom:

1. Take 1 minute right now to pray that God would begin to change every facet of your heart so that it can reflect His. No one tries to balance with their eyes closed. No, they have a focal point. Pray that God would be your focal point today. And, yes, you only have to pray for 1 minute. I’m all about low goals here at InspiredToAction.com. Because doing something little is bigger than doing nothing at all.

2. Download the eBook Maximize Your Mornings. Resolve to get up 5 minutes earlier tomorrow morning so that you can start your day focusing on Him.

God has called you to this journey of motherhood. Give it all you have.

-Kat

(This post is part of WFMW.)

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Click here to download our NEW ebook: Mission Statements for Moms.

Click here to download our FREE ebook: Maximize Your Mornings.

Or join our community of Inspired Moms on Facebook here.

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