Day 34 - Balance

Balance is often over looked as part of a fitness routine until we loose our balance.  That sound like an odd statement but it's true.  Have you ever watched a kid play and wonder, "How do they do that?"  They can jump, climb, hop on one foot, walk on top of a brick wall and many other gravity defying tricks.  So what happened?  We use to have that kind of balance.  For one we stopped playing like kids and another reason is we got older.  Without actually knowing it we slowly loose our body's ability to balance as we age. 

Don't worry, you can get better with practice.  I don't suggest walking on the edge of a brick wall but you can improve your balance.  Here are a few hints at helping you build confidence.

     1.  During your exercise routine, do some of the exercises on one leg, then change legs.  This will help your body gain strength and work on your balance at the same time. 

     2.  Try and do basic daily activities on one leg, then alternate legs, like brushing your teeth.  It is a great way to work on balance while doing something else. 

     3.  Do one legged stands at home with your shoes on, then try it with no shoes.  You can also try different surfaces like on the carpet as well as a solid surface.  This helps mimic multiple surfaces that we encounter everyday.  The goal would be to stand on each leg for 30 seconds without putting the other leg down. 

     4.  Once you have accomplished standing on one leg then stand on two legs and close your eyes.  This changes your ability to stabilize yourself.  You can further challenge yourself by doing one legged stands with your eyes closed. 

Balance is an integral part of our day.  We walk on uneven surfaces, climb stairs reach in cabinets on our toes, or even getting out of a chair.  All these regular activities require some level of balance.  That is why it is important in our daily routine to continue to work on our balance and hopefully capture some of what we have lost.  With practice you will get better. 

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The Purpose Driven Life - Finding Your Purpose

CHAPTER 34 - THINKING LIKE A SERVANT 

Service starts in your mind. 

To be a servant requires a mental shift, a change in your attitudes. God is always more interested in why we do something than in what we do. Attitudes count more than achievements. Real servants serve God with a mindset of the five attitudes. 

1. Servants think more about others than about themselves

2. Servants think like stewards, not owners

3. Servants think about their work, not what others are doing 

4. Servants base their identity in Christ

5. Servants think of ministry as an opportunity, not an obligation 

Imagine what could happen if just 10 percent of all Christians in the world got serious about their role as real servants. Imagine all the good that could be done. Are you willing to be one of those people? 


Point to Ponder: To be a servant I must think like a servant


Verse to Remember: "Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus." Phillipians 2:5 (NIV)


Question to Consider: Am I usually more concerned about being served or finding ways to serve others?